DEWALT DWE575SB Review: Is It Worth It for a First Circular Saw?

Quick verdict

The DEWALT DWE575SB is a corded 7-1/4 inch circular saw, and it has been one of the most widely recommended first saws for years. After reading the maker's specs, buyer reviews on Amazon and Home Depot, independent reviews and two video reviews, our verdict is simple: if you want one corded saw for building and repair work near an outlet, this is a safe choice.

It is light for a full-size saw, it has an electric brake, it tilts further than most saws, and buyers seldom report failures. What it lacks is mostly what a corded, mid-range saw usually lacks: no battery freedom, no light or laser guide, and no rip fence in the box.

If you are still deciding whether you need a circular saw at all, start with our circular saw basics. This page is about one exact model.

What you get

According to the maker and the listing, the DWE575SB kit includes:

• The saw: a sidewinder design, meaning the motor sits beside the blade, which keeps the saw short and light.
• A 7-1/4 inch carbide-tipped blade with few teeth, made for fast cuts in framing lumber.
• A blade wrench that clips into a slot on the saw, so it does not get lost.
• A contractor bag to carry and store the saw.

The maker lists a 15 amp motor, 5,200 RPM with no load, 8.8 pounds, a 2-9/16 inch depth of cut at 90 degrees and a bevel of up to 57 degrees with stops at 22.5 and 45 degrees.

DWE575 or DWE575SB?

There are two versions. The plain DWE575 has the same motor, weight and bevel. The SB adds an electric brake and the bag. A brake stops the blade quickly when you release the trigger. Without one, the blade keeps spinning for a few seconds and you wait before setting the saw down. In The Saw Guy's video review, the reviewer calls the brake the main reason to pick the SB and notes that the SB has at times cost the same as, or less than, the plain version. Compare both listings on the day you buy.

What buyers and testers say

We read through buyer reviews on the Amazon and Home Depot listings, three written reviews and two video reviews. The same points come up again and again.

The three things buyers praise most

1. Light weight and balance. Buyers often say it is easy to control on long cuts. Tool Box Buzz reported it as almost a quarter lighter than the older DEWALT saw its reviewer had used for years, with the same power.
2. Power for real work. Tool Box Buzz found the motor had no trouble with plywood, framing lumber and a rip cut down a pressure-treated 2x8. Home Depot reviewers who moved up from budget saws describe it cutting half-inch and three-quarter-inch plywood quickly and easily.
3. Small, thoughtful details. The brake, the on-board wrench, a dust blower that keeps the cut line clear and a tougher cord connection that resists being pulled out all get regular mentions, both in reviews and in The Saw Guy's walkthrough.

The most common complaints

1. It is corded. This is the complaint you see most, and it is really a trade-off. Cords get in the way on roofs and far from outlets. The owner in Brison's video went corded on purpose, because a battery dying partway through a big flooring job was the reviewer's biggest frustration.
2. No rip fence, light or laser. You follow your pencil line by eye or clamp your own guide. Top Ten Reviews also notes there is no variable speed control.
3. Blade view and guard lever. As on most sidewinder saws, the blade sits on the right, so some users find the cut line a little harder to see. At least one Home Depot reviewer found the lower-guard lever hard to reach with a thumb.

Handyman's World points out that its 5,200 RPM rating is lower than some rivals that list 5,600 or more. For most homeowner work, we found no pattern of buyers saying the saw feels slow.

Pros and cons

How it compares

Against budget corded saws. Entry-level corded saws from brands like SKIL cost less and cut wood fine. Reviews of budget saws commonly mention weaker stock blades and fewer extras. The DWE575SB earns its place with the brake, the lighter build and a longer warranty. If you will use a saw a few times a year, a budget saw is reasonable. If you plan on years of projects, the DEWALT is the one buyers seldom regret.

Against premium corded saws. Saws like Makita's 5007 line add an LED light and similar build quality. The differences are small; pick the one whose handle feels better to you.

Against cordless saws. Cordless circular saws have caught up in power. In Project Farm's cordless circular saw test, covered by Boing Boing, several brands finished close together. If you already own batteries from one brand, buying that brand's cordless saw is usually smarter than adding a corded saw. If you own no batteries, the corded DWE575SB is the simpler and less costly way to get a full-size saw.

Against a miter saw. A miter saw makes faster, more exact crosscuts on boards, but it cannot cut a sheet of plywood. For a first saw, most buyers are better served by a circular saw like this one.

Setting it up and living with it

Depth. According to the manual, the depth lever sits at the rear of the saw. Loosen it, rest the base plate on your board, drop the blade until the teeth reach just below the wood, and lock it. A shallow setting is safer and gives a cleaner cut.

Bevel. The bevel lever is at the front. Loosen it, tilt the base to the angle you need, and lock it. The stops at 22.5 and 45 degrees click into place, so the common angles need no guessing. The Saw Guy found the bevel easier to set than on many saws the reviewer had handled while working in a hardware store.

Blade changes. The wrench lives in a slot on the saw. Unplug the saw first, press the spindle lock, loosen the bolt, swap the blade with the teeth pointing the right way, and tighten. The owner in Brison's video needed one how-to video the first time and then managed later swaps in about a minute.

Upkeep. A brushed motor has carbon brushes that wear slowly over years of use and can be replaced. Blow the sawdust out of the guard now and then so the lower guard keeps snapping shut smoothly, and check the cord for cuts before each project.

Warranty. DEWALT lists a limited warranty and a service period on its corded saws, with a satisfaction-guarantee window after purchase. Terms change, so check the maker's page before you buy.

Tips if you buy one

1. Add a finer blade. Buy a blade with more teeth for plywood and visible cuts, and keep the included blade for framing.
2. Make a straight-edge guide. A straight board clamped to the work, or a store-bought guide rail, makes up for the missing rip fence.
3. Use a heavy extension cord. A thin, long cord starves the motor. Use a cord rated for power tools, and drape it behind you.
4. Check the stops. Before a project with angled cuts, set the bevel to 45 degrees and check it with a speed square.
5. Support the board right. Let the cut-off piece fall free, so the blade does not pinch and kick back.

Planning a deck? The deck calculator on figuremyhome.com works out how many boards and screws you need before you make the first cut.

Key specs to look for

Where to buy

The DEWALT DWE575SB is widely sold, including on Amazon. It sits in our mid-range tier. Check that the listing says DWE575SB (with the brake) rather than DWE575 if you want the brake and the bag.

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
• 57-degree bevel and a deep cut cover decks, rafters and framing

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.

Read the newest reviews before you buy, and compare the price of the SB against the plain DWE575 that day. Whichever you choose, add a finer plywood blade and a pair of safety glasses to the same order.