Every saw, and when to use it
We own saws from a 3" cut-off tool to a 10" jobsite table saw. Here is what each one is for, then the top picks per kind with prices, compared only against saws in the same voltage class.
Which saw for which job
★ We own it3" cut-off tool (M12)
Best for: Tile, conduit, rebar ends, sheet metal, plastic pipe in tight spots
Not for: Framing lumber or long straight rips
★ We own it5-3/8" compact circular (M12)
Best for: Plywood, 2x stock in one pass, trim and cabinet work, overhead cuts
Not for: Stacked 2x or anything over 1-5/8" deep
7-1/4" sidewinder circular
Best for: Everyday framing, sheet goods, decking: the one saw most crews need
Not for: Fine finish cuts on veneer without a fine blade
★ We own it7-1/4" rear-handle (worm-style)
Best for: Long rips, roof and floor sheathing, framing all day with better reach
Not for: One-hand overhead work; it is heavier
9" cut-off saw (M18 FUEL)
Best for: Concrete, pavers, block, steel, cast-iron pipe, with water or a dust shroud
Not for: Wood. Ever.
10-1/4" big circular
Best for: Beams, 4x and stacked 2x in one pass (3-3/4" deep)
Not for: Small jobs; it is big and heavy
Portable jobsite table saw
Best for: Accurate rips of plywood and trim, repeat cuts, ripping baseboard and siding
Not for: Crosscutting long boards; use a miter saw
Miter saw (10" and 12" sliding)
Best for: Square and angled crosscuts: trim, baseboard, fence pickets, framing cut lists
Not for: Ripping; cutting small pieces with your hand near the blade
★ We own itJigsaw
Best for: Curves, sink and outlet cutouts in countertops and plywood
Not for: Long straight cuts; it wanders
★ We own itReciprocating saw (Sawzall)
Best for: Demolition, cutting nails and pipe in walls, pruning roots and branches
Not for: Anything that has to look clean
★ We own itPortable band saw
Best for: Clean, quiet cuts in unistrut, threaded rod, EMT and copper
Not for: Wood framing
Compact 12V saws
| Model | Platform | Blade | Power | Score / award | Price* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee M12 FUEL 2521-20 (5-3/8") ★ We own it | 12V | 5-3/8" | 3,850 RPM | PTR best 12V circular | $159 bare | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M12 FUEL 2522-20 3" cut-off ★ We own it | 12V | 3" | 20,000 RPM | — | $149 bare | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Dremel CS12V (3-3/8") | 12V | 3-3/8" | — | Best for small spaces | $130 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Street prices we saw at stores and in reviews between February and October 2026. They change daily, so the buttons show today's price. Scores: PTR = Pro Tool Reviews, TGL = TechGearLab, TBB = ToolBoxBuzz; each runs its own test, so scores only compare within one source.
18V / 20V circular saws: top 10
| Model | Platform | Blade | Power | Score / award | Price* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2834-20 | 18V | 7-1/4" | 6,000 RPM | PTR 95 (#1) | $279 bare | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2930-20 rear-handle ★ We own it | 18V | 7-1/4" | Rear handle | Our daily framing saw | See today | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Ryobi ONE+ HP PBLCS302B | 18V | 7-1/4" | 5,000 RPM | PTR 88 (#2) | $139 bare | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| DeWalt 20V MAX DCS573B | 20V | 7-1/4" | 5,500 RPM | TBB 4.5/5 | $199 bare | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Bosch GKS18V-25CN | 18V | 7-1/4" | 5,000 RPM | — | $199 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| SKIL PWRCore 20 CR5440B-10 | 20V | 7-1/4" | 5,300 RPM | PTR 77 | $139 bare / $169 kit | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Craftsman V20 CMCS551B | 20V | 7-1/4" | 5,000 RPM | PTR 75 | $138 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 2631-20 (brushed) | 18V | 7-1/4" | 5,000 RPM | Power per dollar | $139 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| DeWalt 20V ATOMIC DCS571 (4-1/2") ★ We own it | 20V | 4-1/2" | Compact, one-hand | Trim, flooring, plywood | See today We paid $169 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| DeWalt 20V DCS391 (6-1/2") ★ We own it | 20V | 6-1/2" | Light framing | — | See today | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 2630-20 (6-1/2", brushed) ★ We own it | 18V | 6-1/2" | Brushed | — | See today | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Makita 18V LXT XSS02Z | 18V | 6-1/2" | 3,700 RPM | Best value | ~$99 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3026-20 (10-1/4") | 18V | 10-1/4" | 3,250 RPM | Deep-cut class | $429 bare | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Street prices we saw at stores and in reviews between February and October 2026. They change daily, so the buttons show today's price. Scores: PTR = Pro Tool Reviews, TGL = TechGearLab, TBB = ToolBoxBuzz; each runs its own test, so scores only compare within one source.
36V, 60V and corded circular saws
| Model | Platform | Blade | Power | Score / award | Price* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt FlexVolt 60V DCS578B | 60V | 7-1/4" | 5,800 RPM | PTR 82 | $199–$299 bare | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Makita 36V (18Vx2) XSH06PT kit | 36V | 7-1/4" | 6,000 RPM | Bob Vila best overall | $352 kit | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Makita 36V (18Vx2) XSR01PT rear-handle kit ★ We own it | 36V | 7-1/4" | Rear handle | Ours for long rips | See today | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Metabo HPT MultiVolt C3607DBQ4 | 36V | 7-1/4" | 6,000 RPM | PTR 81 | $209 bare | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Skilsaw SPT77WML-01 worm drive | Corded | 7-1/4" | 15 A | TGL 88 | $199–$219 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| SKIL 5280-01 | Corded | 7-1/4" | 15 A | TGL 77 | $59–$70 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Street prices we saw at stores and in reviews between February and October 2026. They change daily, so the buttons show today's price. Scores: PTR = Pro Tool Reviews, TGL = TechGearLab, TBB = ToolBoxBuzz; each runs its own test, so scores only compare within one source.
Cut-off saws for concrete and steel
| Model | Platform | Blade | Power | Score / award | Price* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt 20V DCS438B 3" cut-off ★ We own it | 20V | 3" | Tile, metal, PVC | 20V answer to the M12 cut-off | See today | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2786-20 9" cut-off ★ We own it | 18V | 9" | Concrete, steel | We paid $409.56 on a promo (list $679) | $679 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Street prices we saw at stores and in reviews between February and October 2026. They change daily, so the buttons show today's price. Scores: PTR = Pro Tool Reviews, TGL = TechGearLab, TBB = ToolBoxBuzz; each runs its own test, so scores only compare within one source.
Jobsite table saws: top 10
| Model | Power | Blade | Rip capacity | Score / award | Price* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DWE7491RS ★ We own it | 15 A corded | 10" | 32-1/2" | PTR #1 Best overall | $699 We paid $533.55 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Bosch GTS15-10 (with stand) | 15 A corded | 10" | 32-1/8" | Recommended | $699 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Skilsaw SPT99-11 worm drive | 15 A corded | 10" | 30-1/2" | Most powerful | $749 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Ridgid R4514 | 15 A corded | 10" | 30" | Pro value pick | $549 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| SawStop JSS-120A60 | 15 A corded | 10" | 25-1/2" | Flesh-sensing brake | $1,699 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| SKIL TS6307-00 | 15 A corded | 10" | 25-1/2" | Best for the money | $329 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Ryobi RTS08 | 13 A corded | 8-1/4" | 12" | Budget / learning | $149 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2736 (8-1/4") | 18V | 8-1/4" | 24-1/2" | Recommended cordless | $499 bare / $649 kit | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Flex 24V FX7221-1J | 24V | 10" | 30-1/2" | Best cordless | $659 bare / $799 kit | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Metabo HPT 36V C3610DRJQ4 | 36V or AC | 10" | 35" | Recommended | $659 bare | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Street prices we saw at stores and in reviews between February and October 2026. They change daily, so the buttons show today's price. Scores: PTR = Pro Tool Reviews, TGL = TechGearLab, TBB = ToolBoxBuzz; each runs its own test, so scores only compare within one source.
Miter, recip, band, jig and chainsaws we own, with what we paid
| Model | Type | Platform | What we use it for | Price* | Buy or compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2733-20 7-1/4" miter saw (we own 3) ★ We own it | Miter | 18V | Light enough to carry to every job | See today We paid $100.26 each on promo | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL Super Sawzall 2722-20 ★ We own it | Reciprocating | 18V | Demo and pipe in walls | See today We paid $119.32 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| DeWalt 60V FLEXVOLT DCS389 reciprocating saw ★ We own it | Reciprocating | 60V | Most power for demo | See today We paid $163.14 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| DeWalt 20V ATOMIC reciprocating saw ★ We own it | Reciprocating | 20V | Compact, overhead and tight spots | See today We paid $127.15 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2929-20 deep cut band saw ★ We own it | Band saw | 18V | Unistrut, rod, EMT | See today We paid $253.50–$266.21 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M12 FUEL sub-compact band saw ★ We own it | Band saw | 12V | One-hand cuts in tight spots | See today We paid $181.81 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2737-20 D-handle jigsaw ★ We own it | Jigsaw | 18V | Countertop and plywood cutouts | See today We paid $145.50 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| DeWalt 20V XR DCS334B jigsaw ★ We own it | Jigsaw | 20V | — | See today We paid $108.59 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| Makita 18V LXT drywall cut-out saw ★ We own it | Drywall cut-out | 18V | Outlet and can-light holes | See today We paid $279 | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| DeWalt 20V XR DCCS623 8" pruning chainsaw ★ We own it | Pruning chainsaw | 20V | Limbs and roots | See today | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
| DeWalt 60V FLEXVOLT DCCS670 chainsaw ★ We own it | Chainsaw | 60V | Trees and big limbs | See today | AmazonHome DepotLowe'sAcmeWalmart |
* Street prices we saw at stores and in reviews between February and October 2026. They change daily, so the buttons show today's price. Scores: PTR = Pro Tool Reviews, TGL = TechGearLab, TBB = ToolBoxBuzz; each runs its own test, so scores only compare within one source.
Coming next
Miter saws, jigsaws, recip saws and band saws: we are collecting verified prices before we publish their top 10s. Until then, the cards above show the one we use.