DeWalt vs Makita - Which drill brand is better for home DIY projects?

Hey everyone, I'm looking to upgrade my old drill and can't decide between DeWalt and Makita. I mostly do woodworking projects on weekends - building shelves, small furniture, that kind of thing. My budget is around $150-200. Anyone have experience with both brands? I've heard DeWalt is more durable but Makita feels better in the hand. What's your take?

I've owned both! Started with a DeWalt DCD771 that lasted me 5 years of heavy use - built a deck, countless shelves, even helped my neighbor with a fence. Switched to Makita XFD131 last year cause it was on sale. Honestly, both are great. DeWalt feels more powerful for tough jobs, but the Makita is lighter and the battery lasts longer. For woodworking, you might prefer Makita's smoother trigger control.

Gearhead perspective here - it's all about the battery ecosystem! DeWalt's 20V MAX system has way more tool options if you plan to expand later. Makita's 18V LXT is solid too, but check which other tools you might want. Also, DeWalt's chuck tends to hold bits tighter in my experience. Pro tip: check Home Depot for combo kits - sometimes you get 2 batteries and a case for the price of just the drill elsewhere.

Thanks guys! Steve, that's helpful about the trigger control - I do a lot of precise drilling for dowels. Sparky, good point about the ecosystem. I do want an impact driver eventually. Anyone know about warranty differences? Saw some complaints online about DeWalt service centers being hard to find locally.

Warranty-wise, both offer 3 years. My DeWalt never needed service, but my Makita had a chuck issue after 8 months - took it to the local authorized repair shop and they fixed it same week, no charge. Honestly, you can't go wrong with either. Maybe go to a store and hold them both? The DeWalt is a bit bulkier which might matter for detailed woodworking.