Battery Guides
Straight answers to the questions people actually ask about cordless-tool batteries — which packs interchange within a brand, what the official legacy adapters do, and the safety realities of cross-brand adapters.
- Are all DeWalt 20V MAX batteries interchangeable?
Yes. Every DeWalt 20V MAX and FlexVolt slide-pack battery fits every DeWalt 20V MAX tool. FlexVolt packs simply run in 20V mode on a 20V MAX tool.
- Are all Ryobi 18V batteries interchangeable?
Yes. Every Ryobi ONE+ 18V battery made since 1996 — NiCd or lithium — fits every Ryobi ONE+ 18V tool, and every ONE+ tool accepts every ONE+ battery.
- Are Black+Decker, Porter-Cable, Stanley and Craftsman V20 20V batteries interchangeable?
Partly. Black+Decker 20V MAX, Porter-Cable 20V MAX and Stanley FatMax share one battery interface and DO interchange. Craftsman V20 and DeWalt 20V MAX are separate feet and do NOT, despite all being Stanley Black+Decker brands.
- Are Bosch blue (Professional) and green (Home/Power for All) 18V batteries interchangeable?
No. Bosch blue Professional (BAT6xx) and Bosch green DIY 'Power for All' (PBA) are different 18V batteries and do not fit each other's tools.
- Are Cordless Tool Battery Adapters Safe?
Used within their limits, yes; on the wrong tool, no. Learn which adapters work, the real heat risks, and why you can't charge through them.
- Are Makita LXT (18V) and XGT (40V) batteries interchangeable?
No. LXT 18V and XGT 40V are separate platforms with different battery feet and do not interchange. Makita makes only a charger-side adapter (ADP10), not a tool adapter.
- Are Milwaukee M18 and M12 batteries interchangeable?
No. M18 (18V) and M12 (12V) tools and batteries do not interchange. Only the M12/M18 charger is shared — it charges both, but the tools are platform-specific.
- Can I use a DeWalt 20V MAX battery on my older DeWalt 18V tools?
Yes — with DeWalt's official DCA1820 adapter, which lets 20V MAX lithium packs run legacy DeWalt 18V NiCd/NiMH tools.
- Can You Charge a Battery Through a Tool Adapter?
No. Cross-brand adapters only route power to the tool, not to the battery charger. You must charge packs separately on their own charger.
- Is Metabo HPT the same battery as Metabo, and do its 18V and MultiVolt packs interchange?
Metabo HPT (formerly Hitachi) is a DIFFERENT brand from German 'Metabo' and their batteries do not interchange. Within Metabo HPT, 18V and MultiVolt (36V/18V) slide packs share the 18V tool interface.
- Is There a Universal Cordless Tool Battery?
No single battery fits all power tools due to different physical feet and contacts, but three practical paths can reduce your tool collection costs.
- The Best Cordless Tool Battery Adapters (and When to Use One)
A roundup of cross-brand battery adapters for cordless tools, with guidance on what separates quality adapters from bad ones and links to detailed per-direction guides.