Ridgid announced quite a few new 18V cordless power tools for 2022, greatly expanding their lineup with modernized tools.
The 2022 expansion will focus heavily on Ridgid 18V brushless tool offerings, with the new SKUs shown above.
Ridgid will also be expanding their 18V SubCompact cordless power tool family, as shown here.
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Pricing and availability information is not yet available for all of the tools. Ridgid has said that all of the new tools will be launching in 2022, exclusively at Home Depot.
Many of Ridgid’s new cordless tools have claims of being lighter and more powerful, but are lacking in context. I would presume that the new tools are being compared to either existing Ridgid offerings, or perhaps prior 18V “Octane” series cordless power tools.
Ridgid 18V SubCompact 6-1/2″ Circular Saw (R8656)
Ridgid will be expanding their SubCompact brushless lineup with a 6-1/2″ circular saw.
Ridgid says that their saw has the industry’s lightest weight, at 5.4 lbs. They also say it as a 2-1/4″ depth of cut, 5,000 RPM motor speed, and 35% faster cutting.
Additional features include a magnesium guard, electronic brake, and vacuum attachment.
Price: $149 tool-only, $209 for the kit
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Ridgid 18V Brushless 7-1/4″ Circular Saw (R8657)
There will also be a new 7-1/4″ circular saw joining Ridgid’s 18V brushless power tool lineup.
Ridgid says their new saw delivers 15A corded cutting performance, as well as 35% faster cutting. It operates at 5,400 RPM.
Additional features include an aluminum shoe, vacuum port, 2-9/16″ cut capacity, electronic blade brake, and built-in rafter hook.
Price: $179 tool-only, $249 for the kit
Ridgid 18V Brushless Rear-Handle Circular Saw (R8658)
Ridgid’s new 18V brushless 7-1/4″ rear-handle circular saw is said to deliver faster cutting than 15A saws, and can cut one linear foot of triple-stacked 3/4″ OSB per second.
Ridgid says that theirs is the lightest 7-1/4″ rear-handle circular saw in its class.
Ridgid 18V SubCompact One-Handed Reciprocating Saw (R8648)
Here’s a new one-handed reciprocating saw, which Ridgid says delivers best in-class performance. They say it has 40% lighter weight and is 25% more compact.
These claims seem to be in comparison to Ridgid’s full-size 18V reciprocating saw.
The saw has a 7/8″ stroke length and operates at 3,200 SPM.
Price: $139 tool-only, $279 for the kit
Ridgid 18V Brushless 4-1/2″ Angle Grinder (R86047)
The new Ridgid 18V paddle-switch 4-1/2″ angle grinder features a brushless motor and is said to deliver up to 25% more power.
It operates at 9,000 RPM and features a tool-free wheel and guard attachment.
Ridgid 18V Cordless Hammer Drill (R861152)
The new Ridgid brushless hammer drill is a high-torque model, delivering 1,250 in-lbs of max torque.
Ridgid says it is more compact and lighter weight.
Ridgid 18V Brushless 3/8″ Ratchet (R866011)
Ridgid’s 3/8″ ratchet is said to deliver superior fastening and removal speed. It delivers up to 55 in-lbs of max torque and operates at up to 250 RPM.
Ridgid says that 1/4″ and 1/2″ drive sizes will also be available. There will also be protective boots for each size.
Ridgid 18V Cordless Ratchets
- 1/4″ Brushless Ratchet – R866010
- 3/8″ Brushless Ratchet – R866011
- 1/2″ Brushless Ratchet – R866012
- Boot for 1/4″ Ratchet – AC13B05N
- Boot for 3/8″ and 1/2″ Ratchets – AC13B03N
Ridgid 18V 3/8″ Crown Stapler (R09897)
The new Ridgid brushless crown stapler can drive up to 6,800 staples when powered by a 4Ah battery.
It has the power to drive 1/4″ to 9/16″ crown staples into hardwood.
From the looks of it, the cordless stapler has an LED worklight and a driving depth adjustment dial at the rear. Ridgid says it has an on-board screen and wire attachment.
Ridgid 18V Cordless Heat Gun (R860435)
The new Ridgid cordless heat gun can reach a maximum temperature of 900°F. It features a lock-on switch for hands-free operation, and is said to reach operational temperature in just 10 seconds.
Ridgid 18V Brushless 4-Mode Mid-Torque 1/2″ Impact Wrenches
Ridgid will be comin gout with two new brushless 4-mode mid-torque impact wrenches, in 1/2″ sizes.
The new 1/2″ impact wrench will be available with friction ring and pin detent anvils. Both can deliver up to 650 ft-lbs of breakaway torque, and feature 3-speeds and an auto-tightening mode.
Ridgid 18V Mid-Torque Impact Wrenches
- 1/2″ drive with friction ring – R86012
- 1/2″ drive with pin detent – R86012PD
- Protective boot – AC13B01N
Ridgid 18V Brushless High Torque 1/2″ Impact Wrench (R86212)
The new 18V high-torque 1/2″ impact wrench features 4-modes – 3 speed setting and an auto-tightening mode. It is said to have 10% lighter weight, presumable compared to the Ridgid 18V Octane model, and delivers up to 1,300 ft-lbs of breakaway torque.
A protective boot, AC13B02N, will also be available.
Interestingly, the Ridgid 19V Octane mode, R86211B, delivered up to 1,500 ft-lbs of breakaway torque, and featured 6 speed settings plus 3 auto-tightening modes. This could be a lot to sacrifice for just 10% weight savings.
Ridgid 18V Cordless Fan (R860721)
The new Ridgid 18V fan is said to deliver powerful airflow with quiet operation. It delivers up to 670 CFM on high, and can be powered by Ridgid 18V batteries or a standard AC extension cord.
Ridgid 18V Cordless Vacuum (R8609021)
The new Ridgid 18V hand vac is said to deliver powerful performance with over 40% increased airflow and 65% increased suction power.
It features a push-to-release tank for easier emptying, and two-stage filtration with washable and reusable prefilter.
Ridgid 18V LED Stick Light (R8696B)
The new Ridgid 18V LED stick light has an adjustable head with 175° pivot range and 265° rotational range. It can deliver up to 800 lumens of illumination on high.
Runtime is 15 hours on low and 7.5 hours on high, presumable with the 2Ah battery the light is shown paired with.
It has a built-in hanging hook for increased versatility.
Price: $50 for tool-only
Ridgid 18V LED Spotlight (R8699)
The new spotlight-style flashlight delivers 3,200 lumens of high definition lighting. It is rated with a 670-foot beam distance, and its head has a pivot range of 190° for convenient hands-free aiming.
Ridgid 18V LED Hybrid-Power Panel Light (R8698)
The panel light features a main LED light panel and adjustable side panels that can pivot and rotate. It delivers 3,500 of max illumination, and can be powered by any Ridgid 18V battery or a standard AC extension cord.
Ridgid 18V 8.0Ah Max Output Battery (R840080)
The new Ridgid 18V 8Ah battery is engineered with premium 21700-size Li-ion battery cells.
Ridgid 18V Bluetooth Radio (R84089)
The new Ridgid 18V Bluetooth radio features an AM/FM radio and Bluetooth connectivity. Ridgid says the radio delivers superior sound quality.
It can be powered using any Ridgid 18V battery or the included AC adapter.
Ridgid 18V Bluetooth Speaker (R84088)
Ridgid says that their new 18V Bluetooth speaker delivers dynamic sound quality and 6X clearer sound. It’s Bluetooth connection is said to have a 200-foot range.
Other Recent Ridgid Cordless Tools
Ridgid’s 18V product expansion press materials also included several tools we recently posted about separately – a dual-port charger, 6-port charger, and right angle drill.
Discussion
Wow, that’s a lot of new tools.
Some of the claims are a bit ambiguous, such as “35% faster cutting,” but others are quite clear, such as “best-in-class performance” and “lightest in-class.”
A couple of these new tools are first-ever tools for Ridgid, such as the new 18V cordless ratchets. Others look to be iterations of existing or previous tools. The new brushless angle grinder, for instance, looks to have evolved from the Ridgid 18V Octane model.
While full details are not available for all of the tools yet, it’s interesting to compare them against exiting or previous Ridgid 18V offerings.
The new cordless fan has a higher airflow rating.
The high torque impact wrench, however, has a lower breakaway torque and fewer speed and auto-tightening modes compared to the Ridgid 18V Octane model.
Ridgid had 18V Hyper Octane batteries, and now Max Output batteries with capacities up to 8Ah.
It seemed that Ridgid moved on from their Octane series of high-powered tools to focus on SubCompact brushless offerings, and now we have an entirely new generation of brushless and SubCompact brushless tools.
Many of the new offerings are thoughtful. For instance, Ridgid’s 18V cordless power tool lineup currently includes a mini circular saw and a (lower speed) 6-1/2″ circular saw that’s kitted with a 4Ah battery. Now, there’s a faster SubCompact 6-1/2″ circular saw that’s kitted with a Max Output 4Ah battery, a 7-1/4″ saw, and a rear-handle 7-1/4″ framing-style saw.
The one-handed reciprocating saw and angle grinder are welcome additions to the lineup, as are the crown stapler, heat gun, LED lighting products, radio and speaker, fan, high-torque hammer drill, ratchets, impact wrenches, hand vacuum, and higher capacity (8Ah) battery.
All of this should be good news for Ridgid 18V tool users.
Joe H
I would never expect Ridgid to offer landscaping tools but I just want them to make a cordless chainsaw for when I go camping or for small stuff when I don’t want the noise or weight of my big chainsaw.
Frank D
That’s what got me going with Ryobi, small chainsaw ( pretty much my go to favorite for small stuff ) and pole saw / pruner.
Steven
https://youtu.be/WC4JcGVfspo
100% kompatibel mit Ridgid ☺
Joe H
I’ve seen the AEG chainsaw and I’ve wondered for a while why they don’t have it available in the US.
Stuart
Ridgid 18V cordless power tools are sold exclusively at Home Depot.
Meaning, Home Depot is the sole customer and retailer for these products.
My guess is that Home Depot has limited shelf space – especially promotional/seasonal space which has already started featuring Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Ryobi cordless outdoor power tools right now.
Harry
Direct Tool Outlets also carry these p
Brands. There are retail stores and also online. They also run lots of specials so it’s worth checking them out.
Stuart
Direct Tools is TTI’s outlet store.
Tom G
Just use a reciprocating saw for small jobs, works great, easy blade sharpening/ changing.
Josh
I bought a battery adaptor off ebay and use the ryobi chain saw with my ridgid batteries.
Harry Anderson
I’m a contractor have a string trimmer, blower and hedge trimmer for home and business. I like them because they are Compatible with all the tools for the guys doing construction and repairs. We use other brands too but Ryobi is so versatile.
Patrick M
I’m hoping they release a chainsaw as well, would hate to buy into Milwaukee 18v.
Franck B.
I like that they’re doing a lot more tools, it seemed Ridgid had kind of stagnated for a while. I still wish they had the Stealth impact driver though.
I’m not in the Ridgid ecosystem but I am not adverse to trying different platforms. I was previously tied to one (or two) battery systems, like most people. Then I found I was missing out on features because one system never has all the best features for any individual. e.g. Kobalt’s 6-1/2 circular saw has a hair under 2-9/16″ cut depth… which equals most 7-1/4 saws. So I am able to carry that one around every day in case I need it. If I’m planning to do a lot of framing then I will pack a Skilsaw, or for finish work I’ll bring a sidewinder. But the 6-1/2 is capable enough for impromptu daily work.
That stapler looks like it might be useful, although it looks like it has the Ryobi T50 stapler guts. I really like that stapler, too, I use it a lot. Staplers are a great tool to venture outside your ecosystem because the battery draw isn’t too great, you can work a long time with only one battery. I’d almost certainly purchase it if they still had the Stealth impact though.
And if they could just expand their tool storage system.
Rog
Curious why Ridgid moved away from the Octane line/branding? They were pretty stout tools, my guess is too not encroach too closely on the almighty Milwaukee in the TTI lineup.
Jared
Octane was a particular kind of tech, not just branding. Octane tools could tell when they were paired with Octane batteries and would only deliver max performance when so equipped. I’m guessing it was expense and complexity as much as anything else.
Andrew London
There is a small pricing mistake on the 6.5in circular saw, you list the tool only as $99 and it links to the non-brushless 6.5in saw(which is $99) but the brushless 6.5in one depicted in the article is $149 tool only, I just bought the brushless one and I’m amazed with the power and weight
Stuart
Thank you!
I’m sorry – I don’t know what happened. Either I made a mistake, or the listing cross-linked the kit and tool-only SKU on the same page and has since been corrected. Either way, I fixed it, and appreciate the heads-up!
Stuart
If I recall correctly, I was told that the brand wanted to focus more on smaller and lighter tools.
Look at Ryobi, and how they shifted over to 18V One+ HP tools, which are compact brushless offerings.
Ridgid seems to have done the same, starting fresh with SubCompact brushless tools, and is now going back to more streamlined high-power models.
I don’t think there’s worry about competition against Milwaukee, but perhaps the Octane tools were too powerful and pricey for what Ridgid customers expected.
Ridgid tools competing against Dewalt and Milwaukee is good, with respect to power and performance. But, speaking from my own perspective now, customers expect Ridgid tools to be sold at a lower price point.
If a Milwaukee product doesn’t sell well at Home Depot, it’s not a big deal.
If a Ridgid product doesn’t sell well at Home Depot, that’s a very big deal.
Ridgid tends to do this. You can still find Ridgid 18V Gen5X and Octane tools online, although it’s unclear as to whether they’ll be available again once they sell out.
Jared
That is a lot to digest. Paired with the still relatively recent subcompact releases, this is almost like a whole lineup refresh from Rigid!
That paddle-switch angle grinder looks like something I might need. It sure looks to have a pretty compact head on the end of it – which could be useful. You mentioned it “features a tool-free wheel and guard attachment.” Does that mean the wheel changes are tool-free – or just the guard for the wheel is tool-free?
Stuart
I don’t know. All the press materials say is that it features “Tool-free wheel and guard adjustment.”
I would presume that it’s only referring to the guard adjustment – at the least. I *have* seen grinders with tool-free accessory changes.
Its predecessor, the Octane model, only advertised having a tool-free guard.
Mike
About friggin time. Ridgid has always been lagging behind the other TTI brands. That being said, if their pricing is virtually that of Milwuakee I’d sooner go with Milwaukee or Ryobi. I’ve basically given up on having “just one brand” of cordless tools now.
Ecotek
Sign me up for that rear handle saw. If it does what they say. And the stapler and heat gun. Nice.
Rubėn
E mirado el serucho de cadena AEG cual es la rason que no lotienen de venta, en US.?
Stuart
Not all AEG tools are brought to the USA under Ridgid branding. I suppose it all has to do with whether Home Depot wants to put it on their shelves or not, since Ridgid 18V cordless power tools are exclusive to the retailer.
Andrew
Emerson Electric owns the Ridgid Brand, TTI licences it they have to get approval from Emerson to build a tool. Emerson doesn’t want Outdoor Power Products so TTI doesn’t make them. sucks as I would like to stay exclusivly Ridgid
Stuart
That’s possible too.
I suppose for TTI to bring a product to the Ridgid 18V cordless platform, Emerson has to sign off on it, and Home Depot has to be willing to sell it.
Weldor
I’m a huge fan of Ridgid tools themselves, and the LSA has been great for me.
Not a fan of their management, at all. I’m constantly confused by the direction of the line.
I think dropping the octane line so quickly was kind of a dirty play.
As well as their ambiguity as to how octane tools and batteries play with the new max power batteries and tool line. I assumed at first their max power was just a “rebranding” of the octane (minus the bluetooth, due to milwaukee lawsuit), but this has not been clear.
That being said I think their new line is going in a good direction. Many of their new tools are now on my radar, barring bad reviews.
Bad timing for their octane grinder! (just proved to be top of the line in project farm’s tests). Hopefully their new offering will surpass the octane.
I also lament their lack of tool diversity. I wish they had at least a chainsaw available, though other OPE offerings would be GREAT. Seeing the heat gun was a welcome surprise!
They have already migrated other ryobi tools (portable bandsaw for example) to the ridgid line, Hopefully they will begin to do this with some “non main line” tools.
Fm2176
I have more than a few Ridgid tools, including three of the older fans and the butane heat gun. All work really well, though the first two fans (bought as a “buy two bare tool, get a free battery/charger starter kit free promo) don’t accept the larger batteries. The newest one can be used with even the 9.0 Ah Octane battery, IIRC. I notice the new version removed the battery compartment in favor of an open top slide.
These look interesting, and even the current stuff is much smaller than my Octane hammer drill and Stealth impact.
Andy
I’m to interested in the staple ,an lights ,and a few other things also.I do wish they would be to keep up with other brands or surpass them.But I m not going back to any other brand .I m going to ride with ridged so get her done.
Lee
I’m honestly confused by Ridgid’s position in the power tool market. In the US at least, they are only available in HomeDepot which is the same for Ryobi. It seems like AEG is competing with itself and forcing HomeDepot to make otherwise unnecessary stocking/shelving decisions. I’m assuming that most people that want higher quality than Ryobi would lean towards Dewalt or Milwaukee which don’t suffer from the limited distribution of Ridgid. I don’t see where Ridgid sits in the market. It isn’t the cheapest, most widely available, or highest quality. I’m not saying Ridgid power tools are bad, just unnecessary. It would make more sense to me for Ridgid to exit the power tool market and focus on hand and pneumatic tools and thus act as a compliment to Ryobi rather than a competitor.
Jared
Don’t forget though, Ridgid is Home Depot’s brand. Sure, it’s made by TTI like Ryobi and Milwaukee, but it’s not a TTI brand.
If TTI owned it, they might well wish to eliminate the middle ground between Ryobi and Milwaukee – especially as Ryobi seems to be pushing into the “budget pro” space. However, I bet it’s a real money-maker for Home Depot, hence they have the motivation to keep it going.
Stuart
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/tool-brands-corporate-affiliations/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
TTI designs and produces Ridgid power tools under a licensing agreement with Emerson, to be sold exclusively at Home Depot.
As far as I am aware and read in press releases, TTI is the licensee here, and there are others.
The relationship between Home Depot and Ridgid is not the same as the relationship that Sears used to have with Craftsman. At the time, Craftsman was Sears’ brand.
The way I understand it, Ridgid is not Home Depot’s brand, and Home Depot is also not a licensee.
Franck B.
I’m pretty sure TTI does not license the Ridgid name from Emerson. We’re pretty sure that TTI licenses Ryobi and AEG, and they’re listed as “our brands” on the TTI site.
https://www.ttigroup.com/our-business/brands/
It appears Ridgid goes it alone and although it has distribution and production agreements, they are still their tools, and listed on the main Ridgid website along with their other tools that they manufacture and OEM from other manufacturers.
Ridgid goes to TTI for their 20V line. Lowe’s goes to Chervon for Kobalt 24V. Home Depot goes to Apex for most of their Husky mechanics tools. So while Lowe’s uses a similar model for Kobalt 24V that Sears used for Craftsman, Home Depot doesn’t have an equivalent, and I’d bet that’s part of why their lines appear more profitable and also more varied, with offerings that can be lower volume.
Stuart
It’s complicated an atypical, but TTI does license the Ridgid brand name.
TTI owns AEG and Ryobi power tool and accessory business in North America and I believe Australia as well, but not completely or globally.
MM
I agree, I’ve often wondered the exact same thing. I’ve got nothing against Ridgid tools, and I’m not saying they’re substandard or anything like that. But like you I’m puzzled as to where they fit into the market. They’re not a budget brand. They’re not a high-end brand. They don’t have any specialty tools nobody else does; quite the opposite. So I ask myself the same question you did: if someone wants tools that are a step up from Ryobi, then why seek out Ridgid when Makita, Dewalt, and Milwaukee offer tools at a similar price point yet have much broader product lines?
Franck B.
I know it is kind of semantics, but it does play a lot into the strategy of these brands. This is what I see how it’s been:
Ridgid (Emerson) has TTI manufacture some of its power tools. It still is responsible for marketing, and has agreed with HD to be exclusive distributor. So there’s probably some marketing partnership there, but ultimately it’s not really a HD brand like Husky (is now) or HDX. That partnership is probably between Emerson and HD.
Ryobi is a separate company that licenses its name to TTI for power tools. So TTI doesn’t really “own” it, but since we don’t know the agreement, it could effectively own it but that could also end. It probably exists as a partnership between TTI and HD.
Milwaukee is owned by TTI. HD is probably not involved in the actual power tools, but probably has some partnership in the accessories and specials.
AEG is owned by Electrolux but also licenses its name for cordless tools to TTI, so it is similar to Ryobi.
The technology used in AEG and Ridgid is probably the same because the agreements in place do not allow for any geographical conflict. My guess is that Ridgid picks from TTI’s OEM catalog and gets trade dress tooling, but doesn’t innovate much. But I’m not a professional market analyst.
Since Ridgid apparently wants to have a cordless brand, it has a place in the market. They can use their vacuum/plumbing brand recognition to entice HD to sell it. “Hey HD, if you don’t want to sell our power tools, maybe you’d be happier selling ShopVac. See how well that works out for you.”
Ecotek
I own a lot of Ridgid tools, so I can answer why someone might want them. As a contractor who started with Ryobi tools, I was enticed to make a move upwards. Ridgid occupies an interesting space in the market as the mid level brand. They are “better” than Ryobi for not much more money. Milwaukee can be significantly more money. Some of the Ridgid stuff will give Milwaukee a run for its money, some will flat out beat them. They have had some firsts and innovations too. If you shop their deals and packages, you can get some real steals. Their cordless line is big enough. Not as big as some, but they really have everything you need, even as a contractor. And the real clincher is that warranty. Yes lots of people have talked smack about it. If you follow the simple steps and register your tools they’re covered. Over the years I’ve used it to varying success, but overall, it’s pretty tough to beat. I’ve received new replacements for tools that were years old. And the battery/charger warranty is literally the only one of its kind. Picture this, your battery dies, you call Ridgid to let them know, and a few days later a brand new battery show up at your house, for free! Same for the chargers. Let that digest.
chip hershberger
Ridgid and Ryobi have some very nice niche tools.
The Ridgid cordless shop vacuum was used for over 1 year on cabinet installs, I used a Makita battery adapter until the PO m18 was released.
Ridgid was more powerful with more volume before emptying than the packout, unfortunately took up to much room in the box truck.
This was a huge fail by Milwaukee on new vacuums not being packout ready.
Ryobi is, adaptors to Milwaukee and Makita
Inflator in my camping box for air mattress, hot glue gun, and 23g pinner since replaced by m12.
I plan on a belt sander from 1 of the 2 brands, until Makita or Milwaukee can replace any of the above.
Batteries and chargers are the parts of the ecosystem that I don’t want the hassle of dealing with.
Fyrfytr998
I thought Ridgid was a dead brand walking?
Scott Taylor
I have almost a complete line of ridgid tools both woodworking and 18V. When a new tool comes out they ship x number out to each and every home depot. Some don’t move many ridgid tools, like the one closes lt to me. I got the 18v router, planer and high torque impact wrench for less than 25% of retail. What a steal. As a newly retired guy the tools are getting a much better work out now. The call the number, read test lights and they ship you a new battery is the bomb. I have had only 3 batteries replaced in 20 yes, two first gen li ion, and a 9amp octane. The octane was left in the rain and died. Even explained that to the nice lady on the phone and they shipped me a new one any way. BTW ryobi does the same thing for batteries, based on serial number of when it was produced. I had 3, 9amp that I use for OPE that just died. Same process, call number read serial number, if you have receipt they will honor based on purchase date not just the manufacture date
Mattek
Latest information on the 8ah max output battery and high torque hammerdrill https://youtube.com/shorts/zurPbm5y9TQ?feature=share
Timothy Hannah
I’m still looking ridigid jobmax tool with changing heads
Stephen Simonds
I’m wondering if they will finally make a 10 inch cordless miter saw and cordless table saw
JD
Ridgid may be selling short by not adding a mini chairsaw bruner. A check on web adds indicates the mini chainsaw pruner is a must have hand held -hels tool for both the home owner and techician.
Thanks for manufacturing quality products.
ronald evans
i got a new chain saw just came out the box say all batterys will work but thay lie my 15 year old drill wont work on new saw so whats up now i need a battery
Stuart
Cordless power tool tech has changed so much in the past 10+ years that most brands’ tools and batteries from 15 years ago won’t work with newer tech.