Circular saws are essentially table saws set free. They have the mobility of a reciprocating saw and yet power that’s closer to the steady grind of a miter saw. You can carry out your decorative trim work with a compact, fast-moving blade, or zip your way through 2x4s.
As a multipurpose tool, it’s a popular one and a whole raft of brands have put forward versions of their own within a price range banding which extends from $40 to $190.
What we’ve gathered here is a list of the best saws up to $100 which have been given the thumbs up by experienced workmen, home DIY enthusiasts, and customers of the brands mentioned. Following reviews of our favorite top five, we’ve provided a brief buyer’s guide to remind you of the factors you may want to think about when choosing the best saw for your needs, and we’ve supplied answers to some of those frequently asked questions posed by the curious lovers of Google.
Want to get cracking? Here’s our top pick.
Table of ContentsTop 5 Best Circular Saws Under $100Best Circular Saws Under $100 Buying GuideFrequently Asked Questions
Top 5 Best Circular Saws Under $100
OUR TOP PICK
No products found.SKIL 5280-01 7¼” blade
EDITORS CHOICE
No products found.Tacklife Mini Circular Saw 4¾” blade (TCS115A)
BEST VALUE
No products found.CRAFTSMAN 7¼-Inch Circular Saw (CMES510)
OUR TOP PICK
SKIL 5280-01 7¼” blade
No products found.Summary
We’re opening with a saw which finds its way onto the majority of recommendation lists by experienced DIY enthusiasts as a tool which doesn’t force you to make quality compromises at the wallet-friendly price point. Skil’s 5280-01 is universally popular.
First off, let’s look at the power. It’s a lightweight 8.7lb, but still packs a strong enough motor to power the blade at 5,300rpm. The cutting depth is respectable at just under 2½” at 90° to the wood and a shade under 2” at 45°. The blade will also bevel to 51° with a convenient stop at °45. Handy for all those picture frames and awkward corners.
Safety is pretty standard on this model. There’s no rip fence, or electric brake. But while it’s average in terms of safety, it’s wonderful for convenience.
There’s a laser guide to improve the precision of your work, a detachable metal handle which you can screw on to stabilize your grip further, an anti-snag lower blade guard has been fitted, and you can physically attach the hex wrench right onto the body of the saw so that you don’t mislay it. That is one understated advantage for people having to share their working space with younger people learning from them or (worse) compulsive tidier-uppers.
Speaking of which, tidy-minded folks may object to the efficiency of the dust-blowing feature on this saw. It’s no hurricane, but it will relocate your sawdust thoroughly and with enthusiasm. You will want to keep a vacuum nearby for the cleanup job alongside your workbench when you’re done. The upside of that is that you’ll be done way faster because you won’t constantly be fighting the dust drifts building up around your blade and along your cut.
This tool comes with a 24T blade and fitted tool bag, which is a bonus for neat and safe storage.
Pros
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Light
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Easy to maneuver
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Guide laser included
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Dust-blowing element included
Cons
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Comparatively short warranty (1 year)
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Short electric cord (6 feet)
EDITORS CHOICE
Tacklife Mini Circular Saw 4¾” blade (TCS115A)
No products found.Summary
Yes, this has a tiny blade, but it’s a powerful little saw which is easy to handle, light on the wrists, has decent control of the vibrations from the 710-Watt motor, and it comes with a generous accessory package, as you learn to expect from Tacklife kits.
It’s strong for its size, delivering 3,500rpm to the blade, in which respect it’s comparable to the performance of the cordless Milwaukee (last in this list). It’s also a versatile little tool. The bevel only swings to 45°, but you can adjust the cutting depth. The design of the entire unit is nicely intuitive, the blades being particularly easy to change using the hex wrench provided. DIY newbies have loved getting this up and running right out of the box.
If we have one note of caution, it’s that you’ll probably need bare hands operating this so that you keep a decent grip on the speed trigger. While the handle is nicely ergonomic, the same attention hasn’t been paid to the relative locations of the trigger and safety switch, making the saw very awkward for some left-handed people to use.
A lot comes with this saw. You’re provided with 6 blades altogether which are suitable for wood (2), plastic and soft metal (2), and even 2 diamond grit blades for tiles. The saw itself is also fitted with a laser guide and scale ruler. The laser isn’t adjustable, but that’s quite a lot to ask under $100, and it remains quite bright.
Customer feedback demonstrates that this is a reliable tool which is great for small to medium jobs around the home, and particularly user-friendly for beginners. It comes with a 2-year warranty.
Pros
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Generous package
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Reasonably generous warranty terms
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Lightweight
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Easy to maneuver
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Better safety features than on some models…
Cons
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… but the safety switch is awkwardly placed for lefties
BEST VALUE
CRAFTSMAN 7¼-Inch Circular Saw (CMES510)
No products found.Summary
This 11lb saw is on a par with the hefty Makita as a heavy tool, but it’s balanced nicely and the design accommodates a powerful motor which drives a 5500rpm blade. The Craftsman is the second fastest saw in this little selection and it’s Amazon’s choice for corded circular saws.
It’s nicely ergonomic with the molded handle. The non-slip grip is very welcome, as is the comprehensive guard system around the blade. However, given the handle’s position above the blade and to the left, this must limit visibility somewhat (at least for the 100% of us with opaque forearms). That said, the magnesium shoe surrounding the blade is as minimalist as it is light, and reassuring customer comments indicate that the tool’s reliably accurate.
This saw has a lot in common with the Skil 7¼” circular, so let’s look at what makes it different. Firstly, it has a really nice guidance system with a 55°´bevel angle with stops at 45 and 22.5° for convenience. This means that you can get through a lot of repetitive cutting faster.
Secondly, this is the only saw to feature a rafter hook. If you haven’t come across one of these, it’s a piece of machined metal which lets you hook your saw to a nearby rafter so that you don’t have to trot up and down the ladder after each stage of prep. For some, this convenient feature may even compensate for the lack of a laser guide.
This tool comes at a great price for all the medium-sized jobs in the home and yard.
Pros
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Really easy to use right out of the box
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Very accurate
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Durable
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Powerful
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Broad mitering angle
Cons
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The warranty period (3 years) is more generous than its terms and conditions
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Heavier than most saws of this type
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Blade guard doesn’t move back out of your way very fast
RUNNER UP
Makita 5007F Circular Saw
No products found.Summary
This saw won’t leave you more than a couple bucks’ change from $100, but it’s very rare that you will see this brand name available at this price point. The Makita 5700F circular saw’s amperage is standard (15) but it has the most powerful unloaded speed on this list at 5,800rpm. That said, this is the only speed available (no variation trigger provided) so you need to be confident and committed with each cut you make.
The cutting power of this saw might help you to overlook any shortfalls: it comes with a 24T carbide-tipped 7¼” blade which has an impressive perpendicular cutting depth of 2⅜ inches and 1¾” at a 45° angle. This is going to help you get through a lot of cross-cutting and beveling work in short time.
It’s a pity that the bevel is limited to 45°—as you’ve seen, others provide a wider mitering range—but it seems nit-picky to mention that when you consider the three key features which are unique to this saw (other than the power and RPM speed).
Firstly, although there may not be an inbuilt laser, there are two LED lights to help you work accurately, and at speed. It also helps that the measurement dials are clearly written, which is going to help further if your LED illumination turns out to be vital in less than optimal lighting conditions. There is also an inbuilt dust-blower to keep your working area clear.
The second key feature which distinguishes this drill is the centrifugal fan and baffle system to keep the motor cool. This is great news in stifling working conditions, or where you have a lot of material to get through without being able to take much more than your standard breaks for rest and recuperation.
A key question with any saw is safety. The lack of an electric brake (given the single-speed of 5800rpm) is a shame, but they’ve made the replacement of blades quick and easy with the nicely placed shaft lock, and they do provide upper and lower blade guards for straight and beveled cuts respectively.
A couple of convenience points are redeemed with the inclusion of an AC/DC switch for power supply versatility, and a reasonable 8 feet of electrical cord so that you’re not obliged to work while pinned up near a wall.
Pros
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Durable and easy to direct
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Cuts powerfully and efficiently
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Good motor safety features
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Easy changing of blades
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Powerful dust blower and bright lights provided
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Has a depth adjustment system for better control with a wider range of wood thicknesses
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Good weight-to-power ratio (11.1lb)
Cons
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The single speed and lack of speed brake perhaps doesn’t make this optimal for beginners
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It’s a reliable brand, but they could be a little more generous with the warranty length (1yr)
RUNNER UP
Milwaukee M18 (2630-20) 6-1/2″ Cordless Circular Saw
No products found.Summary
Finally, this is the one cordless circular saw that made it onto our list of favorites under $100. There are others which had similar power, but nowhere close to the same level of positive feedback from customers.
We need to be upfront about something that nearly all of those customers had in common—they already had M18 tools and therefore were equipped with the necessary batteries and chargers. This is a “naked” tool, which means that you’ll need to have the battery and charger already or invest money in them alongside the saw (and the included blade). That said, you might want to do so after trying this saw out, and it is compatible with six types of battery pack.
It has a no-load speed of 3500, which is decent for a cordless. There is sufficient torque to drive the 6½” blade 2⅛ through wood at 90° and 1⅜” at a bevel of 45°. As with the Makita, you can adjust the depth of the cut; in this case, you can adjust up to 1½”.
Milwaukee’s 2630-20 packs a serious punch for its very light weight (6.8lb), yet the balance of the tool is great due to the fairly broad magnesium plate. The ease of handling is greatly helped by the soft-grip handle itself. It’s rubberized and designed to accommodate a sweaty or humid grip.
Another great safety feature is the electric brake, which will stop your blade cleanly and sharply when you’ve completed your cut. No need to wait for it to thud to a reluctant halt so you can put it down safely, and no fear of it “walking” across whichever surface you’ve put it down on. There are also robust magnesium guards along the top and bottom of the blade. No tool is truly accident-proof, but this is a little better protected from bumps and slips than most. A special touch which we really like is the “fuel” gauge showing your remaining battery charge. You don’t want that to be a guessing game depending upon your memory of when it was switched on, and how powerful it still feels.
Pros
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Durable
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Great safety features
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Great for outdoor work or awkward corners
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Can be used on all materials
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Fantastic warranty (5 years)
Cons
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You will get through the batteries really fast
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Dust could become an irritant pretty quickly
Best Circular Saws Under $100 Buying Guide
As promised, this is a quick run through the questions you might want to ask yourself while deciding which tool best fits your needs. We’re hoping it helps you to draw up a comparison grid of the features most important to you.
Where will you be working?
Depending upon your location, you might want to think about the relative importance of:
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having a rafter hook attached to the drill (if you’re going up and down ladders)
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whether you’re going to need the power of a corded drill, or whether the loss of torque isn’t as important as the freedom to go cordless outside, or into awkward places
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Whether you personally need a laser light for accuracy (they tend to fade in sunlight). Are you good with lining the blade with the line already drawn, so long as it’s light and easy to handle?
How long will you be working in one session?
This is another aspect which has weight in the corded vs cordless debate. You need to check out the battery life of each charge (could be anywhere between 5-9 hours) and, if necessary, make sure that you have a back-up. It’s also worth researching how much it will set you back to buy a second battery.
Safety concerns
Following the general theme of the length of your working time, do you need a cooling system on your engine? If your work involves repeated bouts of attacking 2x4s, then you’ll want your saw to keep up with you without overheating.
Will you be working with younger people, perhaps someone who’s acting as an unofficial apprentice? If so, you might want to focus your search on the quality of the blade guards and whether or not there is an electric brake system in place.
Comfort of Use
Comfort is a concept which depends on each person, according to their own needs. Some things to take into account are:
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Whether you need a light drill, or whether you’re good with robust handles, even on a heavier model
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Whether you’re sensitive to vibrations. Rubber-coated handles tend to palliate the severity of the shaking, giving you a cleaner line and less sore joints.
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Do you need a specifically ergonomic handle, or are you working in short bursts with good attention to your own posture?
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whether your left-handedness is going to present a significant issue (you could be impressively ambidextrous by now!)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a universal rafter hook which I can fix to my new saw?
Sadly not—they’re manufactured individually, according to the tool’s size and weight specifications.
What are the advantages of using a mini-saw?
What they lack in power and cutting depth they make up for in finish and refinement. You’re more likely to be able to maneuver them easily and handle lighter, sometimes less cooperative wood-based materials that generate a lot of dust (like plywood and MDF) with a degree of finesse. They tend to be more slimline, driven from behind, and offer better visibility to your work. You may be able to use some of them one-handed, which is definitely a bonus if you need to hold the edge of the wood for support while you’re sawing on a narrow bench.
How do I find out how long the electrical cord is?
For some strange and undisclosed reason, power tool manufacturers aren’t hot on remembering to include the length of the electrical cord along with the rest of their product specifications. There are a couple of things you can try. First, find a parts vendor online (like www.ereplacementparts.com), which also provides great maintenance advice. The dimensions of the parts are usually provided. Failing that, go to the vendor’s home page and find their PDF user manual, where you’ll generally see more specific details about every last nut and bolt of the saw.
