Cordless all the way.

My Dewalt is atleast 10 years old, rips through plywood no problem. It might balk at 2" of hardwood, but I have never tried. I also have a battery powered track saw, that will chew through 2" of hardwood.

Sometimes I bring it to the store even, I'll rough cut a sheet in the parking lot to fit in the car so I don't need the trailer.

Cordless will not be lighter. Lithium or not, that battery has weight.

Also, you should consider how frequently you're going to be using the tool. Batteries aren't eternal, so if this is a once-a-year thing, corded is probably more practical so you don't have batteries dying on the shelf.

While cordless is very cool and handy, personally I'd save the money, run the extension cord, and buy a whole other thing with that $160.

Battery tech has come a long way. They are no longer underpowered. I'd pick a tool brand you like and use that.for all your battery tools.

If you aren't doing major construction the convenience of cordless is unbeatable. I have both and as DIYer I reach for the cordless more often.

Check out the full line of tools that use the battery and charger that you buy. You don't want to end up with 3 or 4 different types of batteries. You will be buying more tools so think long term.

I chose Milwaukee when my original 9volt Makita stick tools wore out. I loved my cordless reciprocating saw and Milwaukee had the best replacement so I switched over.

I think you might find a small table saw is more versatile. You will get straighter cuts than can be achieved with a circular saw, blade accessories will let you cut dados, and angle cuts for prettier joints.

Yes, you will still have to plug it in.

Battery circular saw are definitely NOT lighter than corded ones.

But even with that, I would still say battery. One of the few tools that I think is almost mandatory to be battery powered just for the pure convenience.

In terms of brands, that entirely depends on what is readily available in your area and what kind of deals yoou can find. If you have a cordless drill (which is one of the other mandatory cordless tools) then consider getting the same brand of circular saw since you should be able to share batteries. You are not going to go wrong with any of the brands you mentioned. Of those, I personally would probably go DeWalt. Definitely go with a brushless motor which will give you longer battery life and more power.

I am pretty happy with my battery DeWalt circular saw and i would generally recommend battery tools. But if you plan on using dust extraction a lot you might be happy with a corded tool since you are already hooking it up to a hose.

It depends on use. For light use, battery would be preferred. If you plan on heavy use, corded may be better.

• You're asking what product or tool to buy.
• You're asking where to buy a product or tool.
• You're asking for suggestions for a product or tool you intend to buy.

We do not permit posts asking for suggestions on materials and tools. This is because of spam.

• /r/DIY is focused on the how, what technique to employ and which tool to use.
• If you need recommendations for a product, you'll probably have better luck in a more specialised subreddit, e.g. /r/HomeImprovement, /r/woodworking, r/helpmefind, etc.

Please read our guidelines before resubmitting.

If you believe this was a mistake, please message the moderators.

I’m pretty happy with my 6 1/2 inch Ryobi cordless circular saw.

I also have a 7 1/4 inch Ryobi corded saw that I barely use because the cordless one is so much more convenient and is usually big enough to cut anything I’m working on.

Another plus for the cordless one is that the blade is on the left side which makes it easier for me to see my cut line.

I have a battery powered Milwaukee but have had cordless in the past. Battery is more convenient but if the charge is low performance will suffer so factor in the cost of two batteries. If just using a few days a year around the house i would go with a corded saw.

Also for a few days a year there's no shame in using a hand saw. Get a miter box and a couple of saws and your good to go. An example of a simple project with hand tools. https://youtu.be/iBfUbQSmMrE

I have a 36v Makita. It's very nice. The batteries are a major expense. It takes 2 and if you are doing a big job you want 2 spares on the charger.

The big pro of battery is portability and the cons are upfront cost, upkeep of batteries and eventual replacement. If you travel, use it frequently, and all over your worksite it can definitely be worth it. If it's just for infrequent garage projects and occasionally helping at a friends house I think the cost and reliability of a cord could be the better value. If you're getting into the hobby and doing finish work, a table saw with a good fence may be your best investment.