Finding Used Power Tool Deals on Craigslist and eBay (Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita)

If you've priced out a decent cordless drill combo kit lately, you already know how expensive this stuff gets. A Milwaukee M18 FUEL drill/driver set with two batteries can run $300-400 new. DeWalt 20V MAX kits aren't much cheaper. But used power tool deals are everywhere if you know where to look and - more importantly - how fast to move when something good drops.

Why Used Power Tools Are Worth It

Quality cordless tools are built to last. A Milwaukee M18 from 2018 is still a perfectly capable drill in 2026. The motors don't wear out from normal use, and as long as the battery cells are healthy (or you buy new batteries separately), you're getting professional-grade performance for half the price or less. Unlike phones or laptops, power tools don't get "obsolete" in any meaningful way.

The used market is also full of tools that barely got used. Someone bought a full kit for a weekend project, used the drill twice, then stuck it in the garage. Five years later they're cleaning house and posting it for $80. Those listings happen every day.

Best Brands to Target

Not all used power tools are worth buying. Stick to the brands that hold up and have strong battery ecosystems:

• Milwaukee M18. The gold standard for tradespeople. Huge ecosystem, batteries work across hundreds of tools. High resale but also high availability used.
• DeWalt 20V MAX / FLEXVOLT. The most common brand you'll see used. Tons of listings, parts are easy to find, batteries are affordable. Great entry point.
• Makita 18V LXT. Extremely well-built, popular with finish carpenters and remodelers. Sometimes underpriced because sellers don't realize the battery value.
• Festool. Niche but extremely valuable used - if you find Festool at a garage sale price, buy it. These retail for absurd amounts new.
• Metabo HPT (formerly Hitachi). Solid tools, less brand recognition = better deals sometimes.

Skip the off-brand stuff - Hyper Tough, Bauer, Avid Power. They're fine for homeowners but have no resale value and may not last. Also be careful with older Ryobi - the older ONE+ batteries aren't compatible with current tools, which limits their usefulness.

What to Actually Search For

Generic searches like "power tools" or "drill" will bury you in noise. Get specific. Here are searches that actually work:

• "milwaukee m18" - catches kits, individual tools, battery combos
• "dewalt drill" or "dewalt kit" - high volume, lots of listings daily
• "makita 18v" - finds individual tools and combo kits
• "impact driver" - brand-agnostic, catches good deals across brands
• "tool kit battery" - often surfaces estate sale or garage cleanout listings
• "milwaukee packout" - the storage system is collectible on its own

On Craigslist, search your local area but also set alerts for nearby cities - someone 40 miles away might post exactly what you want, and most people are willing to meet halfway for the right buyer.

Reading a Listing Like a Pro

The listing tells you a lot about the seller. Someone who lists "Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2-tool combo, 2 batteries, charger, original case, minimal use, $175" knows what they have and is priced accordingly. Someone who posts "assorted power tools" with one blurry photo probably doesn't - and that's where you find the real deals.

A few things to check before reaching out:

• Battery age. Milwaukee and DeWalt batteries typically last 3-5 years with regular use. Ask when they were purchased. Old batteries are expensive to replace - factor that in.
• What's included. A drill without a charger or battery is nearly useless unless you already have that platform. Know what you need.
• Original case. Not critical, but a tool still in its original carrying case usually means it was stored well and not thrown around a job site.
• Brush vs. brushless motor. Brushless tools are more efficient and last longer. Look for "FUEL" on Milwaukee, "ATOMIC" or "DCS" on DeWalt, "XPT" on Makita.

Where Deals Disappear Fast

Good power tool listings on Craigslist get snatched up within hours. Sometimes faster. The people who score the best deals aren't refreshing search pages all day - they have alerts set up so they hear about listings the moment they go live.

That's exactly what LurkMor does. You set up a search for something like "Milwaukee M18" in your city, and the moment a new listing matches, you get an email. You're not competing with people who happen to check at the right time - you're competing on response speed, which you can actually win.

The same goes for eBay. "Buy It Now" deals on power tools go fast, especially when something is priced below market. Sellers who underprice their listing don't keep it up for long once they start getting messages.

eBay vs. Craigslist for Power Tools

Both platforms have their advantages. Craigslist is better for heavy or bulky stuff - a miter saw, a compressor, a full tool chest. Nobody wants to ship that, so local buyers have less competition and can sometimes negotiate harder. You also get to inspect before you buy.

eBay is better when you know exactly what you want and want the widest selection. Searching completed listings on eBay is also one of the best ways to figure out what something is actually worth before you go negotiate on Craigslist. Check "sold" listings, not just active ones - active listings can be wishful thinking.

A Few Things That Trip Up New Buyers

Don't overlook battery compatibility. Milwaukee's M12 and M18 lines use different batteries. DeWalt's 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT systems have some crossover but not total. If you already own tools on one platform, stick to that platform and you'll save money on batteries over time.

Also watch out for flooded listings after big sales events. When Home Depot or Lowe's runs a Black Friday tool sale, people buy new kits and list their old ones all at once. November through January sees a bump in used tool availability - good time to shop.

And finally, don't be afraid to ask for a demo. Any reasonable seller will let you plug in the drill and run it before you hand over cash. If they won't, that tells you something.

Setting Up Alerts That Actually Work

The best alert strategy is layered. Set up one broad alert ("milwaukee drill") to catch everything, and a few narrow ones for specific things you really want ("Milwaukee M18 FUEL combo kit"). That way you don't miss oddly-titled listings, but you also get fast notifications on exactly what you're hunting.

With LurkMor, setting those up takes about two minutes. No account, no app, just an email address and a search term. You'll hear about new listings before most people even think to check.