5 Tools That Are Perfect To Use With DeWalt's 20V 2Ah Batteries

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DeWalt offers its 20V batteries in a variety of capacities, which are measured in amp-hours (Ah). Amp-hours, unlike voltage, tell you the capacity of a battery — how much current it can deliver before running out of juice. A 10 Ah battery, for example, delivers 1 amp over 10 hours. If you're using a tool that requires twice that power, 2 amps, it would then last half as long, five hours. It would last two hours if producing 5 amps, and so on.

The larger the capacity a battery has, the longer it will last. Higher-Ah batteries may provide a little more power under load with power-hungry tools, but for the most part, the difference between a 2 Ah battery and a 12 Ah battery is their capacity. That's why you can use any DeWalt 20V battery with any DeWalt 20V Max tool. You can use a 2 Ah battery — one of DeWalt's lowest available capacities — on a DeWalt 20V Max XR 7-¼-inch Circular Saw, but it's probably not the best choice for the tool. Cordless saws require a lot of power, so you can expect that 2 Ah battery to drain pretty quickly.

That doesn't mean you should write off 2 Ah batteries completely, though. They're cheaper, lighter, and more compact than larger-capacity batteries, and they can be more comfortable to use in tight spaces and when working overhead. If a tool doesn't have a huge power demand, it may be all you need. One way to tell if a DeWalt tool is suited for a 2 Ah battery is to see if the brand bundles them together, as opposed to including a larger-capacity battery.

Many of DeWalt's tools best suited for its 2 Ah batteries come from its Atomic line of cordless devices. A core difference between DeWalt Atomic and DeWalt XR tools is that Atomic devices are designed to be more lightweight and compact, while still delivering enough power for the job. A drill/driver is a perfect tool for the Atomic line, since, unlike a heat gun or a vacuum, it doesn't require a ton of power to operate.

That's why Home Depot bundles the DeWalt Atomic 20V Max ½-inch Drill/Driver with a 2 Ah battery rather than something larger. You'd get more runtime with a bigger battery, but perhaps more than you'd need, and the kit is cheaper because it includes a smaller battery. The tool weighs just 2.75 pounds and is only 5.88 inches from front to back. A larger battery would undo the advantages of the smaller, compact tool, as well as mess with the balance and be more uncomfortable to use.

Even with a 2 Ah battery, the DeWalt Atomic 20V Max ½-inch Drill/Driver (model DCD794B) delivers 404 UWO and has a no-load speed of up to 1,650 rpm. Equipped with a brushless motor, DeWalt says the tool produces 16% more power than its brushed drill when using a 2 Ah battery. For applications that don't need as much juice, the tool also has a second, lower speed setting that ranges between zero and 450 rpm. The drill/driver also features an integrated LED worklight and a belt hook. That's another reason it's well-suited for a 2 Ah battery — you wouldn't want to lug a clunky, larger battery from your waist.

Laser measuring tools also pair well with DeWalt's 2 Ah battery, as they don't require nearly as much juice as saws and other power tools. The DeWalt 20V 3x360 Line Laser Kit comes with a 2 Ah battery, which DeWalt says provides 11 hours of runtime per charge, more than enough to get your day's alignments and measurements in.

A laser level is one of the woodworking tools that are essential for home renovation, since even being slightly off when installing doors, cabinets, or other pieces can lead to total disaster. The DeWalt 20V 3x360 Line Laser differs from other laser tools because it projects three beams, as opposed to one or two. Three continuous 360-degree laser planes are created so that you can level, align, and square across an entire space at the same time. This can be invaluable when framing walls, laying tile, figuring out electric or plumbing routes, and other uses.

The tool projects one vertical and two horizontal lines, all in green, and is accurate at ±⅛-inch at 30 feet. When paired with DeWalt's Laser Detector, which is sold separately, it has an average 130-foot visible and 330-foot maximum range. It also includes magnets to connect to steel studs and corner beads. It's rated IP54 for drop- and water-resistant, and the kit comes with a durable case, as well as a charger, tripod mount, ceiling/wall bracket, and laser target card.

When it comes to 20V batteries that are compatible with DeWalt Atomic tools, pretty much any of DeWalt's will do, but smaller, compact ones are more in line with the line's general purpose. Since nail guns don't need to run continuously like, say, the cutting blade of a recip saw, they can last longer with less capacity. That's why the Atomic 20V Max 23GA Pin Nailer pairs well with a 2 Ah battery and can even be purchased with one as an official DeWalt kit. In addition to the 2 Ah unit, the kit also includes a tool bag and charger.

Despite a lower capacity, a 2 Ah battery provides enough power for the tool to drive up to 2,000 nails per charge — your trigger finger will likely tire out before the battery does. The DeWalt Atomic 20V Max 23GA Pin Nailer weighs a little over four pounds and works with 23-gauge pin nails ranging from ⅝-inch to 1-½-inch in size. It can hold 110 nails at once, and an LED light indicates when you're low on nails, and it's time to reload. The device also features a tool-free jam release and depth adjustment. Since it's battery-powered, it doesn't require the gas cartridges, hoses, or air compressors that many other nailers do.

DeWalt has a range of different cordless impact drivers to best suit your needs, including its Atomic 20V Max ¼-inch Impact Driver. It's not the most powerful DeWalt impact driver you can buy, but it's designed especially to be highly portable and used in confined areas, so a compact 2 Ah battery pairs well with the tool. Even with its smaller size, the brushless tool is pretty powerful, and can deliver up to 1,700 in-lbs. of torque and up to 2,800 no-load rpm. DeWalt says the tool can drive three-inch deck screws into pressure-treated wood, ⅜-inch lag bolts into pine, and 5/16-inch self-tapping screws into 20-gauge metal.

The DeWalt Atomic 20V Max ¼-inch Impact Driver is just 5.1 inches at its longest and includes an ergonomically designed handle and integrated LED worklights. It weighs a little over 2 pounds, making it very lightweight and easy on the hands during use. DeWalt's 2 Ah battery weighs about 0.9 pounds, keeping things light — compare that to a 15 Ah battery, which DeWalt says the tool is also rated for and which weighs 4.55 pounds. That's more than double the weight of the tool itself, highlighting how practical it can be to use a lower-capacity battery like the 2 Ah. Home Depot has a DeWalt Atomic 20V Max ¼-inch Impact Driver Kit that includes a 2 Ah battery, charger, and belt clip.

The first thing to know when learning how to properly use DeWalt's laser level tool is which type will give you the information you require. Unlike the DeWalt 20V 3x360 Line Laser, the brand's Cross Line Laser emits two beams of green light, not three. One horizontal line and one vertical line project to intersect at 90 degrees, making it a very useful tool to have when leveling and squaring layouts, such as hanging frames or mirrors, setting shelves, venting fixtures, installing tile, aligning cabinets, or marking plumb points.

While it has more limited functionality than a three-beam laser tool, the fact that it's simpler and easier to use may make it the better choice, depending on your needs. It's also 58% smaller than previous models and, even if only by a little, requires even less power than DeWalt's 20V 3x360 Line Laser, so a 2 Ah battery is all you need. When powered by one, you'll get a whopping 16 hours of runtime before needing to recharge.

The tool has an accuracy of ±1/8-inches at 30 feet. It's compatible with DeWalt's Laser Detector for an expanded visible range of up to 180 feet and a maximum range of 330 feet. It's also compatible with a dual-size tripod to better place your lines. You can also use built-in rear magnets on a pivoting L-bracket to easily mount the laser tool to a wall or metal surface. Suitable for rough jobsites, the device is rated IP54 drop-, dust-, and water-resistant. The DeWalt Cross Line Laser Kit bundles the tool with a 2 Ah battery, charger, tripod mount/drop ceiling bracket, laser target card, and a durable storage case for everything.