The Best Circular Saw in 2024 – A Comparison Review Guide For Beginners
Don't Have Time To Read The Full Circular Saw Reviews? Here Is Our Top Choice
If you are considering to buy the best circular saw yourselves, we'd advice you not to hesitate and and get the Dewalt DCS 391B .
It is an all rounded power tool with a low scale RPM. Dewalt is our preferred circular saw for a long range of in-house & on-site tasks with it's 6.5 Inches carbide tipped blade with 16 toothed tips and a swapable battery and long term compatibility with other company accessories. It will be up to the task for most cutting jobs you throw its way.
Buying a circular saw for the first time is a lot like having sex; you are excited to make the first cut, but yet at the same time, there’s an uncertain situation. I apologize in advance if the subject of circular saws and adrenaline rush puts you in an uncomfortable position, but do-it-yourselfers know this better. Especially professionals… They have a no-holds barred attitude about woodworking.
These guys settle for none other than the best saws in the market. If you are an expert saw owner, and you are reading this review, this post is not for you. It is not for a lack of words because the more we go into details, the more we get to learn all kinds of interesting things about these bad boys.
However, the article portrays a mini comparison saw review of multiple top rated corded and cordless circular saws in an attempt to help newbies and intermediate level workers choose the best circular saw for the money. I wanted to play a vital role in helping our readers decide upon their very first model of a skil saw so I hope this circular saw review will do that for you..
Quick Comparison
Model | RPM | Weight | Voltage | Warranty | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DeWalt DCS391B | 5250 RPM | 7 lbs. | 20 V | 3 years |  |
SKIL 5280-01 | 5300 RPM | 8.7 lbs. | 120 V | 3 years | |
Ryobi P506 One+ | 4700 RPM | 5 lbs. | 18 V | 3 years | |
4000 RPM | 7.75 lbs. | 20 V | 3 years | | |
Makita XSS02Z | 3700 RPM | 7.3 lbs. | 18 V | 1 year | |
Bosch CSW41 | 5300 RPM | 12.3 lbs. | 120 V | 1 year | |
Black & Decker BDECS300C | 5300 RPM | 7 lbs. | AC 110-120 V | 2 years | |
Milwaukee 2630-20 | 5000 RPM | 6.8 lbs. | 18 V | 5 years | |
Our Top 6 Best Circular Saws for 2024
Best Overal
Why?
It is an all rounded power tool with a low scale RPM. Dewalt didn’t focus on speed only. Instead, the company tried to amalgamate precision and speed to help achieve the desired results. A lot of saws that I find out there are usually focused on XXX amount of blade RPM. Yeah, it’s cool, but can the saw actually cut anything other than thin sheets of plywood?
RPM won’t matter, if the blade’s not getting enough battery juice – so on and so forth. The Dewalt DCS 391B is not the perfect or the ultimate circular saw for that matter. Professionals are bound to run into other high priced models from the same company, but given a lot of circumstances in the wood working industry, this saw is an ideal match for you.
Source:Dewalt
Features:
This saw offers a variety of features, such as but not limited to the following.
We will get into more details as we move along in this review. For now, you should know that Dewalt is our preferred circular saw for a long range of in-house & on-site tasks. By the way, the Milwaukee Bare Tool circular saw had a few close run-ins with Dewalt. If you want to buy a Milwaukee power saw instead of this one, I wouldn’t hold it against you.
Let’s start from all of the top 7 contenders and see how they pile up against one another in this power saw review. We’ll go through Dewalt DCS391B as well.
Source:SKIL
SKIL is a household name among circular saw loyalists who have known the company for several years now. I have repeatedly mentioned this fact in my review series that this company is owned by Bosch. SKIL produces high quality products with just as much dependability as you’d dote on Bosch.
However, there is one major flaw in play. Both Bosch and SKIL release their own versions of circular saws. I get it that the companies wanted to reach a diversified range of audience, but while doing so, they forget to either include key features such as a dust blower,led lights and a spindle lock, or end up blowing investment on power tools that could have been made in a better way.
If SKIL and Bosch go hand-in-hand behind the scenes, we certainly don’t see the similarity in their respective brand of circular saws – or other power tools for that matter. Also, when SKIL releases something, it deliberately misses a few features that are introduced in the upcoming model of Bosch circular saw series. Same concept applies to Bosch too.
Therefore, when you are considering buying a SKIL circular saw or Bosch’s products, do get your priorities straight. If you know what you want, you will end up with a genuinely interesting circular saw. As far as the SKIL 5280-01 model is concerned, this one upsells for a number of reasons. I like to think that the Laser Guide is one of them because it projects a straight-line beam across the entire length of the cut-material.
Finally, we can make straight cuts! Yaayyyy
SKIL Pros & Cons
- CON
Best Budget
Ryobi is a regular chip off the old block for DIY enthusiasts who are not looking for extremely expensive cutting machinery. This circular saw boasts of a cordless design, but yet there are a few setbacks that affect the overall ranking factor.
Source:Ryobi
One of the plus points of buying a Ryobi circular saw is that they are relatively dependable to some extent. Small to medium scale projects which involve creating book shelves, basic furniture and other upholstery is going to yield satisfactory results. However, this budget saw is a low priority model on a professional’s radar. Take a look at some of the main pros and cons of the Ryobi One+ Lithium Ion 18V 5 1-2 Inch 4,700 RPM circular saw.
RYOBI Pros & Cons
- CON
Best Compact
Source:Porter Cable
I wish I could say, “move along” because the PCC660B is not a very good circular saw model to mention in this review, but let’s just take a look at what it has to offer. According to the designers, though they don’t like to admit it, the saw is for entry level wood workers.
However, some of the key features such as a dust blower and led lights are missing entirely. You get an extremely compact circular saw design, which made us doubt the power tool’s durability. If Porter Cable circular saw held a competition with the world’s tiniest violin, I would bet Porter Cable would win easily. I get it that they were trying to introduce a small compact look, but it also means that this compact saw can’t be used on medium to aggressive range projects cause of the build quality.
Porter Cable Pros & Cons
- CON
If I had to choose between Makita and Dewalt, I’d have a tough time. We had the same issue choosing between these 2 brands when we had to decide on the best cordless drill also The Makita XSS02Z circular saw is just as good as Dewalt, except for a few exceptions. However, this particular model is a legend in its own league and therefore can't be left out of this saw review. Eventually, it is a matter of preference because some guys prefer Makita over other brands.
Makita XSS02Z 18V has the blade on the right side. Since the majority of the people like their blades on the left side, as they are right handed, Makita may not be a first priority on their list. Add a staggering 11 Lbs. weight, and this saw may pose a hindrance against those who like lightweight products.
The idea of going cordless is to get rid of power cords, and the extra baggage. Makita could have shaved off a pound or two by using lighter material, but unfortunately, they couldn’t do it. The XSS02Z 18V model demonstrates craftsmanship and satisfaction on a general scale. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of this power tool.
Source:Makita
Makita Pros & Cons
- CON
Best Worm Drive Saw
Source:Bosch
The biggest, most bad ass and meanest circular saw in this entire lineup is the Bosch CSW41 7 ½ inch worm drive saw. If you heard about “business in the front, and party in the back” analogy, it fits perfectly on this model. How so? To start off, this is a worm drive saw. They are resources hungry, which means you can’t go cordless with these bad boys.
Secondly, worm drive saws were the earliest saws in the industry. They are heavy and are by far the most expensive saws which professionals and DIY use on a variety of projects. People who want quick results with unparalleled cutting depth capacity rely on these saws. It also means that the Bosch CSW41 is heavy; it requires both hands to operate, and there is a ball bearing mechanism in it that needs its own maintenance.
Bosch Pros & Cons
- CON
Spick n’ span, Black & Decker is a homemade brand for nannies, proud moms and hearty construction fellas in the industry. The company literally caters to the needs of millions of admirers all over the world. That being said, there is an exception to the popularity of their products; they are not very durable from long term perspective.
Now I am not just talking about the Black & Decker BDECS300C 13 Amp Circular Saw, take their other products. Hold them up and feel them in your hands. You will realize that the company uses cheap materials to maintain a low price factor. I am okay with creaky coffee makers as long as they are doing their job, but I cannot depend on a squeaky circular saw for that matter.
Source:Black & Decker
Also, a dead power tool is a not a good power tool. You cannot move an inch on a plywood sheet if the saw dies on you. Not to mention the fact that low quality power tools are a serious hazard to the human health factor, we are looking at a bit of a gamble here. The B & D BDECS300C 13 Amp Circular Saw is perhaps liked due to the laser beam projector.
The laser beam not only runs the entire length of a plank, but I witnessed the far end of the beam thinning into the other corner of the room. Talk about making a straight cut line with this circular saw over any distance, and you got it. Take a look at some of the positives and negatives of this circular saw below:
Black and Decker Pros & Cons
- CON
Source:Milwaukee
If it had not been for the “bare tool” part, I’d have listed the Milwaukee 2630-20 somewhere at the top of this circular saw review. Whether it is a brand new purchase or a refurbished knock off at a shady online retailer website, one thing that frizzles the hopes of many woodcutters is that the company did not include any blade with this model.
However, Milwaukee D18 saw catches the attention of many who wish to enjoy the privilege of cutting over 59 plywood panels from the convenience of a backyard. The saw maintains a steady price at $100 and offers standard core features to the user base. Plus, there is a trigger release and electric brake combo safety mechanism which wins over the hearts of many intermediate to expert level saw owners in the market.
Milwaukee Pros & Cons
- CON
Best Cordless Saw
And so it comes down to where we all started. The one and only Dewalt DCS391B 20-Volt circular saw. I personally tested all of these saws through a series of cross cuts. The dimensions were kept the same – i.e. 2x 12 pressure treated panels. As compared to the rest of the aforementioned circular saws in this review, the Dewalt DCS391B 20-Volt ran effortlessly through 5 successive cross cuts with speed and precision.
On the other hand, Porter-Cable slowed down, Bosch overheated after 20 minutes and there were some other factors too that led me to believe that Dewalt DCS391B is a better circular saw than the rest and that's why I think it's the best saw available today. The minimum time for all 5 cuts for Dewalt was 20 seconds, while the other models varied over time range. This also demonstrates the saw’s cutting capacity of keeping a uniform speed, without deviating off course. If you like Dewalt products as much as we do you might want to read our jigsaw review which holds another great product by Dewalt.
Source:Dewalt
Dewalt Pros & Cons
- CON
Circular Saw Reviews Conclusion
There are literally tens of thousands of circular saws available online and in real life marketplace. Likewise, it is not necessary for a specific saw from a particular brand to work the same way as it did with a certain category of cut material. Things change; the slight increase in humidity can cause the planks to swell, which can lead to unexpected results.
However, if you were to test all these circular saws and the ones that you can find at your job site, you will realize that some models are not worth buying. The concept of “ultimate” power saws narrows down to a few handpicked models in the long run. We tried our best to shed light on some of the most popular industry brands such as Dewalt & Makita in our review whom produce the best circular saws. In the end, whichever model you decide to go for, know this that you need to do prior research to make an informed decision.
A circular saw is more of a one-time purchase. Eventually we all look forward to making a clean first cut. What’s the point of investing a huge wad of cash on something that leads to a bad tear out? That is exactly why professionals spend a lot of time in choosing the “right” power saw by reading circular saw reviews like this one. I wish you good luck, and don’t forget to share your experiences through the comments section below and if still in doubt make sure to read our complete circular saw buying guide.
