The primary difference between a traditional table saw and a portable saw is the size. With a traditional table saw, you can easily cut trim boards and deck boards for your own home or your clients’ homes, but you’re then responsible for transporting all those boards to a job site. When you opt for a portable table saw, you can make all the cuts, slices and notches you need while on each of those job sites. We looked at factors like weight, blade size, safety features, size and ease of use to rank the top 12 portable table saws on the market today.
70 HOURS OF RESEARCHING
55 MODELS CONSIDERED
1 WINNER
Our Favorite Portable Table Saws On The Market
11 Best Portable Table Saws - Review
1. SawStop JSS-120A60 Jobsite Saw with Mobile Cart
With a larger surface size and a 25.5 inch rip capacity, it’s not surprising why we picked this SawStop model as our number one choice.
Its mobile cart both folds almost completely flat for storage and then pops up and snaps into place easily to help you feel more confident about using it on your job sites. You can use the metal handle and rugged wheels to quickly move the whole saw or to change the angle of the table when making deeper cuts.
SawStop added some of the same features you’ll find on larger models in this portable saw, including its unique ErgoLock on the T-fence. That ErgoLock lets you adjust the fence in seconds to accommodate different sizes and types of wood before locking those pieces in place to keep the fence from moving. Make additional adjustments while on the job with a simple flip of the hand wheel.
2. Bosch 4100-09 10-Inch Worksite Table Saw
We ranked this Bosch model at number two on our list, but it came close to making it to the top spot because of its gravity rise stand. That patented stand responds to the ground around it and adjusts to work in any space, even if the ground on your job site is far from even.
Once you finish for the day, simply lift off the saw and fold the stand flat for tossing in your truck or putting away with your tools. Even with the stand attached, it weighs less than 150 pounds and has dependable wheels that can roll across grass, dirt and other surfaces.
The 10 inch saw and durable engine will help you get through any materials you have on deck, and its engine produces more than 3,600 RPM. We also give Bosch a big thank you for the one year warranty it includes on this model.
3. Makita 2705X1 10-Inch Contractor Table Saw
A 15 AMP motor and 4800 RPM are just two reasons to grab this Makita portable table saw before heading to the construction site. Unlike other similar saws that require some specialized tools to adjust the blade and guards, this saw lets you make those adjustments on your own without any tools and without putting your fingers in harm’s way.
The 10 inch blade, which acts as both a riving blade and a spreader, responds to the adjustments that you make with the attached release lever, letting you move between three different settings.
The heavy duty stand turns this into one of the most portable saws around because you can quickly attach or remove the stand and use the handles and wheels to move it across the site.
4. DEWALT DWE7491RS 10-Inch Jobsite
We also love this DEWALT model, which slightly outperforms its lower ranked brother because of its 32.5 inch rip capacity, which lets you cut through everything you have on deck and much more too.
With its 15 AMP motor, it can rip through hardwoods and thick cuts with an ease you won’t believe, but you’ll also love the way it helps you clean up after finishing your job. A dust collection port tucked away on one side lets you connect a vacuum hose or tube to remove all the debris it accumulates over the course of a busy day.
Between adjustable fences and a larger table top, this saw can cut through trim, deck, shelf and other types of boards as well as boards with a thickness of three inches or less.
5. DEWALT DWE7480 10-Inch Compact Job Site
The second appearance of DEWALT on our list comes with this model, which the manufacturer packed with safety and performance features. Start with a look at the stand itself, which features a heavy duty type of steel tubing that supports both the saw and any materials you use.
Those legs even have holes that let you more permanently attach the stand to the table when working longer hours. While the 24.5 inch rip capacity is less than you might expect, it still handle everything from trim boards to some larger boards thanks to its 4800 RPM 15 AMP motor.
Its guarding system helps you make the changes that you need on the spot, and the whole saw and stand fold flat for easy and convenient storage.
6. Jet JBTS-10MJS 10-Inch Jobsite Table Saw
Despite its heavy duty motor, this Jet table saw doesn’t have the kick that you find in similar models. It starts out soft and then increases to the speed that you want.
The anti-kickback pawls added by the manufacturer ensure that you keep your hands right where you need to be and that the saw doesn’t get away from you. Designed for those who want to get started as fast as possible, this is one of the most convenient portable saws because it has an easy to use stand that you can set up and take down in minutes and weighs in at less than 100 pounds.
With a 25 inch rip and a 4.4-horsepower engine, it handles all jobs big and small.
7. Ridgid R4513 15 Amp 10 in. Heavy-Duty with Stand
Cut straight through thicker pieces of wood before cutting notches in smaller and larger planks with this portable job site saw from Ridgid.
The dependable blade right in the center of the saw performs all the cuts and slices that you need with just a flick of the knob and quickly goes back and forth between acting as a spreader and a knife. A unique sight barrier system helps you keep an eye on the blades and your cuts without worrying about losing a finger in the process.
You’ll also like the simple hand wheel on the front that helps you adjust the blade to the height you need and the retractable handle that you can conveniently push in to get it out of your way.
8. WEN 3720 15A Jobsite Table Saw
This WEN portable table saw shows that good things come in small packages. Despite its small size, it can cut through boards well over three inches deep, and it does a more than adequate when used with treated woods too.
A metal handle on one end lets you quickly rotate the saw to use it in any direction. You can even extend the surface of the table top to create a work space of 40 inches by more than 30 inches.
Designed specifically for use on job sites, the table saw also features a convenient metal handle and durable wheels on the front that let you quickly pick it up or roll it to anywhere you need to go at work or home.
9. DEWALT DWE7490X 10-Inch Job Site Table Saw
DEWALT makes yet another appearance on our list with the DWE7490X, which is one of its more basic table saws. With a rack and pinion design added to its fence rails, you can easily adjust the length and width to make perfect cuts and have room for your wood pieces.
The high torque motor lets you easily cut through basic boards and the treated boards that you buy from home improvement stores without any struggles. When it comes time to move, simply fold in the fence rails and fold up the legs on the scissor stand to turn this saw into one small and lightweight convenient package.
Though the scissor stand looks a little weak at first glance, it provides all the stability that you need on the job site.
10. Rockwell RK7241S Table Saw with Laser
Rockwell designed this portable table saw to look like a beast but act like a kitten. Though it might look like a higher quality and heavy professional model at first glance, it’s so lightweight that you won’t have a problem taking it with you.
A thick canvas bag branded with the Rockwell logo sits underneath the saw to catch any debris flying off your boards and other materials, and you can easily remove that bag for disposing of those materials later.
While its blade is sharp enough and long enough to cut through most materials, you can also extend the fence to get enough space for larger boards. Other features include a laser indicator that lets you adjust the tilt of the blade, a trolley stand and a push stick.
11. SKILSAW SPT70WT-01 10” Portable Worm Drive
Last on the list is this affordable table saw from SKILSAW. While not as portable as some of the other table saws on the list and lacking some of the features of the higher rated models, it still serves as a good all around option for most woodworkers.
Made with brass gears that provide more torque, it lets you get through those wood boards faster. The 15 amp dual motor does a better job of cutting than some of the cheaper models do, and it has a 25 in. rip capacity too.
Some will like its larger cutting surface and deeper blades, which lets this saw cut through more than just ordinary boards. SKILSAW added a guard system to keep your hands free from the blade and an anti-kickback feature that helps you stay safe.
Our Portable Table Saw Winner
The SawStop JSS-120A60 Jobsite Saw with Mobile Cart just narrowly edged out the competition for the top spot on our list. One feature that put it over the top was its lightweight yet dependable mobile cart that you can fold down when storing your saw and put together in seconds when using the saw in the field.
Made from heavy duty metal, this stand can easily accommodate the weight of your saw and all other building or construction materials. We also liked how easy you can use the hand wheel on the front. SawStop carefully laid out all the information you need underneath that wheel to show you how to get the precise cuts you want with a simple slide of the wheel.
The 25.5 inch rip capacity and ErgoLock fence also rank high with us. While more expensive than some of its competitors, the SawStop is the safest and most portable table saw around.
Read more table saw reviews here, or cabinet table saw (visit here).
How to Choose the Best Portable Table Saw
Choosing a portable table saw starts with a look at the overall weight of that saw. The larger the saw is, the more it will weigh. Heavier saws are so hard to transport that you may find yourself using a power saw on the job and keeping your traditional table saw at home. The upper weight limit for a portable saw is around 150 pounds. That is enough for one man to carry easily. Some of the top portable models that made our list weigh in at around 120 pounds or less.
Portable saws that come with a dependable stand or cart are even easier to transport because you can put the saw on the top and push the cart. Though some come with a standard table that has four flat legs, others come with a stand that also functions as a mobile cart. Wheels placed on the bottom of two or more legs help you push that card around. Some wheels even lock in place to provide additional stability to the saw itself.
You also want to look at the rip capacity, which refers to how much available space there is between the blade and the edge of the fence. A rip capacity of 20 inches means that you can only cut a board that measures 20 inches long. Some models come with a rip capacity and an extending fence though, which increases the length of the boards that you can cut. Our top rated saw has a rip capacity of 25.5 inches, which is the largest of all the portable table saws we found.
Whether you’re a professional contractor or a home amateur, you need to look for safety features like anti-kickback pawls too. When you turn on the motor and start pushing wood across the blade, most saws produce a noticeable kickback that can push your hands off the wood the control you have. Anti-kickback pawls help you keep your hands on the wood because these features reduce the kickback that you feel. You’ll also want to look for a model that has a guard system in place over the blade.
Take a look at fence type too. Though some models have fence pieces located on one or two sides, others have a T-fence that lets you extend the cutting surface in several different directions. This helps you cut through your boards easier and faster.