The best circular saws are a key item in almost every tool kit, thanks to their ability to make fast, accurate cuts in lots of different materials. When it comes to choosing the best circular saw for you, it’s important to keep in mind the type of work you expect to use it for as well as how often you expect to use it. They come with a range of features, so we’ve rounded up the best circular saws on the market right now to save you hours of researching.
SKIL 15-Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw
Perfect for DIY jobs
The SKIL circular saw is lightweight and easy-to-use, with lots of features for a value saw. Some of these features are a laser guide and advanced dust blower, for safer and more accurate cutting and the anti-snag lower guard is a nice touch too. It has a safety lock and you need both hands to turn it on. This is handy for preventing the saw from starting accidentally.
Back+Decker 20V Max Cordless Circular Saw
Battery-powered
This circular saw from Black+Decker doesn’t restrain you with a bulky power cord. Instead, it runs on a rechargeable battery pack to give you 20V of high torque motor power to tackle big jobs no matter where they are. It’s easy to adjust this circular saw to accommodate different cut depths, or for clean and precise angle cuts. You do need to purchase the battery packs separately. This saw is compatible with battery packs used for other Black+Decker cordless tools.
WORX WORXSAW
Cuts wood, tiles, and plastic
This smaller-sized saw has the same power and ability as standard-sized circular saws with a powerful motor and a rotation speed of 3000 rpm. The dual handles of the WORXSAW saw give you great control that results in more straight cuts and better safety outcomes. This circular saw features a laser guide and blades to cut soft and ward woods, plastic, and harder materials like tiles. It also has a vacuum adapter.
Makita Magnesium 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw
Several professional features
From highly durable magnesium components to a powerful 15-amp industrial motor, the Makita Magnesium circular saw creates clean cuts while also being lightweight enough to prevent aching wrists on long jobs. It has features found on other saws, like a built-in dust blower, as well as nice-to-haves like built-in LED lights to illuminate the line of cut. It also comes with a blade that powers through nail-embedded wood.
Black+Decker 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw
Good cutting power
This Black & Decker circular saw is also one of the lightest on the market, weighing in at just 7 pounds. This is particularly useful if you suffer from sore joints or expect to be using the saw on long jobs. The 13 amp motor offers enough power for most cutting jobs, and the laser guide is a useful feature for more precision cutting. A spindle lock allows for quick and easy blade changes.
What to look for in a new circular saw
Design
It’s easy to think that sheer power makes the best circular saw. In fact, it’s the smaller things, such as dust chutes, cord length, spindle locks, rip fences, and electric brakes, that make all the difference. A saw can cut at 6,200 RPM, but if it doesn’t include any of these features, it’s going to be a pain to use in the long run. These features enhance the durability and versatility of the tool in a profound way. An accessory as simple as an included carrying case makes the saw more portable, and therefore more useful.
Cutting features
The most important test we conducted was for handling efficiency. Our reviewers used each saw for several hours and compared their experiences to come up with a percentage score. Additionally, they looked at how deeply you can cut at 90- and 45-degree angles. They verified the bevel capacity, the wider the better, so you can cut to whatever degree you want. Positive bevel stops are also an important consideration since they allow you to quickly adjust the shoe for common angles.
How thick can a circular saw cut?
Circular saw blades range from about 6 1/4 inches to 10 1/2 inches in diameter. Generally speaking, the most common blade diameter is 7 1/4 inches, which can cut wood up to 2 inches thick. You can also cut materials up to 2 inches thick with a 6 1/2-inch blade, but 7 1/4 inches is still the most popular.
Still, less common, larger blades may come in handy if you work on projects that involve larger wood beams. Mayer mentioned the thick slabs needed for building tables and benches specifically.
Beyond size, there are other factors to consider as you choose the right blade for the job. Look for masonry blades when you need to cut brick or cinder block and tile-cutting blades for your flooring project. Also, you may need blades made of specialized, durable materials for certain projects. There are high-speed steel blades, which stay sharper longer than normal blades, as well as carbide-tipped blades that stay sharp even longer. Diamond tips can improve the quality of cuts on tiles.