Tools & DIY · Head-to-head
Makita RW01Z 12V max CXT 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. Cordless Ratchet vs DeWalt DCF503B 12V MAX Brushless 3/8 in. Ratchet
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Cordless Ratchets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The RW01Z is the lightest and shortest tool here and runs more than three times the free speed of either DeWalt. The DCF503B is slimmer through the body, brushless and lists 60 ft-lbs of max torque against the Makita's 35.
Makita RW01Z 12V max CXT 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. Cordless Ratchet
Buy itThe lightest and shortest tool in the group, with three times the free speed of either DeWalt and an interchangeable 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. anvil.
- 35 ft-lbs of maximum torque, stated on Makita's spec sheet alongside the metric figure of 47 N-m, which is well below the DeWalts' listed figures.
- 0 to 800 RPM variable, more than three times the free speed of either DeWalt here.
- The square drive is interchangeable between 3/8 in. and 1/4 in., so one tool covers both socket sets.
- 2.35 lbs with a battery and 13-7/16 in. long, the smallest numbers in this comparison.
- Runs on 12V max CXT, a smaller platform than Makita's own 18V LXT line.
- Makita does not publish a head height, so you cannot compare its profile against the DeWalts on paper.
- Bare tool, with the battery and charger sold separately.
DeWalt DCF503B 12V MAX Brushless 3/8 in. Ratchet
Buy itBrushless, 60 ft-lbs of max torque, the slimmest listed body here, and the sensible choice if your batteries are already DeWalt 12V.
- Brushless motor with 60 ft-lbs of max torque, the second-highest figure listed in this group.
- 2.52 in. listed height, the slimmest body of the three that publish the figure.
- Glass-filled nylon housing, which DeWalt states is there to resist oils and solvents.
- Variable speed trigger and an onboard LED, at 2.43 lbs bare.
- 250 RPM free speed, less than a third of the Makita's.
- The spec table lists Total Number of Batteries as 3 on a tool DeWalt sells as bare, which is a data error.
- 12V MAX is a smaller platform than DeWalt's own 20V MAX line.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Makita RW01Z 12V max CXT 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. Cordless Ratchet Our pick | DeWalt DCF503B 12V MAX Brushless 3/8 in. Ratchet | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants the smallest tool that still makes real torque, and who works across both 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. sockets. | DeWalt 12V MAX owners who want a slim brushless ratchet with high listed torque and can accept a slower free speed. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
| Published max torque | 35 ft-lbs (47 N-m) | 60 ft-lbs |
| Free speed | 0 - 800 RPM | 250 RPM |
| Motor | Not published | Brushless |
| Square drive | 3/8 in. and 1/4 in., interchangeable | 3/8 in. |
| Listed height | Not published | 2.52 in. |
| Listed length | 13-7/16 in. | 14.2 in. |
| Weight | 2.35 lbs with battery | 2.43 lbs bare |
| Battery platform | 12V max CXT | 12V MAX |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Makita RW01Z 12V max CXT 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. Cordless Ratchet if
anyone who wants the smallest tool that still makes real torque, and who works across both 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. sockets.
Know before buying: runs on 12V max CXT, a smaller platform than Makita's own 18V LXT line.
Pick the DeWalt DCF503B 12V MAX Brushless 3/8 in. Ratchet if
deWalt 12V MAX owners who want a slim brushless ratchet with high listed torque and can accept a slower free speed.
Know before buying: 250 RPM free speed, less than a third of the Makita's.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Makita RW01Z 12V max CXT 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. Cordless Ratchet - The lightest and shortest tool in the group, with three times the free speed of either DeWalt and an interchangeable 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. anvil. Choose the DeWalt DCF503B 12V MAX Brushless 3/8 in. Ratchet instead if deWalt 12V MAX owners who want a slim brushless ratchet with high listed torque and can accept a slower free speed.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Cordless Ratchets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).