Consumer Reports Recommendations: Circular Saws

For the occasional bird feeder, any of these saws will produce adequate cuts. For more ambitious projects such as building a deck, choose a corded saw that scored well in speed and power. The seven top-rated models were excellent overall.

If your carpentry is infrequent but you still want a saw with muscle, consider one of the seven corded saws priced between $35 and $70. They were a notch or two below the best saws in cutting speed, but that may not matter.

The Ratings rank models by overall score. Quick Picks lists saws that we recommend for particular uses.

Note: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on August 15, 2007, recalled the Skil 5750 corded circular saw. For more on the recall, click here.

Quick Picks

For the serious woodworker; speed and power to burn:
Milwaukee 6390-21, $150
Ridgid R3200, $110 CR Best Buy
DeWalt DW369 CSK, $130

The Ridgid R3200, sold mainly at Home Depot, is the best value of these closely ranked saws. The Milwaukee 6390-21 has a handle you can adjust for more comfort. The blade on the DeWalt DW369CSK can be seen very easily while you cut, a feature we like.

Best for most; all are CR Best Buys:
Hitachi C7SB2, $100
Makita 5740NB, $90
Ryobi CSB140LZK, $70

The Hitachi C7SB2 has a beefy base plate with large adjustment levers. The Makita 5740NB is lighter though less powerful.

 

If you must go cordless:
DeWalt DC390K, $200
Bosch 1660K-24, $270

These were faster than all other battery-powered saws except the expensive Milwaukee 0730-22 The Bosch 1660K-24 runs longer on a battery charge than the DeWalt DC390K, but you pay more for it.

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