DEWALT 20V MAX vs 18V XR: same system, different name
If you've compared DEWALT tools across the Atlantic, you'll have noticed the same-looking drill sold as 20V MAX in the US and 18V XR in the UK and Europe. Here's why.
It's how the voltage is counted
A lithium-ion cell peaks at about 4V when fully charged and sits around 3.6V under load. Five cells in series give:
- 20V maximum initial voltage (no load), which is the US labelling
- 18V nominal voltage, which is the labelling used in the UK and EU
Same cells, same pack, two ways of stating the voltage. The same logic gives 60V MAX in the US and 54V XR in Europe for FLEXVOLT, and 12V MAX versus 10.8V for the smaller platform.
What actually differs between regions
- Model codes. UK and EU SKUs carry a regional suffix (for example
-GBor-XJ), and kit codes often differ because the bundled batteries and chargers differ. - Chargers. Chargers are built for local mains voltage: 120V in the US, 230V in the UK and EU. Don't use one on the wrong mains supply.
- Kit contents. The same tool is often bundled differently by region, with different batteries, cases (bag vs TSTAK box) or extra tools.
- Range. Some tools are only sold in one market. Our full product list shows which regions each product is currently sold in.
Buying tip
Compare tool-only model numbers to find the same tool across regions, then compare kits by what's in the box. In our comparison tool, pick your region first so you only see what you can actually buy locally.
