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, and here we’ve listed the 10 best circular saws you can use for your projects.
But here, here are our top picks.
Our Top Picks
- BEST FOR HEAVY-DUTY CONSTRUCTION – Skilsaw SPT77WML-01
- BEST CORDLESS – Dewalt DCS577B
- BEST MINI COMPACT UNIT – Worx WX531L.9
- BEST FOR DIY PROJECTS – Porter Cable PCC660B
- BEST FOR CUTTING LARGE BEAMS – Big Foot SC-1025Su
Comparison Table
| Circular Saw | Blade Size | Power Source | Blade Speed | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 2732-20 | 7-1/4 | Battery | 5800 RPM | 9.05 lbs |
| Dewalt DWE575SB | 7-1/4 | Corded | 5800 RPM | 8.80 lbs |
| Skilsaw SPT77WML-01 | 7-1/4 | Corded | 5300 RPM | 11.5 lbs |
| Makita 5477NB | 7-1/4 | Corded | 4500 RPM | 14.3 lbs |
| Bosch CSW41 | 7-1/4 | Corded | 5300 RPM | 13.2 lbs |
| Dewalt DCS577B | 7-1/4 | Battery | 5800 RPM | 10.87 lbs |
| Makita 5007MGA | 7-1/4 | Corded | 5800 RPM | 10.6 lbs |
| Worx WX531L.9 | 4-1/2 | Battery | 6900 RPM | 4.00 lbs |
| Porter-Cable PCC660B | 6-1/2 | Battery | 4000 RPM | 6.5 lbs |
| Big Foot SC-1025Su | 10-1/4 | Corded | 5300 RPM | 16.59 lbs |
The Best Circular Saws
We’ve done all the testing and research to find the best circular saws, considering factors such as their build quality, cut capacity, considered ergonomics, battery life/runtime, and 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.
Here are the 10 best circular saws we found.
Milwaukee 2732-20 Cordless Circular Saw
Why we chose it
We chose the Milwaukee 2732-20 because even though it’s battery-powered, it’s a very powerful workhorse, having the powere to cut through any type of wood you throw at it.
It also has very solid construction. 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.
The magnesium components also makes it very lightweight, making it ideal for overhead cutting applications.
With it’s 7-1/4 inch blade, it’s got great cutting capacity, which makes it ideal for most types of projects. You can use it for carpentry, home remodeling and any other type of woodworking project you have in mind.
The battery run time is also very good, delivering up to 750 cuts per charge.
What you may dislike about it
It’s a bit pricey when you compare it to similar units.
Related: 18 Most Useful Dewalt tools For Woodworking
Dewalt DWE575SB Sidewinder Circular Saw
Why we chose the Dewalt DWE575SB
We chose the Dewalt DWE575SB because it’s very lightweight and easy to manoevre. It’s also very compact. It’s not too big, and not too small.
Being lightweight doesn’t mean it was made with cheap quality materials. The Dewalt DWE575SB is really well-made with high qaulity materials. Both the blade-guard and shoe plate and made with very solid metal that won’t bend or deform, even if you mistakingly drop it. It’s really strong.
The lower guard on the Dewalt DWE575SB also moves very freely during using, covering the blade when needed and moving out of the way during cuts. It doesn’t jam even with all the dust created when making cuts.
Finally, one more thing we really like about the Dewalt DWE575SB is the cord that came with it. 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.
What you may dislike about it
It features an electronic brake which stops the blade after you make a cut, which is good. But the brake doesn’t function all the time.
Related: 9 Best Bandsaws for Woodworking Projects
Skilsaw SPT77WML-01 Worm Drive Circular Saw
Why we chose the Skilsaw SPT77WML-01
There are so many reasons why we included this Skilsaw SPT77WML-01 worm drive circular saw in our list. But one of the main ones is that it’s got a lot of torque.
This is the saw you need if you’re a pro carpenter framing and building houses for a living. It will cut through any type of construction lumber without bugging down. And that’s exactly why this particular saw was built. To cut through thick, dense construction lumber, quickly and easily.
It’s also very sturdy. The build quality is off the charts. The shoe plate, blade guard, gear and motor housing are all made out of high quality magnesium metal. This thing is clearly built to withstand tough jobsite conditions.
It weighs about 11.6 lbs which may be a little bit heavy on the hands, as is the case with most worm drive circular saw, but it compensates all that with reliability, performance, and cut accuracy.
If you’re a carpenter or framer looking for reliable, high torque circular saw for your projects, the Skilsaw , SPT77WML-01 is one we highly recommend.
What you may dislike about it
As much as we liked the Skilsaw SPT77WML-01, it’s got one drawback which is a short power cord. The power cord on it is short. But, you can always get an extension cable to extend its reach.
Related: 9 Best Miter Saws For Woodworking
Makita 5477NB Hypoid Circular Saw
Why we chose the Makita 5477NB
The Makita 5477NB is a bit heavy, but it’s one of the best professional grade circular saws you can get today. If you’ve ever used a very low quality cheap circular saw before, and then you use this one, you’d see the difference immediately.
The cut quality is very good. They’re very neat and accurate. You get professional results every time.
It’s a worm drive style circular saw but it’s not the typical worm drive saw you’re used to. Instead of the worm gearing, it has a hypoid gear which is much more efficient and produces more torque than the typical worm gear. This saw will cut through any type of wood you throw at it, including treated construction lumber. Those are exactly the types of wood it was designed to cut.
Build quality is great. All the essential parts including the adjustment levers are all made of metal, and they’re very sturdy.
What you may not like
It starts with a little bit of kick to it, due to the power of the motor. So, you should expect that. It’s also not the lightest circular saw in the market. So, if you’ll looking for something very lightweight, this is not it.
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.
Pros
- Boasts incredible power to cut through different types of wood.
- Build quality is top-notch.
- Easy to use and adjust.
- It has a large cutting capacity
Cons
- The weight of the saw is the only cause for concern.
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.
Pros
- It’s cordless, which makes it very portable.
- ideal for jobsite use
- It’s a right hand worm drive saw. Provides a good line of sight for right hand users.
- High quality build.
- Features a rafter hook for easy handling when not in use.
Cons
- Battery plus tool makes it quite heavy to handle.
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.
Pros
- A very ergonomic design for user comfort.
- Equipped with LED lights that illuminates the cut line.
- Cuts through any type of lumber within the stated blade capacity.
- Make precision cuts with ease.
- Quality magnesium components.
Cons
- The saw is solid, but the case is very small, and hardly accomodates the electric cord.
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.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight – weighs just 4 lbs
- Long battery life
- Very ergonomic. Easy and comfortable to hold.
- It’s versatile for cutting different types of materials.
- It’s budget friendly.
Cons
- It’s a bare tool. It doesn’t come with battery and charger. That means you have to buy them separately.
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.
Pros
- It’s cordless, which makes it very portable.
- No need for extension cords.
- Best for DIY projects
- Very budget-friendly.
Cons
- It comes with a mediocre blade. Upgrade to a better blade for better results.
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.
Pros
- Cut 4×4 beams in one single pass.
- Quality construction with magnesium components
- It’s got enormous power to go with the size
Cons
- It’s quite heavy. Not for the average DIYer. If you’re not cutting anything close to 4×4 timber frames. This is not for you.
What To Look For When Choosing A Circular Saw
Circular saws come in different types, designs and sizes. They are also manufactured by different power tool brands. Here’s what you should look for when choosing one for your projects.
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.
