Best Circular Saw UK: Cordless And Corded Saws For Builders

Makita's DHS680 page lists a 165mm blade with a 20mm bore, 57mm depth of cut at 90°, 41mm at 45° and 37mm at 50°, with a bevel range of 0 to 50°. No-load speed is 5,000 min⁻¹ from a brushless motor, and the page lists an electronic brake, an LED light and a 35/40mm dust port. Makita gives the weight with battery as 3.0 to 3.3kg, depending on the battery.

The 41mm figure at 45° is the one to note: it is less than the 47mm thickness of a common sawn joist, so bevelled cuts through joists need a second pass or a bigger saw. For sheet material, stud and second fix it is the saw you will carry all day. The page lists BL1830B to BL1860B batteries as compatible.

DeWalt's DCS570N-XJ is sold as a tool-only 18V XR brushless saw with a 184mm blade. The page gives 64mm at 90° in its features list (the overview says 65mm, so treat it as about 64 to 65mm), bevel capacity up to 57° and a no-load speed of 5,500rpm. It has an electronic motor brake and a lock-off switch. For dust the page lists direct compatibility with DeWalt's AIRLOCK system, a built-in dust blower and a dust extraction port in the box. The page does not give a weight or a depth at 45°.

If you already run DeWalt 18V XR batteries this is the saw to match. The kit you buy it in decides what comes with it, so check the listing for battery and charger.

Bosch GKS 18V-68 GC is a 190mm brushless 18V saw. Bosch's page says it offers performance equal to corded 1,800W saws, gives a no-load speed of 2,500 to 5,000rpm and a weight of 4.3kg without battery. It is guide rail compatible (FSN rails, and the page also names Festool, Makita and Mafell rails) and has a 360° rotatable dust port, ECO Mode for up to 30% more runtime and a fast brake. Bosch notes that maximum power needs ProCORE18V batteries of 5.5Ah or more. The page does not list a depth of cut, so check the box or manual for it.

Milwaukee M18 FCS66GR3 takes a 190mm blade for a stated 68mm depth of cut and up to 50° bevel. Milwaukee describes a POWERSTATE brushless motor that holds 6,000rpm through the cut, a magnesium shoe compatible with Milwaukee guide rails, an integrated dust blower and LED light, and a metal rafter hook. A DEK26 vacuum adaptor fits Milwaukee's dust extractors, and the saw works with all M18 batteries.

Both suit a builder who cuts a lot of sheet material to a guide rail. For the dust side, see the best dust extractor for builders.

DeWalt's DWE575K-LX is a 1600W corded saw with a 190mm blade (24-tooth TCT supplied) and a stated 67mm cut at 90°. The page lists bevel capacity up to 57°, an aluminium shoe to reduce weight, tool-free depth and bevel adjustment, an additional handle, a built-in dust blower and AIRLOCK compatibility. It is a brushed motor, 110V mains, with a 1 year warranty, or 3 years when registered. The page does not give weight or no-load speed.

Corded means no batteries to charge for long rip cuts, but you need a 110V supply and a lead.

• Depth at 45°: the 90° figure is quoted everywhere, the bevelled depth is not. Check it against the timber you cut most.
• Blade size and bore: 165, 184 and 190mm blades are not interchangeable, and Makita's 165mm saw takes a 20mm bore.
• Guide rail: if you cut sheet material, check the page names rail compatibility and which rail brands.
• Weight with the battery you will use: the Makita page gives it, Bosch gives it without a battery.
• Dust port: check the port size against the hose you own.
• Battery platform: stay on the 18V system your drills already use, and buy tool-only.

For the rest of the van kit, see the best mitre saw, the best dust extractor and the best impact driver.