Are DeWalt and Craftsman V20 Batteries Interchangeable? (Yes — With One Catch)

Short answer: yes. DeWalt 20V MAX and Craftsman V20 batteries are interchangeable — they use the same slide-on terminal design and swap freely in either direction. Pop a Craftsman V20 pack into a DeWalt drill — it fits, charges, and runs. Reverse it: same result. This isn't an accident. Stanley Black & Decker owns both brands and built them on the same 20V platform.

The one real catch is DeWalt's FLEXVOLT system. Craftsman V20 batteries don't trigger 60V mode, so they hit a ceiling in that part of the DeWalt lineup. Here's exactly what swaps freely and what doesn't.

Why Are DeWalt and Craftsman V20 Batteries Compatible?

Stanley Black & Decker Owns Both Brands

Stanley Black & Decker (now SBD Inc.) owns DeWalt, Craftsman, Black+Decker, and a handful of other tool brands. When SBD relaunched Craftsman after the Sears era, they built V20 on the same 20V slide-terminal platform already running DeWalt's 20V MAX line. The compatibility is intentional — same engineering team, same design spec.

That's the same reason Black+Decker 20V MAX batteries cross-swap too. See Black+Decker battery compatibility for that full breakdown.

Same Terminal, Same Voltage

Both platforms use a 20V nominal slide-on terminal. Neither manufacturer's product page includes a cross-brand compatibility footnote, and the terminals are described as distinct on each spec sheet — but the shared SBD engineering platform means the contact points align and the BMS handshake protocol matches across the lineup. The voltage is identical: 20V nominal (roughly 18V under load), with no over-voltage risk swapping in either direction.

Will a Craftsman V20 Battery Work in a DeWalt FLEXVOLT Tool?

DeWalt FLEXVOLT batteries are dual-voltage. They sense the tool they're plugged into and switch between 20V and 60V mode automatically. A Craftsman V20 pack only presents a 20V signal — it doesn't speak FLEXVOLT.

Put a Craftsman V20 pack in a dedicated 60V FLEXVOLT tool, and it won't seat at all. DeWalt molds plastic tabs into the battery slot of 60V FLEXVOLT tools that physically block standard 20V MAX packs — including Craftsman V20 — from being inserted.

This matters for large FLEXVOLT-only tools: 60V table saws, 10" miter saws, 60V circular saws. For everything else — 20V MAX drills, impact drivers, reciprocating saws, sanders — a Craftsman V20 pack works in a DeWalt tool without reservation.

Craftsman doesn't make a FLEXVOLT equivalent. V20 is capped at 20V — there's no dual-voltage Craftsman pack.

For the full story on where the 20V and FLEXVOLT lines split, see DeWalt 20V MAX vs. FLEXVOLT guide.

Can You Charge a Craftsman V20 Battery with a DeWalt Charger?

Yes, chargers cross too. A DeWalt 20V MAX charger charges a Craftsman V20 battery, and a Craftsman V20 charger charges a DeWalt 20V MAX battery. Same terminal, same protocol — neither manufacturer explicitly documents this cross-brand compatibility, but the shared SBD platform makes it work in practice.

The difference is charge *rate*. The DeWalt DCB104 multiport charger charges all four ports simultaneously at 8 Amps per port — handy when you're running Craftsman and DeWalt packs side by side. The standard Craftsman CMCB100 kit charger, by contrast, delivers just 1.25A. Using a Craftsman charger on a DeWalt battery won't hurt it — you'll just wait longer.

If you're mixing brands, a DeWalt charger is the smarter single purchase: it covers both platforms at higher speed. See DeWalt charger compatibility guide for more on which DeWalt chargers work with which battery families.

Are Craftsman V20 and DeWalt 20V MAX Batteries the Same Quality?

Functionally compatible, but not identical. Same lithium-ion chemistry, same voltage. The gap is in capacity ceiling and sustained current output.

Craftsman's current top-of-range pack is the CMCB209 at 9.0 Ah. DeWalt's non-FLEXVOLT peak is the DCB210 at 10 Ah. The DCB612 FLEXVOLT pack carries 12.0 Ah in 20V mode.

For light-duty work — driving screws, drilling holes, trim tasks — the difference is minimal. Where it shows up is sustained high-draw use: circular saws, reciprocating saws, high-amperage grinders. A higher-Ah DeWalt XR pack will outlast a same-Ah Craftsman pack. The packs are compatible, not identical.

Warranty note: Using a non-brand battery *may* affect warranty coverage on either tool. DeWalt's warranty documentation does not explicitly address the use of non-DeWalt batteries, so whether cross-brand use affects coverage is not confirmed. Craftsman offers a lifetime warranty on hand tools — "If this Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge," with no proof of purchase required — though this applies to hand tools rather than power tool battery coverage specifically. For most DIYers this won't matter. On a new tool still under warranty, it's worth reading the relevant terms before you decide.

Which Accessories Work on Both Craftsman V20 and DeWalt 20V MAX?

If Craftsman and DeWalt tools share your shop, your charging and power accessories should default to DeWalt-compatible products. They work on both platforms. DeWalt's accessories catalog runs roughly 1.5–2× deeper than Craftsman's and includes trade-specific categories — concrete, plumbing, cable and crimping — that Craftsman does not cover.

DeWalt-compatible accessories that serve both platforms:

• USB-C fast charging off your battery — the MAX XR USB-C charger turns any 20V MAX (or Craftsman V20) pack into a 65W USB-C power bank. Charge your phone, tablet, or laptop right from the battery on your belt.
• AC power on the jobsite — the MAX XR 150W power inverter gives you a 120V AC outlet off any 20V MAX battery. Craftsman V20 packs power it just as well.
• Multi-pack charging — the four-port DeWalt fast charger charges four batteries simultaneously. Run a mixed fleet, charge everything at once.

See USB charger vs. inverter comparison to sort out which type of accessory your workflow actually needs. Then browse the full DeWalt collection — everything there works on 20V MAX and cross-works on Craftsman V20.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Craftsman V20 battery in a DeWalt drill? Yes. The slide-on terminal is physically identical. The battery fits, charges, and runs the tool normally in any DeWalt 20V MAX drill or impact driver.

Can I use a DeWalt battery in a Craftsman V20 drill? Yes — same answer. Same terminal, same 20V platform. No adapter, no modification needed.

Can I charge a Craftsman V20 battery with a DeWalt charger? Yes. DeWalt 20V MAX chargers recognize and charge Craftsman V20 packs. Charge rate depends on which charger you're using — a DeWalt fast charger will finish the job faster than the standard Craftsman charger your kit shipped with.

Will a Craftsman V20 battery work in a DeWalt FLEXVOLT tool? Partially. It fits the slot and runs the tool in 20V mode if that mode exists. It will not trigger 60V FLEXVOLT mode. On tools that require 60V to operate at all, the Craftsman V20 pack may not power them.

Are Craftsman V20 and DeWalt 20V MAX batteries the same quality? Similar cell chemistry and voltage, but not identical. DeWalt XR packs offer higher sustained current output and a higher max Ah ceiling. For light-duty use the difference is minor. For high-draw tools — saws, grinders — a DeWalt XR pack will outlast a same-Ah Craftsman pack.

Does Craftsman make a FLEXVOLT equivalent? No. Craftsman V20 is capped at 20V. There is no Craftsman dual-voltage pack that matches DeWalt's 20V/60V FLEXVOLT system.

Which charger is better — Craftsman V20 or DeWalt? DeWalt's lineup is broader. If you're mixing brands, a DeWalt charger handles both Craftsman and DeWalt batteries. The four-bay DeWalt charger charges four packs simultaneously — the right buy for any mixed-platform shop.

If you've got Craftsman and DeWalt tools sharing the same shelf, build your charging station around DeWalt-compatible accessories — they serve both platforms today and give you a clear upgrade path if you ever consolidate onto one.