When you’re wandering through Home Depot you’ll see all sorts of power tool brands, from Milwaukee to DeWALT, but Ryobi’s bright tools are the most prominent. And while Ryobi’s 18V ONE+ line is everywhere, fans have likely noticed similar tools that take a larger 40V battery, massive 80V packs, and more.
Ryobi is a highly popular tool brand for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts, and with good reason. The brand manufactures over 300 tools, fans, lighting, and more. However, when choosing between a regular 18V tool and a 40V option, there’s a significant difference in performance and runtime. Here’s what you need to know.
The first and most popular tool system from Ryobi is the 18V One+ platform. It’s one of the biggest tool lineups on the market, and continues to expand and improve, all while being affordable and capable.
Most power tool brands offer a single battery that can power a wide range of different tools. You’re essentially locked into that brand and platform once you get a few. DeWALT has its 20V tools, Milwaukee offers M12 and M18, Ryobi makes ONE+ 18V and 40V items, along with a few others.
When you buy a Ryobi 18V One+ tool and battery, you’ll start your collection. Then, that single battery can power over 250 tools and more than 300 products overall. This is precisely what makes Ryobi one of the most popular tools, not to mention its ease of access at any nearby Home Depot. They’re great for home repairs, automotive jobs, hobbies, and many other applications.
Almost anything you can think of will likely be available from Ryobi’s 18V platform. Furthermore, the line features a wide range of battery sizes perfect for any job or different tool. You can get an 18V One+ battery as small as 1.5Ah, all the way to a huge 12Ah high-performance battery pack. However, most tools come with either a 4Ah or a smaller 2Ah battery out of the box.
I own several 4Ah, 6Ah, and 8Ah battery packs from Ryobi, but I don’t have any of the 10 or 12Ah models, as they’re large, heavy, and expensive. I don’t need that much juice for household tasks, but you might, depending on your specific needs.
For those just getting started, the 18V One+ line offers a wide range of products, including drill and driver combos, impact wrenches, ratchets, sawzalls, circular saws, leaf blowers, fans, orbital sanders, lighting, and more. It’s a massive collection. They’re great for at-home use, but also powerful and durable enough for professionals at a job site.
Keep in mind that some older tools have been replaced by 18V ONE+ brushless models, which offer improved performance and other enhancements. Regardless, any Ryobi 18V tool, even those 10+ year-old blue ones, will run on any 18V One+ battery. And finally, the brand also offers 18V hybrid tools that run on a battery or an extension cord, which is pretty helpful.
Next up is the larger Ryobi 40-volt platform, which offers more powerful tools designed to replace gas-powered equivalents. These are similar to the Milwaukee MX Fuel line, but built for regular users rather than industrial work or professionals.
The idea behind the Ryobi 40V system is to replace common household tools that typically run on gasoline, oil, a mix of the two, or an extension cord. Ryobi promises more power than a gas equivalent tool, all while being quiet, more efficient, and just as capable. I’m talking about Ryobi 40V lawn mowers, leaf blowers, edgers, trimmers, chainsaws, snowblowers, and vacuums.
Ryobi’s 40V line isn’t nearly as expansive as the 18V platform, but it still offers over 85+ tools and products that all run on the same 40V battery pack.
If you want the power of a gasoline tool without dealing with the smell or the need to plug in an extension cord, the 40V platform is for you. It’s a no-hassle, maintenance-free lineup built to tackle tough jobs. Like the smaller 18V option, Ryobi’s 40V battery packs come in a range of sizes for varying runtimes, including 8Ah, 12Ah, and more.
I have several 40V tools from Ryobi and have nothing but positive things to say about them. My lawn mower easily handles the entire yard twice on a single charge, and it provides more than enough power for cutting through tall grass. I also easily handle weed-wacking, or edging the entire property with a 40V trimmer combo.
Ryobi 80V collection
Last but not least, we can’t forget the Ryobi 80V platform, which is its newest entry into the world. If you want to replace an old, loud, stinky gas-powered riding lawn mower or get a bigger push mower, this is for you. Ryobi’s 80V tools are relatively new, so the lineup currently consists of only a few tools; however, we anticipate it will expand over time.
Ryobi explains it as a system that delivers gas performance with the convenience of interchangeable lithium-ion battery packs, while still offering exceptional power and runtime. The company provides several 80V brushless zero-turn riding mowers with blade sizes ranging from 30 to 42 inches, an 80V to 1000W power inverter, or even a bigger 30-inch self-propelled push mower.
Again, the 80V line is small and mainly focused on lawncare right now. However, there’s a good chance it’ll expand to blowers, chainsaws, trowel kits, or full-size circular saws in the future.
Adding to the confusion, Ryobi also has another USB Lithium line of smaller household items, such as electric screwdrivers, glue guns, box cutters, and similar products, which use a small USB-C rechargeable battery pack.
Ultimately, the Ryobi tool platform you choose depends on your wants, needs, budget, and profession. The 18V ONE+ line is the obvious choice due to its affordability and versatility, but when you need a little more power, consider upgrading to 40V or 80V items.
