We researched the most popular table saws available today, evaluating reliability, versatility, precision, and overall value. Our top choice, the DEWALT DWE7491RS Table Saw, is a powerful and accurate saw with a handy wheeled folding stand. Here are the top table saws. We sent this model to our product tester, who put it to good use rebuilding a large wooden deck at his home. He had high praise for the saw’s ability to quickly and easily slice through a variety of materials and boards, and he especially appreciated the tool’s folding stand, which made it easy to move the saw wherever he needed it. The DWE7491RS’s table measures 26.25 by 22 inches, although its sturdy wheeled stand makes it fairly easy to push out of the way when not in use. Our tester commented, “The built-in rack-and-pinion fence system, which acts as a guide for boards that runs parallel to the blade, adjusts by hand and is both easy to use and very accurate. I learned to trust the fence and its measurements, and it made my workflow faster knowing I didn’t have to measure everything four times to double-check the DEWALT. " With a 10-inch blade and 32½-inch rip capacity—the rack-and-pinion fence rails extend smoothly and sturdily for oversize boards—and 15-amp motor capable of up to 4800 rpm, the DWE7491RS is more than prepared to effectively deliver 3⅛-inch deep cuts to thick slabs of wood. It can handle dado cuts up to 13/16-inch wide with the appropriate blade and throat plate. Our product tester’s final verdict: “The DeWalt DWE7491RS 10” Jobsite Table Saw is a straightforward saw that delivers quality and performance in a portable package. I found it much more convenient than other stand-less table saws.” Price at time of publish: $549 This 10-inch jobsite table saw has a 15-amp motor that spins the blade at up to 5,000 rpm. You can rip boards up to 12 inches to the right and 8 inches to the left of the blade. Unlike many higher-priced table saws, there are no extending rails, although you could use a separate stand to support larger materials. Still, for the price, it’s hard to beat the performance of this sturdy tool. The saw has a maximum cutting depth of 3 inches at a 90-degree angle. Price at time of publish: $189 The saw’s brushless motor reaches speeds of up to 6,300 rpm, and the 8-¼-inch blade cuts up to 2.5 inches deep at a 90-degree angle, or 1.75 inches deep at a 45-degree angle. The table provides a rip capacity of 24.5 inches to the right, and 12 inches to the left. The bevel setting allows you to tilt the table up to 47 degrees to the left. And with the tool’s “Smart Key” app, you can track the tool’s location remotely, disable it from a distance, and keep track of its performance. Note that this table saw does not include a stand, although Milwaukee does sell one separately. It does include the battery and charger. Price at time of publish: $599 The 10-inch blade spins at a maximum of 5,000 rpm, with a maximum cutting depth of 3.5 inches at a 90-degree angle and 2.25 inches at a 45-degree angle. The saw comes with a very sturdy wheeled stand that folds up for storage once the job is done. Price at time of publish: $599 The maximum depth of cut at a 90-degree angle is 2-9/16 inch. Note that while the saw handily performs all of the basic table saw cuts, it does not accept a dado blade. Price at time of publish: $299 The saw has a 15-amp motor with top speed of 4,600 rpm that handles 4 x 4s with ease. The 10-inch blade makes quick work of cuts through woods both hard and soft, and the 25-inch by 24-inch table lets you rip-cut boards up to 25.5 inches to the right of the blade and 14 inches to the blade’s left. Rack-and-pinion fence rails glide out smoothly and easily for extended cuts. The bevel adjusts between -2 and 45 degrees, and with the appropriate dado blade and throat assembly (sold separately), you can do dado cuts as well. Price at time of publish: $349 The blade height can be easily adjusted for making very accurate rip or cross cuts on wood, plastic, or aluminum up to ½-inch thick, but unfortunately, you cannot bevel or cut on an angle with this small saw. It’s not at all noisy, so you can even use it indoors to work on a wide variety of projects and crafts. Price at time of publish: $99 The 15-amp motor can spin the 10-inch blade at up to 5,000 rpm. It easily muscles through the hardest woods, tackling 4x boards without problems. The 34 by 24-inch table extends out to 52.6 inches with the rack-and-pinion fence system, and the saw can make rip-cuts of 16.5 inches to the left and a whopping 30.5 inches to the right. The bevel adjusts between -1 and 47 degrees, and with the appropriate blade, you can make 1/2-inch dado cuts. Most impressive of all, this saw has a maximum cutting depth of 3-5/8 inches, which is more than just about any other available saw. Price at time of publish: $649 The SawStop table saw has a 20-inch-wide by 27-inch-deep table, but with the extensions, allows you to make rip cuts as wide as 30.5 inches to the right and 16.5 inches to the left. The blade tilts up to 45 degrees to the left for making bevel cuts, and can cut up to 2-¼-inch deep at that angle. With the blade straight, you can make cuts up to 3-⅛ inches deep. There’s a built-in, highly accurate miter gauge and two miter slots for holding boards steady. While any table saw is potentially dangerous, this one takes safety to new heights with a sensor that detects human skin, bringing the blade to a complete stop in less than 5 milliseconds should that occur. All in all, this is a tool for both professionals and serious hobbyists who want the utmost in saw performance. Price at time of publish: $1,979 Pre-calibrated right out of the box, Kreg’s miter gauge has positive stops at 0, 10, 22-1/2, 30, and 45 degrees, so you can begin using your brand new miter gauge straight away. With a 25-inch fence made of durable aluminum to ensure long-lasting use, a micro-adjustment system that allows users to adjust their desired angle up to 1/10th of a degree, and a ton of extra features you’ll be hard-pressed to find on even most built-in miter gauges, the KMS7102 is a must-have for both professional and amateur woodworkers. Price at time of publish: $151 Benchtop table saws, as the name suggests, are designed to sit on your workbench. They do not have a support stand of their own. These are a good choice for DIYers, as they are fairly lightweight, less expensive than larger machines, and reasonably portable. On the downside, they are somewhat limited in the size of board they can handle. Jobsite table saws come with a stand, which is often lightweight and wheeled so that it’s fairly easy to move the tool from jobsite to jobsite. These are often more rugged and larger than benchtop table saws. Jobsite table saws are very popular for both DIYers and professional tradespeople. Contractor table saws are stationary tools that sit atop a sturdy frame. They are similar to jobsite saws, but are typically larger and more powerful. Still, the term “contractor table saw” is now often used for models that more properly are jobsite table saws. Cabinet table saws are most often found in professional woodworking or carpentry shops. These very heavy and powerful tools are generally built of cast iron and have a cabinet enclosing the frame to reduce vibration, improve dust collection, and add support. Finally, hybrid table saws are somewhere in between contractor and cabinet tools in size, power, and price.
Motor
There are two types of motors used in table saws: universal motors and induction motors. Portable table saws generally have a universal motor, which links directly to the blade, providing a whole lot of power. The downside is that these models are generally quite loud. Induction motors, on the other hand, are connected to a belt that then transfers power to the blade. As a result, you get quieter operation and the ability to cut denser materials. The downside is that these models require more preventive maintenance, as you have to adjust the belt’s tension periodically. Induction motors are common on stationary table saws.
Basic Components
There are several basic components that are important when choosing a table saw. Most are standard with the majority of table saws, but some are extras. Table: The table of a table saw is crucial in terms of stability. Larger tables can handle larger boards, but also take up more space in your workshop. The best tables are made of cast iron, but steel is a good second choice. Less expensive portable table saws sometimes have aluminum tables, which tend to transmit a lot of vibration. Blade: The standard blade size for most table saws is 10 inches. Larger saws often use 12-inch blades, however, and some compact saws use 8-¾-inch blades. As a general rule, a 10-inch blade lets you cut to a depth of 3-½ inches when the blade is at a 90-degree angle to the board. Blade Cover: Typically made from transparent plastic, the blade cover curves above the blade to protect the user from flying sawdust and debris, as well as offer some protection to their hands. Rip Fence: This adjustable guide serves to keep the board moving in a perfectly straight line while making rip cuts. Miter Gauge: This adjustable guide helps position and secure the board when making miter cuts. Typically, it adjusts between 0 and 90 degrees. Bevel Gauge: This is a tilt adjustment to the saw blade for making bevel cuts. Riving Knife and Anti-Kickback Pawls: Both of these safety features are designed to reduce the chance of “kickback,” which is the board catching and jerking back towards the user.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. Every table saw can make rip cuts—which are cuts along the grain of the wood to reduce the board in width—as well as crosscuts, which cut across the grain to reduce the board in length. Most table saws have adjustable tables for making bevel and miter cuts, which are angled cuts often used when making molding, picture frames, furniture, or other items where two or more pieces of wood need to meet neatly at the corners. Many table saws, with the addition of the appropriate blade and throat plate, can make dado cuts, which are shallow, trench-like cuts that don’t go all the way through the wood. These are often used when building furniture. Rabbets and groove cuts are another possibility. These are angled cuts used for joining pieces of wood, and are often used to build furniture, cabinets, or shelves.
The table of your saw and the floor around it should be free of sawdust, lumbar, or other potential tripping or slipping hazards.Never operate a table saw, or any other power saw, when you are not feeling well, are overly tired, inebriated, or otherwise not fully attentive.Wear a shirt with short sleeves, and take off any neckties, rings, dangling necklaces, bracelets, or watches before starting to work.Always use safety goggles to protect your eyes. Ear plugs are also a good idea, as table saws can be loud.Shoes with nonslip soles are a must to prevent slips.Do not wear gloves while using a table saw, as they can decrease your dexterity, and may become caught in the blade.Never remove or disable any of your saw’s safety features, such as the blade guard.Do not reach over or behind the spinning blade.Don’t try to push the board through the saw faster than the saw can accept it.If cutting a board less than 6 inches in width, always use the push stick. These are normally included with a purchased table saw.Stand with your feet slightly apart for good balance as you work. Your face and body should be slightly to the side of the blade so you aren’t in the line of fire should the board experience kickback.Do not use the tool’s rip fence when making crosscuts. Always turn the table saw off, unplug it, and wait for the blade to come to a complete stop before changing or adjusting the blade.Eamon Lynch, Director of Warranty Service at Power Home Remodeling, cautions, “If you’re using power tools with blades, like a table saw, always use a piece of wood or another guard to protect your fingers. By standing back from the cut line and using something else to push along the table saw’s fence, there’s far less risk for injuries.”
For this roundup, she considered dozens of table saws, evaluating each for basic features, extras, and product tester as well as customer feedback. She also received input from Eamon Lynch, Director of Warranty Service at Power Home Remodeling and Deane Biermeier, a general contractor and member of The Spruce’s Home Improvement Review Board.
