Updated on Apr. 14, 2025
Contractors, cabinetmakers, home improvement enthusiasts and amateur woodworkers all use them. These are some of the best table saws you can buy.
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A table saw is essential equipment in the wood shop and on building sites. It isn’t the only tool that can rip wood to precise dimensions, slice and dice wood paneling, create bevels and crosscut compound angles, but it’s the best choice for all those jobs.
“Table saws are versatile tools mainly because of their large work surface and adjustable fences,” says Robert Johnson, founder of Sawinery Woodworking. “They’re best for ripping long boards and cutting large panels, and they’re great if you need accurate and repeatable cuts. A table also saw has a sturdy base, which makes it very stable.”
You can also use different blades with table saws, he adds. This allows you to make different types of cuts, including rip cuts, bevels, crosscuts and dadoes. Ready to get to work? We found the best table saws to suit every space, skill level and budget.
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A good all-around table saw should be easy to transport but powerful and sturdy enough to use in the shop. You get all this and more with the DeWalt Job Site Table Saw. It features robust a 15-amp motor, a cast aluminum table and a full-size five-eighths-inch arbor which accepts standard 10-inch saw blades. Better yet, wheels let you roll it to the work site; the folding legs splay out at a wide angle for extra stability; and the table telescopes to 32.5 inches wide.
In his full DeWalt table saw review, our tester Ethan O’Donnell credits the saw’s ease of use to its multitude of handy features. “From its dial-driven rack and pinion fence system to its tool-free lever for switching between the writhing knife and a blade guard assembly, this saw is full of features that make for a straightforward user experience,” he writes.
During testing, O’Donnell worked through a scrap pile consisting of 2-by-6 studs, a variety of plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB) and melamine. He also cut small chunks of birch and oak, as well as a cutoff of a 4-by-4 fence post. After making over 50 cuts, he was able to get a feel for the saw’s overall power and accuracy.
“I tested this product and like it a lot,” writes O’Donnell. “Whether you’re a DIYer or a professional, if you’re in the market for a compact table saw, I’m confident you’ll like it, too.” And O’Donnell isn’t the only DeWalt fan. Frontdoor virtual handyperson Brett Labeka also chose a similar DeWalt table saw for his workshop, citing its powerful motor as the reason for his choice.
The only thing you may want to consider is this saw’s heavy weight. In order to assess its portability, O’Donnell carried the saw up and down a flight of stairs and in and out of the bed of his truck a few times. He notes that it’s not easy to lug around due to its heft, but points out that stability beats portability.
“I’ll take stability over portability any day,” he writes. “On several occasions, I’ve witnessed a lightweight jobsite table saw wobble while someone fed a long deck board or sheet of plywood into it. Not only is this dangerous, it ruins the accuracy of your cut, which will have to be made again.”
Type: Benchtop | Power: 15 amps | Blade diameter: 10 inches | Rip capacity: 32.5 inches | Weight: 110 pounds
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Weekend warriors looking for a saw to mill trim, cut flooring boards or make fencing slats don’t need as much power as contractors do, and they’re usually budget-conscious. The HERCULES Compact Jobsite Table Saw was made for this crowd as it offers top-notch performance at a great price. This saw is equipped with a 15-amp motor and an extra-wide table that provides enough space for most home improvement projects. Though it doesn’t come with a stand, it does have bench mounting holes so one can be purchased and installed.
Product tester Pamela Bondurant assembled the saw and while she found the directions to be out of order and difficult to follow, she was impressed by this saw’s overall performance. “It’s not a bad saw for the price,” she says. “It made great, accurate cuts.”
It’s worth pointing out that while the performance is on par with pricier models, the overall quality of this table saw is not. “This saw is not the highest quality,” admits Bondurant. She notes that the miter gauge and push stick are not super sturdy and the fence was finicky to flip for extended rips. That said, everything worked properly and all of her cuts were accurate.
Type: Benchtop | Power: 15 amps | Blade diameter: 10 inches | Rip capacity: 24.5 inches | Weight: 53 pounds
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If you’re looking for a cordless table saw for around-the-house use, and you’re already committed to a battery system, it’s best to choose one from the same manufacturer. If you aren’t committed or your manufacturer’s product line doesn’t include table saws (not all do), go for the Milwaukee Cordless Table Saw. This benchtop saw runs on a high-output 12-amp-hour battery pack but delivers the same 15-amp performance as a corded saw with a 8.25-inch blade.
Bondurant was impressed by this saw as soon as she unboxed it, noting that it is light and easy to carry. She also appreciated how easy it was to assemble. “The blade had to be installed but it was very easy,” she says. “Additionally, this is the only saw where I was able to successfully find all the storage areas and successfully install the riving knife with the anti-kickback device.”
In addition to its compact design and easy assembly, Bondurant was also thrilled by this saw’s quiet operation. At 78 decibels, it was the quietest saw she tested. “The sound was almost pleasant thanks to the battery power,” she raves.
After testing was complete, Bondurant dubbed the Milwaukee cordless table saw her favorite.”This saw seemed to more capably cut through hardwoods than the others. It cut through a slab of mahogany without any burning and was so smooth,” she raves. “Also, the blade has a very fast brake and stops almost immediately upon shutdown which is a great safety feature and very calming to the nerves.”
Type: Benchtop | Power: 15 amps | Blade diameter: 10 inches | Rip capacity: 24.5 inches | Weight: 44.9 pounds
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For sheer portability, you can’t beat the design of the SKIL portable table saw. With a 15-amp motor and 25.5-inch rip capacity, it’s incredibly powerful and can get the job done anywhere. The saw comes with the legs already attached so there’s no assembly required. When you’re finished working, the legs fold up and have buttons that lock them in place. There’s also plenty of onboard storage.
Type: Portable | Power: 15 amps | Blade diameter: 10 inches | Rip capacity: 25.5 inches | Weight: 51.15 pounds
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The SKIL Heavy Duty Worm Drive Table Saw delivers an impressive combination of portability and performance. With its 30.5-inch rip capacity, this saw is ideal for worksites and large projects. And while it weighs just under 100 pounds, it’s surprisingly easy to transport thanks to the included wheeled cart. The saw also has rubber pads on the bottom, which led Bondurant to believe that it could be used on a bench as opposed to the wheel cart if you prefer.
According to Bondurant, this saw wasn’t as easy to assemble as some of the others on our list due to roundabout instructions and unlabeled parts. Thankfully, the concept wasn’t difficult and she was able to properly assemble the unit with a bit of trial and error. The fact that the riving knife comes pre-installed made things a bit easier. She also liked that this saw has chute storage and storage for all the tools, including the miter gauge, fence, guard and anti-kickback device.
Type: Jobsite | Power: 15 amps | Blade diameter: 10 inches | Rip capacity: 30.5 inches | Weight: 94.3 pounds
All of the table saws we tested performed well overall. Here’s why the rest didn’t make our “best” list.
RYOBI 15 Amp 10-inch Table Saw
At $229, this table saw is a bargain. During testing, the miter gauge was straight at zero degrees and the blade, when set, cut perfect 90 degree angles. However, our tester struggled with the installation of the unit’s blade guard, riving knife and anti-kickback pawls. She also noted the saw doesn’t have a high-quality feel.
Bosch Portable Jobsite Table Saw
According to our tester, this saw is a solid choice. She noted that it was fairly quiet with ample storage and fast, straight cutting. It also includes a detailed instruction manual and labeled hardware. Bondurant found this particularly helpful given the saw’s complex assembly, which was the main reason it missed our list.
Ridgid Portable Corded Pro Jobsite Table Saw
The Ridgid table saw is easy to operate and capable of being used at a job site. Our tester points out that while the throat plate is plastic, the rest of the saw is quite sturdy. What she didn’t love, however, was the difficult assembly.
We love the SawStop table saw’s abundant safety features and overall ease of use. And while it doesn’t have as large a rip capacity as other table saws, it’s still a solid choice. You can read all of the details in our full SawStop table saw review.
First things first, you need to know which type of table saw is best for your intended projects.
Once you’ve determined what type of saw you want, consider these factors.
To select the best table saws, we began by researching a wide range of models, considering factors such as blade size, motor power, cutting capacity and safety features. We then consulted with woodworking experts to understand the key considerations for hobbyists and professionals alike. After narrowing down our list, we tested nine different table saws. For the sake of consistency, we performed the same tests on each tool using pine and mahogany boards and slabs. During testing, we paid particular attention to the overall performance, quality of the materials and size of each saw’s base.
You’ll need a good table saw for a variety of projects including furniture building, home renovations and outdoor projects. According to Brett Labeka, expert handyperson for Frontdoor, building cabinets, cutting trim, molding and baseboards, and building a deck or fence are a few projects that require a table saw.
Choosing the best table saw depends on the scale of your woodworking projects and available workspace. For smaller projects, a compact table saw suffices; for larger projects, a contractor or cabinet model provides the necessary power and table space.
Both Johnson and Labeka, who have extensive experience with various table saw sizes, note that the most common size among owners is the 10-inch table saw. These models typically offer all the necessary features for most DIY and woodworking projects. They also handle standard-sized lumber and sheet goods effectively, he says. According to Johnson, this size strikes the right balance between portability and cutting capacity. “You can rip boards, crosscut lumber and make bevel cuts,” he explains, “and it’s also compact enough to fit in a home workshop or garage.”
According to Johnson, when it comes to cutting capacity, standard table saws can typically handle wood up to around three inches thick with a standard blade. “However, opting for a larger blade size, such as a 12-inch blade, extends this capacity to four inches thick. Keep in mind that when making lengthwise rips, the rip capacity of the table saw may become a limiting factor, especially with larger pieces of lumber,” he says.
Important table saw safety features include a riving knife or splitter to prevent kickback, a blade guard for coverage during operation and anti-kickback pawls for added protection. A reliable blade brake system can rapidly stop the blade upon contact with skin. Additionally, an accessible emergency stop button and a user-friendly on/off switch are crucial.
The number of teeth on a table saw blade depends on the type of cuts you need for your woodworking projects. Blades with more teeth (40 or more) provide smoother finishes and are suitable for crosscuts and plywood. Blades with fewer teeth (24 to 30) are better for ripping through thick materials. A general-purpose blade with around 40 teeth can offer a balance between ripping and crosscutting capabilities, making it versatile for various tasks.
The price of a table saw varies depending on the brand, retailer and other features. They can run anywhere from $119 to over $6,500. The table saws we tested range from under $300 to nearly $1,000.
We used hands-on experience and first-hand knowledge to select the best table saw products on the market. Our primary product tester for this piece, Pamela Bondurant, is a lifelong woodworker with experience in various trades. She personally tested nearly 10 table saws for this guide.
We also consulted Robert Johnson, a seasoned furniture maker and carpenter. Johnson is the founder of Sawinery Woodworking, a premier source for everything woodworking-related. The site sells a curated collection of top-of-the-line power tools, offers woodworking classes for all skill levels, provides easy and advanced project plans and much more. Brett Labeka, expert handyperson for Frontdoor, also contributed expertise to this guide.
Paul Rankin, content updates editor at Family Handyman, updated and contributed research to this article. Paul is a former commerce editor at Bob Vila and has written shopping guides since 2021.
