Trump Tariffs Are Making Power Tools More Expensive

While it’s hard to keep track of where things stand with the tariffs imposed by President Trump, we are starting to see the inevitable price increases connected to those economic decisions on store shelves. Now, the price of power tools is going up as Stanley Black & Decker said Wednesday, April 30, that the company would be raising prices on its products, which also include DeWalt power tools and Craftsman wrenches.

The company announced the news in its first-quarter earnings report. Despite beating revenue expectations, Stanley reported a 3.2 percent dip in sales for the first three months of 2025.

How Much Will Stanley Black & Decker Raise Its Prices?

The company said in its quarterly report that it “implemented a high-single digit” increase as of April, and it plans to raise prices again in July.

Why Are They Raising Prices for Tools?

In one word: tariffs. Overall, the company said that it expects tariffs to drag earnings down by 75 cents per share this year. Raising prices is one of two measures they’re undertaking to help offset the impact.

Granted, it can be confusing to know exactly where rates stand for the tariffs the President imposed without Congressional authority, as of now those rates are as high as 145 percent on anything coming from China.

Tariffs are a tax on products and materials bought from another country. Companies importing those goods pay that tax, and it’s almost always passed along to consumers. In short, tariffs are a tax that you ultimately pay when you buy something (essentially a consumption tax).

A lot of tools are made in China and other foreign countries or source their parts from overseas, so don’t be surprised when other manufacturers have to start raising prices too.

Is Stanley Black & Decker Doing Anything to Avoid Higher Tariffs?

In an effort to work around some of the highest tariff rates, the company plans to accelerate “strategic adjustments to its supply chain with the objective of leveraging Mexico and reducing China tariff costs over the next 12-24 months.”

Currently, China is the source for 15 percent of Stanley Black & Decker’s supply chain. Moving more of its operations to North America could help, but Trump has also imposed a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico. However, some products from those two countries are exempt from tariffs if they comply with the USMCA trade agreement from 2019.

Like other companies, Stanley Black & Decker’s leadership also said that it plans to “proactively engage” with the Trump administration over the issue.

Will Tariffs Impact DIYers?

DIYers will feel the impact of tariffs acutely as these taxes hit nearly everything from car parts to lumber. Price increases won’t be limited to power tools.

If you’re needing to replace your tools, you probably shouldn’t wait.