The Milwaukee M12 & M18 batteries are known to 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
The difference between an M12 and an M18 battery comes down to size, weight, and comparability. 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 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
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 a few tools that fit into this category. See the reference chart below for more details.
HD Batteries
The HD battery, 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 a few tools that fit into this category. See the reference chart below for more details.
M12 & M18 Battery Chart
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 |
FAQ
Are The Batteries Interchangeable?
No, the batteries are not interchangeable. M12 batteries are compatible with M12 tools only, and M18 batteries are compatible with M18 tools only.
How Long Does it Take to Charge the Battery?
Refer to the chart below for charge times.
Do Milwaukee Batteries Have a Lifetime Warranty?
No, the battery packs do not have a lifetime warranty. However, the battery packs will be replaced or repaired if they are defective in material or workmanship. The warranty date of purchase ranges from 2 to 3 years.
11 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.