Milwaukee M18 Compact Brushless 1/2 in. Hammer Drill/Driver (3602-20, bare tool)

Milwaukee M18 Compact Brushless 1/2 in. Hammer Drill/Driver (3602-20, bare tool)

By Milwaukee · Cordless Drills · Power Tools

  • 5.8-in length
  • 2.3 lbs bare weight
  • 550 in-lbs max torque
  • 0-550/0-1700 RPM
  • Brushless motor

Lowest price seen
$159.00
from $159.00 at MaxTool · Checked Oct 9, 2026

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

Summary

The 3602-20 is a compact 18 V brushless hammer drill/driver for M18 users who want a short, light tool for everyday holes, screws and light masonry. Check your workload before you buy: at 550 in-lbs it is well short of the FUEL flagships and has no kickback protection.

Strengths

  • At 5.8 in long and 2.3 lbs bare, it fits overhead and tight-space work.
  • 550 in-lbs of rated torque covers everyday drilling, driving and light anchors.
  • All-metal gear case and 1/2-in metal chuck at a mid-tier price.
  • Runs on M18, so it shares batteries with 250+ tools.
  • 5-year tool warranty plus service parts down to the gearbox.
  • Pro Tool Reviews singled it out as its compact 18V Milwaukee pick in 2024.

Weaknesses

  • No kickback or bind-up protection at this tier; that stays on the FUEL line.
  • At 550 in-lbs it is well under half the FUEL flagship’s torque.
  • 1,700 RPM and 25,500 BPM are lower than compact rivals.
  • It is a bare tool, so you add an M18 battery and charger.
  • On the market only since August 2023, so long-term reliability is unproven.
  • No independent instrumented test of this exact model exists.

Verified specifications

Model3602-20, bare tool; the -22CT suffix is a two-battery kit.
Battery platformMilwaukee M18, 18 V DC; compatible with 250+ M18 tools.
Motorbrushless with REDLINK Intelligence overload protection.
Max torque550 in-lbs, a manufacturer rating that was not independently measured.
Speedtwo-speed, 0-550 RPM low and 0-1,700 RPM high.
Hammer rate0-25,500 BPM.
Chuck1/2-in all-metal keyless ratcheting chuck.
Clutchmechanical torque-selector collar; the 3602-20 adds a hammer-drill selection.
Includedbelt hook and LED work light.
Rated capacitiessteel 1/2 in, wood flat bit 1-1/4 in, auger 1 in, hole saw 2 in, screws 1/2 in, masonry 3/8 in.
Dimensions5.8 in long; 2.3 lbs bare, 3.2 lbs with a 2.0 Ah battery.
Warranty5 years, tool only, USA and Canada; battery packs excluded.
Full research notes and sources

Hammer mode and what it is for

The 3602-20 is Milwaukee’s first compact brushless hammer drill, launched in August 2023 beside the drill-only 3601-20. You select hammer mode on the clutch dial rather than a separate switch, which is how the body stays only 0.1 in longer than the drill-only model. Milwaukee targets electricians, plumbers, remodelers and HVAC technicians; launch-era discussion called it “lightweight, compact and plenty of power for 95% of jobs” (ToolGuyd). Rated masonry capacity is 3/8 in, so treat it as a light-duty hammer drill rather than a replacement for a rotary hammer.

Where it sits against the M18 FUEL flagships

Against the M18 FUEL 2904 flagship, the 3602-20 gives up roughly half its torque, tops out at 1,700 RPM instead of 2,100, and hammers at 25,500 BPM instead of 33,000, with no kickback protection. Pro Tool Reviews’ 2025 head-to-head measured the 2904 at 1,400 in-lbs and 85/100 points but did not instrument the 3602. The 550 in-lbs figure is a manufacturer rating; no independent torque measurement of this model was found. One specialist page notes that bind-up risk is lower at this torque, but a stuck hole saw can still bite.

Repairs, parts and running costs

Milwaukee sells service parts for the 3602-20 down to the 1/2-in keyless chuck, belt hook, speed selector, forward/reverse shuttle, gearbox assembly, electronic assembly, rotor assembly and housing assemblies (service-parts bulletin, revised July 2025). The manual calls for regular inspection for noise, binding or breakage, and says not to disassemble the tool yourself; electronics go back to Milwaukee. The 5-year warranty covers defects in material and workmanship on the tool only, not the battery packs; registration is not required and freight is prepaid to a service center.

Is it worth it?

At $149 at launch the 3602-20 is an easy pick for M18 owners who mostly drill, drive and set light anchors. At the roughly $159 RankMyTool snapshot it is still reasonable, but the gap to the $229 FUEL 2904 flagship narrows. Past $170 it is weak for this tier, where compact rivals such as the Makita XPH12 around $154, the Ridgid R861152 around $169 and the DeWalt DCD805 around $179 publish higher torque and hammer rates.

Which model this is

This page covers the 3602-20, the compact brushless hammer drill/driver, listed under ASIN B0CNRTMJCG for the bare tool. Its drill-only sibling is the 3601-20, which drops the hammer mode; the two share one operator’s manual. Do not merge it with the older 2902 (725 in-lbs), the larger 2904 and 2906 FUEL flagships, or the previous compact 2801 (500 in-lbs, 6.5 in).

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

Buying guides for this category

Related products