Some of It Is. Most of It Isn't.
The story of how we got here is worth knowing before you buy.
My father used to say that Craftsman was the one tool brand you could always replace. Abuse it, break it, then take it back to Sears, get a brand new one, no questions, no receipt. That was the deal for decades, and it was real. The warranty, and the American manufacturing behind the brand, were both part of the same promise. That promise has changed more than most people realize.
*Find tools definitely NOT made in China at Best Tools Not Made in China (2026).*
What Happened
Craftsman was created as a Sears house brand back in 1927. For most of its history, the tools were made by American manufacturers under contract to Sears — companies like Western Forge and others. As Sears began its long decline in the 2000s, manufacturing shifted offshore to cut costs. By the time Stanley Black & Decker bought the brand in 2017 for $900 million, much of the line was being made in China and Taiwan.
Stanley Black & Decker made genuine efforts to reshore production. They announced a $90 million factory in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2019, projecting 500 jobs. That facility opened — and closed four years later. The Fort Worth plant’s closure is the clearest indication that the reshoring promise has not fully materialized.
Stanley Black & Decker is a US company headquartered in Connecticut. That does not make Craftsman tools American-made.
What's Currently Made in the USA
Some Craftsman hand tools — wrenches, ratchets, sockets, and pliers from certain lines — are still manufactured domestically. Tool storage products, including metal toolboxes, have been made at a facility in Missouri. The Craftsman OVERDRIVE mechanics tool line, introduced in 2023, carries a full lifetime warranty and competitive specifications, though country of origin varies by specific product.
The honest guidance: check the packaging. Country of origin is required on imported goods. Craftsman does not prominently advertise which specific products are domestic. The label on the individual product is the only reliable source.
At retail, some Craftsman hand tools will say “Made in USA.” More will say “Made in China,” “Made in Taiwan,” or “Made in India.” The brand is not uniformly domestic and has not been for well over a decade.
The Warranty: What's Changed
The lifetime warranty on Craftsman hand tools still exists. Wrenches, ratchets, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, and most core hand tools remain covered. No receipt is required for basic hand tool replacements.
What changed is where you take it. Sears is essentially gone — fewer than a dozen stores remain. Lowe’s is now the primary retail partner and the standard warranty exchange point. For older Sears-era tools, Stanley Black & Decker says the warranty is honored, but the process is less seamless than it once was. Some product lines — tape measures, power tools — now carry “limited lifetime” or time-limited warranties rather than the unconditional coverage the brand was known for.
The V-Series line, which was Craftsman’s best-regarded recent hand tool offering, was discontinued in 2025. Warranty claims on V-Series tools are now handled with “next equal value” replacements rather than like-for-like exchanges.
The lifetime warranty still has value. It is not the same warranty my father relied on.
How to Check Before You Buy
Turn the tool over and read the label before purchasing. At Lowe’s, the packaging will state country of origin. Do not rely on online listings — country of origin is frequently missing from Craftsman product pages and at Lowe’s.com.
For buyers who want a lifetime warranty and some domestic production at a mainstream retail price, Craftsman remains a reasonable option — with the understanding that you need to check the label on each specific product, and that the warranty, while still real, is no longer as simple as it once was.
We verify country-of-origin claims using manufacturer disclosures, product labels, and trade records. If something has changed, email us at webmaster@whybuyfromchina.com
Last verified March 2026.
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