When it comes to building up an impressive garage or shed full of tools, you obviously want the highest quality products that fit within your price range. If you are on a budget, two brands you might be focusing on choosing between include Bosch and Black & Decker.
So, if you had to choose between them, which one should you go with?
A Brief History of Bosch and Black & Decker
Bosch is a major multinational company that was founded by Robert Bosch in 1886, in Stuttgart, Germany, and is currently headquartered in Gerlingen. This is an engineering and technology company that also produces a considerable selection of power tools.
The brand produces products in many countries around the world, and indeed, is known for producing pretty high-quality products. While the goods that Bosch produces are spread out in many sectors including mobility solutions, industrial tech, consumer goods, energy and building tech, and more, today we want to focus mostly on tools and outdoor equipment.
Just to give you an idea of the scope of Bosch, this company currently has around 400,000 employees, with estimated annual revenues of roughly 80 billion Euros, or approximately $95 million.
Bosch
Next, we have Black & Decker, a company founded by Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker in 1910. It was first called The Black & Decker Manufacturing Company and was originally founded in Maryland, USA, just north of Baltimore.
In 2010, Black & Decker merged with Stanley Works to become Stanley Black & Decker, and to this day, Black & Decker is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker. Keep in mind that the parent company also owns several other brands including DeWalt and Craftsman.
This company makes a wide array of products including various power tools, accessories, hardware, home improvement products, and fastening systems. If you thought that Bosch was a huge company, keep in mind that Stanley Black & Decker – Black & Decker’s parent – has nearly $12 billion in estimated annual revenue, although it has fewer employees than Bosch.
Black & Decker
Bosch vs Black & Decker: Which Offers Better Quality?
Bosch is a company known for producing an amazing quantity of tools on a yearly basis, with over 50 million tools having been produced in 2018 alone. The general consensus about Bosch is that it produces tools of decent quality, which it sells at reasonable prices.
The brand is neither the cheapest nor the most expensive out there, and most would say that it is a mid-level tool brand, something that we happen to agree with. Bosch makes a lot of its tools in Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, and China, with a select few products being manufactured in Switzerland, Germany, and the USA.
Therefore, it is safe to assume that the tools are of reasonable quality. While some say that certain Bosch tools are good for professional and heavy-duty use, most would agree that their products are best for lighter and occasional use, such as for DIY projects and home repairs.
Black & Decker is much the same in terms of pricing and quality. Black & Decker tools are regarded as being entry- to mid-level when it comes to quality. The general sentiment on this brand is that it produces comfortable, user-friendly, and functional tools, although their overall durability and longevity leave something to be desired.
In terms of cost, Black & Decker tools are not overly expensive and are priced quite reasonably. One reason why this brand can sell its products at relatively low prices is that the majority of the products are manufactured in China.
However, there are some indications that Black & Decker is looking to move some of its production back to the USA. Simply put, just like with Bosch, Black & Decker tools are regarded as being ideal for home use, DIY projects, and general occasional use.
Which Offers a Better Warranty?
Bosch features a one-year limited warranty on most power tools that guarantee that the tools are free of defects. The warranty can be extended to two years upon registration. This is okay, but not amazing.
Black & Decker hand tools are covered by a limited lifetime warranty, and many power tools are covered by a two-year limited warranty. That said, finding specific warranty info for many Black & Decker products is quite difficult.
However, from what we have gathered, Black & Decker does have slightly better warranties when compared to Bosch.
Which Offers Better Prices?
In order to get an accurate sense of the pricing between power tool brands, our team created the Handyman’s World Power Tool Brand Price Index, which takes three basic tools – a cordless drill, angle grinder, and circular saw – and indexes their costs against the average of what we consider to be the 15 best power tool companies.
As you can see below in the 2023 version of our index, Black & Decker scored 0.49, while Bosch comes in at 1.18.
This means that Black & Decker is quite a bit less expensive, as it is above average in terms of affordability, while Bosch is below average, and is more expensive than a lot of other brands. In fact, Black & Decker was the cheapest brand on average among those that we compared.
Which Has Better Design?
When it comes to design, both brands have something different to offer. For example, Black & Decker tools feature designs that are pretty typical of the construction industry, with solid and rugged shapes that give them a very capable appearance. However, it’s worth noting these tools do look a little less solid than other companies that go with this design strategy.
Bosch, on the other hand, has a more unique design, as their tools have softer and more rounded edges, giving them a modern touch.
When it comes to color palettes, Bosch tools feature unique shades of blue and red that make them quite recognizable. However, Black & Decker tools are primarily bright orange, which may help with visibility on a job site.
Which Brand Offers Better Customer Service?
As far as customer service is concerned, the general online consensus is that both manufacturers leave something to be desired.
Customers of both manufacturers reported long wait times and unsatisfactory resolutions, as well as some claiming that customer service never even got back to them about their issue.
It’s important to note, however, that customer service can vary drastically depending on the representative that you talk to, and since both companies are quite large, there is bound to be some variation in experience quality.
Bosch vs Black & Decker: Which Has a Better Product Portfolio?
Something that can be said right off the bat in terms of product selection is that Black & Decker produces plenty of outdoor tools, as well as lawn and garden machinery. Bosch does not produce anywhere near as much of the same.
Moreover, Black & Decker also produces plenty of small home appliances, vacuums, and even pet and healthcare-related products too, none of which are produced by its competitor. That said, when it comes down to it, Bosch does appear to have a better selection of power tools, at least in many categories.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive kit that will help you revamp your tool selection, you may want to consider the Bosch 18V 9-Tool Combo Kit. However, if you’re looking for something significantly cheaper and more basic, check out the Black & Decker 20V MAX 4-Tool Combo Kit.
Which Brand Offers a Better Selection of Drills?
At this time, across all types of drills, Black & Decker currently has 24 products available for sale on its website. Bosch currently has well over 30 options to choose from.
While both brands offer quite large arrays of drills, it seems as though Bosch has slightly more in terms of selection.
Which Brand Offers a Better Selection of Angle Grinders?
Just like with the other power tools, Bosch also has a way better selection of angle grinders. Black & Decker currently has four options for sale on its site, compared to the dozens and dozens available on the Bosch site.
Which Brand Offers a Better Selection of Circular Saws?
As you could probably guess by now, Bosch once again wins in this category. Black & Decker does have some circular saws available, although their selection is really nothing compared to what Bosch offers.
If you’re looking for a brand that is going to give you the largest selection of options, Bosch is your best bet.
Bosch vs. Black & Decker: Latest Developments
In order to stay updated on the latest developments in the industry, we decided to take a look at some of the recent news coming from both of these manufacturers.
Bosch started off 2023 by buckling down on their commitment to their 18V cordless line, announcing new concrete and masonry tools, as well as additions to their woodworking lineup, such as their new 18V Brushless 1/4″-Sheet Orbital Finishing Sander.
On the other hand, in late 2022 Black & Decker released their Reviva tool lineup, which is the brand’s first venture into the realm of sustainable power tools. Additionally, the brand expanded its lineup of kitchen appliances with the Black & Decker Ki
Bosch vs. Black & Decker: Which Is Better?
Both of these brands are fine options to go with if you need tools of a decent quality level that come in at a reasonable price. If you are looking for more than just tools, Black & Decker is the brand to go with, but if you are looking for a large selection of power tools across all categories, then Bosch is the brand to go with.
The bottom line is that both Bosch and Black & Decker are good brands to consider if you are looking for entry- and mid-level tools that feature decent quality and more than reasonable prices.
They might not be best for heavy-duty and daily professional use but work fine for lighter jobs and tasks around the house.
How Do Bosch and Black & Decker Compare with Other Brands?
See how Bosch compares with: DeWalt | Dremel | Festool | Hilti | Makita | Metabo HPT | Milwaukee | Porter-Cable | Ryobi | Skil | Stanley | Worx
See how Black & Decker compares with: Craftsman |DeWalt | Dremel | Kobalt | Makita | Milwaukee | Porter-Cable | Ryobi | Skil | Stanley | Worx