Brushed vs brushless tools: what you actually get for the money
In this guide
The verdict by use case
| Your situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Drill or impact driver you use every week | Brushless | More holes and screws per charge; no brushes to wear |
| Cordless circular saw, grinder or reciprocating saw | Brushless | High-load tools waste the most energy in brushes |
| Tool for one project, or a few times a year | Brushed | Costs less; runtime matters less |
| Light jigsaw for crafts and thin plywood | Either | Small motor, light load |
| Corded tool | Brushed is fine | The wall plug never runs flat |
| Building a battery system for years | Brushless for the core tools | You'll buy fewer batteries over time |
This guide sits in our saws and cutting hub. For the battery side of the choice, see power tool battery platforms.
Brushed vs brushless: the comparison table
Microchip, a maker of motor control chips, compares the two designs in its motor guide. Here's the short version:
| Feature | Brushless motor | Brushed motor |
|---|---|---|
| How current is switched | Electronics (with position sensors) | Carbon brushes on a commutator |
| Maintenance | Less, since there are no brushes | Brushes wear and need replacing |
| Life | Longer | Shorter |
| Efficiency | High: no voltage lost across brushes | Moderate |
| Power for its size | High: windings on the case shed heat better | Moderate to low |
| Top speed | Higher; no brush limit | Lower; brushes limit it |
| Electrical noise | Low | Brush sparks cause interference |
| Cost to build | Higher (magnets, controller) | Low |
| Needs a controller | Always | Only for variable speed |
Planned bench test: a brushed and a brushless drill from the same brand and voltage, on the same battery, each driving 3-inch screws into a doubled 2x4 until the battery cuts out. Results will be added here when the test is done.
How the two motors work
Brushed motors
A brushed motor has its copper windings on the spinning part, called the armature. Two carbon blocks, the brushes, press against a ring of copper bars, the commutator. As the armature turns, the brushes feed current to the right windings to keep it spinning.
The brushes rub the whole time. That rubbing makes heat, sparks and dust, and the brushes wear down. When they're short, the tool loses power or stops.
Brushless motors
A brushless motor flips the layout. The magnets spin, and the windings stay still on the outside. A small circuit board reads where the magnets are and switches current to each winding in turn.
Nothing rubs, so no energy goes into friction at the brushes. DeWalt says that's the biggest benefit: the tool is more efficient, so it runs longer on a charge.
The differences in depth
Runtime per charge
This is the gain most people notice. Makita says its brushless motor is electronically controlled to use battery energy better, for up to 50% longer run time. DeWalt says its brushless motor electronically controls energy transfer so the tool runs longer between charges.
"Up to" is the key phrase. The gain depends on the tool, the load and which brushed model it's compared with. Use our battery runtime calculator to compare packs, and read amp hours explained for what the numbers mean.
Heat and motor life
Makita says removing the brushes lets the motor run cooler and more efficiently, for longer life. Bosch says the brushless motor in its IWMH182 impact wrench needs no scheduled maintenance and claims up to 2X longer motor life than a standard motor.
The rest of the tool still wears. Gears, chuck, switch and battery don't care what kind of motor they're attached to.
Power and size
A brushless motor makes more power for its size, per Microchip, because the hot windings sit against the case where they can shed heat. That's why brushless tools are often shorter and lighter for the same job. It also lets the electronics hold speed under load. Milwaukee builds its M18 FUEL line around its POWERSTATE brushless motor and REDLINK PLUS electronics.
Price
Brushless motors cost more to build. They need magnets and a controller every time, per Microchip. So brushless tools cost more than brushed tools from the same line.
We don't list prices here, because they change often.
Maintenance
Brushed tools need new brushes now and then. Many corded tools have brush caps you can open; on others, a service center does it. Brushless tools have no brushes to change.
What is a brushless jigsaw?
A brushless jigsaw is a jigsaw with a brushless motor. It uses the same blades and makes the same cuts: curves, holes and shapes. The difference is in the motor, not the cut.
What you get:
- More cuts per battery, the same runtime gain as other brushless tools.
- Steadier speed in thick stock, since the electronics hold speed under load.
- The same cut quality. That still comes from the blade, the speed and your feed.
A jigsaw that wanders is a blade or technique problem, not a motor one. See jigsaw won't cut straight and how to cut a circle with a jigsaw.
Who should buy which
Buy brushless if:
- You use the tool weekly, or on long jobs.
- It's a high-load tool: circular saw, grinder, reciprocating saw, big drill.
- You want the most work out of each battery.
Buy brushed if:
- You'll use it a few times a year.
- It's a low-load tool, like a light sander or a small jigsaw.
- The price gap would buy you a second battery instead.
Battery size changes the picture, too. A brushed drill with a big battery can outlast a brushless drill with a tiny one.
Product picks to compare
These aren't picks. They're examples, from the makers' own specs:
- Makita XDT13Z (brushless impact driver). Makita lists 1,500 in-lb of max torque and up to 50% longer run time.
- Bosch IWMH182 (EC brushless impact wrench). Bosch claims up to 2X longer motor life.
- Milwaukee M18 FUEL line. Brushless POWERSTATE motors across drills, saws and outdoor tools.
Choosing between a drill and an impact driver first? Read impact driver vs drill. Corded or cordless for a big saw? See corded vs cordless miter saw.
If your tool loses power
- Brushed tool sparks a lot or cuts out: the brushes may be worn. Check the manual for brush service.
- Any cordless tool dies fast: the battery may be the problem. See Ryobi battery won't charge for the checks that apply to most brands.
- Upgrading? Sell the old brushed tool; see where to sell power tools. For one brand's full lineup, read is Ryobi a good brand.
Key takeaways
- A brushed motor uses carbon brushes rubbing on a commutator to switch the current. A brushless motor does the switching with electronics, so nothing rubs.
- Microchip's motor guide lists brushless motors as more efficient, longer-lived, quieter in electrical noise and able to reach higher speeds, but costlier and in need of a controller.
- Maker claims: Makita says up to 50% longer run time per charge; Bosch says up to 2X longer motor life on its EC brushless impact wrench. These are 'up to' numbers.
- Brushless matters most on cordless tools, where wasted energy means a flat battery sooner.
- A 'brushless jigsaw' is just a jigsaw with a brushless motor. Blades, cuts and safety are the same.
Questions people ask
What does brushless mean on a drill?
It means the motor has no carbon brushes. DeWalt explains that brushes are still used in most power tool motors, and that removing them makes the tool more efficient, so it runs longer on a charge. Electronics switch the current instead.
Is brushless really worth it?
For tools you use often or hard on a battery, usually yes: more work per charge and no brushes to replace. For a tool you use a few times a year, a brushed model does the job for less money.
Do brushless tools last longer?
The motor usually does, since there are no brushes or commutator to wear. Microchip's motor guide lists longer life and less maintenance for brushless motors. Bosch claims up to 2X longer motor life on one brushless tool. Gears, switches and batteries still wear.
What is a brushless jigsaw?
A jigsaw with a brushless motor. It cuts curves and shapes with the same blades as a brushed jigsaw. The gain is longer runtime per battery and steadier speed under load, which helps in thick wood.
Can I use the same battery on brushed and brushless tools?
Yes, within one brand's battery platform. Brushless and brushed tools on the same voltage line share batteries. The brushless one usually gets more cuts or holes from each charge.
Are corded tools brushless?
Most corded tools still use brushed motors, and many let you replace the brushes. Some corded grinders and saws now come brushless. Corded tools have unlimited runtime, so efficiency matters less.
Sources
- Microchip AN885: Brushless DC (BLDC) motor fundamentals, BLDC vs brushed DC comparison table
- DEWALT support: What does BRUSHLESS mean? (no carbon brushes; more efficient, longer run per charge)
- DEWALT sustainability: brushless motor electronically controls energy transfer, runs longer between charges
- Makita XDT13Z 18V LXT brushless impact driver: up to 50% longer run time; no carbon brushes, runs cooler
- Bosch IWMH182 18V EC brushless impact wrench press release: no scheduled maintenance, up to 2X longer motor life vs a standard motor
- Milwaukee M18 FUEL: POWERSTATE brushless motor, REDLITHIUM and REDLINK PLUS
Change log: Nov 6, 2026: New pillar. Merges the 2024 archive post 'what is a brushless jigsaw' (kept the definition; removed unsourced claims that corded brushless jigsaws are 'more powerful' and cut 'without any vibrations or kickbacks'). Added how each motor works, the Microchip comparison table, maker claims with their limits and the bench-test plan.
