Why Festool · Cordless
One platform. Seamless workflow.
A single 18V battery platform covering drills, saws, sanders, routers, lights and dust extraction. One investment that compounds across every tool you add. See what the full system is worth to your business using the Festool Value Calculator.
On-site work means moving constantly — between rooms, between floors, between jobs. Every time you reach for a power lead, you're making a compromise: setting up an extension run, finding a power point, managing the trip hazard across a busy work area. It adds up to a significant slice of every working day spent on logistics rather than on the work itself.
Most cordless platforms solve one part of this problem and create another. You buy into a battery system for your drill, then need a different battery for your circular saw, another for your sander. Before long you're managing three or four chargers, carrying incompatible battery packs between tools, and still reaching for a lead when you need anything outside the core range.
The Festool 18V cordless platform is built differently. One 18v battery family covers most of the cordless tool in the range inc drills, saws, sanders, routers, lights and dust extractors, so the investment you make in batteries and chargers works across everything. The system grows with you, and each new tool you add makes the platform more valuable rather than more complicated.
The tools: the Festool 18V cordless range
The Festool cordless range covers every major trade application from drills and impact drivers for fixing and fastening, to plunge-cut track saws for precision cutting, random orbital and detail sanders for finishing, and routers for joinery and edge work. Each tool is engineered to the same standard as the corded equivalent, with the same precision, the same dust extraction integration, and the same compatibility with Festool's guide rail and accessory system.
Three things define the platform across every tool in the range:
- Single battery compatibility. Most of the 18V cordless tool in the Festool range run on the same battery pack (exc ergo). Switch batteries between your drill, saw and sander without adapters, without incompatibility, without a second charger.
- Dual battery capability on select tools. Where the job demands corded-grade power — heavy ripping, sustained grinding, high-removal sanding — select tools accept two batteries simultaneously via the Festool dual battery system, delivering up to 36V output without a power lead.
- Bluetooth integration across the system. Festool's Bluetooth batteries communicate with compatible dust extractors to start and stop extraction automatically when the tool runs. No manual switches, no forgetting — the system manages itself.
The extraction: cordless dust extraction
A cordless tool without cordless dust extraction isn't a truly mobile system. Connecting a cordless saw or sander to a mains-powered extractor reintroduces the power lead problem through the back door. The Festool cordless range pairs with battery-powered dust extractors designed specifically for on-site mobility — the same M-class filtration performance as the mains range, running entirely on the 18V platform.
The Festool cordless dust extractor range pairs with the 18V platform via Bluetooth, starting and stopping automatically with the connected tool. M-class certification means at least 99.9% of captured dust is retained — critical for silica, MDF, and timber dust compliance on any WHS-governed site.
For a full guide to run times, battery combinations and which extractor suits your application, see the cordless dust extractor mobile run times guide.
The consumables: designed for the system
Festool consumables are engineered to work with specific tools in the range — not generic replacements, but components designed as part of the system. The difference shows up in performance and in longevity: the right consumable extends tool life, delivers a better result, and reduces the number of passes needed to finish a job.
For cordless sanders, Festool's Granat and Rubin abrasive ranges are designed to optimise cut rate on battery power — cutting faster with less motor load, which translates directly into longer run times per charge. Vacuum bags for the cordless extractors are shaped to fill the entire housing cavity before resistance builds, maintaining consistent airflow for longer between bag changes. For cordless saws and routers, matched blade and cutter ranges ensure clean results without the tearout and burning that comes from mismatched tooling.
The accessories: batteries and charging
The battery is the engine of the cordless system. Festool's 18V battery range spans from compact 2.6Ah packs for light, mobile work to high-capacity 8.0Ah packs for sustained use, all sharing the same form factor and connector. The Festool AIRSTREAM system actively cools the battery before and during charging — reducing charge time compared to passive charging without the cell degradation that comes from fast charging.
The 3-year warranty covers Festool batteries as standard, reflecting the engineering quality of the cells and the charging management system. For the full guide to battery technology, tabless cell design, and run time planning across the range, see the Festool power and battery advice hub.
The storage: Systainer
Loose tools and batteries on a work site create two problems: things get damaged in transit, and time gets lost looking for what you need. The Festool Systainer system solves both. Every cordless tool in the range ships in a Systainer — a stackable, latching storage case that clips directly to compatible Festool dust extractors for single-unit transport between van and site.
Systainers stack and interlock regardless of size, so your drill, saw, sander and batteries travel as a single unit. On site, the extractor becomes the base — tools clip on, you carry everything in one trip. Off site, the stack goes straight back into the van without repacking. The system is designed so that the time you save on logistics compounds every day you use it.
What a fully cordless workflow looks like on site
From van to work area to packed down — no power leads at any stage.
- Arrive on site. Lift the Systainer stack from the van — tools, batteries and extractor stacked and latched as a single unit. One trip from van to work area.
- Set up in under a minute. Unclip the tools from the extractor. Batteries are already fitted from the day before, charged overnight via AIRSTREAM. No leads to run, no power points to locate.
- Work connected. Pick up the saw, sander or drill — the extractor starts automatically via Bluetooth. Dust is captured at the source from the first cut. When you put the tool down, the extractor runs on briefly to clear residual dust, then shuts off.
- Pack down clean. Tools back into Systainers, batteries swapped onto the charger. The work area is clean because dust extraction ran throughout. Stack the Systainers, carry out in one trip.
Why the Festool cordless system matters for your business
- One 18v battery investment, most tools covered.(exc ergo) The time and cost of managing multiple battery platforms compounds quickly across a working life. Festool's single 18V platform means every battery you own works in most tools in the current range and future additions.
- Setup and pack-down time recovered. Tradespeople using a fully cordless Festool system consistently report the biggest time saving is not in the cutting or sanding — it's in the 20 to 30 minutes per day no longer spent running leads, finding power points, and packing up extension leads.
- Dust compliance built in. Bluetooth auto start/stop extraction means dust capture happens on every cut and every sand, not just when someone remembers to turn the extractor on. On WHS-governed sites this removes a daily compliance risk without adding a daily process.
- Spare parts for 10 or more years. Festool stocks spare parts for every tool for at least 10 years after it leaves the current range. A cordless platform investment made today has a genuine service life measured in decades, not product cycles.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Festool cordless system worth the investment compared to other cordless platforms?
For tradespeople who use multiple tool types daily, the Festool cordless platform's single-battery architecture typically delivers a better return than a lower-cost platform requiring separate battery families per tool. The consolidated battery investment, the 10-plus years spare parts commitment, and the 3-year warranty all extend the useful life of the platform significantly beyond the initial cost. Use the Festool Value Calculator to run your own numbers against your trade scenario.
How does Bluetooth auto start/stop work between Festool cordless tools and dust extractors?
Festool's Bluetooth batteries communicate directly with compatible Festool dust extractors. When you start the tool, the extractor starts automatically — no manual switch required. When you stop the tool, the extractor continues running briefly to clear residual dust from the hose and filter, then shuts off. The connection is tool-to-extractor, not app-dependent — it works on site without a phone or network connection.
How does Festool cordless power compare to corded tools for demanding trade applications?
For most trade applications — drilling, fastening, sanding, cutting sheet material and solid timber — the Festool 18V platform delivers comparable results to corded equivalents. For sustained high-load work such as heavy ripping or extended grinding, select Festool tools support dual battery operation, combining two 18V packs to deliver up to 36V output. The realistic limitation is run time rather than power — battery management planning is part of working effectively with any cordless platform.
Are all Festool 18V batteries compatible across the full cordless range?
The ergo battery used on a few of the sanders is the only battery that does not interchange. All other Festool 18V batteries share the same connector and are compatible across every 18V cordless tool in the current range inc drills, saws, sanders, routers, lights and dust extractors. Capacity varies from 4Ah to 8.0Ah; a higher Ah rating means longer run time, not a different voltage or connection type. For guidance on which battery capacity suits each application, see the Festool power and battery advice hub.
Does Festool cordless dust extraction meet WHS requirements for silica and timber dust on site?
Some of Festool's cordless dust extractors are M-class certified, retaining at least 99.9% of captured dust particles. M-class extraction is the standard required for silica-generating work (concrete grinding, masonry cutting) and for timber dust above certain exposure limits under Australian WHS regulations. For detailed guidance on dust extraction classification and compliance requirements, see the Festool dust extractor classification guide.
How long do Festool 18V batteries take to charge, and what is AIRSTREAM technology?
Festool AIRSTREAM technology actively cools batteries before and during charging, which reduces charge time compared to passive charging while managing cell temperature to reduce long-term degradation. Charge time depends on battery capacity and charger model — the rapid charger range handles the most common battery sizes within an hour. For full run time and charging guidance, see the Festool battery technology guide.
What tools and accessories do I need to set up a complete Festool cordless system?
A complete Festool cordless system for trade use typically includes the cordless tools suited to your application (drill, saw, sander as a starting point), at least two 18V batteries per tool to allow rotation while charging, a Festool AIRSTREAM rapid charger, a compatible Festool cordless dust extractor, and Systainer storage cases — most tools ship in a Systainer as standard. Matched consumables (abrasives, blades, vacuum bags) for each tool complete the system.
