Tech & Gadgets · 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, runs more than three times the free speed of either DeWalt, and is one of only two that publish a torque figure. The DCF503B is slimmer through the body and brushless, but DeWalt will not say how much torque it makes.
Makita RW01Z 12V max CXT 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. Cordless Ratchet
Buy itThe lightest and shortest tool in the group, three times the free speed of either DeWalt, and it publishes its torque.
- 35 ft-lbs of maximum torque, stated on Makita's spec sheet alongside the metric figure of 47 N-m.
- 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, the slimmest listed body here, and the sensible choice if your batteries are already DeWalt 12V.
- Brushless motor, which holds output better under load than the brushed alternative 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.
- DeWalt publishes no torque figure for this tool anywhere on the product page.
- 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.
Side by side
| Makita RW01Z 12V max CXT 3/8 in. and 1/4 in. Cordless Ratchet | 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 and can accept that the torque rating is not published. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
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, three times the free speed of either DeWalt, and it publishes its torque. Choose the DeWalt DCF503B 12V MAX Brushless 3/8 in. Ratchet instead if deWalt 12V MAX owners who want a slim brushless ratchet and can accept that the torque rating is not published.
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).