The Best Compact Circular Saws in 2021
Having the best compact circular saw in your tool box will allow you to perform a variety of different DIY jobs, as you are able to make lots of different cuts to a whole host of materials and surfaces.
However, with so much choice and so many different options currently available on the market, it can be difficult to know which of these power tools is the best one to purchase.
This is why we have provided a list below of the top five best compact mini circular saws that are currently available on the market for purchase.
The Best Compact Circular Saws: Our Top Picks
Table of Contents
1. Dremel US40-03 Compact Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Weighs 1.7 kg
- 20mm cutting capacity
- Good for straight and flush cuts
The Dremel DSM20 Compact Saw 710 W works by using the very best in abrasive cutting tech. This provide a means that the saw does not have a blade with teeth on, much like many other mini circular saws. Thanks to its design, you can easily operate the saw with just one hand.
Because it has an RPM of 17,000 the fact that it does not have any teeth is no issue and, as a result, will cut through pretty much any material with very little effort. It has a 20 mm cutting capacity and can make a range of different cuts.
These include materials such as walls, plastic, metal, wood, plus many more. You will need to add a diamond tipped blade if you want to effectively cut glass in addition to these materials. This is made easier thanks to the saw’s powerful 710 W motor.
There are four different cutting blades that come with the Dremel DSM20 Compact Saw 710 W, along with a dust extraction unit, and a case to store it all in. Thanks to the compact design that it has, the saw can be used in the smallest of spaces.
With the depth guide that can be easily adjusted and the line of sight that is very fine, you are able to make highly precise cuts. The saw comes with a storage box, a guide for cutting 2 x 4, a straight edge guide, a vacuum attachment for extracting dust, and 4 cutting discs.
In addition to all of this, it also comes with a 2 year full warranty that keeps the power tool protected from any quality or performance issues. When really putting the Dremel DSM20 Compact Saw 710 W through its paces, it is prone to overheating.
PROS
- Weighs 1.7 kg
- 20mm cutting capacity
- Good for straight and flush cuts
CONS
- Prone to overheating
2. WORX WX427 Compact Circular Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Weighs 5.04 kg
- 46 mm cutting capacity
- Ergonomic design
The WORX WX427 has the ability to cut at a cutting depth of up to 46 mm, which makes it highly versatile. It has the ability to make plunge cuts into plasterboard, metal, brick, stone, tiles, and wood.
However, because it is so capable, the WORX WX427 XL 710W WORXSAW Compact Circular Saw comes with a high price tag. This means that if you are on a tight budget then you should look elsewhere.
The motor on the WORX WX427 XL 710W WORXSAW Compact Circular Saw is good enough to give you a clean cut at cutting depth on any surface. Thanks to the ergonomic design that it has, it not only provides you with a great amount of control but is also very comfortable thanks to the slim grip.
In fact, because the saw is so light weight (5.04 kg), you can easily use it with one hand. With the laser guide light that comes in built, you are able to make straight and accurate cuts even in the dark.
The cutting blades that comes with the WORX WX427 XL 710W WORXSAW Compact Circular Saw as standard include one that is diamond tipped, a general purpose one, and a specialist wood cutting one.
Possessing a bevel capacity of up to 46 degrees, it means that the saw can be used for a whole host of different projects where straight cuts just are not enough. Similarly, the saw can also make plunge cuts, which are perfect for putting in light switches or sockets and even for creating vents.
Also include is a vacuum adapter and a hex key. A battery or a charger is not included with the saw. The saw comes with a number of different cutting blade size options at varying prices, the larger the size, the more expensive it is.
PROS
- Weighs 5.04 kg
- 46 mm cutting capacity
- Ergonomic design
CONS
- Blades quickly blunt
3. TACKLIFE 710W Compact Circular Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Weighs 3.19 kg
- 46 mm cutting capacity
- 3 m long power cable
Thanks to the highly capable motor that is in the TACKLIFE 710W Compact Circular Saw, you are able to practically do anything that you want when it comes to cutting.
Coming in at an affordable price, it can generate a speed for cutting of 3500 RPM, which will give you precise and fast cuts. To help you even further in getting a clean cut, the TACKLIFE 710W Compact Circular Saw has a built in laser guide laser guide for guidance and eliminating your cuts in the dark.
With the TACKLIFE 710W Compact Circular Saw coming with three different cutting blades, you are able to cut through a range of materials.
For example, the grit and diamond blade can cut through tiles at 115 mm, the TCT blade can cut through plastic and wood at 120 mm, and the 60T HSS blade can cut through soft metal at a depth of up to 115 mm.
When cutting at 90 degrees, the saw saw is capable of doing so at a cutting depth of a maximum of 46 mm. At 45 degree, the TACKLIFE 710W Compact Circular Saw can cut at a cutting depth of up to 35 mm.
Thanks to the plastic coating on the outside of the saw saw, it reduces the amount of fatigue that you experience when using it with just one hand. It also allows you to grab hold of the saw stronger and so make cuts that are much more stable and accurate.
As a safety measure the saw features a twin safety switch control system. This means that in order for the saw to power up and the cutting blade to begin spinning, you need to press two buttons at the same time.
Further to this, the guard on the saw saw is made from a strong aluminium and protects you from any sparks that are generated whilst you are cutting through metal or other similar materials.
When purchasing this saw not only does it come with the different cutting blades but it also comes with an Allen key, a rip guide, an adapter for extracting dust and a user manual for those individuals that have not used such a power tool before.
In addition this, the saw also comes with a full warranty that lasts for 24 months that protects against quality or performance issues. These means that if you have any problems with any of these during this 2 year period, the manufacturer will either fix the power tool or provide you with a new one free of charge.
PROS
- Weighs 3.19 kg
- 46 mm cutting capacity
- 3 m long power cable
CONS
- Not ergonomically designed
4. WORX WORXSAW 4-1/2" Compact Circular Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Weighs 2.04 kg
- Up to 3500 rpm
- Comes with a 3 year full warranty
The WORX WORXSAW 4-1/2″ Compact Circular Saw is able to cut through 2 x 4s with absolute ease and is really easy to handle given the fact that it is light weight.
In addition to this, its ergonomic design makes the saw comfortable to use, even for extended periods of time. This sees the handle grip being integrate with a safety trigger for added comfort, whilst also providing you with a good amount of control and balance.
The WORX WORXSAW 4-1/2″ Compact Circular Saw comes with a 4.5 inch cutting blade that is capable of spinning at a speed of up to 3500 RPM.
The bevel and cutting depth at which it can cut at are easily adjustable, thus providing you with a great amount of versatility to work on a variety of different DIY jobs.
It comes with a 3 year full warranty that covers it against and performance or quality issues that you may experience. This means that you can return the power tool to the manufacturer during this time to have it fixed or replaced with a new one free of charge.
The WORX WORXSAW 4-1/2″ Compact Circular Saw runs off of 120 volts power and comes with an Allen key, a vacuum adapter, a parallel guide, and a 24T cutting blade that has carbide tips.
Because the cutting blade is thin, it means that there is less tool stain and so provides the same level of performance and speed as a full sized small circular saw saw. Similarly, because it is on the left hand side, it provides you with a good amount of visibility when making straight line cuts.
The cutting depth gauge leveller is easy to set up on the WORX WORXSAW 4-1/2″ Compact Circular Saw and adjustments to the bevel setting can be quickly done. It has a range of 0 through to 45 degrees, which means that the saw can be used for a wide variety of different DIY jobs.
PROS
- Weighs 2.04 kg
- Up to 3500 rpm
- Comes with a 3 year full warranty
CONS
- Pulls when cutting
5. Genesis GCS545C Compact Circular Saw
NOTABLE FEATURES
- Powerful 5.8 amp motor
- Up to 3500 rpm
- Easy to handle
Boasting a highly powerful 5.8 amp motor, the Genesis GCS545C 5.8 Amp 120 Volt 4-1/2 in. Control Grip Compact Circular Saws is capable or generating a cutting blade speed of as much as 3500 RPM.
This makes it ideal for a whole host of tough jobs. The saw will easily cut through strong materials, such as aluminium or copper, providing that you are using the correct HSS cutting blade.
In addition to this, it is easy to handle, thanks to the fact that it is so light weight and has been designed ergonomically. Because the saw saw has a large blade cutting depth, you are able to use it for a variety of different small DIY type jobs.
Included with the saw you get a rip guide, a vacuum adapter, and a dust port. This means that you have everything that you need to tackle most jobs safely and to a high standard. In addition to these, you also get a 2 year full warranty on the power tool that protects against any issues with quality or performance.
However, there are some issues with the Genesis GCS545C 5.8 Amp 120 Volt 4-1/2 in. Control Grip Compact Circular Saws that are worth mentioning.
These include the fact that the screws and bolts which hold the cutting blade in place can come loose and so lead to problems with the accuracy of the cuts it makes.
In the worst case scenario this can lead to total failure of the cutting blade.
PROS
- Powerful 5.8 amp motor
- Up to 3500 rpm
- Easy to handle
CONS
- Problems with accuracy of the cuts
FAQs – A Buyer’s Guide
You may at this point still have some questions about these types of power tools and so for anyone in that situation, the below answers should help to shed some light and provide answers to those questions.
Reading these should help you with your purchasing decision as they will give you some more insight into what exactly you should be looking out for when deciding on such a power tool.
What do you use a compact circular saw for?
Compact circular saws can be used to perform cuts through various materials, such as concrete, metal, plastic, wood, plus many more. These can either be straight or curvilinear cuts.
Unlike the full size version, compact circular saws are better suited for use on smaller jobs. Despite of this, compact circular saws are very popular with both DIY enthusiasts and professional tradesmen.
Although, due to their more limited capability, compact mini circular saws are more typically used by individuals for doing jobs at home and around the house rather than on a construction site, although they are still used in these kinds of environments.
What is the best size circular saw?
When looking for a mini circular saw to purchase, there are a number of key things that you need to consider so that you get the best and most appropriate power tools for your needs.
Knowing what types of cuts that you either need to or are likely to make is an important thing to consider as all circular saws perform these differently.
The size of the cutting blade that the mini circular saw has is similarly important as this determines the size of the cuts that it can make. The two main types of mini circular saw are worm drive and inline / sidewinder. The difference here is as a result of the location of the motor.
For example, on an inline circular saw, the motor sits on the same axis that the cutting blade is on, turning a shaft that drives the cutting blade. However, with a worm drive mini circular saw has the motor positioned right next to the cutting blade at a right angle.
This makes this type of saw highly suitable for more heavy duty kind of tasks. Not only are they typically longer in size than inline circular saws, but they are also much quieter.
Once you have decided which of these types of mini circular saw that is most suited to your needs, you also need to consider the types of functions and features would make a saw the best on for you.
Some of these include laser guide laser guide cutting guides, bevel stops and the bevel capacity, shaft locks, electric brakes, the capacity of the cutting blade, and the amount of power that the mini circular saw uses. It is unlikely that you will need or even want all of these features and that a combination of a few of them should more than suffice.
What is the best cordless circular saw on the market?
There are many different cordless circular saws with pretty much all of them claiming to be the best one out there. However, this is of course not true. Therefore, you need to know what to look out for so that you are not duped into purchasing a sub par power tool.
One of the most important things is the amount of power or the size of the battery required in order to drive the cutting blade. Those circular saws that are battery powered are unable to produce the same amount of power as those that are powered by mains electricity.
The type of cuts and the depth at which the circular saw can perform these is also an important factor to consider. Typically, cordless saws come with a smaller cutting blade than mains powered saws, although there are some out there that do come with a 7.5 inch cutting blade.
Not only is the size of the cutting blade important, but also so is the type. A good quality blade will leave you with cuts that are clean and straight, whereas a poor quality one will leave you with the exact opposite.
Other things to consider are the speed at which it performs these cuts and the weight of the actual circular saw itself, as a heavy one will leave you feeling fatigued after use. It is all of these different elements that make a cordless circular saw the best one.
This is why you need to consider all of these things when making a purchase, so that you do get the right power tool that will do everything that you need from it. It is for this reason that why this is such a subjective question. Where unsure, you should typically stick with the big name manufacturers.
This is because they use good quality components and are usually covered with good warranties, not that they are likely to need them thanks to the good craftsmanship that goes into their production.
The Best Compact Circular Saw
Dremel US40-03 Compact Saw
Now that we have looked at all of the above compact circular saws in great detail, it is now time to make our recommendation as to which of them is the best compact circular saw of all.
After much deliberation we came to the final decision that the Dremel US40-03 Compact Saw is the best of them all.
This is because of the variety of features that come with the tool, it’s ease of use and quality of performance. A compact saw such as this will help you make those small, tight cuts precisely and allow you to cut through a variety of materials.
