Table of Contents
- View The Best Cordless Circular Saw Below
- 1. DEWALT DCS391B Circular Saw
- 2. Makita SH02R1 Cordless Circular Saw Kit
- 3. PORTER-CABLE Cordless Circular Saw
- 4. DEWALT Circular Saw with Brake
- 5. Ryobi P506 One+ Cordless Circular Saw
- 6. Makita XSH04ZB Cordless Circular Saw
- 7. Milwaukee M18 2630-20 Cordless Circular Saw
- 8. EnerTwist Cordless Circular Saw
- 9. BLACK+DECKER Cordless Circular Saw
- 10. SKIL 5180-01 Circular Saw
- Cordless Circular Saw Buyer’s Guide
A cordless circular saw can be an extremely versatile choice of cutting tool, giving you plenty of power in a compact and easy-to-move frame that won’t get tangled up on other equipment or slice through its own power cord.
However, there are still hundreds of designs and brands to choose from, each with their own quirks and unique features that might make them better at one task compared to other circular saw designs: knowing what to look for and what kinds of designs are popular can help you get a better idea of which tools you should be using.
Here are ten examples of some of the best cordless circular saw designs on the market at the moment, as well as the features they can offer.
View The Best Cordless Circular Saw Below
1. DEWALT DCS391B Circular Saw
This high-powered cordless circular saw can run at 3700 RPM, easily cutting through most tough materials and providing smooth results every time. The frame can bevel up to 50 degrees for angled cuts in a range of situations, and the comfortable rubber grip makes it much less irritating to use for long periods of time.
As for the blade, it’s carbide-tipped for twice the cutting strength and move overall efficiency compared to the amount of power used, and the lightweight design of the tool as a whole makes it incredibly convenient for tasks spread across multiple cutting surfaces.
Pros:
+ Durable, tough and lightweight design.
+ Comfortable rubber grip design.
+ Good bevel angle.
+ Carbide-tipped cutting blade.
+ High cutting speed of 3700 RPM.
Why We Like It – This cordless circular saw offers great cutting power that’s backed up by a good motor and other useful design features, making it simple but effective in every situation.
2. Makita SH02R1 Cordless Circular Saw Kit
The special motor in this circular saw provides up to 1500 RPM of cutting speed, leading to extremely fast and precise cuts when combined with the 3-3/8 inch blade that can slide into surfaces up to an inch thick. Not only that, but it can be adjusted to multiple depth settings for precise cuts and slices at any angle, and will bevel by up to 45 degrees for situations where a straight slice isn’t helpful.
At only 3.5 pounds in weight, it’s also extremely portable and comes with a carrying case that can keep the circular saw together with its charger so that you don’t lose track of them.
Pros:
+ Built-in LED charge indicator.
+ Uses a reliable 2.0 AH battery.
+ Carrying case for the circular saw, battery, and charger.
+ Very lightweight.
+ Multiple depth of cut options.
Why We Like It – This circular saw is extremely practical, combining very low weight with great power and adjustment options to tackle nearly any situation.
3. PORTER-CABLE Cordless Circular Saw
This high-performance cordless circular saw can provide up to 4000 RPM of cutting speed and power, tearing through even the thickest materials very quickly. The beveling shoe on the base lets you adjust the cutting angle up to 50 degrees for maximum versatility, and the carbide teeth on the saw blade have a fairly high cut capacity to handle thicker surfaces well.
Thanks to the over-molded handle, it’s much easier to control than many other saws, and the low weight of only 6.5 pounds makes it much more portable for use in larger job sites or on wide cutting surfaces.
Pros:
+ High overall performance.
+ 4000 RPM cutting speed.
+ Carbide tooth blade.
+ Bevel capacity of 50 degrees.
+ Fatigue-preventing handle design.
Why We Like It – This circular saw offers lots of power without being hard to use, using a strong blade and great bevel angle to give you excellent results time and time again.
4. DEWALT Circular Saw with Brake
The high power of this circular saw gives it an RPM of 5200, more cutting speed than hundreds of other cordless saws. The high cut capacity offered by the blade gives you 2-9/16″ depth of cut options, and it can bevel by up to 57 degrees for far greater control when you’re dealing with non-flat surfaces.
The high no-load speed makes it perfect for dealing with thicker and tougher material, but you also have an electric brake system to make sure that it can quickly turn off if something goes wrong. As with most cordless tools, it’s lightweight and portable, making it easy to move from place to place.
Pros:
+ Strong brushless motor.
+ Good cutting depth.
+ Large bevel angle.
+ Good battery life.
+ 5200 RPM cutting speed.
Why We Like It – This DE WALT circular saw is ideal for a range of different cutting activities, combining high power with plenty of user-friendly features and design choices.
5. Ryobi P506 One+ Cordless Circular Saw
This small and portable circular saw has a built-in laser guide system that helps you get the best results possible every time, as well as a really reliable grip design that gives you full control over the tool in almost all conditions.
There is multiple depths of cut adjustment options that can be altered through the easy-to-reach knobs, and the tool has a bevel capacity of 50 degrees for extra versatility. The blade itself is tipped with carbide, strengthening the metal and preventing corrosion while still giving you excellent results every time due to the 4700 RPM of cutting powder offered by the motor.
Pros:
+ Compatible with multiple battery types.
+ Corrosion-resistant blade.
+ Adjustable depth of cut.
+ Laser guidance system.
+ 4700 RPM cut speed.
Why We Like It – The high-tech features in this design (mainly the laser system) make this circular saw incredibly useful if you’re trying to get the best cut possible in a fiddly situation.
6. Makita XSH04ZB Cordless Circular Saw
This compact circular saw cordless design uses a 5000 RPM brushless motor to give you great cutting speeds without feeling too bulky, boasting a cutting capacity of 2-1/4 inches at 90 degrees and a bevel capacity of up to 50 degrees in total.
The ergonomic blade and handle design makes it very comfortable to use, and the built-in LED lights help you see the cutting area in darker conditions. If you’re using it as part of a full kit, you can also store an Allen wrench on the circular saw’s frame for easy access and quick repairs.
Pros:
+ Ergonomic circular saw design.
+ Built-in LED lights.
+ High cut speed.
+ Handy on-board wrench storage.
+ 5000 RPM brushless motor.
Why We Like It – This cordless circular saw is simple but easy to use, giving you plenty of handy features but still staying lightweight and compact for quick transport.
7. Milwaukee M18 2630-20 Cordless Circular Saw
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This cordless circular saw is designed to be as fast and efficient as possible, using a 3500 RPM motor and a range of helpful extras to keep your cuts looking clean. You can bevel cuts by up to 45 degrees for extra versatility, and the special magnesium blade guard panels keep it protected from scratches, bashes or other forms of damage. Even better, the built-in electronic brake makes it easy to stop the tool if you’re starting to lose control of it, and the comfortable handle should make it much easier to grip during difficult tasks.
Pros:
+ Comfortable handle design.
+ Good bevel capacity.
+ Good cutting speed.
+ Reliable motor.
+ Built-in blade guard panels.
Why We Like It – Milwaukee has made this cordless circular saw perfect for a huge range of tasks, offering good cutting strength and adjustment options to make every task just a little bit easier.
8. EnerTwist Cordless Circular Saw
This circular saw uses a stable motor speed of 3500 RPM to get a balance of high cutting power and great overall stability. You can adjust the depth of cut session individually using the easy-set lever, and the unit has a bevel capacity of up to 45 degrees for extra versatility when dealing with tricky surfaces – even better, it has a laser-based guide system to help you keep track of where your cuts are actually going.
The entire tool is ergonomic and built for as much safety as possible, removing dust from the air and focusing on visibility wherever possible to help you avoid damaging something during a cut.
Pros:
+ Reliable and safe design.
+ Able to bevel cuts by 45 degrees.
+ Great cutting depth settings.
+ Fully cordless saw.
+ Laser guide features.
Why We Like It – Safety is the main feature offered by this cordless circular saw, but it’s also surprisingly good at taking on tougher materials without any kind of performance issues or breakdowns.
9. BLACK+DECKER Cordless Circular Saw
This cordless circular saw unit has a tool free bevel capacity system that makes it easy to angle your cuts, as well as the ability to adjust the depth by up to 43mm in total. The dust extraction system makes the cutting space much clearer and less irritating on your skin, eyes, and throat, and you also have a safety lock system to make sure that the motor doesn’t accidentally start when you aren’t ready to cut anything.
The design of the tool as a whole is very lightweight and compact, meaning that it’s ideal for situations where you need to handle multiple cutting surfaces over a single worksite or area.
Pros:
+ Very lightweight.
+ Simple safety features.
+ Strong motor.
+ Tool free bevel.
+ Built-in dust extraction system.
Why We Like It – Unlike a lot of cordless tools, this circular saw offers a range of simple safety features that are useful for professionals and first-time users alike.
10. SKIL 5180-01 Circular Saw
The 14 amp motor used in this circular saw provides a great level of cutting power and speed, but the design is still lighter than many other cordless circular saws with none of the restrictions of a corded saw. The dust blower gets rid of debris in the way of your cutting line, and the twenty carbide teeth on the blade provides a high level of cutting reliability while also making it resistant to corrosion and other forms of long-term damage. It can bevel by up to 51 degrees, with a positive stop at 45 degrees to help you get precise angled during tricky cutting jobs.
Pros:
+ Good bevel capacity.
+ Built-in dust blower system.
+ Great cut depth.
+ Strong corrosion-resistant blade.
+ Powerful motor.
Why We Like It – This cordless circular saw takes a basic design and makes it more reliable without changing much, so it’s a perfect all-rounder for any toolbox.
Cordless Circular Saw Buyer’s Guide
Buying any tool can be a difficult job if you’re not sure what features or adjustments you might want, and circular saws are no exception.
Going for a cordless circular saw specifically narrows down your list of options even further, so you need to understand what to look for and the kinds of features that actually matter most to you: it’s not just about what you need to cut, but your level of skill and the kind of safety or comfort features you might end up wanting.
After all, no two people are the same, so each personal need or requirement you have might not be shared by other people who recommend certain cordless circular saws to you.
Here are some key features or points to watch out for if you’re trying to choose a new cordless circular saw for your toolbox, workshop or home’s garage.
Why Cordless?
The best cordless circular saws are designed around the fact that the design is obviously a cordless saw: without a cord, there are far fewer limits placed on when and where you can use the saw, which can be invaluable if you’re in a large worksite or have a lot of materials to cut through in a short period of time.
It also makes it more portable, reduces the number of items you need to carry, keeps the area between the cutting surface and the power source clear… there’s a lot of benefits, and many people consider cordless circular saws to be superior in almost every situation. The only notable downside of these designs compared to a corded saw is the fact that they have limited battery capacities, but this will be covered in a moment.
In most cases, a cordless circular saw will be more portable, weigh less, have a more compact and refined design and generally be more accessible and practical for most places. This doesn’t make corded saw designs invalid, but cordless designs are generally seen as the better option for a lot of different tasks.
Different brands can have their own battery, brushless motor and blade designs, as well as unique designs for every other key part of their saw. You’ll often have to get a compatible blade and battery replacements from them since they might be the only person that sells blade or battery designs that fit: this isn’t always the case, though, and even a company that has all rights reserved on the designs can’t stop other companies from creating an alternative battery or blade that just happens to fit into the existing saw.
The Battery
The battery is usually the most important part of any cordless tool since it’s the main source of power (and unlike corded designs, they don’t charge up fast enough to run forever while plugged in. Because of this, a larger or more powerful battery technically leads to longer running time, but this isn’t always the case. In practical terms, a bigger battery just offers more power, but not all circular saws use power at the same rate.
Let’s say you have a standard 2.0 AH battery: it can offer the same level of power to two compatible saw designs, but each saw might use the power at separate rates depending on the motor speed, blade size or other features that have to be powdered as well (like a dust blowing system).
Because of this, you can’t rely on the battery to always be the same, even if it’s compatible with a single brand of circular saws: DEWALT and similar companies are known for letting their cordless saws run on shared battery types, but each DWALT saw will use these batteries at their own speeds, so you might have to recharge the battery more or less frequently if you move to a new tool in the same product line.
RPM
RPM is the measurement of how fast the blade is actually moving, which translates to faster cutting speed and higher overall power. However, finding a good RPM is still really important, since the highest possible option isn’t always the best.
For example, the standard RPM of the Porter-Cable PCC660B is around 4000 RPM, which is somewhere in the middle of many other cordless circular saw models: you might think that this is worse than some of the 5000+ RPM DEWALT or Milwaukee circular saws on the market, but that’s not always the case. Higher RPM leads to less controllable blades and more frequent needs to repair or replace parts, as well as higher power consumption and lower battery life.
On the other hand, lower RPM can make it hard to actually get the blades to cut a surface, even using a reliable battery pack and working at the maximum speed setting. The Porter-Cable PCC660B falls somewhere in the middle, which can make it one of the best overall models for people who are dealing with a mixture of soft and hard materials that require a balanced amount of blade power and cutting speeds.
Safety
Cutting tools are very dangerous, especially a circular saw. Like any saw, they’re designed to saw through a surface, which can include parts of your body or key electrical wires if you aren’t careful. Unlike a manual saw that relies on physical input from you, a circular saw might keep running until you switch it off or a failsafe activates: drop an active saw on your leg or arm and you can end up with scars, large cuts or even serious injuries that require full surgery to fix.
Because of this, proper safety features are the key to making sure that your saw can be used in a safe, productive and generally less-dangerous way, especially if you’re not used to using them yet and don’t have much past experience with power tools.
One major feature is a blade guard: this is used to shelter the top (and sometimes the bottom) of the blade from places it doesn’t need to be exposed, making sure that you can’t accidentally bump your fingers into the teeth or brush the top against an important object. In a way, they’re designed to make sure that the blade of the saw only cuts places that you need it to cut, with the rest of the blade being hidden away inside the body.
Alongside that, you’ll also sometimes find emergency stop or lock systems. An emergency stop is meant to cut the power from the battery to the rest of the saw, turning it off as fast as possible to make sure that it can’t hurt somebody or cut through something it shouldn’t be. These are generally going to be buttons located somewhere on the saw, but they can come in a range of different styles depending on the saw model and design.
Locks are very similar, making sure that the saw can’t turn on accidentally: the opposite of emergency stops. Having at least one of these can make it much easier to use the tool without putting yourself (or others) at risk, with the emergency stop preventing the saw from causing harm and the lock stopping the saw from being turned on when it’s not supposed to be.
Bevel Capacity
Most circular saws, cordless or not, will be able to bevel by a set amount. Using a bevel feature lets you cut into a surface at an angle, often reaching at least 30 degrees and sometimes going as high as almost 60 degrees. The idea behind these isn’t anything special: it just rotates part of the saw to angle the blade, keeping all of the motor features and other elements the same and just operating the saw in a slightly different direction.
You don’t necessarily need a high bevel capacity unless you’re dealing with specific cut types, but it’s still one of the features that will appear on a lot of saw designs, so you can end up with it anyway. Remember that choosing to bevel the saw can alter the cut depth, though, which can change the resulting depth and size of the cut.
Cutting Depth
Another one of the key features offered by a lot of circular saw designs is high cutting depth. This basically just dictates how far in the blade can go, changing the resulting cut – for example, if you only want to go halfway through a two-inch surface, one-inch depth is enough: however, if you want to go all the way through, you’d need a saw with a cut depth of at least two inches. Some models are adjustable, but others might only have a single pre-set option, and as mentioned earlier using a bevel feature can alter this depth even further.
Most people choose to divide these depths into certain categories: 40-50mm is seen as ideal for small-scale saws, while 50-65mm is more of an all-rounded cordless saw that can be used for most purposes. 65-140mm any beyond is a heavy-duty saw, with larger models on the scale being increasingly likely to only appear as part of professional construction toolkits. Very few people will actually need the full extent of their cut depth, but it’s still a good idea to figure out the thicknesses of any materials you might have to cut in the future.
Blade size also matters here. For example, a 7-1/4 inch thick blade will have less than half that in terms of cut depth, since less than half the blase is actually being used for cutting. However, if you can only fit 7-1/4 inch blades into that particular circular saw model, then you’ll only be able to use 7-1/4 inch blade types.
This could be a 7-1/4 inch blade made with bare metal, a 7-1/4 inch blade tipped wit durable materials or even a 7-1/4 inch blade that’s designed for a very niche purpose: regardless, it’ll still have to be a 7-1/4 inch blade to fit into that circular saw.
Comfort
It might sound strange, but a comfortable saw is a saw that’s much easier to use. If you like using a tool and it doesn’t make you feel fatigued or awkward, then it’s much more likely to become something you’ll use again and again.
Things like a rubber over molded grip can be great for this, especially if you’re using the saw for long periods of time: a bare tool might cause a lot of vibrations and other forms of discomfort, especially if the motor produces a lot of power and movement. You might be surprised by how much even a small change to the blade setup, saw frame or battery pack housing can make.
Not all brands offer these features on all circular saw models, though. A lot of DEWALT and Makita saws are built with special grips that are supposed to reduce fatigue, but that doesn’t mean that every Makita or DEWALT option will actually offer them. A bare tool can also be a cheaper option, but you’ll need to put up with the vibrations and discomfort, and you usually don’t have a way to easily modify these things on your own.
Keep an eye out for grip materials, too. Makita, Milwaukee, and DEWALT are all known for using plastic or rubber grips, but some companies choose to use wood ones instead. This isn’t a bad thing, but it depends on the design: rounded wood grips can be great in terms of support and structure, but they don’t have the cushioning that the softer and slightly less solid rubber grips used by companies like Makita.
It’s still mainly down to personal preference, but there are clearly some grip designs that work better than others, so finding the right option is important.
Other Minor Features
Soft Start
Some saw designs use a slow or “soft” start feature that’s supposed to make the motor safer and easier to use, preventing overheating and making sure that it doesn’t jump to full speed as soon as it’s activated. This works by slowly speeding up the blade so that it gradually reaches its max speed level, which can also help you keep control of the saw without forcing you to hold it down with both hands or prepare it ahead of time.
This isn’t as useful for jobs where you need to keep starting and stopping the circular saw, but it’s still helpful, and can sometimes be toggled on and off as an optional feature.
Overload Safety
An overload in a circular saw can be dangerous, especially if it happens when you’re already struggling to keep control of the saw itself. Most circular saw overloads will happen if too much power goes into the unit at once or if it gets pushed too hard to cut through materials that it’s getting wedged in. While an overload is rarely extreme enough to cause any kind of harm to you (unless it makes you lose control of the saw), it can damage the circular saw battery or even result in the blade breaking and forcing you to make unexpected repairs.
Stability
The more stable your circular saw is, the easier it’ll be to use when you’re trying to deal with difficult cuts, especially if you want the smoothest and best-looking results possible. The best cordless circular saws will have their own stability plates to help it stay balanced on flat surfaces, but that won’t always be the case depending on the circular saw: DEWALT, Makita, Milwaukee, and other major brands are all known for including them in most saw models, fitted around the blade in a way that helps the entire frame of the saws stay properly aligned.
Guidance
Some saw designs also have their own guidance systems that help with framing, tracking and following particular cut angles or lines properly, or to at least illuminate the area so that it’s easy to see what you’re doing. This can be a laser, a light or even just transparent base on a bare tool.
What is the best DEWALT cordless circular saw?
Brands like DEWALT, Makita, and Milwaukee make a huge range of circular saws, so finding the best cordless circular saw in their inventory isn’t going to be easy. Each DEWALT brand circular saw will be the “best” for some person’s needs or a specific purpose, just like every Milwaukee and Makita saw, as well as any other brands like them.
No tool is useless, and each one is meant for a different situation, so you should figure out what you’re actually looking for first. There are thousands of saws out there, and each of those saws has a different battery, blade, and motor.
Don’t stick to a single brand, either: go ahead and look at saws offered by brands like Makita and Milwaukee if you need to since one of the circular saws they offer might be the one that suits your best. Each saw is unique in one way or another, so they’re all best at different things, even if one seems like the best of two choices on paper.
Should I get a cordless circular saw?
A cordless circular saw is an incredibly useful tool and is often said to be one of the best types of circular saw on the market if not one of the best types of saw in general. The individual features matter, though: a brushless motor, bare tool design, strong battery, and sharp blade can make one even better, so it’s vital that you find saws with great features if you want the best possible performance and results. Be sure to get a saw with the best available battery and blade, at the very least, since these can impact the performance of saws far more than most other features.
Which is the best Makita cordless circular saw?
Just like the DEWALT and Milwaukee brands, Makita creates dozens of saws, so there’s no one single “great” option to choose from. Features like an electric brake and brushless motor can be just as useful as a bare tool design depending on the situation, and all cordless saws are different, it’s impossible to single out one that’s the best option available. Narrow it down to a few great options and then pick the one that suits you best.
Why are battery-powered circular saws left-handed?
Most saws regardless of their design features (a sharp blade, big battery, brushless motor, etc) will be built for left-handed people first and foremost. This is purely because it’s often the more efficient way to use them since the market for these saws is more left-handed than right-handed.
You can still easily find great right-handed or universal saws, but it might take a bit more time. Some designs don’t actually have features that keep them exclusive to one and or the other, but some are clearly built to put most of the bulk facing ‘outward’, which can make the blade hard to see or the battery indicator hard to track if you’re using them in the other hand.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether you’re looking for a high -tech saw with a brushless motor or a simple design that just uses a standard blade and battery, there are plenty of saws out there to choose from! Remember: at the end of the day, the best saw for you is the one that functions well and meets your expectations or needs, regardless of the price, blade design, battery capacity, weight in lbs or other cons that might get in the way.
Hopefully, this buyer’s guide and review section has given you an idea of what you might want to look for or order next, but don’t be afraid to do your own research if you’re still not convinced!
