DeWalt 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Starter Kit (6.0Ah & 4.0Ah)

Why I picked up this kit

I spend a lot of time bouncing between cutting, fastening, and yardwork, and I hate stopping to babysit batteries. I grabbed this DeWalt 20V starter kit for two reasons: it pairs a stout 6.0 Ah XR pack with a lighter 4.0 Ah compact pack, and it includes a faster 6A charger that plays nice with the 12V, 20V, and FLEXVOLT lines. In theory, that’s a tidy recipe for more runtime, quicker turnarounds, and less charger clutter on the wall.

After several weeks of use across carpentry tasks, vehicle work, and pruning, the kit has done what I’d hoped—mostly. It’s a smart mix for anyone already invested in DeWalt’s 20V MAX system, with a couple of caveats that are worth knowing before you buy.

What you actually get

Inside the soft bag, my box included:
- One 6.0 Ah 20V MAX XR battery
- One 4.0 Ah 20V MAX compact battery
- One 6A charger
- A small zip bag for cords and the instruction sheets

The batteries feel solid, with the usual DeWalt rubberized overmold that shrugs off scuffs and the occasional bench drop. The 4.0 Ah compact is short and noticeably lighter, ideal for one-handed or overhead work. The 6.0 Ah XR is chunkier, but not overbearing; on mid-size tools it balances well, and on larger saws it feels right at home.

The charger is a single-port unit with thru-hole mounts. I put it on the wall next to a French cleat board—clean look, secure, and easy to reach. It’s fanless and quiet, with clear status lights. Being able to charge 12V, 20V, and FLEXVOLT packs on one brick simplifies the bench more than I expected.

The included bag is fine for storage or tossing into the truck, though it’s not rigid and doesn’t have internal dividers. It fits the charger and both batteries with room to spare for a small tool or two.

Charging speed and workflow

On the 6A charger, I consistently saw:
- 6.0 Ah from empty to full in right around an hour
- 4.0 Ah from empty to full in roughly 40–45 minutes

Those times held whether I charged immediately after a tool run or after the packs cooled. The charger will pause if a pack is hot and then resume automatically; it’s conservative enough to protect cells but not so cautious that it disrupts the day.

One limitation: single port. If you chew through batteries, you’ll still want a second charger or a dual-port station. For me, the 6A rate offsets the one-port constraint—one pack is usually ready by the time I finish with the other.

Runtime and tool pairing

The best part of this kit is the flexibility the two capacities give you. Over a handful of jobs:

• Carpentry and demo: On a reciprocating saw and a 6-1/2 in. circular saw, the 6.0 Ah XR turned into my default. Cutting PT 2x material and demoing old window headers, I made it through long stretches without swapping. The 6.0 Ah pack sustained higher-load cuts with less sag, and the saws felt less prone to that soft “bog” you get as packs near the bottom third of their charge.

• Fastening and drilling: The 4.0 Ah compact on a drill/driver and a 1/2 in. mid-torque impact wrench is the sweet spot for balance. Driving ledger screws into rim joists and drilling pocket holes overhead, the reduced weight translated into less fatigue. Compared to the common 2.0 Ah compact, the 4.0 Ah runs noticeably longer without making the tool feel nose-heavy.

• Yardwork: On a 20V pole saw, the 6.0 Ah XR makes a huge difference. I cleared small branches along a 75-ft fence line in one session with charge to spare. The extra runtime means fewer trips up and down the ladder and less fiddling with packs while you’ve got sap on your gloves.

The 3-LED fuel gauges are easy to check on the fly, though three steps feel a bit coarse when you’re trying to predict if you have “just enough” for one more cut. Accuracy was good—when it showed one bar, I really was in the last quarter.

Handling, weight, and comfort

Batteries may not be as sexy as a new saw, but they change how a tool feels in the hand. The compact 4.0 Ah pack kept my drill and oscillating multi-tool nimble in tight cabinetry, and it was a clear upgrade over a 2.0 Ah pack for runtime without ruining balance. The 6.0 Ah XR is heavier, but on tools that live in the “trigger down for minutes at a time” zone—recip saws, circular saws, grinders—it adds stability rather than getting in the way.

DeWalt’s housings are robust, the release tabs have a positive action, and the rails slide smoothly into every tool I tried. The packs stayed put even with vibration-heavy reciprocating cuts.

Charger behavior and compatibility

The multi-platform charger is the unsung value here:
- Charges 12V MAX, 20V MAX, and FLEXVOLT packs
- Clear indicator lights for evaluating, charging, and full
- Mountable via thru-holes
- Quiet operation

It’s not a jack-of-all-trades bench accessory—you don’t get USB outputs or a built-in power strip—but as a dedicated battery charger, it’s quick and dependable. I charged a FLEXVOLT 9.0/3.0 pack without issue; understandably, larger packs take longer.

Durability and storage

The packs took typical jobsite abuse—dusty cuts, a drop onto subfloor from knee height, and a day of cold starts around 35°F—without hiccups. In colder temps, you’ll notice a small dip in punch on high-draw tools, but nothing out of the ordinary. On the shelf, both packs showed very low self-discharge. After sitting for three weeks, the gauges read the same and the tools fired up immediately.

The bag is durable but basic. It protects the contents and corrals everything in the truck. A bit more structure or a sleeve for the charger would keep the cord from tangling, but that’s nitpicking.

What I wish were different

• Single-port charger: For a “kit,” I’d love dual ports at this amperage. The 6A rate is great; two ports would be better.
• Coarse gauge: Three LEDs work, but five-step indicators make it easier to plan the last 10% of a pack.
• Accessory niceties: A small divider or strap in the bag would keep things tidier. A USB port on the charger would be a bonus in the shop.

One more note: DeWalt’s kit naming convention can be confusing. Check the model number on the box to ensure you’re getting the battery format and charger you expect. My kit included the 6A charger and a true compact 4.0 Ah pack, which is the combo I wanted.

Warranty and support

DeWalt backs the batteries with a 3-year limited warranty, one year of free service, and a 90-day satisfaction period. That’s competitive and, in practice, one of the reasons I tend to stick with the yellow ecosystem. It’s a safety net worth factoring into the price.

Value

Evaluated as a standalone purchase, you’re paying for 10.0 Ah of total capacity across two useful form factors and a fast, multi-platform charger. In the real world, this kit starts making even more sense when you factor in how often it’s bundled with a free bare tool. Either way, the combination of charge speed and mix of capacities is what you’re buying, and it hits that brief well.

Bottom line

This kit earns a spot on my bench because it balances runtime, charge speed, and ergonomics. The 6.0 Ah XR keeps saws moving through demanding cuts without constant swapping, while the compact 4.0 Ah pack preserves the balance I want on drills and drivers. The 6A charger trims downtime and consolidates charging across DeWalt’s 12V, 20V, and FLEXVOLT batteries. I wish it had two ports and a finer fuel gauge, but those are quality-of-life wishes, not deal-breakers.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit to anyone invested in DeWalt’s 20V MAX system who needs a practical mix of capacities and faster turnaround between tasks. If your workflow demands charging multiple packs simultaneously every day, pair it with a second charger or look for a dual-port solution. For everyone else—from serious DIYers to pros who want a dependable, flexible battery backbone—this kit delivers exactly what it sets out to do.