Makita 18V LXT or 40V XGT: which one to choose?

18V LXT is Makita’s most extensive cordless system and is suitable for most home, renovation, and construction tasks. 40V max XGT is designed for heavy-duty and continuous work requiring more power, such as large rotary hammers, impact wrenches, and saws. The batteries are not interchangeable: an XGT battery fits only XGT tools and an LXT battery only LXT tools.

What is the difference between the Makita 18V LXT and 40V XGT battery platforms?

Both are systems based on Makita lithium-ion batteries. The difference lies in voltage, battery size, and the range of tools available.

• Voltage. The LXT battery is 18 V, while the XGT battery is 40 V max. Higher voltage allows the tool to provide more power and maintain RPM even under heavy load.
• Energy. An XGT battery has twice as much energy at the same capacity. A 5.0 Ah LXT battery (BL1850B) is 90 Wh, while a 5.0 Ah XGT battery (BL4050F) is 180 Wh.
• Size and weight. The XGT battery is larger and heavier. A 5.0 Ah XGT battery weighs about 1.3 kg.
• Selection. The 18V LXT system features several times more tools: drills, saws, sanders, vacuums, lamps, radios, and garden tools. The XGT range is smaller and focuses on heavy-duty tasks.

Which is more powerful: 18V LXT or 40V XGT?

An XGT tool is usually more powerful than the same type of LXT tool, but also heavier. The table below compares two similar pairs from our selection. Data is based on manufacturer specifications.

Indicator	18V LXT	40V XGT
3/4" impact wrench	DTW1001Z	TW001GZ
Max tightening torque	1250 Nm	1800 Nm
Max nut-busting torque	1700 Nm	2050 Nm
Weight with battery	3.4–3.7 kg	3.9–5.1 kg
SDS-plus rotary hammer	DHR243ZJW	HR004GZ01
Impact energy	2.0 J	2.9 J
Max drilling in concrete	24 mm	28 mm
Weight with battery	3.2–3.7 kg	4.0–5.4 kg
Battery compatibility	LXT tools only	XGT tools only

For light work, XGT is not necessary. For driving screws, drilling in wood and metal, and standard sawing, 18V LXT is sufficient and lighter to handle.

Does an XGT battery fit an 18V LXT tool?

It does not. XGT and LXT batteries have different mounts and voltages. An XGT battery does not fit an LXT tool, and an LXT battery does not fit an XGT tool. Furthermore, an LXT charger will not charge an XGT battery.

Makita has one official adapter between platforms: ADP10 (191C10-7). With this, the XGT fast charger DC40RA can charge 18V LXT batteries. The adapter is for charging only. It does not allow an LXT battery to power an XGT tool.

We have not found an official adapter that would allow an LXT battery to provide power to an XGT tool. If you see such a solution, consult us before purchasing.

What batteries are available in the LXT and XGT systems?

Both systems have small and large batteries. A small battery makes the tool lighter; a large battery provides a longer runtime.

• 18V LXT: e.g., 2.0 Ah (36 Wh), 5.0 Ah (90 Wh), 9.0 Ah (162 Wh), and 12.0 Ah (216 Wh).
• 40V XGT: e.g., 2.5 Ah, 5.0 Ah (180 Wh), and 8.0 Ah (288 Wh).

The XGT fast charger DC40RA charges a 5.0 Ah XGT battery in about 50 minutes and an 8.0 Ah battery in about 76 minutes. LXT batteries are charged with an LXT charger. If you are buying for the first time, consider the need for batteries and a charger in addition to the tool. With two batteries, one can work while the other is charging.

What is 18V LXT suitable for and what is 40V XGT for?

Typical tasks for 18V LXT

• Home repairs, interior work, furniture assembly.
• Drilling and driving screws into wood, metal, and light concrete.
• Circular saw, jigsaw, angle grinder for medium-duty work.
• Garden work: trimmer, hedge trimmer, blower, lawnmower.
• Lamps, radios, and vacuums that use the same battery.

Typical tasks for 40V XGT

• Continuous drilling and chiseling in concrete.
• Tightening and loosening large bolts (vehicles, metal structures).
• Heavy-duty cutting work where an 18V tool lacks the power.
• Construction sites where the tool is used all day long.

Some powerful 18V tools run on two LXT batteries simultaneously (2 × 18 V). This allows for more power in the LXT system without switching to XGT. You can see this on the product page.

Is it worth using both systems?

It is possible, and many professionals do so: daily tools are 18V LXT, and one or two heavy-duty tools are 40V XGT. Keep in mind that you will need two sets of batteries. You may only need one charger if you use the XGT charger DC40RA with the ADP10 adapter.

If you already have many LXT batteries, start with LXT tools. It is worth moving to XGT when the work requires more power than LXT can provide.

Who is 18V LXT suitable for, and who is 40V XGT for?

• Choose 18V LXT if you do home and renovation work, need a wide range of tools, or already own LXT batteries.
• Choose 40V XGT if you work on construction sites every day, drill a lot of concrete, or tighten large bolts.
• Choose both if your main tools are LXT, but one task requires XGT power.
• Choose 12V max CXT if you need a very lightweight tool for tight spaces. You can find an overview of all three platforms on the page How to choose a Makita battery platform.

See the tools in the 18V LXT and 40V XGT categories, and find suitable batteries on the batteries and chargers page. If you are not sure, come visit our store in Paide at Pärnu tn 8. We will help you choose the platform that fits your work.