If you need to get your power tool collection jump-started, you want to make sure you have tools that you can count on whenever you need them. The easiest and most likely cheapest way to accomplish this is by purchasing a combo kit. Bosch vs Makita Combo Kits is some of the best in the industry.
Known for producing great power tools, such as compound miter saws, hammer drills, and cordless drills with lithium-ion batteries, orbital sanders, fixed-base routers, circular saws, and more, these two companies will go head to head in this combo tools review.
Table of contents
Bosch vs Makita: Brief Company Histories
Makita Company History
Makita was actually founded back in 1915 and has been in the electronics game ever since—for over 100 years. What started out with the making and repairing of electric motors turned into a whole lot more, with a company that now operates ten plants and sells through 40 different countries around the world. And what do they sell? A whole lot of Makita tools and electronics!
Bosch Company History
Bosch is a power tool brand that has been around for a very long time, founded way back in 1886 when Robert Bosch started the “Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering. Now, over 130 years later, the company makes just about anything and everything electronic you can think of. It’s not just Bosch tools but components for vehicles and home appliances as well. Overall, you’re getting a cordless tool brand that you’ve definitely heard of and trust.
Makita & Bosch Parent Companies
Makita
Makita is just Makita. It’s one of the few remaining power tool brands that is not owned by a larger company. Makita did acquire the Dolmar brand, increasing its already-impressive line of outdoor power tools.
Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH
Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH is the parent company of Bosch. They own a wide variety of brands:
- Bosch Tools
- AutoCrew
- Bosch Car Service
- ITK Engineering
- Robinair
- HC Cargo
- Zexel
- ETAS
- Dremel
- Siemens (under license)
- Neff GmbH
- Gaggenau Hausgeräte
- Energy and building technology
- Dynacord
- Electro-Voice
- Telex
- Worcester Bosch
- Junkers
Product Line Depths
Both Makita and Bosch sell a wide variety of products. Below, you’ll find what each brand’s product line consists of.
Makita Product Line
Makita sells corded, cordless, and gas-powered products. While they may not sell as many products as Bosch, that doesn’t mean they won’t have what you need. For the average consumer, you can find everything that you need.
Here are some of the specific types of products you can purchase from Makita:
- Blowers
- Chainsaws
- Hedge Trimmers
- Lawn Mowers
- Pole Saws
- Circular Saws
- Miter Saws
- Metal Cutting Saws
- Hammer Drills
- Impact Wrenches
- Nailers
- Vacuums
- Area Work Lights
- Random Orbit Sanders
- Polishers
- & More
Bosch Product Lines
Bosch sells power tools, home appliances, garden tools, measuring tools, cleaning tools, heating and cooling, and smart home tools.
Here are some of the specific types of products you can purchase from Bosch:
- Washers
- Dryers
- Vacuums
- Fridges
- Freezers
- Circular Saws
- Band Saws
- Hammer Drills
- Impact Drivers
- Jigsaws
- Dust Collection
- Planers
- Lights
- Oscillating Multi-Tools
- Reciprocating Saws
- Sanders
- & More
Brand Reputation and Cost of Tools
Makita Reputation and Tool Affordability
This company has received some high praise due to the performance and high quality of the tools they make. Makita tools are truly durable, long-lasting, and tough.
Unlike a lot of other brands, Makita uses high-quality raw materials for its products and holds itself to high manufacturing standards as well. You can literally drop these tools on the ground over and over again, and they’d still work like the day you first bought them.
Consumers have found that Makita tools last a long time; the electrical components, motors, and other components can withstand high amounts of heat, friction, and general wear. It’s also noted how Makita tools are usually comfortable to use, functional, and have a variety of features too.
Overall, Makita tools are viewed as some of the best tools you can buy. Makita tools are great for DIY jobs, crafts, home use, and more. However, Makita products are marketed towards tradesmen, professionals, and anyone else who needs reliable, high-quality tools for daily, heavy-duty use.
The quality you get with these tools does come at a cost. Makita is one of the pricier brands. However, you really do get what you pay for.
Bosch Reputation and Tool Affordability
Bosch has a long history of high-quality products. This can be seen throughout all of their technological advances. Not just the power tools. In recent years, Bosch is a global engineering company. They’re established in over sixty countries. They’ve moved away from power tools, power tools are still available for purchase, but they’ve shifted their focus. Their focus is on technological services like surveillance and automotive.
The prices between these two brands do vary. Bosch has overall cheaper power tools than Dewalt. Bosch is often the go-to for those looking for a budget-friendly drill/driver and impact driver. This is because they offer a versatile setup. Their highest-quality products often include a laser level.
Makita vs Bosch: Tool Comparison
Makita Combo Kit
Makita has been around for quite some time, and their kit reflects that they know what you’re looking for when it comes to Makita tools. The set includes a variable speed hammer driver-drill, impact driver and recipro saw, circular saw, flashlight, two batteries, a battery charger, and a cordless power tool bag. All of these tools run on an 18-volt battery, and the price is about moderate, considering everything that you’re getting. There’s also a 3-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.
Bosch Combo Kit
The Bosch Combo Kit provides just what you’re looking for as well and actually has almost all the same tools that you’ll find with the Makita hammer drill driver, reciprocating saw, flashlight, circular saw, two batteries, bosch battery charger, and a bag. However, you won’t get an impact driver with this set. This Bosch product also runs on an 18-volt battery, has a slightly higher price, and comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.
Bosch vs Makita: Features and Benefits of Each Tool
When it comes down to it, you want to make sure that you’re getting the most for your money, right? This means you want to make sure you have great variety, great prices, a warranty you can trust, and great quality tools. So, let’s take a look.
Variety
The Bosch set comes with three different power tools, plus the flashlight, two batteries, and the charger.
With two different saw options (for entirely different purposes) and the hammer drill driver, you’re getting quite a few different applications, and the flashlight makes it easier to always see what you’re doing.
Plus, with two batteries, you’re going to have the freedom to use more than one power tool at a time (more easily, that is) or to keep one battery charging while you’re using the other.
The Makita combo set has four different Makita power tools, plus a flashlight, two batteries, and a charger.
That means you’re getting a little bit more overall because you add that impact driver in there too.
You’re still getting the two batteries that give you more freedom, and you’ll have the flashlight too.
With this system, the flashlight is actually styled just like the tools, so it can stand upright when you need it, which is a unique and sometimes helpful feature.
Customer Service
If you want to utilize either company’s warranty, then you will have to deal with customer service. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for customer service to lack in the power tool industry.
Makita
Makita has customer service centers in different places in different countries. This is because they’re an international brand; Makita power tools are sold all over the world. So to be able to help all of their customers, they need to have multiple customer service centers.
Each center doesn’t operate the same, meaning the quality will vary. We found that Makita customer service reps are usually friendly and easy to reach. Another great thing is most reps are knowledgeable about products. However, we found that issues are difficult to get resolved. Makita seems to try everything it can to get out of the warranty.
Bosch
Bosch seems to have similar customer service as Makita. They are friendly and easy to reach. However, they didn’t seem to know as much about their products as Makita did. On the other hand, issues were resolved at a higher rate.
We found that Bosch customer service reps are prone to giving out wrong information and try to use service calls to sell new products. There are reports of customers receiving sales calls after calling customer service for a service-related issue.
Price
You don’t want to make your decision solely based on price, but sometimes you have to consider it.
With Makita, you’re actually getting a slightly lower price than you get with the Bosch, which is a bit of a surprise as you get more Makita power tools in a set.
Still, Bosch has been around for a while, and their products are pretty well known, which may be part of the reason for the pricing difference.
If you’re looking to save, however, it’s actually going to point you in the direction of more for your money.
Warranty
With Bosch, you get a 1-year limited warranty that says nothing is going to happen to your tools because of a manufacturer’s defect in the workmanship of the product.
They also stand behind their products for things like normal wear that causes defects in the unit (which they also attribute to a manufacturer defect). That’s not quite as long as you’re going to get with Makita, however.
Makita actually offers a 3-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.
That extra two years can actually be quite a big bonus when you’re spending a decent amount of money on your tools because you know that you’re going to get a good amount of quality and plenty of features out of it.
That’s definitely important overall, and it means you can rely on what you’ve bought.
Quality Tools
There’s no way either of these companies has been around as long as they have produced less than great quality products, right?
Absolutely! That’s why we know that with Makita and Bosch, you’re going to get something that you can rely on to do the job and do it well.
Main Differences Between Makita and Bosch
The main differences between Makita and Bosch are:
- Makita offers a three-year limited warranty, and Bosch offers a one-year limited warranty.
- Makita has been manufacturing tools since 1959, and Bosch has been manufacturing power tools since 1932.
- Makita offers five 18V drill options, and Bosch offers eight 18V drill options.
- Makita doesn’t provide any SMS contact, while Bosch does.
Bosch vs Makita: Wrap Up
Well, when it comes down to it, you’re going to get a great toolkit no matter which of these options you decide to go with, but you’re actually getting the most for your money if you decide to go with Makita.
That’s because the Makita toolset actually comes with an extra tool, and a longer warranty, and it’s going to save you money at the same time.
It’s definitely ticking a whole lot of boxes, and that makes it a great value if you’re trying to get your cordless tool collection built up for all those projects you have coming.
If you’re one of those people who really like famous brands, though, and really likes Bosch, then you won’t go wrong with the quality and the tools that you’re going to get—you’ll just pay a little bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Makita and Bosch the same company?
No, Makita and Bosch are not the same company. Makita is owned by just Makita. Bosch is owned by Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH. They own a variety of different brands.
Is Bosch good quality?
Bosch is often seen as one of the best tool brands that you can purchase today. They offer both brushless and brushed options, and the quality is great for DIYers and home use.
Are Makita tools worth buying?
Some Makita tool tests have found that their tools underperform when compared to other top tool brands. However, Makita offers incredible value for its tools.
Are Makita tools as good as Bosch tools?
For the most part, Makita has several tools that are right on par with Bosch tools, but there are some Bosch tools that are of higher quality than the Makita version.
Is Makita better than Bosch for cordless hand tools?
There isn’t a direct answer to this question. Bosch tools are of good quality and perform well. Makita tools are cheaper but can get the job done. However, one is technically better performance-wise. But Makita may be better for you if you’re just performing tasks around the house. Bosch makes excellent tools for heavy-duty projects and jobs, but if you don’t need that, why pay the extra money?
Do Bosch batteries fit Makita?
Although Bosch and Makita are in the same market space, they each have their own accessories, including batteries, to fit their tools. This is how companies ensure customer loyalty.
