Mini and compact circular saws are very easy to maneuver and it’s a good idea to get one for DIY projects.
They come at a much lower price than full-sized saws and can often accomplish many of the same tasks.
That being said, without knowing exactly what you’re looking for, you can often end up with a saw that isn’t right for you.
In this post, we’ll look at some of the best mini circular saws currently available on the market and determine the best one for your needs.
| IMAGE | NAME | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
  | ★ WINNER ★ Worx Worxsaw Compact Circular Saw | The Worx Worxsaw is a small and easily maneuverable circular saw that you can use for many types of projects. It boasts a speed of up to 3500 rpm and can cut through many different materials such as metal, wood, plastic, and tile. | Check on Amazon |
  | ★ RUNNER UP ★ Rockwell 4-1/2” Compact Circular Saw | The motor location of the Rockwell Circular Saw balances its weight and allows for maneuverability which results in much more precise cuts. It even comes with a depth adjustment lever for even more control. You also have a clear view of the blade to see exactly where it’s landing. | Check on Amazon |
  | ★ ALSO GREAT ★ Genesis GCS445SE Compact Circular Saw | The Genesis Compact Circular Saw is highly affordable but does not compromise on quality. It has a carbide-tipped blade with a dust port for catching waste. It’s a mini circular saw that can be used by all levels of users. | Check on Amazon |
Now that you’ve had a brief look at our top 3 contenders, let’s delve into them in detail to determine the most suitable one for you.
Best Mini Circular Saw - Top 10 Reviews
1. Best Overall Mini Circular Saw - Worx Worxsaw Compact Circular Saw Review
The Worx Worxsaw Compact Circular Saw is highly lightweight and has a very compact design.
Its small design ensures that you can use it in small and confined spaces with easy maneuverability.
Even though it’s small, it boasts a speed of 3500 rpm which is more than enough to cut through wood, metal, plastic, and tile.
It has a thinner blade than most of its competitors which allows it to work for longer with less strain.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Worx Worxsaw Compact Circular Saw
Corded or Cordless: The Worx Worxsaw is corded and has a cable length of 6.5 feet. While this is more than enough for most projects, it’s still something you must keep in mind.
You may have to get an extension if you don’t have easy access to a power outlet.
Motor Power: The Worx Worxsaw has a motor power of 6.2 amps and a speed of 3500 rpm. That’s more than enough for any mini circular saw and should serve you well for any projects you may have.
Versatility: As mentioned earlier, the Worx Worxsaw can cut through sheet metal, tile, plastic as well as wood. This makes it highly suitable for when you’re working on projects that involve different materials.
- Adjustable cutting depth
- Lightweight
- Easy to make precise cuts with
- Compact Design
- Budget-friendly
- Not optimized for thicker pieces of metal and tile
Best Overall Mini Circular Saw
The best overall mini circular saw is the Worx Worxsaw thanks to its affordability, lightweight, compact design, and high power. It’s highly versatile and you can easily maneuver it in confined spaces too.
2. Best Compact Circular Saw for Precise Cuts - Rockwell 4-1/2” Compact Circular Saw Review
The Rockwell offers high maneuverability that you could never get with a regular-sized circular saw.
Its rear motor location helps out in balancing its weight which results in you being able to make much more precise cuts compared to most of its competitors.
It even comes with a depth adjustment and bevel adjustment lever so that you have full control over the cuts you’re making.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Rockwell 4-1/2” Compact Circular Saw
Corded or Cordless: The Rockwell is a corded circular saw that comes with a cord length of 10 feet. The length is more than enough for most projects but you may have to buy an extension in case you’re working outdoors.
Motor Power: It has a 5-amp motor that allows the blade to spin at a speed of 3500 rpm. This is the standard for most mini circular saws and is more than enough to cut through most materials.
Versatility: It’s great for woodwork and cutting plastic but when it comes to metal, it will only work if you’re making small to intermediate cuts.
- Great design for increased cutting visibility
- Adjust depth levels
- Lightweight
- Highly compact
- Built-in vacuum port for dust extraction
- Not suitable for left-handed users
Best Compact Circular Saw for Precise Cuts
The best compact circular saw for precise cuts is the Rockwell 4-1/2” Compact Circular Saw thanks to its unique design which allows for increased visibility. You’re able to clearly see where the blade lands which results in fewer errors and more accurate cuts.
3. Best Affordable Compact Mini Circular Saw - Genesis GCS445SE Compact Circular Saw Review
If you’re on a budget, then the Genesis GCS445SE is definitely an option worth considering.
While it may be cheaper than its counterparts, it does not compromise on build quality or the features that it provides.
It has a carbide-tipped blade that can cut through most materials and a barrel grip that provides great accuracy when you’re making long, straight cuts.
Furthermore, it has a cutting depth gauge level and bevel controls which allow you to easily control your cuts while operating it.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Genesis GCS445SE Compact Circular Saw
Corded or Cordless: The Genesis GCS445SE is a corded electric circular saw with a cable length of 6.5 feet. If you’re working outdoors, you may have to invest in an extension for it.
Motor Power: It has a 4.0 amp motor and the blade runs at 3500 rpm which is more than enough to cut through most materials involved in small projects around the house.
Versatility: The saw is great for when you’re working with wood and plastic but it falters when you try to cut metal or tile with it.
- Adjustable cutting depth and bevel levels
- The barrel grip allows for accurate operation
- Comes with a built-in dust port
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
- Affordable
- Is corrosion and heat resistant
- Not suitable for working with metal or tiles
Best Affordable Compact Mini Circular Saw
The best affordable compact mini circular saw is the Genesis GCS445SE Compact Circular Saw thanks to its low price and uncompromising build quality. It works great with wood and provides high accuracy thanks to its barrel grip.
4. Best High-Powered Mini Circular Saw - HYCHIKA Compact Circular Saw Review
The HYCHIKA Compact Circular Saw is designed for individuals who want the power of a regular-sized saw with the maneuverability and portability of a mini one.
It’s fairly affordable and comes with three different types of blades.
The saw even has a laser guide to keep your cutting accurate no matter what material you’re working with.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy HYCHIKA Compact Circular Saw
Corded or Cordless: The HYCHIKA is a corded circular saw which makes it unsuitable for outdoor projects. You’re going to have to invest in a cable extension if you intend on using this mini saw outside.
Motor Power: While the motor runs at 4 amps, the thing you have to consider is that its blade spins at 4500 rpm whereas most of its competitors spin at 3500 rpm. That’s what makes it ahead of the curve.
Versatility: It comes with three different types of blades for different types of cuts and it can through different types of materials such as sheet metal, plastics, tiles as well as wood.
- Soft rubber grip for easy handling
- Comes with three different blades
- Comes with a built-in laser guide
- Small and compact
- Budget-friendly
- Ultrafine finish
- Not suited for left-handed people
Best High-Powered Mini Circular Saw
The best high-powered mini circular saw is the HYCHIKA Compact Circular Saw thanks to its higher spinning speed of 4500 rpm. It comes with three different types of blades that you can use on all sorts of projects.
5.Best Ergonomic Mini Circular Saw - TECCPO Mini Circular Saw Review
The TECCPO Mini Circular Saw has a highly compact design which makes it perfect for confined spaces and also for easy transportation.
If you travel a lot for your projects, then this saw can definitely be the ideal option.
It comes with a laser cutting guide so that you can straight lines flawlessly and even has a wraparound iron base with an aluminum cover for safety.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy TECCPO Mini Circular Saw
Corded or Cordless: It’s a corded mini circular saw with a cable length of 6.5 feet. While it may work well for indoor projects, you may have to get an extension if you’re planning to use it outside.
Motor Power: It has a 4.8 amp motor with a spinning speed of 3700 rpm. This is more than adequate for cutting through most materials involved in small to medium projects.
Versatility: The TECCPO Mini Circular Saw comes with three different saw blades. The first one is designed to cut wood, the second one can cut through plastic and soft metal and the last one is for cutting through the tile.
- 3 different saw blades included
- Built-in laser guide
- Lightweight
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
- Comes with a safety trigger
- Blade switching can be confusing the first few times
Best Ergonomic Mini Circular Saw
The best ergonomic mini circular saw is the TECCPO Mini Circular Saw thanks to its heavy gauge iron wraparound base and aluminum cover. Not only does this offer safety but also easy maneuverability for making precise cuts.
6. Best Cordless Mini Circular Saw - Makita SH02R1 Circular Saw Kit Review
The Makita Saw kit comes with everything you need for cutting different types of materials.
Furthermore, it’s cordless so you can use it without restriction.
You can adjust its cutting depth and it also has a tilting base, which enables you to make bevel cuts.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Makita SH02R1 Circular Saw Kit
Corded or Cordless: As mentioned earlier, the Makita Circular Saw Kit is cordless which gives you a ton of freedom.
You can use it anywhere you want.
Motor Power: The motor for the Makita Saw Kit delivers 1500 rpm which is fairly lower than most other saws in this list.
Versatility: The Saw Kit is mainly meant for wood and it can cut through all types such as plywood, MDF, pegboard, melamine, etc.
- Ergonomic design
- Portable
- Cordless
- Lightweight
- Built-in dust blower
- Ultra-thin kerf
- Low-powered motor
Best Cordless Mini Circular Saw
The best cordless mini circular saw is the Makita SH02R1 12v Max Circular Saw Kit. It’s highly portable and perfect for any projects you may have outdoors.
7 Best Cordless Saw with Bevel Adjustments - BLACK+DECKER Cordless Circular Saw Review
Black and Decker have really outdone themselves with this saw’s design.
It provides a good balance for easy cutting and comes with bevel as well as cutting depth adjustments.
So, you can easily cut at angles and adjust the depth you want.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy BLACK+DECKER Cordless Circular Saw
Corded or Cordless: It’s in the name: The Black and Decker Circular Saw is cordless so you can use it anywhere you want.
Motor Power: It comes with a 4 amp battery which is fairly standard with a speed of 3500 rpm.
Versatility: The saw is able to cut through wood as well as soft metal and plastic. This makes it suitable for a variety of different projects.
- Great build quality
- Easy bevel and depth adjustment
- Portable
- Large 5.5-inch blade for deep cuts
- Fairly affordable
- Its battery and charger are sold separately
Best Cordless Saw with Bevel Adjustments
The best cordless saw with bevel adjustments is the BLACK+DECKER Cordless Circular Saw. As far as compact mini circular saws, it offers the highest maneuverability in terms of depth and bevel adjustments.
8 Best One-Handed Mini Circular Saw - GALAX PRO Cordless Circular Saw Review
This circular saw features an ergonomic design that allows you to use it using just one hand.
It features a non-slip grip which allows you to grasp it firmly even with sweaty hands.
The Galax Pro also comes with double protection switch locks which ensure you don’t turn it on accidentally.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy GALAX PRO Cordless Circular Saw
Corded or Cordless: The Galax Pro is cordless which allows you to use it wherever you want without worrying about maneuverability.
Motor Power: It boasts a 5.8 amp motor and a spinning speed of 3500 rpm which is more than enough for most types of materials involved in-home projects.
Versatility: The saw blade is perfect for cutting many different types of materials such as wood, plastic, PVC piping, soft metal, and much more.
- Great safety features
- Versatile
- Affordable
- Excellent build quality
- Ergonomic design
- Low battery life
Best One-Handed Mini Circular Saw
The best one-handed mini circular saw is the Galax Pro Cordless Circular Saw thanks to its unique design. It’s highly lightweight and high-powered which means you can use it with one hand without straining your arm or wrist.
9 Best Portable Mini Circular Saw - DeWalt Atomic Circular Saw Review
DeWalt is known for its high-quality power tools and this mini circular saw is no exception.
It has a sturdy build and even comes with an extended warranty.
The auxiliary handle allows for easier control when cutting and it even comes with a hang-hook for increased storage convenience.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy DeWalt Atomic Circular Saw
Corded or Cordless: It’s a cordless mini circular saw which means you can use it both indoors as well as outdoors without worrying about power outlets.
Motor Power: Its motor allows it to run at a speed of 4500 rpm which is much higher than most of the other circular saws on this list (3500 rpm).
Versatility: The saw blade is mainly meant for cutting wood and in that department, it works great. It doesn’t do so well with other more sturdy materials such as metal.
- Detachable handle for easy storage
- Cordless and portable
- Extended warranty included
- Sturdy build
- Convenient blade-changing mechanism
- Relatively expensive
Best Portable Mini Circular Saw
The best portable mini circular saw is the DeWalt Atomic Circular Saw thanks to its great design and flexibility. It can be disassembled for easy storage and transportation. You can even use its hang hook to hang it on your wall when it’s not in use.
10 Best Versatile Mini Circular Saw - Rockwell Versacut Ultra-Compact Circular Saw Review
This saw boasts an ergonomic design which makes it highly compact and portable but also, highly accurate.
It has a built-in laser guide, which enables you to make precise, straight cuts with ease.
Not only that but its blade is designed to cut through many different types of materials.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Rockwell Versacut Ultra-Compact Circular Saw
Corded or Cordless: It’s a corded power saw which means you’ll have to consider where you’ll be using it. If you’re using it farther away from a power outlet, you may need to invest in a power extension.
Motor Power: It has a motor that runs at 4.0 amps which enables a spinning speed of 3500 rpm. This is standard and more than enough for the saw to be able to cut through many different types of materials.
Versatility: The saw is called “Versacut” which suggests it’s highly versatile and that is, indeed, true. It can cut through many different types of materials such as ceramic tiles, sheet metal, wood, aluminum, plastic, and much more.
- Easy to use
- Excellent build quality
- Affordable
- Built-in laser guide
- Comes with 3 different types of blades
- Not suitable for people with large hands
- The safety feature is not user-friendly
Best Versatile Mini Circular Saw
The best versatile mini circular saw is the Rockwell Versacut since it comes with different blades that can cut through all sorts of materials. If you have a project that involves cutting materials of many different types, then this is a mini circular saw you should be considering.
Buyer's Guide
Many circular saws available in the market have similar features which can often confuse new users.
It can certainly be intimidating choosing any one mini circular saw which is why, in this section, we’ll help you figure that out.
There are certain factors you can look towards which can help you out in making an informed decision about which circular would be best for you.
These factors are:
Corded or Cordless
When choosing a circular saw to buy, you have the option of either going for a corded or cordless one.
Naturally, cordless circular saws are much more portable and offer a lot more in terms of maneuverability.
You don’t have to worry about cable length when your saw is cordless and you also don’t need to worry about the cord getting tangled up while you’re sawing.
That being said, don’t count out corded circular saws either.
While cordless saws have their benefits, it’s also true that they run on batteries. This means that you could run into the issue of the power running out midway through a project if you’re using a cordless saw. This is something that will never happen with a corded saw.
Furthermore, many corded saws come with cable extensions that allow you to have a wide range of movement.
Lastly, cordless saws are also much more expensive than corded circular saws.
Motor Power
The next thing you need to think about is the motor power of the circular saw you’re intending to buy.
Naturally, the higher the motor power, the easier it will be for you to use the circular saw.
This is because if it spins faster and with a higher power, it will be able to cut through different types of materials much more easily.
This will cause you to have much less strain on your arm and particularly, your wrist.
However, mini circular saws aren’t exactly known for high motor power but instead for their portability.
You need to think about what you’re intending to cut with the saw. If it’s a relatively thin material that isn’t too hard, you can get away with a mini saw. Otherwise, you may have to invest in a regular-sized saw.
Of course, the higher the motor power of the saw, the higher its price will be.
Versatility
When we talk about versatility when it comes to circular saws, we’re typically referring to the types of materials that they will be able to cut.
Thus, you need to think about what materials you intend to cut with your circular saw.
Many circular saws come with different types of blades that are meant for different types of materials.
Others just have one blade which can cut through many different types.
Thus, always think about what projects you’ll be working on and what types of materials they will involve.
You should also be thinking about the accessories that the saw comes with or accessories that are sold separately for it.
For example, no matter what you’re cutting, there’s going to be waste and debris.
It can be a good idea to invest in a circular saw that comes with some type of dust port or vacuum adapter that cleans up while you’re working.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a Mini Circular Saw Used for?
A mini circular saw works perfectly in confined spaces and for small projects.
They are great if you want maneuverability and don’t have a ton of space to work with.
Mini Circular Saws are typically handheld and lightweight. They can have enough power to cut through sheet metal, wood, tile, plastic, and other similar types of materials.
How Thick of a Piece of Wood can a Mini Circular Saw Cut?
Most commercially available mini circular saws have a cutting depth of 2 inches if you cut at a 90-degree angle and a cutting depth of 1 and a half inches if you cut at a 45-degree angle.
Can a Mini Circular Saw Cut a 2×4?
Yes, most mini circular saws will easily be able to cut through a 2×4.
For example, our top contender, the Worx Worxsaw can cut through a 2×4 piece of wood in a single go.
What is the Most Common Accident When Using a Portable Circular Saw?
The most common accident that occurs when operating a portable circular saw is kickback.
This refers to when the user does not expect the power of the saw and it kicks back. This can often result in the saw falling from the user’s hands and if not, it can result in upper limb injury.