Any handyman has undoubtedly come across the decision between buying a corded vs cordless circular saw, but if you have never had the chance to try either, how do you know which one to choose?
Each has their own benefits, such as a corded saw offering more power and a cordless circular saw being easier to navigate around large materials, but what are their differences? Depending on the type of project you’re embarking on and the way you like to use your tools, there are a couple of important things to learn about both corded and cordless circular saws on the market.
Direct Comparison
Product 1: Corded Circular Saw
- #1: Body Size: Small to Medium
- #2: Power Supply: Endless
- #3: Cutting Power: Heavy duty
- #4: Size: Five to six inches
Product 2: Cordless Circular Saw
- #1: Body Size: Medium to Large
- #2: Power Supply: Limited to battery charge
- #3: Cutting Power: Light to medium duty
- #4: Size: Seven inches (most common)
Breaking it down
As with any type of tool that you might be shopping for, it is important to compare features, otherwise, you will never know which one will be the perfect fit. When it comes to a corded vs cordless circular saw, it is important to think about flexibility, power constraints, and value.
Flexibility
Flexibility can mean plenty of things, but in this case, we are going to take a look at ease of use, versatility, and whether it is recommended for beginners or not.
Corded Circular Saw
A corded circular saw is a great option, as it operates similarly to a cordless design, but it does have a couple of constraints that you will need to take into consideration. For example, since it is corded you will only be able to operate the tool in an area where you have access to a power outlet.
Also, depending on the length of its cord it can be difficult to navigate the saw around large materials. We recommended corded saws for beginners, as they give you the ability to get an understanding of how a circular saw works without the additional features found in cordless models.
Cordless Circular Saw
As for the cordless circular saw, it is far more versatile than its counterpart as you won’t have to deal with rearranging a power cord with every cut. You can easily carry it from one place on the job site to another without needing to look for a source of power, as your batteries allow you to work relatively anywhere.
With that being said, beginners can use a cordless circular saw, it will just take a little more experience to learn how to install and charge the batteries.
Winner: Cordless Circular Saw
Power Constraints
When looking at power constraints you are not only going to want to think about where your power is coming from but also the amount of power that is put out by the device.
Corded Circular Saw
Although you will be in a position to where your tool will need to be plugged into a wall or an extension cord, a corded circular saw offers substantially more power than the cordless variety.
This is because you are going to be receiving a constant flow of electricity into the device, allowing it to work at its highest level possible. You don’t need to worry about dying or dead batteries, it will always be readily available to use.
Cordless Circular Saw
Unfortunately, this is where cordless circular saws fall short of the corded variety, as you are limited to the amount of power that the battery is designed to provide. Instead of having access to a constant flow of electricity from a physical power outlet, you can only master cuts that are easy enough for the power supplied to the motor through a rechargeable battery.
Winner: Corded Circular Saw
Value
There are plenty of things that go into determining the value of a tool ranging from its life expectancy to the type of maintenance you will be responsible for.
Corded Circular Saw
A corded circular saw offers a premium level of value as you will have a tool at your disposal, which is designed to last through the years.
There is no need to worry about replacing batteries, finding new chargers, or spending excessive amounts of money on additional accessories as everything you need is right in your hands.
Cordless Circular Saw
On the other end of the spectrum, a cordless circular saw is going to be substantially more expensive than its corded counterpart, however, it does offer a higher level of versatility which you may find offsets its cost.
Unfortunately, with a cordless design, you might fall victim to having to buy additional accessories such as extra batteries, new charging ports, and even carrying cases for the circular saw and its parts.
Winner: Corded Circular Saw
It is always best to play it safe when you are investing in a power tool and the last thing you will want is to have to buy brand new batteries, accessories, and other modern components to keep your circular saw working at its best.
Summary
Corded Circular Saw: 2/3
Cordless Circular Saw: 1/3
Winner: Corded Circular Saw
Now, it’s important to remember that although a corded circular saw may have beat a cordless design in the three factors we discussed, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the better option overall. Below are some important pros and cons of each to consider.
Corded Circular Saw
Pros
Cons
- Higher power
- Always Charged
- Better cutting power
- Cost-effective
- Lengthy power cord
- Requires power supply
Cordless Circular Saw
- Flexible
- Portable
- Safer to use (cordless)
- Time-saving
- Expensive
Final Verdict
After reviewing the overall benefits and disadvantages of both corded and cordless circular saws, we were inclined to say that a cordless version can be far easier to adapt to more situations than corded models.
As you won’t have to worry about fiddling around with a power cord and being restrained by how you cut because of the power cord, you might be more interested in buying a cordless circular saw.
However, it will not provide as much power as a corded model would. Based on the project you’re working on, the materials you’re working with, and your personal preference, opting for a cordless circular saw could be your best bet.