Purchase this Milwaukee M12 cordless screwdriver kit from Home Depot, and you get 2 free 1.5Ah batteries on top of what you get with the kit.
The M12 screwdriver, model 2401, is an “oldie but goodie.” It’s not the most powerful or most compact tool of its kind, and certainly not the most modern, but it remains well regarded.
I bought another one last holiday season to give as a gift.
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Is this a good deal? Yes, and no.
Can you use the additional batteries? With what you get from the kit and the 2 additional freebies, you get a total of (4) 1.5Ah batteries. If so, then it’s a good deal.
But if you just want the cordless screwdriver kit, Home Depot regularly has it as a discounted Black Friday doorbuster deal, but without the bonus batteries.
Given the tariffs and recent price increases across the tool industry, there’s no easy way to predict whether Home Depot will match or come close to deals they’ve offered in the past.
Price: $99
Not a fan of red? Amazon has the Bosch PS21 brushed motor cordless drill kit for $119, and the Dewalt 12V Max brushless kit for $149. I am currently testing Bosch’s 12V brushless tool and it has replaced my purchased Dewalt tool as my go-to cordless screwdriver. The Milwaukee M12 is a solid tool and at this time offers the best value.
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Adam
Small typo. They are including 2x 1.5ah, not 2.5s for the “free” batteries
Stuart
Sorry! *fixed*
I would have assumed that M12 1.5Ah batteries wouldn’t be popular, given that 2Ah and now 2.5Ah High Output are available, but they always seem to fly off the shelves at all of the Home Depot stores near me.
For a lot of the tools that aren’t continuous use, I suppose having more batteries to pop in place and leave them there is more convenient than having to swap around a fewer number of higher capacity batteries. The 3Ah XC batteries also seem to sell well.
I guess some users would buy this for the batteries and then use the screwdriver just because they have it, but it’s also a decent tool on its own.
Scott F
This was my rationale when I bought the screwdriver kit 2-3 BFs ago when they had it with (1) 2.0 and (2) 1.5s (on TG recommendation). I can’t remember the price and couldn’t find the confirmation email – maybe $69 or $79?
Scott F
Maybe it was only (2) 1.5s with the screwdriver (for $69). I might have purchased another tool at the same time that included a 2.0.
$30 for two more 1.5s on this deal seems reasonable if you need the batteries.
https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-m12-cordless-screwdriver-deal/
Mike
I checked my purchase history – ordered December 1 for $59. Kit included two 1.5Ah batteries, charger and a tool bag
Stuart
Yes – $59 is rare (https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-cordless-screwdriver-deal-2024/ ), $69 is typical as a limited time doorbuster deal. I’m not confident it’ll be similarly discounted for Black Friday this year.
Chris
I’ve had a pair of the GSR12V brushless screwdrivers for a few years, they get very frequent use.
They are definitely my favorite screwdriver of all the brands out there, and everything else I own is Milwaukee. The Bosch is Lighter, faster, smaller.
The trigger switches are wearing out in the pair of PS22 brushless that also see frequent use, so I’m going to get another pair of GSR12V to replace them and be back to the 4 units in normal rotation.
I’m a bit of a fan.
Tom
How does the clutch operate on these Bosch screwdrivers?
Is it mechanical (ie makes a ratcheting noise when reaching torque setting), or electronic? I use the Dewalt 12V screwdriver a lot, but don’t love the mechanical clutch noise.
I use a little Panasonic 3.6V screwdriver for really light work, it has an electronic clutch of some sort: it just stops solid instead of ratcheting. Makes a big difference when used hundreds of times a day.
Chris
Yeah, it’s a mechanical clutch like the Dewalt. I mostly use them for running screws in and out for a specific assembly/disassembly task, and after doing it however many thousand times I just blip against the clutch when I run the slack out of the assembly, so I’m not hearing a lot of clutch braaaaap. The rest is a torque wrench.
MattW.
I was excited too see 2.5ah ho batteries but its 1.5 thay changes things for me not such a good value.
Brad
I didn’t think I would like that little screwdriver but it’s become the first thing I grab around the house.
I gave 4 of these kit’s out last year for Christmas and gifted out my 1.5 batteries as I have 3 of the 2.5Ah High Output’s.
MattW.
Theres a listing for this that is hackable to 50 for the screwdriver if you were so inclined its the same or less than black friday. Might be worth adding that link for people?
Stuart
Are you going by the image (which I put together) or did you click through the link, because it’s the kind where the deal and freebie items are separate line items.
According to numerous posts on social media, HD has started to permanently-ban customers for “deal hacking.” Don’t do it.
MattW.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-12V-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-1-4-in-Hex-Screwdriver-Kit-with-Two-1-5Ah-Batteries-Charger-and-Tool-Bag-2401-22/100615066 has it seprate. Also that hacking for normal people getting one or even a decent amount shouldn’t have any issues. If your getting thousands on value in it just like there return policy I can see them getting banned as abusers or resale folk. Its always been dependant on the customer service desk to give you issues or not. When my store gave me issues on my “hacking” I called corporate and let them talk to the CS agent. Now any cowboy employees know that its in the terms of service that you can do it.
Rick
I think you are being a bit too casual about this by stating that “normal people…shouldn’t have any issues”.
How can you be so confident? There are “normal people” claiming on social media that they have had purchases blocked by HD (as opposed to those who have been blocked for systemic hacking, presumably to resell tools online at a profit).
And for those who have been banned, switching to another credit card doesn’t allow you to get around the ban. Your card number is tied to a name and billing address, and it seems HD may be blocking purchases based on the billing address!
Of course social media posts aren’t “evidence” of anything, but I certainly wouldn’t try hacking any HD offers.
HD’s stance may trigger ill will from a few supposedly “innocent” hackers, but it seems that they have decided that the abuse of their returns policy outweighs the relatively minor cost of any ill will.
MattW.
Your link on my browsers laptop and phone takes me to a listing where they are combinded no select free gift interesting.
Stuart
This is what I see through the link that I tested again just now:
Model no. 2401-22 (standalone), with the free batteries as a separate “free gift with purchase.” Internet SKU is 100615066.
Here is a link to the combined listing where the price is $188 for the bundle. That model no. is 2401-22-48-11-2411, and the listing SKU is 336304305 .
If you’re seeing the combined listing, something weird is going on either in your browser or maybe because of your region.
Big Richard
The reports seem to be from people who abused the promos, either repeated and excessive buying and returning, or especially those who would select different stores for pickup and then leave the unwanted item to be eventually cancelled/refunded. That has always been seen as abusing online orders, ordering a bunch of stuff and not picking it up regardless of whether it is a prorated deal or not. And if you buy thousands of dollars of anything and return it constantly, again regardless of whether it is a prorated deal or not, that also could lead to problems as they will see that abusing the return policy.
Jordan
Please be careful when doing the pro-rated returns (aka “hacks”).
We’re suffering right now from one of these — we did a M12 battery return on the last screwdriver deal about a month ago, and within a day of the return — the entire address got “flagged”.
Three different accounts (brother, father, myself) can no longer order ANYTHING online.
We didn’t abuse anything. Less than 100 total in-store and online orders at HD between the three of us over the span of two years. No excessive quantities, no excessive returns. Probably 1-2 pro-rated returns per year, at the most.
Thing is, it was the brother’s account that did the return — yet the rest of us suffer. I never did a return, yet I’m suffering. Getting a massive run-around with customer service too — fighting it for appeals is impossible. They simply don’t care.
It seems like they deployed some aggressive fraud analytics over the last few months, and if you get flagged by it — right, wrong, or indifferent — it’s an instant ban for online orders.
We were told we’re allowed to make purchases in-store, but our ability to buy things online is permanently revoked.
Don’t know what to do, since HD is the only store in the area other than Walmart. They drove out all the local shops…so we’re in a pickle. We didn’t do anything wrong, and we’re getting punished extremely harshly.
Terry Burton
I got this same combo deal last December from HD for $59. Perhaps it was a special deal, not sure. I wonder if it will go lower this year, thinking probably not. 🧰
Stuart
It was a doorbuster deal last year. In-store-only for Black Friday, and online starting the next day.
https://toolguyd.com/milwaukee-cordless-screwdriver-deal-2024/
$59 is rare, $69 is typical for peak Black Friday season. Given what we’ve been seeing since Father’s Day, I am not confident we can expect to see the same this year.
EBT
I don’t have issue with 1.5V batteries. Plus you can always get a bigger battery if you have the need. This will do just well as a gift! Thanks Toolguyd!
TomD
Especially would rather have two or three 1.5ahs than one big one – because then you have some always charging.
At least for a tool like this. Always-on high duty like the vacuum is a different story.
Alexk
Is it too difficult to group the items on one receipt? If batteries are on a separate receipt and sealed, it seems like it should be okay to return them.
At this point, I only want HO or Surge. I have enough 5ah batteries.
Stuart
These deals are typically broken down into separate line items with prorated refund amounts.
Many people have taken to returning unwanted items, but it’s been abused so much that Home Depot has started cracking down on customers that made a habit of this.
Daniel
I got that M12 Screwdriver last December with two 1.5ah batteries for $59 on Special at The Home Depot.
Those batteries work fine in that driver. I use it everyday at work. Removing and installing 100’s of machine screws a day. A full charge on one battery last two to three weeks. I love the spare, so I can run it until it’s out, swap it out and back to work.
A great driver, a little slow. My Metabo HTP 3.6v driver is much faster, but the torque is low.
Daniel McFarland
2 questions: is anyone else experiencing problems using their military discount on the app? I had to re-login and also re-verify my status as a veteran, and it confirmed it, but none of their prices on anything are reflecting the normal 10% off price the way they used to. In the cart or just when shopping.
2nd, can ANYONE tell me who makes and where can I find a simple 6″ long, flat head screwdriver BIT the fits the 1/4″ quick release chuck from an impact driver? I can find Philips, Torx, and square heads. I can find handful of 2″ bits that are flat head. But, do I really have to grind a square or Philips bit tip into approximation of a flat head screwdriver to have a flat head motorized-screwdriver bit that will reach through narrow gaps? This screwdriver here, for instance, is one that I have already got 2 of, bc they are often so cheap and their biggest weakness imo as a screwdriver is the low top speed. But why doesn’t Big Red or Big Yellow, or Big Blue or Orange or Green have a single 6″ flat head BIT in a blister pack or even a KIT hanging on the shelf? I’m very sad that I can’t even manage to get Big River online to show me one. Has anyone seen one?
Thank you all, especially Tool Guy, for all the great comments and articles!
~MacGyver/Gadget, The Installer