- Get a head start on holiday shopping with Milwaukee tool gifts for less than $100.
- From first toolkits to well-stocked workshops, these useful picks deserve a spot under the tree this year.
The holiday gift season is not far off. For me, I’d rather spend December enjoying myself than panic-shopping for someone who claims they “don’t need anything.” Especially when that same person has been borrowing my tools all year long. If you’ve got a DIYer, weekend tinkerer, or devoted Milwaukee fan on your gift list, now’s a good time to get some shopping out of the way—and you don’t need a several-hundred-dollar power tool to make their day.
As a tool guy myself, I’d much rather unwrap something useful than another novelty gift destined for the attic. Give me a compact drill/driver that makes a repair easier, a utility knife that replaces the battered one in my pocket, or a magnetic tape measure that saves me from constantly asking, “Hey, can you hold this?” Shopping for someone who practically lives under a car? A cordless power ratchet might be just the thing to loosen those stubborn fittings. And if we’re talking about a holiday gift exchange, who doesn’t want to bring the present everyone wants to steal?
With all of that in mind, we’ve rounded up these Milwaukee gifts for less than $100. Whether you’re shopping for a loved one building their first tool kit or someone who’s garage is already bathed in the glow of red tools and white lightning bolts, there’s something here well worth the time and energy it takes to wrap it.
Milwaukee Tools Under $100
8 Best Milwaukee Tools Under $100
Best For All Fasteners
Few things are more annoying than hunting through your tool kit for the proper-sized drive bit. This 74-piece set keeps all of your bits in one handy kit that makes them easy to reach and simple to remove. This kit really covers the fastening basics, as it includes various sizes of star bits, Phillips-head bits, and an assortment of standard slot-head sizes. I particularly like that Milwaukee included 1/4- and 5/16-inch hex drive bits—two I’m usually rooting around for—in the sturdy kit.
Sharp and Handy
This sharp, serrated knife lives in that space between a razor, a utility knife, and a bare-bones multi-tool. The housing is sturdy and well-built, and the knife itself holds an edge for an exceptionally long time. Serrations are perfect for cutting heavy rope, which might come in handy for the camper or boat enthusiast in your life. And the swing-out screwdriver is more than just a gimmick in that it’s strong enough to handle prying with the slot head in place or extracting a stubborn Phillips head with that drive head locked in. And in the end, you can crack a beer with the built-in opener.
Great for Tight Spaces
For the Milwaukee fan who already has M12 batteries on hand, this compact hammer drill is a gift that’ll get put to work over and over. Its brushless motor handles everyday drilling and driving, and the hammer setting adds the ability to drill holes in brick and masonry with the right bit. The chuck accommodates bits up to 1/2-inch in diameter, but its all-metal construction grips smaller bits, drivers, and nut runners with equal strength. Many contractors—electricians among them—favor its compact size, which makes the drill easier to maneuver in tight spaces or between studs. Beyond that, this drill is an easy pull for everything from hanging shelves to mounting brackets on a brick wall. Just keep in mind that this is a bare tool, so a battery and charger need to be supplied separately.
Best For Cutting Trim
I’ve long been a fan of Milwaukee’s more compact M12 oscillating tool. For one, it’s easy to use in tight spaces due to its size. More importantly, it’s a powerhouse. I’m partial to tools I can keep handy as I work on projects, especially if I'm in a tight spot like an attic or crawl space. I want a multi-tool that isn’t too bulky. This oscillating tool is perfect for cutting notches or pockets in lumber or trimming door jamb bases to better slip tile or wood flooring under. You’ll be remembered for dropping this tool in the holiday grab bag.
Best Belt Clip
In the spirit of total transparency, I switched to this tape measure about five years ago after my old tape slipped off my belt and damaged my hardwood floor. Apart from this 25-footer being sturdy and stable beyond an eight-foot extension, Milwaukee uses a “wired” clip, which I find holds fast to my pocket or belt when I’m working without a tool pouch. And the magnetic end comes in handy when I’m measuring off of metal studs.
Best Organized Screwdrivers
A matching set of screwdrivers might seem like a basic gift, until you consider how many people have an old paint can full of mismatched ones on their workbench and still can’t find the right size. Milwaukee’s 12-piece set brings some sense of order to that chaos, with a fitted, clear case that makes a missing driver stand out like a lost tooth. The tri-lobe handles are comfortable to grip when tightening cabinet hardware or backing out stubborn screws. I like the magnetic tips for keeping screws in position on their pilot-hole approach. These drivers are a useful upgrade for a new homeowner—or for anyone who wants to ditch that old, cluttered paint can.
Best For Bolts
If you have a mechanic in your life, this powerful cordless ratchet is ideal. The 3/8-inch drive accepts most common socket bits, and the tool itself fits nicely in the hand. With 35 foot-pounds of torque, this low-profile tool is powerful enough to snug or loosen most bolts and easy to work with in tight engine spaces. The onboard LED light is a nice added feature to light your way.
Jobsite Essential
I’m a firm believer that every toolkit should have a first-aid kit in its cargo hold. Let’s face it: A wad of paper towel wrapped with electrical tape is hardly first aid. This kit contains 79 essentials for the unfortunate job site or workshop mishap, including bandages, scissors, gauze, antibiotic ointment, eyewash, eye pads, burn cream, and trauma pads, among others. Best of all, the whole kit locks right into the Milwaukee Packout for easy and fast retrieval, and it comes with a dependable penlight when onsite triage of small cuts and big splinters requires a bit more illumination.
Paul Russell Smith is a former NYC ironworker turned screenwriter (Grace Point) and home renovation specialist. He lives in a crooked old farmhouse in Stockton, NJ, where he’s just as likely to be clearing a clogged pipe as rewriting a third act. When he’s not working, he enjoys hiking, pedestrian beer, and cooking over a live fire. His self-proclaimed spirit animal is the English Bulldog.








