We get asked a lot of questions about Makita batteries and especially about compatibility. Below we explain exactly what you need to know about Makita batteries and chargers for their cordless power tool range of products.
What Battery Voltage Sizes do Makita Have?
Makita make tools with the following battery voltage sizes:
- 18 Volts
- 14.4 Volts
- 12 Volts
- 10.8 Volts
- 7.2 Volts
The most popular by a huge distance is the 18V option
Makita 18V Range of Batteries
These are all slide on Lithium-Ion batteries. They work with all power tools that feature a yellow connector plate or have a star on the connector plate.
The only real difference is the Ampere Hour (Ah) rating of the battery. The bigger this Ah size is the longer the battery will last, as this figure measures the actual battery capacity.
Best Makita Battery
- 18 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 6.0 Ah
- 55 minute charge time
- Weighs 660 grams
- Includes a battery capacity indicator LED so you know how much charge is left.
- Works with all power tools that feature a yellow connector plate or has a star on the connector plate
- Suitable for tools like saws, blowers and trimmers
Makita BL1850 18V 5.0 Ah Battery
- 18 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 5.0 Ah
- 45 minute charge time
- Weighs 660 grams
- Includes a battery capacity indicator LED so you know how much charge is left.
- Works with all power tools that feature a yellow connector plate or has a star on the connector plate
Makita BL1840 18V 4.0 Ah Battery
- 18 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 4.0 Ah
- 36 minute charge time
- Weighs 1 Kg
- Includes a battery capacity indicator LED so you know how much charge is left.
- Works with all power tools that feature a yellow connector plate or has a star on the connector plate
Makita BL1830 - 18V 3.0 Ah Battery
- 18 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 3.0 Ah
- 36 minute charge time
- Weighs 550 grams
- Includes a battery capacity indicator LED so you know how much charge is left.
- Works with all power tools that feature a yellow connector plate or has a star on the connector plate
Compatible Battery Chargers for the 18V and 14.4 V Makita Batteries
Makita have 4 different types of charger for their 18V and 14.4 V range of batteries. They include those for a 240 Volt supply, a 110 Volt supply and an in-vehicle charger. We have listed those below:
Makita DC18RC Battery Charger
- This will charge one 18V or 14.4V Makita LXT slide battery
- It is classed as a is a compact sized fast charger
- Takes 15 minutes to fully charge an 18V 1.5Ah Makita battery
- Takes 22 minutes to fully charge an 18V 3.0Ah Makita battery
- Takes 36 minutes to fully charge an 18V 4.0Ah Makita battery
- Takes 45 minutes to fully charge an 18V 5.0Ah Makita battery
- Takes 55 minutes to fully charge an 18V 6.0Ah Makita battery
- This is a 240 Volt charger and comes with a UK 3-pin plug
The MAKITA DC18RC has a cooling fan that blows cool air into the battery. A digital power display identifies the condition of the battery and charging condition.
It measures 23.6 x 16.4 x 30.8 cm and weighs 820 grams.
Makita DC18SD Battery Charger
- This is classed as a standard charger and as such is slower than the fast charger explained above (It is also cheaper)
- This will charge one 18V or 14.4V Makita battery
- Takes 30 minutes to fully charge an 18V 1.5Ah Makita battery
- Takes 45 minutes to fully charge an 18V 2.0Ah Makita battery
- Takes 60 minutes to fully charge an 18V 3.0Ah Makita battery
- Takes 90 minutes to fully charge an 18V 4.0Ah Makita battery
- Takes 110 minutes to fully charge an 18V 5.0Ah Makita battery
- Takes 130 minutes to fully charge an 18V 6.0Ah Makita battery
It measures 22.5 x 10.5 x 5.5 cm and weighs 800 grams. When the light turns green the battery is charged.
Please note this will not charge "G Series" batteries.
Makita DC18SE Battery Charger
- This is an automotive charger and charges your cordless tool batteries from your vehicle’s DC power outlet
- It will charge 7.2v - 18v Ni-mh & Lithium-Ion batteries
- 1.5 Ah in 30 minutes
- 3.0 Ah in 60 minutes
- 4.0 Ah in 90 minutes
- 5.0 Ah in 110 minutes
- 6.0 Ah in 130 minutes
- 19.6 Ni-MH:1.7/2.0 Ah 40 minutes
- 19.6 Ni-MH:1.7/3.3 Ah 70 minutes
- 12V Ni-MH:2.0 Ah 40 minutes
- 12V Ni-MH:3.3 Ah -- 70 minutes
It measures 24.5 x 16.5 x 12 cm and weighs 949 grams.
It has charge status lights, a cooling fan, and diagnostic lights.
Makita 12 Volt Battery Range
Makita BL1041B 12V Battery
- 12 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 4.0 Ah
- It has a 4 stage LED battery fuel gauge
- Comes with individual cell monitoring and a battery protection circuit
- 60 minute charge time on Makita DC10SB or DC18RE
- 130 minute charge time on Makita DC10WD
- The battery is lightweight and shock absorbing
Makita BL1021B 12V Battery
- 12 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 2.0 Ah
- 30 minute fast charge time or 70 standard charge
- Features an integrated L.E.D. battery charge level indicator
- It has a compact design for less weight
- Can only be charged with a DC10WD charger
- Not compatible with 12V max pod-style tools or chargers
Makita BL1016B 12V Battery
- 12 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 1.5 Ah
- 22 minute fast charge time or 50 standard charge
- It has a battery fuel gauge ( 4 stage LED)
- It also has individual cell monitoring
- It has a battery protection circuit
- Will also work at low temperature with a sound performance.
Makita BL1013 10.8V Battery
- Compatible with all Makita 10.8 V Lithium Ion models
- This battery has a cell capacity of 1.3Ah
- The 194550-6 has a 50 minute charge time on DC10WA charger
- This battery is very light compared to others as it only weighs 170g, which is about 40% lighter than something like an 18V battery
- It is a cluster battery, with firm holding multi contacts and shock absorbing pack.
92% buyer satisfaction based on 750+ reviews
Makita 7.2 Volt Battery Range
Makita BL0715 7.2V Battery
- 7.2 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 1.0 Ah
- This is used for cordless pivot drills so has limited use
- It is light at around 100 grams
92% buyer satisfaction based on 150+ reviews
Compatible Battery Chargers for the 12V and 7.2 V Makita Batteries
Makita have 2 different types of charger for these 12V and 7.2 V batteries and we have listed those below:
- DC10SB Fast Charger
- DC10WD Standard Charger
Makita DC10SB Fast Charger
- 7.2 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 1.0 Ah
- 30 minute standard charge
- Charges a 12V max CXT® 1.5Ah battery in 22 minutes a 2.0Ah in 30 minutes and a 4.0Ah in 60 minutes
- It has charging status lights indicate the time it will take to charge a CXT® battery
Makita DC10WD Standard Charger
- This charger uses a multi-contact slide type terminal
- It is wall mountable
- Charge time for Makita BL1041B / BL1040B 130 minutes
- Charge time for Makita BL1021B / BL1020B 70 minutes
- Charge time for Makita BL1016B / BL1015 50 minutes
Makita Battery Voltage Explained
As you can see Makita have 7.2V, 12V, 14.4V and 18V batteries available. Why do manufacturers like Makita make different voltage of batteries?
The answer to this gets highly technical and is best explained by scientists.
In the simplest of terms, a battery’s voltage tells you how much power the cell generates in perfect conditions. The voltage signifies the maximum energy potential of a battery.
Higher voltages such as 18V and 20V are required to power heavier use power tools like hedge clippers, impact wrenches, cordless drills etc.
Smaller voltages can operate smaller power tools like cordless screwdrivers, rotary tools and light use drill/drivers.
Those batteries with larger voltage sizes are heavier than smaller voltage batteries and that is always a consideration for manufacturers depending on the actual use of the tool.
Makita Battery Ampere Hours Explained
Whereas voltage measures the potential energy of a battery, it is the Ah rating (usually 1.0Ah to 6.0AH) that measures the capacity of the battery.
As a general rule, the larger this number, the longer your battery will last for on each charge.
For example a 5.0Ah battery will last much longer than a 1.0Ah battery, but not 5 times as long as there is always a decline.
Where you can afford to, you should always buy the biggest Ah rating that you can afford.
Makita Lithium-Ion Batteries Explained
For many years power tools were powered by either Nickel Cadmium (NiCD) batteries were used.
After that Nickel Metal Hydride batteries(NiMH) came along and started to replace the older NiCD batteries.
Those two types allowed recharging and also allowed manufacturers to produce and manufacture a range of cordless power tools.
There were however one main problem with these as even when charged, but not being used they would discharge. That meant, when you next cam to use your power tool, the battery had discharged and was flat. You would then have to recharge these, and that could take hours.
Along came Lithium-Ion batteries (Li-Ion) and these have revolutionised the power tool market. The technology used is so much better, and although they also discharge when not in use, they do this very slowly and a charged battery will hold its charge for weeks.
You can also charge these without having to wait until they are completely discharged.
Makita DC18RD Battery Charger - Most Popular
- 2 port fast charger which is capable of charging two Makita 18V of 14.4V batteries simultaneously
- It also has a USB port that adds extra charging capacity for phones, tablets, etc.
- Charging two 2.0Ah batteries will take 25 minutes
- Charging two 18V 3.0Ah batteries will take 30 minutes
- Charges two 18V 4.0Ah batteries will take 40 minutes
- Charging two 18V 5.0Ah batteries will take 45 minutes
- Please note this charger only works with the Lithium-Ion LXT slide type batteries
The charger is fitted with a standard 3 pin British plug with a 10A fuse. Lights tell you the condition of the battery/charger and end of full the charge.
Measures 10.2 x 34.0 x 20.0 cm and weighs 2.25 Kg
It also has an electronic current limiter for overload protection and forced air cooling system. The cooling fan keeps the battery temperature low for minimum charging time.
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Hello, what about the 18V Makita battery DC18WC?
Besides being more compact is it a fast or aslow charger?
And what does the W stand for please ?
Thanks
Hi, the DC18WC is not a fast charger. It will take around twice the time as the Makita fast charger. The WC stands for World Charger, whih just means it can be used with different voltages and is pretty universal.
Hi Geoff,
Thank you very much for your reply.
Am I then correct assuming that a Makita DC18WC charger will definitely charge a Makita BL1830B (18V 3.0Ah) battery then?
Thanks
Alberto
Yes it will charge it perfectly well. It isnt the quickest but is good value
Hello again,
One more Makita charger I've come across on eBay is DC18RF…
Is this a rapid charger?
And how does it differ from the DC18RC?
Thanks
Have a look at this page https://www.makita.ca/index2.php?event=newaccessorydetailstemp&id=417&catid=2