Tech & Gadgets
The Best Circular Saws: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
Four 7-1/4 inch circular saws compared on the cut depth figure nobody quotes: the one at 45 degrees, which runs 25 to 37 percent below the number in the listing.
The short version
Buy the DEWALT DWE575SB. It publishes 2.55 inches of cut at 90 degrees and 1.9 inches at 45, which is the deepest bevel capacity here and the smallest collapse between the two, about 25 percent. It is a 15 amp corded saw with an electric brake, and the brake matters more than the amperage does. Buy the Makita 5007MG if weight is the constraint: its magnesium components make it noticeably lighter to hold at the end of a rafter, and it gives up only a little, 2.5 inches at 90 and 1.75 at 45. The DEWALT DCS570B is the it-depends and the cordless case: identical 2-9/16 inch capacity at 90 degrees, but only 1-5/8 at 45, the largest collapse in this group at nearly 37 percent, in exchange for no cord and a 57 degree bevel range. Skip the CRAFTSMAN CMES510 if bevel work is why you are buying: it publishes a 2-1/8 inch capacity for 2x material and no 45 degree depth figure at all, so the specification that decides bevelled cuts is simply missing. Best for: anyone who has been comparing circular saws on amps and blade diameter, which are the two numbers that barely differ.
Our picks at a glance
- DEWALT DWE575SB 7-1/4 in. Lightweight Circular Saw with Electric Brake - Buy. The deepest bevel capacity in this comparison, and the smallest gap between its 90 and 45 degree figures.
- Makita 5007MG 7-1/4 in. Magnesium Circular Saw - Buy. Magnesium construction that you feel by the end of a day, giving up only a small amount of bevel depth to get there.
- DEWALT DCS570B 20V MAX XR 7-1/4 in. Brushless Cordless Circular Saw - It depends. The same 90 degree capacity as its corded sibling and the largest bevel collapse here, traded for no cord and a 57 degree range.
- CRAFTSMAN CMES510 15 Amp 7-1/4 in. Electric Circular Saw - Skip. Quotes a capacity for 2x material and never publishes a 45 degree depth, which is the figure bevel work actually needs.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Cut depth at 90 degrees
- Cut depth at 45 degrees
- Loss from 90 to 45
- Power
- Electric brake
- Maximum bevel
Every circular saw listing leads with a cutting capacity, and every one of those figures is measured at 90 degrees with the shoe flat. Tilt the shoe to 45 for a bevel and the usable depth collapses, by a quarter on the best saw here and by more than a third on the worst. The gap is not small and it is not consistent between models: two saws quoting almost identical 90 degree capacity differ by nearly three tenths of an inch once bevelled. One of the four does not publish a 45 degree figure at all. Since bevelling is most of why anyone buys a circular saw rather than a track saw or a mitre saw, that is the number the decision should turn on.
The deepest bevel capacity in this comparison, and the smallest gap between its 90 and 45 degree figures.
Best for: Anyone whose work includes bevelled cuts in thicker stock and who wants the depth figure that actually governs them.
- Publishes 2.55 in. of cut at 90 degrees and 1.9 in. at 45, the deepest bevel figure here.
- The collapse between the two is about 25 percent, the smallest in this group, where the cordless DEWALT loses nearly 37.
- Electric brake stops the blade after the trigger releases, which matters far more for safety than any amperage figure.
- 15 amp motor at 5,200 RPM, and DEWALT publishes both depth figures rather than only the flattering one.
- Corded, so the cord is in the cut on every job and an extension lead is part of the kit.
- No magnesium construction, so it is heavier in the hand than the Makita over a long day.
- Bevel range stops short of the cordless DEWALT's 57 degrees.
- Amperage is quoted prominently and tells you almost nothing, since three of the four saws here are 15 amp.
Magnesium construction that you feel by the end of a day, giving up only a small amount of bevel depth to get there.
Best for: Overhead and repetitive cutting where the weight in your hand decides how the last hour of the day goes.
- Magnesium components across the base and guards, which is the reason it feels lighter than its size suggests.
- 2.5 in. at 90 degrees and 1.75 in. at 45, close behind the DEWALT and comfortably ahead of the cordless.
- Electric brake, so the blade stops rather than coasting after the cut.
- Makita publishes both depth figures, so the bevel capacity can be compared rather than assumed.
- 1.75 in. at 45 degrees is 0.15 in. behind the corded DEWALT, which is the difference on thicker bevels.
- The most expensive saw in this comparison, and the premium buys weight reduction rather than capacity.
- Corded, with the same cord management problem as the DEWALT.
- Magnesium is stiff but less forgiving of a hard drop than aluminium or composite.
The same 90 degree capacity as its corded sibling and the largest bevel collapse here, traded for no cord and a 57 degree range.
Best for: Roof, ladder and remote work where dragging a cord costs more than the lost bevel depth.
- 2-9/16 in. of cut at 90 degrees, matching the corded DEWALT, from a brushless motor holding 5,200 RPM under load.
- Bevels to 57 degrees with positive stops at 45 and 22.5, the widest bevel range in this comparison.
- No cord, which on a roof or a ladder is worth more than any depth specification.
- Electric brake, and DEWALT publishes the 45 degree figure rather than hiding it.
- Only 1-5/8 in. of cut at 45 degrees, a collapse of nearly 37 percent from its own 90 degree figure and the worst here.
- Bare tool, so batteries and charger are a separate and substantial cost.
- Battery weight sits high on the tool, which changes the balance against a corded saw.
- Run time under sustained ripping is a real constraint that no corded saw has.
Quotes a capacity for 2x material and never publishes a 45 degree depth, which is the figure bevel work actually needs.
Best for: Straight cross-cutting in 2x material on a budget, where bevels are rare and the missing figure never comes up.
- The fastest no-load speed here at 5,500 RPM, from a 15 amp motor.
- Tool-free bevelling shoe to 55 degrees with detents at 22.5 and 45.
- Magnesium shoe at a budget price, which is unusual at this end of the market.
- Cheapest way into a full-size 7-1/4 in. saw with a carbide blade included.
- No 45 degree depth of cut figure is published, so the specification that governs bevelled cuts cannot be checked before buying.
- The quoted 2-1/8 in. capacity for 2x material is well below the 2.5 in. and above that the others publish at 90 degrees.
- No electric brake mentioned, so the blade coasts after the trigger releases.
- RPM is quoted prominently, and blade speed matters far less than depth and braking.
| Criteria | DWE575SB 7-1/4 in. Lightweight Circular Saw with Electric Brake | 5007MG 7-1/4 in. Magnesium Circular Saw | DCS570B 20V MAX XR 7-1/4 in. Brushless Cordless Circular Saw | CMES510 15 Amp 7-1/4 in. Electric Circular Saw |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Anyone whose work includes bevelled cuts in thicker stock and who wants the depth figure that actually governs them. | Overhead and repetitive cutting where the weight in your hand decides how the last hour of the day goes. | Roof, ladder and remote work where dragging a cord costs more than the lost bevel depth. | Straight cross-cutting in 2x material on a budget, where bevels are rare and the missing figure never comes up. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Cut depth at 90 degrees | 2.55 in. | 2.5 in. | 2-9/16 in. | 2-1/8 in. in 2x material |
| Cut depth at 45 degrees | 1.9 in. | 1.75 in. | 1-5/8 in. | Not published |
| Loss from 90 to 45 | About 25 percent | About 30 percent | About 37 percent | Cannot be calculated |
| Power | 15 amp corded | 15 amp corded | 20V brushless | 15 amp corded |
| Electric brake | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not stated |
| Maximum bevel | Standard range | Standard range | 57 degrees | 55 degrees |
| Notable construction | Lightweight housing | Magnesium components | Aluminium shoe | Magnesium shoe |
Which one is right for you?
- Anyone whose work includes bevelled cuts in thicker stock and who wants the depth figure that actually governs them. Buy it DEWALT DWE575SB 7-1/4 in. Lightweight Circular Saw with Electric Brake
- Overhead and repetitive cutting where the weight in your hand decides how the last hour of the day goes. Buy it Makita 5007MG 7-1/4 in. Magnesium Circular Saw
- Roof, ladder and remote work where dragging a cord costs more than the lost bevel depth. It depends DEWALT DCS570B 20V MAX XR 7-1/4 in. Brushless Cordless Circular Saw
- Straight cross-cutting in 2x material on a budget, where bevels are rare and the missing figure never comes up. Skip it CRAFTSMAN CMES510 15 Amp 7-1/4 in. Electric Circular Saw
How we judged the field
We compared these on the depth figure at 45 degrees rather than the one in the headline, because bevelling is the operation where a circular saw runs out of capacity and the 90 degree number gives no warning of it. Three of the four publish both figures, and the proportion each loses turns out to vary from about a quarter to well over a third, which is not something you could infer from the shelf. After that we looked at whether an electric brake is stated, since that is the one safety feature in this category with an unambiguous mechanism and it appears on three of the four. Then weight and shoe material, which decide how the tool feels by the end of the day. Amperage we discounted, because three of these are 15 amp and the number has stopped telling anyone apart.
DEWALT DWE575SB 7-1/4 in. Lightweight Circular Saw with Electric Brake - buy
The DEWALT DWE575SB is the pick because it wins the comparison that the listings do not run. At 2.55 inches of cut at 90 degrees it is barely ahead of the Makita, and on a shelf the two look interchangeable. Tilt them both to 45 and the DEWALT still gives 1.9 inches where the Makita gives 1.75, and it has lost only about a quarter of its capacity where the cordless DEWALT loses nearly 37 percent. That is the deepest bevel figure in this group and the most graceful collapse. It is a 15 amp corded saw turning 5,200 RPM with an electric brake, and the brake is worth more attention than the motor: without one the blade coasts for seconds after the trigger releases. What it does not offer is the Makita’s magnesium construction, so it is the heavier of the two corded saws, and its bevel range stops short of the cordless model’s 57 degrees. For anyone whose work involves bevelled cuts in anything thicker than a 2x, it is the right default.
Makita 5007MG 7-1/4 in. Magnesium Circular Saw - buy
The Makita 5007MG is the second buy and the answer to a different question. Its magnesium components make it noticeably lighter in the hand than the corded DEWALT, and that is not a specification you appreciate in a shop comparison but is the whole story at the end of a day spent cutting overhead or along a rafter. It gives up very little to get there: 2.5 inches at 90 degrees and 1.75 at 45, a drop of about 30 percent, which is the middle of this group. It has an electric brake, and like the DEWALT it publishes both depth figures rather than only the flattering one. The costs are that it is the most expensive saw here and the money buys weight reduction rather than capability, that the 45 degree figure is 0.15 inches behind the DEWALT which shows up on thicker bevels, and that magnesium is stiff but less tolerant of being dropped off a scaffold than aluminium.
DEWALT DCS570B 20V MAX XR 7-1/4 in. Brushless Cordless Circular Saw - it depends
The DEWALT DCS570B is the it-depends and the clearest illustration of the whole thesis. On paper it matches its corded sibling exactly at 90 degrees, 2-9/16 inches, and a buyer comparing the two on the listed capacity would conclude they are equivalent. At 45 degrees it delivers 1-5/8 inches against the corded saw’s 1.9, a collapse of nearly 37 percent and the largest in this comparison. What you get in exchange is real: no cord, a brushless motor holding 5,200 RPM under load, an electric brake, and a 57 degree bevel range that is the widest here even if the depth at 45 is the shallowest. On a roof or a ladder, not dragging a cord beats a quarter inch of bevel depth every time. As a bare tool it also needs batteries and a charger, which is a substantial separate cost, and the battery sits high enough to change how the saw balances.
CRAFTSMAN CMES510 15 Amp 7-1/4 in. Electric Circular Saw - skip
The CRAFTSMAN CMES510 is the skip, and the reason is an absence rather than a number. It publishes a 5,500 RPM no-load speed, the fastest here, a 15 amp motor, a magnesium shoe which is genuinely unusual at this price, and a tool-free bevel to 55 degrees with detents. What it does not publish is a depth of cut at 45 degrees. The capacity it does quote, 2-1/8 inches in 2x material, is already well below the 2.5 inches and more that the others state at 90 degrees, and there is no way to work out what happens when the shoe tilts. It also makes no mention of an electric brake, so the blade presumably coasts. As a saw for straight cross-cuts in 2x stock at the lowest price it is a reasonable object, and the magnesium shoe is a real feature. It just cannot be compared on the thing that separates circular saws.
DEWALT DWE575SB 7-1/4 in. Lightweight Circular Saw with Electric Brake vs Makita 5007MG 7-1/4 in. Magnesium Circular Saw: which should you buy?
The two DEWALTs are the pair worth studying, because holding the brand and the blade size constant isolates exactly what going cordless costs. Both publish 2-9/16 inches at 90 degrees. The corded DWE575SB then gives 1.9 inches at 45; the cordless DCS570B gives 1-5/8. Same maker, same headline capacity, and a quarter of an inch of difference on the bevel, which is a 37 percent collapse against the corded saw’s 25. Against that, the cordless model bevels to 57 degrees where the corded one does not, and it has no cord at all. So the trade is not power, which brushless motors have largely settled, but geometry: the cordless design gives up depth when tilted. If your cuts are mostly flat cross-cuts and you work off ladders, take the cordless. If you bevel thick stock, the cord is the price of the capacity.
What to look for
- The depth of cut at 45 degrees: the figure that governs bevel work, absent from many listings, and 25 to 37 percent below the headline number when it is published.
- The proportion lost between 90 and 45: two saws with the same headline capacity can differ by a quarter inch once tilted, and only the pair of figures reveals it.
- A stated electric brake: the blade coasts for seconds without one, and that is the window in which a saw set down early does damage.
- Shoe and housing material: magnesium costs more and is the main reason one full-size saw feels lighter than another of the same capacity.
- Maximum bevel angle: 45 degrees is standard and anything past it is a genuine extra, though a wide bevel range means nothing if the depth at 45 is already short.
- Amperage, read as a formality: most full-size corded saws are 15 amp because that is what a household circuit allows, so it rarely separates two tools.
Our final take
Circular saw listings compete on amperage and blade diameter, and both have converged to the point of uselessness. The number that still discriminates is the depth at 45 degrees, which the makers publish inconsistently and buyers almost never compare. Find it, work out what proportion of the headline figure it represents, and the ranking looks quite different from the one on the shelf.
Questions, answered
Why is the cut depth so much less at 45 degrees?
Because tilting the shoe changes the geometry between the blade and the material. The blade's radius is fixed, so as the shoe rotates, less of the blade projects perpendicular to the workpiece surface. Every saw loses depth this way, but they do not lose the same proportion: the corded DEWALT here drops about 25 percent from 2.55 in. to 1.9, while the cordless DEWALT drops nearly 37 percent from 2-9/16 to 1-5/8. Since the listings all lead with the 90 degree figure, two saws that look identical on the shelf can differ substantially on the cut that matters.
Does amperage tell me anything about a circular saw?
Very little, once you are comparing full-size saws. Three of the four here are 15 amp, which is simply the practical ceiling for a standard household circuit, so the number has converged and stopped discriminating between tools. What varies is cut depth, whether there is an electric brake, the shoe material and the weight. Amperage describes what the motor draws, not what the saw can do with it.
Is an electric brake worth paying for?
It is the safety feature with the clearest mechanism in this category. Without one, the blade coasts for several seconds after you release the trigger, which is the window in which a saw set down too early bites into something. A brake stops it in a fraction of that. Three of the four saws here state one; the Craftsman does not mention it. If you are choosing between two otherwise similar saws, the brake is a better tiebreaker than any performance number.
Sidewinder or worm drive?
All four saws here are sidewinders, where the motor sits alongside the blade. Worm drive saws put the motor behind the blade, which makes them longer, heavier and higher-torque, and puts the handle further back for plunge and rip work. Framers on the US west coast favour worm drives; most other work is done with sidewinders. The bevel depth question applies to both equally, and worm drives generally give up some depth at 45 degrees for the same reason.
Do I need 7-1/4 inch, or will a smaller saw do?
Seven and a quarter is the size that cuts through 2x material in a single pass at 90 degrees with room to spare, which is why it became the standard. Smaller cordless saws at 6-1/2 in. are lighter and cheaper and will still clear a 2x flat, but their bevel capacity is proportionally smaller and often falls below what a bevelled 2x needs. If you only ever cut sheet goods, the smaller saw is genuinely easier to handle.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: DEWALT DWE575SB 7-1/4 in. Lightweight Circular Saw with Electric Brake vs Makita 5007MG 7-1/4 in. Magnesium Circular Saw.
More Tech & Gadgets reviews
The Best Clamp Meters: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best Laptops for College Students: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best CPU Coolers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best Crimping Tools: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best Cut-Resistant Gloves: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best Digital Calipers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)