Updated October 2026. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See affiliate disclosure.
Best overall 7-1/4: DeWalt DCS570B (check availability on Amazon, often third-party).
Best compact 6-1/2: DeWalt DCS565 — Amazon tool-only B08KYM6GW6. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Best budget under ~$100: Craftsman CMCS500B.
Starting from zero (no battery to buy): Bosch CS10 corded 15-amp (review).
Already on M18: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2732-20 at Home Depot only.
- DeWalt DCS570B — best overall. Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
- DeWalt DCS565B — compact. Object review · Amazon
- Craftsman CMCS500B — budget. Amazon
- Ryobi PBLCS302B — ONE+. Amazon
- Makita XSH04ZB LXT compact. Amazon
- SKIL CR5440B-10 — kit from zero. (no Amazon link)
- Craftsman CMCS551B — V20 7-1/4. Amazon
- SKILSAW SPT77WML-01 — corded worm drive. Amazon
- Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2732-20 — Home Depot only.
- Bosch CS10 — corded 15-amp, no battery. Object review · Amazon
Comparison
| Model | Best for | Power | Blade | Notes | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DCS570B | Best overall 7-1/4 | 20V MAX XR | 7-1/4 in | Brushless; tool only | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| DeWalt DCS565B | Compact 6-1/2 | 20V MAX XR | 6-1/2 in | Brushless; tool only | Check price on Amazon |
| Craftsman CMCS500B | Budget under $100 | V20 brushed | 6-1/2 in | Tool only; brushed motor | Check price on Amazon |
| Ryobi PBLCS302B | Already ONE+ | 18V ONE+ HP | 7-1/4 in | Brushless; tool only; manufacturer lists $139 | Check price on Amazon |
| Makita XSH04ZB | Compact LXT | 18V LXT | 6-1/2 in | Sub-compact brushless; tool only; 6.4 lb with 2.0Ah | Check price on Amazon |
| SKIL CR5440B-10 | Kit from zero | 20V PWR CORE | 7-1/4 in | 4.0Ah kit; 2-5/8 in depth | Not linked |
| Craftsman CMCS551B | V20 7-1/4 | V20 brushless RP | 7-1/4 in | Tool only; check current price and seller on Amazon | Check current price and seller on Amazon |
| SKILSAW SPT77WML-01 | Worm drive | 15 amp corded | 7-1/4 in | Magnesium worm drive; 11.5 lb | Check price on Amazon |
| Bosch CS10 | Corded sidewinder | 15 amp corded | 7-1/4 in | 5,600 RPM; 2-7/16 in depth at 90°; 56° bevel; corded sidewinder | Check price on Amazon |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2732-20 | Pro benchmark | 18V M18 | 7-1/4 in | Home Depot exclusive; no Amazon link | Home Depot only |
Track saws are a stretch, not a pick.
DeWalt DCS570B — best overall
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
If you want one cordless 7-1/4 and you already live in 20V MAX, this is it. Brushless XR, 5,500 RPM, 2-9/16-inch depth at 90 degrees, 57-degree bevel, electric brake. DeWalt rates 330 crosscuts in 2×4 pine. That cut count is DeWalt’s number, not a test from us. About 7.5 lb. Tool only — no pack, no charger.
Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Already on 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT and you want a full-size 7-1/4 that will bury a 2x and rip sheet goods. The same packs run a cordless drill.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero — you would be buying a battery and charger on top of a tool-only box. A first kit is the SKIL CR5440B-10. Already on ONE+ or LXT? Stay there. Want a worm drive? That is the SKILSAW below.
Specs that matter. 20V MAX XR. Brushless. 7-1/4 in. 5,500 RPM. 2-9/16 in at 90°. 57° bevel. Electric brake. Tool only. Model DCS570B. Amazon listing B06ZZY8KDL.
Caveats. Confirm new vs renewed, and that the title is still the DCS570B — not the 6-1/2 DCS565 and not Amazon Renewed B07RPJZY2F. Canada DeWalt marks this SKU discontinued. 3-year limited warranty on the DeWalt tool.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
DeWalt DCS565B — compact 6-1/2
Same 20V MAX aisle, smaller blade. DeWalt’s official page: brushless, 4,950 RPM, 2-1/8-inch depth at 90 degrees, 0–50° tool-free bevel, electric brake, LED, rafter hook, optional AIRLOCK dust chute. In the box: saw, 6-1/2-inch blade, wrench, dust chute. Tool only.
Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Overhead, punch-list 2x, and anyone who already owns 20V MAX packs and does not want a 7-1/4 hanging off a ladder.
Who it’s not for. Regular plywood rips and stacked 2x — 2-1/8 inches is not 2-9/16. Starting from zero.
Specs that matter. 20V MAX XR. Brushless. 6-1/2 in. 4,950 RPM. 2-1/8 in at 90°. 50° bevel. Electric brake. LED. Tool only. Model DCS565B. Amazon listing B08KYM6GW6.
Caveats. Confirm B08KYM6GW6 is still the DCS565B tool-only, not a kit bundle with a no-name pack.
Craftsman CMCS500B — budget pick
This is the under-$100 cordless pick. V20 6-1/2-inch, brushed, tool only. Craftsman’s current page says up to 4,000 RPM (older listing copy still says 4,200). Tool-free bevel to 50 degrees. 2-1/8-inch depth at 90. 18T blade and hex wrench in the carton. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Already on Craftsman V20 and you need a compact saw for 2x and punch-list cuts without spending 7-1/4 money.
Who it’s not for. A first battery purchase — a bare saw plus a 4.0Ah and charger is not an under-$100 kit. Regular 7-1/4 work. Anyone who wanted brushless: that is the CMCS551B.
Specs that matter. V20. Brushed. 6-1/2 in. About 4,000 RPM (Craftsman). 2-1/8 in at 90°. 50° bevel. Tool only. Model CMCS500B. Amazon listing B07KK9YGZH.
Caveats. Confirm the live price is still under about $100 and that you are not looking at renewed B08HVB86QY. Brushed motor. Left-blade compact, not a framing 7-1/4.
Ryobi PBLCS302B — already on ONE+
Ryobi’s current ONE+ HP 7-1/4. Brushless, 5,000 RPM, 2-9/16-inch depth at 0 degrees, 1-13/16 at 45, bevel detents at 0 / 15 / 22-1/2 / 30 / 45 / 56. LED, rafter hook, vacuum adaptor. Ryobi rates up to 370 cuts per charge with an 8Ah HP pack. Manufacturer tool-only price $139. Tool only.
Check current price and seller on Amazon.
This is the gen-2 HP saw (PBLCS302), not the older PBLCS300.
Who it’s for. Already in ONE+. Same packs as the rest of the green aisle.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero. A 1.5Ah drill pack will feel short on a 7-1/4 — use a 4.0Ah or HP pack if you have one.
Specs that matter. 18V ONE+ HP. Brushless. 7-1/4 in. 5,000 RPM. 2-9/16 in at 0°. 0–56° bevel. Tool only. Model PBLCS302B. Amazon listing B0G3RTJXNJ.
Caveats. Manufacturer lists $139. Skip the renewed listing B0G4HPM6CD. Skip third-party “kits” that tape on a no-name pack.
Makita XSH04ZB — compact 18V LXT
Makita’s sub-compact 6-1/2: 10-5/8 inches long, 6.4 lb with a 2.0Ah compact pack. Brushless, 5,000 RPM, 2-1/4-inch depth at 90, 1-5/8 at 45, 0–50° bevel, Automatic Speed Change. Blade-right. Includes 24T blade, dust attachment, hex wrench. Tool only.
Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Already on 18V LXT and you want the small saw, not another platform.
Who it’s not for. A first LXT purchase. Regular 7-1/4 framing. On DeWalt or Ryobi? Stay there.
Specs that matter. 18V LXT. Brushless. 6-1/2 in. 5,000 RPM. 2-1/4 in at 90°. Sub-compact. Tool only. Model XSH04ZB. Amazon listing B072KL5ZJX.
Caveats. Confirm B072KL5ZJX is still the new XSH04ZB, not renewed B08KC51WF8.
SKIL CR5440B-10 — kit if you are starting from zero
No Amazon link for this kit. If you have no batteries, the corded Bosch CS10 is the no-battery start.
This is the Amazon kit with a battery in the box: PWR CORE 20 brushless 7-1/4, 4.0Ah pack, quick charger, 24T blade, hex key, vacuum adapter. Digital brushless to 5,300 RPM. 2-5/8-inch depth of cut. 0–56° bevel. Electric brake, LED, rafter hook. SKIL rates 350 cuts in 2×4 pine with a 5.0Ah (sold separately) — treat that as marketing. Manufacturer price around $140. 5-year SKIL warranty.
Who it’s for. No 18V / 20V packs on the shelf and you want one 7-1/4 kit without buying DeWalt batteries first.
Who it’s not for. Already on 20V MAX, ONE+, LXT, or V20. Platform lock-in is the hidden cost. One 4.0Ah pack — when it dies, you wait.
Specs that matter. 20V PWR CORE 20. Brushless. 7-1/4 in. 5,300 RPM. 2-5/8 in depth. Kit: 4.0Ah + charger. Model CR5440B-10. Amazon listing B0BW965Z9Y.
Caveats. Confirm the carton still lists the 4.0Ah and charger — SKIL also sells tool-only CR5440B-00 (B0C6F1CTG4) and a USB-C kit CR5440B-1C (B0GHC4GTB4). Titles drift.
No Amazon link for this kit. If you have no batteries, the corded Bosch CS10 is the no-battery start.
Craftsman CMCS551B — V20 7-1/4 brushless
Check current price and seller on Amazon
The V20 step-up from the CMCS500B. Brushless RP, 7-1/4-inch blade, 2-9/16-inch depth, 56° bevel with stops at 22.5 and 45, LED, stamped aluminum shoe, upper metal guard. Ace lists 5,500 RPM. 24T blade and onboard wrench. Tool only. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Craftsman says use a 4.0Ah or larger V20 pack.
Who it’s for. Already on V20 and you want a full-size 7-1/4 instead of the budget 6-1/2. For a closer look, read our Craftsman CMCS551B circular saw review.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero. Under-$100 shoppers — that is the CMCS500B. Already on DeWalt 20V MAX: buy the DCS570B, not a second charger.
Specs that matter. V20 brushless RP. 7-1/4 in. 2-9/16 in depth. 56° bevel. Tool only. Model CMCS551B. Amazon listing B0B9HPSB27.
Caveats. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Confirm the live listing is the bare CMCS551B, not a random V20 kit box.
Check current price and seller on Amazon
SKILSAW SPT77WML-01 — worm drive, corded
A corded worm drive. Fifteen-amp Dual-Field motor, magnesium housing, 11.5 lb, 53° bevel, Cut-Ready depth system, 24T carbide blade in the box. SKIL lists $219.99. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Corded. Rear-handle / worm-drive geometry — left blade, more torque in a rip, more saw to carry.
This is the worm-drive pick.
Who it’s for. Framing and sheet goods next to an outlet, or anyone who wants a real worm drive and does not want to hunt a cordless rear-handle.
Who it’s not for. A rooftop with no cord. Anyone who already decided cordless. A first saw if you only cut 2x on weekends — the DCS570B or the SKIL kit is less saw to store.
Specs that matter. 15 amp corded. 7-1/4 in. Worm drive. 11.5 lb. 53° bevel. Model SPT77WML-01. Amazon listing B00B7EUS46.
Caveats. Confirm the live page is still the SPT77WML-01, not a twist-lock variant you did not ask for. Oil the worm drive per the manual.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2732-20 — pro benchmark, not an Amazon buy
Milwaukee is a Home Depot line in the US. The current M18 FUEL 7-1/4 is the 2732-20 tool-only. Milwaukee rates a POWERSTATE brushless motor at 5,800 RPM, 2-1/2-inch depth at 90, 50° bevel, magnesium shoe and guards, electric brake, and up to 750 cuts per charge on a high-output pack. Those are manufacturer numbers, not a test from us.
Who it’s for. Pros, or DIY buyers who already live in M18 and can pick the saw up at Home Depot.
Who it’s not for. Anyone we would send to Amazon. Marketplace copies of a Home Depot exclusive are not first-party stock.
Caveats. Confirm the Home Depot price in the store or on HD’s page. No last-seen Amazon figure — we did not verify one.
Stretch / adjacent — track saws
A track saw is a different tool. Plunge cut, splinter-free sheet goods, a guide rail you also have to store. DeWalt, Makita, and others sell them. They are not on this buy list. If you mostly break down plywood and you already own the track, shop that aisle. Do not buy a track saw just because a 7-1/4 circ-saw page mentioned one.
Buying guide
7-1/4 vs 6-1/2. 7-1/4 (DCS570B, PBLCS302B, CR5440B, CMCS551B, SPT77WML, Milwaukee 2732) is the framing and sheet-goods blade: 2-9/16-class depth, one pass through 2x, easier rips in 3/4. 6-1/2 (DCS565B, CMCS500B, XSH04ZB) is lighter and usually cheaper. It will still cut 2x. It will not match a 7-1/4 on stacked stock.
Corded vs cordless. A 15-amp worm drive (SPT77WML) does not care about amp-hours. Buy corded next to an outlet. Buy cordless if the work moves, or if you already paid for the batteries. A kit from zero is a battery purchase that happens to include a saw. For unlimited runtime and full 15-amp power, the Bosch CS10 circular saw is the corded pick, while the Craftsman CMCS551B is the cordless choice when you want to stay on V20 batteries.
Platform lock-in. DeWalt 20V MAX, Ryobi ONE+, Craftsman V20, Makita LXT, and SKIL PWR CORE 20 do not share packs. Milwaukee M18 does not either, and you shop that at Home Depot. Already own a cordless drill kit? Buy the saw that eats those batteries. Brand comparison: DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Ryobi.
Kit vs tool only. The SKIL CR5440B-10 is the only cordless kit on this page with a pack and charger. Everything else cordless is tool only. The Bosch CS10 and SKILSAW are corded. A bare saw is not a deal if you still have to buy a 4.0Ah and a charger.
Third-party and stock. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Buy Home Depot exclusives at Home Depot, not from third-party Amazon sellers.
The other garage tools. Same-day metal work is a 4-1/2-inch grinder, not a circ saw.
FAQ
Which circular saw should I buy? Start with the batteries you already own. On DeWalt 20V MAX: the DCS570B (check availability on Amazon, often third-party) for 7-1/4, or the DCS565B for a lighter 6-1/2. On Ryobi ONE+: the PBLCS302B. On Craftsman V20 and watching the budget: the CMCS500B. No batteries and an outlet nearby: the corded Bosch CS10 (Amazon). Want a worm drive: the SPT77WML-01.
Do I need a 7-1/4 or is a 6-1/2 enough? A 6-1/2 is enough for single 2x and punch-list work, and it is lighter to hold overhead. Buy a 7-1/4 if you rip plywood, cut stacked 2x, or want the extra depth without flipping the board. For the compact side, see our DeWalt DCS565 review.
Do I need a worm drive? Only if you frame for a living or want the left-blade, rear-handle feel on a cord. The SKILSAW SPT77WML-01 is the worm-drive pick here. Most homeowners are happier with a cordless sidewinder on batteries they already own.
Corded or cordless? Corded if you work next to an outlet and want unlimited runtime. Cordless if the work moves, or if you already paid for the batteries. On Craftsman V20, the 7-1/4 brushless option is the CMCS551B; see our Craftsman CMCS551B review. The SKIL CR5440B-10 is the only cordless kit here with a battery and charger.
What about a track saw? It is a different tool, not a substitute. A track saw is a plunge saw on a guide rail for splinter-free sheet goods. If that is your work, see our best track saws guide.
Already on Milwaukee M18? The 2732-20 is the benchmark on this page. It is a Home Depot line in the US, so buy it at Home Depot.
Related
DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Ryobi · Best Cordless Drills · Best Angle Grinders · Best Oscillating Multi-Tools · Best Track Saws
We don’t list live prices; check Amazon for the current price and seller. Manufacturer prices, RPM, depth-of-cut, and “cuts per charge” claims are the manufacturers’ published ratings, not tests we ran.