There are a lot of big names out there when it comes to power tools. Two of the most beloved and well-known names are DeWalt and Black and Decker. But you are probably wondering: Do Black and Decker actually own DeWalt, or are they separate companies?
DeWalt is owned by Black and Decker, which is owned by Stanley Works. The company is now known as Stanley Black & Decker and is considered one of the biggest brands in power tools as they own several smaller brand names, such as DeWalt. Black and Decker bought DeWalt in 1960.
In this article, we are going to discuss when and why Black and Decker bought DeWalt, as well as who actually owns Black and Decker and what other companies they control. So keep reading if you want to understand everything there is to know about these power tool companies!
When Did Black & Decker Buy DeWalt?
Black & Decker has owned DeWalt since 1960. Both companies started small in the 1910s and 1920s as small family companies. But by the 1950s, they had become household names around the country.
When Black & Decker purchased DeWalt, the plan was to offer both affordable and more expensive tools to its consumers.
However, technically, both companies are now owned by Stanley Works.
It’s important to understand that in 2009, Stanley Works purchased Black & Decker for $4.5 billion, which created the company we now know as Stanley Black & Decker.
Because Black & Decker had already owned DeWalt for almost 50 years, Stanley Works (now called Stanley Black & Decker) acquired DeWalt factories and products as well under its now giant umbrella.
It might seem a little confusing, but the bottom line is that DeWalt is owned by Black & Decker, which is owned by Stanley Works.
What Other Companies Does Stanley Black & Decker Own?
Stanley Black & Decker is considered the third largest supplier of power tools in the world.
As of 2022, the company has a net worth of a whopping $11.12 billion. One of the main reasons why the company is thriving financially is because they own dozens of other power tool companies as well.
Here are the companies that Stanley Black & Decker currently owns:
- Stanley
- Black & Decker
- DeWalt
- Proto
- Irwin
- Lenox
- Lista
- Bostitch
- MacTools
- Vidmar
- Craftsman
- Powers
- Sidchrome
- Porter Cable
If you know your power tools, you will undoubtedly recognize some of the names on this list. And if you don’t, now you know: There are a lot of big brand names there!
Who Owns Stanley Black & Decker?
Now that you understand how giant this company is, you might be wondering who actually owns Stanley Black & Decker and, therefore, DeWalt.
Stanley Black & Decker is a publicly traded company, meaning it has dozens of owners, from wealthy individuals to huge investment companies.
However, the company with the largest shareholding of Stanley Black & Decker is called the Vanguard Group.
The Vanguard Group is one of the wealthiest companies on the entire planet. They own giant conglomerates such as Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, and J.P. Morgan. They also have holdings in companies such as Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and thousands more.
When it comes to understanding who owns companies, it can all get a little confusing, but hopefully, now you fully understand who actually owns DeWalt!
Which Brand is Better: DeWalt or Black & Decker?
Here’s the thing: Even though both brands, DeWalt and Black and Decker, are owned by the same company, they do offer different types of products in both quality and price.
Being owned by the same conglomerate does not mean that the power tools are interchangeable. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
Black & Decker originally bought DeWalt in 1960 in order to be able to provide two different options to their customers: DeWalt if they wanted high-quality and slightly pricier tools or Black & Decker’s more affordable appliances.
Over the past (almost) 75 years, DeWalt and Black & Decker have continued to be two of the biggest names in power tools, and the plan to offer both more expensive and cheaper tools from the same company has served them well.
These days, with the lower price tag, Black & Decker power tools are reported by users to have some downsides. And overall, the general consensus is that DeWalt tools are by far the superior option and worth the extra cash.
Whether you opt for DeWalt or Black & Decker tools, all the money goes to the same place: Stanley Black & Decker.
Final Thoughts
So, is DeWalt owned by Black & Decker? It certainly is. In fact, Black & Decker bought DeWalt in 1960.
However, Black & Decker was purchased by Stanley Works in 2009, which consequently changed its name to Stanley Black & Decker.
That means the company called Stanley Black & Decker owns DeWalt, as well as a dozen other power tool brands.
As promised, you now know everything there is to know about who owns DeWalt!
