Corded vs. Cordless Circular Saw for Occasional DIY

Quick verdict

The corded-or-cordless question has a short answer for most occasional DIYers:

• Outlet nearby, no cordless tools: buy corded. You skip the battery and charger, and the saw never slows down as a battery drains.
• Already own batteries from one brand: buy cordless. A bare cordless saw from that brand is often the smarter buy than adding a cord.
• Working on roofs, fences or far from power: buy cordless, and plan on a spare battery.

To keep this fair, we compare two real saws from the same brand and tier: the corded DEWALT DWE575SB and the cordless DEWALT DCS570B. We read the maker specs, buyer reviews and independent reviews, and one video. If you are new to the tool itself, start with our circular saw basics.

The two saws at a glance

The weights are not like for like: the cordless figure leaves out the battery, which adds noticeable weight once clipped on.

Power and performance

Corded. Tool Box Buzz reported that the DWE575's motor had no trouble with plywood, framing lumber or a rip cut down a pressure-treated 2x8. Corded saws deliver the same power from the first cut to the last. The trade-off is the cord, and a thin extension cord can reduce power.

Cordless. Pro Tool Reviews described the DCS570's cutting performance as strong and called it a credible replacement for a corded sidewinder. It also noted that the 20V platform has less power headroom than DEWALT's 60V FLEXVOLT saws. In Project Farm's cordless circular saw test, covered by Boing Boing, several brands finished close together, which suggests battery saws are now good enough for most home work.

Verdict: For plywood, deck boards and studs, both are fine. For long sessions cutting thick, wet or pressure-treated lumber, corded keeps its edge.

Run time and batteries

This is the whole difference in practice.

A corded saw runs as long as you have power. The video we watched makes the same point: cordless suits moving around and fewer cuts, while corded is better for long jobs and hard wood.

A cordless saw runs until the battery is empty, then needs a charge. Occasional DIYers rarely hit this on a weekend project, but a day of cutting decking can. A second battery solves it, at extra cost. Kreg's DIY guide notes that a cordless saw makes sense if you already own cordless tools from the same maker, and that you can buy the saw without a battery to save money.

The DCS570B is sold tool only. If you do not already own 20V MAX batteries and a charger, add them to the cost of the saw before deciding.

Weight, balance and handling

The bare DCS570B is lighter than the DWE575SB on paper, but a battery changes that. One buyer said the DCS570 felt heavier than other saws, and Pro Tool Reviews marked its ergonomics lower than its cutting and value scores. The corded DWE575SB, by contrast, is repeatedly praised for being light and easy to control, which Tool Box Buzz put at almost a quarter lighter than the older saw its reviewer had used.

A cord can get in the way: it drags, snags and has to be kept behind the saw. A cordless saw gives you freedom, especially on a ladder, roof or fence line.

Pros and cons

Corded: DEWALT DWE575SB

Cordless: DEWALT DCS570B

Which should you buy? Situation by situation

• "I have an outlet near my work and own no cordless tools." Buy corded. The DWE575SB is our reference pick.
• "I already own DEWALT 20V MAX batteries." Buy the DCS570B bare. You skip the battery cost and keep one battery system.
• "I own batteries from another brand." Check that brand's cordless 7-1/4 inch saw before buying either of these.
• "I'm building a fence or working on a roof." Cordless. A cord across a yard or roof is a nuisance and a hazard.
• "I'll cut a few boards a few times a year." Either works, so pick the one that costs less overall: for most people with no batteries, that is corded.
• "I plan to cut for hours at a time, like decking." Corded, or a cordless saw with two spare batteries.
• "I'm nervous about the cord." Cordless removes it, but add the electric brake and learn board support first.

If you cut mostly small pieces of trim, neither saw is the best tool; a miter saw is.

What buyers and testers say

We read buyer reviews on both listings, independent reviews and the maker pages. The same patterns come up.

For the corded saw, buyers often praise the light weight and balance, the power for plywood and framing, and small details such as the brake, the on-board wrench and the tough cord connection. The most common complaint is simply that it is corded, followed by the lack of a rip fence or light. One video reviewer chose corded on purpose because a battery dying partway through a big flooring job was the reviewer's biggest frustration.

For the cordless saw, reviewers like the strong cutting performance, the brushless motor, the brake and the way it shares batteries with other DEWALT 20V MAX tools. The complaints are about comfort and weight: Pro Tool Reviews scored the ergonomics lower than the rest of the saw, and one buyer found it heavy with the handle awkward when the blade is set shallow. That buyer also reported the blade turns about once before the brake stops it.

The hidden cost of cordless

A cordless saw is not just the saw. You need a battery and a charger, and for a long day's work, a second battery. If you already own compatible batteries, a bare cordless saw can come out cheaper than a corded one plus an extension cord. If you own none, you are buying into a battery system, and every tool you add later will likely follow that brand.

Corded saws have a quieter cost: a good heavy extension cord, and the time spent moving it around. For a homeowner who cuts on a driveway or in a garage near an outlet, that is a small price.

Safety and handling

Neither type is safer in itself. Both saws here have an electric brake, which stops the blade soon after you let go of the trigger. With a corded saw, the main hazard is the cord: keep it behind you and clear of the blade, and never let it drape in front of the cut. With a cordless saw, the hazard is the same as with any saw: a pinched blade can kick back.

For both, wear safety glasses and hearing protection, support the board so the cut piece falls free, set the blade just below the wood and wait for it to stop before lifting the saw. Unplug the corded saw or remove the battery before you change blades.

Tips for either type

1. Use a heavy extension cord with a corded saw, and keep it behind you.
2. Keep a spare battery charged with a cordless saw.
3. Add a finer blade for plywood. Stock blades are made for rough framing cuts.
4. Support the board so the cut piece falls free and the blade does not pinch.
5. Mark square lines with a speed square.

Building a deck? The deck calculator on figuremyhome.com works out boards and screws before you cut.

Key specs to look for

Where to buy

Both saws are sold on Amazon. The cordless saw is tool only, so check what you need to add.

DEWALT DWE575SB 7-1/4 inch Corded Circular Saw with Electric Brake

Mid ($$)Worth-owning score 8.7/10

• Light for a full-size corded saw, so it is easier to keep on the line
• Electric brake stops the blade soon after you release the trigger
• Never runs out of power mid-cut

View on Amazon

How we scored it

Usefulness 9/10 · Value 8/10 · Durability 9/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.

DEWALT 20V MAX 7-1/4 Inch Cordless Circular Saw with Brake, Tool Only (DCS570B)

Mid ($$)Worth-owning score 8/10

• No cord to trip over or drag across a roof or yard
• Brushless motor and electric brake on a full-size 7-1/4 inch saw
• Tool only: bring or buy a 20V MAX battery and charger

View on Amazon

How we scored it

Usefulness 8/10 · Value 8/10 · Durability 8/10. This is our own opinion, based on specs, buyer reviews and independent tests. It is not an Amazon or customer rating.

Read the newest reviews and compare what is in each box before you order. Whichever you choose, buy safety glasses and a finer plywood blade the same day.