Getting Your Hands On a Makita Circular Saw Is a Smart Choice
When you turn your attention to Makita circular saws, you're looking at a brand that has incredible depth in the category and makes really good saws. With a choice of a corded model and three cordless models, you're sure to find one that fits your needs.
Makita XSH06 7 1/4 Inch Circular Saw
We tend to be East Coast rattlesnakes, and while we love Makita's XSR01 rear handle saw, the 18V X2 (36V) XSH07 tops the list.
It starts with a brushless motor that spins a 7 1/4 inch blade at up to 6000 RPM. Powered by two 18V LXT batteries boosted to 36V power, it's a smooth, confident chainsaw with an electric brake. In terms of build, its shoe, blade guard, and blade cover feature a magnesium construction that provides strength while using two 5.0Ah batteries to keep the weight at 10.5 lbs.
But wait, there's more!
I have to talk about AWS-Auto-start Wireless System. By adding a chip and using a Makita AWS vacuum or universal adapter with a vacuum that has a pass-through power supply, the XSH07 version of this saw can automatically turn the vacuum on and off as you work. It can help you keep your workspace clean, reduce overall noise, and manage your cordless vacuum's battery usage. Learn more about how it works here.
And one more thing…
There's also the XSH08 version, which starts with the same base as the -06, but swaps out the shoe for a wider rail-compatible shoe. It adds less than a pound (11.3 pounds with battery) while giving you the option to dramatically increase accuracy.
price
- XSH06: $209.00 bare, $249.00 kit with two 5.0Ah batteries
- XSH07 AWS Ready: $299.00 Bare Metal
- XSH08 Rail Compatible: Bare $339.00
Best Makita 12V CXT Circular Saw
Makita SH02 3 3/8 Inch Cordless Circular Saw
Makita has just one circular saw on its 12V CXT platform, making it easy for a variety of tasks. The SH02 runs a 3 3/8" blade at 1500 RPM for a maximum depth of cut of 1" at 90° or 5/8" at 45°. It's also very lightweight, weighing only 3.5 pounds (with battery).
So what can you do with a 1 inch depth of cut? a lot of. Consider enclosures and plinths, plywood, MDF, pegboard, drywall, and other thin materials.
price
- $139.00 kit with two 2.0Ah batteries
Best Makita 18V LXT Circular Saw
Makita XSH03 6 1/2 Inch Circular Saw
Cordless tools had a very short time in the spotlight before new models took over. That's not the case with the Makita XSH03, though. We first reviewed this 6 1/2-inch circular saw in 2017, and it's still the one we use most often for quick cuts.
It features a magnesium alloy sole, blade guard, and blade cover for durability that rivals its larger counterparts, yet weighs only 7.3 pounds when equipped with a 5.0Ah battery. In terms of performance, its brushless motor is capable of 5,000 RPM, cuts up to 2 1/4 inches deep, and the electric brake quickly stops the blade when you release the trigger.
price
- $199.00 Naked
- Two 5.0Ah batteries $429.00
Best Makita 36V (18V X2) Circular Saws
Makita XSR01 7 1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw
The Makita XSR01 is the first cordless rear handle circular saw to make big waves and it is field tested and proven more than other major brands. From the outset, our testing showed its brushless motor and 2 x 18V LXT (36V) design outperformed our Skilsaw 15 amp worm drive.
This one can run at speeds up to 5100 RPM, puts more emphasis on torque to keep the blade moving over piles of sheet goods, and has an electric brake to stop the blade quickly. Thanks to its 2 9/16 inch depth of cut, it is capable of cutting 3 times as much material in one pass.
Like the other saws we've mentioned, the Makita uses a magnesium sole, blade guard, and blade cover to keep the overall weight down to just 12.4 lbs — and that includes two 5.0Ah batteries! Most other cordless rear handle models are much heavier.
As a bonus, it's a solid value.
price
- $209.00 Naked
- $249.00 kit with two 5.0Ah batteries
Best Makita 40V Max XGT Circular Saw
Makita GSH04 10 1/4 Inch Circular Saw
Makita quickly responded to the contractor's needs with its 40V max XGT system. There are several great saws available on the platform, and the one that really caught our attention is the GSH04.
This is a 10 1/4-inch brushless saw capable of cutting 4 times as much material in one go with its 3 13/16-inch cutting capacity. A single 40V Max XGT battery turns the high-capacity blade at 3500 RPM.
There are several important design aspects that set this saw apart from the competition. For starters, the magnesium shoe, blade guard, and blade cover we saw from Makita keep the weight down to 13.5 pounds.
Here's another model that uses an AWS chip to automatically start dust removal. Plus, it has a track-compatible shoe that helps make tough cuts more accurate.
price
- $529.00 for bare tools
The best corded Makita circular saw
Makita 5007MGA 7 1/4 Inch Circular Saw
Corded circular saws are far from obsolete. With its reliable performance, unlimited runtime, and low price, many professionals choose not to cut the cord. Makita's 5007 series is very popular and the 5007MGA is our favourite.
Weighing only 10.6 lbs, it features magnesium construction to save weight compared to other circular saws. Its 15 amp motor runs at a reliable 5800 RPM and has an electronic brake to stop the motor. The cutting capacity is 2 1/2 inches, and while not all corded circular saws include LED lights, this one does.
price
- $199.00
Notes on Makita Circular Saw Blades
Not too long ago, Makita launched a range of Max Efficiency saw blades specifically designed to help cordless circular saws cut more efficiently while maintaining high performance. We'd swap out many spare blades right away, but that's not the case with the Makita. The Max Efficiency blades are excellent and we highly recommend them as your primary blades.
view more options
The term "circular saw" technically applies to any saw with a circular blade, but most people think of them as the rattlesnake and rear handle styles we've been talking about. As we've said before, Makita is deep in the circular saw world, so check out these other styles.
Makita 12V CXT
- Glass and Tile Saws
Makita 18V LXT
- Track Saw/Plunge Saw
- Track Compatible Circular Saw
- 9 1/4 inch circular saw
- 5 3/8" edge trimming saw
- metal cutting circular saw
Makita 40V Max XGT
- Track Saw/Plunge Saw
- Track Compatible Circular Saw
- 9 1/4 inch circular saw
- rear handle circular saw
- metal cutting circular saw
Makita Cable
- 8 1/4" circular saw
- 10 1/4 inch circular saw
- 16 5/16 inch circular saw
- rear circular saw
- Track Saw/Plunge Saw
- metal cutting saw
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