What is a combo kit?
A combo kit is a power tool package that bundles several tools together, usually with shared batteries and a charger, rather than selling one tool on its own. The opposite is a bare or body-only tool, which ships without battery or charger. Always check the listed pack contents before comparing prices.
When UK retailers list cordless power tools, they usually fall into one of two camps. A bare tool, often labelled 'body only', is just the tool itself: no battery, no charger, and sometimes no case. A combo kit, sometimes called a kit or bundle, groups more than one tool together, and typically adds the batteries, chargers and storage that make the tools usable straight away. The distinction matters because two listings can carry the same model number yet cost very different amounts purely because of what is in the box.
[3]A quick scenario to show the difference
Suppose, hypothetically, you are fitting a kitchen and you need a combi drill and an oscillating multi-tool. One retailer lists the drill as body only at a low headline price, with the listing noting no batteries, no charger and no case. Another lists a bundle containing both tools plus batteries and a charger. The bare route looks cheaper on screen, but if you do not already own anything on that battery platform, you still have to buy a battery and charger separately. If you already own compatible batteries from an earlier purchase, the body-only route may genuinely be the better buy. That is why the site's buying checklist starts by confirming bare tool or complete kit, then matching the voltage and battery platform, then checking included batteries, blades and case.
[3]What to check before you buy
- Confirm the format: the site's pack contents filter separates 'Body only' from 'Kit / bundle', and many other listings are marked 'Check contents' because the retailer title alone does not tell you what is included.
- Match the voltage and battery platform. The site lists voltages from 12V up to 240V, and it advises checking battery compatibility before buying, so do not assume a battery from one platform runs a tool on another.
- Check exactly what ships in the box: batteries, charger, blades, bits and case. Two kits with the same tools can differ in how many batteries are included.
- Compare like for like. The site matches the exact barcode across UK retailers, so make sure you are comparing the same pack, not a bare tool against a kit.
- Confirm the final total. Recorded prices are dated observations, delivery may be extra, and availability can change, so verify today's price with the retailer.
Manufacturer offers can shift the maths
It is worth remembering that brands run their own promotions on top of retail pricing. DeWALT, for example, has advertised a free 9AH XR FLEXVOLT battery when you buy any 54V XR FLEXVOLT product, running 7 September to 29 November 2026, subject to terms and conditions. Bosch Professional has similarly advertised a reward tool bag on purchases over £139, or a Bosch GO on purchases over £219. These are time-limited marketing claims, so treat them as a possible bonus rather than a permanent feature of any kit, and read the claim conditions on the manufacturer's own site before relying on them.
[1][2]One caution: the site's filters use retailer titles, so a listing marked 'Check contents' means the pack contents have not been confirmed from the title alone. In those cases, open the retailer's page and read the contents list before you decide whether you are looking at a full combo kit or something thinner.
[3]Practical next step: pick your product category, set the pack contents filter to 'Kit / bundle' if you want everything included, or 'Body only' if you already own the batteries, then compare the dated GBP prices across retailers and confirm the final total and delivery terms directly with the seller before ordering.
[3]Sources and dates
- https://www.dewalt.co.uk/en-gb · accessed 2026-10-18
- https://www.bosch-professional.com/gb/en/ · accessed 2026-10-18
- https://toolsprices.co.uk/ · accessed 2026-10-18