Best Circular Saw Australia (2023 Buyers Guide)

So you want to get yourself a new circular saw. The fact that you know already that you want a circular saw (opposed to, say, a mitre saw) means you know your way around saws already. But do you know which exact type of circular saw you want?

Do you want cordless or corded, mini or large, Bosch or budget? There are a lot of circular saws to choose from, in many different price ranges. To help you decide which saw best fits your needs we’ve created this best circular saw buyer’s guide.

Not only will you learn how to choose the best circular saw for your project, but we’ve also lined up the best-reviewed circular saws in all shapes and sizes. So let’s find you a new saw!

How to Choose the Best Circular Saw

Circular saws are such versatile pieces of equipment. So choosing the right circular saw that fits all your needs may take some research and preparation. But not to worry.

Box Opening of Skil 5280-01 15-Amp Circular Saw

We’ve written this handy buyer’s guide below so you know exactly what features (and benefits) to look for in your future circular saw.

Already know exactly what type of circular saw you want? Then you can just skip over this section and get straight to our reviews of the best circular saws in Australia.

One question some people ask is are cordless circular saws worth it? This article goes into greater depth about the pros and cons.

Blade size

One of the first things to decide is what diameter you want your blade to be. A larger diameter means your circular saw blade can make deeper cuts.

The five most common circular saw blade sizes are:

• 160 mm (or 6¼ inches)
• 185 mm (or 7¼ inches)
• 210 mm (or 8¼ inches)
• 235 mm (or 9¼ inches)
• 270 mm (or 10½ inches)

Out of these different sizes, the 185 millimetres and the 235 millimetres blades are the most popular and widely used, with the 185 millimetres size probably being the most-used for DIYers.

Note that these sizes are not the only ones available. For example, you can get a mini circular saw with a blade as small as 108 millimetres (4¼ inches). Such a small circular saw is great for specific trimming and cutting thin materials.

Type of blade

There are two main types of blades available: Steel-tipped blades and tungsten carbide-tipped blades (1).

The first is the cheap, older variety. A steel-tipped blade will do the trick, but it’s not the most durable. You have to sharpen this type of blade regularly to ensure it keeps performing well. We recommend you try to avoid such blades if possible.

The tungsten carbide-tipped blades are more expensive, but as is often the case with power tools, it pays off to spend a bit more.

Blade teeth

Aside from the material, there is a wide variety of shapes for your blade’s teeth (2). What type of teeth you want depends on the material you are planning to cut.

For example, a wood cutting blade will have large, roughly angled teeth, while an aluminium cutting blade, on the other hand, has many more smaller teeth.

Then there are also fibre cement cutting blades which have only six very large teeth. These blades are specifically designed to cut through fibre cement.

A general rule is that harder material requires more teeth. More teeth will also give you a cleaner cut than less, larger teeth, but cutting will take more time.

Are cordless circular saws worth it?

Power source

As with most power tools nowadays you have two options: A corded or a cordless circular saw.

Corded circular saws are connected to the mains power supply with a wire, while cordless circular saws run on batteries.

Although cordless circular saws often still don’t offer the same power and heavy-duty capability as corded circular saws, they have come a long way over the past years. Batteries are getting more powerful every day, and if you own several power tools from the same brand you can often use the same rechargeable batteries in all their tools.

A benefit of cordless circular saws is, of course, that you can operate them without having a socket nearby. This makes them handy for use outdoors or on the go. But batteries run out, and buying spare batteries is expensive.

As such, we’d suggest you get a corded circular saw as your main saw at home, with a second cordless circular saw to use for more ad-hoc types of jobs that are more easily done without a cord.

8 best circular saw reviews

You’re all set. You know what to look for in your circular saw. What features might come in handy, what benefits do you need for your specific project. So let’s move on to the actual circular saw reviews.

We have tried and tested all these circular saws, and many more, to determine which deserves a spot on the list. With each of these saws you know you’re getting a durable, quality circular saw that will last for decades.

If you do still have some questions, then do have a look at our FAQs section at the bottom of this article, or ask us a question directly and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Happy saw hunting!

This year we’ve awarded the SKIL 5280-01 Circular Saw with the award for the best circular saw for overall use. This corded, large circular saw is perfect for heavy-duty labour whether in a professional capacity or just for your DIY projects.

The powerful 15-amp motor gives a top speed of 5,300 Rounds Per Minute (RPM), which is more than any other circular saw on this list. That means higher speed and thus faster cuts.

The 185-millimetre carbide-tipped blade ensures durability and high performance across different-sized projects.

Other notable features include the lightweight design (only 3.95 kilograms), a dust blower at the front to keep the line-of-cut free from dust, and a laser guide to show you where you’re cutting for maximum accuracy.

Oh, and did we mention it has the highest customer rating of all these circular saws on Amazon as well? A brilliant 4.5 out of 5-star rating based on more than 4,300 reviews!

With this SKIL you simply can’t go wrong.

Best suited for:

Whether you are a working professional or just like to do some DIY around the house, the SKIL circular saw will be great for whatever project you have in mind.

Do bear in mind that it is a very powerful tool, so if you’re not that comfortable with power tools, you may want to opt for a smaller, less-powerful circular saw instead.

From the best overall to the best circular saw on a budget. This corded WORX WX423 is a compact circular saw with a small, 85-millimetre blade that’s perfect for smaller jobs and quick little cuts.

It’s an absolute lightweight with just 1.9 kilograms and through its compact design, you can easily hold it with just one hand (although for extra security and stability we do always advise you to use both hands while operating power tools like this).

The WORX compact saw easily cuts through all sorts of materials, including wood, metal, plasterboard, and tile.

It won’t give you the same power and durability as some of the other circular saws on this list, but if you want a cheap circular saw that will do the trick for you then the WORX is probably your best bet.

Best suited for:

People on a budget or who are simply not that bothered with all the special features and different functionalities. If you just want a circular saw for occasional use, which doesn’t cost a fortune, then this is a great choice for you.

From one mini circular saw over to what we’ve rated as the best mini circular saw available: The HYCHIKA Compact Mini Circular Saw.

Whereas the WORX is clearly a budget option, the HYCHIKA offers you great power in a small package. It reaches speeds of 4,500 RPM for fine and fast cutting, doesn’t weigh too much at 3.2 kilograms, and comes with a cord for maximum power supply.

It comes with quite a lot of nifty features, like the laser beam for extra guidance and accuracy, the spindle lock button to easily change blades, or the integrated cutting depth scale to accurately determine the depth of your cuts.

The small 88-millimetre blade is ideal for cutting soft metals, plastic, tiles, or wood.

Best suited for:

Small-scale precision work and cutting different types of materials. If you’re looking for a mini circular saw and don’t mind paying a bit more to ensure top-of-the-line quality, then this is the circular saw for you.

Time for our first cordless circular saw on the list, and it’s straight away your best choice available.

Bosch as a brand doesn’t need any introduction, and with their PKS 18 cordless circular saw you get all the quality of Bosch you’re used to.

It weighs surprisingly little (only 2.2 kilograms) which means you can easily transport it or carry it around in your workshop. Despite it being cordless it still manages to reach decent speeds of 3,800 RPM.

Extra notable features are the option to cut along both 90 and 45-degree angles for versatile usage, a vacuum cleaner adapter fitted to the saw to ensure your workplace stays clean and dust-free, and a compact design for maximum usability.

If you already own any cordless Bosch Home & Garden tools you are in even more luck, as the battery and charger used for this circular saw work on their entire line of power tools. This means you won’t have to buy an additional battery and charger!

Best suited for:

People who specifically want a cordless circular saw, especially if you already own a battery-powered device from Bosch’s Home & Garden range.

For larger projects and heavy-duty work, you can rely on the Evolution Power Tools R185CCSX Circular Saw. With a relatively large blade of 185 millimetres and a weight of 5.1 kilograms, this is a bit of a beast, but that makes it all the better if you need it to be sturdy and solid for those tougher cuts.

The blade is Japanese tungsten carbide-tipped and can easily cut through almost any type of wood, steel, or plastic. It further comes with easily adjustable cutting depth for maximum accuracy and a changeable angle for more versatile jobs.

The price is very reasonable and also note that it comes with a 3-year warranty – longer than most circular saws – which means you buy it with complete peace of mind.

Best suited for:

Tough work and larger projects that need a heavy-weight power tool (that won’t break the bank too much either).

This Makita circular saw is a true beauty (as with any Makita for that matter) that is guaranteed to make your life a lot easier.

The Makita was in a head-to-head with the Bosch PKS 18 for the best cordless circular saw and only didn’t make the cut because it’s slightly bigger and heavier, which makes it a bit less handy for some.

That said, the Makita offers a powerful experience with a speed of 3,700 RPM for fast cutting and a durable 165-millimetre tungsten carbide-tipped (TCT) blade.

Additional features include the electronic current limiter to protect against overload and a blower function at the front of the device to clear the cutting line from wood dust or other debris along its way.

And as with the Bosch cordless saw you can use the battery of the Makita on other cordless Makita devices as well.

Best suited for:

Those who want a powerful cordless circular saw and don’t mind it being a bit more bulky and heavy. It’s also worth it when you already own another cordless Makita device so you can easily reuse the same battery and charger.

If you don’t mind a slightly higher price than you might be tempted by this Ryobi cordless circular saw. It’s a similar beast to the Makita, with a lot of the same kind of specs, but just another nudge bigger.

And that’s mostly due to the 185-millimetre blade, the same size as the SKIL and the Evolution Power Tools, but then on a cordless device. That means maximum depth cuts with a cordless solution!

It further features a brushless motor for a great, durable performance and an e-control for a constant speed while cutting.

Best suited for:

Making deep cuts whilst not wanting to choose a corded device. Out of all cordless circular saws on this list, the Ryobi contains the largest saw of all.

Last up is this powerful DeWALT circular saw. It comes with a large 185-millimetre blade for deep cuts and at a relatively high weight of 3.4 kilograms for stability while cutting.

Since this circular saw is corded it has more horsepower than the previous cordless items on this list, resulting in an impressive speed of 5,200 RPM for fast cutting. It further comes with a bevel capacity of up to 57 degrees for angled cuts.

Best suited for:

Deep cuts and bevel cuts done rapidly. If you’re looking for a lot of horsepowers, this is your new best friend!

Verdict: The best circular saw

It is difficult to choose the best circular saw since different projects and needs call for different circular saws.

Maybe you specifically want a mini circular saw (then we recommend the HYCHIKA Compact Mini Circular Saw) or maybe you want a cordless circular saw (then the Bosch Cordless Circular Saw PKS 18 is your best option).
However, if you just want a great circular saw for overall use, then we recommend the SKIL 5280-01 15-Amp 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Single Beam Laser Guide.