# Milwaukee M18 2648-20 vs Porter-Cable 382: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Milwaukee M18 2648-20 (Milwaukee) and Porter-Cable 382 (Porter-Cable) among random orbital sanders. Porter-Cable 382 is the cheaper of the two at $66.99.

## Side by side

| Spec | Milwaukee M18 2648-20 | Porter-Cable 382 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $149 | $66.99 |
| Brand | Milwaukee | Porter-Cable |
| Power source | cordless | corded |
| Pad diameter (in) | 5 | 5 |
| Orbit diameter (mm) | — | — |
| Oscillations per minute max | 12000 | 12000 |
| Variable speed | Yes | No |
| Amperage | — | 1.9 |
| Voltage | 18 | — |
| Dust collection type | canister | bag |
| Weight (lb) | — | 3 |
| Vibration ms2 | — | — |
| Noise level (dB) | — | — |

## Key differences

- Power source: Milwaukee M18 2648-20 cordless vs Porter-Cable 382 corded
- Variable speed: Milwaukee M18 2648-20 Yes vs Porter-Cable 382 No
- Dust collection type: Milwaukee M18 2648-20 canister vs Porter-Cable 382 bag

## What reviewers say

**Porter-Cable 382** — Only one whitelisted tester — Reviewed (USA Today) — hands-on tested the Porter-Cable 382, naming it best for dust collection. It praises near-cloudless dust capture with a shop vac and smooth, easy control (~5 min to strip a painted board), but flags the flat, uncontoured top handle as uncomfortable for long sessions. Single source; no cross-tester corroboration. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- Milwaukee M18 2648-20: https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/details/m18-random-orbit-sander-tool-only/2648-20 (milwaukeetool.com, verified 2026-07-11)
- Porter-Cable 382: https://www.portercable.com/product/382/5-random-orbit-palm-sander (portercable.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/random-orbital-sanders/milwaukee-2648-20-vs-porter-cable-382/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Milwaukee M18 2648-20 ($149) vs Porter-Cable 382 ($66.99) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/random-orbital-sanders/milwaukee-2648-20-vs-porter-cable-382/
License: CC BY 4.0.