12 Best Circular Saws (Review) in 2020

The Makita SP6000J1 partners a 12 amp motor with lightweight magnesium components to create a circular saw that puts more power per pound at your service than just about any other. But that’s hardly the biggest selling point. What really separates the SP6000J1 from the competition is that it provides you portable table saw precision wherever you need it. The precision cutting system provides splinter free cuts even in normally hard to cut materials. It does this by way of the built in depth stop that produces a 1/16 inch preliminary cut. The end result? A precise, clean splinter free slice that lets you get the most from the material. There’s electronic speed control, a bevel capability of 1-48° and outstanding cutting capacity of 2 3/16” at 90° and 1 9/16 at 45°. With the Makita SP6000J1 in your arsenal your table saw is going to get pretty lonely. Make sure you also choose one of the portable work benches from our list to make your work and life easier. 

The Skilsaw SPT77WML-01 Circular Saw looks as tough as it is. This is an outstanding lightweight circular saw that enables you to bring your A game to every job. With 15 amps behind you you’ll rip through the largest pieces like a hot knife through butter. For angled cuts there are 0° and 45° positive stops on the footplate so you’ll always obtain the cut you need, not just a close approximation. Adjusting for different level cuts is fast and easy and the worm drive engine is fitted with leading edge magnesium parts to keep the weight down and reduce arm fatigue. The saw as a whole is beautifully balanced and feels more like an extension of your arm than a power tool. It’s a joy to work with regardless of the task because it doesn’t fight back when the going gets tough and it doesn’t shy away from the engineered woods that are becoming commonplace on so many projects today. Make sure to also check our guide to top electric chainsaws on the market for more amazing products like this. 

Say the words “circular saw” to most people and chances are they’re going to conjure an image that looks an awful lot like the Dewalt DWE575SB. This is a classic circular saw with tried and true DNA that’s both light and powerful. Although some would classify this as a “small” circular saw labels don’t matter as much as performance. And in this case the DWE575SB delivers big power saw capability and power. You’ll cut 22.5° or 45° bevels, enjoy the newly expanded depth cut of 2 9/16 inches, slice through your task at 5,100 rpm and still have some arm strength left at the end of the day. Though the saw is manufactured in China Dewalt have kept a close eye on the build quality and there’s no discernible drop off from any previous generations. It’s just a hungry, durable, capable standard circular saw that’s going to answer when you call on it. And if you are looking to upgrade your tools, make sure you check our best camping saws review for more great items like this.

The SKIL 5280-01 is one of the most affordable circular saws on the market. If you don’t need all of the premium features provided by brands like Makita and Dewalt, the SKIL 5280-01 could be the perfect power tool for you. It’s designed purely for cutting through wood (the blade doesn’t spin fast enough for other materials), which makes it ideally suited to DIYers and carpenters. It has a 15amp motor that spins the 24-tooth carbide blade at 5,300RPM (no-load). The maximum depth cut is 2.375-inch and it has a 51º bevel with a positive stop at 45º. All of these stats read similar to the premium circular saws on this list, so it shows that the SKIL 5280-01 is no slouch. 

The Porter-Cable PCE310 is the type of circular saw you want to have in the truck when you arrive at the jobsite. It provides 15 amps of power at 5,500 rpm and that’s enough to make short work of your toughest tasks. And because it tips the scales at a modest 9 pounds it has a stunning power to weight ratio that separates it from most of the pack. It provides 2 1/2 inch cuts at 90° and 1 7/8 inch at 45°. There’s a 55° max bevel and presets at 22.5° and 45°. The 7 1/4 inch carbide tipped blade is hungry and effective and provides nice clean cuts rather than just smashing its way through the material. The magnesium shoe is here for the long haul and the entire tool is perfectly balanced and forgiving. Toss in the fact that it’s ultra-affordable and comes with a 3 year warranty and it’s difficult to make a case against adding one to your arsenal. Make sure you also check our guide to the best band saws for more great items like this.

For power and precision it’s hard to beat the Makita 5007MG. With a 15 amp motor delivering a no-load 5,800 rpm it’s quite capable of handling anything you’re likely to encounter on the jobsite. It’s a little heavier than some of the other circular saws on this list but its combination of flawless balance and effortless cutting power goes a long way toward mitigating any ill effects. The handle doesn’t seem like anything terribly special when you look at it but once you grab hold and make a few cuts you realize the engineers at Makita got it right. The magnesium components at work here help keep the weight down and there’s an LED light out front to show the way in those dimly lit rooms that are all too common on jobsites. The electric brake brings the 7 1/4 inch blade to a quick and effective stop the second you release the trigger and it’s available at a very attractive price.

If you find yourself on a job and are suddenly faced with the need to produce a few quality cuts it’s nice to be able to reach into the tool box and pull out this beauty. The Genesis GCS545C is a real find. It’s a portable circular saw with a 5.8 amp motor that will handle all but the biggest cuts and hardest material. With a triple reduction gearbox, a built in dust port and a 4 1/2 inch carbide tipped blade you won’t have to second guess yourself when you approach the cut. The GCS545C displays excellent balance, has a handle that’s molded to your physiology and produces cuts as precise as anything you’d expect from a top of the line full size circular saw. At just 6 pounds you won’t dread picking it up even toward the end of a very long day. And maybe best of all you can get it for less than the price of a pair of jeans.

The DCS575SB from Dewalt is one of their Flexvolt line of power tools that use the innovative Flexvolt battery that switches from 60 to 120 volts depending on the Dewalt tool you pop it into. This battery operated circular saw will cut up to 350 2x4s on a single charge of that Flexvolt battery. The 15 amp motor is powerful enough to handle just about any task that’s in front of you and at only 8.1 pounds the DCS575SB doesn’t punish your forearms if you cut all 350 of those 2x4s. The 7 1/4 inch carbide tipped blade is going to slice through even the toughest material and there’s an electric stop on the blade that ensures you won’t accidentally get caught up in the spin-out. They’ve even included a nifty LED light to help you better see where you’re going with your cut. A nice, simple, useful touch. If you are a passionate DIYer, make sure you check out our screwdriver sets guide as well. 

The 5180-01 is another high quality classic profile circular saw from SKIL. There’s no magic at work here, just good engineering, outstanding build quality and useful features. The 5180-01 provides a single beam laser guide that makes keeping your line a snap even in less than ideal conditions. No more “good enough”. With the 5180-01 it’s spot on every time. This is one of the lightest full size circular saws out there which makes it even easier to get the most from the 14 amp motor and 5,300 rpms. The 7 1/4 inch carbide tip blade is better than most stock blades you’ll see and swapping out blades is easy as pie. The dust blower keeps the cutting area free of obstructions and there’s a handy safety button that prevents accidental start up. If you are into DIYs, you need to own this product.

The 6390-21 from Milwaukee is a standard circular saw with a twist. Or should we say a tilt. This powerful, durable electric saw employs a system that allows you to tilt the handle to any one of several different angles and lock it in for maximum comfort. The Milwaukee engineers finally recognized what no one else has been willing to: that people are different heights and so their optimal angle of attack is going to be different. But the 6390-21 has more than one card up its sleeve. Its 15 amps of power and 5,800 rpm slide through the toughest material with easy and without turning it into a maze of splinters. Blade changing is fast and simple with the one-touch spindle lock. Like a lot of products today the 6390-21 from Milwaukee is built in China. But unlike a lot of other products today the company did not lose touch with quality control when they made the move. Make sure you also check our guide to the best hammer drills. 

The Bosch CS10 is a powerful, beautifully engineered circular saw that slips through the hardest, nastiest material in the blink of an eye. It has a built in blower that keeps the cut line free of obstructions, a 7 1/4 inch carbide tipped blade and 56° bevel capacity with detents at 22.5° and 45°. This is an aggressive tool that’s not going to waver even when faced with the hardest material. It’s relatively light at just over 10 pounds and that, combined with the durable composite footplate, lets you cut with confidence and precision time and time again. 15 amps is pretty standard for most of the high-end circular saws these days but for some reason the 15 amps wielded here seem to provide just a bit more oomph. Maybe it’s because every aspect of the tool is built to such exacting tolerances. It should definitely be part of your power tool set.

The SKILSAW SPT67WL-01 Circular Saw is one of the lightest full sized circular saws out there and also happens to be one of the best built. With its dual-field motor, lightweight housing and 56 degree beveling capacity you’re able to cut whatever you need to cut however you need to cut it. That dual-field motor is 15 amps of worm drive enabled power. To make sure you have a clear view of what you’re cutting with all that energy there’s a built in dust blower. While the 5,300 rpm is not the fastest on the lot the lack of speed is compensated for with torque to beat the band. About the only thing missing is the positive bevel stop at 22.5 degrees. Throw in the affordable price point and the 180 day satisfaction guarantee and you’ve got a value and performance winner.