House Grail is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Best Compact & Mini Circular Saws 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

a compact circular saw

a durable circular-saw in action

Lightweight and easy to maneuver, compact and mini circular saws offer a greater degree of control than their larger counterparts. Designed for accomplishing quick work without sacrificing cleanliness and attention to detail, they are ideal for DIY and home improvement projects.

Whether you’re an old pro or entirely new to using circular saws, finding the best products available today can be a real hassle. To bring you this definitive guide to compact circular saw reviews, we’ve taken the time to thoroughly test and examine every saw we could get our hands on. By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll know exactly which mini circular saw is perfect for your DIY needs.

Comparison Table (Updated in 2024)

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Rockwell RK3441K Compact Circular Saw Rockwell RK3441K Compact Circular Saw
  • Top-of-the-line cutting power
  • Laser guide helps with precision cuts
  • One-handed operation
  • Second place
    TACKLIFE Circular Saw with Metal Handle TACKLIFE Circular Saw with Metal Handle
  • Powerful 5.8-amp motor
  • Fold-out handle
  • Laser guide for accurate cuts
  • Third place
    Rockwell RK3440K Mini Circular Saw Rockwell RK3440K Mini Circular Saw
  • Exceptionally lightweight
  • 5-amp motor
  • Ideal for small projects
  • Worx WX429L Compact Circular Saw Worx WX429L Compact Circular Saw
  • Excellent cutting power
  • Super lightweight
  • Comfortable, ergonomic handle
  • Dremel SM20-03 Mini Circular Saws Dremel SM20-03 Mini Circular Saws
  • Most powerful motor available
  • Easily cuts through wood, plastic, or metal
  • Extremely lightweight
  • The 6 Best Mini Circular Saws

    1. Rockwell RK3441K Compact Circular Saw – Best Overall

    Rockwell RK3441K

    When you’re looking to buy a compact circular saw, you may not know the full scope of projects that you’ll one day end up using it for. Because of their inherent versatility and ease of use, mini circular saws can be used for a much wider variety of tasks than you might expect. That’s why we love the Rockwell RK3441K: Of all the saws we reviewed, it had the best performance across the widest variety of uses.

    The 4-amp motor provides the RK3441K with an impressive 3500 RPM blade speed, making it nearly as powerful as many traditional circular saws. This allows it to cut through tile, wood, sheet metal, plastics, and flooring with relative ease.

    With its one-handed operation, laser guide, and easy depth adjustments, this saw from Rockwell really is prepared for almost any job. Right out of the box, it comes with a carbide-tipped blade for wood, as well as specialized blades for aluminum, PVC, and ceramic tile. If you’re looking for one saw that can handle any small job in your home, we recommend the RK3441K.

    Pros
    • Top-of-the-line cutting power
    • Cuts through wood, tile, metal, plastic, and more
    • Laser guide helps with precision cuts
    • One-handed operation
    Cons
    • Not ideal for left-handed users
    • Laser guide requires separate batteries

    2. TACKLIFE Circular Saw with Metal Handle – Best Value

    TACKLIFE Circular Saw

     

    This TACKLIFE circular saw proves that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get started on high-quality home improvement projects. With a fantastic combination of power and portability at an unbeatable price, we think it’s the best compact circular saw for the money that you can find.

    A high-powered 5.8-amp motor produces a 3500 RPM blade speed, making the TACKLIFE competitive with even the most expensive compact circular saws. Where it really draws our accolades is in its innovative design: A metal fold-out handle means that you can operate with one hand for convenience or two for complete control and accuracy.

    Other features of the TACKLIFE that impressed us include a laser guide, easy depth adjustment, and double trigger safety switch. Perhaps its only downside is a slightly heavier design, weighing in at around 7 pounds.

    Pros
    • Powerful 5.8-amp motor
    • Inexpensive, but still rugged and durable
    • Fold-out handle for one- or two-handed operation
    • Laser guide for accurate cuts
    Cons
    • Heavier than most compact circular saws

    3. Rockwell RK3440K Mini Circular Saw

    Rockwell RK3440K compact saw

    Lightweight power is the name of the game with the Rockwell RK3440K. Weighing in at a mere 5 pounds, yet still as powerful as any other saw in our review, it’s a pint-sized powerhouse that’s ideal for small projects.

    A 5-amp electric motor produces a remarkable 3500 RPM blade speed. This is easily enough power to handle home repairs and small DIY projects. A slim in-line grip helps it to fit into tight places, and its diminutive size makes it easy on the hands, arms, and shoulders.

    Being this small does come with a downside, though. With a maximum cutting depth of just 1-11/16”, it’s not capable of as wide a variety of jobs as many other saws we reviewed. Overall, we recommend the RK3440K for smaller people who might struggle with heavier power tools, as well as anyone looking for a quick-to-use tool for small projects.

    Pros
    • Exceptionally lightweight
    • 5-amp motor
    • Slim, in-line design lets it cut in tight spaces
    • Ideal for small projects
    Cons
    • Shallow cutting depth
    • Small size can feel limiting in larger hands

    4. Worx WX429L Compact Circular Saw

    Worx Worxsaw WX429L

    Fully equipped to cut through 2x4s with ease, the Worx WX429L is another excellent option for a lightweight saw. Its 4½-pound weight is supported by an ergonomically designed handle that we found easy to use and comfortable even for long days of work.

    The 4½-inch blade on the Worx has a maximum speed of 3500 RPM, putting it in the highest class of cutting power for compact circular saws. Depth and bevel are easily adjusted, giving it great versatility for all sorts of woodworking projects.

    At a similar price and with nearly identical features to many of the saws we reviewed, the WX429L really stands out for its warranty: A 3-year, full coverage policy is better than that offered by any other product on our list. The only downside? You’ll likely want to replace the factory-provided blades as soon as possible because they’re not as accurate as we had hoped for. Also, this particular design could prove to be rather troublesome for left-handed people.

    Pros
    • Excellent cutting power
    • Super lightweight
    • Comfortable, ergonomic handle reduces wrist strain
    • Easy adjustments for depth and bevel
    Cons
    • Provided blades are inaccurate
    • Lightweight design can feel awkward in larger hands
    • Not good for lefties

    5. Dremel SM20-03 Mini Circular Saws

    Dremel Saw Max

    The Dremel SM20-03 is an odd duck amongst compact circular saws. With a maximum cutting depth of just ¾-inch, it’s never going to be your go-to tool for cutting boards to size – but its extremely lightweight design and ridiculously efficient motor make it so easy to use for detail work. While it may never replace your table saw, it’s an incredibly useful tool that shouldn’t be ignored for home DIY projects.

    Equipped with a 6-amp motor, the Dremel SM20-03 is the most powerful of any compact circular saw in our review. The proprietary Dremel blades that come with the tool can cut through wood, plastic, or metal with ease. Backup blades can be a little bit pricey, which is a downside of choosing this tool over a different saw.

    In short, this Dremel saw is the lightest and most powerful saw we found to review but is limited in its utility by a shallow cutting depth and proprietary blade design.

    Pros
    • Most powerful motor available in a compact circular saw
    • Easily cuts through wood, plastic, or metal
    • Extremely lightweight
    Cons
    • Shallow cutting depth limits its uses
    • Proprietary blades are expensive to reorder

    6. Genesis GCS545C Compact Circular Saw

    Genesis GCS545C

    On first inspection, the Genesis GCS545C might seem like a great option for a compact circular saw. With a high-powered 5.8-amp motor and 3500 RPM blade speed, it matches the cutting power of any other saw on our list. Lightweight and easy to handle, its blade depth is large enough to make it versatile for all sorts of DIY and home improvement jobs.

    With all of these good things going for it, why is Genesis at the bottom of our list? Well, it seems that a portion of the saws being produced have a serious defect. The bolts and screws responsible for holding the blade in alignment consistently cause problems, leading to either inaccurate cuts or complete blade failure. For this reason, we recommend finding a different compact circular saw for your needs.

    Pros
    • Good power and cutting depth
    • Lightweight and easy to use
    Cons
    • Blade system rapidly develops problems
    • Screw and bolt design can lead to tool failure
    • Only made for small jobs

    Buyer’s Guide – Deciding on the Best Mini Circular Saws

    Because they’re most often used for small, quick work, compact circular saws need to be considered differently than full-size saws. When we’re looking for the best mini circular saw for our needs, we judge each product based on three categories:

    Power

    Even though you won’t be using a compact circular saw for heavy-duty work, choosing one with sufficient power for your projects will make work easier and more enjoyable.

    For the best performance, look for saws with at least a 4-amp motor. The higher the amperage, the more torque the saw will produce – making it easier to cut through harder materials. If you plan on using your saw to cut through metal, choose a product with 6 amps of power or more.

    Revolutions Per Minute, or RPM, are another measure of sawing power. For almost all DIY or home improvement jobs, any saw that produces 3000 or more RPM will be suitable for your needs.

    Ease of Use

    Since you’ll usually be operating them with just one hand, the ergonomics of compact circular saws are doubly important. As a rule, people with smaller hands should choose lighter saws, while those with larger hands will find heavier saws more comfortable.

    Furthermore, consider how easy it will be to adjust your new saw. Will you be changing your depth or bevel often in your projects? If so, it’s worthwhile to look for a saw designed for quick adjustments. The time you save will make your projects that much more efficient and enjoyable.

    Accuracy

    The smaller projects that compact saws excel at often require attention to detail, as well. For this reason, we always look for saws that rate highly in precision and accuracy of cuts; even a small mistake in a saw’s design can cause serious problems with finer work.

    Some of the features that assist with making accurate and precise cuts include:

    • Low vibration
    • Laser guides
    • Physical guides
    • Dust management systems

    Versatility

    Mini saws are often the first tool that you’ll consider for quick jobs. Because of this, choosing a versatile saw will go a long way towards getting your money’s worth out of it. We look for saws with adjustable cutting depth and bevels, as well as those that have slim profiles for fitting into tight spaces.

    Still uncertain what type of saw you need for the job you have in mind? Try watching this video from SKIL power tools to decide if a compact circular saw is right for you.


    Conclusion:

    Of all the saws we considered in our reviews, the Rockwell RK3440K Mini Circular Saw stands out as the best compact or mini circular saw for most users. Powerful, durable, and easy to use, it significantly outperforms its price point. We can heartily recommend it for any small job around the house you might want to tackle.

    With remarkably similar features at a fraction of the price, the TACKLIFE Circular Saw with Metal Handle is the perfect choice for anyone on a tight budget. It’s heavier than most of the other saws we reviewed, but the ability to use two hands for precision work makes it an excellent alternative.

    We appreciate you taking the time to read our guide to the best mini circular saws of the year, and hope that it helps you to decide on the perfect saw for your needs!

    Related posts:

    Contents

    Related posts

    OUR categories

    Project ideas

    Hand & power tools

    woodworking

    Garden

    Automotive