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10 Best Cordless Circular Saws in 2023 – Top Picks & Reviews
Pete Ortiz
Last updated:
You may be ready to cut an oak 2×4 clamped down to sawhorses at the end of your driveway. You approach with your corded circular saw, ready to start cutting for the greatest woodworking project of your life.
Suddenly, disaster strikes and the cord pops out of the outlet. Strangers laugh at you as your blade sputters to a halt. If only you’d had a cordless saw! All joking aside, cordless circular saws are incredibly convenient. There’s nothing better than a tool you can use anywhere. If you’ve never owned one, our reviews are the perfect place to start. We’ve ranked 10 of our favorite cordless circular saws to help you decide which is best for your needs.
A product like the DCS391B circular saw is a great illustration of why we’re so regularly inclined to trust DeWalt. With a 5,150 RPM motor, a lightweight body, an exceptionally comfortable grip, and the power to make bevel cuts up to 50 degrees, this saw is a no-brainer for first place.
With this saw in your toolbox, you’ll have no trouble making clean rips and crosscuts; we tested it on 2x4s and plywood and were amazed at how easy it was to hold a straight line. It cuts deep and is great at taking punishment: like most DeWalt products, this saw can stand up to heavy use for a long time.
Our main complaint isn’t about the saw but the price. It seems like a budget-friendly value tool, but that’s only the corded version: the battery just about doubles the cost. However, we still believe the DCS391B is the year’s best overall cordless circular saw.
If you can’t get your hands on a DeWalt DCS391B, the Makita XSS02Z is our runner-up choice. It shares the DeWalt’s 50-degree bevel range and 6½-inch depth, losing out only because its motor is slightly less powerful at 3,700 RPM.
The XSS02Z is a high-quality circular saw that checks many of our boxes. It has an ergonomic handle and a reliable guide. It’s lightweight at only 7.3 pounds, making it more portable and user-friendly and improving your chances of making straight, professional-looking cuts. The battery lasts for a ridiculously long time.
However, the torque deficiency is pretty striking. Unlike the DeWalt at #1, the XSS02Z practically requires you to change out a blade with a higher tooth count to avoid bogging down. It cuts a little slower and dulls blades a little faster, keeping it in second place.
Pros
Lightweight
Makes deep cuts and bevels
User-friendly blade guide
Long battery life
Cons
Less powerful motor
Cuts more slowly
Much worse when blade has a lower tooth count
3. BLACK+DECKER BDCCS20C Cordless Circular Saw – Best Value
In addition to our favorite overall, we also wanted to decide on the best cordless circular saw for the money. The decision to put the Black + Decker BDCCS20C in that spot was unanimous. At a rock-bottom price, you get a saw, a 20V battery, a charger, and a carbide-tipped blade.
The saw has many features, including tool-free depth adjustment and a 45-degree bevel adjustment, that distinguish it beyond its low price. Our favorite touch was the handle you can use to retract the blade cover from a safe position behind the blade, which should reduce the chance of accidents.
Sadly, there are a few places where BDCCS20C does feel like an economy-priced tool. The baseplate is sticky, especially in hot weather, which can foul cuts if you’re not careful. The blade wears out very quickly despite being carbide-lined. Finally, the motor is not very powerful, which makes it struggle to make crosscuts.
On paper, the Porter-Cable PCC660B is a decently powerful cordless saw with a 6½-inch depth and a 50-degree bevel range. If you’re having flashbacks to the Makita at #2, you’re not alone, but a few things set the Porter-Cable model apart.
On the good side, it’s cheaper, almost a whole pound lighter, and its motor can reach 4,000 RPM. We also really like the battery life. On the bad side, its factory-installed blade is even flimsier than the usual standard. The blade guide is also not calibrated nearly as well as the Makita saw’s, and Porter-Cable has some general issues with quality control, meaning you’re never quite sure if you’re getting the best they have to offer.
The first thing you’ll notice about the Ryobi P506 is that it’s one of the lightest power tools you’ve ever held. Combined with its well-designed rubber grip, the P506’s weight makes it the best circular saw on our list for carpenters with mobility issues. It’s a joy to hold.
Don’t let the weight fool you into thinking this is a beginner’s tool. The motor is capable of 4,700 RPM, making it one of the more powerful cordless options on the market. With a 5½-inch blade and 1½ inches of depth adjustability, the P506 chewed through a good range of treated lumber in our tests.
We placed it at #5 (which we want to caution is still an excellent rating) because of a few aggravating design flaws. The moving blade guard gets choked with sawdust easily, making it hard to close. The laser sight cannot be turned off, and it’s bright enough to cover up your pencil marks. Finally, the way the arbor is constructed leads the blade to heat up rapidly, meaning you’ll need to oil it a lot to keep it from burning up.
The Milwaukee 2630-20 comes with a mediocre set of specs. An 18-volt battery powers a 3,500-RPM motor, and the blade is reinforced with magnesium. Its 6½-inch blade can be adjusted up to 1½ inches or 45 degrees for bevel cuts. The factory blade is carbide-tipped and has 24 teeth, making it good for ripping.
There’s not much to set it apart from the other saws on our list, but the more we used the 2630-20, the more we became impressed with a few things. The magnesium-reinforced body is excellent if you’re the sort of woodworker who drops things a lot (we know the feeling), and the blade stops quickly once you’re done cutting, thanks to its electronic brake.
Although the blade guard is built like a tank, we can’t say the same about the thin, flimsy foot. Blade adjustment is possible, but it requires you to force the blade so hard that it feels close to breaking. The worst problem is that this saw has a tough time staying straight, wandering on softwood, and bogging down on hardwood.
This saw from SKIL spools up to a respectable 4,500 RPM to cut ordinary lumber quickly. Despite the decent speed, the motor isn’t very strong and will bog down if you cut through 2-inch-thick wood quickly. The platform tilts, allowing for a beveled cut up to 50 degrees.
Cordless saws are meant to be ultimately portable, but at 7 pounds, this one can start to wear you out after making a series of cuts. Especially since you need to push slower due to the less-than-stellar power of the motor. The final nail in the coffin for the SKIL saw is the dismal battery life. If you plan on working all day, you’ll need to stock up on several batteries and keep them fully charged because you will be going through them.
The TACKLIFE cordless saw is small and light enough to use one-handed, with 6 blades included. The 24-tooth and 60-tooth blades are for cutting wood, plastic, and soft metals, while the diamond-tipped abrasive blades are best for cutting tile.
You’ll like the flexibility provided by the interchangeable blades and the optional second handle. But the fact is that a saw with a maximum cutting depth of less than 2 inches has limited utility. It’s also baffling that this “compact” saw weighs 8 pounds, which is the same as some saws that are more than twice its size.
It’s hard to miss how tiny the blade on this WORX cordless circular saw is. At 3⅜ inches, it’s the smallest one on this list. This makes it difficult to find the blades you want, especially if you want a specialty blade. Although you’ll have less blade selection, the tiny blade is effective, and the saw only weighs 4.5 pounds. However, you won’t use this to cut any real lumber since its max cut depth is 1.062 inches.
Overall, The WORX is a very usable saw, except for a pretty glaring safety hazard. The safety latch is right next to the blade, and we could see how someone may accidentally get their finger cut while trying to unlock the blade. This terrible oversight keeps this otherwise very usable saw in 9th place.
After reading our review of the WORX plywood cutter at #9, you might be wondering how one of our “favorite” cordless circular saws could be worse than that. It’s simple: nothing makes a cordless saw less useful than a price so high no hobbyist can afford it.
The cordless version of the Hilti 3482502 is an excellent saw. It has a 6½-inch blade that’s good at ripping or crosscutting 2-inch planks. It comes with two batteries, a charger, and a carrying case.
There’s nothing in there to justify the sky-high price. Even a professional might balk at this if they’re still in the early stages of business. For that reason alone, we’ve put the Hilti 3482502 at the bottom of our list.
Pros
Good motor and features
Comes with carrying case
Cons
Incredibly expensive
For professionals only
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Cordless Circular Saw
Before purchasing a cordless circular saw, consider the pros and cons of cordless and corded models. Neither is inherently better, but corded or cordless saws can be superior for certain people, jobs, or sites. Here’s a quick rundown on the corded versus cordless choice.
Power
Lithium-ion battery technology has come a long way, but battery backs still can’t compete with plugged-in power. Cordless saws are best for smaller projects or jobs around the house. They excel at cutting plywood and softer boards. If that sounds like what you need, cordless saws will change your life, but if you’re working with harder woods or greater quantities, corded is the better choice.
Size
Cordless saws have smaller blades, which limits their cut depth. Bigger blades require more robust power sources to work efficiently, so they’re most often going to be corded. If you anticipate having to make a lot of deep cuts, think twice about buying a cordless circular saw.
Blade Choice
The blade you choose is just as important as the saw you go with. Most circular saws make it so easy to swap out the blade. Conveniently, many blade manufacturers write the relevant information about the blade’s size and purpose right on it. Here’s a general guide to the different choices:
Blades for wood come with clearly defined teeth, from over 100 small ones down to 24 large ones. A few large teeth are best for bigger, rougher cuts, while many smaller teeth make it easier to be smooth and precise. Having more teeth generally makes a blade better at crosscuts, while having fewer makes it best at rip cuts. Wood blades are also suitable for cutting through plastic if you take it slow.
Blades for stone, concrete, and other masonry are called “abrasion blades.” They have no teeth but cut the workpiece with an abrasive material that’s a lot like sandpaper. Coarser abrasion blades can saw through concrete and brick, while finer blades are good for cutting tile.
Blades for cutting metal are also toothless but have channels built-in for dissipating heat.
Other Considerations
Once you have the right blade, there are a few other points to consider.
Blade material. Most blades are made of steel. Some are carbide-tipped, which makes them last longer but cost more. The most durable and expensive blades are tipped with industrial diamonds.
Kerf. This refers to the width of the cut. Blades with a thin kerf cut through less material at a time, meaning moving the blade through the wood takes less power. This makes thin-kerf blades ideal for cordless circular saws, which have a low horsepower on average. A thinner kerf means less chance of bogging down mid-cut.
Size. You can save money on circular blades by getting a miter saw and table saw that accept the same size blades as your cordless circular saw.
Ease of switching blades. If you plan to cut multiple materials with several blades, look for a circular saw that makes it easy to switch the blades out. Newer saws have blade-release switches, but you might have to loosen the bolts on older ones. Some saws come with an attached wrench to make this easier.
Battery Life
With a cordless saw, you can only work for as long as your battery lasts. While some batteries are stronger than others, factors other than power capacity influence how long you can use your saw.
If you’re working continuously, the battery will die faster than if you take breaks.
You can use the saw for longer if you charge the battery completely.
Rechargeable batteries have an expiration date. However, good habits prolong their lives. Recharge your saw’s battery regularly, and never leave it in the charger for too long after it’s finished.
Replace the battery every 2–3 years.
Usability
When buying a cordless circular saw, pay attention to how it feels. Is it easy to grip? How heavy is it, especially if you need to use it above your head or in a tight spot?
While shopping, you might not notice the comfort of the grip or whether it’s hard to reach the safety and the trigger with one hand. We guarantee you will notice those things after a weekend of crosscutting.
Safety
Don’t buy any circular saw that doesn’t have these two safety features.
Blade guard. A circular saw has two blade guards: the fixed blade guard where the handles are mounted, and the moveable blade guard that covers the blade whenever it is not in use.
Trigger safety. This is a button you have to depress before you can start the saw blade moving. Ideally, it should be easy to reach with the same hand you use to squeeze the trigger.
Also, while this isn’t part of the saw, make sure you wear safety equipment no matter how small the job. Always wear goggles, ear protection, and gloves when using a power saw.
Price
Corded and cordless saws have similar price ranges, so it comes down to your needs and preferences. Some cordless saws are bundled with batteries, but they’re expensive. Batteries perform best when working with products from the same brand.
Storage
No one has yet invented a cord that is a joy to deal with. Cords are a hassle, and throwing all the battery packs into a bin is a much easier way to end your day than managing all the cords.
Flexibility and Brand Loyalty
All the major tool manufacturers offer an array of battery packs that fit their cordless tools. If you stick with one brand, you can build an arsenal of tools that all use the same batteries, saving you money and hassle in the long run. But interchangeable battery packs don’t help you if you have five different brands in your shop.
Conclusion
The DeWalt DCS391B is our favorite cordless circular saw. It delivers powerful cutting performance, is easy to maneuver, and can saw all day long with the right battery. It is a solid choice for the DIYer and the professional.
Coming in as the best cordless circular saw for the money is the Black + Decker BDCCS20C. It comes with a saw, a battery, and a charger, and it’s ideal for any woodworking enthusiast. In this day and age, you don’t have to sacrifice performance to get a cordless tool. Batteries have come a long way and offer versatility and flexibility you cannot get when attached to a power cord.
When you’re ready to add a cordless circular saw to your stash of tools, you can be confident that our reviews will help you find the best cordless circular saw for the job.
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Writer
Pete Ortiz
Pete has been working in the trades since high school, where he first developed a passion for woodworking. Over the years, he has developed a keen interest in a wide variety of DIY projects around the home. Fascinated by all sort of tools, Pete loves reading and writing about all the latest gadgets and accessories that hit the market. His other interests include astronomy, hiking, and fishing.
As the founder of House Grail, Pete's primary goal is to help consumers make educated decisions about DIY projects at home, in the garage, and in the garden.
