10 Best Circular Saws for Woodworking – Tested in 2025

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If I have to use only one type of power saw forever, I’d go with a circular saw. I’d go with it because it’s what you can use to make all types of cuts, from simple crosscuts to long rip cuts, including bevel cuts. A circular saw is what you need.

Another reason you want to go for a circular saw is because it’s portable. You can take it to the work, instead of bringing the work to the saw.

It’s not a machine that has to be kept in one location. You can take it with you anywhere, use it to make overhead cuts, and a whole lot more.

That’s why you can’t replace it with a table saw, a miter saw, or any of these other stationary saws. You can’t raise these other saws over your head, on the roof to make cuts. But you can simply take a circular saw with you, on the roof, and make as many cuts as you want.

Circular saws come in different sizes, shapes and configurations. Here in this article, our aim is to help you choose the right one for your projects.

Some are best for simple DIY projects around the home while some are ideal for heavy duty construction projects like timber framing. We’ve done the testing, we’ve done the research, we’ve asked the pros, and we’ve come up with 10 of the best circular saws you can use for your projects.

Comparison Table of The 10 Best Circular Saws

Our Top Picks

Like I said above, circular saws come in different sizes, shapes, and configuration. All built by different manufacturers and designed for certain type of users. Some are designed for simple DIY projects, while some are built to withstand day-to-day heavy duty construction projects by framers and carpenters.

We’ve done the research, the testing, and we’ve confirmed from the pros, that the following are the 10 best circular saws you can use for your projects.

We considered several factors to choose this 10. We considered their build quality (build material), we considered their cut capacity, we considered ergonomics, how comfortable it is to hold and use them, we considered battery life, we considered how much power they have to cut through materials without bugging down, to make sure we put out only the best options for you to choose from.

Milwaukee 2732-20 Cordless Circular Saw

Price: Check Amazon

The Milwaukee 2732-20 cordless circular saw is a battery-powered workhorse you can use for all your woodworking projects. You can make rip cuts, cross cuts, bevels, and a whole lot with this beauty.

This thing is built to last. Both the shoe plate and blade guard are all made of magnesium which is one of the best material for tools like this. It won’t rust, and won’t bend or warp. It will stay the same as long as you have the saw. And this is very important for circular saws. A bent shoe plate equals a highly inaccurate saw.

It comes with a 7-1/4 inch blade which is the ideal blade size you need for most types of projects. This is best for carpentry, home remodeling and any other type of woodworking project you can think of.

Just because it’s a battery-powered saw doesn’t mean it’s not powerful. This will cut as hard as any corded circular saw you pit it against. And the battery juice lasts for a long time, delivering up to 750 cuts per charge.

Related: 18 Most Useful Dewalt tools For Woodworking

Dewalt DWE575SB Sidewinder Circular Saw

Price: Check Amazon

If worm drive saws are known for their beastly power and torque, sidewinders are known for being lightweight and being easier to manoeuvre. The Dewalt DWE575SB is one of the most compact and lightweight sidewinders out there right now. With a weight of only 8.8 lbs, tackling overhead tasks with it is certainly not going to be an issue for anyone.

Apart from being lightweight, the DWE575SB also got the power to cut through dense hard lumber with ease.

An anti-snag lower guard fitted with ball bearings ensures the lower guard moves fluidly as cut through lumber of varying thicknesses. The lower guard will never jam even will all those dust generated in your cuts, and it will always move freely or stay put depending on the thickness of the lumber you’re cutting.

One part of corded circular saws that usually suffers a lot during usage are the cords. They get pulled a lot and usually get damaged after some time, depending on the level of abuse. The Dewalt DWE575SB features a tough cord protection system that gives 3x strength to the cord and protects them against pull-outs and abuse of any kind.

Related: 9 Best Bandsaws for Woodworking Projects

Skilsaw SPT77WML-01 Worm Drive Circular Saw

Price: Check Amazon

When it comes to making circular saws, Skil makes some of the best ones. The Skilsaw SPT77WML-01 is a saw geared to power through hard lumber effortlessly just like the Dewalt worm drive saw I talked about above.

Apart from the saw handles which are rubberized, the whole saw comprising the shoe plate and the blade covers are all made of magnesium metal to make the saw as light as possible.

Even with all the gearing and power it boasts, the saw weighs just 11. 6 lbs. If you’ve used other worm drive saws before, you’ll know that this one is really lightweight, but it still got the same power.

A good depth adjustment lever ensures you can adjust the blade according to the thickness of the material you’re cutting.

Overall, whether you’re a seasoned carpenter or a simple homeowner looking for a premium quality saw to meet your needs, the Skilsaw SPT77WML-01 is a very good option to consider. It’s got the power, the precision and it’s made to withstand heavy duty use.

Related: 9 Best Miter Saws For Woodworking

Makita 5477NB Hypoid Circular Saw

Price: Check Amazon

The Makita 5477NB hypoid saw is a variation of the popular worm drive circular saw. However instead of the common worm gearing, Makita fits the 5477NB with a hypoid gear which increases the contact surface between the gearing and thus results in the transmission of more torque to the blade.

It’s the ideal saw for you if you always deal with dimensional and engineered lumber, like plywood, OSB, LVL and the rest. If you’re looking for a saw to build a deck, frame a building, roof a building or even build a hardwood floor that requires you to cut and use engineered lumber, then I’d advise you consider choosing the Makita 5477NB for the job.

Bosch CSW41

Price: Check Amazon

The Bosch CSW41 is a tool built just to rip woods apart with great power and precision.

Just like all other Bosch tools I’ve seen, it’s made with parts that are precisely engineered to last. The whole gear housing and shoe plate is constructed with magnesium metal, which is not only tough, but also lightweight compared to other metals used for tool construction, and it’s also resistant to corrosion.

The worm gearing ensures the saw always have enough torque to rip through any wood easily and precisely just like a hot knife slices through butter.

It’s a jobsite saw ideal for cutting lumber used for framing, roofing, siding, deck building etc. It’s more than enough and capable to tackle all your home improvement or DIY projects if that’s what you want to use it for.

Related: Top 10 Best Reciprocating Saws For Your Projects

Dewalt DCS577B Cordless Worm Drive Circular Saw

Price: Check Amazon

The Dewalt DCS577B is a worm drive circular saw, but it’s quite different than the ones I’ve reviewed on this article.

Most of the worm drive saws out there are all left hand circulars saws, which makes it difficult for right hand users to see the cutting line when making a cut. This one however is a right hand worm drive saw. Which means the line of sight problem is solved for right hand users.

Apart from that, one more reason why this Dewalt DCS577B is special is because it’s cordless. It’s kind of hard to imagine that a powerful beastlike saw like this can run continuously on batteries successfully.

However, with Dewalts 60 Volts Flexvolts batteries, any tool can run on batteries these days. The DCS577B runs on Dewalts 60 Volts Flexvolts batteries, which you actually have to buy separately from the tool.

You’ll find this very useful whether you’re framer, general contractor, carpenter, a quality tool-loving homeowner looking for a top-of-the-line circular saw to get the job done.

Related: 10 Best Table Saws For Woodworking And DIY

Makita 5007MGA

Price: Check Amazon

The sidewinder circular saw that properly describes the words, strong, tough, powerful, lightweight and feature-rich is the Makita 5007MGA circular saw.

From a design perspective, you can quickly tell from the moment you unbox it that the Makita 5007MGA is well-constructed.

A lot can be said about any circular saw when you hold it in your hands for the first time. The way the handle feels, the clearance between the handle and the blade housing are all things to consider.

The Makita 5007MGA has a very good rubberized handles that allows you to grip the saw firmly with comfort. There’s also enough clearance between the saw rear handle and the blade case, which really makes it easy and comfortable for anyone no matter the size of your hand to hold the blade properly without your knuckles rubbing against the blade cover.

The ducting design of the blade housing also helps to blow away wood dust away from the cut line as you make your cuts.

Worx WX531L.9 Mini Compact Circular Saw

Price: Check Amazon

If you’re just looking for something reliable to carry out DIY projects and work around the home, this is it. The Worx WX531L.9 is a mini compact circular saw with a 4-1/2 inch blade built specifically for simple projects around the home.

You want to build simple book shelves, build a new fence, do some patio work, build bench in the garden, this is exactly what you need.

It’s battery operated, so you don’t have to worry about wires. You can take this little rocker with you anywhere you want to go. And the battery really runs for a long time. This will not just cut one 2×4 and be done. You’ll be able to complete a whole project without having to recharge the battery.

You can cut 2x4s effortlessly, and can make bevel cuts from 0-46 degrees easily. If you’re not cut out for a big heavy duty circular saw, this is exactly what you need.

It’s not just for cutting wood. Fit it with a metal cutting blade and you can cut metal, PVC, tiles and other materials easily.

The blade is very easy to change. There’s a dust port to attach a simple shop vac so you can collect all the dust produced at the source and keep your work area neat. All in all, the Worx @X531L.9 ticks all the boxes for me when it comes to mini compact circular saws. You’ll not go wrong with this one.

Porter-Cable PCC660B Cordless Circular Saw

Price: Check Amazon

The ease of using a battery powered tool is further amplified with this Porter-Cable PCC660B cordless circular saw. It’s a combination of high performance and ingenuity in terms of design quality and tool material.

Precision and cut quality is top-notch for the Porter-Cable PCC660B even with the factory fitted blade that comes with it. Replace that with a top quality 60 tooth finish blade, then you can redefine precision with this tool.

If you’re tired of the extension cords, this Porter-Cable PCC660B is a good choice for you to go cordless.

Big Foot SC-1025Su 10-1/4 Inch Worm Drive Saw

Price: Check Amazon

If you’re cutting post and beams all day, this is one of the best saw for the job. Most of the other saws reviewed and listed here have a blade size of 7-1/4 inches and a maximum depth of cut of 2-9/16 inches.

In contrast, this Big Foot Tools worm drive circular saw offers far more than that. It comes with a 10-1/4 sized blade and has a max cutting depth of 3-7/8 inches at 90 degrees.

That’s far more than the average circular saw. This one from Big Foot Tools is designed for cutting larger lumber pieces. If you want to cut 4×4 lumber and 2 time 2×4 in one pass, this is the saw you need.

This is a saw designed for cutting beams. You’ll find it very useful if you’re a framer or carpenter who works with these sizes of lumber on a daily basis.

It will not only make your job easier, it will make it faster and more efficient, because instead of making crosscuts twice or even 4 times, you can make it once with the large 10-1/4 blade, thus saving you much needed time.

Due to its size, the Big Foot Tools SC-1025SU is quite heavy, weight about 16.59 lbs. including the blade. However, I believe that’s the only downside, considering the purpose for which it’s built like that.

How to Choose the Right Circular Saw

Circular saws come in different types, designs and sizes. They are also manufactured by different power tool companies. The question is, how do you choose the right one for your project?

Well, first of all, let’s talk about the different types out there. Then we’ll talk about what you should look for when making your choice.

Types of Circular Saws

There are 3 main types of circular saws you can choose from. They are sidewinders, worm drive saws and mini compact circular saws.

Worm Drive Circular Saws

A worm drive circular saw usually has a motor that sits just behind the blade, and power is transmitted from the motor to the blade through the aid of a worm gear.

They’re usually heavier due to the extra gear transmission sitting behind the blade. But they produce more torque as a result of the added worm gearing.

That’s why they’re usually preferred by experience building framers and construction workers.

The position of the motor behind the blade also means that the handle will be situated behind the motor and far behind the blade. This handle position plus the weight of the overall weight of the saw makes the whole saw sturdier and handles kickbacks better..

The longer frame also affords you more reach when making long rip cuts.

Sidewinder Circular Saws

Sidewinder circular saws are also known as direct drive saws, have their blade connected directly to the motor.

Here the motor is placed side-by-side with the blade, and power is directly transmitted to the blade with the aid of a spur gear. The blade is either on the right hand side of the motor or on the left hand side. That’s why they’re called sidewinders, because the blade sits side-by-side with the motor.

Unlike the worm drive saws, the sidewinders are weighs less and are easier to maneuver, especially for overhead applications.

They’re also more common because they usually cost less.

Sidewinders has more blade speed in RPM compared to the worm drive circular saws, but they have less torque, less power. Like I said earlier, worm drive saws have more torque and are more powerful for handling tougher jobs, even though they have less speed in RPM.

Mini Compact Circular Saws

Mini compact circular saws are the smallest circular saws you can use for your projects. As you can tell from the name they’re small. While most circular saws come with 7-1/4 inch blade, mini circular saws come with 4-1/2 inch blade and even smaller blades.

They have smaller cut capacity, but they have several advantages over the larger saws. Because they’re small, they’re also very easy to handle and maneuver.

Most of them have one single handle, so you need just one hand to hold and use them to make cuts.

If you’re looking for a circular saw to use for simple DIY projects around the home, you might consider getting one of these.

Apart from wood, they’re also ideal for cutting other materials like metal, pvc pipes, plastic and even tiles.

The Verdict: Sidewinder circular saw VS worm drive circular saw | which is better?

Actually, no one is better than the other. It really depends on your choice and personal preferences.

For long rip cuts on the ground through engineered lumber, you might opt for a worm drive circular saw because of the power and weight assisted cut it provides.

On the other hand, when looking for a saw that can be easily maneuvered for overhead applications, you can’t beat a sidewinder.

So, you can’t really say one is better. It all depends on the specific features you’re looking for.

Just go with the one that you’re comfortable with, and feels better and balanced in your hand.

Factors To Look For When Choosing A Circular Saw

Here are some of the most important factors and features we consider when choosing a circular saw.

Power

Power is very important when choosing circular saws. You don’t want something that will struggle or take forever to cut through materials.

So, while testing these saws, we considered how powerful each saw is. How fast they cut through different sizes of wood and whether they bug down during cuts.

How much power a saw has is also determined by the amp ratings. The higher the amp ratings, the more power or torque it produces.

Weight

Weight is also very important. You want a very sturdy saw, built with top quality materials, but you don’t want it to be too heavy to carry, especially if you plan to use it for overhead tasks.

Blade Visibility

Being able to see the blade when making cuts is very important. You want to see the blade so you can follow the cut line precisely and make accurate cuts.

This is where the decision or debate between right hand VS left hand circular saws comes in. You may ask, what’s the difference between the two?

A right hand circular saw is a saw that has the blade on the right hand side of the motor when you hold the main handle with your right hand, and the auxiliary handle with your left hand. No hands or arms cross over each other in this position for a righty.

On the other hand, a left hand circular saw is a saw that has the blade on the left hand side of the motor when you hold the main handle of the saw with your right hand, and the auxiliary handle with your left hand. In this position, your left hand will cross over the blade when holding the auxiliary handle, which is less than ideal.

However, this position affords you greater visibility of the blade. When holding a left handed saw, you have more view of the blade and cutline.

Ideally, right handed saws are for righties, and left handed saws are for lefties. This is because, for a righty, when holding a right handed saw, you can easily hold it steadily with your right hand, and the auxiliary handle with your left hand, with no arms crossing over each other. The saw is more balanced this way.

The same thing goes for a left handed saw.

Like I’ve said earlier, the downside in using your hand type of saw is that, you’re not able to see the blade or cut line clearly enough. You have to turn your head a little to actually see the blade.

Furthermore, in most quality circular saw, there is a crevice or window between the saw auxiliary handle and the blade that allows you to clearly see the cut line from the top position without bending your head.

So, there is no need for you to get a left handed sidewinder when you’re a righty.

The exception to this are worm drive saws which are mostly left handed.

Balance – Ergonomic Design

If you’re buying from a local store, this is easy to check. You need to hold the saw and feel how balanced and comfortable it is for you to hold.

The more balanced and comfortable it is, the easier it will be for you to maneuver it when making cuts.

If you’re ordering yours online, make sure the handles are rubberized. Rubber fittings makes the handles easier and more comfortable to hold.

Precision

Precision is key when dealing with circular saws. It is important that your saw be able to cut straight and square all the time.

To ensure this, you need to have good blades. A 50 dollar saw with a very good top quality blade can best a 200 dollar saw with a crappy blade.

So, after ordering your saw and testing it, if you think it’s not cutting precisely enough, consider buying a top quality blade.

Note that when it comes to saw blades, the more teeth it has, the smoother and finer the cuts will be.

So, get the right blade in order to get more out of your circular saw.

Depth and Bevel Adjustments

Circular saws comes with levers for adjusting the depth and bevel of the blade.

The levers should be big enough so that adjustments can be made easily. Small levers can be hard to reach, and therefore difficult to make depth adjustments with them.

Additionally, the depth and bevel scale should also be easy to read. So check that the depth and bevel scales are either engraved or casted on the saw, not attached to it with a sticker which can easily come off.

Shoe – Baseplate

No matter how careful you are, you might drop the saw accidentally, sometimes from a considerable height, and it will fall and make impact with the ground.

The part that usually gets affected the most is the shoe or baseplate.

The baseplate or shoe is that rectangle-like base that sits on the wood and helps to guide the blade along the material when making cuts. If it bends or get deformed, every cut you make will no longer be straight or accurate, because the baseplate is bent out of shape.

So, you need to make sure that the saw you choose have a strong and solid baseplate.

Some baseplate are made with stamped aluminum, while others are made with cast magnesium or aluminum.

As you may have guessed, the casted aluminium or magnesium are very hard and strong. Therefore, they don’t bend easily.

On the other hand, the stamped aluminium bends easily when you mistakenly drop it. Even applying too much pressure can also bend it.

Blade Change

One thing you’ll change from time to time, is your circular saw blade. Eventually it will get dull, or you may need to just switch to another type of blade for cutting a different type of material.

Hence, it’s important that the blade of the saw you choose can be changed easily.

A spindle lock is one feature that makes blade change very easy.

Related: 11 Essential Circular Saw Safety Tips You Need To Know

Safety

Any power tool can be very dangerous if not handled carefully. Worse still, it can even become more dangerous if the parts are not working as they’re supposed to.

The circular saw part designed primarily for safety is the blade guard. You need to make sure you have a solid functioning blade guard. The blade guard has to retract in and out easily as you make cuts with the saw.

Additionally, some manufacturers include an electronic brake that stops the blade within seconds as soon as the saw trigger is released.

The Dewalt and Makita listed above are good examples. There are electronic breaks in the Dewalt DWE575SB, Makita 5007MGA, Dewalt DCS570B, Makita 5008MGA.

It is not compulsory that a circular saw come with an electronic break. However, it’s just one safety feature you can check out too when buying one.