Best Small & Mini Cordless Circular Saws
The best cordless circular saws are ones which will do everything that you put it up to whilst also being the size and price that you want. Therefore, for each and every individual, the best mini circular saw is different. For example a professional tradesmen will have different wants and needs from a saw than a hobbyist DIYer would.
Below we have listed some of the best small circular saws that are currently available on the market and gave our thoughts for each, including stating which one we think is the best of them all.
The Best Cordless Mini Circular Saw: Our Top Picks
Table of Contents
#1 POPOMAN Cordless Circular Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Battery is quick to charge
- Comes with 2 x cutting blades
- Built in laser guide
The POPOMAN Cordless Circular Saw is suitable for both hobbyist DIYers and professional tradesmen / contractors. Because it is cordless, it can be easily transported from job to job and allows you to work from all angles, as you are not tethered to a mains socket via a power cord. The 20 volt battery can go from empty to fully charged in under 1 hour, which is very convenient for when it runs out half way through a job.
The battery is able to produce enough power to get the cutting blade spinning at a speed of 3,400 RPM. Because this is so fast, you are able to cut through a range of different materials, including PVC pipe, gypsum board, plastic, soft metal, and wood. The saw comes with 2 different cutting blades, which both have 24 teeth. Thanks to the blade wrench that is included, you are able to switch between these with absolute ease.
With the blade guard and safety switch that the POPOMAN Cordless Circular Saw has, it minimizes the chance of any accidents occurring whilst using the power tool. Weighing 4.8 pounds, the saw is easy to operate and will not leave you feeling fatigued after longer periods of use. Similarly, because the handle has an ergonomic design it makes it easier to grip and so more comfortable to use.
Due to the position of the battery, it makes the power tool more stable when cutting and so provides greater precision when cutting. This is helped further by the fact that it has a built in laser guide that shows exactly where your cutting line is. Thanks to the extendable 9.5 inch base plate, which is made from solid metal, the stability of the saw is greatly increased, which again works to keep your cuts clean and precise.
You are able to adjust the cutting angle and depth of the POPOMAN Cordless Circular Saw in order to make a wide variety of cuts. At 90 degrees, the saw will make cuts that are over 1 inch in depth and the same it also true for cuts made at 45 degrees also. With the power tool having the 4.5 inch cutting blade on the left, it is easy to see exactly where you are cutting.
PROS
- Battery is quick to charge
- Comes with 2 x cutting blades
- Built in laser guide
CONS
- Battery is prone to overheating
#2 DEWALT DCS571B Atomic 20V Max Brushless 4-1/2 in. Cordless Circular Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Powerful brushless motor
- Convenient cutting blade changes
- Battery compatible with other power tools
The brushless motor that powers this saw is strong enough so that you are able to cut as much as 340 feet of OSB board at a depth of 0.45 inch using just one hand. The motor is powered saws by a 20 volt battery, but this does not come included as standard. In order to give you a great amount of control over the power tool, the auxiliary handle can be removed.
The hang hook that is built onto the DEWALT DCS571B Atomic 20V Max Brushless 4-1/2 in. Cordless Circular Saw provides a good amount of convenience for when you are done with using it and need someone to safely store it. The saw offers further convenience in the fact that changes of the cutting blade can be made without any hassle thanks to the fact that it has storage for a cutting blade key.
Thanks to the finger trigger, you are able to easily to choke up the saw should you need to when using it. At an angle of 90 degrees, the power tool is easily able to cut through a piece of 2 x 4, which opens it up to be used for a range of different applications. Because it features a dust port, you are able to keep your work space clean, tidy, and, most importantly of all, safe.
The battery that the DEWALT 20V Circular Saws Cordless uses is compatible with more than 200 different power tools that the manufacturer makes, which is great for those individuals that currently posses multiple other DEWALT products, as the batteries can be easily swapped from one to another.
The saw weighs 6.6 pounds and measures 17.88 inches at it’s longest, so sits comfortably in your hand and can be easily used in event small and cramped spaces. Also included with the power tools is a rip fence.
PROS
- Powerful brushless motor
- Convenient cutting blade changes
- Battery compatible with other power tools
CONS
- Battery not included
#3 Makita SH02R1 12V Max CXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Circular Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Can be used for different applications
- Battery power level indicator
- Comes with a 3 year full warranty
Boasting both lots of speed and power, the Makita SH02R1 12V Max CXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Circular Saw, although being relatively compact, can be used for a range of different applications. Coming with the saw are 2 x ergonomically designed lithium ion batteries that work to improve the balance of the power tools.
So that you are able to see how much these have left in them, there is a power level indicator. This should help to ensure that you never run out of power half way through a job as you can always easily keep an eye on the amount of charge that is left. Weighing just 3.5 pounds, the saw is both easy and comfortable use, and so will not leave you feeling fatigued after use. This is thanks to the soft rubber grip.
The Makita SH02R1 12V Max CXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Circular Saw has a maximum cutting depth capacity of 1 inch and an RPM of up to 1,500. With this, it is able to comfortably cut through a range of different materials, including drywall, melamine, particleboard, pegboard, MDF, and plywood. This makes it the ideal choice for those individuals that require a portable power tools to use in small projects and tight spaces.
Thanks to the built in dust blower, your cutting depth line is always clean and clear of dust and other debris. This helps to keep your cuts accurate and precise. To allow for the quick and easy changing of the cutting blade, a blade wrench is attached to the Makita SH02R1 12V Max CXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Circular Saw. In order to prevent the battery from either overloading or overheating, there is a protection circuit. This helps to prolong the life span of the battery.
So that you can keep it in good condition, it comes in a robust plastic protective case. This also makes it really easy to transport from job to job. The saw is covered with a 3 year full warranty, which protects it against any issues experienced relating either to quality or performance. However, this becomes void if either you or someone other than the manufacturer has made or even attempted to make a repair to the saw themselves.
PROS
- Can be used for different applications
- Battery power level indicator
- Comes with a 3 year full warranty
CONS
- Comes with an expensive price tag
#4 BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX 5-1/2-Inch Cordless Circular Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Carbide tipped cutting blade
- Comfortable to use
- Comes with a 3 year full warranty
The saw has a motor that is high torque and high powered saw, so produces cuts that are fast and clean. This is helped by the fact that it comes with a good quality 5.5 inch cutting blade that has 24 teeth that are each covered with carbide on their tips. This means that the saw is able to cut cut through various different materials and can be used for lots of different applications.
The depth at which the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX 5-1/2-Inch Cordless Compact Circular Saw cuts at can be quickly and easily adjusted without the need for any tools. Thanks to the bevel cuts adjustment, you are able to make cuts as a range of different angles, including 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Because it has been designed to be compact, it is both comfortable and easy to use. However, this is somewhat compromised by the fact that it is quite heavy to hold as it weighs 7.55 pounds. Some of the weight comes from the large 20 volt battery that is used to power the saw.
Coming with a 2 year long full warranty, the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX 5-1/2-Inch Cordless Compact Circular Saw is protected against any issues with performance and / or quality during this time period. This provides you with the peace of mind that this is a high quality product and that it will not cost anything to get it fixed should it ever break or stop working altogether.
PROS
- Carbide tipped cutting blade
- Comfortable to use
- Comes with a 3 year full warranty
CONS
- Heavy to hold
#5 Bosch GKS 10.8 V-LI Professional Cordless Circular Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Easy to handle
- Built in LED light
- Produces precise cuts
Featuring a highly compact design, the Bosch GKS 10.8 V-LI Professional Cordless Circular Saw is a super versatile and easy to handle power tools. This is thanks to its good ergonomics, which sees it being light in weight (around 3 pounds) and having a handle that has a small circumference, which makes it easy to grip hold of.
The saw has an batter power indicator so that you can easily see how much charge it has left and so ensuring that it does not run out when you are half way through a job. However, a battery does not come as standard and needs to be purchased additionally at an extra cost. There are several different batteries that are compatible with the power tool, with them coming in different sizes in order to suite your requirements.
Thanks to the built in LED light that brightly shines to illuminate your cutting line, you are able to make precise and clean cut through a range of different materials. The precision of your cut is helped by the fact that the Bosch GKS 10.8 V-LI Professional Cordless Circular Saw has a base plate that is made from aluminium and is highly robust.
Featuring a built in adapter for the attachment of a dust extraction system, you are able to keep your work space, clean, tidy, and, most importantly of all, safe. With an RPM of 1,400, there is no surprise that the saw is much loved by professional contractors, as well as hobbyist DIYers.
At 90 degrees, the Bosch GKS 10.8 V-LI Professional Cordless Circular Saw has a maximum cutting depth of just over 1 inch and at 45 degrees it maxes out at 0.67 inches.
PROS
- Easy to handle
- Built in LED light
- Produces precise cuts
CONS
- Battery not included
FAQs – A Buyer’s Guide
Here we have provided answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about all types of circular saws so that you have all of the information that you need in order to make a full and accurate purchasing decision based on your needs.
Are mini circular saws any good?
Just like any power tool, there are lots of good ones out there, but there are also lots of bad ones out there as well. The key is to know what makes a good mini circular saw so that you can purchase one that meets all of these criteria rather than one that lacks any functions or features that are actually helpful.
One of the first things that you should consider is the size of the power tool. Anything that has a cutting blade of 7 inches and bigger is getting on the larger side of mini circular saw and begin to lose all of the benefits that a smaller more compact power tool has to offer. Ideally, you want one that has a cutting depth blade that is 5 inches or less. This will ensure that it is able to fit in even the most cramped and awkward of spaces.
Another important consideration is the price of the mini circular saw. Before deciding on which power tool to purchase, you should set your budget and try to stick to it, as it is easy to get carried away and end up spending more than you wanted to. Although you usually find that the more you spend, the better the product you get; it is still true that there are deals and bargains to be had with lower cost saws.
What is the best cordless circular saw?
With many different cordless circular saws now available on the market, it can be difficult to know which one of these is the best best cordless one, particularly because they all have so any various functions and features.
By sticking with the better know brand names, such as BLACK+DECKER, DEWALT, Bosch etc. you should be safe in purchasing a pretty decent power tool. However, if you need it for a particular project or to be able to perform a certain cut cut, then you may need to delve a little deeper into the specifics.
Some of the things that you need to consider are the size of the cutting blade, the type and size of the battery it uses, the type and size of motor, what safety features it has, if it comes with a manufacturers warranty, and, finally, how much it costs.
Are cordless circular saws worth it?
There are many advantages to using a cordless circular saw rather than a corded one. Most importantly, they provide you with a greater amount of freedom to move around your work space as you are not tethered to a mains socket via the power cord. This lets you easily transport it from job to job.
A cordless circular saw is also good for use in those places where there are now power outlets available or within reach. However, there is a trade off in that a cordless power tool will never quite have the same amount of power as a corded version. No battery can compete with the amount of electricity that comes from a mains power source.
The use of a battery also adds some extra weight to the power tool. This can make the circular saw heavy and difficult to use, this leaving you feeling fatigued after using it for a full working day.
Can a 5 1/2 inch circular saw cut a 2×4?
There are a number of circular saws that have a 5.5 inch cutting blade, which are able to cut cut through a piece of 2 x 4. One example of this is the Ryobi One+ P501G 18V Lithium Ion Cordless 5 1/2 Inch Circular Saw. This is as a result of the high power that it is able to generate from the 18 volt battery that powers it.
Other circular saws that have a 5.5 inch cutting blade include the Craftsman C3 19.2 Volt 5 1/2 Inch Circular Saw, and the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX 5-1/2-Inch Cordless Circular Saw.
The Best Cordless Mini Circular Saw Of Them All
DEWALT DCS571B 20V Max Brushless Cordless Circular Saw
Having looked at each of the above small and mini cordless circular saws in great detail, we came to the final conclusion that the best cordless best cordless mini circular saw of them all is the DEWALT DCS571B Atomic 20V Max Brushless 4-1/2 in. Cordless Circular Saw, even though the battery is not included and so it has to be purchased additionally at an extra cost.
What we did like about it though is the fact that it has a really powerful brushless motor, it is super quick and easy to change the cutting blade thanks to the cutting blade key being stored on the saw itself, and that the battery for it is compatible with more than 200 other DEWALT power tools. This reason alone makes this saw the obvious choice if you have any other tools from this manufacturer.