Best circular saw: Essential power tools for quick, clean cuts

How to choose the best circular saw to make safe, straight and clean cuts
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Published on 2 June 2023

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A circular saw is probably the power tool you never knew you needed cutting a wide range of materials takes seconds, delivering a cut thats straighter than using a jigsaw and far quicker than using hand tools.

The best circular saws operate at the fastest speeds, measured in revolutions per minute (rpm). And the faster a circular sawblade can spin, the more control youll have over the cut and the cleaner it will be. Youll generally find a correlation between the blade speed and the power rating of the tool, where bigger is almost always better.

The big decision youll have to make is whether to go corded or cordless. Corded circular saws will never suffer from a flat battery, and a consistent 240V power supply delivers the kind of oomph that more powerful saws need. On the flip side, cordless saws offer ultimate portability, away from a conventional power source, and you wont have to worry about slicing through a cable, especially if youre working in a confined space.

Most circular saws offer the ability to set the cutting depth and the angle of a bevel by adjusting the saws angle relative to its baseplate guide. The depth of a cut will vary according to the angle most saws will be able to cut more deeply when positioned at 90 degrees to the material, while angled cuts wont be quite as deep.

Weve tested the three main types of saws here corded, cordless, and a mini circular saw covering all-round useability, the accessories included, the noise when the saw is spinning freely and during a cut, and, of course, its ability to cut wood.

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Are corded or cordless circular saws best?

The honest answer is that it depends on how and where youll be using them. If youre working in an environment where theres no readily-available electricity, a cordless circular saw is a no-brainer. Similarly, theyre the best choice if youre making cuts around different locations in a room, a house, or a workshop, as not having to plug and unplug will be a godsend.

However, as good as cordless batteries are, they eventually go flat. While you can put a few fully-charged batteries in your toolbag, it will require forward planning and a significant financial outlay. If youre in sight of an electrical socket, or even an extension lead, then corded saws will keep going as long as you do.

Are big or smaller blades better?

This will depend on what youre planning to cut and how youll be using the circular saw. Larger blades will cut more deeply, but they can also be unwieldy. Not all blades will fit on all saws, but you can swap between blades depending on what youre cutting.

As a rule of thumb, the more teeth a sawblade has, the neater the cut will be. However, low-powered circular saws often work best with blades which have bigger teeth.

Left- or right-handed circular saws?

Some circular saws like the Makita, below have a handle on the left and the blade on the right, while some like the Ryobi have the opposite. The logic is quite simple: left-handed users may find they have more control over the saw using their left hand, while the reverse is true for right-handed people. Especially if youre cutting larger sheets, having the blade on one side might be more preferable than the other. It makes sense to choose whichever is comfortable or appropriate for you.

But, while a pro might have both in their workshop, for the vast majority of home DIY-ers, it makes little practical difference.

Ergonomics are key to our ratings: the easier a circular saw is to use, the safer it should be. However, before we plug in we look at cutting depth at 90 and 45 degrees, as well as the no-load speed: as a rule, the faster a blade can spin, the cleaner the cut youll achieve. We also consider the quality of the instructions and safety information.

Next, we note how easy it is to change the saws angles, and the weight of the overall unit weighty is good up to a point, but making repeated cuts with a heavyweight saw can lead to fatigue and related safety implications. We then consider the supplied accessories, such as a parallel guide, allen key to change the blades (and whether theres somewhere to store it).

Finally, we cut a variety of pieces of wood, including plywood, decking and a wooden fence post to gauge a saws ability. Here were considering the ergonomics, noise levels and the neatness of the cut.

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Price: £134 | Buy now from Toolstation

best buy

Theres no doubting the quality of the Makita, which goes a long way to explain the brands popularity among tradespeople. With the exception of the handle and motor shroud, pretty much everything here is made from metal and it feels like it could withstand an atomic blast, let alone a drop from a workbench.

With its handle to the left of the blade, its easy to use especially with well-placed trigger and trigger release buttons on the handle and made short work of our test cuts. We liked the saws reassuring 3.8kg weight, and it delivered confidence in operation, but it may be too cumbersome for some uses. It recorded 100dB when running freely, and 108dB while cutting.

Itll cut to a depth of 66mm (46mm at a 45 degree angle), and can easily be adjusted by sliding a lever to tilt the footplate, but theres no guide, so youll have to make your own measurements. The bevel is better it can be adjusted by loosening or tightening two screws, and theres a guide to ensure accuracy. The saw comes with a parallel guide, an allen key (which stores in the saws handle) and, impressively, a tough, plastic carrying case.

Key specs Weight: 3.8kg; Blade diameter: 190mm; Cutting depth at 90 degrees: 66mm; Cutting depth at 45 degrees: 46mm; No-load speed: 5,200rpm

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Price: £89 | Buy now from Ryobi

For sheer portability, the Ryobi is tough to beat. It weighs just over 2kg without the battery pack, and is surprisingly compact for a full-sized circular saw. And being part of Ryobis ONE+ battery-sharing ecosystem means that its affordable, so long as you already have a battery and charger. Plugging in one of those chunky batteries will get you a decent run-time Ryobi claims a 2.5Ah battery will cut 36 metres of 13mm plywood on a charge, while the larger 5Ah battery increases this to 80 metres, which is more than youre likely to need in a single sitting. Once the battery is connected to the side of the saw, you simply press a two-way release switch either left or right and pull the trigger.

It was the quietest saw on test here, registering 89dB when spinning freely, and just 101dB during a cut. The large-toothed saw made a smooth and clean cut, and will do so down to a depth of 45mm at 90 degrees, and 32mm at 45 degrees not quite as deep as the Makita, but more than sufficient for most DIY jobs. The depth of the cut is adjustable by loosening and tightening a knob at the back of the saw, while the angle of the cut is adjusted in the same way via a knob at the front. Scales showing the depth and angle are very helpful and welcome additions.

With the blade to the right of the handle, its a little easier for right-handers, but, thanks to the well-positioned two-way release switch, left-handers will have little problem using it.

Key specs Weight: 2.16kg (excluding battery); Blade diameter: 150mm; Cutting depth at 90 degrees: 45mm; Cutting depth at 45 degrees: 32mm; No-load speed: 4,700rpm

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Price: £45 | Buy now from Wickes

If youre working in a confined space, a mini circular saw can be indispensable and Einhells TC-CS is a great example. At just 2kg, its light and, with a handle roughly the same size as a grinder, its easy to hold.

Operation really couldnt be simpler just set the depth you need to cut (a guide allows for accurate measurements from zero to 23mm), release the footplate lock and flick the main switch. For safety, the switch needs to be held and the saw will stop once its released.

The Einhell is great for making quick 90-degree cuts, but it cant cut at an angle. Still, for zipping through long plywood cuts, trimming firewood, or making neat plunge cuts, its perfect. The saw is supplied in a case which also contains a parallel guide and a pair of allen keys for changing the disc.

Key specs Weight: 3.37kg; Blade diameter: 85mm; Cutting depth at 90 degrees: 23mm; Cutting depth at 45 degrees: NA; No-load speed: 6,000rpm

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Price: £40 | Buy now from B&Q

The Mac Allister blends much of what we really like about the Makita with a much lower price tag, so we can forgive the more extensive use of plastic in its construction. The blade-on-the-right/handle-on-the-left arrangement will please left-handed users and professionals alike, and, with an unlocking switch thats perfectly placed for the thumb, its ergonomically sound too.

You lift a lever to adjust the cutting depth, or turn a knob to vary the cutting angle and both have marks to ensure accuracy. Its a touch louder than the Makita, in both its no-load performance and during cutting, but its no-load speed is only a fraction behind. For occasional use, the Mac Allister is highly impressive, especially given that appealing price tag.

Key specs Weight: 3.37kg; Blade diameter: 165mm; Cutting depth at 90 degrees: 55mm; Cutting depth at 45 degrees: 38mm; No-load speed: 5,000rpm

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Written by

Stuart is digital editor at whatcar.com and has more than 25 years of automotive journalism under his belt. Over the years, Stuart has written for some of the biggest motoring magazines and websites, including Auto Trader and Autocar, and has reviewed pretty much every significant car sold in the UK, and just as many products - from multimeters to air fresheners. He thrives on a hands-on approach to car and home maintenance, so is found at the business end of the latest power tools as much as he is at his laptop.

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