Makita vs Porter Cable power tools – which brand will be better for you in 2022? Here is a breakdown of the key differences between the two brands that will help you to decide.
Makita vs Porter Cable – Quality
Makita is renowned for its phenomenal quality and legendary durability. Overall, there is a general consensus that Makita power tools are highly functional, long-lasting, and durable. It is not surprising then that Makita users are very satisfied with their tools.
Makita cordless tools are in particular exceptionally good. It is hard to find fault with a world-renowned brand like Makita. There is a reason why it is trusted all across the globe.
Makita tools work brilliantly for occasional or light use. How they fare with respect to heavy-duty use is what makes them shine. Makita power tools have superior durability and reliability which is why they are ideal for heavy-duty professional use.
Of course, all of this comes at a price. Makita is not the cheapest power tool brand around. However, you do get what you pay for. Hence, you get superior quality and a fairly good warranty.
Makita produces its power tools in various locations around the world including the US, Thailand, Dubai, Germany, the UK, Romania, Mexico, China, Brazil, and of course, Japan. It does not matter where these tools are made for they all have the same quality across the board.
Porter-Cable is a bit different since its low prices are geared towards budget-conscious workers. Hence, these tools are popular with DIYers and homeowners who only need to make light use of these tools and will hence not want to invest too much.
For the price tag that it demands, the brand offers reasonable quality, durability, and functionality. Of course, the durability will not be as high as Makita’s.
Hence, Porter-Cable tools work well for occasional users like DIYers, homeowners, and hobbyists. However, they will not be the first choice for heavy-duty industrial-grade use. Due to its lower price tag, Porter-Cable is going to be a bit more variable in terms of quality compared to Makita.
To keep their costs low, Cable Porter power tools are made in Mexico and China. This partly explains the slight variation in quality.
Makita vs Porter Cable – Warranty
Makita is known for offering pretty decent warranties on most of its products. There is a 30-day replacement guarantee. The general product warranty time frame is one year which is at par with the market standard. Gas-powered tools likewise are available with a 1-year warranty.
Lithium-ion tools are where Makita really shines for these have a 3-year limited warranty.
Porter-Cable tools on the other hand have a one-year limited warranty which is not as good as Makita. Certain tools have a 3-year limited warranty though.
Hence, we can safely say that Makita outshines Porter Cable on the warranty front.
Makita vs Porter Cable – Product Portfolio
Makita is obviously the bigger of the 2 brands. Hence, the premier Japanese brand will naturally have a larger product offering compared to Porter-Cable.
In fact, Makita makes a wide range of gardening and lawn maintenance tools while Porter Cable doesn’t. Also, Makita has a large woodworking tool range but not Porter-Cable. Hence, Makita offers a wider assortment of tools.
Makita vs Porter Cable – Impact Drivers and Drills
While Porter Cable has a modest 4 impact driver models for sale as well as 6 drills, Makita gives you scores of options to choose from. In fact, Makita extends under 100 impact drivers and drills to choose from. So with Makita, you are spoilt for choice.
Makita vs Porter Cable – Which Brand is Better for Me?
It all depends on your needs and budget. If you are more interested in cost-saving and are certain that you will be making just light use of your power tools then Porter Cable may be more suitable for you.
However, if you insist on top-class premium quality and want power tools that are suitable for reliable heavy-duty use, then Makita is the way to go. You will want to go for Makita if you don’t want any compromise on quality even if that means paying a premium.
Of course, Makita also has a wider selection of products to choose from. So if you have very specific power tool needs, you will benefit more by browsing a Makita catalog of products.
It should also be remembered that Porter Cable does not make lawn maintenance and gardening tools. The same goes for woodworking power tools. However, Makita makes them all. So if you have to choose woodworking tools or lawn maintenance items, then you are out of luck with Porter-Cable. Makita on the other hand can supply all your needs.
If you are serious about quality heavy-duty power tool use, then Makita should be a high priority. Makita not only outperforms Porter Cable in most power tool products, but it also surpasses other leading brands like DeWalt, for instance.
The flagship Makita impact driver, for instance, has better weight, length, impact rate, and maximum speeds as compared to DeWalt. However, it does have a slightly lower maximum torque.
Hence, Makita is very competitive and comparable to the best in the business.
You just go wrong with a world-leading power tool brand like Makita. If you insist on the best power tools out there, then Makita is the brand for you. In fact, part of the reason why you are probably reading this guide is that you want to go for the one that is best. So you will do well with Makita.
Our Final Thoughts
Overall, both Makita and Porter-Cable are trusted brands. It’s just that one is good while the other is great. Porter-Cable will suit you just fine if you are looking for reasonable quality at reasonable rates. But if you are adamant about top quality and don’t mind paying a premium, then you will be better off with Makita.
