Circular Saws: Reviews

Updated November 2008

A good circular saw is a must-have tool for any woodworker, but the smart woodworker doesn't just choose any circular saw. The best circular saws combine cutting power, strong safety features, and easy usability. This comprehensive analysis of the most credible reviews recommends the best circular saws and details important features any shopper should consider prior to making a purchase.

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Best corded circular saw.

Milwaukee 6394-21

*Est. $160 Compare Prices

Reviews praise the 7.25-inch Milwaukee 6394-21 circular saw for smooth, accurate cuts, easy adjustments, excellent balance and comfort. It has an electric brake for safety, a Quik-Lok cord attachment and onboard… expandblade-wrench storage. The Tilt-Lok handle adjusts to keep the saw balanced, and a front handle provides extra control. The 10-pound Milwaukee saw can bevel to 50 degrees, useful in many remodeling and construction projects. It carries a five-year warranty. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Tools of the Trade: The Milwaukee 6394-21 gets top ranking in this review comparing 16 corded sidewinder circular saws.

PopularMechanics.com: The Milwaukee 6394-21 is the only circular saw out of 11 tested here to earn a perfect five-star rating.

Journal of Light Construction: Based on jobsite tests by a professional framing and trim-work company, this review ranks the Milwaukee 6394-21 third overall, with praise for its power, easy adjustments, bevel-scale markings and quick-change cord.

Taunton's 2006 Tool Guide: In this older review, editors and readers of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking give top ranking to the Milwaukee 6390-21 (the same model as the 6394-21, but without the blade brake).

ConsumerReports.org: The Milwaukee 6390-21 is rated and ranked in comparison with 31 other circular saws, based on objective tests of cutting speed and power, plus ratings of build quality and ease of use.

Wood Magazine: Based on well-documented tests, plus a month of use, the Milwaukee 6390-21 earns top ranking in this comparison review, with praise for its straight tracking, power and handling.

Amazon.com: Over 50 owners rate and review the Milwaukee 6394-21 circular saw here, giving it praise for the adjustable handle position -- but with a few dissenters.

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Buy from Amazon for $160.49
Northern Tool for $189.99	Grainger for $225.75	Amazon for $160.49

Budget circular saw, corded.

Sears Craftsman 10871

(*est. $70) Learn More

This 13-amp, 7.25-inch Craftsman circular saw lacks a blade brake and can't match the power of more expensive saws, but owners say it does a fine job on most homeowner projects. Reviews praise its laser guide and dual LED… expandlights, and it comes with a carbide-tipped blade. Unlike quite a few budget circular saws, this one can make beveled cuts up to 54.5 degrees. The warranty is for one year. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Sears.com: Over two dozen owners review the Craftsman 10871 circular saw here, giving it high praise for its features and light weight, and saying it has enough power for homeowner use.

$69.99 from Sears.com

Best cordless circular saw.

Makita BSS610 LXT

*Est. $350 Compare Prices

Reviews recommend this light 7.1-pound Makita circular saw for comfort, safety and convenience. The 18-volt lithium-ion batteries recharge in 45 minutes and hold their charge a long time between uses. The saw has a laser… expandguide and dual LED lights, plus a dust blower to clear the cutting line. The 6.5-inch blade can cut 2X lumber even at a 45-degree bevel, and the saw comes with a 3-year warranty. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Tools of the Trade: This review compares eight lithium-powered cordless circular saws based on actual tests, and though the saws aren't rated or ranked, the descriptions make it easy to pick out the Makita LXT as the best 18-volt model.

HGTVPro.com: This single-product review by tool expert Mark Clement gives the Makita BSS610 cordless circular saw (an Editors' Pick) top marks for power, balance, visibility and easy adjustments.

Fine Homebuilding: This review of a Makita LXT cordless tool kit rates the batteries and charger "outstanding" and gives props to the BSS610 circular saw's power, with special praise for the saw's light weight, adjustments, dust blower and LED light.

Popular Woodworking: This review doesn't test the new 18-volt lithium-powered Makita LXT circular saw directly, but recommends the four-piece LXT400 combo kit that includes it.

The Power Tool Geek: This informal comparison review, based on field tests with three female employees at Toolbarn, finds Makita LXT cordless tools to be the most comfortable for people with smaller hands and less upper-body strength.

YouTube.com: This video demonstrates the Makita LXT BSS610 circular saw in action.

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Buy from Amazon for Too low to display
Grainger for $200.75	Amazon for $154.46	Toolup.com for $179.00

Budget cordless circular saw.

Ryobi P500

*Est. $60, $110 with charger and battery Compare Prices

Reviews say the 5.5-inch Ryobi P500 circular saw is the best budget cordless saw, but it's not as accurate as more expensive cordless saws, nor does it use better lithium-ion batteries. The Ryobi P500 uses 18-volt NiCad… expandbatteries, and it comes with a carbide-tipped blade for longer blade life. The Ryobi saw bevels only to 45 degrees, but has a laser guide, onboard blade wrench and comfortable handle. It offers a two-year warranty. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: This review compares and ranks 32 circular saws, including the cordless Ryobi P500, based on objective tests of cutting speed and power -- plus ratings of construction quality and ease of use.

HomeDepot.com: More than a dozen owners give the Ryobi P500 cordless circular saw mostly positive reviews, saying it's a great value for the price, especially with so many other cordless tools available that use the same batteries.

OnlineTool Reviews.com: Reviewing the Ryobi One+ system of 18-volt cordless tools, this Australian woodworker finds that the one-hour charger actually takes up to two hours to recharge a battery.

Fine Homebuilding: Compared with pro-level cordless tool kits, the Ryobi P840 -- which includes the Ryobi P500 circular saw -- gets relatively low ratings for power, endurance, controls and adjustments and batteries and charger.

Workbench Magazine: Testing and comparing cordless tool kits that include circular saws, editors recommend the Ryobi kit, noting that the both the circular saw and drill "performed well above their bargain price." The 4,200-rpm circular saw makes fast cuts.

PopularMechanics.com: This older review tests an early version of the 18-volt Ryobi cordless circular saw, finding it comfortable, with easy adjustments, but underpowered for cutting even 2x4 lumber.

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Best heavy-duty circular saw.

DeWalt DW378GK

*Est. $200 Compare Prices

The DeWalt DW378GK is a hypoid saw with the motor mounted behind the blade. This makes for better cutting-line visibility and less risk of kickback. It's heavy at 13 pounds, but light for this type. Experts say the added… expandweight can even be an advantage when sawing sheet stock on a horizontal surface. Reviews praise this saw's performance, durability and convenient rafter hook. It comes with a three-year warranty, plus a 90-day "no questions asked" return option. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Fine Homebuilding: Editors say the DeWalt DW378G is the easiest heavy-duty circular saw to use if you're used to a sidewinder saw, and praise the blade guard as faultless, but criticize the top handle and overall balance.

Tools of the Trade: The relatively lightweight DeWalt DW378GK gets top ranking in this comparison review of nine wormdrive and hypoid circular saws, based on tests both in the shop and at job sites.

ConsumerReports.org: This review compares and ranks 32 circular saws, including the DeWalt DW378G, based on objective tests of cutting speed and power -- plus ratings of construction quality and ease of use.

Journal of Light Construction: A professional framing company tests five worm-drive saws at job sites, concluding that the DeWalt DW378G is the overall favorite -- earning praise for its light weight, balance and excellent blade guard.

ShopForCircularSaws.com: A professional team of builders reports on use of nine 7.25-inch saws on job sites for two weeks.

Amazon.com: About three dozen owners review the DeWalt DW378G circular saw here, with most reviews praising its power, balance, speed and relatively light weight.

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