Best Cordless Circular Saws: DEWALT DCS590B Leads

The best budget cordless circular saw here is the DEWALT DCS590B, because a 7-1/4 in. blade cutting 2-9/16 in. deep at 90° is the only saw in this group that clears doubled 2x stock in one pass. If you don't already own 20V MAX packs, the Seesii CS01 ships with two batteries and a charger instead. Not for you? If you want a corded saw's raw depth with no battery math, or you cut sheet goods twice a year, buy a cheap corded sidewinder and a good blade. Every saw below assumes you'll use it enough to care about runtime.

Best budget cordless circular saw at a glance

How I narrowed this field down to five

I started with the circular saw listings and screened on four things I could actually verify from published data: blade diameter, cut depth at 90°, weight, and whether a battery and charger come in the box. That last one decides more purchases than anything else, and it's the reason a "budget" label gets slippery.

Here's what got cut:

• Saws with no published blade diameter. If the listing won't tell you whether it takes a 5-1/2 in. or a 6-1/2 in. blade, you can't buy blades for it.
• Mini saws under 5 in. They're a different tool for a different job, mostly plywood and trim.
• Anything where the depth of cut wasn't stated anywhere in the listing copy or specs.
• Duplicate kits of the same model, so each saw appears once.

Five survived, and they split cleanly into two groups. Two are bare tools on established battery platforms: the DEWALT DCS590B and DCS391B, plus the CRAFTSMAN CMCS500B, which is three bare tools if you count carefully. The other two, Seesii and DEKOPRO, arrive as complete kits with batteries and a charger.

That split is the whole article. A bare tool is only a cheap saw if you already have the batteries.

Is a cheap cordless circular saw actually cheap?

Run the arithmetic before you commit. Three of these five saws ship with no battery and no charger: the CRAFTSMAN CMCS500B is listed as a bare tool, and both DEWALT models say battery not included. The CRAFTSMAN is the cheapest of the five, but that position assumes you already own a V20 pack.

The two kits reverse the logic. The Seesii CS01 includes two 21V 4000mAh batteries and a charger, and it's the second-cheapest here. The DEKOPRO comes with two 4.0Ah batteries and a charger and sits roughly mid-range for this set. Neither is the cheapest sticker in the group, but neither needs a second purchase to cut anything.

So the honest ranking depends on one question: what's in your garage right now?

1. You own 20V MAX batteries. The DEWALT DCS590B or DCS391B is your saw, and the bare tool is genuinely the cheap route.
2. You own CRAFTSMAN V20 batteries. The CMCS500B is the obvious buy and the lightest saw here at 5.3 lb.
3. You own nothing. Buy a kit. The Seesii or the DEKOPRO gets you cutting the day it arrives.
4. You own a different brand entirely. Then a kit is still probably right, because a saw is a heavy drain on batteries and cross-platform adapters are a bad idea.

Two of the five picks here sit on the same 20V MAX platform, which is worth noting if you plan to add a drill later.

6-1/2 in. or 7-1/4 in.: which blade size do you need?

Blade diameter sets your maximum depth, and depth is what stops a cut halfway through. Four of these five saws run a 6-1/2 in. blade. Only the DCS590B runs 7-1/4 in.

The published depth figures make the gap concrete. DEWALT states 2-9/16 in. at 90° for the DCS590B and 2 in. at 45°. The DCS391B is listed at 2-1/8 in. at 90°. Seesii claims 2-1/4 in. at 90° and 1-7/16 in. at 45°.

Why it matters: a nominal 2x4 is 1-1/2 in. thick. Every saw here clears that easily at 90°. Two of them stacked is 3 in., which none of these clear. But a 4x4 post at 3-1/2 in. and a doubled 2x header both punish the 45° number, and that's where the 7-1/4 in. saw pulls ahead.

Rules of thumb worth keeping:

• Cutting 2x lumber square and sheet goods only? 6-1/2 in. is plenty, and you save weight.
• Cutting bevels through 2x stock regularly? Go 7-1/4 in.
• Cutting anything nominal 4x? Expect two passes with any saw here.
• 7-1/4 in. blades are the most common size on the shelf, which quietly matters for replacements.

1. DEWALT 20V MAX XR Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw — Best overall

The only saw here with a 7-1/4 in. blade, and the only one whose published depth clears a bevel through 2x stock without a second pass.

Best for: framers cutting doubled 2x stock all day Skip it if: you don't already own 20V MAX batteries

The DCS590B is the outlier in this comparison, and the numbers are why. DEWALT lists up to 1,700 MWO and up to 5,500 RPM no-load from a brushless motor, along with a maximum depth of 2-9/16 in. at 90° and 2 in. at 45°. The 45° figure is the one that matters. Every other saw here loses serious depth once the shoe tilts, and this one keeps enough to bevel a 2x6 in one pass.

DEWALT also claims up to 368 cuts per charge and an automatic electric brake that stops the blade coasting after you release the trigger. The brake is the small feature you notice most on a jobsite, because it lets you set the saw down sooner.

The trade-offs are real. At 9.15 lb it's the second-heaviest saw here, and that's before you clip on a battery. Its physical footprint is the largest of the five at 9.6 x 15.4 x 9.44 in., so it won't tuck into a small tool bag. It also sells in this set at a premium position while arriving as a bare tool, which means your total spend is highest unless you're already on 20V MAX. Notably, DEWALT publishes a warranty on the older DCS391B in this set but not on this listing.

Pros:

• Only 7-1/4 in. blade in this group
• 2-9/16 in. depth at 90°, deepest published here
• 2 in. depth at 45°, best bevel capacity of the five
• Brushless motor rated to 5,500 RPM
• Automatic electric brake for faster blade stop

Cons:

• 9.15 lb before a battery, second-heaviest here
• Bare tool, so no battery or charger included
• Largest physical dimensions of the five
• No warranty stated on this listing

2. DEWALT 20V MAX Circular Saw DCS391B — Best for pros

The saw that buyers choose most often in this group, with the only stated warranty and a magnesium shoe.

Best for: trim and remodel work on an existing DEWALT platform Skip it if: you need full depth through 4x material

The DCS391B is the one buyers choose most often here by a wide margin, and it earns that on balance rather than headline numbers. It weighs 6.97 lb, which is 2.18 lb lighter than the DCS590B, and it's the only saw in this set with a published warranty: 3 Year Limited.

DEWALT lists a 5150 RPM motor and a high-strength magnesium shoe, which the brand ties to long-term cut accuracy. A metal shoe holds its flatness better than stamped steel after being dropped, and flatness is what keeps a rip straight. Bevel capacity is 0-50°, matching the CRAFTSMAN and going further than the 45° stop on the Seesii and DEKOPRO. An 18-tooth carbide-tipped 6-1/2 in. blade is included, with a maximum cut depth at 90° of 2-1/8 inches.

Where it gives ground: that 2-1/8 in. is 7/16 in. shallower than the DCS590B at 90°, and DEWALT publishes no 45° depth figure for it. It's the second-most-expensive pick here and still a bare tool, so a first-time cordless buyer pays twice. There's no laser guide or LED, both of which the two budget kits advertise.

Pros:

• Only pick with a stated warranty, 3 Year Limited
• Magnesium shoe for durability and cut accuracy
• 6.97 lb, lighter than both 9 lb saws here
• 0-50° bevel range, widest tied in this set
• 18-tooth carbide blade included

Cons:

• 2-1/8 in. depth at 90°, shallower than the winner
• No 45° depth figure published
• Bare tool with no battery or charger
• No laser or work light, unlike the two kits

3. CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Circular Saw CMCS500B — Best budget pick

The lightest saw in this comparison at 5.3 lb, and the cheapest of the five.

Best for: V20 owners who want the lightest saw here Skip it if: you have no battery and no charger

Weight is the quiet reason people stop using a circular saw, and the CMCS500B addresses it directly. At 5.3 lb it's 1.67 lb lighter than the DCS391B and 4.16 lb lighter than the heaviest pick in this set. Over an afternoon of overhead or ladder work, that difference is the whole experience.

It's also the cheapest of the five and part of the V20 cordless system, so a battery you bought for a drill runs it. CRAFTSMAN lists a 4,200 RPM motor, a 6-1/2 in. blade that handles cross cutting or ripping 2x material, a tool-free beveling shoe pivoting up to 50°, and a metal shoe. That 50° bevel matches the DCS391B and beats both budget kits.

The compromises are the ones you'd expect at this position. 4,200 RPM is the lowest published speed of the five, which usually shows up as slower feed rates in dense material. CRAFTSMAN doesn't publish a depth-of-cut figure at all, which makes it the hardest saw here to plan a cut with. It's a bare tool, so a buyer with no V20 battery is looking at a real second purchase. And no warranty appears on the listing.

Pros:

• 5.3 lb, lightest saw in this group
• Cheapest of the five picks
• Runs on the shared V20 battery system
• Tool-free bevel shoe to 50°
• Metal shoe rather than stamped plastic

Cons:

• 4,200 RPM, lowest published speed here
• No depth-of-cut figure published
• Bare tool, no battery or charger
• No warranty stated on the listing

4. Seesii 6-1/2" Cordless Circular Saw CS01 — Best minimal setup

Two 4000mAh batteries and a charger in the box, at the second-cheapest position in this set.

Best for: a first-time buyer with no cordless platform Skip it if: you want a saw that shares batteries with other tools

If you own no cordless tools, this is the shortest path from box to cut. Seesii lists two 21V 4000mAh batteries and a charger, claims 40 minutes of continuous high-speed operation, and sits at the second-cheapest position among these five. Nothing else here gives you a spare pack at that end of the range.

The published cutting figures are usable: up to 5200 RPM no-load, with a maximum depth of 2-1/4 in. at 90° and 1-7/16 in. at 45°. That 90° depth is deeper than the DCS391B's 2-1/8 in., which is a genuine surprise. Seesii also lists a built-in LED illuminator, a laser, guide rails, and a double protection switch it describes as good for beginners. The 45° number is the giveaway, though: 1-7/16 in. is barely a nominal 2x, so bevels through framing lumber need two passes.

The bigger issue is the platform. Those batteries fit this saw and Seesii's own tools, not a broad ecosystem, so you're buying into a dead end if you later want a matching drill or impact driver. Seesii publishes no weight for the CS01, which makes it impossible to compare against the 5.3 lb CRAFTSMAN on the one spec that matters for fatigue. Bevel stops at 45°, not 50°, and no warranty is listed.

Pros:

• Two 4000mAh batteries plus charger included
• Second-cheapest pick here despite the kit contents
• 2-1/4 in. depth at 90°, deeper than the DCS391B
• LED work light, laser and guide rails listed
• 5200 RPM claimed no-load speed

Cons:

• 1-7/16 in. depth at 45° limits bevels in 2x stock
• No weight published, so fatigue is unknowable
• Narrow battery platform with little tool crossover
• Bevel range stops at 45°, no warranty listed

5. DEKOPRO 20V Cordless Circular Saw DKCS20Q1Y-G — Best upgrade

A two-battery kit at a middle position, but it's the heaviest saw here and publishes the least data.

Best for: occasional projects where two 4.0Ah batteries matter Skip it if: you care about weight, since it's the heaviest here

The DEKOPRO covers the same ground as the Seesii and lands a step up in price for it. You get a 6-1/2 in. carbide-tipped blade DEKOPRO gives as 165mm, two 4.0Ah batteries, and a charger. The brand lists 4500 RPM no-load, a 0-45° adjustable bevel and a laser that projects a cut line.

For a second complete kit in the same range, the case rests on the batteries. Two 4.0Ah packs mean one charging while one works, which is the single feature that keeps a weekend project moving. The included carbide blade is described as suited to hardwood and softwood, so you can start cutting without a blade purchase.

But this is the weakest data set of the five, and that costs it. At 9.46 lb it's the heaviest saw here, 4.16 lb more than the CRAFTSMAN, on a saw with a smaller blade than the 9.15 lb DEWALT. No depth-of-cut figure appears anywhere in the listing, which is the specification a circular saw buyer needs most. Its 4500 RPM is second-lowest here, its bevel stops at 45°, and it's the slowest seller of the five by a large margin. It also carries no stated warranty while costing more than the Seesii kit, which publishes more numbers.

Pros:

• Two 4.0Ah batteries and a charger included
• 165mm carbide-tipped blade in the box
• Laser cut-line guide listed
• Complete kit, no second purchase needed

Cons:

• 9.46 lb, heaviest saw in this comparison
• No depth of cut published at any angle
• 4500 RPM, second-lowest speed here
• Costs more than the Seesii kit with fewer published specs
• Slowest seller of the five, no warranty listed

What the listings leave out

Four of these five listings publish no warranty. Only the DCS391B states one, at 3 Year Limited. That's not proof the others have no coverage, but it does mean you'd be checking with the manufacturer rather than the product page.

Other gaps worth knowing:

• Battery included, or not. Both DEWALT models and the CRAFTSMAN say bare tool. Seesii and DEKOPRO ship complete. Nothing in a headline tells you which.
• Depth of cut. CRAFTSMAN and DEKOPRO publish no depth figure. That's the number that decides whether a cut finishes.
• Weight. Seesii publishes none. It's the specification most closely tied to whether you enjoy using the tool.
• Blade tooth count. Only the DCS391B states it, at 18 teeth. A low tooth count rips fast and leaves a rough edge, which is fine for framing and wrong for finish work.

Every pick here has exactly one seller listing it, so there's no shopping around within a single product page.

When a different pick wins

The DCS590B is my default, but four conditions flip it.

• You own CRAFTSMAN V20 batteries. Buy the CMCS500B. Cross-platform is a false economy, and 5.3 lb is a real benefit.
• You have no cordless tools at all. Buy the Seesii CS01. Two 4000mAh batteries and a charger beat a bare tool you can't power.
• You work overhead or on ladders. The 4.16 lb spread between the CMCS500B and the DEKOPRO is the deciding number, not RPM.
• You want the warranty on paper. Only the DCS391B publishes one. If that's how you buy tools, that's your saw.

The cutoff for blade size is simpler than it looks: if you never bevel through 2x stock, 6-1/2 in. is enough, and everything below the winner qualifies.

The verdict

If you already own 20V MAX batteries and cut framing lumber, the DEWALT DCS590B is the best budget cordless circular saw of these five. Its 7-1/4 in. blade delivers 2-9/16 in. at 90° and 2 in. at 45°, and that 45° figure is what nothing else here matches. Combined with a brushless motor rated to 5,500 RPM and an electric brake, it's the only pick built for repeated deep cuts.

If you own no batteries and want to cut this weekend, the Seesii CS01 is the buy. Two 21V 4000mAh packs, a charger, 2-1/4 in. at 90° and a listed 5200 RPM, at the second-cheapest position here. The cutoff is 1-7/16 in.: that's Seesii's depth at 45°, and if you bevel through 2x stock regularly, you've outgrown it and need the DEWALT.

The DCS391B is the runner-up, and its exact advantage is documentation plus balance. It's the only saw in this set with a published warranty at 3 Year Limited, it has a magnesium shoe, it hits 0-50° of bevel, and at 6.97 lb it's 2.18 lb lighter than the winner. It gives up 7/16 in. of depth at 90° for that.

FAQ

Is a budget cordless circular saw worth buying over a corded one?

A budget cordless circular saw is worth it when you cut away from an outlet, on a roof, in a crawlspace, or across a yard. The kits here include two 4.0Ah batteries specifically so one charges while the other works. If every cut happens at a bench next to a plug, a corded saw gives you unlimited runtime and less weight in your hand.

What does the cheapest saw in this group actually cost you?

The cheapest saw in this group, the CRAFTSMAN CMCS500B, is a bare tool. No battery, no charger. Its low position assumes you already own a V20 pack. If you don't, your real outlay includes a battery and a charger, which typically pushes past the Seesii kit that includes two 4000mAh batteries. Always price the complete setup, not the box.

Will a 6-1/2 in. blade cut through a 4x4 post?

A 6-1/2 in. blade won't cut a 4x4 in one pass. A nominal 4x4 measures 3-1/2 in. thick, and the deepest 6-1/2 in. saw here publishes 2-1/4 in. at 90°. Even the 7-1/4 in. DCS590B claims 2-9/16 in. You cut from two opposite faces, marking a line all the way around first so the passes meet cleanly.

DEWALT DCS590B or DCS391B: which should I pick?

Between the DCS590B and DCS391B, depth decides it. The DCS590B runs a 7-1/4 in. blade for 2-9/16 in. at 90° and 2 in. at 45°, so it clears bevels the DCS391B can't at its 2-1/8 in. rating. The DCS391B answers with 6.97 lb versus 9.15 lb, a magnesium shoe, 0-50° of bevel and a 3 Year Limited Warranty.

What mistake do first-time cordless saw buyers make most?

The mistake first-time cordless saw buyers make most is judging a saw on RPM. Speed figures here run from 4,200 to 5,500, and that spread changes far less than depth of cut, weight, or shoe material. A 5.3 lb saw with a metal shoe cuts straighter than a fast saw you're too tired to control. Check depth first, weight second.

Pick the saw that matches the batteries on your shelf, then buy a decent blade for it. The blade that ships in the box, where one ships at all, is usually an 18-tooth ripping blade, and swapping to a 40-tooth finish blade changes the cut quality more than any spec on this page. For most people building decks, cutting studs and breaking down sheet goods, the DCS590B is the default because it's the one saw here that never runs out of depth mid-cut. Check the current listing, confirm what's in the box, and buy once.

Last updated: September 18, 2026. Product availability re-checked.

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