The real decision here is corded versus cordless, and if cordless, which 18V battery platform you already own. A corded Bosch Professional starts at 126 dollars with no battery to charge, while the cordless picks are mostly skins - tool only - that slot into the Ryobi ONE+, DeWalt XR, Makita LXT or Milwaukee M18 systems. These six run from a 126 dollar Bosch to a 338 dollar Makita LXT.
Corded or cordless? That is the first real decision
Before you look at a single spec, settle one question: corded or cordless. A corded grinder like the Bosch Professional below plugs into the wall, never runs flat and costs the least - the trade-off is you are tethered to a power point and an extension lead. A cordless grinder goes anywhere, up a ladder or out in the yard, but almost every cordless pick here is sold as a skin, meaning the tool only, with no battery or charger in the box. That changes the maths completely: a 199 dollar skin can become a 350 dollar outlay once you add a battery and charger if you do not already own one.
Which is exactly why the second question matters as much as the first: if you go cordless, which 18V battery platform do you already own? The smart move is almost always to buy the grinder skin that matches the batteries already in your shed - Ryobi ONE+, DeWalt XR, Makita LXT or Milwaukee M18 - rather than starting a second system from scratch. The six picks below cover a corded Bosch and one skin in each of those four ecosystems, plus a step-up Makita, so there is a sensible match whatever you run.
Bosch Professional Corded Angle Grinder
If you are not already tied to a battery system, the corded Bosch is the easy answer. At around 126 dollars it is the cheapest credible grinder here, and being corded it never runs flat and never needs a pricey skin top-up. The 880 watt motor pulls steadily through cutting and grinding a 125mm disc, while the slim, light body makes it genuinely easy to guide one-handed once the side handle is fitted.
Restart protection stops it lurching back to life if the power flickers while the switch is held, and it ships complete with the guard, side handle, clamping nut, flange and two-hole wrench. With more than 6,500 ratings it is also the most-reviewed tool in the guide by a wide margin. The only real downside is the cord itself - you need a power point and often an extension lead, which is less handy than a cordless tool on a roof or down the back fence.
Ryobi R18AG ONE+ 18V Angle Grinder
The Ryobi R18AG is the pick for the home shed that already runs on green ONE+ batteries. It shares the same 18V pack as Ryobi's enormous range of drills, drivers, blowers and saws, so if you own ONE+ tools you can buy this as a body and drop in a battery you already have. That shared-platform logic is the whole appeal here.
The tool-less wheel guard swings round without a spanner, the GripZone over-mould keeps it comfortable through longer jobs, and the three-position auxiliary handle lets you set the grip to suit each cut. It is a skin, so a first-time buyer also needs a battery and charger, and as a brushed DIY-tier tool it is not as powerful or efficient as the brushless trade grinders below - but for occasional home cutting on the ONE+ system it is hard to argue with.
DeWalt DCG406N XR Brushless Grinder
The DeWalt DCG406N is where this guide steps up from DIY-tier to genuine trade-grade cordless. Its 18V XR brushless motor delivers more power and longer runtime per charge than a brushed motor, and it pairs that with a paddle switch - a dead-man control that stops the disc the moment you lift your hand, which is a real safety edge over a latching slide switch.
Mesh covers keep grinding dust out of the motor to help it last, and the rubber over-mould with a two-position side handle keeps it controllable through longer cuts. It is a deservedly popular tradie pick. As with most cordless grinders here it is a skin, so you supply a DeWalt XR battery and charger, and while its 510-plus ratings are solid, that is a smaller base than the Bosch or the cheaper Makita.
Makita DGA504Z 18V Brushless Grinder
The Makita DGA504Z is the safe all-rounder for anyone in the LXT camp, and with more than 7,100 ratings it is the most-reviewed cordless grinder in this guide - a strong signal that a lot of people have bought it and stuck with it. The brushless motor spins to 8,500rpm no-load, and the safety kit is the highlight: kickback detection that cuts power if the disc snags, anti-restart so it will not fire up on its own, and soft start to ease it up to speed.
Automatic Torque Drive lifts torque when a cut turns heavy, and XPT sealing helps it cope with dust and damp on site. The honest trade-offs are two: it uses a slide switch rather than a safer dead-man paddle, so the disc keeps spinning until you flick it off, and like the other cordless picks it is a skin that needs an LXT battery and charger to run.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Brushless Grinder
If your work runs harder than the home average and you are already on the red Milwaukee M18 system, this FUEL grinder is the one to get. The brushless motor is tuned for demanding, sustained cutting and grinding, the electronic clutch kills power fast if the wheel binds to protect you from kickback, and overload protection guards the motor when you lean into a job.
It uses a no-lock paddle switch, so the disc stops the instant you release it - the safer set-up for a tool that can grab - and the anti-vibration side handle takes some of the buzz out of long sessions. It runs on any M18 battery you own. The catches are price and packaging: at around 286 dollars it is one of the dearer cordless picks, and it is a tool-only skin, so the M18 battery and charger are extra.
Makita DGA508Z 18V LXT Brushless Grinder
The Makita DGA508Z is the most fully featured Makita 18V grinder in the guide and the pick for someone committed to the LXT platform who wants the safest, most refined tool. It brings the full Makita protection suite - kickback detection, anti-restart, soft start, XPT sealing and Automatic Torque Drive - and adds two things the cheaper DGA504Z goes without: a paddle switch with a dead-man action, and an electronic brake that stops the disc quickly when you release it.
Together those make it noticeably safer to handle, especially for repeated cuts where a fast-stopping disc matters. The honest caveats are clear: at around 338 dollars it is the priciest tool here, it is a skin that needs an LXT battery and charger, and with just over 110 ratings its review base is far smaller than the cheaper Makita, so there is less long-term feedback to draw on.
Disc size: 100mm, 115mm or 125mm
Angle grinders are sized by the disc they take, and for most home and trade jobs you want 115mm or 125mm. The smaller 100mm grinders are light and easy to control in tight spots but limited in cut depth; the common 125mm size - which every grinder in this guide takes - gives a deeper cut and a wider choice of cutting, grinding, flap and diamond discs, while staying manageable one-handed. Whatever size you settle on, buy the discs to match: a 125mm grinder needs 125mm wheels, and fitting the wrong size is dangerous.
Bigger is not automatically better. A 125mm tool covers cutting bolts and rebar, grinding welds, cutting pavers and tile, and rust removal - the jobs most people actually face. Step up to a 9-inch grinder only for heavy demolition, and accept the extra weight and the need for two hands at all times.
Brushless motors, switches and safety
Two technical points separate a good grinder from a basic one. The first is the motor: a brushless motor, as in the DeWalt, both Makitas and the Milwaukee, runs cooler and more efficiently than a brushed motor, which means more power, longer runtime per charge and a longer service life. On a corded tool like the Bosch, raw wattage is the equivalent guide to grunt. The second is the switch. A paddle or dead-man switch - on the DeWalt, the Milwaukee and the premium Makita - stops the disc the moment you let go, which is far safer than a slide switch that latches the tool on, like the one on the DGA504Z.
Beyond that, treat the guard and your protective gear as non-negotiable. Always run the supplied guard, positioned to throw sparks and debris away from your face, and never remove it. Wear eye protection and gloves, keep both hands on the tool with the side handle fitted, and let the grinder reach full speed before it touches the work. Features like kickback detection and an electronic brake add a useful layer, but they do not replace the guard and good technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy a corded or cordless angle grinder?
It comes down to where you work and what you already own. A corded grinder like the Bosch Professional is the cheapest option, never runs flat and is ideal for a workshop near a power point - the downside is the cord and lead. A cordless grinder goes anywhere, up a ladder or out in the yard, but the cordless picks here are skins, so you also need a matching 18V battery and charger. If you have no battery system yet and work near power, corded is the smart, low-cost choice; if you already own cordless tools, buy the skin that fits your platform.
What does skin only or tool only mean?
Skin only, also called tool only or body only, means you get just the grinder with no battery and no charger in the box. It assumes you already own compatible 18V batteries from the same brand. Most cordless picks in this guide - the DeWalt, both Makitas and the Milwaukee - are sold this way, which keeps the headline price low but means a first-time buyer must add a battery and charger to actually use the tool. If you do not yet own that brand's batteries, factor that extra cost in before comparing a skin against a corded grinder.
Which 18V battery platform should I choose?
The best platform is usually the one you already own, because the battery and charger are the expensive, reusable parts. Ryobi ONE+ is the largest and most affordable DIY system and suits home users; DeWalt XR, Makita LXT and Milwaukee M18 are the trade-grade systems with brushless tools and broad ranges. If you are starting from nothing and buying several tools over time, pick one platform and stick to it rather than splitting batteries across brands. For a grinder specifically, match the skin to whatever drills and drivers you already run.
What disc size angle grinder do I need?
For most home and trade jobs a 125mm grinder is the sweet spot, and every grinder in this guide takes that size. A 125mm disc cuts deep enough for bolts, rebar, pavers and tile, grinds welds and removes rust, while staying light enough to control one-handed. Smaller 100mm tools suit tight spaces but cut shallower; larger 9-inch grinders are for heavy demolition only and demand two hands at all times. Whatever the tool, always fit discs of the matching size - using the wrong size wheel is unsafe.
What is the difference between a brushed and brushless grinder?
A brushless motor has no carbon brushes to wear out, so it runs cooler and more efficiently. In practice that means more power for the job, longer runtime from each battery charge, and a longer service life - which is why the DeWalt, both Makitas and the Milwaukee here are brushless. A brushed motor, as in the budget Ryobi, is cheaper but less efficient and tends not to last as long under heavy use. On a corded tool like the Bosch, motor wattage is the rough equivalent measure of how much grunt it has.
Are angle grinders safe to use at home?
They are safe if you respect them, and dangerous if you do not - a spinning disc can kick back hard. Always run the supplied guard, positioned to throw sparks away from your face, and never remove it. Wear eye protection and gloves, keep both hands on the tool with the side handle fitted, and let it reach full speed before touching the work. A paddle or dead-man switch, as on the DeWalt, Milwaukee and premium Makita, stops the disc the instant you let go, and features like kickback detection add another layer - but technique and the guard matter most.
Why is a paddle or dead-man switch better?
A paddle or dead-man switch only runs the grinder while you actively hold it down, so the moment you release your grip - whether you finish the cut or lose control - the disc stops. A slide switch instead latches the tool on, leaving the disc spinning until you reach back and flick it off, which is riskier if the grinder snags or jumps out of your hands. Among these picks the DeWalt, Milwaukee and premium Makita use paddle switches, while the cheaper Makita DGA504Z uses a slide switch, so weigh that up if safety is a priority.
