DeWalt DWE402 (4-1/2 in. 11 Amp Corded Angle Grinder with Paddle Switch)

By DeWalt · Angle Grinders · Power Tools

  • 11 Amp AC/DC motor
  • 11,000 RPM no-load speed
  • 4-1/2 in. (115mm) wheel diameter
  • 120V corded
  • Paddle switch with safety lock-off

Lowest price seen
$120.50
from $120.50 at Tanner Bolt · Checked Oct 9, 2026

Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.

Summary

A corded 4-1/2-inch angle grinder with an 11 Amp motor, a paddle switch and a lock-on button, built for regular metalwork and construction jobs. Check which variant you need, because the DWE402N is the same tool without the lock-on button.

Strengths

  • The 11 Amp motor grinds and cuts metal with power owners keep calling more than enough.
  • Multiple owners report years of jobsite use on the same tool.
  • The lock-on button takes the strain off your hand during long cuts.
  • Dust ejection and the 11 Amp frame hold up to regular jobsite grit.
  • Quick-Change release swaps wheels without hunting for a wrench.
  • A 3-year warranty and DeWalt service parts cover the ownership tail.

Weaknesses

  • No brake, no kickback brake and no E-clutch, so a jammed wheel keeps spinning.
  • Weight figures vary by listing, from 4.3–4.6 lbs tool-only to 6.18 lbs assembled.
  • Listings blur the DWE402 and the DWE402N, which looks identical but drops the lock-on button.
  • No published lab test measures the exact model, so output figures are DeWalt’s claims.
  • You supply your own grinding and cutting wheels.
  • If the gear case and motor housing separate past 1/8 in. (3.17 mm), the manual says stop and send it to service.

Verified specifications

ModelDWE402, 4-1/2 in. (115mm) small angle grinder.
Power11 Amp AC/DC motor, 120V corded, 11,000 RPM no-load speed.
Wheel4-1/2 in. (115mm) diameter on a 5/8"-11 spindle.
Switchpaddle with safety lock-off and a lock-on button for extended use.
Guardone-touch (T27) guard, 360-degree rotation in a single action.
Wheel changeQuick-Change release, tool-free and wrench-free.
Brushesoversized auto-off brushes that shut the tool down and rated at 2x the life of the D28402.
DustDust Ejection System pushes damaging particles out of the tool.
Gearinglarge spiral bevel gear for long transmission life.
Handle2-position side handle.
Length12 in.
Weightabout 4.3–4.6 lbs for the tool itself.
Housingglass-filled 30% nylon.
Cord6 ft.
Output1,400W maximum, 1.8 HP.
Not fittedno brake, no kickback brake, no E-clutch, no lanyard attachment.
In the box4-1/2 in. one-touch (T27) guard, wrench, 2-position side handle.
Warranty3-year limited, plus 1-year free service and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee.
Full research notes and sources

Which DWE402 this is

The DWE402 is the paddle-switch 4-1/2 in. grinder with a lock-on button. The DWE402N is the same tool without lock-on, the DWE402W adds a wheel, and the DWE402K is the kit that adds a depressed-centre wheel and a kit box. It replaced the older D28402 and D28402N in 2015, when DeWalt moved to a motor platform with 40% more copper than the D28402 motor, an 11 Amp rating, roughly 200 more max watts of output, and a claimed 35% cooler gear case and 30% cooler field case.

The US listing for this tool is ASIN B00RVZ7DNO. Match the model number before you buy, because the paddle and no-lock variants share one manual and look almost identical.

Switch, guard and wheel changes

The paddle switch needs a firm press and has a safety lock-off, so it will not start if you bump it. The lock-on button lets you run the tool hands-off the trigger during long passes, which is the one feature the DWE402N lacks. The one-touch guard rotates 360 degrees in a single action, and the Quick-Change release lets you swap wheels by hand with no wrench.

The 5/8"-11 spindle is the North American standard for this class, so common 4-1/2 in. wheels, discs and wire brushes fit. A 4-1/2 in. One-Touch (T27) guard, a wrench and a 2-position side handle come in the box.

Dust, gearing and upkeep

The Dust Ejection System and the oversized auto-off brushes are the two features DeWalt leans on for life. When the brushes wear down, the auto-off circuit shuts the tool off rather than letting the motor eat itself. The large spiral bevel gear is meant to keep the transmission smooth over years.

Owners on retailer reviews describe consistent speed and a tool that stays cooler than expected for its size, along with a strong frame and a cord that holds up. One Home Depot reviewer (marc, 2018) ran a DWE402N for four years before a voltage event killed it and replaced it with a DWE402. The DWE402N was introduced in 2015 alongside the DWE402 and has run on the same motor platform.

Running costs and parts

The recurring costs are wheels and brushes, not the tool. Every 4-1/2 in. wheel with a 5/8"-11 arbor fits, and DeWalt sells parts individually through its ServiceNet portal — the lock-on button, for example, is listed at $1.16 there. The 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service and 90-day satisfaction guarantee come standard.

DeWalt’s own page and manual are the clearest description of the tool’s limits. The manual warns that if the gear case and motor housing are pulled apart by more than 1/8 in. (3.17 mm), the tool must go to a DeWalt service centre to avoid brush, motor and bearing failure.

Is it worth it?

DeWalt put the DWE402 on sale at about $99 when it launched in 2015. Among retailer listings, Travers Tool and Tanner Bolt show $120.50, Fleet Farm $119.99, WebstaurantStore $116.49 and Dillon Supply $109.95 (2026). At $110 or less it is a strong value, $111–130 is still good for jobsite use where the lock-on button and dust ejection matter, $131–150 is fair, and above $150 it is weak for a corded 4-1/2 in. grinder unless you specifically want the DeWalt platform and service network.

The value differentiators are the lock-on button (gone on the DWE402N), the dust ejection system, the one-touch guard and DeWalt’s parts availability. The 11 Amp and 11,000 RPM figures are ordinary for the class, and the competing corded 4-1/2 in. grinders are Milwaukee, Metabo and Bosch. If you do not need lock-on, the DWE402N is the same core tool at a similar price.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Parts and stores:

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