DeWalt Charger Compatibility: 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT — What Works With What

DeWalt charger compatibility between 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT is straightforward: every current FLEXVOLT (60V MAX) battery charges on any 20V MAX charger, and every 20V MAX battery charges on any FLEXVOLT charger. The port is identical across both lines — DeWalt designed it that way from the start. The only real variable is charge speed: a standard 20V MAX charger will top off a large FLEXVOLT pack, but it takes longer than the dedicated DCB118. That's the whole compatibility story. Below is the model table, a straight answer on when speed actually matters, and the handful of edge cases worth knowing before you assume everything works.

DeWalt Charger Compatibility — Full Model Table

All current DeWalt chargers share the same connector and recognize both 20V MAX and 60V MAX FLEXVOLT cells. Here's how the main models compare:

A note on the voltage labels: "20V MAX" means 18V nominal under load. "60V MAX" FLEXVOLT means 54V nominal. DeWalt (and the rest of the industry) markets peak open-circuit voltage on the label. The battery's internal electronics handle the voltage switching based on which tool it's connected to — the charger doesn't see any of that. It reads the same cell architecture either way and charges accordingly.

For context on how the FLEXVOLT battery lineup fits into the broader DeWalt platform, see how FLEXVOLT and PowerStack batteries work together. If you're sorting out which DeWalt battery names mean what after the PowerStack transition, learn about DeWalt's PowerStack and XR naming.

Does the Charger You Use Actually Matter?

Usually no. Sometimes yes. Here's where the line is.

DCB118 vs. DCB115 on a 6Ah FLEXVOLT Pack

The DCB115 is DeWalt's standard 20V MAX charger. It works fine and it will fill a 6Ah FLEXVOLT pack — but it takes considerably longer than the DCB118. The DCB118 is fan-cooled and built to push higher current into large-capacity packs without overheating them.

DeWalt specs the DCB115 on a 6Ah FLEXVOLT pack at around 90 minutes, and the DCB118 at around 60 minutes. That gap is real if you're cycling those packs back-to-back all day on a job site. On the 12Ah pack (DCB6112), the difference is larger still — the 12Ah FLEXVOLT battery guide goes deep on what that pack demands from a charger.

When the DCB118 Is Worth Buying

• You're cycling 6Ah or larger FLEXVOLT packs every day
• Downtime waiting on a charge is costing you money or schedule
• You have two or more FLEXVOLT batteries and need to rotate them fast
• You're running heavy cut or concrete work where the tool pulls the pack down in under an hour

If that's your situation, the DCB118 pays for itself in productivity.

When Your Existing 20V MAX Charger Is Fine

• You use FLEXVOLT gear occasionally — a circular saw on weekends, a reciprocating saw on a one-off demo
• You're running the FLEXVOLT battery in a 20V MAX tool (it runs at 20V there anyway — same runtime math as any 20V MAX pack)
• You're working with smaller packs — 2Ah and 4Ah FLEXVOLT packs charge fast on anything
• You own multiple batteries and rotate while one charges

Verdict: Don't buy a new charger just because you bought a FLEXVOLT battery. If you're already charging in a 20V MAX charger and not watching the clock, you don't have a charger problem.

Cold weather is a separate issue — lithium-ion packs charge more slowly below 40°F regardless of charger model. If you're on a winter job, cold-weather battery charging covers what actually helps.

Which DeWalt Chargers Aren't Compatible With FLEXVOLT?

12V-only chargers: Older DeWalt chargers that predate the 20V MAX platform — generally pre-2015 units — are rated for 12V cells only. They do not charge 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT batteries. The check is simple: look at the charger label. If it says 12V but doesn't say "20V MAX," it won't work with any of your current packs.

The DCB100 is one confirmed example of a 12V-only unit — if that's what you have on the bench, it will not charge FLEXVOLT or 20V MAX packs.

Third-party non-licensed chargers: FLEXVOLT packs use DeWalt's cell-group recognition to manage charging safely. Generic off-brand chargers that lack this protocol may reject a FLEXVOLT pack or charge it incorrectly. Stick with DeWalt-branded or licensed accessories — that's not brand loyalty advice, it's the same principle as not fast-charging a lithium phone with a no-name block.

120V MAX packs (dual-pack / gang-pack): The 120V MAX FLEXVOLT system gangs two 60V packs together for large equipment like the 10-inch table saw. The individual 60V packs that make up a 120V MAX configuration each charge separately on the DCB118. The DCB1800B is a power station that draws power from batteries rather than a charger that refills them — it is not the correct tool for recharging your 60V packs.

One Battery, More Than Just Tools — USB Devices and Jobsite Power

The charger compatibility question is settled. Now here's what else your DeWalt 20V or FLEXVOLT battery can do when there's no wall outlet around.

USB charger adapters slide directly onto your 20V MAX battery and let you charge phones, tablets, Bluetooth speakers, and job-site radios from the pack. No extension cord, no outlet hunting on a rough-in job. Our USB-C Fast Charger with LED Screen is built for exactly this — it supports all DeWalt 20V batteries, charges USB-C devices up to 65W, and includes a USB-A port.

150W power inverters go further. Connect your DeWalt 20V battery, and you get a 120V AC outlet you can plug any standard device into — a work light, a phone charger, a corded tool from another brand in a pinch. The 150W Power Inverter is compatible with DeWalt MAX XR batteries and includes USB ports alongside the AC outlet.

One thing worth knowing: when a FLEXVOLT battery runs in a USB adapter or power inverter, it operates at 20V — same as in any 20V MAX tool. Runtime scales with Ah rating just like it would for a 20V pack of the same capacity. A 6Ah FLEXVOLT pack in an inverter behaves like a 6Ah 20V MAX pack.

Frequently Asked Questions About DeWalt Charger Compatibility

Can I charge a DeWalt FLEXVOLT battery with a 20V MAX charger?

Yes. All current DeWalt FLEXVOLT (60V MAX) batteries share the same port and charging protocol as 20V MAX batteries. Any current 20V MAX charger charges them. The only trade-off is speed — a 20V MAX charger takes longer to fill a large FLEXVOLT pack than the dedicated DCB118 does.

Will a DeWalt FLEXVOLT charger charge my 20V MAX batteries?

Yes. FLEXVOLT chargers — including the DCB118 and DCB132 — charge both 60V FLEXVOLT and 20V MAX batteries. One charger handles your entire DeWalt battery lineup. You don't need separate hardware for each voltage line.

What is the fastest charger for DeWalt FLEXVOLT batteries?

The DCB118 is DeWalt's dedicated FLEXVOLT fast charger. It's fan-cooled and built for high-capacity packs, and it delivers the shortest charge times in the lineup for large FLEXVOLT packs. For the 12Ah FLEXVOLT pack, see the 12Ah FLEXVOLT guide for the full picture.

Do old DeWalt chargers work with FLEXVOLT batteries?

Only if the charger is labeled 20V MAX. Older DeWalt chargers rated for 12V only — with no "20V MAX" designation on the label — do not charge 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT batteries. Check your charger label. If it says 12V only, it won't work with FLEXVOLT packs.

Can I use a FLEXVOLT battery in a 20V MAX tool?

Yes. FLEXVOLT batteries automatically drop to 20V when inserted in a 20V MAX tool. You get more runtime than a same-Ah 20V pack, but the tool runs at standard 20V power — 60V mode only activates in FLEXVOLT-rated tools. No adapter, no settings, no workaround needed.

Your current charger already works with your FLEXVOLT batteries. You don't need to buy new hardware just because you moved up a battery tier. When you're ready to get more out of that battery — off the tool and on the job site — browse the full DeWalt tool collection accessory lineup: USB chargers, power inverters, and more built for the DeWalt 20V platform you already run.