Tested And Reviewed: Find Out Which Editor-Approved Portable Table Saws Made the Cut (2024)

Portable table saws take the precision cutting function of this full-size wood shop workhorse and make it mobile, so you can take it to the worksite or your backyard. Unlike the stationary table saws contractors use, these relatively lightweight options rest on top of a workbench or come equipped with a folding metal frame with wheels for easy transport.

The vast majority of portable table saws are equipped with a 10-inch blade that provides more than enough height above the table to cut thick lumber. That big blade is backed up with a powerful motor that typically runs on 12 to 15 amps, ample power for cutting through hardwood, softwood or plywood.

Beyond those specs, however, there’s a lot that distinguishes one portable table saw from the next. Plus, it’s essential to choose the right blade for the job—whether that’s ripping wood in the same direction as the grain, or crosscutting. To help you find the best portable table saw for your needs, read on for reviews of our favorite models, along with expert advice on what to consider before buying.

• Best Overall: DeWalt 10-Inch Table Saw With Rolling/Collapsible Stand
• Best Value: Skil 10-Inch 15-Amp 120-Volt Corded Portable Jobsite Table Saw with Folding Stand
• Best Heavy Duty: Skilsaw 10-Inch Worm-Drive Table Saw with Stand
• Best Benchtop: DeWalt 8-1/4-Inch 15-Amp Table Saw
• Best for the Jobsite: Metabo HPT 10-Inch 15-Amp Table Saw

To cut effectively—and safely—it’s important to use the right blade for the job. That means investing in a selection of blades to help the saw reach its potential.

Most portable table saws come with an inexpensive general-purpose blade (a 10-inch 42-tooth is common) that can rip and crosscut, but won’t do either one particularly well. Below, we cover a few common jobs and the best blade to use for each.

Pro tip: An inexpensive outfeed roller increase your productivity—and also your safety—by providing a smoothly rolling support surface to receive the board as it leaves the saw table. Lacking such a roller, you need a helper who can deftly take the board and carefully support it without interfering with the cut—not a job for the squeamish.

Alex Rennie: During my time as a commercial and residential carpenter in New York City, I used a variety of cabinet and portable table saws. Whether I was working as part of a crew remodeling a townhouse ceiling or creating a custom bookcase in a restaurant, portable table saws provided the functionality and convenient size needed to tackle challenges posed by different job sites.

Tony Carrick: I handled the most recent update to this guide. And in doing so, I kept Alex’s experience in mind, including the brands, safety features, and ease of use he’s come to know and appreciate over the years. To complement this real-world experience, I extensively researched, evaluating specs and scouring through customers reviews of more than a dozen different portable table saws, to make the top five selections. Roy Berendsohn also contributed to this guide with his rigorous product testing.

We’ve personally used this DeWalt jobsite portable table saw for chopping and ripping up lumber, and can vouch for its rugged durability and quality construction. The rolling stand provides a ton of stability too, making it easy to perform cuts safely and accurately. Rack and pinion fence rails allow for easy adjustments, and are strong enough to support an impressive amount of weight. We’re also big fans of the two-and-a-half-inch dust collection port for easy clean-ups, even after heavy-duty jobs.

On-board tool storage keeps the push stick close at hand, which encourages safe use and potentially cuts down on time wasted searching your workshop for whatever you need.

At about half the cost of other portable table saws, this model from Skil is a good pick if you’re on a tight budget. Rack and pinion fence rails create a sturdy base for ripping boards, and you can make micro adjustments to the blade alignment to ensure it’s parallel to the fence.

Skil’s portable jobsite table saw also comes equipped with a large 10-inch blade that’s capable of cutting through a 4x4, and it has the ability to make bevel cuts up to 45 degrees. It’s supported by four sturdy legs that fold up underneath it for transport or storage. And since it only weighs about 50 pounds—about half the weight of many portable table—it’s much easier to move than most.

With a torque-friendly worm-drive powertrain, and a maximum depth of three-and-five-eighths inches—deepest of all the options listed here—this Skilsaw is perfect for heavy-duty projects. It also features a 30.5-inch rip capacity and a user-friendly rack and pinion fence system for maximum accuracy.

The huge 16-inch wheels also help it easily traverse over bumpy surfaces, stairs, and curbs, if need be. We also appreciate the detailed and useful user manual, which is filled with technical illustrations that make clear the saw’s ability to be adjusted and dialed in for precise cutting. An owner’s manual of this caliber is just about unheard of in this class of product. You can have a look at the PDF yourself at the Skilsaw website.

This small but mighty Dewalt benchtop table saw is easy to haul from jobsite to jobsite thanks to its compact size and lighter weight, or to store if your workshop doesn’t have room for a full size table saw. A 15-amp motor combined with a smaller 8.5-inch blade allow it to reach blazing speeds of 5,800 rpm, plenty of power for ripping through hardwoods.

Its 24.5-inch ripping capacity and cutting blade are smaller than other portable table saws; however, it still has the ability to rip a 4x8 piece of plywood. Dewalt is known for the user-friendly features on its power tools and this table saw is no exception. Tool free adjusters on the guarding and telescoping fence guards make it easier to set up cuts. There’s also a blade break and a power-loss reset for safety and a metal roll cage that protects the saw during transport.

This Metabo table saw has the look and feel of a stationary table saw but in a portable design. Its 28-3/4-inch by 22-inch table and a wide 35-inch rip capacity, the most we’ve seen on any other portable table saw, is similar to what you’ll find on a stationary table saw. The motor also features a soft start for smoother operation and an electric brake that halts the blade quickly after each cut.

We also like the rack and pinion fence adjustments and metal miter gauge, which allow for executing more precise cuts. There’s also plenty of on-board storage for saw accessories like the blade guard and push stick. The Metabo is one of the heavier portable table saws at nearly 100 pounds, but a fold and roll design makes it manageable for transportation and setup.

There are many confusing terms when you enter the world of table saws, their blades, and various wood-cutting operations. We offer this explainer to help guide you through.