Who Owns Your Favorite Power Tool Company? [2023]

It's 2023. Do you ever wonder who owns Craftsman tools? How about who manufactures Milwaukee, Mac Tools, or Skilsaw? It may surprise you to know that only a handful of companies own your favorite power tool manufacturers. That’s right, most tool brands fall under a parent company that also controls additional brands. We break it down for you…with logos!

Of course, we didn’t include every tool company in this video. Honestly, we didn't have the time! We did, however, do our best to include as many tool brand parent companies as possible. Starting with several of the largest manufacturers who likely own more brands than you think.

Read the written article—UPDATED for 2023!

Stanley Black and Decker completed the acquisition of both MTD Holdings and Excel Industries

Metabo HPT and Metabo in North America Merge both brands

$900MM – Stanley Black and Decker Buys Craftsman

Stanley Black & Decker Owns Craftsman Tools: What’s Next?

Hitachi Power Tools Changes Name to Metabo HPT

Chervon Acquires SKIL Brand Tools

Introducing FLEX 24V Tools (from Chervon)

Kyocera Acquires Ryobi Shares

Klein Acquires General Machine Products

Hitachi Acquires Metabo in Huge Buyout

Bosch Acquires Freud Accessories

Stanley Black & Decker Acquires Infastech Fastener Manufacturer

[sparkyenergia]

The whole video I was saying 'but where is Makita!' That's the tool company I buy from the most. It's nice to see they stand on their own two feet.

[ChuckCoy]

I'm more interested in knowing if different brands are made at the same facilities under the same specs.

[wesleywindham]

So that’s why Mikita and Hilti are so dam good they don’t have an elephant on there back weighing them down

[JViello]

Couple few things to say. 1. Keep in mind that just because a tool may fall under the same corporate umbrella, they can operate totally separate with different cultures, quality and service. 2. I have lets say an "in" at Stanley/BD and am fortunate enough to rub shoulders with a lot of upper management and the R&D guys. (I don't work FOR them, they are just one of many clients.) SBD manufactures a LOT of things for many brands such as hand tools, some mentioned here that are owned by other parent corps. They do a lot for Kobalt, Husky, Channel Lock, Cresent, Irwin, Milwaukee, Porter Cable, Facom, BlackHawk, Lista, Wiss, Leatherman, Coast...even seen a few Bosch items kicking around. That's all I can think of off the top. They contract to make tools for pretty much anyone who wants it.


A quick note on the Craftsman deal. I had someone from the top of the food chain tell me to my face right after the acquisition "We just couldn't let that brand fail. We felt like we had to save it." so it was as much of a heartfelt decision as financial. Who knows, maybe his first tool set was a craftsman and nostalgia kicked in. The head of R&D was grinning like a cheshire cat about having the brand in-house. He really wanted to bring it back to glory as well. Both great things to hear.


Of all the corporations here there really are only 2, maybe 3 that are true "tool" companies. The #1 being Stanley, hands down. They are tool guys first, from the top dog on down...and they actually give a damn. It's not just numbers and widgets to them. You should see their "war room" as they call it. The place where they brainstorm ideas - which BTW has an executive "lounge" off to the side where the top dogs go in and finalize things...yes, they are generally part of the process. The place has tools everywhere around in it. Set up on the floor, hung on the walls, old school marketing posters, antique hand tools etc etc. It's like a tool museum. Anyhow, I digress. Just feel fortunate to be able to see what I see.

PS. I'm a Makita guy. LOL I recently purchased some Metabo stuff though. I couldn't pass up the Amazon "open box" deal. Heh...

[hibiki]

Never knew that Hilti and Makita were stand-alones. You learn something new every day.

[brianmiller]

Some I knew of, but many I had no idea. WOW. Quite an eye opener. Thanks.

[kel]

All my power tools are Makita. Had a mix of Bosch and Makita, but eventually I went all Makita. Their tools are great quality and here in Germany they cost less than Bosch.

[pauljensen]

Just remember that Ed Rensi, former of McDonald's (yes, THAT McDonald's) drove Snap On into the garbage. It's actually fun at times to trace where an "troubled" executive will turn up, and proceed to screw up another company.

Good video, thank you.

[russellrobins]

Two companies viewers should know. Wise Tools, made the high quality slip joint smooth pliers for craftsman. You can still buy these USA pliers from them under the Wise name as well as many other USA made tools. Second is Western Forge. The WF in the model number of all made in USA craftsman screwdrivers stands for Western Forge. A below the radar US company, look for brands the contract with. Sometimes they sell under the Western forge name but infrequently. Buy USA made tools!

[laserfalcon]

Only handfull of companies own all the brands in your grocery store as well, . The illusion of choice.

[bryangordon]

I just watched this video and I already forgot everything he said

[toolreviewsandrestorations]

I like how Hilti and Makita are still independent companies. Good Video! I have a lot of Makita tools and I hope to get some Hilti soon.

[j.s.foster]

Snap on, klein, wiha, knipex, starrett, mitutoyo, brown and sharp, and grey pneumatic

[kymico]

i watch this video mainly to know about Hilti and Makita. And im not impressed that they are "alone" and keep going great!! I work in the construction and my boss only buys Hilti tool, expensive, but extremely reliable.

[drewhause]

My dad is a sales rep for Apex Tool Group, really informative video, growing up I remember seeing most of those names around our warehouse

[JohnDaker_singer]

I don't know what it is about Ridgid tools, but I freakin' love them. They're extremely reliable, easy to use, affordable, and well made. If I ever need a tool, I see if Ridgid makes it first.

[.tactical]

Outstanding, informative video that most likely took an immense amount of time to research and put together. Thanks for the great effort. You hit a home run with this one for sure.

[markbernier]

Love to see some comparisons before and after buy outs. So many brands seem to go right down the tubes.

[sdobrikovic]

I work in a repair shop in far north Russia on oil collector. Company VELESSTROY (10.000 empl. mostly metal workers) use only Bosch tools and one day we get hundreds of Milwaukee AGV 17-180 XC/DMS angle grinders. Most of the use was cleaning up welds and I have to admit that workers could be Hard Core sometimes. They kill one after another (berings, rotor collectors...) it was a graveyard around me just in 2-3 weeks...but to put them together was challenge.
Personaly I use all brands Dewalt, Bosch, Milwaukee, Metabo, Makita... and all of them serve me great cause I use them properly

[dasBunny]

Hilti is the second largest company in Liechtenstein and employs almost as many people world wide as the country has inhabitants. That is really impressive considering they actually come from Liechtenstein and didn't go there for tax reasons.