Bob Vila's 2026 Tool of the Year picks, with our crew's take on each.
| Category | Winner | Our take |
|---|---|---|
| Joinery | Festool Cordless Domino DFC 500 | Amazing for cabinet shops; overkill for maintenance crews |
| Nailing | DeWalt 20V MAX XR 18-gauge brad nailer | Kills the compressor hose on trim jobs; high on our list |
| Track sawing | DeWalt 20V MAX XR 6-1/2 in plunge track saw | Straight sheet-goods cuts without a table saw |
| Demo and pruning | Black+Decker 20V MAX PowerConnect recip saw | Fine for homeowners; crews should step up to a pro line |
| Detailing | Craftsman V20 RP 3 in dual-action polisher | Handy for trucks and fixtures |
Runners-up included DeWalt 5 in and 6 in random orbit sanders, the Karcher K 3000 E electric pressure washer and a Craftsman V20 6Ah battery kit.
Where the deals are
DeWalt tools show up in the Lowe's free-tool tiers right now; check the deals page before paying full price.
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