What does FUEL mean? FUEL vs Brushless vs Standard
Milwaukee sells three tiers of cordless tools. Here's what FUEL, Brushless and Standard mean and which one to buy.
Every Milwaukee M12 and M18 tool falls into one of three tiers. The name on the tool tells you which one it is, and on Team Red Tools it's the Class filter.
FUEL: the top tier
FUEL is Milwaukee's professional line. FUEL tools use a brushless motor plus Milwaukee's best electronics and battery pairing, so they're the most powerful and usually the most expensive version of each tool.
Example: the M18 FUEL impact driver (2953-20) is rated at 2,000 in-lbs of torque vs 1,700 in-lbs for the compact brushless version.
Brushless: the middle tier
Brushless tools (often called “Compact Brushless” or “Subcompact”) have a brushless motor but less power than FUEL. They're usually lighter and cheaper, which makes them a great pick for homeowners and lighter trade work.
Standard: the basic tier
Tools without FUEL or Brushless in the name use older brushed motors or are simple specialty tools. Many Standard tools, like lights, ratchets and inflators, don't need more power, so they're still great buys.
Which should you buy?
If you use a tool every day for work, FUEL is usually worth it. For weekend projects, Brushless saves money and weight. All three tiers run on the same batteries, so you can mix them freely.
Not sure which battery to start on? Take the battery quiz.
Specs quoted are the manufacturer’s figures as listed by tool dealers. Team Red Tools is an independent fan site, not affiliated with Milwaukee Tool.