Best Circular Saw 2026: 5 Corded and Cordless Compared

1★ Best Pick🏆 Best cordless overallDEWALT 20V MAX XR 7-1/4-inch Brushless Circular Saw (DCS570B, Tool Only)

The B suffix means tool only. DCS570P1 is the kit with a 5.0Ah battery and charger.

The DCS570B is a full-size cordless saw with few compromises. DEWALT states 5,500 RPM, a 7-1/4-inch blade, 2-9/16 inches of depth at 90 degrees and 2 inches at 45, with a bevel range to 57 degrees. The bare tool weighs 7.5 lbs. It ships with no battery, and it needs a large one to run well, so the true cost is well above the tool price. We could not confirm a current price.

DEWALT 20V MAX XR 7-1/4-inch Brushless Circular Saw (DCS570B, Tool Only)

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2🪶 Lightest to handleMakita 18V LXT Brushless 6-1/2-inch Circular Saw (XSH03Z, Tool Only)

Z means tool only. A 6-1/2-inch 24-tooth blade is included; battery and charger are not.

The XSH03Z weighs 7.3 lbs with a battery fitted, by Makita's figure, and its 6-1/2-inch blade makes it compact. It runs at 5,000 RPM, has an electric brake, and Makita claims up to 125 cuts per charge in 2x10 lumber. It was listed at $249 as a bare tool, the highest confirmed price here. The smaller blade cuts 2-1/4 inches deep, and 6-1/2-inch blades are harder to find in stores.

Makita 18V LXT Brushless 6-1/2-inch Circular Saw (XSH03Z, Tool Only)

$249Reference price

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4💰 Best valueSKIL 15-Amp 7-1/4-inch Corded Circular Saw with Laser (5280-01)

Corded, 120V. Includes a 7-1/4-inch 24-tooth carbide blade and a carrying bag.

The 5280-01 costs $69.99 on SKIL's site and comes with a 24-tooth carbide blade and a carrying bag. The 15-amp motor runs at 5,300 RPM, the saw cuts 2-7/16 inches deep, and it bevels to 51 degrees with a stop at 45. A single-beam laser and a dust blower help you follow the line. You are tied to an outlet, and SKIL lists no electric brake, so the blade coasts after each cut.

SKIL 15-Amp 7-1/4-inch Corded Circular Saw with Laser (5280-01)

$69.99Reference price

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5🔧 Corded with a metal shoeCRAFTSMAN 7-1/4-inch 15-Amp Corded Circular Saw (CMES510)

Corded, 15 amp. Do not confuse it with the 13-amp CMES500, which is a lighter-duty saw.

The CMES510 is a 15-amp corded saw running at 5,500 RPM. CRAFTSMAN lists a magnesium shoe, tool-free bevel to 55 degrees with detents at 22.5 and 45, and 2-1/2 inches of depth at 90 degrees. It comes with an 18-tooth blade, which cuts fast but roughly, so budget for a finer one. At 9.0 lbs it is heavy for a corded saw. We could not confirm a current price.

CRAFTSMAN 7-1/4-inch 15-Amp Corded Circular Saw (CMES510)

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Corded or cordless: decide this before the brand

A corded 15-amp saw never runs out of charge and costs little. The SKIL here is $69.99 with a blade and a bag. Its weakness is the cord itself, which snags on sheet goods and limits you to places with an outlet.

A cordless saw goes on a roof, into the yard or to the back of a truck. It also draws more current than almost any other cordless tool. The small 2.0Ah pack that came with a drill will run one, but only for a short series of cuts. Plan on a 5.0Ah battery, which often costs more than a corded saw.

For breaking down a few sheets of plywood each year, corded is the better value. For frequent outdoor work, or if you already own large batteries, cordless earns its price.

Blade size and cut depth

A 7-1/4-inch blade is the US standard. It cuts through 2x lumber at 90 degrees with room to spare and, on most saws, through a 2x at 45 degrees in one pass. Blades in this size are sold everywhere and cost little.

The Makita uses a 6-1/2-inch blade. Its 2-1/4-inch depth at 90 degrees still clears a 2x4, and its 1-5/8 inches at 45 degrees clears one as well, with very little margin. Blade choice in stores is narrower.

The table shows each maker's stated figures.

Weights are not measured the same way. Makita quotes its figure with a battery fitted; the DEWALT figure is the bare tool, so a 5.0Ah pack adds over a pound.

What makes a saw accurate and safe to use

The shoe, the flat plate the saw rides on, decides whether cuts come out square. Stamped steel shoes on cheap saws bend if the saw is dropped. Milwaukee and CRAFTSMAN both state magnesium shoes, which stay flat and weigh less.

An electric brake stops the blade within a couple of seconds of releasing the trigger. Makita and Milwaukee both list one. On a saw without a brake the blade coasts, so wait before you set it down.

Bevel range matters less than the stops. A positive stop at 45 degrees saves measuring each time. CRAFTSMAN lists detents at 22.5 and 45 degrees, SKIL a stop at 45, and Makita a 45-degree stop with fine adjustment.

The laser on the SKIL is a guide, not a guarantee. Owner reviews of laser-equipped saws often mention the line drifting out of alignment, so check it against a test cut.

How these picks were chosen

We chose sidewinder saws, the common layout with the motor beside the blade, from brands widely sold online in the US. Rear-handle and worm-drive saws are heavier framing tools and are not covered. Ryobi and RIDGID are left out because they are sold mainly through one retail chain.

Recommendations are editorial. No brand paid for placement, and the links on this page are affiliate links that may earn Pickly a commission at no extra cost to you.