Brandwave

DeWalt vs Makita:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Makita had more branded searches than DeWalt among hand sander brands in New Zealand. Makita had about 9,980 branded searches, while DeWalt had 5,710. Makita made up 32.9% of all hand sander brand searches we track, and DeWalt accounted for 18.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hand sander brands, DeWalt and Makita each appeared in three of the five answers. Makita was mentioned before DeWalt in every answer that named either.

Among hand sander brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Makita, about 75% more searches than DeWalt

Makita 10K searchesDeWalt 5.7K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 3 of 5 answers.

DeWalt in 3 of 5Makita in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Makita, named ahead of DeWalt in 3 of 3 answers

Makita first in 3DeWalt never first

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Top hand sander brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, DeWalt and Makita were each mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Makita was listed before DeWalt in every answer that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Makita1st
  2. Ryobi2nd
  3. Bosch3rd
  4. Festool4th
  5. DeWalt5th
  6. Ozito6th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Makita3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ryobi3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • DeWalt3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Festool3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bosch3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Ozito2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about hand sander brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is DeWalt or Makita more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for DeWalt and Makita by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all six hand sander brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

DeWalt and Makita among hand sander brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Makita, DeWalt. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMakitaRyobiDeWaltOzitoFestoolBosch
Oct 202532.9%24.6%18.8%14.9%8.9%0.04%
Nov 202527.2%31.2%21.9%13.1%6.5%0.03%
Dec 202529%33.3%17.4%14.6%5.8%0.04%
Jan 202631.1%28.2%18%16.1%6.5%0.04%
Feb 202633.5%24.8%19.5%13.7%8.5%0.04%
Mar 202631.1%27.7%18.8%13.3%9%0.04%
Apr 202633.6%24.9%19.1%14.7%7.6%0.04%
May 202635%21.3%20.5%13.4%9.6%0.04%
Jun 202632.6%21%22.9%13.5%10%0.04%
Jul 202633.6%20.8%20%15.3%10.4%0.04%
Aug 202631.3%23.6%21.5%14.9%8.6%0.04%
Sep 202632.9%24.7%18.9%13.4%10.1%0.03%

How has the DeWalt and Makita comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Makita was ahead of DeWalt in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, DeWalt’s share of searches among hand sander brands in New Zealand moved from 18.8% to 18.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.7K to 5.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Makita’s share of searches among hand sander brands in New Zealand held steady at 32.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.2K to 10K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand hand sander brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Makita gained share of searches among hand sander brands in New Zealand, from 31.3% to 32.9%.

  2. In September 2026, DeWalt lost share of searches among hand sander brands in New Zealand, from 21.5% to 18.9%.

How are branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using DeWalt’s and Makita’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

DeWalt

3 branded search terms

  • dewalt
  • dewalt redemption
  • dewalt sander

Makita

3 branded search terms

  • makita
  • makita sander
  • makita tool

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among hand sander brands

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