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You could be a professional contractor or enthusiastic DIYer, but having the perfect saw for all your cutting requirements is a must. Circular saws are very handy handheld cutting tools for wood, plastic, tile, and other materials. We’ve hand-picked the six best circular saws for 2023.
In the following circular saw reviews, you can learn why we selected these saws as well as some general information about using and choosing this type of machine. This guide has everything you need to power up your cutting ability and become more effective at this skill.
Skilsaw SPT67WL-01 lightweight Circular Saw Best Caulking Gun
DeWalt 20V Max 7-1/4-Inch cordless circular saw (DCS570B) Quality Product
Craftsman 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw, (CMES510) HIGH IN-DEMAND
Tacklife Circular Saw (TCS115A) VALUE FOR MONEY
Meterk 6.2A Circular Saw PROFESSIONALS CHOICE
Ginour 6.2A Mini Circular Saw
DEWALT DWE575SB 7-1/4-inch blade – Saw with Electric Brake
Top 3 Circular Saws
Out of our list of the six best circular saw options in this review article, we went on to choose the top three. These were the best overall, which happens to also be the best corded circular saw, the best cordless machine, and the best value circular saw if you are working with a limited budget.
You can get a sneak of why we loved each of the three options right here. In the next section, we review all six products more fully then proceed to a buying guide for all potential owners of a new circular saw.
Best Overall: Skilsaw SPT67WL-01 lightweight Circular Saw
When it comes to high-quality circular saws, you can count on Skil. We chose the Skilsaw SPT67WL-01 machine as the best overall circular saw on the market for 2023. It has a powerful motor with a 15 amp rating, and you can make demanding cuts through a range of materials very easily and quickly. It is a lightweight power tool, weighing only 8.6 pounds and with a 56-degree bevel with a positive stop t the 45-degree mark.
Best Cordless: DeWalt 20V Max 7-1/4-Inch cordless Circular Saw (DCS570B)
A cordless circular saw offers more reach and greater portability. For the best cordless option, we picked the DeWalt 20V Max 7-1/4-inch saw. This corded-electric saw is powered by a brushless motor and offers a speed of 5,200 RPM. It is easy to use, and you get up to 57 degrees in bevel capacity. As far as the battery runtime, you can make 100 cross-cuts in a piece of pine measuring 2 x 4 on a single charge.
Best Value: Craftsman 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw, (CMES510)
For an affordable circular saw that still gets the job done, we recommend the Craftsman 7-1/4-inch CMES510. This saw weighs 11.05 pounds and has a high-performance motor with a speed of 5,500 RPM.
You can make angled cuts easily with the stops at the 22.5 and 45-degree points. It is built for durability and has magnesium shoes and metal upper and lower guards. The handle also has an ergonomic design for your comfort and a metal rafter hook for convenience.
Best Circular Saws: Full Review
It’s time to look at all the products on the top circular saw lists. You can see a full review of each of them below.
Skilsaw SPT67WL-01 Circular Saw
For the best overall circular saw, we opted for the Skilsaw SPT67WL-01 saw, which is many of the great tools from the popular brand. Find out what the best-corded circular saw has to offer in the review below.
Quick Facts
- The Skil SPTT67WL-01 is a sidewinder circular saw that takes 7-1/2-inch blades.
- It has a powerful 15 amp motor and a speed of 5,300 RPM, and you can make demanding cuts through a range of materials very easily and quickly.
- There is a cut-ready setting that quickly adjusts the depth of cut for a range of material thicknesses, including ¼ ply up to 2x.
- The motor is dual-field thanks to the copper windings, which means excellent heat dissipation.
- The voltage of this machine is 120 volts.
- This lightweight power tool weighs only 8.6 pounds.
- The saw comes with a 10-foot cord.
- It has a 56-degree bevel with a positive stop t the 45-degree mark.
Special Tips
This circular saw is the perfect lightweight saw for pro use. If you are concerned about overheating while you are performing long jobs, the dual-field motor takes care of that. It keeps the machine cool, allowing you to work for longer time periods.
The DeWalt 20V Max 7-1/4-inch circular saw was our winner for the best cordless option.
Quick Facts
- This circular saw is powered by a brushless motor and offers a speed of 5,200 RPM.
- The maximum initial battery voltage without a workload is 20 volts, with an 18-volt nominal voltage.
- The wattage is 900 watts, and the horsepower is 57 HP.
- You get up to 57 degrees in bevel capacity.
- For the battery runtime, you can make 100 cross-cuts in pine of 2 x 4 on a single charge.
- The saw has a 7-1/4 inch blade and can make a 2-9/16 inch cut depth.
- There is a 3-year limited warranty on this power tool.
- Some of the components that you get with this saw include a 7-1/4 saw blade and a blade-changing wrench.
Special Tips
This is a versatile circular saw that is also very portable. Due to its design, it may be better suited for framing work, which requires less accuracy, compared with precision work like cabinet-grade tasks.
Craftsman 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw, (CMES510)
For the best value option, we selected the Craftsman 7-1/4-inch circular saw (CMES510). Learn why you don’t have to spend a fortune to get great performance from your next power tool.
Quick Facts
- This top circular saw weighs 11.05 pounds.
- It is a high-performance machine with a speed of 5,500 RPM and a 15-amp motor.
- You can make angled cuts easily with the stops at the 22.5 and 45-degree points, and the beveling shoe is tool-free and can pivot up to 55 degrees.
- The saw has a 7-1/4-inches, carbide-tipped blade that has a cutting depth of up to 2-1/8inches for two-ply material.
- There is a magnesium shoe on this circular saw.
- The upper and lower guards are made of metal, and this increases durability.
- For your convenience, the machine has a metal rafter hook.
- The handle is contoured and over-molded for the user’s comfort.
- This product comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Special Tips
This Craftsman circular saw might be ideal for anyone looking for an affordable option. It is an excellent pick for occasional use in tasks like small framing and breaking down sheets of plywood.
Tacklife Circular Saw (TCS115A)
Another one of our top recommendations as far as the best corded circular saws are the Tacklife Circular Saw (TCS115A). This compact circular saw has a lot of great features, so let’s get into the full review.
Quick Facts
- The patented metal handle design makes it easier and more comfortable to use the tool.
- There is a laser guide to help with precise and professional cuts.
- The copper motor has a power rating of 5.8 amps, and you get a speed of 3,500 RPM.
- You can use this circular saw to cut many materials, including wood, plasterboard, PVC pipe, plastic, and tile.
- There are six blades included in the kit, and these cover two for woodcuts, two for wood and soft metal, and two grit diamond blades for cutting tile.
- With this saw, you get a range of useful accessories such as the metal handle, a parallel guide, an elbow dust port, a hex key, and a user manual.
- You can perform flexible bevel cutting at 45 and 90 degrees.
- There is an easy-set depth scaled gauge lever that allows a cutting depth of up to 1-11/16 inches.
- The blade is on the left side of the tool.
- This is a safer tool to operate, thanks to the double protection switch.
Special Tips
One of the most important aspects of learning how to use a circular saw is knowing where to put your hands during operation. Misplacing your figures can be dangerous, and holding the machine incorrectly can also cause strain and fatigue and affect your effectiveness and efficiency in any cutting job.
One of the things we love the most about this circular saw is the patented metal handle that allows you to operate the tool with a single hand.
Meterk 6.2A
If you want a compact circular saw, then we recommend the Meterk 6.2A power tool.
Quick Facts
- The motor on this circular saw is a 6.2 amp motor with a wattage of 750 warrs.
- You can cut with a speed of up to 3500 RPM.
- This saw can be used with many materials, including wood, plastic, metal, cement, and tile.
- For precision cutting, you get a scale rule and a laser guide.
- The maximum bevel cut with this saw is 45 degrees.
- You can achieve 90-degree straight line cutting and a cutting depth of as much as 48 mm.
- There is a safety button to provide a double security guarantee, and you must press it together with the power switch to open up the circular saw.
- Other accessories included in the kit are two vacuum cleaner adaptors, a hex wrench, a 24-month warranty card, batteries for the laser guide, and the scale ruler.
Special Tips
To cut with precision and make your cutting lines straighter, be sure to make use of the scale rule and the laser guide.
Another compact circular saw for your consideration comes from Ginour. Learn more about what it has to offer below.
Quick Facts
- There are multiple forms of protection with this saw, including a self-locking switch.
- The motor is 6.2 amps and 750 watts.
- With this saw, you also get six blades to allow you to cut through a range of materials.
- The maximum cutting depth is 1-7/8 inches.
Special Tips
Despite the cutting depth and power limitations of this compact circular saw, it is still a very useful and affordable tool to have. Occasional DIYers can benefit from its versatility.
Buyer’s Guide
In the circular saw reviews above, we covered the six best circular saw choices for 2023. Each product on the list has a lot to offer, and some are better for professional carpenters, skilled hobbyists, and those with very specific criteria regarding price points, portability, versatility, and more.
It’s now time to take a step back and look at the product category in general. With this buying guide, you can learn more about circular saws, how they work, what they are used for, and what you should look out for when making a selection. Be sure to look at the FAQ section for answers to some specific questions you may have about circular saws.
What Is a Circular Saw Good for?
A circular saw is one of at least 10 different types of saw, so you may be wondering what it is exactly and why you should consider buying it. These include circular saws, hacksaws, jigsaws, table saws, scroll saws, miter saws, and plunge saws.
Some saws are handheld, while others are larger and more fixed. You can get corded saws and cordless, battery-operated alternatives.
There is also quite a lot of variation regarding what materials you can cut with each type of saw. Even if you already have a few saws in your workshop, adding one of the best corded circular saws from this review could improve your work capabilities significantly.
You can use a circular saw to make curvilinear and straight cuts in large pieces of wood, plastic, metal, tile, concrete, and other such materials. Circular saws are portable machine tools with a high sawing capacity and high precision.
They are widely used among DIY enthusiasts and professionals alike, and you can find them anywhere from the home setting to the construction site to the workshop.
Out of the saw options, circular saws are believed to be one of the top ones if you are after a power saw with excellent wood-cutting capabilities.
Electric circular saws come in two variations. There is the worm drive circular saw and the sidewinder circular saw. The worm drive option can cut through concrete and wet lumber because it has more torque.
The handle is found behind the blade, which reduces kickback. It is easy to see your cut-line when you are right-handed, thanks to the left-side positioning of the blade.
With the sidewinder circular saw, the motor is attached to the blade directly. This motor weighs less but also has less torque than the alternative circular saw.
What Should I Look for When Buying a Circular Saw?
If you are going to add another powerful tool to your toolset, you have to do a bit of research before you make the final pick. There are so many different circular saw options available, but some are better suited for some users than others.
In this section, we are going to talk about the most important features of a circular saw and what you have to consider when you are buying one. Going through this checklist with every product you look at can help you determine if it is the best candidate for the work you have in mind.
Here are some of the most important features you should look at when you are ready to buy a circular saw:
- Mechanical style- We have already looked at the differences between worm-drive and sidewinders. They both serve a purpose. If you need an affordable, light, and easy-to-maneuver saw for your home workshop, then a sidewinder is a great choice. For heavy-duty tasks, such as construction work, then the heavier worm-drive saw is your best bet.
- Cordless or cordless circular saw- As with most power tools, you can pick your preferred power source. The corded option is usually preferred because you don’t have to worry about power interruptions when you are doing continuous cutting work. A cordless circular saw has a few advantages, including being more portable. With improving battery technologies, you can now can more usage time from each charge.
- Power rating- The standard for most corded circular saws is 15 amps, but you can also find 10 and 12 amp saws for use when continuous cutting is not required. Although the price points for the higher amperage power rating option are slightly higher, it is worth making up the difference for a more durable saw. With cordless circular saws, you typically get 18-volt and 20-volt options. Their power rating is the voltage of their batteries, which are usually rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. One charge of the battery can last for the amp-hour rating, which commonly ranges from 5- 9 hours.
- Size of the saw blade- The blade size of a circular saw is an important way to categorize the various saw options. It determines what kind of materials and what thickness you can cut through. For DIYers, the preferred blade size is 7 -1/4 inches. With these saws, you can cut a 3-inch thick material. If you plan to cut through other materials besides wood, then this blade size gives you the most options. For people looking for a general-use circular saw, a 6-1/2-inch option is good for light-duty cutting, while an 8-1/4 saw can be used for heavy-duty work. If you are planning to cut paneling, dimension timber, and other thin materials, you could make use of a small specialty trim saw with a blade of just over 4 inches in diameter.
The features discussed above are essential elements to look out for because they can limit the kind and volume of work you can achieve with your power tool.
There are a few other things you can check up on to make sure you have the best circular saw available within your parameters. The design ergonomics are just one example.
You want to ensure that the handle is positioned in a way that gives maximum comfort to the user during cutting. Depending on the model and manufacturer, there can be a whole range of different designs Sometimes, the best way to pick a saw is to try it out in person at your nearest tool store or to make use of a limited trial period if you prefer to buy your circular saw online. The ergonomics f the tool also affect balance, efficiency, and safety.
If you plan to use the circular saw a lot and over a long period, it could be helpful to ensure that it has a power brake to allow you to stop the blade quickly. For a long-lasting tool, the saw foot must be made out of cast magnesium rather than pressed steel. It is very helpful for the saw foot to have preset bevel stops at 22-1/2 and 45 degrees.
If you are going to be using this power tool at night or in poorly lit areas, it helps to have a built-in LED work light to increase visibility, which increases precision and safety.
When the process of changing the blades is very complicated, this can lead to a lot of unnecessary downtimes. To simply put this, many circular saws have a spindle lock. To help you keep the saw aligned, you might also want to watch for a laser guideline.
The best all-purpose wood-cutting blades are carbide tops. When you buy a circular saw, you usually get these included in the purchase. The other alternative is a high-speed steel blade, which has a lower price tag but does not have the same quality and durability as the preferred carbide option.
If you are also planning to cut metal, concrete, and tile, in addition to wood, then you need additional blades. To make clean cuts, it’s best to have a saw blade with more teeth.
FAQs
If you still have some questions about the operation of a circular saw and its value for the professional or the DIYer, then this section is for you. Here we answer several of the circular saw frequently asked questions.
Conclusion
After exploring the best circular saws on the market, we came up with a list of six great options. Circular saws vary in size, capabilities, style, and power rating. Our list included options for professional users and DIYers. In the top three, we chose the DeWalt 20V Max DCS570B for the best cordless option, the Craftsman CMES510 for the best value pick, and the Skilsaw SPT67WL-01 as the overall winner in this category.