The REAL Reason Tool Prices Are About to Change FOREVER!
Tool prices have been shifting under our feet for about a year, and most folks have not heard the real reasons why. This is not about politics or panic. It is about three specific things happening right now that will hit the price tag on your next cordless tool, battery, or saw blade.
Below is a breakdown of what is driving the price increases and exactly which tools to buy now versus what you can safely wait on. We cover Milwaukee M18, DeWalt 20V MAX, RYOBI ONE+ HP, carbide saw blades, and the combo kit trickery that is already happening on shelves. If you buy tools even occasionally, this is the buying guide for the next 12 months.
The Three Reasons Cordless Tool Prices Are Climbing
First, the Chinese government has paid tool battery manufacturers a tax kickback for years called the VAT export rebate. That rebate is what kept cordless prices affordable. On April 1, that rebate on battery products was cut by a third. On January 1, 2027, it goes to zero. Manufacturers absorbed most of the first cut. They will not absorb the second one.
Second, TTI, the parent company of Milwaukee and RYOBI, just killed HART tools. In the official stock exchange announcement, the CEO said the decision supports their medium term profitability objectives and pointed at rising tariffs as a key factor. The person who runs Milwaukee is telling you the math on budget cordless tools is broken.
Third, copper. It is in every brushless motor you own. Copper just hit a record high on COMEX this year at over six dollars a pound. The brands that refuse to cut corners on metal quality have no choice but to pass that cost along. Old cost inventory is still on shelves, but when it is gone, so are the old prices.
Cordless Tools and Batteries to Buy Before the Price Increase
1. Milwaukee M18 and M12 Batteries for the Long Haul
If you are already in the Milwaukee platform, stocking up on batteries right now is the single clearest move on this list. The battery is the most expensive component in any kit, and it is ground zero for the rebate phase out. An M12 Forge 12 amp hour battery already sits in the high hundreds, and that is before the 2027 cut.
Milwaukee M18 is, in my opinion, one of the best platforms out there. The tool lineup is deep, the high output and Forge batteries deliver real runtime, and the resale value holds. The M12 line covers tight spaces and overhead work where M18 is overkill.
For anyone deciding between throwing money at another platform versus deepening the one you already use, batteries are where the cost curve hurts most. Two extra high amp hour packs now will outlast two price increase cycles.
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2. RYOBI 18V and 40V Batteries for Budget Minded Buyers
RYOBI ONE+ HP is where I tell folks to go who want real tools without breaking the bank. The 18V platform has the widest tool selection in its class. The 40V line covers outdoor power equipment and the higher demand cordless tools.
The battery rebate cut hits every platform, but RYOBI batteries start at a lower price point, so the dollar impact on you is smaller per pack. That makes stocking up now a low risk move even for the casual user.
Just know the platform before you buy. The RYOBI track saw is not my favorite. If you do not care about track saws, the rest of the ONE+ HP lineup has real winners like the brushless barrel grip jigsaw.
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3. DeWalt 20V MAX Batteries from Lowe's
DeWalt makes some amazing tools. The cordless plunge router is, to my hands, the best plunge router on the market. The 20V MAX platform is loaded with brushless options for trim carpenters, cabinet shops, and general remodel work.
The PowerStack and PowerPack batteries are the ones worth tracking. They hold the platform up under load and they are the spec you want to see inside a combo kit, not the small 1.5 amp hour packs.
Lowe's runs DeWalt deals through the year, and the deals on these batteries are not going to get cheaper than they are right now.
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4. Makita 18V LXT and 40V XGT Batteries
Makita is the platform of choice for a lot of professionals who have been running cordless since long before most of us started. The LXT 18V line still holds up after years on jobsites, and the 40V XGT line is built for high demand work like outdoor power equipment and larger saws.
Makita batteries are not cheap, which means the dollar impact of any price increase on them is real. If you run Makita as your daily platform, locking in batteries at current pricing is a smart move.
Acme Tools usually has the cleanest Makita pricing and the widest in stock selection.
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5. Bosch 18V Batteries for Quality Build at a Fair Price
Bosch tools have a reputation for build quality that has been earned over decades. The 18V line is not the biggest selection in the home center, but the tools that are there are solid pieces of equipment.
If you already run Bosch, do not let a price increase catch you with one battery and a tool sitting in the truck. A backup pack is cheap insurance.
Lowe's carries the most accessible Bosch battery selection at retail right now.
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Brushless Cordless Tools Worth Upgrading to Right Now
6. Milwaukee M18 Track Saw for Cordless Sheet Goods
This is my favorite cordless track saw on the market. Period. The M18 track saw makes clean cuts in sheet goods, holds the line on the rail, and runs long on a single high output battery.
The motor inside is brushless, which means copper. Copper at record highs on COMEX is one of the clearest signals that prices on premium brushless tools like this one will move up before they move down.
If you have been waiting to add a track saw to the shop, this is the cheapest it is likely to be for a while.
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7. DeWalt Cordless Plunge Router for Trim and Cabinet Work
I love this thing. The DeWalt cordless plunge router is the best plunge router I have used, full stop. It has the power for hardwood, the plunge action is smooth, and the battery runtime is enough for real work on a jobsite or in a cabinet shop.
This is another tool that is loaded with copper inside the brushless motor. The pricing math on it will only move one direction.
For anyone running DeWalt 20V MAX already, this is one of the strongest single tool adds in the lineup.
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8. RYOBI ONE+ HP Brushless Barrel Grip Jigsaw
The RYOBI ONE+ HP barrel grip jigsaw is one of the best jigsaws I have used at any price point. Brushless motor, real cutting power, comfortable grip, and it runs forever on a 4 amp hour battery.
If you bought into RYOBI years ago with brushed tools, this is the upgrade that shows you what HP really means. The brushless motor delivers more power and longer runtime than the older platform.
This is one of the few places where you can move into a top tier brushless tool without spending Milwaukee or DeWalt money.
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Cordless Combo Kits at the Highest Battery Tax Risk
9. Milwaukee M18 FUEL Combo Kit for Pro Grade Cordless
The Milwaukee M18 FUEL combo kits are where most folks who are serious about the M18 platform start. You get brushless tools, high output batteries, a charger, and a bag at a price that beats buying everything separate.
This is also the highest battery tax risk category. The kit price gets squeezed from both sides: copper in the brushless motors and the rebate phase out on the high output batteries.
Watch the battery amp hour rating before you click buy. A FUEL kit with two 5 amp hour high output packs is a deal. A kit with two small batteries is not, even at the same price.
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10. Milwaukee M12 FUEL Combo Kit for Compact Work
If most of your work is overhead, in cabinets, or in tight mechanical spaces, the M12 FUEL platform earns its keep. The combo kits give you a drill, an impact driver, and a couple of batteries at a price that justifies the platform entry.
M12 batteries are smaller, but the Forge line has closed a lot of the runtime gap on M18. The price exposure on these kits is the same as M18, just on a smaller dollar base.
For trim carpenters, electricians, and HVAC techs, this is the kit that quietly does the most work in the truck.
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11. DeWalt 20V MAX XR Combo Kit at Lowe's
DeWalt 20V MAX XR combo kits are some of the most consistently discounted cordless bundles in the home center. The brushless drill, impact, and PowerStack or PowerPack batteries make this one of the easier platforms to enter without compromise.
Same warning applies here. Read the battery spec. A kit with PowerStack or 5 amp hour packs is the one to grab. A kit with two 1.7 amp hour batteries at the same price is the trick to watch for.
Lowe's runs these deals most often, and the combo kit price is the kind of thing that walks up 25 to 50 dollars at a time and never walks back down.
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12. RYOBI 18V ONE+ Combo Kits for Platform Entry
RYOBI 18V ONE+ combo kits are still the cleanest way to enter a full cordless platform for under 200 dollars on sale. The ONE+ HP versions add brushless motors and real cutting power without doubling the price.
Because RYOBI sits at a lower price point, the percentage impact of any cost increase shows up faster on the price tag. A kit that was 199 last year and 229 this year is the pattern to expect.
Look for kits with two 4 amp hour HP batteries, not two 1.5 amp hour starter packs. That is the difference between a real working kit and a homeowner toy.
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Carbide Saw Blades and Router Bits Before the Tungsten Cost Hits
13. CMT Orange Chrome Blades for Premium Cuts
CMT Orange Chrome blades are one of my go to picks for clean cuts in hardwood and plywood. The tungsten carbide teeth hold an edge through a lot of cuts, and the plate stability is what you would expect from a premium European blade.
The raw material behind tungsten carbide is under heavy export pressure. Brands that refuse to drop their carbide quality will feel that cost first.
If you have a table saw or miter saw that needs a fresh blade, this is the kind of purchase that pays you back twice. Sharp now, and cheaper than it will be later.
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14. DeWalt Saw Blades for Everyday Cuts
DeWalt saw blades are a workhorse pick for general construction, framing, and shop use. They are widely available, the price has been reasonable, and the carbide quality is good for the cost.
That price stability is exactly what is going to change. DeWalt blades sit right in the middle of the carbide pressure that this video is about.
Picking up a few sizes you actually use now is one of the lowest risk moves in this whole guide.
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15. Diablo Blades for Job Site Performance
Diablo blades are the most widely available high performance blade in the home center. From construction grade to fine finish, the lineup covers most of what a working shop or jobsite actually needs.
The carbide they use is real, which means they are part of the group that will see cost pressure first. The bargain bin blades that use cheaper carbide may hold price longer, but they also burn out and dull faster.
If you cut a lot of material, blade cost is part of the real cost of every project. Locking in a few now keeps that line item flat for the year.
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16. Ridge Carbide Blades for Premium American Made
Ridge Carbide blades are an American made premium blade with a serious reputation for clean cuts and long edge life. They are not the cheapest, but the carbide quality and the grind on the teeth show up in the work.
This is the category of blade where the cost of the raw carbide matters most. Premium tungsten carbide is exactly what gets squeezed first.
If you have a project list that calls for a new table saw blade or a dedicated rip blade, Ridge is worth the look.
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17. Forrest Saw Blades for the Top of the Carbide Tier
Forrest blades, including the Woodworker II, are the gold standard for table saw blades in a lot of woodworking shops. The carbide quality, the plate stability, and the resharpening life are what justify the price.
This is the most carbide exposed blade on the list, so it is also the one where price movement is most likely. If a Forrest blade has been on your list for a year, this is your sign.
Acme Tools is the cleanest source for the full Forrest lineup at retail.
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18. Router Bits at Lowe's and Acme Tools
Router bits are the other carbide category that gets overlooked. The cutting edges on a quality bit are tungsten carbide, same raw material story as the saw blades.
If you run a router every week, a quality set of bits is a real tool investment, not a consumable. Buying the sizes you actually use now beats paying more for them in 12 months.
Lowe's and Acme Tools both carry strong router bit lineups depending on what brand and style you prefer.
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What the Big Brands Are Doing to Fight Back
There is some light at the end of this tunnel and it is not a train. A lot of brands are already restructuring to offset the battery tax and tariff pressure. TTI is making more tools in Mexico, and their 2025 interim report mentions manufacturing network rebalancing as part of their capital spend.
Stanley Black and Decker, which owns DeWalt and Craftsman, said in their Q2 2025 earnings call that the company is executing a robust plan to mitigate tariffs and is leveraging the strength of their North American footprint. They also completed a global cost reduction program that delivered 2.1 billion in savings since 2022. When you see a Made in Mexico label on a DeWalt or Milwaukee tool, that is the brand response showing up at the price tag.
The brands are doing real work to keep this from becoming a wall of price hikes. Some of it will land. Some of it will not. The buying decisions you make this year are about not getting caught flat footed while they sort it out.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are tool prices going up in 2026 and 2027?
Yes. Two clear forces are already pushing prices up. The China VAT export rebate on tool batteries was cut by a third on April 1, and it goes to zero on January 1, 2027. Copper, which is in every brushless motor, hit a record high over six dollars a pound on COMEX. Old cost inventory is still on shelves now, but once it sells through, the new prices come with it.
Why did TTI discontinue HART tools?
TTI, the company that owns Milwaukee and RYOBI, killed HART because the math on a budget cordless brand stopped working. The CEO said in the official stock exchange announcement that the decision supports their medium term profitability objectives, and he pointed at rising tariffs as a key factor. It was not a quality or recall issue. The cost structure for a low margin battery brand simply did not survive the new tariff and battery rebate environment.
Should I buy cordless tool batteries now or wait?
Buy now if you need them. Batteries are the single most exposed category because they were directly tied to the China VAT export rebate that is being phased out. Manufacturers absorbed the first cut, but they will not absorb the second one in 2027. If you are deep in a platform like Milwaukee M18, DeWalt, or RYOBI ONE+, stocking up on a couple of high amp hour batteries now is one of the few moves where the math is clearly in your favor.
Are combo kit deals still worth buying?
They can be, but you have to read the fine print on the batteries. Brands are starting to hold combo kit prices steady by swapping in smaller capacity batteries, like 1.5 or 1.7 amp hour packs instead of 5 amp hour batteries. The price tag looks the same as last year while you actually get less. Look for combo kits with 4, 5, or 6 amp hour batteries, the DeWalt PowerStack and PowerPack combos, or Milwaukee kits with high output or Forge batteries.
Why are saw blade prices going up?
The teeth on quality saw blades and the tips on bits are tungsten carbide. The raw materials behind tungsten carbide have been under heavy export pressure out of China. Brands like CMT, DeWalt, Diablo, Ridge Carbide, and Forrest that refuse to drop their carbide quality will feel that cost first. Cheaper blades with low grade carbide may hold their price longer, but they also dull faster, so you pay either way.
Which cordless tool platform should I buy into right now?
It depends on your work, not the brand loyalty. Milwaukee M18 has the deepest tool lineup and the best cordless track saw on the market. DeWalt makes the best cordless plunge router and a very strong 20V MAX lineup. RYOBI ONE+ HP is the right call if you want quality tools without breaking the bank, especially if you do not need a track saw. Look at the full platform of tools available, not just the one you need today.
Prices and availability were accurate at time of publishing and may change. Always click through to confirm current pricing. Some links in this post are affiliate links. 731 Woodworks may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
