We know many tool enthusiasts who state their box isn’t completed without a circular saw. Although many brands dominate the market that are well known, upon our research and experience, there are some other models many haven’t heard about that are rated very highly among the net. Although it does depend on a few factors to keep in mind when shopping for a circular saw, the search has been toned down to merely ten in this article. Let’s take a look at the best circular saws in the market.
If we had to choose the very best circular saw in the market, we would recommend the Rockwell RK3441K for a few reasons. One being that it isn’t necessarily the most expensive circular saw out there. The user reviews are also extremely positive which is always a plus when taking into consideration an important purchase. Rockwell is a brand we can trust and although the construction isn’t necessarily of DeWalt or even Makita quality, it’s quite suitable for those looking to grab a solid circular saw at an affordable price. If you do however want some more options, keep reading.
Table of Contents
What is a circular saw?
A circular saw is used for cutting a lot of different materials other than (the assumed most common) wood. Circular saws use a toothed or abrasive disc\blade. Some common applications for cutting include masonry, plastic and even metal (a few of the saws in this article can cut through stone!). They’re sometimes included in power tool combo kits, but sometimes many need to merely add it into their collection down the road.
A workshop isn’t quite complete without at least some type of saw in our opinion. If you’re planning on building or fixing anything at all, you’ll most likely need to cut here and there. Circular saws are one of the most popular power tools out there for a multitude of reasons. If you weren’t interested in our best table saw article and want something smaller, you’ve come to the right place. Or you can check out our best miter saw post for another option for cutting at angles.
How to choose your circular saw
- Your budget – This is of course an important deciding factor when choosing your circular saw. There is a decent price range when it comes to these, so keep that in mind. We include all price points in here to keep your options covered. We do like investing a decent amount of cash into tools because they’re investments we’ll be using quite a lot (depending on who you are) as well as for a long-term use. If you want to minimize your search to more budget-friendly models, be sure to check out our best circular saws under $100 post.
- Preferred brand – When it comes to power tools or merely tools in general, many users we know have highly preferred brand names they stick with. Although we agree that the heavy hitters of the tool market are trustworthy, it’s always worth looking at others in case another brand offers a model that fits more into your needs and budget.
- What size? Many come in the compact size for using one hand, while others do not. If you’re also planning on traveling with your circular it may come in handy to grab a smaller model.
- Easy cleaning? Some have contraptions built-in to keep your cleaning process simple, while others may require taking apart the circular saw every now and then and giving it a good cleaning. It’s all really based on convenience — if you don’t mind sacrificing price and buy a cheaper circular saw that doesn’t have any cleaning capabilities, be our best.
- Cordless or with a cord? This comes in relatively self-explainable, and although a cordless circular saw may seem like a no-brainer in terms of versatility and movement, some prefer a cord as it usually offers a bit more power. The use of batteries and having to charge them (and buy them if you don’t have some already — some brands even require their own batteries). It all depends on your preferences. Our best cordless circular saw may be of help as well, otherwise we list both types of circular saws below.
The top 10 best circular saws in the market
Below is our list of the top 10 best circular saws in the market. Let us know if you have any questions or comments when it comes to shopping for a model. We’re here to help. There are also some saws out there that can help with more precise cuts to accommodate your circular saw, and for that you can read our best jigsaw article if you want to add to your repertoire.
Rockwell RK3441K
When it comes to well-known brands, Rockwell may not be one that comes quickly to mind. However, their reviews around the net solidify our choice for including this in the top 10. As stated previously, the RK3441K is one of the best circular saws out there. It provides a relatively high-quality 5 amp, 3500 RPM motor. You can change the blade quickly with their “arbor-lock button” (takes only a few seconds). Another key component with this is the depth gauge lever — you can change the setup and cutting adjustments without much hassle at all. This is especially important if you’re planning on cutting different depths as you go, and even if you don’t plan on doing so right now, it will come in handy in the future. A few other highlights include a built-in dust port to help with cleaning and the design is also pretty slim so you can use it with one hand. If you’re looking for an easy pick with a circular saw, we say grab this one and don’t look back.
DeWALT DCS391B
Who here hasn’t heard of DeWalt tools? This saw has a powerful 460 MWO, 5250 RPM motor, which gives power and speed to make demanding cuts with ease. The high strength and light magnesium shoe gives great durability for accuracy. It also allows for aggressive yet precise cuts for a multitude of applications. It’s rated pretty highly for it’s overall control and balance. Hence the higher price-point as compared to a lot of other circular saws in the market, you’re getting what you pay for so if you have the cash we’d say don’t look back. The 6-½ inch blade is great for cutting thick materials and getting more cuts per charge. It also comes with an additional rubber molded comfort grip that doesn’t necessarily hurt when it comes to handling tools. Sadly, this only comes in the color yellow but for those who are big DeWalt fans will understand that’s their signature. It is however cordless, has a maximum speed of 5250(rpm), and has a handy 90-day warranty which never hurts.
Makita 5007F
Some people swear by this Makita this 7-¼ inch circular saw. With pro framers in mind and easy-to-use features, it is ideal for a range of framing and cutting applications. This saw has professional grade quality and is a powerful motor for proven greater performance. We’d say it rivals the previous DeWalt circular saw mentioned and would grab whichever is cheaper at the moment. With the 15-amp motor and a high power to weight ratio, it has high-quality construction and a heavy gauge wraparound base. This saw has a large cutting capacity to hit the 4 most common angles. This amazing saw comes only in teal and its cord length is 8.2 feet. It’s maximum speed (in rpm), is 5800 which is well-suited for most users. It’s about 10.5 inches tall and weighs 11.1 pounds, so if you’re planning on traveling it won’t be too big to handle. It also has a 90-day warranty which is never a bad thing.
Skil 5480-01
This 7 ¼ inch lightweight saw has a 2.3 Hp motor and 5300 RPM. It also has a durable ball-bearing motor construction for that awesome price. It’s one of the best budget-friendly circular saws in the market in our opinion. It carries an anti-snag lower guard to reduce pesky catches when making narrow cuts. The Skil 54080-01 also has rear depth adjustment to help with a custom cut. This one’s awesome for quick projects at home. It’s 13-amp motor has OK power to rip through wood with minimal strength. The Skil 54080-01 also has rear depth adjustment to help you easily adjust your depth of cut. It has a 2-point line of sight guard to increase your visibility when working with the tool and helps keep your cuts pretty straight. It also has a safety lock feature that you can turn on when not in use to prevent accidental startups. This saw is good for anyone to use for smaller projects.
Black & Decker BDCMTTS
We are all well aware of Black and Decker brand name, and if you haven’t, they’re pretty much the most heavily marketed brand out there aside from Makita and DeWalt. The BDCMTTS is a very highly rated circular saw. This attachment comes with a 2-year warranty and only weighs over 2 lbs in weight. It’s speed at max is 12 volts and 2600 Rpm. This circular saw also comes with quick change blades to help the speedy process of getting your project done in a deadline. The quick change blade has a hex wrench and spindle lock button. It’s pretty standard, but if you want a circular saw that’s going to give you some solid performance for a non wallet-breaking price, we’d say take a look at it. Not to mention the being able to trust the B and D brand name.
DeWALT DC390B
Here’s another option for a circular saw by DeWalt that is cordless. This is the bare version and if you need batteries as well you can buy the kit for double the price. It works well with framing and doesn’t weigh too much for easy use and hold. It is an 18 volt cordless saw and has 3700 RPM for fast rip and cross cuts. With the 6 ½ inch blade that is tipped, it can do 2x the cutting capacity at 90 degrees or 40 degrees. It’s high strength magnesium shoe and upper guard increases durability and productivity — something we’re not surprised when it comes to DeWalt build. It has a 0-50-degree bevel providing added capacity for a multitude of applications. It comes with a fan cooled motor with replaceable brushes for maximum power and durability. A bit fancier with a few extra features — we’d buy this if you want something that’s a bit more higher class than the other saws. This is a high powered tool for anyone to add to their collection.
Makita SP6000J1
Here’s an absolute monster of a circular saw. This tool is a great addition to any tool family. The Makita SP60000J1 is a circular saw with a guide rail at 6 ½ inches. It’s made with a 12.0-amp motor for optimal performance in a wide variety of materials. The precision in this machine has accurate cutting and delivers a splinter free mirror finish. It has an electronic speed control that maintains a constant speed under load for smooth cutting. The variable speed control dial can go from 2000-5200 rpm in a pretty fast manner. It’s large cutting capacity is 2-3 ¼ at 90 degrees or 45 degrees. This awesome tool is a powerful machine that can help you with any project that comes along, especially the more advanced tasks that ask for a guide rail. If you have the cash, grab it! It never hurts to add that guide rail if you’re in need of it.
Rockwell RK3440K
Another great tool to add to any person’s collection. It is a very powerful 4.0-amp circular saw. This saw cuts a variety of materials including wood, tile and more. It’s slim ergonomic design is easy to manage or maneuver for your project. To help with precision, this saw has large laser indicators to help align all of your cuts. The plunge cut indicators show exact positioning of the blade entry. It has an easy-to-set depth indicator as well. It also has a safety lock which can be hard to set but overall with it’s power and look, it is a great saw to add to your collection and keep in consideration when shopping around if you have some money saved up. It’s durability and great features make it a great buy.
Evolution DISCCUT1
The Evolution DISCCUT1 may be less known than other models but the reviews really steered us towards it’s direction. It’s robust and versatile shape with electric disc cutter can cut through some of the toughest materials out there. We aren’t talking about simple cuts, either — it can literally cut stone, bricks, and concrete as far as 4 inches deep. It also has a fan cooled motor. This safe and economical 20amp hi-torque saw has a soft grip with front and rear support handles that are positioned to accurately cut horizontally and vertically. It carries a 10-inch diamond blade with a safety guard that is fully adjustable. This awesome saw is easy to use and maintenance free. Grab this if you have some seriously tough jobs ahead of you.
Rotorazer Saw
This thing is pretty nifty we’ll admit. One of the coolest saws we’ve seen was the Rotorazer saw because it isn’t necessarily only circular. We love it’s style, operation and overall decently marked price tag. It comes with three add ons — who would complain about options? It is light weight, versatile, and super easy to use. Don’t let the size fool you either since it has a 400-watt motor inside. It can cut through PVC, drywall, hardwood, ceramic tile, marble, metal, and steel. This jigsaw combo of circular, hard, band, tile, hacksaw, and miter saw is a great combination if you’re needing it for the future as well. The Rotorazer has a 3 quick change razor sharp blade and comes with it’s own dust extraction system. We would recommend this to anyone and give it 5 stars. Here’s the fancy video of the Rotorazer Saw.
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