Milwaukee just added a magnetic combination square to its hand tool lineup, and the built-in rare earth magnets are the headline feature. The MLSQC12 is a 12-inch combination square with two embedded magnets that let it cling to metal surfaces hands-free. Price is $43, landing at Home Depot in April 2026.
That’s a modest price for something genuinely useful: set the square on a steel stud or conduit run, and it holds without a free hand gripping it. For electricians and HVAC techs laying out metal framing all day, that frees up your hands while you mark.
What Milwaukee Built Into the MLSQC12
The blade is stainless steel, precision-etched with 1/16″ markings on one side and 1/32″ on the other, finer than most combination squares in this price range. The square head has machined working surfaces at both 45° and 90°, so the angles are accurate, not just cast and finished.
- Magnets: Two rare earth magnets embedded in the square head
- Blade: 12″ stainless steel, etched to 1/32″ on one side, 1/16″ on the other
- Working surfaces: Machined 45° and 90°
- Scribe features: 1″ scribing notch built into head; on-board scribe pin storage
- Adjustment: Non-removable locking nut to prevent blade loss
- Metric version: 300mm MLSQC300 also available
The non-removable adjustment nut deserves a mention: if you’ve ever lost the locking nut off a Stanley square at the bottom of a tool bag, you understand why Milwaukee made this change. The blade still slides and locks, the nut just can’t fall off.
Context: Milwaukee Has Been Building a Measuring Ecosystem
Milwaukee has been quietly expanding beyond power tools into hand measuring tools over the past few years. They launched a line of magnetic rafter squares that sold well on jobsites, followed by a USA-made wire stripper (the MT702, reviewed here) at $21.97. The MLSQC12 fits the same pattern: trade tools that tradespeople actually use, priced to be grabbed without thinking too hard.
A combination square is arguably the most-used layout tool in a woodworker or carpenter’s kit. If you’re setting up for a deck build or a cabinet project, having a square that won’t move when you set it down on a metal surface saves repetitive trips to pick it back up. Our beginner woodworking tools guide covers why a combination square is one of the first tools worth buying, and our deck building tool guide shows how layout tools fit into a full project kit.
What to Know Before Buying
At $43, the MLSQC12 is priced above no-name squares and below the Starrett C33H ($80+) or Swanson ($30) options. Milwaukee’s machined surfaces and the magnet feature make it competitive in the mid-range. If you work on metal regularly, the magnetic hold alone justifies the price premium over a standard square.
One thing to check manufacturer specs on: the magnet strength isn’t published. For light metal layout work it should perform fine; if you need a square that locks aggressively to a vertical steel surface, verify in-store before committing.
Price and Availability
The Milwaukee MLSQC12 Magnetic Combination Square is priced at $43 and is available at Home Depot starting April 2026. The 300mm metric companion is also available for international or metric-preference users.
Source: ToolGuyd, Milwaukee Tool