The Milwaukee M12 & M18 batteries provide more power, runtime, and speed than your average lithium-ion Battery. With an extensive line of cordless tools, it can be hard to determine which Battery is compatible with each tool. Let’s break it down:
M12 & M18 Batteries Explained
Size, weight, and comparability differ between an M12 and an M18 battery. We previously posted an in-depth explanation; check out Milwaukee M12 and M18 Batteries to learn more.
Which Battery Pack Do I Need?
CP Batteries
The lightweight Milwaukee CP batteries, or compact batteries, have 5 Li-ion cells. They are available for M12 and M18 tools. The Battery offers a faster charge time and is designed for jobs that require a light demand and repetitive tasks. Screw Guns, Cable Cutters, and Drain Snakes are a few tools that fit into this category.
See the reference chart below for more details.
XC Batteries
Milwaukee XC batteries, or extended capacity batteries, have 10 Li-ion cells. They are also available for M12 and M18 tools. This pack is designed for more runtime and power to create high performance for all demands. Hammer Drills, Jig Saws, and Underhood Lights are tools that fit into this category.
See the reference chart below for more details.
HD Batteries
The Milwaukee HD or High Demand battery has 15 Li-ion cells. These packs are exclusive to the M18 tool line. The HD battery provides the best performance for high-demand applications. Rotary Hammers, Right Angle Drills, and String Trimmers are tools that fit this category.
See the reference chart below for more details.
M12 & M18 Battery Chart
Now that you know the difference, are you ready to find the Milwaukee Tools for the job? You’ll find the right tool and deal at Acme Tools.
Battery Reference Chart
Refer to the table below for battery compatibility.
| PART NUMBER | DESCRIPTION | BATTERY TYPE |
| 48-11-2401 | M12™ REDLITHIUM CP 1.5Ah BATTERY PACK | CP |
| 48-11-2411 | M12™ REDLITHIUM CP 1.5Ah BATTERY 2-PACK | CP |
| 48-59-2420 | M12™ CP 2.0Ah STARTER KIT | CP |
| 48-11-2402 | M12™ XC 2.0Ah BATTERY PACK | CP |
| 48-11-2420 | M12™ REDLITHIUM CP 2.0Ah BATTERY | CP |
| 48-11-2430 | M12™ REDLITHIUM CP 3.0Ah BATTERY PACK | CP |
| 48-11-2412 | M12™ REDLITHIUM XC 3.0Ah BATTERY 2-PACK | XC |
| 48-11-2440 | M12™ REDLITHIUM XC 4.0Ah BATTERY | XC |
| 48-11-2460 | M12™ REDLITHIUM XC 6.0Ah BATTERY PACK | XC |
| 48-11-1820 | M18™ REDLITHIUM CP 2.0Ah BATTERY | CP |
| 48-11-1835 | M18™ REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT CP 3.0Ah Battery | CP |
| 48-59-1850 | M18™ XC 5.0Ah STARTER KIT | XC |
| 48-11-1850 | M18™ REDLITHIUM XC 5.0Ah BATTERY PACK | XC |
| 48-11-1865 | M18™ REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC 6.0Ah BATTERY PACK | XC |
| 48-11-1862 | M18™ REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC 6.0Ah BATTERY 2-PACK | XC |
| 48-11-1880 | M18™ REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC 8.0Ah BATTERY | XC |
| 48-59-1890 | M18™ REDLITHIUM HD 9.0Ah STARTER KIT | HD |
| 48-11-1890 | M18™ REDLITHIUM HD 9.0Ah BATTERY PACK | HD |
| 48-11-1812 | M18™ REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT HD 12.0Ah BATTERY PACK | HD |
| 48-59-1200 | M18™ REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT HD 12.0Ah BATTERY STARTER PACK | HD |
Milwaukee M12 & M18 FAQs
No, the batteries are not interchangeable. M12 batteries are compatible with M12 tools only, and M18 batteries are compatible with M18 tools only.
Refer to the chart below for charge times.
No, the battery packs do not have a lifetime warranty. However, they will be replaced or repaired if they are defective in material or workmanship. The warranty date ranges from 2 to 3 years.
Source: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Support/Registration-and-Warranty
24 Comments
George Krauskopf
September 27, 2020 at 10:14 pmI own a Milwaukee Impact Wrench w/ M18 battery; Please tell me which battery operated circular saws are compatible with the M18 battery:
Thank you for reading and responding promptly to my query.
Regards
George
(Comment edited to remove incorrect spelling and personal information)- Acme Tools
Acme Tools
September 28, 2020 at 8:27 amHi George. The Milwaukee M18 Saws can be found HERE. The link will take you to the Milwaukee M18 Circular Saw category on our website.
Thank you,
Acme Tools
Ashton Winnik
March 1, 2021 at 2:03 pmHey, if I may, the m12 standard output is 3 18650 cells and the xc is 6 18650 cells. To achieve 12 volts they are multiples of three, for the m18 to hit 18 volts it will always be a multiple of 5
Jay D
March 29, 2021 at 10:36 pmHey there. Is there an adapter to use an m18 battery on a m12 style tool? Thx
Acme Tools
March 30, 2021 at 7:55 amHi Jay, Thank you for your question. There is not a M18 to M12 adapter. If you are looking to use M12 tools you will need a Milwaukee M12 battery.
Thank you,
Acme Tools
yo
February 8, 2023 at 12:04 pmthats bs !!! they need to make a m18 to m12 adpter with step down voltage resistor .. give me a brake with the cost of these batteries … im going dewalt …one battery stock for all tools . boycott milwaukee untill they get there sh-t toghether !!!!
Acme Tools
February 8, 2023 at 4:31 pmThank you for your comment. We can understand your frustration, but the voltage of the tools are designed based on performance. Many manufacturers, including DEWALT, do the same with their 20V MAX and 12V MAX tools.
Thank you, Acme Tools
Rod Uy
April 7, 2022 at 10:29 amI’m working on Husqvarna yth2348 engine to motor conversion using ME 1004. 48v wonder if 6 m18 9.0 hd can handle an hour of mowing job.
J
December 7, 2022 at 10:52 amCan you use a m12 4.0 in place of the m12 6.0?
Dwight Andrews
August 21, 2021 at 8:21 pmI purchased an m18 9.0 battery only to find out it wouldn’t fit my older Milwaukee tools and it would not fit in my M18 charger.I realize my Milwaukee tool kit is old but why don’t these batteries fit my older tools.Or why did you change the mounting?The older 2.0 batteries are hard to find >
Samuel Pierson
September 12, 2022 at 11:27 amI believe the older batteries were NiCad the newer batteries are lithium ion. Lithium ion is lighter and has more run time. The chargers are not interchangeable because if this. You can buy an adaptor to use the newer lithium ion batteries in a older tool judt do a google search.
Dave Larrazolo
April 23, 2023 at 10:56 amCan I use the M 18 red lithium, high output, XC 8.0 in the job site fan that uses the M 18 red lithium XC 5.0 battery.?
Acme Tools
April 24, 2023 at 8:20 amHello. Thank you for your question. The Milwaukee M18 Redlithium XC8.0 battery can be used in the Milwaukee M18 Jobsite fan.
Thank you,
Acme Tools
Bob
May 8, 2023 at 5:50 pmI have a Milwaukee 2853 1/4 impact driver that uses an M18 CP2.0 battery. Can I use any other battery with it as long as it’s also an M18? Thanks
Acme Tools
May 9, 2023 at 8:21 amHi Bob, Thank you for your question. You can use ANY Milwaukee M18 battery in your 2853 Impact Driver.
Thank you, Acme Tools
Bob
May 9, 2023 at 11:48 amThanks for the response. I have another question about my 2853-22ct. I purchased it new from Home Depot in May of 2021 and I have never used it. It has sat in its box until I tried to use it this week. Both batteries flash red green when trying to charge and obviously will not take a charge. What is the likelihood of both batteries failing? Or is it more likely the charger is bad? Thanks
Acme Tools
May 10, 2023 at 8:11 amHi Bob. When the batteries were packed into the box, they would have had a small charge. With them sitting in the box for 2 more years without being used, they could have drained to a point where the cells will not take charge, but that is a rare occurrence. However, here are the Milwaukee charger instructions to determine if the Red & Green flashing lights are indicating a faulty battery or if they were not properly set on the charger.
A. check to determine if the battery pack was firmly seated in the charging port. Be firm when putting the battery onto the charger.
B. remove the battery pack from Charger; RED and GREEN LEDs continue to flash simultaneously – unplug the Charger
from the power source – required to reset the Charger PCB circuitry. LEDs should stop flashing within 7 – 10 seconds.
C. after the RED and GREEN LEDs are no longer flashing, re-plug the Charger power cord into ‘live’ 120VAC and reinsert
the battery pack into the Charger…
• if the RED LED lights and stays continuously red, the battery pack is charging. The battery pack is OK – Good.
• if the RED and GREEN LEDs again begin to flash simultaneously, the battery pack is damaged or faulty
and will need to be replaced. Remove the battery pack from the Charger and unplug the Charger from the
120VAC power source – required to reset Charger PCB circuitry.
We hope this helps you. Acme Tools.
Dave Barton
June 2, 2023 at 1:30 pmAny adapters to use M18 on new Dewalt tools?
martin
June 17, 2023 at 10:43 amCan someone tell me if the 12 volt Vevor batteries have the same socket as the Mill m12s so the Vevor batts fit in the m12 mill tools? … and vice versa.
xavier
September 5, 2023 at 8:57 pmI have a drill that uses a CP1.5 Battery, model number 48-11-2401. Am I able to replace this with a newer RedLithium 3.0 battery?
Acme Tools
September 6, 2023 at 2:58 pmHello. Yes, you can use the M12 REDLITHIUM 3.0 Battery in place of the M12 CP1.5 battery that you currently have. The key is that you can use any Milwaukee M12 battery in the Milwaukee M12 drill.
Thank you, Acme Tools.
Imoforpc
January 5, 2024 at 9:59 amThanks for breaking down the compatibility of Milwaukee’s M12 and M18 batteries! As someone who has struggled to keep track of their battery usage and compatibility, this guide is super helpful. I appreciate the detailed explanation of the different battery types and how they interact. Will definitely be referencing this guide often!
Wayne
January 23, 2024 at 11:20 amI am looking to purchase the 2855-20 impact wrench. I have four M18 Red Lithium batteries rated for 1.5 AH. Any idea on how long a battery will last if i am rotating the tires on my truck?
Dad
February 15, 2025 at 12:50 pmCan’t expand the images. [Edited to remove poor language].