Best Circular Saws of 2023

From cross-cutting 2x4s to ripping plywood, circular saws use high-powered blades to make a variety of cuts. Although circular saws are often thought of as woodworking tools, many models can be outfitted with specialized blades to cut masonry, metal, and laminate flooring.

To help you find a circular saw for your DIY projects, the This Old House Reviews team researched the best circular saws on Amazon. Here are our top recommendations. For more information about buying tools, check out our tools buying guide.

Top 9 Circular Saws

• Best Overall: Makita 5007 Magnesium Circular Saw
• Most Portable: DEWALT 20-Volt Circular Saw
• Best for Long Cuts: SKILSAW Worm-Drive Circular Saw
• Best Value: CRAFTSMAN 15-Amp Circular Saw
• Most Efficient: Milwaukee 2830-20 Circular Saw
• Most User-Friendly: SKILSAW 5280-01 Circular Saw
• Best Kit: Makita SH02R1 Cordless Circular Saw Kit
• Best Heavy-Duty: SKILSAW SAWSQUATCH Worm-Drive Circular Saw
• Most Comfortable: Ryobi One P505 18-Volt Circular Saw

Best Overall: Makita 5007 Magnesium Circular Saw

Courtesy Amazon

Makita 5007 Magnesium Circular Saw

• $149.99

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This circular saw is built with magnesium components that create the tool’s lightweight and durable frame. Along with its thoughtful construction, the tool features a powerful motor that spins its blade at up to 5,800 revolutions per minute (RPM). This circular saw can also adjust its beveling shoe to make cuts between 0 and 56 degrees.

• $149.99 at Amazon

Most Portable: DEWALT 20-Volt Circular Saw

Courtesy Amazon

DEWALT 20-Volt Circular Saw

• $207.99
• $249
• 16% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Powered by a 20-volt battery, this cordless circular saw from DEWALT is a convenient and portable power tool. The tool has a brushless motor that adjusts its power output based on the requirements of each task, and it uses a 7 ¼-inch blade that can make cuts up to 2 ½ inches deep.

• $207.99 at Amazon

Best for Long Cuts: SKILSAW Worm-Drive Circular Saw

Courtesy Amazon

SKILSAW Worm-Drive Circular Saw

• $195.99

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This unique circular saw has a worm-drive design that increases the distance between the tool’s handle and blade, extending your reach and helping you make longer cuts. The saw also comes with cut-ready depth adjustments for quickly preparing the saw for cutting ¼-, ½-, and ¾-inch-thick plywood. Additionally, the saw features an anti-snag lower guard that helps prevent its blade from binding to thinner materials.

• $195.99 at Amazon

Best Value: CRAFTSMAN 15-Amp Circular Saw

Courtesy Amazon

CRAFTSMAN 15-Amp Circular Saw

• $79

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This affordable circular saw from CRAFTSMAN is built with durable metal guards and a magnesium shoe to create a long-lasting and lightweight tool. To complement its durable build, the saw includes a carbide-tipped blade that delivers speeds up to 5,500 RPMs. The product also comes with a tool-free beveling shoe that adjusts between 0 and 55 degrees.

• $79 at Amazon

Most Efficient: Milwaukee 2830-20 Circular Saw

Courtesy Amazon

Milwaukee 2830-20 Circular Saw

• $205

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This Milwaukee circular saw has a rear-facing handle and is powered by Milwaukee’s long-lasting M18™ Redlithium™ battery, which provides up to 570 cuts per charge. Along with its high efficiency, the tool includes an LED light that increases visibility in dimly lit areas. Additionally, the circular saw has a convenient rafter hook that makes storage simple.

• $205 at Amazon

Most User-Friendly: SKILSAW 5280-01 Circular Saw

Courtesy Amazon

SKILSAW 5280-01 Circular Saw

• $49.97
• $59.95
• 17% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This user-friendly and affordable circular saw offers a variety of features to help you complete your woodworking job. It has an integrated dust blower that keeps dust out of your cut line, a laser beam to help guide your cut, and a guarded trigger that helps prevent accidental startups. The circular saw also comes with a 24-tooth carbide blade and a carrying bag.

• $49.97 at Amazon

Best Kit: Makita SH02R1 Cordless Circular Saw Kit

Courtesy Amazon

Makita SH02R1 Cordless Circular Saw Kit

• $149

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This kit comes with a compact circular saw that’s useful for cutting thin plywood, particleboard, and other materials. Along with its lightweight circular saw, the kit includes a lithium-ion battery, a compatible battery charger, and a durable carrying case. The kit is also backed by a three-year limited warranty that covers the tool, battery, and charger.

• $149 at Amazon

Best Heavy-Duty: SKILSAW SAWSQUATCH Worm-Drive Circular Saw

Courtesy Amazon

SKILSAW SAWSQUATCH Worm-Drive Circular Saw

• $338.85

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Built with a durable magnesium frame, this long-lasting circular saw is built for heavy-duty woodworking projects. Using its 10 ¼-inch blade and powerful 15-amp motor, the saw delivers precise cuts to engineered wood, laminated lumber, and a variety of other materials. Additionally, the saw is packaged alongside a powerful 40-tooth blade.

• $338.85 at Amazon

Most Comfortable: Ryobi One P505 18-Volt Circular Saw

Courtesy Amazon

Ryobi One P505 18-Volt Circular Saw

This affordable circular saw prioritizes comfort with its rubber-molded grip and additional side handle. This power tool is battery-powered and uses Ryobi’s line of ONE+ batteries, which are compatible with a range of the company’s tools. Additionally, the saw features an adjustable beveling shoe and a transparent blade guard that increases visibility while you work.

• $49.18 at Amazon

Buying Guide

Before purchasing a circular saw, consider its blade compatibility and safety features, among other factors.

Battery-Powered vs. Corded

Circular saws come in either corded or battery-powered models. Corded circular saws like the Makita 5007 Magnesium Circular Saw use electricity to power their blades and make accurate cuts. While corded models typically generate higher speeds than their battery-powered counterparts, their reliance on extension cords makes them less portable.

Battery-powered circular saws are known for their lightweight design and mobility. While many battery-operated models lack the cutting power seen in their corded counterparts, some models like the DEWALT 20-Volt Circular Saw have efficient brushless motors that adapt to individual workloads to extend the life of their batteries.

Blade Size and Type

A circular saw’s blade size is calculated by measuring its diameter in inches. Most circular saws like the SKILSAW 5280-01 Circular Saw With Laser Guide use 7 ¼-inch blades, though some models like the compact Makita SH02R1 12-Volt Max CXT Cordless Circular Saw Kit use smaller blades. The blade size of a circular saw influences its cutting depth, meaning larger blades can cut through thicker materials.

Along with a blade’s size, the blade type also influences a circular saw’s performance. For example, most of the circular saws in this review come with wood-cutting blades that have a low number of teeth per inch (TPI). However, if you want to cut metal or other fragile materials, you can purchase blades with a higher TPI that deliver a more polished finish.

Adjustment

Some circular saws adjust to make cuts at various angles, which are referred to as beveled cuts. Most circular saws with bevel adjustments can tilt between 0 and 55 degrees. Some models even come with indented marks, known as positive stops, that let users lock into popular bevel cuts for easy adjustments. For example, the CRAFTSMAN 15-Amp Circular Saw has positive stops at 22.5 and 45 degrees.

Speed

A circular saw’s speed refers to how fast it can spin its blade and cut through material. Most circular saws have speeds between 5,200 and 5,500 revolutions per minute, though some models like the Makita 5007 Magnesium Circular Saw offer speeds up to 5,800 RPM. While a saw’s available RPMs are a good indication of how fast a cut can be made, they don’t impact how thick of a material the saw can cut.

Safety Features

Most circular saws come with safety features that help you operate the tool. One of the most common safety features is a brake stop, which halts the rotation of the blade once the trigger is released, preventing damage to the workpiece or power cord and injury to the operator. Another common safety feature is a guarded trigger, which requires you to hold down a safety button before activating the trigger.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are circular saws used for?

A circular saw is an essential DIY tool that uses a moving blade to make straight, accurate cuts. While circular saws are traditionally used to cut 2x4s, plywood, and other lumber, they can be outfitted with different blades to cut masonry, metal, and other materials.

What’s the difference between a circular saw and a miter saw?

While both a circular saw and a miter saw use a sharp, rotating blade to cut lumber and other materials, their difference in design impacts how they’re used. For example, circular saws are handheld tools that are used to make quick cuts, which makes them ideal for cutting 2x4s or plywood. Miter saws are stationary tools that make precise, angled cuts using a movable arm, which is useful for cutting decorative pieces like crown molding or baseboards.

Why does my circular saw get stuck?

If your blade is binding to its cutting material, the problem could be your cutting angle or blade. Check to make sure your blade is straight, sharp, and secure before using your circular saw.

Are circular saws dangerous?

While a circular saw can cause injury, there are a few measures you can take to ensure you safely use the tool:

• Wear eye and ear protection.
• Wear a dust mask if you’re cutting material that produces a significant amount of dust and debris.
• Don’t wear loose clothing or any other accessories that could get caught in the tool’s blade.
• When operating the circular saw, use two hands when possible for maximum control.
• Wait for the blade to stop before setting the circular saw down.

Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

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