Makita XFD131

Makita XFD131

By Makita · Cordless Drills · Power Tools · More from Makita

  • 440 in-lbs max torque
  • 0-500 / 0-1900 RPM, 2 speeds
  • 6-5/8 in overall length
  • 3.8 lb with battery
  • 3.0 Ah 18V battery

Lowest price seen
~$179.00 (approx.)
from $179.00 at Amazon

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

An 18V LXT brushless driver-drill kit (440 in-lbs, 6-5/8 in long, 3.8 lbs with the 3.0Ah battery) for tradespeople and serious DIYers who want Makita’s battery ecosystem without paying for hammer-drill capability. Check whether you need to drill concrete before you buy — this drill has no hammer mode.

Strengths

  • BestReviews measured 65-75 minutes of battery life under load, the best of any drill in its test.
  • It drove 3-inch wood screws into a 4x4 in about 5 seconds and drilled 16-gauge sheet metal cleanly.
  • All-metal gears and housing survived a drop test with minor scratches and no functional damage.
  • The LXT platform takes 2.0Ah to 6.0Ah batteries; owners report 2007 packs working in newer tools.
  • The 3-year warranty covers both tool and battery, unusual in this class.
  • A first-time owner on r/Tools reports the clutch is precise enough for electronics and doorknob work.

Weaknesses

  • No hammer-drilling mode, so it cannot drill concrete or masonry.
  • At 3.8 lbs it is on the heavy side; BestReviews noted arm fatigue and hand aggravation after 10-15 minutes.
  • The 6-5/8-inch nose is too long for tight cabinet work, owners report.
  • Only one battery is included, and Makita replacement batteries are not cheap.
  • Home Depot listed the kit out of stock at time of search, so availability may be spotty.

Verified specifications

ModelXFD131 kit; XFD13Z is the bare-tool version (battery and charger sold separately).
PlatformMakita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion slide-style battery system, compatible with 2.0Ah to 6.0Ah packs.
MotorBL Brushless; Makita claims up to 50% longer run time per charge than brushed motors.
Max torque440 in-lbs (50 N·m); the adjustable clutch, not the motor, sets fastening torque.
No-load speed0-500 RPM low / 0-1,900 RPM high; 2-speed mechanical transmission.
Drilling capacities1/2 in steel, 1-1/2 in wood.
Fastening capacitieswood screws 6 mm x 75 mm; machine screws M6.
ClutchBestReviews counted 21 settings.
Batteryone 18V LXT 3.0Ah (BL1830B) included.
ChargerDC18SD included; Makita claims a 30-minute full charge with the 3.0Ah pack.
Chuck1/2 in keyless; all-metal gears and gear housing.
Dimensions6-5/8 in long (169 mm); 3.8 lbs with the 3.0Ah battery.
ProtectionStar Protection Computer Controls against overloading, over-discharging and over-heating; Extreme Protection Technology (XPT) for dust and water resistance.
Extrasdual LED work light with afterglow, belt clip, rubberized soft grip, tool bag.
Warranty3 years limited, covering tool and battery.
Full research notes and sources

Battery life and on the job

BestReviews’ lab compared the XFD131 against the DeWalt FlexVolt Advantage and other drills and found it “impressive across the board”. Battery life under load ran 65-75 minutes — the best in the test, where competitors managed 30-45 minutes. A paddle bit went through a 2x4 in 3-4 seconds. Sixteen-gauge sheet metal took 5 seconds with a 1/4-inch bit and 10 with a 1/2-inch. Three-inch wood screws drove into a 4x4 in about 5 seconds with zero issues, and a hole saw cut fast through one side of a board and needed a flip to finish. The drop test left minor scratches and no functional damage.

Weight, grip and comfort

BestReviews called the XFD131 on the heavy side: arm fatigue and slight hand aggravation after 10-15 minutes of use. GardenAndHomeReviews puts it at roughly twice the weight of a Bosch 12V drill. Makita’s own page says 3.6 lbs in one callout and 3.8 lbs in the spec sheet; the spec sheet number is the one to use. Owners also flag the 6-5/8-inch nose as too long for tight cabinet work. On the comfort side of the ledger: a rubberized soft grip, all-metal gear housing, and a clutch with enough low settings that a first-time buyer on r/Tools uses it for electronics and doorknobs.

The LXT ecosystem and running costs

The kit’s real anchor is the Makita 18V LXT slide-style platform. It takes 2.0Ah to 6.0Ah batteries, and owners in r/Makita threads report packs from 2007 running tools bought in 2018. If you already own Makita 18V batteries, the bare tool XFD13Z skips the battery and charger. Star Protection Computer Controls guard against overloading, over-discharging and over-heating. The 3-year limited warranty covers tool and battery — GardenAndHomeReviews calls that unusual in this class. The one recurring cost is batteries: owners note Makita packs are not cheap to replace, and the kit ships with only one.

Is it worth it?

Home Depot lists the kit at $179.00 (out of stock at time of search), Worldo.app at $179.00 and Opentip at $179.71; the BestReviews article listed $169 in May 2024. Reconditioned XFD131-R units show up at $119.99, and one Reddit owner paid about $100 for a used two-drill, two-battery lot. The research places fair value at $170-180 for buyers already committed to LXT. Below $160 it is competitive for a brushless kit with a 3-year warranty, and used or reconditioned lots under $130 are the strongest value. If you don’t plan to expand into Makita tools, a lighter or hammer-capable kit may be the better money.

Which model this is

This page covers the Makita XFD131 kit: drill, one BL1830B 3.0Ah battery, one DC18SD charger and a bag. The same drill is sold as the bare tool XFD13Z for buyers who already have LXT batteries. The US Amazon listing is ASIN B07GZFN7LT. The XFD131 is the brushless successor to the brushed XFD14 — not the XFD10R, XFD11ZB or XPH12Z.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Stores:

Buying guides for this category

Compare with

Related products