Carpenters and woodworkers like circular saws because they are portable yet powerful. Cordless circular saws are even more portable, since you can use them without an outlet nearby. All too often, cordless circular saws sacrifice power for portability. DeWalt is known for contractor-grade tools that will work all day, every day. Do the DeWalt cordless circular saws live up to that promise, or are they weaker imitations of corded saws?
DeWalt makes a range of cordless circular saws, from the compact 6 ½ inch 18 volt saw all the way up to a worm drive machine that uses a full sized 7 ¼ inch blade. Whether you are a home handyman or a professional framing carpenter, there is a DeWalt cordless circular saw to fit your needs. Are you looking for general information on circular saws? Check out Circular Saws and The Best Circular Saw Guide Rail System.
Our Top Picks for the Best DeWalt Cordless Circular Saw:
6 ½ Inch 18-Volt DeWalt Cordless Circular Saw
The entry level cordless DeWalt cordless saw is the 18 volt, 6 ½ inch blade model. This saw will cut material up to 2 ¼ inches thick, and will bevel cut material up to 1 5/8 inches. The motor runs at 3,700 RPM. At just 6.3 pounds, it is also DeWalt’s lightest cordless circular saw.
Things we like:
- Portability is great
- Adequate power for a 6 ½ inch saw
- Durability is excellent
- DeWalt’s least expensive cordless circular saw
Things we don’t like:
- Battery life is limited. Not an all-day cutter
- Blade is on the left side of the handle. Since most sidewinder saws have the blade on the right, this tool can be hard to use if you are used to a right-hand blade.
20V Max 7 ¼ Inch DeWalt Cordless Circular Saw with Brake
The DeWalt 20 volt Max 7 ¼ inch circular saw provides all the power of a standard sidewinder circular saw in a cordless package. The blade will cut material up to 2 9/16 inches thick and will bevel cut material up to 1 5/8 inches thick. The blade operates at 5,200 RPM, similar to what corded saws will do. DeWalt promises that a fully-charged battery will cut 100 2x4s.
Things we like:
- Cordless saw that works like a corded saw
- Great choice for DIYers who will only buy one circular saw
- Most cordless circular saws use small blades that don’t cut as deep as full-sized saws. This one doesn’t.
- Brushless motor for extended life
- Blade brake for speed and safety. No waiting for the blade to stop after you finish a cut!
Things we don’t like:
- Battery life is still limited
- More expensive than similar corded saws, especially if you don’t already have DeWalt 20v batteries.
FlexVolt 60V Max Brushless 7 ¼ Inch DeWalt Cordless Circular Saw
DeWalt’s FlexVolt system uses the same batteries to run 20 volt, 60 volt, and 120 volt tools. In the DeWalt 60 volt 7 ¼ inch cordless circular saw the FlexVolt system provides an upgrade in power and battery life from the 20 volt cordless saw. It has the same cutting capacity as the 20 volt saw—2 9/16 inches at 90 degrees and 1 5/8 inches at 45 degrees—but the motor spins the blade at a beefy 5800 RPM. DeWalt promises the batteries will cut up to 339 pine 2x4s on a single charge.
Things we like:
- Professional performance from a cordless saw
- Blade brake for safety and speed
- Long battery life
Things we don’t like:
- Expensive, especially if you have to buy batteries
FlexVolt 60V Max 7 ¼ Worm Drive DeWalt Cordless Circular Saw
Worm drive circular saws are prized by framing contractors because they deliver the most cutting power for thick lumber. Cordless circular saws are criticized because they struggle to cut the big stuff. The DeWalt FlexVolt 60 volt 7 ¼ inch worm drive circular saw is a cordless saw that provides all the power of a corded worm drive saw.
The 7 ¼ inch blades will cut 2 7/16 material at 90 degrees and 1 7/8 material at 45 degrees. The blade operates at 5800 RPM to power through heavy boards. FlexVolt batteries come in a variety of sizes, so battery life varies based on which battery you have.
Things we like:
- This is a heavy-duty cutter that doesn’t struggle even if you are ripping 2x material
- Cordless saw that can replace corded worm drive saws
- At ten pounds, it is light for a worm drive saw
Things we don’t like:
- Much more expensive than other cordless saws, or other worm-drive saws
- At ten pounds, it is much heavier than other cordless saws
Taking the Plunge….Cut
Usually, circular saws are used to either cut material to length, called cross-cutting, or split boards lengthwise called rip cutting. Sometimes, you need to cut out a hole in the middle of a large piece of wood. One example of cutting a large hole would be cutting out a spot for a sink when installing a new countertop. How do you cut just in the middle of a flat piece?
Enter the plunge cut. When you drop the circular saw blade into a flat piece, it is called a plunge cut. To make a plunge cut, start by carefully marking the outline of the material to be cut out. Rest the saw on the front of the shoe and tilt it forward, so only the front of the shoe is touching the surface. Lift the blade guard, fire up the saw, and slowly lower the blade to the cut line. Follow the line to the corners to complete the hole. Are you questioning if you need a miter saw or circular saw? Check out Miter Saw vs Circular Saw: Do you Really Need Both for more information.
Choosing a DeWalt Cordless Circular Saw
If you are a DIYer, the DeWalt 6 ½ inch cordless circular saw is a good choice. It will handle almost everything a homeowner can throw at it, and the price is very affordable. It uses the same batteries that other homeowner level DeWalt tools use.
If you are a framing pro and you need to use the saw on a daily basis, check out the big DeWalt 60 volt 7 ¼ inch cordless worm drive circular saw. It is pricey, but it cuts fast and doesn’t require you to hassle with cords all day. If time is money, this saw is a money saver.
