Cordless table saws allow contractors and homeowners the ability to build just about anything off-grid. While there are just a few makers of these portable table saws, the best cordless table saws fro top brands are surprisingly capable.
As an offshoot to 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 24″ rip capacity, the Metabo offers a larger table and a 30″ capacity. Combined with a popular brand for finish nailers, the Metabo will fit in with most professional (and DIY’er) tool collections.
Up 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. And with features like 30-inch rip, a 10-inch blade for maximum cut capacity, and the option of a cordless or corded solution (with 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.
Featuring a 8-1/4 inch blade, rack & pinion fence and capacity for a full sheet of plywood this cordless saw is both portable and capable.
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 capable of matching a 15-amp corded saw the Milwaukee features all the power. And with 600 linear feet of cutting power on one charge you’ll be able to push sheet after sheet of plywood through (while your spare battery charges, of course).
Features
Maybe you’ve used a table saw before and understand the features you want in a cordless table saw.
But, just in case, let’s take a look at the features of both ALL table saws and then take a look at a few unique to cordless saws.
Standard Saw Features
- 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 fence 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 to prevent 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 important 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 2023-03-31 at 21:43 / Images from Amazon
Looking to rip 35+ sheets of 3/4″ 4×8′ OSB 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 give you the freedom to setup and use 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
Additionally, this battery pack is compatible with all Dewalt 20/60/120V Max tools (check with Dewalt for 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, 1 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… | $163.77 | Buy Now | |
|
DEWALT FLEXVOLT 20V/60V MAX* Batteries, 9.0-Ah,… | Buy Now | ||
|
DEWALT FLEXVOLT 120V MAX* Miter Saw Kit, 12-Inch,… | $899.00 | Buy Now | |
|
DEWALT FLEXVOLT 60V MAX* Table Saw, 8-1/4-Inch,… | 329 Reviews | $434.89 | Buy Now |
Last update on 2023-03-31 at 21:43 / Images from Amazon
Bottom Line
With Dewalt’s popular 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 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 2023-03-31 at 23:35 / 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 been following the Milwaukee battery then the M18™ REDLITHIUM™ High Output™ 12.0 advertises it delivers the same power as a 15A corded saw.
- 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.
- Cuts almost 750 2×4’s in a circular saw.
- Fuel gauge displays 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 at least 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 are 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 2023-03-31 at 22:52 / Images from Amazon
Not sure a table saw is your best bet? For some, it’s not needed if your projects will 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. Going back 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
- Table Saw Rolling Stand.
- Table Saw Rolling Stand.
Last update on 2023-04-01 at 05:35 / Images from Amazon
Since you’re investing in a mobile tool it makes sense to pair it with a rolling stand.
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 jobsite
- Lightweight (under 40# ideal)
- Wide 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 oversize 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:
- Thin kerf (width of cut in wood) to minimize power needs.
- Fewer teeth for rougher cuts (plywood, 2×4’s, etc.)
- More teeth for finish cuts (eg. 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 just 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 be sure to check out a guide kit for your existing circular saw.
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Last update on 2023-03-06 at 07:12 / Images from Amazon
- 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.