The DeWalt name is one of the most recognizable in power tools whether youre a fan of them or you hate them, youve at least heard of them.
Hitachi is another big name, but some people will be more familiar with the brand for their TVs and electronics than for their power tools. This probably leaves a lot of intrigued DIYers wondering are Hitachi tools any good?
In this article, well take a head to head look at DeWalt vs. Hitachi; well consider price points, performance, reliability, and overall value for a few of each brands most popular tools. The two brands are very similar in price and class. This article may help you decide which one to choose.
Brief Histories: Hitachi Vs DeWalt
Hitachi Company History
Hitachi has a long history in Japan, dating back to the 4 826 cms. It was founded by a young Japanese engineer who rose to prominence in the industry when he introduced the countrys first electric induction motor.
The company’s headquarters remained in Tokyo over the years and it has grown to be an international conglomerate, employing more than 300,000 people. It is now rivaled by some of the most prominent electronics brands on the planet, such as Sony, Mitsubishi, and others.
History Of DeWalt Company
DeWalt was founded in a small Pennsylvania village when Raymond DeWalt introduced the radial-arm saw in the 51 cms. The brand was a pioneer in DIY and the first generation of cordless powertools was a game changer back in the 229 cms.
DeWalt, currently owned by Stanley Black and Decker, may not be the most well-known name in the industry but they still produce reliable and high-quality tools at affordable prices.
Hitachi & DeWalt Parent Companies
The Hitachi Group
The Hitachi Group is the parent company of Hitachi. They are the owners of many brands:
- Hitachi Vantara
- Hitachi Metals
- Hitachi Rail
- Hitachi Astemo
- Hitachi High-tech
- Hitachi Construction Machinery
- Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe)
- GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (co-owned by General Electric)
- Hitachi Global Life Solutions
- Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning
- Hitachi Digital Media Group
- Hitachi Plant Technologies
- Hitachi Communication Technologies America
- Hitachi Solutions America
- Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems
- Hitachi Transport System
- Hitachi Energy
Stanley Black & Decker (SBD)
DeWalt is owned by Stanley Black & Decker (also known as SBD). They are the owners of many brands:
- DeWalt
- Black + Decker
- Craftsman
- Stanley
- Lenox
- Irwin
Brand Reputation & Cost Of Tools
Here well go over the reputations and cost of the tools of each brand.
Hitachi Reputation And Tool Accessibility
Hitachi products are likely some of the best out there. Hitachi tools are generally considered high-end.
In general, these are the kinds of tools that a tradesman would use on a daily basis for larger jobs. Hitachi tools are durable and last a long time. They often use top-of the-line components and materials in their construction.
However, hobbyists and DIYers still have the ability to use them. These tools are perfect for light and occasional use. With all of that being said, Hitachi tools are not exactly cheap, which is why hobbyists and DIYers usually dont go with them. On the flip side, youre also getting what you pay for with Hitachi.
DeWalt Reputation And Tool Affordability
The number one thing that can be said about DeWalt products across the board is that they are likely some of the best out there. The general consensus about DeWalt tools is that they are fairly high-end, maybe not the very best in the world, but certainly up there with the best of them. We agree with most of the people who say that DeWalt tools and other products are excellent for heavy-duty and professional use.
In general, these are the kinds of tools that a tradesman would use on a daily basis for big jobs, and not have to worry about them breaking down. DeWalt tools are known for their durability and long-lasting nature. They often use top-of the-line components and materials in the construction of power tools and other products.
Now, this is not to say that non-professional people, such as hobbyists, DIYers, and people looking to do home repairs, cannot use them. They can be used for light and occasional use.
That being said, DeWalt tools are not exactly cheap, which is why hobbyists and people who just need them for occasional use may not buy them. DeWalt tools are not cheap, but you get more quality for your money. Overall, DeWalt tools are recognized for their durability, longevity, comfort, functionality, and ability to deal with big jobs.
Warranty Comparisons
Hitachi Warranty
To ensure that customers receive the best quality Hitachi tools, they are all thoroughly inspected before leaving the factory. If you are not satisfied with the tool within 30 days of purchase, please return the product with a receipt to the original place of purchase for a refund or replacement. This guarantee covers power tools only.
Lifetime Warranty
A Lifetime warranty is defined as the serviceable life of the product. This is the time that all components are made available.
- Cordless Lithium Ion Blowers
- Cordless Lithium Ion Circular Saws
- Cordless Lithium Ion Driver Drills
- Cordless Lithium-Ion Hammer Drills
- Cordless Lithium-Ion Impact Drivers
- Impact wrenches made of cordless lithium ion
- Cordless Lithium Ion Jig Saws
- Cordless Lithium Ion Reciprocating saws
Two-year Warranty
The following product categories are guaranteed to be free of defects in materials or workmanship for two years after the original purchase date.
- Band saws
- Belt & Disc Sanders
- Benchtop Metal Dry-Cut Saws
- Drill Presses
- Lithium Ion Battery
- Planers
- Scroll saws
- Table saws
1-year Warranty
The product categories listed below are warranted to the original purchaser to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the original purchase date.
- Air Compressors
- Chargers
- Concrete Cutters
- Corded Grinders
- Corded Hammer Drills
- Corded Rotary Hammers
- Cordless Gas Nailers
- Cordless Grinder
- Cordless Rotary Hammers
- Demolition Hammers
- Generators
- NiCd and NiMH Batteries
- Radios
90-Day Guarantee
The following product categories are guaranteed to be free of defects in materials or workmanship for ninety days after the original purchase date.
- Bumpers
- Driver Blades
- Hammer Tackers
- Mallet Rubber Caps
- O-Rings
- Piston Cushions
- Ram Rubber Caps
- Ram Rubber Washers
- Shoe Base Pads
30-Day Guarantee
The product category listed below is warranted to the original purchaser to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of thirty days from the original purchase date.
- Accessory Products
Warranty coverage is conditioned upon the purchaser furnishing Hitachi or its Authorized Service Center with adequate written proof of the original purchase date.
DeWalt Warranty
DeWalt is very good at providing warranties on their tools and other products. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of their tools. It also offers three-, seven-, or lifetime limited warranties depending on the specific tool you purchase.
Tools: Performance, Reliability, And Overall Value
Hitachi made some of the most high-quality framing tools available. Their 13V circular saws were the best, and many contracting teams used Hitachi nailers as well as miter saws at job sites.
Nowadays, in the past six or eight years it seems that the brand has fallen off a bit, with Milwaukee especially seeing a rise in popularity. In terms of the absolute best-performing tools out there, Hitachi isnt really regarded anymore as being cream of the crop (then again, neither is DeWalt).
They can still be a great value if you don’t need or want the absolute best.
In our head-to-head comparisons, well primarily look at each companys line of cordless tools; drills, impact drivers, circular saws and reciprocating saws, and come to an overall conclusion on which one we think comes out on top.
Review: Hitachi And DeWalt Cordless Tool Combo Kits
Hitachi Tool KC18DGLS 18V Lithium Ion Cordless Combo Kit DV18DGL Hammer Drill And WH18DGL Impact Driver With 2-1.5Ah Batterys
This kit contains a sawzall, reciprocating saw, 6 circular saws, a cordless drill, a lantern/LED lamp, two 4.0-amp batteries, a charger and a carrying bag.
The tools are well-priced and perform adequately. It is difficult to predict how they will work for you. This all depends on what your expectations and needs are.
We believe that they are a good choice for light, standard work or entry-level jobs. They are not suitable for heavy jobs (framing and deck building). The battery life of the circular saw is very low and it eats through the battery like a bear in spring. Additionally, the cordless drill is not sufficient for most jobs.
The tools are also a bit heavy in the hands and look ugly as sin.
DeWalt 4-tool 18V Combo Set
For roughly the same price (just a hair more expensive) as the 4-tool Hitachi kit, the tools in this combo are of better quality, in our opinion.
The 4-tool DeWalt kit comes with an impact driver, not a circular saw. The impact is a great tool and an awesome addition to any cordless arsenal, but if youre after a value-priced kit like these, youll get way more use out of a circular saw than you would an impact driver.
For this reason, wed recommend going with the Hitachi set if it were between these two.
DeWalt 20VMAX 5-tool Cordless Kit
If youre willing to spend a bit more money, DeWalts 5-tool kit includes a hammer cordless drill, impact driver, reciprocating saw, circular saw, and LED light pretty much everything you need. Even though the tools are superior, it’s still a significant investment. We actually really like the DeWalt circular saw that comes in this combo, and the impact driver/hammer drill combo is fantastic great power, and good battery life.
If youre only looking for a drill or drill/impact driver combo, DeWalts 20V Li-Ion combo with two 1.5 amp slim-pack batteries is a fantastic value for the money.
Hitachi’s 18V drill/impact combination is very similar and slightly more expensive. However, in our opinion wed be more than happy to spend a little extra on the DeWalt kit. As both the drill and impact driver function and feel better in the hand (the Hitachis are a bit heavy/bulky and awkward to use).
One other major thing to consider is warranty. Hitachi has probably the best power tool warranty in the industry (limited lifetime on tools, 5-year on batteries), and is far superior to DeWalts 3-year limited. Hitachi is a great value for money. They have lower prices than DeWalt and a better warranty.
Hitachi Vs DeWalt: Brushless
One last thing well consider, since theyre becoming so popular, is a couple brushless models from each brand. Brushless motors allow for a significant increase in efficiency, performance, and battery life (for a detailed explanation why, check out this article), but are also significantly more expensive than regular cordless tools.
Between Hitachi and DeWalt, we didnt really see a massive difference in performance between their brushless drills and impact drivers. The DeWalt 20V is slightly faster and has a longer battery life, but it’s not worth the extra expense.
Hitachis brushless drill/impact driver combo is probably one of the best values on the market; drill, driver, and two 3.0 amp batteries all for one affordable price.
It’s difficult to beat that.
The tools in DeWalts 20V MAX XR brushless drill/impact driver combo are great. Dont get us wrong, but the kit is a little pricier, and it comes with the slim 1.5 amp batteries instead of the 3.0 amp fat packs a significant difference as the bigger batteries will give you about twice as much run time.
Bottom Line
Okay, here’s the bottom line. This is honestly a tough one.
If price wasnt a factor, the decision would be easy wed go DeWalt hands down. We believe the tools are better quality. Theyre superior ergonomically/aesthetically, and they perform slightly better than Hitachis cordless options.
In reality, however, price is an important factor. Is incredibly hard to ignore Hitachis super-impressive price tags and industry-leading warranty. If we were backed to a wall and forced to make a decision between the two, wed have to choose Hitachi. Theres just not that much of a discrepancy in performance to merit the higher price of DeWalts tools.
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Most Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hitachi and DeWalt one company?
No, Hitachi and DeWalt are not the same company. They are owned by different parent companies.
Is DeWalt good quality?
DeWalt is widely considered to be one of the most trusted tool brands available today. You can choose between brushed and brushless options. The quality is excellent for DIYers as well as home users.
Are Hitachi tools worth buying?
Hitachi tools have been found to perform poorly in comparison with other top brands.
Hitachi’s tools are of exceptional value, however.
Are Hitachi tools as good as DeWalt tools?
Hitachi tools are generally comparable to DeWalt’s, although there are DeWalt tools of higher quality than the Hitachi versions.
Is Hitachi better than Dewalt for cordless hand tools?
This question is not easy to answer. Dewalt tools are high quality and reliable. Hitachi tools are cheaper but can get the job done. However, one is technically better performance-wise. But Hitachi may be better for you if youre just performing tasks around the house. DeWalt is a great tool for heavy-duty jobs and projects, but why spend the extra money if you don’t need it?
Are DeWalt batteries compatible with Hitachi?
DeWalt is in the same market as Hitachi, but they have their own accessories (including batteries) to match their tools. This is how customers are loyal.
