In A Rush? Here's our winner after 72 hours of research!
SawStop CNS175-TGP36
Top Reasons to Buy
- Professional T-Glide Fence
- Dust Collection
- SawStop Safety System
- Mobility Options
Feature list
- Dimensions: 72" x 19.5" x 47"
- 338 Pounds
- Warranty: 1-Year
Contractors handle dozens and even hundreds of projects for their clients every year. Whether you make cabinets, put down flooring or do any other type of renovation work, you need a good table saw. Instead of looking for a portable table saw that is lightweight enough for transporting but not strong enough for most jobs, you can look for the best contractor table saws designed just for contractors like you.
Though these saws are not easy to carry or transport, they are strong enough to handle all types of jobs and can accommodate boards of different sizes too. Some come with features like an attached table or a cart that lets you use one in the field or in the homes or your clients, but other models are perfect for using in your shop.
After comparing the features on some of the best contractor table saw reviews, we picked the SawStop CNS175-TGP36 1-3/4-Horsepower Contractor Saw as the best one currently available. This saw comes with a durable table, a T-fencing system and a dependable hand-wheel. Our list includes a combination of expensive contractor saws and some more affordable saws too.
72 HOURS OF RESEARCHING
65 MODELS CONSIDERED
1 WINNER
The Top 10 Contractor Table Saws Comparison Chart
10 Best Contractor Table Saws – Reviews
1. SawStop CNS175-TGP36 Contractor Saw - Best Overall Pick
As a contractor who wants to handle jobs with ease, this is our overall choice for the best contractor table saw. You can’t go wrong with SawStop 1-3/4 HP Contractor Table Saw with 36-Inch Professional T-Glide Fence System including Rails and Extension Table. The T-glide fence system that comes with this table features rails that extend your table for working with plywood sheets and longer boards, and this system ensures that you make the perfect cuts every time. SawStop made this saw compatible with some of the carts and portable bases that it makes for those who want to use this saw in the field.
The built-in safety system keeps the saw from turning on because of a power surge or other electrical problems, and this system also keeps your hands safe when working around the blade. If your hand or skin comes near the blade, the aluminum braking system will kick in and automatically stop the blade from spinning. SawStop lets you use this saw with a standard 10-inch blade or an eight-inch dado.
When creating angled cuts, you’ll find that the saw lifts up and towards the left, which keeps the wood from rubbing against the fence. It also features an easy reset system that lets you completely reset the saw in five minutes or less.
Pros
Cons
2. SawStop CNS175-SFA30 Contractor Saw
A second model from SawStop that makes our list of the best contractor table saws is the CNS175-SFA30 1-3/4 HP Contractor Table Saw with 30-Inch Aluminum Extrusion Fence and Rail Kit. That kit lets you add on the fence system and rails to extend the length of the table when working with larger sheets or longer boards. The extrusion fence helps you more easily move those boards across the top for better and more accurate cuts.
The safety system that comes with this contractor table saw offers extra protection for your hands and includes both a guard around the blade as well as a feature that automatically turns off that blade when it comes into contact with skin. Once the saw comes to a stop, you can reset it and begin using it again in roughly five minutes. The table measures 20-inches by 27-inches but comes with a wing that adds an extra 12-inches by 27-inches to your work area.
Capable of working with both traditional blades and dado blades, this table saw also comes with a four-inch dust port that collects more of the dust you create to keep your area clearer. SawStop offers a limited warranty of one year on this contractor table saw.
Pros
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3. Powermatic 1791230K Table Saw
One alternative to the contractor table saws from SawStop is the 1791230K-64B Table Saw from Powermatic. Designed for use in most wood shops and contractor shops, this saw comes with a riving knife that you can use instead of the blade, and this knife has a unique design that significantly reduces both vibrations and the risk of kick backs. The miter gauge lets you make adjustments quickly and comes with a plate for further adjustments.
Powermatic designed this table saw with convenience in mind, especially when it comes to changing the blade or riving knife, which you can do without any special tools. Most of those changes take only minutes to make. That convenience also applies to the start and stop push buttons and crank hand-wheel on the front.
Made from cast iron that is completely level and smooth on top, this table saw also beveled edges with measurements clearly marked that help you make precise cuts. An optional extension table covered in melamine gives you more work space too. A built-in extraction port helps suck up excess waste to clear off the table and your surrounding work area, and built-in hooks offer extra storage for your tools and other supplies.
Pros
Cons
4. Shop Fox W1819 Contractor Table-Saw
The W1819 10” 3 hp Table Saw from Shop Fox combines the best features of a standard table saw with all the top features of a contractor saw. It features a cast-iron cabinet that provides more than enough support for all your jobs.
In addition to the large cutting area on the top of the cabinet, this saw also comes with wings that lift up to extend your work area and a fencing system that you can easily remove. This fence system also locks in place to prevent your boards or sheets from moving it. The hand-wheel on the front has a crank design for making easy adjustments.
Though it comes with a guard that protects the blade and keeps it away from your body, it also comes with a riving knife that you can use for making smaller or more intricate cuts without using the blade. Shop Fox uses mounted trunnions inside to prevent kick backs and vibrations, and the manufacturer gives you a quick change blade system for easy removal and replacement of the blade.
Pros
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5. Delta 36-5052 Contractor Table Saw
Get all the stability and security than you need when handling large plywood sheets with this Delta 36-5052 10-Inch Left Tilt Contractor Saw with 52-Inch RH Rip, which comes with a tubular stand that keeps the saw stable when using it with any type of wood. The saw comes with a rail system designed to keep your boards in place as you cut, and this system helps you make more precise cuts too. A single power button on the front helps you easily turn the blade on and off every time you use it.
In addition to the standard table that comes with this saw, you’ll find an extension table that has two dependable legs that support this part of the table when cutting larger boards. It also uses a split-guard design that lets you remove the guard system surrounding the blade to more easily replace that blade without the need for any specialized tools. As the blade lifts to the left, you can use this saw without your wood suffering damage as it rubs against the fencing.
The 15 amp motor is one of the strongest found on contractor table saws today. That motor helps the blade glide effortlessly through most wood types.
Pros
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6. DEWALT DWE7491RS Contractor Table Saw
If you spend less time in your shop and more time working in the field, you need a contractor table saw that you can take with you like this model from DEWALT. While durable and dependable enough for using in your shop, this table saw comes with a rolling stand that makes it easier to use this saw on the job site. The saw comes with four legs that unfold from the bottom of the saw to create a base for working, but those legs fold back up to make a more compact shape that you can roll from job to job with the attached wheels.
Though it may not look as strong as the table saw you use in your shop, it comes with a 15 amp motor that can cut through almost any type of hardwood and a 32.5-inch rip capacity that helps you cut that wood even faster. The dust collection port, which measures 2.5-inches, collects more of the dust and waste that accumulates on your projects and keeps your work area clean. DEWALT DWE7491RS jobsite table saw gives you a 10-inch blade with carbide tips and created a push stick control to make this saw easier to use.
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7. Bosch 4100-09 Contractor Saw
For a contractor table saw that works just as well in the field as it does in the shop, this 4100-09 10-Inch Worksite Contractor Table Saw with Gravity-Rise Stand from Bosch delivers. Using the same saw both in the shop and in the field helps you learn exactly what to do when operating it and make standard cuts and pieces that will always work together. This saw is so portable that you can literally grab it and store it in the bed of your truck or the trunk of your car.
It comes with a simple stand that uses gravity to gently and slowly come up to the perfect height for working. That stand comes with wheels for easily rolling and moving the saw as well as two standard legs that fold down to support the weight of the saw. This stand lets you fold down the saw for easy transportation between job sites.
This Bosch saw, which comes with a limited one-year warranty, comes with a 10-inch blade and can produce more than 3,600 revolutions per minute. It has a push stick design and comes with features like a smart guard system, miter gauge and rip fence.
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8. Makita 2705 Contractor Table-Saw
With this 2705 10-Inch Contractor Saw from Makita, you can now make all the cuts you need to make without having a dedicated cabinet or table set aside. This table saw has a convenient and compact design that you can use with any base or table, but you can also use this saw right on the floor. It features a 15 amp motor that produces 4,800 revolutions per minute and a design that lets you switch between the riving knife and blade without any extra tools.
Guards located on both sides are adjustable and list measurements to help you know where and how to cut. A lever on the riving knife itself also adjusts into different positions based on the wood you use and how deep you need to cut into that wood. Makita created an open design on this table saw that lets you actually keep an eye on both the blade and your wood.
Thanks to the assembly on the blade guard, you can both easily protect your hands and also switch blades. The guard assembly keeps your skin from coming into contact with the blade, but the assembly easily comes off for replacing the blade too.
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9. Grizzly G0691 Contractor Table Saws
Hybrid saws like this G0691 model Polar Bear Series Hybrid Table Saw from Grizzly are good options for those who like the strength of a traditional table saw but want something that weighs less for use in a shop. While it is perfect for making cabinets, cutting floor boards and making crown molding, it weighs a fraction of what standard table saws weigh. It comes with a crank hand-wheel that sits on the front of the cabinet to give you control over the speed and power of the saw.
Another good feature is the simple push button on the front, which has a bright green color to help you easily identify it when turning the saw on. An emergency stop switch surrounding that button lets you quickly bring the blade to a stop to prevent accidents, mistakes and even injuries. The dust collection port on the bottom collects sawdust and other debris to keep your area safer and cleaner.
An included riving knife lets you make shallow cuts without going all the way through the board, and you can easily switch between the knife and blade. Grizzly also makes switching out the blade easy and gives you a T-fence guiding system.
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10. RIDGID R4512 Cast Iron Table Saw
With a 13 amp motor that produces more than 3,000 revolutions per minute, this RIGID contractor table saw helps you work on and complete projects faster than ever. It comes with a base made from cast iron that is strong enough to support the weight of almost any wood, and that cast iron does a great job of absorbing the vibrations produced by the saw to help you cut without feeling your hands shake.
Standing in front of this table saw gives you complete access to both the braking system and the hand-wheel. That hand-wheel lets you rotate the front crank to get more control over the blade, and the brake system lets you put your foot down to automatically stop that blade before making a mistake or when your hand comes close to the blade. RIGID R4512 guarantees that the surface of the table is even and that you can make level cuts with this saw.
Rolling casters tucked underneath the saw and inside its cabinet help you more easily move this table saw. Though this saw does not come with any extension pieces, it will work with extensions and fencing. It also has a guard that keeps your fingers away from the blade.
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Our Winner
Though contractor table saws come in a lot of different styles, we had a hard time finding any that could compare to the SawStop CNS175-TGP36 1-3/4 HP Contractor Saw (View on Amazon.com). This best contractor table saw comes with a hand-wheel that has a small handle on the front that fits comfortably in your hand and helps you make quick adjustments on the job. Its built-in safety system, which is exclusive to SawStop models, will keep you safe while working with standard wood boards and larger plywood sheets.
With a larger table, this saw lets you work with those larger boards and sheets. It also comes with a fence system that uses a T-glide design for using boards horizontally and vertically, and this system includes rails for extending the size of the table. Though this model comes with a durable metal base, it works with other bases and carts for better mobility too.
How to Choose the Perfect Contractor Table Saw – Buying Guide
Contractor table saws are 
a little on the heavier side and usually require that two people move one, but these table saws can handle a number of the jobs you do for your clients. Some of the things you should consider when buying one include the table itself and the warranty provided by the manufacturer.
Weight
One of the first things to look at is the overall weight of the saw. Models of this type can range from around 200 to 250 pounds to nearly 400 pounds. The weight of that saw will determine how easily you can carry it.
Materials
Many of the table saws that you see will have a top made from cast iron, which is strong enough to withstand all the work you do on the job. You should look at the other materials used too that will bring down the saw’s weight. These materials may include stamped metal, stainless steel or other materials that weigh less than cast iron.
Attached Table
Though contractor saws are a type of table saw, the tables that come with these saws look significantly different than those you might use in your own shop. Some come with a basic table made from metal that might include legs that flip or fold down. Other saws come with an attached table that is much smaller or shorter for using the saw on top of a counter or table or right on the ground.
Fencing
The perfect contractor table saws will come with a fence or fencing that you can attach right to the top. Fencing is important because it can act like a guide for making smooth and even cuts and because it allows you to extend the top of your table, which helps you work with and cut boards of longer sizes.
Horsepower
Contractor table saws typically come with a motor that has a maximum outage of two-horsepower. This is generally strong enough for most jobs on a construction site. You’ll also find table saws with a lower outage of one- to 1.5-horsepower.
Extra Storage
Consider buying a table saw that has some extra storage for extra blades and other tools and supplies. Contractor table saws sometimes have hidden storage around the cabinet or underneath the blade. This gives you more space for all the things you need for the job at hand.
Table Size
The overall size of the table will give you an idea of how much work you can do with it as well as some of the projects you can work on with that table. Make sure that you add in the size of any fencing that comes with the table too as this fencing will extend your work area.
Vibration Protection
As you may spend hours working on or with that saw, you want one that comes with vibration protection. This type of protection significantly reduces the vibrations produced by the saw to reduce discomfort in your hands.
Warranty
A good warranty for a contractor table saw will cover that saw for a period of one year to three to five years. Some manufacturers cover general wear and tear on the saw as well as errors or issues caused by the manufacturer.
Read our Table Saw reviews on this page.