Best Cordless Circular Saw - Top 9 Rankings & Application-wise Picks
Updated: 17-September-2023
Are you searching for the best cordless circular saw for your DIY and home improvement projects? Or maybe you are a contractor looking to replace your corded model with a cordless one for convenience and portability. With so many competing brands and models available in the market, choosing the best circular saw for your particular requirement is not an easy decision.
In order to solve your problem, we have conducted an in-depth market survey to give you our recommendations on the best cordless circular saw for woodworking for your particular requirement that is either occasional to medium use by home owners, beginners and DIY enthusiasts or frequent and professional use by contractors, carpenters and other professionals.
Ranking the 9 Best Cordless Circular Saws
We give our top 9 recommendations for the best cordless circular saws based on their performance, ergonomics, safety features and product support. We have also highlighted the application-specific suitability of each of the models we've compared.
1
DEWALT DCS570 20V Max
Best Cordless 7-1/4" Circular Saw | Best Cordless Circular Saw for Framing
Our Rating: 9.7 / 10
The 7-1/4" cutting blade this Dewalt cordless circular saw is featuring is the standard characteristic of corded circular saws. Driven by a brushless motor for efficiency and reduced maintenance, it drives the blade to an aggressive 5,500 RPM and also features an electronic brake to bring it to an immediate stop as soon as you release the trigger.
This saw is a perfect fit for majority of jobs needed from a circular saw. From cutting pressure treated wood to laminate flooring in your home project as a DIY homeowner to cutting plywood, 2x4's and treated 4x4's by a seasoned carpenter, this tool gets the job done. It will be your cordless companion for cutting 2x6's ends off and small cordwood.
It will be the only saw you’d need for framing your entire basement and garage. In your deck framing project, it will cut through pressure treated 2x6’s and 2x6-10’s of rough cut hemlock without any complaint.
Pros
Compromises
2
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Series 2730-20
6-1/2" | Good for Framing | Good for Professional Use
Our Rating: 9.5 / 10
Is Milwaukee better than Dewalt? That is not a simple question. This Milwaukee Fuel Series cordless circular saw is a very close runner up to Dewalt DCS570.
Milwaukee’s POWERSTATE brushless motor drives its 6-1/2” left sided blade at an amazing 5,000 RPM that gives it cutting performance comparable to a corded saw for your construction site or woodworking workshop.
Adjustable cutting depth up to 2-3/16” and bevel capacity of 50 degrees gives you a lot of flexibility in cutting. It also has Milwaukee’s trademark REDLINK PLUS Intelligence system to protect the tool from overload, overheating and over-discharge.
To give a few random examples to explain its utility, use it for cutting through 2/4", thick paneling, ripping plywood, cutting hardwood boards or even blind cutting into 2x4, 2x6 and 4x4 pressure treated wood (just don't go too fast). It will be your cordless companion in your tool shed or greenhouse roofing project.
It may not be the best choice for ripping through 20 ft. 2x8's repeatedly but this saw will take care of 90% of the cuts needed in construction work on a daily basis. It will handle light to medium framing jobs.
Pros
Compromises
3
Bosch CCS180B 18V
6-1/2" | Great Precision | Great Power to Weight Ratio
Our Rating: 8.9 / 10
The Bosch cordless circular saw CCS180B has a 6-1/2” left sided blade powered by a conventional brushed motor to 3,900 RPM. With an adjustable cutting depth of up to 2 inches, it has enough torque for easy cross cutting and rip cutting through lumber and plywood sheets.
It is also good at bevel cuts with a bevel capacity of 50 deg. and 1-9/16” cutting depth at 45 deg. bevel. Weighing at only 6.6lbs, it is compact with a high power to weight ratio.
Aluminum upper blade guard provides solid protection to the operator, however, it would’ve been better if lower guard was also metallic instead of plastic.
To give an idea of its utility, the saw will work great from contracting work to maybe tenant repairs. It will come handy in cutting the edge off of a 1-3/4" door, replacing rotten deck boards and fence boards, replacing doors, building 8-foot section of fence, ripping an 8 ft. 2x6, ripping 2" stock or some rough stock breakdown in the shop for convenient storage.
It will be your companion in shed and storage container work also. It will perform rip cuts on 8 ft. 5/4" decking as well as 6/4" walnut and maple. Or maybe you want to cut lumber to make it fit in your truck after a purchase. This tool will get the job done for you.
Bosch backs its saw with a 1 year warranty against defects.
Pros
Compromises
4
Milwaukee M18 2630-20
6-1/2" | Good for DIY
Our Rating: 8.7 / 10
Milwaukee appears a second time in our list with its M18 cordless circular saw 2630-20 that does not feature a brushless motor like its Fuel series, however, runs its 6-1/2” left sided blade at 3,500 RPM with an adjustable depth of cut up to 2-1/8” and bevel capacity of 50 degrees.
From cutting through 2x4's with ease to ripping 3/4" BC pine plywood, this tool will not give up on you. It will be your useful companion in tearing down a barn, completing a flooring project or installing butcher block countertops.
you wouldn't need another cutting tool for building that 6x7 ft. closet in your new room if you have this saw.
Pros
Compromises
5
Makita XSS02Z 18V LXT
6-1/2" | Best Cordless Circular Saw for Home Use
Our Rating: 8.6 / 10
Is Dewalt or Makita better? When it comes to the best cordless circular saw for home use, we found Makita XSS02Z to be better than Dewalt. With a 6-1/2” blade powered by a conventional brushed motor up to a speed of 3,700 RPM, it will handle trims, finishes and occasional ripping of 2x4s easily and is therefore the best cordless circular saw for home use, beginners and DIYers.
It has a metallic upper blade guard that provides solid protection to the operator, however, it would’ve been better if lower guard was also metallic instead of plastic.
To give a few examples of its use, this saw will do cut and trim work from 1/4" - 3/4" treated plywood, OSB plywood, vinyl slidings and soffits to 2x3 - 2x6 lumber without slowing. This would be the only circular saw you'd need to build let's say a 200 sq. ft. shed.
Pros
Compromises
Tidbit
We just used the term OSB Plywood above. OSB stands for "Oriented Strand Board". It is an engineered wood panel made from waterproof adhesives and wood strands layered together. It is preferred in construction for its good strength and water resistance.
6
Porter-Cable PBB660B 20V Max
6-1/2" | Under $100 | Best Cordless Circular Saw for Beginners
Our Rating: 8.5 / 10
Tying with Ryobi P505, PORTER-CABLE PCC660B cordless circular saw features a 6-1/2” left sided cutting blade powered by a conventional brushed motor to a speed of 4,000 RPM.
From cutting 2x4's and wood panels to repairing a deck and building wooden furniture, this saw will take care of majority of the around the house and DIY jobs you throw at it.
Use it for 4x8 sheet cutting, framing lumber and 4x4 posts and it wouldn't disappoint you.
Pros
Compromises
7
Ryobi One P505 18V
5-1/2" | Under $100 | Best Small Cordless Circular Saw | Good for Beginners
Our Rating: 8.5 / 10
Are Ryobi circular saws any good? Yes they are! The Ryobi P505 features a brushless motor powering a 5-1/2” left sided blade to an amazing 4,700 RPM with a weight of only 4.7lbs making it the lightest circular saw in our review. However, its reduced weight does not reduce its ability to take care of your home repair, DIY and home improvement projects. Its adjustable depth of cut allows deepest cut of 1-9/16” and takes care of more than just trims and finishing.
It will cut through 2x6's, 2x8's and 2x10's efficiently. From your LVP flooring project to installation of butcher block kitchen countertop, this small saw will be your handy companion.
Ryobi offers 3 year warranty against defects given that the tool is utilized for ‘personal, family or household use’. Its warranty reduces to 30 days for ‘commercial or rental’ use.
Pros
Compromises
Tidbit
We just used the term LVP Flooring above. LVP stands for "Luxury Vinyl Plank". It refers to planks made of multiple layers of wood, PVC and other materials. It has a characteristic wooden-stone finish look and is preferred for its aesthetics and visual appeal.
8
SKIL CR540601 20V
6-1/2" | Under $100 | Lightweight
Our Rating: 8.4 / 10
SKIL CR540601 cordless circular saw has a 6-1/2” left sided blade powered by a brushed motor up to an impressive 4,500 RPM that falls towards higher end in the competition. Its adjustable cutting depth of 2-1/8” and bevel capacity of 50 degrees allow you to remain flexible in your cutting operations.
Although it weighs around 5-6lbs that is quite light in the competition, its cutting power and performance is not compromised. At the time of this review, it costs less than 100 bucks that makes it a highly cost effective choice for cutting and ripping through 2x4s and plywood sheets as a replacement of corded saws.
SKIL backs this product with a 3 year warranty against defects and poor workmanship issues (without registration) and 5 years warranty (with registration). Then SKIL does what we feel was unnecessary! It says if the tool is in professional or commercial use, it is warranted against defects for only 90 days. This is one of the main reasons for not giving a higher rating to this tool despite it being comparable to competitors in cutting power and performance.
Pros
Compromises
9
Black+Decker BDCCS20B 20V Max
5-1/2" | Under $50 | Best for Roofing | Best for Cutting Tree Branches
Our Rating: 7.6 / 10
Black+Decker BDCCS20B cordless circular saw comes with a 5-1/2” left sided blade powered by a conventional brushed motor up to a speed of 3,700 RPM. Its adjustable cutting depth goes to 1-5/8” that is not enough for cross cutting and ripping through 2x4s, however, gets the job done for trimming and finishing wood works.
From cutting the ordinary 2x4's, 2x6's and plywood to cutting white oak and Trex composite decking, this tool will take care of a wide variety of jobs as long as you are not using it for precision cutting and heavy-duty contracting jobs. It is great at cutting tree branches too.
From repairing your storm damaged roof to cutting 4x8 sheathing for your new roof, it is a great choice for roofing jobs as well. Its small size and weight also make it convenient to carry it to the roof and get going with the work.
Black+Decker gives a 2 year warranty for use in ‘Home Environment’ only. At the time of this review, this tool costs less than 50 bucks that makes it the cheapest on our list.
Pros
Compromises
A Peek into the Science of Circular Saw Kickback: What Causes it & How to Avoid it?
A Layman Explanation of What Causes Kickback in Circular Saws
Kickback is the kicking back of the circular saw during making a cut. Let us give an intuitive explanation of kickbacks and also explain some important measures to prevent kickback.
Wood resists cutting. If you don’t secure the wood and make a rotating saw blade touch it, the wood will fly off instead of being cut. Please don’t try it. If you’re curious, see the illustration below.
(Video Credit: YouTube Channel “NSM Construction”)
Saw is able to cut the wood because the wood is secured and it has nowhere to go. When you are pushing the circular saw through the stock, you can feel the resistance. Circular saw blades are sharp, so they pierce through wood with the help of the force provided by the electric motor.
Kickbacks occur when this piercing force does not remain strong enough to cut the wood, however, the motor keeps trying. When it keeps trying, something has got to move because the motor just wouldn’t stall.
Ultimately, when the saw can’t pierce the wood but the motor keeps applying torque, either the wood is pushed away or the saw kicks back because the motor will not stop applying force until it rotates the blade.
Since the job being cut is secured firmly, the saw will kickback and hit the user. In table saws, the blade is secured in place so the stock is set flying. Don’t try that either, just watch the illustration below.
(Video Credit: YouTube Channel “Tom Hansen”)
Simply put, in a condition of a lockout between the blade and the wood, the one that is not secured will be set flying. In table saws, the wood is set flying because the blade is firmly secured. In circular saws, the saw is set flying because the wood is firmly secured. This is the simplest layman explanation of kickback.
Preventing Kickback in Circular Saws
You need to avoid all those actions that would cause a diminishing of the piercing force we referred above because it would cause a lockout which in turn would cause a kickback.
Now let us see some common things that would diminish the piercing force and cause a lockout.
- Never deviate from the cutting line. If you do, don't try to get it back on the line during the cutting operation i.e., without stopping the saw.
- Don’t let the blade overheat. Overheating can causing warping of the blade which in turn can cause kickback. Take break in between long cuts.
- Adjust the cutting depth just enough for one teeth to peek beyond the opposite surface of stock.
- Don’t try to go too fast. If the wood is resisting the cut, don’t try to force it forward. Take it slow and steady.
- Secure the job. Anything loose can fly off.
Needless to mention to always wear safety goggles and keep the guard of circular saws and other protections intact. Kickback can cause fatal injuries and it is better to be safe than sorry.
Buyer's Guide Questions
Is it worth getting a cordless circular saw?
Short answer, Yes. The convenience you get by having no cords and cables is a convenience whose benefit is often not realized until you experience it.
Just imagine you don’t need any extension cord in your roofing project. You don’t need to carry generator to the construction site anymore. You don’t have to remain close to the power outlet in your workshop. You don’t need to set the cord right before making a crosscut. With a cordless circular saw, life becomes so much easier.
It is true that cordless circular saws are not as powerful as the most powerful corded saws, however, 90% of the users are not maxing out their corded saw 90% of the time. So, most of the times, you are keeping that power in case you need (which seldom comes) but you sacrifice the portability and ease of use that you could get with a cordless saw.
For homeowners and DIYers, the right cordless circular saw will get almost all jobs done. For contractors like carpenters and construction workers, the right cordless circular saw will get majority of the jobs done if not all. Therefore, it is definitely worth getting a cordless circular saw.
How long do cordless circular saws last?
The life of a cordless circular saw, like any power tool, depends on its usage and care. Good quality cordless circular saws will last at least 3-5 years. Dewalt gives 3-years warranty and Milwaukee gives 5-years warranty for its cordless circular saw.
It shows they are confident their cordless circular saws will normally last this long otherwise do you think they would risk money on a losing bet?
3-5 years is the minimum life you’d get from your cordless circular saws under normal usage. If you take very good care of it or it is used occasionally, it can last +10 years.
Do cordless circular saws have enough power?
To give a few practical examples, cordless circular saws have enough power to cut:
- Pressure treated lumber wood (like 2x4, 2x6, 2x10, 4x4 posts etc.)
- 3/4" Treated Plywood
- 6/4" Walnut and Maple wood
- Vinyl Slidings
- Butcher Block Countertops
- Small cordwood
- Rough stock
- Rough cut hemlock
Cordless circular saws can substitute conventional corded circular saws in almost all DIY and home applications. In professional contracting and carpentry applications, cordless circular saws can substitute corded circular saws in majority of applications.
What is the best cordless circular saw on the market?
There are a lot of good brands and models available in the market and you cannot pronounce a single winner without specifying the type of use for which you are searching for the best cordless circular saw.
1. If you are a complete beginner and intend to buy a cheap saw for light occasional use, we would recommend BLACK+DECKER Cordless Circular Saw BDCCS20B.
2. If you are a home owner or DIY enthusiast looking to buy a saw for home improvement and repair projects during the weekend, we would recommend Makita Cordless Circular Saw XSS02Z.
3. If you are a contractor, carpenter or professional looking for a cordless circular saw to rip through lumber and plywood all day, we would recommend DEWALT Cordless Circular Saw DCS570B.
Can a 7-1/4" circular saw cut a 4x4?
Yes it can but it will require more than one pass because the maximum cutting depth a 7-1/4" blade can offer would be a little over 2" that is not enough to cut a 4x4 in a single pass. To cut a 4x4,
Step-1: Simply mark all four sides of the lumber with a speed square.
Step-2: Use your cordless circular saw to cut the first side (that is on top).
Step-3: Rotate the lumber 90 degrees and cut through the line drawn over the new top side. Repeat it one more time and it will cut the lumber.
(Video Credit: YouTube Channel 'Family Handyman')