Cordless table saws allow contractors and homeowners to build just about anything off-grid. While there are just a few makers of these portable table saws, the best cordless table saws from top brands are surprisingly capable.
As an offshoot of a benchtop table saw, a cordless table saw has the unique job of being lightweight, capable of cutting hundreds of feet of plywood or lumber without power.
And thus using a massive battery that few manufacturers have mastered.
In this article we’ll cover:
- Features of a cordless saw
- Battery considerations and why amp hours matter
- Ripping and cutting capacity
- Accessories you’ll need
BEST CAPACITY
Most Ripping Capacity
While other cordless (and job site saws) stop at a 24″ rip capacity, the Metabo offers a larger table and a 30″ total. Combined with a famous brand for finish nailers, the Metabo will fit in with most professional (and DIY’er) tool collections.
Until a few years ago, Milwaukee and Dewalt dominated the cordless saw landscape.
But Metabo has entered the market with an attractive saw at a great price. It has features like a 30-inch rip, a 10-inch blade for maximum cut capacity, and the option of a cordless or corded solution (with an included adapter).
BEST VALUE
Best Value
Dewalt is arguably the most popular cordless tool maker around. And when it comes to portable table saws, you’ll want to consider your tool brands first. Why? Well, batteries, of course – when you buy a cordless table saw, you’ll need high amp-hour batteries for power.
This cordless saw is both portable and capable, featuring an 8-1/4 inch blade, rack & pinion fence, and capacity for a full sheet of plywood.
Combined with a 3-year warranty and fit with tools you’ll likely already own, the decision on Dewalt vs. Milwaukee will come down to the batteries you own (or want to).
CONTRACTOR PICK
One-Key Protected Saw
If your batteries are Milwaukee it only makes sense to buy a Milwaukee saw. And, compared to the Dewalt you’ll find nearly identical features with a 8-1/4 inch blade and 24″ cut capacity.
With a brushless motor that matches a 15-amp corded saw, the Milwaukee features all the power. And with 600 linear feet of cutting power on one charge,, you can push sheet after sheet of plywood through (while your spare battery charges, of course).
Page Contents
Features
Maybe you’ve used a table saw and understand the features you want in a cordless table saw.
But, just in case, let’s look at the features of both ALL table saws and then at a few unique cordless saws.
Standard Saw Features
- The depth of cut should be at least 3.5″ to handle most dimensional lumber.
- Table saw fences should support at least 24″ from the blade to the bar to rip 48×96″ plywood sheets.
- Blades should angle to at least -47 degrees and support a thickness of 1.75.”
- Blade guards and riving knives are a must to help prevent injury
- Dust ports are needed in order to avoid airborne dust and to connect to dust collection
- Stands and mobile bases are required to support and mobilize the saw in most workshops
- Continuous-duty motors are required for all-day use
Cordless Saw Features
- Battery life with power to last for a few dozen cuts in a 4×8 sheet of plywood
- Interchangeable batteries that can be used in your other tools (this often determines what saw you pick!)
- Lastly, weight is essential as this saw will likely be portable
Best Cordless Table Saws
1. Dewalt DCS748B (Best Value)
- Flexible – power of corded. Freedom of cordless. The world’s first battery that automatically changes voltage when you change tools
- 24″ of Rip capacity for ripping 4×8 plywood or osb sheets
Last update on 2023-12-10 at 04:00 / Images from Amazon
Are you looking to rip 35+ 3/4″ 4×8′ OSB sheets on a job site with a cordless table saw? This Dewalt can handle it. Similar to the Milwaukee but slightly behind in (advertised) cordless battery power, this saw will allow you to set up and use it without a generator or electricity.
Battery
The Dewalt cordless table saw leverages the FLEXVOLT™20V/60V battery pack that offers:
- 12ah / 240Wh Capacity
- Operates down to 0 degrees F.
- Fuel gauge
This battery pack is also compatible with all Dewalt 20/60/120V Max tools (check with Dewalt for the final tool listing).
What comes out of the box?
Standard features for the bare tool are:
- Blade: 8-1/4″ carbide blade with 2-1/2″ depth of cut
- Fence: Yes
- Rip Capacity: 24″
- Dust Port: 2-1/2″
- Arbor: 5/8″
- Voltage: 20V
- Weight: 48 lbs
- Stand: Optional
- Motor: Cordless 5800 RPM (no load)
- Anti-theft: No
- Safety: Blade guard and riving knife
- Warranty: 3-year limited, one year service, 90-day money back
What Optional Equipment is Available?
While you can use this saw on a benchtop, popular options for the Dewalt cordless table saw include:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DEWALT Table Saw Stand, Rolling Stand, Collapsible… | $169.51 | Buy Now | |
|
DEWALT FLEXVOLT 20V/60V MAX* Batteries, 9.0-Ah,… | 6,008 Reviews | $279.00 | Buy Now |
|
DEWALT FLEXVOLT 120V MAX* Miter Saw Kit, 12-Inch,… | 368 Reviews | Buy Now | |
|
DEWALT FLEXVOLT 60V MAX* Table Saw, 8-1/4-Inch,… | 352 Reviews | $359.20 | Buy Now |
Last update on 2023-12-10 at 04:00 / Images from Amazon
Bottom Line
With Dewalt’s famous line, this is an easy choice if you are a Dewalt owner of the FLEXVOLT batteries. It will, by default, be the best cordless table saw as the features of the saws are similar enough that the batteries are the differentiator and it is almost prohibitively expensive to switch brands.
2. Milwaukee 2736-21HD Cordless Saw (Best Overall)
- Product is manufactured in China
- This product meets customer requirement
Last update on 2023-12-09 at 19:56 / Images from Amazon
Milwaukee has manufactured professional-grade cordless tools for decades, and the power system for this saw builds on that.
And out of the box, the Milwaukee cordless table saw supports the mighty M18™ REDLITHIUM™ that can be interchanged across the Milwaukee tool line.
Battery
If you haven’t followed the Milwaukee battery, then the M18™ REDLITHIUM™ High Output™ 12.0 advertises it delivers the same power as a 15A corded saw.
- They have advanced cooling capabilities to run at full power without overheating.
- Performance enhancements in extreme cold (below 0F) for taking the battery from your table saw to your cordless chainsaw.
- It cuts almost 750 2x4s in a circular saw.
- The fuel gauge displays the remaining run time.
What comes out of the box?
The Milwaukee is available with and without a battery at about a $125 difference. With most batteries on the market over $150, it makes sense to consider buying the combination to add another battery at a discount.
- Blade: 8-1/4″ carbide blade with 2-1/2″ depth of cut
- Fence: Rack and Pinion
- Rip Capacity: 24-1/2″
- Dust Port: Unknown
- Arbor: 5/8″
- Voltage: 18V
- Weight: 41.6 lbs
- Frame Construction: Metal
- Stand: Optional
- Motor: POWERSTATE™ 5800 RPM
- Tool Storage: Yes, for included tools
- Anti-theft: Yes, using the ONE-KEY™system
- Safety: Tool free guard and riving knife
Bottom Line
The Milwaukee is premium priced and makes sense if you have already bought into the Milwaukee battery system. However, for the price of this saw, you can buy yourself into the Festool cordless track saw and, with a set of rails, have a portable system with much higher cut quality.
3. Milwaukee Track Saw (Table Saw Alternative)
- Powered by two LXT batteries; x2 LXT technology delivers more power, speed and run time without the hassles of a cord
- Makita built electronically controlled BL Brushless motor delivers 6, 300 RPM for maximum performance and 50% longer run time per charge
Last update on 2023-12-09 at 22:06 / Images from Amazon
Not sure a table saw is your best bet? For some, it’s unnecessary if your projects mostly involve cutting plywood sheets. And that’s where a cordless track saw is an option to:
- Cut plywood by yourself – both safer and almost as fast.
- Double duty as a circular saw
- Reduce storage needs in a small garage
- Have improved cut quality
Who Doesn’t Make a Cordless Saw
Whoa, you’re saying – where are the other tool brands?
Well, they don’t make a cordless table saw.
Even with the popularity of cordless saws, these are the popular woodworking manufacturers that don’t produce a cordless table saw:
- Makita cordless table saw check: not yet, according to their website.
- Bosch cordless table saw check: not yet, according to their website.
- Ryobi cordless table saw check: also, not yet, according to their website.
The culprit? Demand. Returning to the track saws, including Kreg moving from jigs to power tools, the woodworkers have just tended towards these saws for portable power that does much the same job as a cordless table saw.
Table Saw Stands
- Made To Withstand Even The Toughest Jobs
- Designed With The User In Mind
Last update on 2023-12-09 at 21:45 / Images from Amazon
Since you’re investing in a mobile tool, pairing it with a rolling stand makes sense.
And, considering you’ll be moving your saw around your shop over obstacles, loading into a truck, and moving on a job site, you’ll want features like:
- Large wheels for portability outside or on a job site
- Lightweight (under 40# ideal)
- Broad base to provide a firm foundation for ripping 4×8 sheets
- Folding design to stow in your garage (and truck)
Some of the best cordless table saw stands to take a look at:
- Dewalt DW7440RS – At 33 pounds, light with large tires and an oversized base, this will pair nicely with the Dewalt cordless saw.
- Milwaukee folding table saw stand – while not on wheels, this is one of the few stands available for the Milwaukee.
- Dewalt folding table saw stand – this stationary stand is an economical alternative to the wheeled DW7440RS.
Best Blades for a Cordless Saw
For a cordless saw, you’ll want to consider the following:
- Thin kerf (width of cut in wood) to minimize power needs.
- Fewer teeth for rougher cuts (plywood, 2x4s, etc.)
- More teeth for finish cuts (e.g. trim)
- 5/8″ arbor size vs. larger on cabinet saws
- Maximum 8-1/4″ blade on Dewalt and Milwaukee
Beware, the stock blades are often too thin of a kerf and don’t offer up a solid cut quality because they deflect with the slightest sideways pressure.
Cordless Battery Amp Hours Matter
So why are batteries so important?
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cordless table saws come with a 10-inch blade?
Yes. Metabo offers a 10-inch cordless table saw with a standard sized blade.
Does Makita make a cordless table saw?
As of mid-2022 Makita does not make a cordless table saw.
Can I use a dado blade with a cordless table saw?
The Metabo cordless table saw features a 5/8-inch arbor and according to the manufacturers specifications supports use of dado blades.
Summary
You really can’t go wrong in choosing any of the available saws from Dewalt or Milwaukee, as they do what they advertise. But if you’re buying for plywood portability, check out a guide kit for your existing circular saw.
- About the Author
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Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.
why nothing on metabo?
Bryan – great update; Metabo has released their saw since this article was updated. With a 10-inch blade and 30-inch rip capacity its a saw worth looking at if it fits your battery ecosystem.