Milwaukee vs DeWalt Cordless Trim Router (2026): 2723-20 vs DCW600B

The short answer

Edge guide and dust shroud in the box? Milwaukee

Already on DeWalt 20V batteries? DeWalt

Both are brushless cordless compact routers with a 1/4 in. collet, sold as bare tools. The Milwaukee has a wider speed range (10,000–31,000 vs 16,000–25,500 rpm), takes slightly bigger bits (1-1/2 in. vs 1-3/8 in.), and comes with an edge guide, a dust shroud and a template sub-base. The DeWalt comes with its fixed base and a wrench, and adds an electronic brake and soft start.

Best out of the box

Pick the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2723-20 if

You want accessories included. The box has a straight edge guide, a dust shroud, a 4 in. round sub-base and a 5-3/4 in. template sub-base.
You want more speed range. It runs 10,000–31,000 rpm, so it goes slower for bigger bits and faster for small ones.
You want the longer warranty: 5 years vs 3.

Tool only 2723-20: router, fixed base, 1/4 in. collet, two sub-bases, edge guide, dust shroud, two wrenches. No battery.

Check the Milwaukee router on Amazon

Best for DeWalt 20V owners

Pick the DeWalt DCW600B if

You already own DeWalt 20V MAX batteries.
You want the bit to stop faster. DeWalt lists an electronic brake.
You want a soft start. DeWalt lists soft start with electronic speed control under load.

Tool only DCW600B: router, fixed base, wrench. No battery.

Check the DeWalt router on Amazon

Before you buy: I compared the two bare tools (no battery or charger). When I checked on Oct 8, 2026, both listings were sold by third-party sellers, not Amazon. Milwaukee’s warranty covers tools bought from an authorized Milwaukee distributor. Listings change, so check who the seller is and that it’s new before you order.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Key specs

4Milwaukee 2723-20
spec rows won

2DeWalt DCW600B
spec rows won

5even or
unclear

This counts the rows below where one is clearly better. It’s a tally, not an overall rating. The DeWalt’s two wins (brake and soft start) are about feel. The Milwaukee’s are about capacity and what’s in the box.

A green check means that number or feature is clearly better. No check means it's a tie, the gap is tiny, or the makers measure it differently. Every figure comes from Milwaukee or DeWalt, not from Amazon.

	Milwaukee 2723-20	DeWalt DCW600B
Speed range	10,000–31,000 rpm	16,000–25,500 rpm
Collet	1/4 in.	1/4 in.
Largest bit	1-1/2 in.	1-3/8 in.
In the box	Fixed base, 4 in. round and 5-3/4 in. template sub-bases, edge guide, dust shroud, 2 wrenches	Fixed base, wrench
Optional bases	Plunge (48-10-5601), offset (48-10-5602)	Plunge base (sold separately)
Electronic brake	Not listed	Yes
Soft start	Not listed	Yes
Work lights	Dual LEDs	Dual LEDs
Weight as listed	2.95 lb battery not stated	3.9 lb assembled product weight
Runtime claim	Up to 250 ft of 3/8 in. roundover in red oak on an XC5.0 pack	Not published
Tool warranty	5 years	3 years

Spec notes

Weight: Milwaukee lists 2.95 lb without saying whether a battery is fitted. DeWalt’s page lists 3.9 lb as an assembled product weight. Because the two may be measured differently, the row isn’t scored.
Largest bit: Milwaukee’s manual lists a 1-1/2 in. maximum bit size. DeWalt’s manual says not to use bits over 1-3/8 in.
Brake and soft start: DeWalt lists both. Milwaukee’s page and manual don’t mention either, so those rows go to DeWalt.

What it can handle

These are common trim-router jobs, checked against each maker’s own limits and box contents. I haven’t tested either router. If a job goes past a published limit, it gets a CAN’T.

Can do Inside the maker's limits, with what's in the box
Just barely At the maker's limit, or needs a part sold separately
Can’t Past the maker's limit, or not something they support

Job	Milwaukee 2723-20	DeWalt DCW600B
Edges
Edge profiles (1/4" shank)	Can do1/4 in. collet; up to 31,000 rpm.	Can do1/4 in. collet; up to 25,500 rpm.
Flush trim	Can doTakes 1/4 in. shank flush-trim bits; fixed base included.	Can doTakes 1/4 in. shank flush-trim bits; fixed base included.
Large bits (1-1/2")	Just barelyExactly its 1-1/2 in. max.	Can’tPast its 1-3/8 in. max.
1/2" shank bits	Can’t1/4 in. collet only.	Can’t1/4 in. collet only.
Guided cuts
Edge guide	Can doStraight edge guide included.	Just barelyDNP618 edge guide sold separately.
Template work	Can do5-3/4 in. template sub-base included.	Just barelyRound sub-base takes template guides, sold separately.
Plunge cuts	Just barelyPlunge base 48-10-5601 sold separately.	Just barelyPlunge base sold separately.
Dust
Dust pickup	Can doDust shroud included.	Can’tNo dust attachment in the box or the manual.

Limits are the makers’ maximums. Take light passes with a compact router, especially with larger bits.

Notes and sources

How the verdicts were made: bit limits come from the operator’s manuals; box contents come from the product pages. Nothing here comes from hands-on testing or owner reviews.

Large bits: a 1-1/2 in. bit is exactly Milwaukee’s maximum, so it gets JUST BARELY. It is past DeWalt’s 1-3/8 in. maximum, so the DeWalt gets CAN’T.

Dust pickup: DeWalt’s DCW600B box lists only the router, fixed base, and wrench, and the manual doesn’t cover a dust attachment for it.

Sources:

Milwaukee 2723-20 product page (box contents, overview): milwaukeetool.com
Milwaukee 2723-20 operator’s manual (rpm, max bit, collet, bases): 58-14-0194d1.pdf
Milwaukee warranty (5-year power tool): milwaukeetool.com/support/warranty
DeWalt DCW600B product page and specs: dewalt.com
DeWalt DCW600 instruction manual (bit limit, speed chart, guides): N593981_DCW600.pdf

Battery platform: what else runs on it

These are bare tools, so your batteries decide a lot. The packs don’t cross over: an M18 pack won’t fit a DeWalt 20V MAX tool, and a DeWalt pack won’t fit an M18 tool.

Milwaukee M18

The 2723-20 runs on M18 REDLITHIUM packs. Milwaukee’s runtime claim (250 ft of roundover in red oak) is with an XC5.0 pack.

DeWalt 20V MAX

The DCW600B runs on DeWalt 20V MAX packs. DeWalt FLEXVOLT packs also fit 20V MAX tools.

Who should buy which

Get the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2723-20 if:

You want an edge guide, dust shroud and template sub-base without buying extras.
You’ll use bits up to 1-1/2 in. across.
You want the slower 10,000 rpm low end for bigger bits.
You’re on M18 batteries or want the 5-year warranty.

Check the Milwaukee router on Amazon

Get the DeWalt DCW600B if:

You already own DeWalt 20V MAX batteries.
You mostly run small roundover and flush-trim bits.
You want an electronic brake and soft start.

Check the DeWalt router on Amazon

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Skip it if

Skip the Milwaukee 2723-20

if you’re already invested in DeWalt 20V batteries and don’t need the extras in the box.

Skip the DeWalt DCW600B

if you want dust pickup or an edge guide without buying extras, or you need bits bigger than 1-3/8 in.

Questions about this pair

Which cordless trim router is more powerful?

Neither maker gives a horsepower rating for these. Milwaukee says the 2723-20 delivers the power of corded 1.25 HP trim routers and lists 10,000–31,000 rpm. DeWalt lists 16,000–25,500 rpm.

Do they come with batteries?

No. Both listings here are tool only. You need an M18 pack for the Milwaukee or a DeWalt 20V MAX pack for the DeWalt.

Can either one plunge?

Both can with a plunge base sold separately: 48-10-5601 for the Milwaukee, and DeWalt’s plunge base for the DCW600.

Can I use 1/2 in. shank bits?

No. Both have a 1/4 in. collet only.