Craftsman vs DeWalt: Which Brand Wins?
Project Farm has put Craftsman and DeWalt products into the same head-to-head test 33 times in this index. Counting each brand's best finisher, Craftsman came out ahead in 17 of those 33 matchups and DeWalt in 16. Neither brand sweeps: the lead changes with the tool category, so the grid below shows every matchup, category by category, with each brand's exact finishing position and a link to the full test results.
Craftsman
17 / 33
matchups finished ahead · 3 outright test wins
DeWalt
16 / 33
matchups finished ahead · 5 outright test wins
“Finished ahead” compares each brand's best-placed product in a test. “Outright test win” means the test itself declared that brand's product the overall winner.
Craftsman vs DeWalt, category by category
Every test below included at least one genuine product from each brand. Positions are the order the products finished in the test; knockoff and counterfeit entries never score.
Hand Tools14 tests
| Test | Craftsman best finish | DeWalt best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanics Tool Sets2025 · 10 products | #6 of 10Craftsman 262-piece set | #2 of 10DeWalt 247-piece set | DeWalt |
| Torque Wrench2025 · 12 products | #5 of 12Craftsman | #7 of 12DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Screwdriver2025 · 16 products · Craftsman won the test outright | #1 of 16Craftsman Extreme Grip diamond tip | #10 of 16DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Adjustable Wrenches2025 · 21 products | #4 of 21Craftsman | #13 of 21DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Half Inch Drive Ratchet2024 · 18 products | #6 of 18Craftsman | #18 of 18DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Mechanics Tool Set2023 · 8 products | #3 of 8Craftsman | #5 of 8DeWalt | Craftsman |
| 3/8 Inch Flex Head Ratchets2023 · 16 products | #11 of 16Craftsman | #4 of 16DeWalt | DeWalt |
| Utility Knife2023 · 16 products | #9 of 16Craftsman | #4 of 16DeWalt | DeWalt |
| 3/8 Inch Drive Ratchets2022 · 18 products | #14 of 18Craftsman stubby | #12 of 18DeWalt | DeWalt |
| Hex Bit Socket2022 · 15 products | #10 of 15Craftsman | #12 of 15DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Needle Nose Pliers2022 · 14 products | #5 of 14Craftsman | #4 of 14DeWalt | DeWalt |
| Torque Wrench2021 · 11 products | #3 of 11Craftsman current model | #6 of 11DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Diagonal Cutting Pliers (wire Cutters)2021 · 15 products | #3 of 15Craftsman | #5 of 15DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Tape Measure2021 · 11 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #2 of 11Craftsman | #1 of 11DeWalt | DeWalt |
Power Tools10 tests
| Test | Craftsman best finish | DeWalt best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cordless Hammer Drill2025 · 11 products | #5 of 11Craftsman | #10 of 11DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Air Compressor2025 · 13 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #11 of 13Craftsman | #1 of 13DeWalt | DeWalt |
| Impact Drivers2025 · 12 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #8 of 12Craftsman | #1 of 12DeWalt 860 DCF860 (implied by 860 model designation, not stated by full number in transcript) | DeWalt |
| Heat Gun2024 · 18 products · Craftsman won the test outright | #1 of 18Craftsman Corded | #12 of 18DeWalt Corded | Craftsman |
| Cordless Screwdriver2024 · 17 products | #6 of 17Craftsman | #14 of 17DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Cordless Framing Nailer2023 · 6 products | #4 of 6Craftsman | #5 of 6DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Battery-powered Sanders2022 · 12 products | #3 of 12Craftsman | #12 of 12DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Cordless Circular Saws2022 · 10 products | #3 of 10Craftsman | #8 of 10DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Angle Grinder2022 · 10 products | #5 of 10Craftsman | #4 of 10DeWalt | DeWalt |
| Shop Vacs2020 · 7 products · Craftsman won the test outright | #1 of 7Craftsman | #2 of 7DeWalt | Craftsman |
Blades, Bits & Abrasives4 tests
| Test | Craftsman best finish | DeWalt best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circular Saw Blades2022 · 15 products | #10 of 15Craftsman | #9 of 15DeWalt | DeWalt |
| Impact Driver Bits2020 · 10 products | #5 of 10Craftsman | #4 of 10DeWalt Max Fit | DeWalt |
| Utility Knife Blade2019 · 11 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #9 of 11Craftsman | #1 of 11DeWalt carbide edge | DeWalt |
| Twist Drill Bit2019 · 12 products · DeWalt won the test outright | #3 of 12Craftsman gold oxide, 14 piece set | #1 of 12DeWalt black oxide standard tip, 14 piece set | DeWalt |
Outdoor Power Equipment4 tests
| Test | Craftsman best finish | DeWalt best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Chainsaw2025 · 13 products | #10 of 13Craftsman | #11 of 13DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Garden Hose2025 · 18 products | #11 of 18Craftsman | #14 of 18DeWalt | Craftsman |
| Chainsaw2022 · 12 products | #9 of 12Craftsman 10in bar chainsaw | #7 of 12DeWalt chainsaw, 12in bar | DeWalt |
| Pole Saw2022 · 10 products | #5 of 10Craftsman | #4 of 10DeWalt | DeWalt |
Jump Starters & Car Power1 test
| Test | Craftsman best finish | DeWalt best finish | Finished ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tire Inflator2025 · 18 products | #9 of 18Craftsman | #3 of 18DeWalt | DeWalt |
Where Craftsman finished ahead
How this scoreboard works
Every row comes from one Project Farm head-to-head test that fielded genuine products from both Craftsman and DeWalt. For each test we take each brand's best-finishing product, in the order the test ranked them, and score which one placed higher; the test's own declared winner is reported separately as an outright win. We did not run any of this testing ourselves, and no number on this page exists outside the underlying test data. Click any test to see the full measured results and the link to the original video.
The products behind these results
The best finisher each brand fielded in the tests above. We link what the tests named, not our own pick, and we have not tested anything ourselves.
Hand Tools · test winner
Craftsman Extreme Grip diamond tip
Power Tools · test winner
DeWalt 860 DCF860
Blades, Bits & Abrasives · test winner
DeWalt carbide edge
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FAQ
Is Craftsman better than DeWalt?
Neither brand sweeps. Across the 33 independent Project Farm tests in this index that included both brands, Craftsman's best product finished ahead in 17 matchups and DeWalt's in 16. The result varies by tool category, so check the grid above for the product you are actually buying.
How many tests did Craftsman win outright?
Craftsman took the test's declared overall win in 3 of the 33 shared tests, including screwdriver, heat gun, shop vacs. An outright win means the test itself named a Craftsman product the winner; finishing ahead of DeWalt happened more often than that.
How many tests did DeWalt win outright?
DeWalt took the test's declared overall win in 5 of the 33 shared tests, including air compressor, impact drivers, tape measure. An outright win means the test itself named a DeWalt product the winner; finishing ahead of Craftsman happened more often than that.
Who wins in hand tools?
Hand Tools is the pair's biggest battleground here: 14 shared tests. Craftsman's best product finished ahead in 8 of them. Every one of those tests is linked in the grid above so you can check the measured results.
Did Which Brand Wins run these tests?
No. Every measurement and finishing order on this page comes from Project Farm's independent test videos. We index the results and compute the scoreboard; each row links to our write-up of the underlying test, which links the original video so you can check the numbers yourself.