Last Updated on July 13, 2021 by James
Selecting the perfect mini or compact circular saw can really be an overwhelming thing if you have so many different options to choose from. So, we are here to make the task of selecting the best compact circular saw a bit easier for you.
We are going to provide you with the Top 9 compact circular saws and you can easily select the one that suits the best for you. Click the blue links or circular saw images to find the best deals online.
Best Compact Circular Saw for the Money
When it comes to choosing the best compact circular saw, you might need all the help that you can get. Well, here are some of the options that you can choose from.
#1. Rockwell RK3441K 4-1/2” Compact Circular Saw, 5 amps, 3500 rpm with Dust Port and Accessory Kit
This is a particular circular saw that is hand-held and a very versatile product for sure. The durable and solid jaw will be able to stand upright in the time test and will provide long lasting services for sure. The best thing about the product is the motor that we have in here and it is certainly a professional-grade one for sure. Providing about 4 amp power and an RPM of 3500, the motor is surely very strong and will be able to do the job just fine.
With the help of this saw, you will not only be able to properly cut through the wood materials but also some other hard materials such as steel, concrete as well as sliding. The best part this that it won’t tire or stall you at any point and the cuts are pretty smooth for sure. You will also be able to see the direction and the path of the saw and you will be ready to cut the wood. There is a laser cut guide that is provided in the saw that guides the people and shows them the way to cut properly.
With this particular mini circular in your hands, there are fewer chances that you will be making any particular errors because there is a proper plunge cut indicator provided on either side that will tell you exactly the way where the cut is going. It doesn’t really matter what material you have, this saw works on every single. The efficient handle that the mini circular saw has is proper and made with extra care which makes the experience of sawing easy and even fun. The handle will fit perfectly with your hand and it is comfortable too. Another one of the best things about the saw is that it is very light-weight and easy to carry anywhere. So, don’t worry about tiring your hands when you are holding this saw. Apart from that, the value of the saw is not really that high and it is a top rated one for use.
#2. BLACK+DECKER BDCCS20B 20-volt Max Circular Saw Bare Tool, 5-1/2-Inch
One of the best products on the list, this powerful motor has got the power of about 3700 RPM which is quite high and makes it very efficient for sawing. The maximum cutting length that it has is about 1.625inches at around 90 degrees and about 1.375 inches at a stunning 45 degrees. So, there is no doubt about the fact that the cuts that you make will be a very clean and smooth one.
Apart from that, another one of the great things about the saw is the weight of it which is just about 6 pounds. You will easily be able to carry it anywhere without tiring your hand. The compact nature of the saw makes sure that the person sawing with these has got good visibility when they are sawing. The saw is powered by a very good quality lithium battery that comes separately in another package and you have to buy it.
Another one of the best things about the motor is that it has got a pretty high torque which makes it even more powerful for use. So, the cuts that you make on any surface will be very accurate. The bevel adjustment is very easy to use while cutting and that makes the job even easier. You will also be able to make angled cuts with it and that too without tiring or stalling at any point whatsoever. The saw has got a blade that is about 5.5 inches long and makes pretty smooth cuts. One thing that might worry you is that the package doesn’t necessarily have the lithium battery but it is available to buy in any store.
#3. Makita SH01ZW 12V max Lithium-Ion Cordless 3-3/8″ Circular Saw
Here is another one of the best saws that we have for you. The Makita SH01ZW is truly very good because of the benefits that it provides to the user. One of the best things about this particular saw is that it is hand-held and it doesn’t even weigh much. The entire weight of the saw is about 1.5 pounds so you can carry it around very easily and not tire your hand in the process.
Being cordless, the saw is also very portable if you want to move it while working. You might be surprised to not find the lithium battery but it is not really included in the package. You will have to buy a 12V lithium battery in order to make the saw run at its full speed and power. The battery life is pretty long and you will not run out of battery until and unless you make about 70 cuts in total on the 1/2″ x 12″ plywood. The batteries are rechargeable so no worries there at all.
The particular saw that we have in here has got a power of about 1400 ROM and you will be able to make very quick cuts with the help of that much power. We can say that this amazing blade that it has is very sharp and has a length of 3-3/8 inches which is quite long. You will be able to make 1 inch deep cuts every time you cut with this particular saw. That is one of the reasons why it is so efficient for use. If you set the saw depth at about 1 inch then you can easily make 90-degree cuts and if you set the saw depth at 5/8 inches then you will be able to make 45 degree cuts pretty easily. There is also a chance to make the beveled cuts as well ranging from about 0 to 45 degrees. All you have to do is tilt the base of the saw and you can easily make the cuts.
#4. MasterMind 800344 Compact Precision 3-Inch Circular Saw
The cuts that you make with the MasterMind will be very accurate for sure. So, there no doubt that it is one of the high-ranking circular saws that we have in here. With all the benefits and the features, this will be a win for you. The amazing circular saw has got a whopping power of 2800RPM which is pretty high. So, you can easily cut other materials apart from wood as well.
Materials such as tiles and concrete don’t stand a chance against the cutting power of this amazing mini circular saw. You can easily adjust the depth control as well which makes it easy for plunge cutting too. Apart from that, the saw comes equipped with a proper laser guide which allows the person to cut straight in a line. In case you are working in an environment with low lights or darkness, the LED light in the saw would guide you properly.
When it comes to the handle, it is a very efficient and comfortable one that adjusts impeccably to three variable positions in total, another one of the best things that we could find about the saw. The saw might be a bit heavy for some people as it weighs about 9.2 pounds so your hands might feel a little tired after using it for a very long time. The package also has a vacuum hose adapter that increases its efficiency as it extracts the dust particles when you make the cuts. As the manufacturers of the mini circular saw say, this one is perfect for handling tasks such as plumbing, flooring, electrical works, tiles and so much more.
#5. WORX WORXSAW WX429L Compact Saw
The WORX compact saw is a very powerful and efficient circular saw that you can use. It is very easy to use and adjust as well, no matter whether you want to set the bevel angle or the depth of cut. The grip that you get with the saw is extremely comfortable and the balance is amazing as well. So, you don’t have to worry about the control as it is efficient. The lightweight nature of the saw is another great factor which enables the user to maneuver it pretty easily. It just weighs about 5.3 pounds and has a power of 4 amp and 3500RPM which is quite high.
The best thing about the saw is that it has got a particular lift-side design for the blade so you will be able to view the blade and also the material that you are cutting through. So, you can make sure that the cuts you are making are all straight in line. It also improves the accuracy of the cuts that are made as well. The compact design of the saw makes it pretty easy to use and carry. You won’t really tire your hands if you are using this particular saw for cutting purposes and it is suitable for people who have smaller hands too.
The depth lever is pretty easy to adjust and the range of the bevel angle ranges from 0 to 45 degrees in total. The one thing that you might not like about the saw is that it has not really got a design that is suitable for the left-handed people. All in all, we can say that this saw is perfect for the minor projects.
#6. Genesis GCS545C Compact Saw
Another one of the best products that we have in here is the Genesis compact circular saw. With a very powerful 5.8 amp motor, this circular saw is able to make very tough cuts. There is a triple gear reduction feature in the saw that also increased the torque. Apart from that, this features ensures that the gear damage is comparatively reduced by making sure that the stress on the gears is lowered. The saw weighs only 6 pounds so it is a very lightweight product. The design of the saw is in a way that makes it pretty easy to adjust and use. This is all thanks to the perfect ergonomic grip that it has. You will easily be able to use the saw with one hand and steady the material that you are cutting with the other hand.
Apart from that, the depth and the bevel on the saw are pretty easy to adjust as well. You will also find a proper rip guide available with the saw that makes it easier for you to make long cuts that are very accurate. There is a blade wrench along with a proper Carbide tipped blade that can be used with the saw. However, you might have to replace that one with time. For those who want to use the saw for cutting other tough materials such as concrete and tiles, upgrading the blade of the saw would be a great idea.
#7. PORTER-CABLE PCE381K
For those who want to have a saw that has got a proper and handy design that will be suitable for handling the different projects in the home, this is the one saw that will help a lot for sure. This mini circular saw is the smallest one that we have on the list. With the help of the single hand design, this tool provides depth for the saw that is undeniably amazing and powerful. The saw is able to handle about 2×4 lumbers with the help of that power without any difficulty whatsoever. The thing that we like about the saw is that it has got a design that is compact and convenient. Using a 5.5amp engine, it can do all the heavy-duty projects as well.
You will certainly be impressed with the performance of the saw which goes up to 3500 RPM with a very fast and robust speed of cutting. The compact and lightweight design is another cap on it which makes it easy to fit in smaller spaces. That being said, the tool is very easy to maneuver because of the size. The depth of the cut goes to about 1-11/16 inches. So, it is easy to cut materials with a single shot. There are 2 different angles that ensure accuracy in the 90 degree and 45-degree cuts. One thing that you might miss in the product is the laser guide so you won’t really be able to make that straight cuts. However, the running of the saw is pretty smooth and the package also has a dust chute, a very high rate of rotation and also a lower guard. The lower guard ensures that the blades work for a very long period of time and you wouldn’t have to replace it every now and then.
Overall, we can say that this tool is a very efficient solution for the home projects that you have. Not only do you get a lightweight design, but you also get a proper performance as well.
#8. Rockwell RK3440K
The circular saw that we have right here is one of the best products because of its powerful motor and compact design. The compact design that it has makes it very easy to maneuver and the multifunction feature is pretty interesting to use as well. This product is a better option than the other smaller circular saws because the motor is powerful enough to handle wood, flooring, plastic, and some other tough materials such as sheet metal, aluminum, slate, and so much more. One of the best things that we absolutely love about the products is the design and the lightweight nature of it.
Did you know that the saw weighs just 4 pounds? That means, operating with the saw will be a pretty easy job for sure, even if you are using it with one hand. Also, you can easily fit it anywhere. The diameter of the blade is about 3-3/8 inches and that means that user will be able to get more depth in the cutting. The cutting depth is about 1-1’16 inches.
Although cutting the thinner materials will not be a good idea with this saw, you can rest easy knowing that the product will be a bomb with the thicker materials for sure. The saw comes along with a very powerful engine of 4-amps and it can easily make the performance of the saw increase. Since it is easy to fit in the smaller locations, there is no doubt about the fact that the cuts will be very precise, There is a laser guide included in here as well which will guide the path of cutting for the people. We absolutely love the ergonomic design that it has which makes it pretty comfortable to use and it also reduces the fatigue. Overall, the product can be a very excellent purchase.
#9. Makita SH02R1
For those who are looking for the best next-generation circular saw, this is the product for them. The Makita SH02R1 is the best product that we have in line for you as it has got a superb battery life that lasts very long. Apart from that one of the key features in here is an amazing balance that you get. The Lithium-ion batteries that can be used to operate the saw are the best things about it for sure. You will get to enjoy the amazing LED indicator that tells you about the level of the charge.
Apart from that, you also get a proper engine that is inbuilt into the saw and it has an RPM of about 1500 which will make it very easy to cut in a very fast way. There is also a tilting base which is adjustable that can help you to make the angled cuts. You also get a proper dust blower that can make sure that you have a proper and transparent cutting line after the blower clears away all the dust and the debris.
The reason why this product is so popular amongst the people is that of the lightweight design that it has. The weight of the product is about 3.5 pounds. So, that means that the ease of using this for a very long amount is possible. There is an adjustable cutting length of about 5/8 inches for the 45-degree cuts and about 1 inch for the 90-degree cuts. You will also be able to make the bevel cuts with the help of this saw which is another great benefit. Apart from the compact and the lightweight nature of the saw, it is also very comfortable to use because of the rubber handle that it has. This sturdy tool will provide excellent balance when compared to the other products. Not just that but you also get an additional tool case for storage purposes.
Features That You Need to Look for in a Compact Circular Saw
We agree that it can be quite challenging to look for a proper circular saw that meets all the needs and the requirements. For those who don’t have the experience needed to do so, choosing one would require much additional help. Here we are with some factors that you need to look for in a particular circular saw.
The main idea here is to find a proper saw that would provide the power to handle tough materials. So, the choice is entirely up to you. However, when it comes to some other specifications, you can take the help of this particular buying guide for sure.
Power
While most people might think that having the most powerful motor would be the solution to all the problems. Even if you have a motor that is most powerful, there are chances that you might not have the precision that you need.
So, it is really important to make a choice of the motor that has got the power that suits the needs and the requirements that you have for your activities. The power of the motor can be determined by 3 different factors: amps, volts, and torque.
The ratings in the torque can be different when the saw is exposed to the different conditions. The amp of the motor will show the electricity amount that the blade would need in order to work properly. You need to make sure that you find the correct balance when it comes to these 3 factors to make sure that your saw is working properly.
Price
One of the most important factors when it comes to choosing the circular saw would have to be the price. Normally, cheaper saws have less features. If you want a quality saw that would fit all your needs, having a budget of $100 or above is expected.
Usability
When you choose a circular saw, the basic idea here is to get a hold of a tool that will help you finish all the tasks that you have without actually hiring someone to do it for you. So an important feature that comes to mind when selecting your saw is the ergonomic features and the ease of use. You need to select an option that feels comfortable in your hands. The easier the saw is to use, the better it will be for you.
Safety Lock
There are large circular saws that have safety locks that can be used for the protection of the saw. However, when you are choosing the smaller options, you need to make sure that these have some safety options as well. With better and advanced safety options, you can easily use these saws for completing your jobs.
So, these are some of the features that you need to look for when you are selecting a particular circular saw for your tasks. Make sure that you look for all these features.
Conclusion
Every single one of these saws that we have for you reviewed is a great compact circular saw. It totally depends on your needs and requirements. So, when you are selecting a proper compact circular saw for your next project, make sure that you keep these options that we have for you in mind.
