DeWalt kit vs bare tool plus battery: when the kit wins
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Verdict: the kit wins when you own no compatible battery and charger, because the batteries and charger inside a kit cost less than the same parts bought separately. The bare tool wins when you already own at least one battery and a charger. The break-even is the kit premium: kit price − bare price.
The kit premium
| Kit | Kit price | Compared with | Price | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCD800E2 | $246.91 | DCD800B | $152.15 | $94.76 |
| DCD800D1E1 | $229.91 | DCD800B | $152.15 | $77.76 |
| DCS387P1 | $289.99 | DCS387D1 | $235.99 | $54.00 |
The premium pays for what is in the box:
| Kit | In the box | Price | Dealer | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCD800E2 | DCD800, 2 × DCBP034, charger, bag | $246.91 | Acme Tools | Amazon |
| DCD800D1E1 | DCD800, DCBP034, DCB203 2Ah, charger, bag | $229.91 | Acme Tools | Amazon |
| DCS387D1 | DCS387, DCB203 2Ah, charger | $235.99 | Power Tool Store | Amazon |
| DCS387P1 | DCS387, DCB205 5Ah, charger | $289.99 | Acme Tools | Amazon |
Why the kit wins for a first-time buyer
Add up what the box contains bought separately: the bare tool, each battery at its single price, and a charger. Compare that with the kit. The battery table in our price-per-Ah guide shows the single prices; where a kit's premium is below the price of one of its batteries alone, the charger and bag come free.
When bare wins
- You own any DeWalt 20V MAX battery and a charger: the premium pays for parts you do not need.
- You are buying a second or third tool: buy it bare every time, unless a free-tool or free-battery promo changes the price (Lowe's tiers).
- You want a bigger battery than the kit's: pay for the Ah you want.
What we could not check
A kit that looks cheap only counts if the battery is real capacity: compare Ah, not battery count. Kits sold only by marketplace sellers are not shown.
Prices are authorized dealers only and change daily; open the dealer link to confirm before you buy. Amazon links are search links, we show no Amazon prices. How we get prices.