Stihl AP, Husqvarna BLi or Makita LXT: Which Battery Platform for a Landscaper or a Homeowner?

For a professional landscaper or arborist, L'Atelier recommends Stihl AP or Husqvarna BLi, two 36 V platforms built for all-day work in green spaces. For a contractor who also runs drills and saws, or a homeowner with a garden, Makita 18V LXT wins on sheer ecosystem size (300+ tools). Whatever you pick, the rule is strict: batteries only work within their own platform, even inside one brand.

Why the platform matters more than the tool

A battery and charger only work with machines from the same platform. Switching platforms means buying the batteries all over again, which is why L'Atelier calls the platform choice "strategic" and the most important decision in professional cordless tools. The upside: if you already own batteries for one platform, adding a tool becomes much cheaper. The publisher's chainsaw guide notes that when you already have Stihl AP or Husqvarna BLi batteries, the battery premium of a cordless saw "almost disappears".

The compatibility rules, brand by brand

• Same brand, same platform: compatible. A 2015 Makita 18V LXT battery works in a 2025 18V LXT tool.
• Same brand, different platform: incompatible. A Makita 18V LXT battery does not fit a 40V MAX XGT tool, except with an adapter when one is available. LXT and XGT use different connectors.
• Stihl AP and Stihl AK do not mix, despite both being 36 V. AP is the professional system, AK the consumer one. AP batteries do not fit AK machines and vice versa.
• Different brands: incompatible. Third-party adapters exist but L'Atelier advises against them: overheating risk, voided warranty, no electronic communication between tool and battery.
• Check the logo on both parts. Makita alone has 12V MAX CXT, 18V LXT and 40V MAX XGT; DeWalt has 12V MAX, 20V MAX, FlexVolt and POWERSTACK.

Capacities and specs side by side

The sources do not all agree on these figures. L'Atelier's Stihl vs Husqvarna comparison gives both AP and BLi a range of 94 to 337 Wh and counts about 15 AP tools and about 12 BLi tools, while the platform guide says "20+" Stihl machines and lists BLi 300 at 270 Wh. Its batteries article gives AP from 2.0 Ah (AP 100) to 7.2 Ah (AP 500 S) and BLi from 2.0 Ah (BLi 10) to 9.4 Ah (BLi 300). Its chainsaw comparison rates the AP 500 S at 337 Wh. Check the label on the specific battery before relying on a number.

Makita's Twin 18V and the XGT step up

Makita's answer to 36 V is to run two 18V LXT batteries together. The DUC353 chainsaw is the example L'Atelier uses: two LXT packs in series for 36 V, a 35 cm (14") bar and 1.8 kW. The owner's guide insists on always pairing two batteries of identical capacity and the same state of wear. The trade-offs listed: in native 18 V, less power than dedicated 36 V for heavy tools, extra weight with Twin 18V, and less advanced thermal management than Stihl or Husqvarna. For the most demanding work, the alternative is Makita 40V XGT (36 V nominal, 72 Wh at 2.5 Ah, 144 Wh at 5.0 Ah, battery-tool communication), but it is a separate ecosystem that takes no LXT batteries.

Which platform for which profile

Between Stihl and Husqvarna, the comparison guide stops short of naming a winner: both platforms are "excellent and comparable in runtime", and the choice comes down to the nearest dealer network and the tools you need. Its advice for a landscaper: pick whichever platform covers the most tools on your list.

What runtime to expect

• Chainsaw: Stihl MSA 300 with an AP 500 S, 30-45 minutes of actual cutting depending on diameter.
• Brush cutter: Stihl FSA 135 with an AP 300 S, 30-45 minutes; battery brush cutters in general 30-60 minutes.
• Backpack blower: Stihl BGA 200 with the AR 3000 backpack battery (1,520 Wh), about 60-90 minutes in normal mode; Husqvarna's BLi 550 backpack is given the same 1,520 Wh.
• Power: best pro battery saws (MSA 300, 540i XP) top out around 2.3-2.4 kW, versus 3.0 kW for a 50 cc gas Stihl MS 261.

Making the batteries last

A professional lithium-ion battery lasts 500 to 1,000 charge cycles: 2 to 4 years in daily pro use, 5 to 8 years for personal use, according to L'Atelier. Poor storage can halve that. The storage advice is consistent on the essentials, with one difference on the charge level:

• Charge level: the platforms article says between 40% and 80%, ideally 50-60%; the winter storage and DUC353 guides say around 40-60%. All agree: never stored full, never stored empty.
• Temperature: 10°C to 25°C. Below 0°C damages cells, above 40°C accelerates aging. Do not leave packs in a vehicle in direct sun.
• Self-discharge: about 1-2% per month. Stored more than 3 months, check and top back up to about 50%.
• Don'ts: leaving a pack on the charger indefinitely, storing it somewhere damp, stacking packs on top of each other (short-circuit risk).
• Retirement signs: runtime down more than 30% from new, abnormal heat when charging or in use, charger refusing to charge (flashing LEDs), fast drain at rest. Recycle lithium-ion packs at a store or recycling center, never in household trash.

Want to check a compatibility question before buying? The L'Atelier power tools and garden machinery base answers questions like "Can my old Makita 18V LXT battery go on a new 40V XGT tool?" or "What are the capacities of the Husqvarna 36V BLi batteries?" with the source passage.

Sources: Power tool battery platforms: complete guide, Power tool batteries: platforms, compatibility and storage and Stihl vs Husqvarna 2026 on la-telier.com. Specs change between model years; confirm on the battery label and the maker's documentation.