For a closer look at the compact corded option, see our Makita GA4530 angle grinder review.
Updated October 2026.
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A 4-1/2-inch angle grinder is the default garage tool for bolt heads, welds, rust, and tile. Corded still wins if you have an outlet and want continuous power. Cordless wins if you already own 18V / 20V packs or you work away from a cord. We match manufacturer specs and kit contents to the Amazon listings we link, then check the current price and seller on Amazon, because prices move.
This is not a shop test. Milwaukee is a Home Depot exclusive in the US. We do not send you to an Amazon third-party listing for that line.
Quick verdict
Best overall: DeWalt DWE402 — 4-1/2-inch 11-amp paddle, 11,000 rpm. The default corded buy. Check availability on Amazon
Best cordless kit: DeWalt DCG412P2 — 20V MAX 4-1/2-inch kit with two 5.0Ah batteries, 8,000 rpm. Often sold by third-party sellers on Amazon. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Best if you already own packs: Makita XAG26Z on 18V LXT (tool only, brushless, X-LOCK). SKIL PWR CORE 20 if you want a 20V kit with a battery in the box. Ryobi ONE+ (check availability on Amazon, often third-party) if you already live in green. Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Comparison
| Model | Best for | Power | Disc | Notes | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DWE402 | Best overall corded | 11 amp corded | 4-1/2 in | Paddle; 11,000 rpm; check current price and seller on Amazon | Check availability on Amazon |
| Makita GA4530 | Compact corded | 6 amp corded | 4-1/2 in | 11,000 rpm; 4 lb; confirm live price | Check price on Amazon |
| Metabo W11-125 Quick | 5-inch corded step-up | 11 amp corded | 4-1/2 / 5 in | German Metabo; 11,000 rpm; confirm live price | Check availability on Amazon |
| DeWalt DCG412P2 | Cordless kit (often third-party) | 20V MAX kit | 4-1/2 / 5 in | 2× 5.0Ah; 8,000 rpm | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| Makita XAG26Z | LXT tool only | 18V LXT | 4-1/2 / 5 in | Brushless; X-LOCK; 8,500 rpm; no battery | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| SKIL AG2990B-10 | 20V kit value | 20V PWR CORE | 4-1/2 in | Brushless; kit with 2.0Ah; confirm live price | Check price on Amazon |
| Ryobi PCL445B | Entry ONE+ | 18V ONE+ | 4-1/2 in | Tool only; 9,000 rpm; confirm live price | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| Ryobi PBLAG01B | ONE+ HP brushless | 18V ONE+ HP | 4-1/2 in | Tool only; 9,200 rpm; confirm live price | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| Metabo HPT G18DSL2Q4 | Metabo HPT 18V | 18V MultiVolt | 4-1/2 in | Tool only; 9,000 rpm; not German Metabo | Check price on Amazon |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL | Pro benchmark | 18V M18 | 4-1/2 / 5 in | Home Depot exclusive; no Amazon link | Home Depot only |
DeWalt DWE402 — best overall
If you want one grinder and you have an outlet, this is it. DeWalt’s 4-1/2-inch paddle is an 11-amp AC/DC motor at 11,000 rpm. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Cut threaded rod and rebar with a Type 1 wheel; grind welds and rust with a Type 27. DeWalt lists a dust ejection system, auto-off brushes, a paddle with lock-off and lock-on, a One-Touch guard, and Quick-Change wheel release. No E-Clutch. In the box: grinder, 4-1/2-inch Type 27 guard, two-position side handle, wrench.
Who it’s for. A first real grinder that stays useful. Continuous power. No battery to buy. Garage, driveway, any 15-amp circuit and a cord.
Who it’s not for. Roofs, fence lines, or a trailer with no outlet. A 5-inch disc as the default is the Metabo W11-125. Already on 20V MAX and refuse a cord? Skip to the cordless section.
Specs that matter. 4-1/2 in. 11 amp AC/DC. 11,000 rpm. Paddle with lock-off. 5/8-11. No E-Clutch. Amazon listing B00RVZ7DNO.
Caveats. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Confirm you are looking at the DWE402, not a DWE402K kit box or another 4-1/2-inch DeWalt. Lock-on is convenient and less safe than a dead-man-only paddle. Face shield, gloves, hearing protection. Not a shop test.
Makita GA4530 — compact corded
Makita’s GA4530 is the small 4-1/2-inch corded: 6.0 amp, 11,000 rpm, 10-1/2 inches, about 4 lb. Less motor than the 11-amp DeWalt and Metabo. The trade is a 2-1/4-inch barrel. Slide / body-grip switch with lock-on. Labyrinth construction, machined bevel gears, metal gear housing. No electric brake, no bind-up control, no lock-off.
Who it’s for. Tight work, overhead, and anyone who wants the lighter corded option.
Who it’s not for. Heavy stock removal or long cuts in plate. Six amps is not 11 amps. Wrong buy if you want a paddle dead-man — this is a lock-on slide.
Specs that matter. 4-1/2 in. 6.0 amp. 11,000 rpm. 5/8-11. About 4 lb. Amazon listing B001TWVESA.
Caveats. Confirm the live price. If it has jumped toward 11-amp money, buy the DWE402.
Metabo W11-125 Quick — 5-inch corded step-up
This is German Metabo, not Metabo HPT. Listing B08C5D7MPB is the W 11-125 Quick (603623420): 11 amp, 1,100 W, 11,000 rpm no-load, 4-1/2- or 5-inch discs, 5/8-11, about 5.1 lb without the cord. Metabo publishes an S-automatic safety clutch, M-Quick tool-free disc change, a twist-proof tool-free guard, a gear housing that rotates in 90-degree steps, and auto-stop brushes. Lock-on slide. 120 V AC/DC.
Who it’s for. A 5-inch wheel and a clutch on a corded 11-amp body. The US Amazon page for that family.
Who it’s not for. A first-time budget shopper — the DWE402 covers most garage work. Wrong brand if you meant Metabo HPT (former Hitachi). That cordless tool is below.
Specs that matter. 4-1/2 / 5 in. 11 amp. 11,000 rpm no-load. 7,500 rpm at rated load. 28 in-lbs. M-Quick. S-automatic clutch. Amazon listing B08C5D7MPB.
Caveats. Confirm the page is still the W 11-125 Quick (603623420). A 5-inch disc needs a 5-inch guard.
DeWalt DCG412P2 — cordless kit (often third-party)
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
The 20V MAX kit with a live new price: DCG412 grinder, two 5.0Ah XR packs, fast charger, 5-inch Type 27 guard, two-position side handle, hex wrench, contractor bag. DeWalt rates the motor at 8,000 rpm. Tool-free wheel release and guard. Two-finger trigger with lock-off. This is not the later XR brushless DCG413 family, which is not covered here.
Check current price and seller on Amazon. Often sold by third-party sellers on Amazon. Treat it as a third-party listing.
Who it’s for. Starting 20V MAX from zero and wanting two 5.0Ah packs, or anyone who wanted those packs anyway. The batteries are the expensive part of the yellow aisle. Next drill on the same packs: Best Cordless Drills.
Who it’s not for. Anyone who wants a first-party Amazon offer. It is often sold by third-party sellers; if so, skip it. Already own 20V MAX packs? You would be paying for two batteries and a charger you do not need.
Specs that matter. 20V MAX (18V nominal). 4-1/2 / 5 in. 8,000 rpm. Trigger with lock-off. Kit: two 5.0Ah, charger, bag. Amazon listing B00KR1NVEE.
Caveats. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Confirm live price, seller name, new vs used, and that the box is still the two-battery DCG412P2. Stock can flip.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Makita XAG26Z — 18V LXT brushless, tool only
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
An 18V LXT brushless 4-1/2 / 5-inch paddle with X-LOCK, AFT bind-up shutoff, an electric brake, and no lock-on. Makita rates it at 8,500 rpm. Two-stage lock-off paddle and anti-restart. About 14-3/4 inches and about 6 lb with a battery. Tool only — no pack, no charger.
X-LOCK is the catch. Wheels click on and drop off a lever. You need X-LOCK discs, not a random 5/8-11 wheel from the bottom bin.
Who it’s for. Already on 18V LXT and want a current brushless paddle with a brake and bind-up control.
Who it’s not for. A first battery purchase, or anyone who refuses X-LOCK wheels. On DeWalt or Ryobi? Stay there.
Specs that matter. 18V LXT. Brushless. 4-1/2 / 5 in. 8,500 rpm. X-LOCK. Paddle, lock-off, no lock-on. Electric brake. AFT. Tool only. Amazon listing B08XMZWXQB.
Caveats. Confirm B08XMZWXQB is still the XAG26Z tool-only. Budget X-LOCK wheels.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
SKIL PWR CORE 20 AG2990B-10 — cordless kit
SKIL’s current PWR CORE 20 brushless 4-1/2-inch kit. We opened this listing after the older AG290202 page (B07SP4L1ZM) went unavailable. Digital brushless motor, up to 10,000 rpm. SKIL and retailer copy list a 2.0Ah pack, a 20V 60W charger, grinding guard, 2-in-1 guard, side handle with wrench storage, and a wrench. Tool-free guard. Dual-function lock switch (lock-off and lock-on). Most 4-1/2- and 5-inch wheels. Read our full SKIL AG2990B-10 review.
Who it’s for. Brushless cordless with a battery and charger in the box, and you are not already on DeWalt, Makita, or Ryobi. Household metal, tile, rust. Smaller aisle than 20V MAX or ONE+.
Who it’s not for. Anyone who already owns another 18V / 20V stack. One 2.0Ah pack is short on a grinder.
Specs that matter. 20V PWR CORE 20. Brushless. 4-1/2 in class. 10,000 rpm. Kit: one 2.0Ah, 60W charger. Model AG2990B-10. Amazon listing B0FQ8G8JH7.
Caveats. Confirm the listing still includes battery and charger — titles drift. Recheck stock.
Ryobi ONE+ — PCL445B and PBLAG01B
Two tool-only grinders on the green 18V platform.
The PCL445B is the standard 4-1/2-inch ONE+. Ryobi rates it at up to 9,000 rpm, tool-free adjustable guard, 3-position side handle, spindle lock, die-cast gear case, onboard wrench, 5/8-11 arbor. Battery sold separately.
The PBLAG01B is the ONE+ HP brushless 4-1/2-inch. Up to 9,200 rpm. Paddle switch. Tool-free wheel and guard. Ryobi’s listing copy includes grinding and cutting wheels and both guards. Tool only.
Who it’s for. Already in ONE+. PCL445B is the cheaper on-ramp. PBLAG01B if you want brushless and a paddle on the same packs.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero and expecting a battery in the box. Already on DeWalt or LXT. A 1.5Ah drill pack will feel short — use a higher-Ah ONE+ battery if you have one.
Specs that matter. PCL445B: 18V ONE+, 4-1/2 in, 9,000 rpm, B0DQVRYQMJ. PBLAG01B: 18V ONE+ HP, brushless, 4-1/2 in, 9,200 rpm, B099CTCV49. Both tool only.
Caveats. Confirm both live prices. Skip third-party “kits” that tape on a no-name pack.
PCL445B: Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) · PBLAG01B: Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Metabo HPT G18DSL2Q4 — 18V cordless, not German Metabo
Metabo HPT is the former Hitachi line. It does not share batteries or parts with the German W11-125 above. The G18DSL2Q4 is an 18V MultiVolt 4-1/2-inch slide-switch grinder, tool only. Metabo HPT rates it at 9,000 rpm, 5/8-11, anti-restart, lock-on slide with quick-off, and compatibility with HPT 18V and MultiVolt packs. Tool-card weight is 4.2 lb with a 1.5Ah pack. Includes a depressed-center wheel, side handle, and spanner.
Who it’s for. Already on Metabo HPT 18V / MultiVolt.
Who it’s not for. Anyone who wanted the German 11-amp W11-125. No HPT batteries? You would be starting another charger.
Specs that matter. 18V MultiVolt. 4-1/2 in. 9,000 rpm. Slide with lock-on and quick-off. Anti-restart. Tool only. Amazon listing B09L4WBW1Z.
Caveats. Confirm the model stamp. Different brand from Metabo green.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL — pro benchmark, not an Amazon buy
Milwaukee is a Home Depot line in the US. Current M18 FUEL 4-1/2 / 5-inch paddle grinders live there — for example the 2880-20 tool-only. Amazon search will surface older SKUs such as the 2780-20. We are not linking them.
Who it’s for. Pros, or DIY buyers who already live in M18 and can pick up a FUEL grinder at Home Depot.
Who it’s not for. Anyone we would send to Amazon. Marketplace copies of a Home Depot exclusive are not first-party stock.
Caveats. Confirm the Home Depot price in the store or on HD’s page.
Buying guide
Corded vs cordless. An 11-amp corded 4-1/2-inch (DWE402, Metabo W11-125) out-works an 18V / 20V pack on long cuts. Buy corded near an outlet. Buy cordless if the work moves, or if you already paid for the batteries. A kit from zero is a battery purchase that happens to include a grinder.
4-1/2 vs 5 inch. Most US DIY wheels are 4-1/2-inch. A 5-inch disc needs a 5-inch guard. The DWE402 is 4-1/2 only. The Metabo W11-125, DCG412, and XAG26Z are rated for both. Do not hang a larger wheel than the guard and nameplate allow.
Switch style. Paddle (DWE402, XAG26Z, Ryobi HP) dies when you let go if lock-on is not engaged. Slide lock-on (GA4530, both Metabos, SKIL) is easier for long grinding and worse if the tool gets away. The DCG412P2 is a two-finger trigger with lock-off. Prefer a dead-man paddle for cutting. Prefer lock-on for long flats — and stay behind the guard.
Wheels. Type 27 for grinding. Type 1 / Type 41 for cutting, with a cutting guard. Match the arbor (usually 5/8-11). The XAG26Z wants X-LOCK wheels. Do not grind with a cutting disc.
Platform lock-in. DeWalt 20V MAX, Makita LXT, Ryobi ONE+, SKIL PWR CORE 20, and Metabo HPT MultiVolt do not share packs. Milwaukee M18 does not either, and you shop that at Home Depot. Already own a cordless drill kit? Buy the grinder that eats those batteries.
Third-party and stock. The DCG412P2 is often sold by third-party sellers. Buy Home Depot exclusives at Home Depot, not from third-party Amazon sellers.
FAQ
Which angle grinder should I buy? Start with where you work and the batteries you own. Near an outlet: the DeWalt DWE402. Cordless from zero: the DeWalt DCG412P2 kit with two 5.0Ah packs (often sold by third-party sellers). On Makita LXT: the XAG26Z. On Ryobi ONE+: the PCL445B, or the brushless PBLAG01B. Starting a low-cost 20V line: the SKIL AG2990B-10; see our SKIL AG2990B-10 review.
Corded or cordless? Corded for a bench, a garage outlet, and long grinding sessions. Cordless for fence posts, trailers, and roofs. A 2.0Ah pack runs short; two 5.0Ah packs or a high-capacity pack you already own is what makes cordless workable. For a small corded option, see our Makita GA4530 review.
Grinder or saw for cutting? A grinder with a cut-off wheel is for metal: rebar, bolts, angle iron, and tile. For wood and sheet goods, use a circular saw. For flush cuts and plunge cuts in trim, use an oscillating multi-tool.
What size disc should I buy? 4-1/2-inch unless the tool and guard are rated for 5-inch and you want the extra diameter. Keep a cutting wheel and a grinding wheel.
Is the Metabo HPT the same as the Metabo W11-125? No. German Metabo is the corded W11-125 Quick. Metabo HPT is the 18V G18DSL2Q4. Different companies, different batteries, different service.
Already on Milwaukee M18? A FUEL grinder is the benchmark. Milwaukee is a Home Depot line in the US, so buy it at Home Depot.
Prices and Amazon offers change. We don’t list live prices; check Amazon for the current price and seller. Third-party listings (including the DCG412P2) can change seller overnight.