Which Corded Angle Grinder Brand Wins?
2023 test11 productsPower Tools

Which Corded Angle Grinder Brand Wins?

In our test we compared 11 corded angle grinder options head to head. Makita came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.

The verdict
Makita
Winner

Makita

Price shown in test: the most expensive brand we'll be testing

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Milwaukee
Runner-up

Milwaukee

Price shown in test: $133

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Ridgid
Budget pick

Ridgid

Price shown in test: $60

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The quick take

The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.

WinnerMakitathe most expensive brand we'll be testing

the Makita came out on top with an average finish of 2.2

Runner-upMilwaukee$133
Budget pickRidgid$60

The measured results

Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.

Rebar cutting speed with cutoff wheel

  • 1Makita SJS high-powered grinder

    the Makita claims to be a high-powered grinder, and it made the fastest cut yet at 2.98 seconds. Very impressive

  • 2Ridgid

    the 12,000 RPM Ridgid shredded the rebar in only 3.8 seconds, taking the lead from the Porter Cable

  • 3Milwaukee

    the Milwaukee lost a lot of blade speed making the cut. 5 seconds for the Milwaukee

  • 4Metabo

    the 11-amp motor on the Metabo maintained pretty good blade speed and made the cut in 4.8 seconds

  • 5DeWalt

    the 10,000 RPM DeWalt lost some blade speed, but it still blasted through the rebar in 4.3 seconds to move into second place behind the Ridgid

  • 6Porter-Cable

    the Porter Cable takes the lead from the Black and Decker at 5.1 seconds to make the cut

  • 7Black & Decker

    the Black and Decker makes the cut in 6 seconds and takes the lead from the Wen

  • 8Wen

    the Wen made the cut at over 3 seconds faster than the Warrior at 10.7 seconds

  • 9Ryobi

    the Ryobi began bogging down quite a bit when it made contact with the rebar. 6.7 seconds to make the cut

  • 10Hilti

    the Hilti lost a lot of blade speed making the cut in 7.5 seconds

  • 11Warrior

    the Harbor Freight Warrior lost a lot of RPM and sounds as though it might stall. However, the Warrior didn't give up and finished the cut in 14 seconds

Maximum torque rebar grinding test

  • 1Makita SJS high-powered grinder

    the Makita shrugged off the 20 lb of force and held great blade speed. And the Makita made the fastest cut yet in only 5.82 seconds

  • 2Ridgid

    the Ridgid takes the lead and is over 4 seconds faster than the Black & Decker at only 10.4 seconds

  • 3Milwaukee

    the Milwaukee moves into a two-way tie with the Metabo at 12.6 seconds

  • 4Metabo

    the Metabo finished the job in 12.6 seconds to move into second place behind the Ridgid

  • 5DeWalt

    the DeWalt did good enough to move into second place behind the Ridgid at 14.4 seconds

  • 6Porter-Cable

    the Porter-Cable is a little bit slower than the Black & Decker at 15.2 seconds

  • 7Black & Decker

    the Black & Decker is right at 2 seconds faster than the Wen at 14.5 seconds

  • 8Wen

    the Wen lost a lot of blade speed and is barely holding on, but it survived the test. 16.5 seconds to grind through the rebar

  • 9Ryobi

    the Ryobi's electric motor is glowing red and is puffing smoke. Unfortunately, the brushes on the Ryobi are finished

  • 10Hilti
    20 lb

    is just too much for the Hilti. Once the Hilti stalled, I gave it two more chances to power through the rebar, but the Hilti ran out of steam

  • 11Warrior
    15 lb

    is just too much for the Warrior and the Warrior is smoking

Overall non-subjective average finish

  • 1Makita SJS high-powered grinder

    the Makita came out on top with an average finish of 2.2

  • 3Milwaukee

    Milwaukee averaged 3.4

  • 4Metabo

    Metabo 4.8

  • 2Ridgid
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt
    not tested
  • 6Porter-Cable
    not tested
  • 7Black & Decker
    not tested
  • 8Wen
    not tested
  • 9Ryobi
    not tested
  • 10Hilti
    not tested
  • 11Warrior
    not tested
All measurements (4 more)+

Performance-only average finish

  • 2Ridgid

    the very affordable Ridgid had an average finish of two

  • 5DeWalt

    Metabo and DeWalt 3.5

  • 1Makita SJS high-powered grinder
    not tested
  • 3Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 4Metabo
    not tested
  • 6Porter-Cable
    not tested
  • 7Black & Decker
    not tested
  • 8Wen
    not tested
  • 9Ryobi
    not tested
  • 10Hilti
    not tested
  • 11Warrior
    not tested

Startup torque

  • 7Black & Decker

    the Black and Decker is more motivated than a drill sergeant and nearly came off the table. 4 in lb of tool reaction

  • 1Makita SJS high-powered grinder
    not tested
  • 2Ridgid
    not tested
  • 3Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 4Metabo
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt
    not tested
  • 6Porter-Cable
    not tested
  • 8Wen
    not tested
  • 9Ryobi
    not tested
  • 10Hilti
    not tested
  • 11Warrior
    not tested

Tool vibration

  • 9Ryobi

    the Ryobi is by far the smoothest yet at around 12 m/s squared

  • 1Makita SJS high-powered grinder
    not tested
  • 2Ridgid
    not tested
  • 3Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 4Metabo
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt
    not tested
  • 6Porter-Cable
    not tested
  • 7Black & Decker
    not tested
  • 8Wen
    not tested
  • 10Hilti
    not tested
  • 11Warrior
    not tested

Wheel stop time

  • 10Hilti

    the angle grinder that comes to a stop the fastest is the Hilti in 3.4 seconds

  • 1Makita SJS high-powered grinder
    not tested
  • 2Ridgid
    not tested
  • 3Milwaukee
    not tested
  • 4Metabo
    not tested
  • 5DeWalt
    not tested
  • 6Porter-Cable
    not tested
  • 7Black & Decker
    not tested
  • 8Wen
    not tested
  • 9Ryobi
    not tested
  • 11Warrior
    not tested

How it was tested

  • rebar cutting speed test with a cutoff wheel and 10 lb of force
  • startup/tool reaction torque measurement
  • tool vibration measurement
  • wheel stop time
  • maximum torque and working load test grinding through rebar
  • switch activation force test
  • noise level (dB) measurement
  • no-load RPM measurement
  • overall average-finish ranking across non-subjective categories

the Makita came out on top with an average finish of 2.2

From the test video verdict.

Brand head-to-head scoreboards featuring this test

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