Bare Tool vs. Kit: Should You Buy Batteries in the Box?
Most cordless tools are sold two ways. A kit comes with batteries and a charger. A bare tool (often marked "tool only," and at Milwaukee usually a model number ending in -20) comes with just the tool. To show what the difference looks like, we read Milwaukee's own pages tonight for the same impact driver sold both ways. We haven't tested it hands-on, so there are no ratings here.
| Listing | In the box (per maker) | Weight as listed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/4" Hex Impact Driver, tool only (2953-20) | The impact driver and a belt clip | 2.2 lbs | Check current price |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/4" Hex Impact Driver Kit (2953-22) | The same 2953-20 impact driver, two M18 REDLITHIUM XC5.0 battery packs (48-11-1850), an M18/M12 multi-voltage charger (48-59-1812), a blow-molded case and a belt clip | 3.8 lbs with battery | Check current price |
Both pages list the same tool specs: 2,000 in-lbs of torque, 3,900 RPM, 4-mode drive control and a 4.47" length. The kit's "In the box" list names the 2953-20 as its tool, so you get the identical driver either way. The difference is everything around it.
When the bare tool makes sense
Buy tool only if you already own at least one working battery and a charger from the same platform. Here, that means any M18 battery; Milwaukee's page says the tool works with all M18 batteries and chargers. You skip paying for packs you don't need and you don't end up with another charger in a drawer.
When the kit makes sense
Buy the kit if this is your first tool on a platform. A bare tool won't run without a battery, and buying a battery and charger separately can end up costing more than a kit. Compare the two current prices with the price of a battery and charger bought on their own before you decide. Two batteries also let one charge while you use the other.
A simple rule
Your first tool on a battery platform: get a kit. Every tool after that: look at the bare version first. This is also why choosing a platform early matters. See 12V vs. 18V/20V, 2.0Ah vs. 5.0Ah batteries (the kit above ships with the 5.0Ah packs) and your first cordless toolkit.
Sources: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/details/m18-fuel-1-4-hex-impact-driver/2953-20, https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/details/m18-fuel-1-4-hex-impact-driver-kit/2953-22. Box contents and specs checked on the manufacturer pages on Oct 24, 2026.