Ryobi 18V ONE+ System of Tools by Ryobi

I give this tool system 9 out of 10 acorns.

Affordable, effective, and convenient.

I find the Ryobi 18v ONE+ system of tools to be the right balance of traits for my homeowner/homesteader based needs. I run Ryobi chainsaws, drills, circular saws, impact wrenches and more at home. Parts are plentiful and cheap in case you push the limits of what the tool should be able to handle (as I do sometimes). I have only had one battery stop charging after roughly five years but was able to be 'reset' with some ingenuity. Sales happen frequently for both the tool and the batteries which is a plus. They are regularly coming out with new products that are on the 18v line that help build out a toolbox of portable electric equipment.

A lot of people think that Milwaukee or Dewalt are the only options on the market that are quality and I think they might be surprised how effective Ryobi is for a non-trade use. I think where a lot of people go wrong is that some of the Ryobi tools need a bigger battery to run effectively over the small ones that come with most tools.  I have found the tool is limited by the size battery, not the other way around. Get yourself a pair of the 4.0Ah at a minimum to be able to run most of the stuff well. Keep your eyes out for the deals for a pair of batteries and a 'free' tool. I slowly have grown my collection from those opportunities.

I would recommend this product to everyone.

Several years ago I decided to go all in Ryobi as well. Limited budget versatility appealed to me, and I've even added the 40v stuff to my collection. The 20" pushmower w/bagger is excellent for keeping around the gardens mulched and tidy!

A couple battery issues thru the years, but replacement cost for those are minimal with this brand and the tools still work fine for a homesteader/part-time handyman and mechanic, for what it's worth.

I give this tool system 9 out of 10 acorns.  It would be 10 but the past two I've gotten have had either bad batteries or chargers which were replaced for free at Home Depot and everything worked out fine.

I think they were first with the "one battery for all their tools" idea.  I picked them about 15 years ago (blue tools) and have been with them ever since.  Sales, especially around Christmas, are usually the only way I get new batteries and tools.  I even got a vacuum cleaner and it's what I use for the whole house.  

I imagine being limited to 18V has some efficiency downsides.

I have some Ryobi too, that I've inherited or got really cheap. It's fine, the same as all my other stuff. You can tell from the weight of the tool and the torque, it's not in the same league as DeWalt or Milwaukee. BTW Milwaukee was bought by China.

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I give this system 7 out of 10 acorns.

The top-shelf battery systems rate very high in my experience.

But I have seen lots of quirks in the "green" tool line. They do seem to be continuously improving. FWIW, none of the green tools has failed me, just annoyed me by cutting in and out during a job (internal protection system). These are medium/consumer duty tools overall. My 2c.

lots of ryobi power tools 1/2 off today at big orange store in Knoxville mostly pole saws and hedge clippers. and more at least couple dozen in the clearance end cap sections.

"I give this tool system 9 out of 10 acorns"  mostly becouse i'm jealous. My brother went green 10 or 12 years ago. He now has a complete tool set that all use the same batterys and chargers. I have 6 diffrent battery/charger systems, two that are orphans.  I really want 1 of those staple brad nailures.  Used it at his house helping repair some upholstery.  Light duty, yes, work for years in home shop, yes. Tom

"I give this tool system 8 out of 10 acorns"


The backwards compatibility makes these tools amazing.
Dewalt and Milwaukee have orphaned otherwise good tools by not doing this.
I get most of mine from the pawn shop, with few disappointments so far.
I have a few Milwaukee tools that I dont use anymore because multiple batteries failed,and it was cheaper to buy into the green than get new ones.
I had bought the Milwaukee after buying and returning a Ryobi kit that was pure trash, but the green has improved a crazy amount since then.

I do need to upgrade my reciprocating saw to the brushless series, the model I have really struggles to get things done.

I covet their nailers, but the idea of getting their air compressor and trying to use that with the air tools I already have is very tempting.

"I give this 7 out of 10 acorns"

Ryobi is what I have at home. It's one of those deals where once you have 2 tools, you are stuck. Otherwise I would probably get something a little more powerful. I do like the tools though, and the price is lower than the tools I wish I had. I have the 2 drills, 2 sawzalls, a 90mph blower and the weed wacker.

I have looked at these systems and they are sweet.

I am now leaning toward not using battery powered tools rather buying corded tools for 90% of what I have, then using a power bank to run the tools where ever I want them.       Each of the battery packs are very expensive to replace.       I believe instead of doing that getting 100 AH 12v batteries  with an inverter,  or a solar inverter may be less expensive than going with the smaller battery packs.....

I still need to do the math on this one...


I ran a cement mixer for over 5 hours with two 12v 100 AH batteries with no solar....        Having done this in a remote area  makes me want to test this method out more.....

Yeah that is interesting. Corded tools are generally cheaper and more powerful too.

I can tell you that my Ryobi batteries seem to last quite a while. I have only recycled 2 over at least 11 years of having the tools. I am sure they are degrading but I try to keep 3 batteries around so I don't notice if they are holding less power over time. Oh and also, the generic batteries that fit Ryobi seem great, much cheaper and no complaints.

Dan Fish wrote:Yeah that is interesting. Corded tools are generally cheaper and more powerful too.

I can tell you that my Ryobi batteries seem to last quite a while. I have only recycled 2 over at least 11 years of having the tools. I am sure they are degrading but I try to keep 3 batteries around so I don't notice if they are holding less power over time. Oh and also, the generic batteries that fit Ryobi seem great, much cheaper and no complaints.

I am testing rebuilding some 18v dewalt batteries I have, I have about 100 Tesla batteries and i just got a spot welder.      

Cordless does have it's place, much depends on what one needs to accomplish.

I give this 9 out of ten acorns

Must concur with Dan about durable tools ....more bang for the buck.....and steadfast batteries.  Was using my green reciprocating saw on a roof 30 feet off the ground, got tripped up and it took flight.  Still worked, chipped but undaunted,  with no ill effect on battery...... and other episodes that display tough tools and my own inept history as a maladroit

For folks who lament the poor torque,  I say eschew the 2 amp hr batteries. Just go with 5 , 6 or bigger.  Generic replacements are working great after 3 or more years of use.  These are approximately half price when compared with original stock.

Ryobi has an INSANE range of tools available. They are great for home or homestead, but the batteries and tools don’t hold up to heavy constant use like full time construction.  But the system is so cheap it is worth it to buy the battery and charger for just a specialized tool (like the caulk gun or trim nailer) than buy a bare tool for the battery platform you already have.

I have done the power bank and corded tools. Good for stationary tools like table saw, miter saw, etc. but if your work area is bigger than a short extension cord’s reach, the cordless tools are SO much faster and more efficient.  If you already have the corded tools and have the time to spare it’s a good plan. It isn’t like running a gas generator that needed ear pro constantly or spend more time starting and stopping the generator than actually making the cut.