In the world of power tools, Ryobi and Craftsman are two brands that stand out because of their products’ quality and affordable price. Each one has a wide range of tools to boot, meaning they can accommodate just about anything a DIYer might need.
Put simply, you can’t go wrong with either one, but there’s more to it than that. After all, there are a few important things to take into account besides quality, such as their selection of tools, warranty and more.
Ryobi vs Craftsman Comparison Chart
| Model | Ryobi P884 18V 6-Tool Combo Kit | Craftsman CMCK700D2 20V 7-Tool Combo Kit |
 |  | |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Drill/Driver | 0 – 440 / 0 – 1,600 RPM | 0 – 400 / 0 – 1,500 RPM |
| Impact Driver | 1,600 in/lbs. torque, 0 – 3,200 RPM | 1,460 in/lbs. torque, 2,800 RPM, 3,100 BPM |
| Circular Saw | 5 1/2 inches, 4,700 RPM | 6 1/2 inches, 4,200 RPM |
| Reciprocating Saw | 7/8-inch stroke length, 0 – 3,100 SPM | 1-inch stroke length, 3,000 SPM |
| Oscillating Tool/Multitool | JobPlus Base, 20,000 OPM | 8,000 – 18,000 OPM |
| Work Light | 150 lumens | 140 lumens |
| Grinder | n/a | 4 1/2-inch disk, 8,500 RPM |
Quality
Both can usually handle only light-duty jobs.
Ryobi and Craftsman tools aren’t just durable but they’re also functional. In a word, they’re reliable, and they can more than hold their own in DIY and home repairs, including light professional tasks. However, that’s pretty much as far as they can go. Sure, they can take a beating, but they’re not really built for heavy-duty professional use.
The takeaway here is they’re decent and will likely last long, but they’re only suited for certain jobs at home. Still, it’s safe to say they have the perfect blend of affordability and usability for hobbyists.
Tools
Compared to Ryobi, Craftsman has more tools to cater to your home maintenance and DIY needs.
Going straight to the point, Craftsman wins in terms of product variety. It has a ton of power tools, hand tools, automotive tools and outdoor tools. Also, it has lots of accessories and storage and garage items. It even has kids toys for the budding DIYer.
Ryobi doesn’t really fall behind too much, but it just doesn’t have as diverse a selection. In its defense, it has more kinds of drills impact drivers, as well as table, miter and circular saws. On top of that, it has plenty of combo kits to choose from too.
When it comes to outdoor equipment, Craftsman has the edge. Case in point, it has more leaf blowers and vacuums and snow blowers than Ryobi.
Warranty
Both don’t have the best warranties in the business, but they’re decent.
Both won’t get awards on this front, but they’re more or less par for the course. Ryobi power tools have two to three years of warranty, and the majority of its hand tools are covered by a limited lifetime warranty. Almost all of its outdoor gears come with a five-year warranty as well.
Meanwhile, Craftsman typically throws in a lifetime guarantee for its mechanic and hand tools, to name a few. It also provides one to three years of limited warranty for its power tools and usually two to three years for outdoor equipment.
Verdict
Both Ryobi and Craftsman are mid-range brands that can give you a lot of value for your money.
Between Ryobi and Craftsman, the difference in quality isn’t that much. It’s a stretch to say they’re high-end brands, but at the same time, they’re far from being in the lower end of the spectrum. In other words, they fit best somewhere in the middle range, making reliable power tools with the right price.
As for which one is better, that really depends on what you’re looking for. The main considerations here are warranty and selection of tools. That said, Ryobi generally provides slightly better warranty, while Craftsman has a better variety of tools. From there, it’s only a matter of what you need.
FAQs
No, Ryobi is owned by Techtronic Industries or TTI, while Craftsman is owned by Stanley Black & Decker after purchasing it from Sears.
Quality-wise, both brands are hard to tell apart. However, Ryobi usually provides better warranties on its products, while Craftsman has a wider variety of tools.
Yes, Ryobi tools can get the job done without breaking the bank. Specifically, they’re excellent for home repairs and DIY tasks.
Yes, Craftsman tools can handle most light-duty tasks at home, and they’re typically available at affordable prices.
Last update on 2020-12-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API