In this head-to-head comparison, Pro Tool Reviews puts 12 flagship cordless circular saws through a rigorous battery of timed and scored tests to find the best battery-powered circular saw on the market. The lineup includes tools from Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt, Ryobi, Bosch, Flex, Hilti, Metabo HPT, Kobalt, RIDGID, Skil, and Craftsman. Using a custom-built test track with digital timers, standardized blades, and a consistent scoring system, he evaluates raw cutting speed, max-depth endurance, blade guard performance, sightlines, dust collection, shoe glide, and more. Visit Pro Tool Reviews on YouTube for more comparisons.

TRANSCRIPT:

I've gathered 12 flagship circular saws from some of the biggest names in the industry—DeWalt, Makita, Hilti, Metabo HPT, Milwaukee, Bosch, Kobalt, RIDGID, Flex, Ryobi, Craftsman, and Skil. In this video, I'm putting these battery-powered circular saws head-to-head to find out which one deserves the top spot, using my custom circular saw testing rig complete with digital timers.

Bosch GKS18V-25N. Paired with an 18-volt 8-amp-hour Expert battery for extended run time and consistent cutting power. Features an electric brake, integrated pivoting dust port, easy-to-use adjustments, and one of the most functional front grips on the market. Backed by a 5-year limited warranty.

Craftsman CMCS551. Runs on a 20-volt 6 amp-hour battery and is designed for everyday versatility. Includes an LED work light, tool-free adjustments, and a familiar handle design. A no-frills tool backed by a 3-year warranty that fits neatly into the V20 lineup.

DeWalt DCS578. Powered by a 60-volt 9 amp-hour FlexVolt battery and built for demanding applications. Includes an electric brake, rafter hook, bright LED work light, and clearly marked adjustment points. Comfortable balance and grip, backed by DeWalt's 3-year limited warranty.

Flex FX2141-1D. Uses a 24-volt 6 amp-hour stacked lithium battery designed to deliver sustained power without dropping cutting speed. Features an electric brake, LED lighting, dust extraction capability, and is one of only three models with a magnesium shoe with registration. Backed by a 5-year limited warranty on both tool and battery.

Hilti SC 30WR-22. Runs on a 22-volt 7.9 amp-hour battery and is built with professional contractors in mind. Combines an electric brake, the widest dust extraction port tested, and clearly marked adjustments in a stable, precise design. Hilti's service program and 20-year warranty support are major selling features.

Kobalt KXCS124B-03. Powered by a 24-volt 8 amp-hour Ultimate Output battery, focused on consistent performance and all-day runtime. Includes an electric brake, LED work light, integrated dust port, and intuitive controls in a remarkably affordable package. Backed by a 5-year warranty.

Makita GSH01. Pairs a 40-volt 4 amp-hour XGT battery with a particularly compact design. Lightweight and easy to use one-handed. The magnesium shoe, high blade speed, and wide bevel capacity help distinguish it from the competition. Both tool and battery backed by a 3-year warranty.

Metabo HPT C3607DAQ4. Uses a 36-volt Multi-Volt system with a 4 amp-hour battery for consistent performance under load. Unique to this saw is a torque boost button that delivers additional power through difficult cuts. Also features an electric brake and LED work light in a compact, well-balanced package. Backed by a lifetime warranty.

Milwaukee 2834. Uses the M18 High Output FORGE battery to deliver consistent power even under demanding conditions. Delivers some of the highest blade speeds in the test and includes an electric brake, magnesium shoe, and vacuum adapter. Nearly a pound lighter than the previous model. Backed by a 5-year warranty.

RIDGID R8657. Uses an 18-volt 8 amp-hour EXP battery and focuses on getting the basics right with few frills. Includes an electric brake, LED work light, rafter hook, and vacuum adapter. RIDGID's lifetime service agreement may be its biggest long-term advantage.

Ryobi PBLCS302. Powered by an 18-volt 8 amp-hour EDGE battery and aimed at everyone from DIYers to professionals looking for a value performer. Includes an electric brake, LED work light, vacuum adapter, and a rafter hook. Punches above its weight class and is backed by a 3-year warranty.

Skil CR5440B-00. Runs on an 18-volt 5 amp-hour battery and is built for straightforward everyday cutting. Includes an electric brake, vacuum port, and the deepest cutting depth of all saws tested. Excellent bang for the buck, backed by a 5-year warranty.

Test preparation

Before getting into results, here's how I prepared for consistent testing. I weighed every saw both with and without a battery installed, using the largest battery that made sense for each saw's intended purpose and each manufacturer's premium pack where possible. Weight varied significantly—the bare Craftsman came in at just 7.26 lbs while the Kobalt topped out at 9.48 lbs. With batteries, the Craftsman weighed 8.81 lbs on the low end, and the Kobalt reached 12.16 lbs.

I replaced every factory blade with a brand-new Diablo Demo Demon 24-tooth Ultimate Framing and Demolition blade so every saw was cutting with the same tool. For the lumber tests, I selected No. 2 southern yellow pine 2x10s to minimize knots and grain variation, and every battery was fully charged before testing began.

Full-length rip cut test

The first test is all about raw cutting speed in a long rip cut. Using two layers of 3/4-inch OSB subflooring mounted to the test track, I used a 10-lb weight to pull the sled down the track. Each saw got two attempts, and I recorded the fastest run.

Milwaukee posted the fastest time at 9.76 seconds. Metabo HPT finished second at 10.10 seconds, and Flex rounded out the top three at 13.35 seconds. Bosch finished last at 19.64 seconds. Every single saw successfully completed the cut, and from first to last the spread was less than 10 seconds—which speaks to just how competitive this field really is.

Max-depth rip cut test

This test pushed the saws further, stacking four layers of 3/4-inch OSB and setting each saw to its maximum cutting depth for a full 8-foot rip. Each saw got one attempt. This isn't a common cut, but it does a great job of revealing power and endurance.

Metabo HPT moved into first place at 16.37 seconds, followed closely by Milwaukee at 17.41 seconds. One of the biggest surprises was Ryobi jumping into third at 17.85 seconds. Skil finished last at 28.05 seconds—but like every other saw in this test, it successfully completed the full cut. Every saw finished, and that's the important takeaway.

Crosscut test

This is a basic crosscut test. While not designed to separate the field on speed, it gave a good feel for each saw's handling, balance, sightlines, and lower blade guard performance. Every saw completed both 90-degree and 45-degree bevel cuts without any issues related to lower guard operation. In this test, every saw earned a perfect score.

Sightline test

The first meaningful differences began to show up in the sightline test. I evaluated how clearly I could see the cut line in front of the blade during both straight and 45-degree bevel cuts. I used a simple three-point scoring system: one for poor visibility, two for average, three for excellent.

Most saws provided very good visibility during straight cuts, with everyone scoring a two or three. Once I moved to 45-degree bevel cuts, visibility became more challenging on some tools—particularly Flex, Hilti, and Kobalt. Standout performers in both categories were Craftsman, Metabo HPT, Milwaukee, and Skil.

Compound miter cut test

This test is designed for framers who stick-frame hip roofs and dormers. I set each saw to max depth and a 45-degree bevel and made several right-hand compound miter cuts, paying close attention to how smoothly the lower blade guard retracted. Using the same three-point scale—one for a guard that hangs up, two for noticeable resistance, three for smooth retraction—top performers were DeWalt, Hilti, Makita, Milwaukee, and Ryobi.

I repeated the same test in the left-hand direction. Not a single saw earned a score of one, and eight of the 12 models received top marks. Overall, lower blade guards behave noticeably better during left-hand compound cuts.

Stake-making test

This is a practical evaluation of control rather than precision. Using each saw one-handed, I freehanded a point onto the end of a standard 2x4—a test that highlights overall balance, weight, and blade guard behavior during awkward cuts. Every saw completed it successfully, but several required me to fight the blade guard to finish. Standout performers were DeWalt, Hilti, Kobalt, Metabo HPT, Milwaukee, and Ryobi. Generally, the saws that struggled here were the same ones that had trouble with the right-hand compound miter cut.

Shoe glide test

Another area I evaluated was the shoe or base plate. These saws use several different materials and surface finishes, and those differences affect both durability and how easily the saw slides across a workpiece. Some use a raw brushed finish, while others have powder-coated or anodized surfaces.

Seven of the 12 saws glided smoothly across material with little resistance. Four fell in the middle of the pack with average performance. The Craftsman and DeWalt created noticeably more drag than the others, making them harder to push smoothly through the cut.

Dust collection test

To evaluate dust collection effectiveness, I made three identical crosscuts with each saw connected to a vacuum, with a black plastic cover board underneath to show how much dust escaped. Every saw except one can easily accept a vacuum adapter. Metabo HPT is the exception—the saw includes a threaded mounting point for an adapter, but the owner's manual says the attachment is sold separately, and I couldn't find it anywhere online.

Scoring on the same three-point scale, only two saws truly stood out: Makita and Milwaukee. Most fell in the middle. Ryobi and Hilti had disappointing results. Dust collection is important in certain applications, but I didn't factor it into the final performance scores.

Additional features: rafter hooks, pricing, and specs

Nine of the 12 saws include an integrated rafter hook. It's a small feature, but one I appreciate every time I'm on a job site. Being able to safely hang the saw instead of setting it on the ground or balancing it on a rafter is a real convenience. Since these represent each brand's flagship model, I'd like to see every manufacturer include one as standard equipment.

On pricing, the range starts at around $139 for the Skil and goes up to $412 for the Hilti. Not every tool can be purchased as a kit, but all are available as tool-only purchases if you're already on the platform. When possible, look for a model that includes a battery—the bundle price can be a great way to add an extra pack to your system.

On maximum cutting depth, the lowest capacity goes to the Kobalt at 2-3/8 inches, while the highest goes to the Skil at 2-5/8 inches. On bevel capacity, the smallest maximum bevel is 50 degrees, shared by three saws. The highest—57 degrees—belongs to the DeWalt.

The results: third, second, and first place

Third place: Makita GSH01—83 points. Lightweight, with a slick shoe that glides over material, solid adjustability, a lower guard that moves out of the way for angle cuts, and excellent dust collection. A remarkable balance of power and function.

Second place: Ryobi PBLCS302—88 points. The big surprise of the test. This is labeled a value leader, not a performance leader, and yet it scored 88 points against a field of premium tools. The slick shoe, the guard behavior when tilted, and the useful built-in features all add up. Between price and performance, it more than earned its spot.

First place: Milwaukee 2834—94 points. Taking the top spot across the board. From raw cutting power and speed to precision, consistency, and overall capability, it delivered the complete package. Built for demanding professionals who won't compromise, it excelled across multiple performance categories and proved it can handle the toughest jobs with confidence. If you're looking for the best cordless circular saw in this field, the Milwaukee 2834 is the one to beat.

Final rankings and closing thoughts

Other notable finishers: DeWalt in fourth, Metabo HPT in fifth. In normal testing procedures, any tool scoring below 60 wouldn't be recommended for real work—and what's impressive here is that even the lowest-ranking saws in this test are still capable tools that will get the job done.

Have questions about any of the models featured? Drop them in the comments below, and if you have a different favorite, let me know why. Thanks for watching.