Best circular saws for big families

SKIL 5180-01 14 Amp 7-1/4 In. Corded Circular Saw

The cheapest full-size corded saw here, and the sensible pick if a household just needs a saw that works the moment someone picks it up, with no battery to charge or replace. It takes a standard 7-1/4 in. blade and cuts about 2-7/16 in. deep at 90 degrees, which clears a 2x4 in a single pass, and at 7.2 lbs it is light for a corded saw. The trade-offs are the extension cord and the fact that SKIL does not list an electric brake for it, so the blade coasts for a few seconds after the trigger is released.

Metabo HPT C7SB3M 15 Amp 7-1/4 In. Circular Saw

A 15-amp corded saw for people who want more motor than the entry-level models without paying pro-tool money. Its published spec sheet is unusually complete for the price: 6,000 RPM, a 55-degree bevel, a sawdust blower to keep the cut line visible, and a 5-year warranty. It is the heaviest sidewinder in this set at 9.5 lbs, and Metabo HPT explicitly lists it as having no electric brake, which is worth knowing if several people in the house will be picking it up.

SKILSAW SPT67WL-01 15 Amp 7-1/4 In. Lightweight Circular Saw

SKILSAW's lightweight sidewinder, built on a magnesium shoe so it sheds weight without giving up the 15-amp motor. At 8.6 lbs it is easier to hold steady at the end of a long rip than most corded saws with the same power, and the spindle lock and soft grip are the sort of details that make it pleasant to share. It has no electric brake, and the listing does not publish a cut-depth figure, so the exact board thickness it clears has to be looked up in the manual.

SKILSAW SPT77WML-01 15 Amp 7-1/4 In. Lightweight Worm Drive Saw

The classic worm-drive shape, lightened with a magnesium housing, with the blade on the left so a right-handed user looks straight down the cut line. Worm drives deliver torque differently from sidewinders and tend to grind through wet or thick lumber without bogging, which is why they are the deck and framing choice. It is by far the heaviest saw here at 11.5 lbs and has no electric brake, so it is the least casual tool in this comparison even though it is not the priciest.

SKIL PWR CORE 20 CR540602 20V 6-1/2 In. Circular Saw Kit

A cordless kit that arrives ready to use: the saw, a 2.0Ah battery, a charger, a carbide blade, a hex key and a dust extractor are all in the box for under a hundred dollars. The 6-1/2 in. blade cuts 2-1/8 in. deep at 90 degrees, which still clears a 2x4 in one pass, and the 0-50 degree bevel covers ordinary angle cuts. SKIL does not publish a tool weight or an electric brake spec for this kit, which are the two things you would most want to know before handing it to an inexperienced user.

SKIL PWR CORE 20 CR5440B-1C Brushless 20V 7-1/4 In. Circular Saw Kit

The best-equipped kit here for the money: a brushless full-size saw that ships with a 4.0Ah USB-C battery and a fast charger, backed by a 5-year warranty. It has the deepest cut in this comparison at 2-5/8 in., a 56-degree bevel, and an electric brake that SKIL describes as stopping the blade quickly for added safety. At 7.05 lbs it is also the lightest full-size saw listed, which is the combination that matters most when more than one person in the house will use it.

RYOBI PBLCS302B 18V ONE+ HP Brushless 7-1/4 In. Circular Saw

Ryobi's brushless full-size saw, sold bare for households already on the 18V ONE+ battery system, which is the practical appeal: one battery platform shared across a lot of inexpensive tools. It cuts 2-9/16 in. deep at 0 degrees, bevels to 56 degrees, has a die-cast upper guard and a rafter hook, and Ryobi rates it for up to 370 cuts per charge. Ryobi publishes neither a weight nor an electric brake spec on the product page, and a battery and charger are an extra purchase.

RYOBI PCL500K1 ONE+ 18V 5-1/2 In. Circular Saw Kit

The smallest and gentlest saw here, and the one to look at if the point is a tool several people can use without much nerve. It is a complete kit with a 4.0Ah battery and charger, and the 5-1/2 in. blade keeps it light and easy to steer. The trade-off is capacity: 1-11/16 in. of cut at 90 degrees is barely enough for a 2x4 laid flat, so this is a plywood, shelving and trim saw rather than something to frame a deck with.

DEWALT DCS590B 20V MAX 7-1/4 In. Cordless Circular Saw (Tool Only)

A full-size 20V brushless saw for a household already invested in DeWalt batteries, sold as a bare tool. It cuts 2.563 in. deep at 90 degrees, bevels to 57 degrees with stops at 45 and 22.5, and has an automatic electric brake that stops the blade coasting once the trigger is released. DeWalt publishes only a shipping weight for this listing rather than a bare tool weight, so weight is the one column it cannot be compared on here.

DEWALT DCS571B ATOMIC 20V MAX Brushless 4-1/2 In. Circular Saw (Tool Only)

The compact one: a 4-1/2 in. brushless saw weighing 5.5 lbs, roughly half what the worm drive weighs. That makes it the easiest saw here to control one-handed or overhead, and it adds an electric brake, a work light and a rafter hook. The catch is capacity, since the small blade and a bevel that does not tilt mean it is a plywood, panel and trim tool rather than anything you would frame with.

Makita XSH04ZB 18V LXT Sub-Compact Brushless 6-1/2 In. Circular Saw

Makita's sub-compact 18V saw, and the lightest cordless saw here at 6.4 lbs even with a battery fitted, which is the number that matters if the tool gets passed around. It runs a 6-1/2 in. blade at 5,000 RPM, cuts 2-1/4 in. at 90 degrees, and has an electric brake. It is sold bare, so a battery and charger are an added cost on top of a price that is already high for the size of saw you get.

Milwaukee 2732-20 M18 FUEL 7-1/4 In. Circular Saw (Tool Only)

The most powerful cordless saw in this comparison and the most expensive, aimed at someone who wants a battery saw that behaves like a corded one. It spins at 5,800 RPM with 2-1/2 in. of cut depth and has an electric brake that stops the blade once the trigger is released. It is a bare tool and Milwaukee's high-output batteries are sold separately, so the real cost of getting it cutting is well above the listed price.