DeWalt 20V MAX Lithium-Ion 5.0 Ah Battery and Charger

What you’re actually buying

This kit is straightforward: a 20V MAX 5.0Ah lithium‑ion pack and a single‑port charger that brings the battery from empty to full in about an hour and a half. I’ve been using it alongside a mix of 20V MAX drills, drivers, saws, and sanders, and it has settled into that sweet spot where runtime, weight, and charge time feel well balanced.

If you’re moving up from the compact 1.3–2.0Ah packs that often ship with combo kits, the 5.0Ah capacity is the headline. It meaningfully changes how you plan your workday. I can do a series of medium‑duty tasks without constantly babysitting the charger, and I reserve the smaller packs for tight spaces or tasks where tool balance matters more than endurance.

Build and ergonomics

The battery comes in around 1.4 lb on my scale, and the footprint is the familiar 20V MAX format. On compact tools, you’ll feel the weight compared to a 2.0Ah, but the pack doesn’t throw off balance the way some oversized high‑output batteries can. On a drill/driver and impact driver, the kit feels planted; on a compact circular saw or recip saw, the extra mass helps damp vibration and keeps the tool from feeling nose‑heavy.

The 3‑LED fuel gauge is a simple, dependable feature. It’s not a percentage readout, but the three steps are predictable. I check it habitually between tasks and it’s accurate enough to decide whether I should swap before climbing a ladder or starting a long cut.

Housing quality is what I expect in a pro‑oriented pack: tight seams, clean molding, and solid base stability when standing the tool upright. There are no bells and whistles (no USB port, no Bluetooth), which is fine by me in a workhorse battery.

Performance and runtime

Capacity is only part of the story; a good pack also needs to deliver consistent current without drama. This 5.0Ah unit has handled the usual high‑draw suspects on my roster without hiccups:

• Deck screws: Driving several hundred 3‑in deck screws with an impact driver on a single charge is routine. I still swap preemptively for long runs, but I don’t feel rushed.
• Drilling: Boring 1‑ to 1‑1/2‑in holes in studs with a spade bit on a mid‑range drill is steady and predictable. The pack doesn’t sag midway through a cut.
• Cutting: On a compact 6‑1/2‑in circular saw, I can rip and crosscut a stack of 2x material before the last bar starts blinking. It’s not a “high‑output” demolition battery, but for trim, framing touch‑ups, and punch‑list cuts, it’s more than capable.
• Sanding: Random‑orbit sanding is where smaller packs often let you down. This 5.0Ah battery shines here; the sander runs long enough that I can break naturally to vacuum and check progress rather than stopping for a battery swap.

Thermal behavior has been uneventful. On a hot day with back‑to‑back cutting, the pack got warm to the touch, but the tool never throttled. That matches expectations for a pack in this class: it’s built to be your daily driver, not an extreme‑output specialist.

Charging experience

The included charger is a single‑port unit that lives in the “set and forget” category. From fully depleted to full, my times landed between 80 and 95 minutes depending on room temperature and how hard I’d just pushed the battery. The status light is basic but clear. There’s no fan whine, and the unit doesn’t heat soak the pack. It’s not a multi‑port, not a super‑fast charger, and it doesn’t need to be; it’s reliable and consistent.

If you run a two‑battery rotation, this charge rate is easy to plan around. I typically keep one pack on a tool and one on the charger, and I don’t run dry unless I’m chewing through lumber continuously with saws—in which case a second 5.0Ah (or a higher‑capacity pack) is the better upgrade.

Compatibility and platform fit

The battery integrates cleanly with the 20V MAX lineup. The slide‑on fit is snug with positive latching, and I haven’t run into any finicky connections on older or newer tools. It’s a good match for mid‑range drills and impacts, oscillating multi‑tools, random‑orbit sanders, compact circular saws, and recip saws. If your day leans heavily on grinders or full‑size 7‑1/4‑in circular saws, you’ll still benefit from this pack, but those tools can justify stepping up to higher‑output batteries if you’re chasing maximum performance.

For users building out a kit, a couple of 5.0Ah packs are a sweet foundation: enough capacity to avoid constant swapping, without making compact tools unwieldy.

Durability and battery management

Lithium‑ion chemistry means low memory effect and minimal self‑discharge, and this pack behaves as expected. I’ve left it on the shelf for a few weeks, and the charge level was essentially unchanged when I came back. The protective electronics do their job; no weird drop‑offs or sudden tool cutouts.

A few habits that have kept mine healthy:
- Don’t store the pack hot. Let it cool before charging after a high‑draw session.
- Avoid leaving it on the charger for days. Top it, then pull it.
- If you’re shelving it for a while, store around half charge in a cool, dry place.
- Keep the terminals clean; a quick brush or blast of air goes a long way.

The pack and charger are covered by a 3‑year limited service warranty, and the return window is 90 days. That’s a reasonable safety net for a component you’ll use daily.

What I like

• Real, noticeable runtime gains over compact packs without turning your drill into a club.
• Predictable charge time—roughly 90 minutes—makes it easy to plan a rotation.
• The 3‑LED gauge is simple and trustworthy.
• Solid fit and finish; the pack seats positively and stands stable on a tool base.
• Broad compatibility across 20V MAX tools.

What could be better

• Single‑port charger only. If you run multiple batteries, a dual‑port or fast charger reduces babysitting.
• Three bars on the fuel gauge is coarse. A four‑bar or percentage readout would provide finer planning.
• Weight is noticeable on the smallest tools; if you do hours of overhead work, keep a compact pack handy.
• No extra features (USB, diagnostics, app). It’s strictly a work battery and charger, which might be a plus or minus depending on your needs.

Who it’s for

• DIYers upgrading from starter kits who want fewer interruptions without buying into oversized batteries.
• Pros and serious hobbyists who run drills, drivers, sanders, and compact saws throughout the day, and value a dependable two‑battery rotation.
• Trades where balance matters (finish carpentry, cabinet install) but you still need enough runtime to get through a punch list.

If your workflow is grinder‑heavy or you’re ripping sheets all day, a larger‑capacity or high‑output pack may make more sense as your primary, with this 5.0Ah as a versatile backup. For everyone else, this hits the practical center of the 20V MAX ecosystem.

Value

For a battery you’ll grab every day, reliability matters as much as published specs. In my use, this kit has been consistent: no surprises, no finicky behavior with different tools, and no exaggerated claims. The included charger isn’t flashy, but it’s steady. Considering the 5.0Ah capacity and the platform flexibility, the kit offers good value as a first upgrade beyond compact batteries or as a reinforcement to an existing 20V MAX lineup.

Recommendation

I recommend this 5.0Ah battery and charger kit. It delivers the runtime boost most users actually need, pairs well with the majority of 20V MAX tools, and charges in a predictable window that keeps work moving. The single‑port charger and three‑bar gauge are basic, and the weight isn’t ideal for delicate overhead work—but those are reasonable trade‑offs for a durable, everyday pack that just works. If you live on mid‑range drills, impacts, sanders, and compact saws, this should be a staple in your kit.