Top 10 Best Portable Band Saws (2024)

If your day-to-day life involves working with cutting wood logs or even metals for several professional and DIY projects then you must know the importance of a saw.

While there are many types of saws being used depending on what kind of material you are working with and where you are working with it, there are a few more versatile ones and an absolute necessity when it comes to using the saw anywhere and anytime and for several kinds of metal and woods. One such saw that you would like to know is the portable band saw.

A portable band saw is pretty useful and versatile. These are compact yet powerful enough to cut several types of wood and even metals. People who have their own workshops or even work professionally would own a portable band saw.

This type of saw contains a row of teeth that rotate around two or three gears and is most often used to make short work of cutting large sheets of material. The best part of these types of saws is their mobility of portability as these can be taken anywhere and get easy access to equipment when you are working far away from your professional workshop.

Well, it is pretty clear that owning a portable band saw would be very useful for several reasons. So if you are looking forward to buying one, then you must choose a good portable band saw among all the options that are available. Since there are plenty of choices available, you may find it a little hard to choose the best one.

That is why we are here to help you out. In this article, we are going to list down the best portable band saws. We have picked up the top 10 options in the market right now and along with that, we have also shared a buying guide that would help you to make a decent choice.

So go ahead and take a look at the following list and see which one would be the best portable band saw for you.

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Best Portable Band Saws

1. DEWALT DWM120K Portable Band Saw

When it comes to power tools, DEWALT is undoubtedly one of the best brands to go for. There are plenty of reasons why DEWALT is ruling in the power tool industry as they have been here for a long time now and you can easily find some of the best products at a reasonable price. So when it came to finding the best portable band saw, our first choice was undoubtedly DEWALT, and we haven’t been disappointed either. This portable band saw is one of the most popular ones on Amazon and you would most certainly find high ratings and loads of good reviews from the customers for it.
This one uses a 10 Amp motor and offers a 5-inch depth cut so we can say it is a powerful band saw to have. It is also quite reliable as it doesn’t tear or rip the material you have been working on and you will be able to get a straight cut. This one offers variable settings from 100 to 350 square feet per minute. You would be able to use it easily with simple adjusting dials and controls. The blade is of superior quality and will last for a long time too. You would also like the fact that it comes with an LED light that helps you to get straight cuts.
It is smartly designed and can be handled easily when you are working on your projects. Overall, it has several features, and all the amazing things and quality of this portable band saw make it the best one. So make sure you check it out because this one will be worth every penny you will spend on it.

2. Milwaukee 6238-20 Portable Band Saw

After DEWALT, Milwaukee is another one of the popular and reliable brands for power tools which is why our next best portable band saw comes from this brand. This portable band saw is also best-selling on Amazon and you will find various reasons to buy it right away.
This printable band saw comes with a powerful motor of 11 Amp and a 5 by 5-inch cut capacity. To make it easy to work with (even with the thickest wood material). It also features variations cutting settings which makes it safe to cut the material as per your requirements. Customers also like the fact that it can absorb the shock and vibrations because of the clutch and this is what makes it durable. It features a great grip handle which would reduce the fatigue caused by the use of a band saw for a long time.
Overall, it is a great portable band saw too, and you will get excellent quality and functionality which means your money will be well spent on this one.

3. Makita XBP02Z Portable Band Saw

Makita, too, makes a great power tool brand which is why this is a top-rated portable band saw to invest in. This portable band saw is one of the best-selling portable band saws on Amazon and you would most likely like it as well. This is a perfect portable band saw as it runs on an 18V battery which will last for a long time. It is also very lightweight and easy to carry around, so you would be able to use it anywhere even without any electricity source (as long as its battery is fully charged).
The portable band saw also comes with variable speed settings which would help you to get the best experience. It also features a safety switch that would help you to lock it if you are not using it. It also features a large movable handle that makes it easy to use and will be less tiring. Although, some people do say that it lacks precision in its cuts but you would be able to use it for some non-professional projects.

4. Bosch BSH180B 18V Portable BandSaw

If you are looking for the best budget portable band saw then this one might be the best choice for you. Bosch is anyway a great power tool brand and it also manufactured several home appliances, so it’s popular and reliable across the globe. This portable band saw from Bosch has also made a place on our list because of the great value for money and superior quality and great features.
This band saw is powered by an 18V battery, so you will just have to charge it and use it anywhere you like. People who have to work in the woods certainly appreciate this portable band saw. The cutting span is by 2.5 to 2.5 inches and you may not want to use it on metals or any other difficult materials.
Overall, if you are looking for a cheaper portable band saw to be used in the woods then this one might be the best choice for you.

5. DEWALT 20V MAX Portable Band Saws

We have another one of the leading portable band saw from DEWALT and this one too will impress you. This band saw features an easy-to-use mechanism which makes it ideal for beginners. It is compact and lightweight so the footprints are quite small, which means it is ideal for places that aren’t easy to work on.
Some people may find it a little bit complicated because of the “idiot button” that has been included, this button needs to be pressed while you work on it. Overall, if you need a highly portable band saw, then it might be a great choice for you.

6. Milwaukee 2429-21XC Band Saw

If a cordless portable band saw is what you are looking for then, this one from Milwaukee might be the best choice for you. It is compact and cordless, which makes it highly portable. It is powered by an M12 battery which is a decently powered battery to operate a band saw. Although, this one is also not meant to be used on too thick or difficult materials. This portable band saw features a cutting capacity of 1.6-by-1.6-inch,  this may not be the best one.
This one is also a great portable band saw which is lightweight and compact so that you would be able to carry it around anywhere and anytime. Overall, at this price, you are getting a good deal and you will also get an 18 TPI blade (less versatility).

7. WEN 94396 Portable Band Saw

WEN is another one of the reputable brands for power tools and this is why their portable band saw has made a place on our list. The cutting capacity is 5 by 5 inches which makes it an excellent choice for deep cuts. Although, this band saw is quite heavy so it may not be a perfect choice for people who are looking for a one-hand operation.
This portable band saw does come with a 2-year warranty so you might want to rely on this one. One of the most attractive things about this portable saw is its cheaper price, so it would be a great option if you are under budget.

8. Hitachi CB18DBLP4 Portable Bandsaw

This is another one of the best portable band saws and it comes from another reputable brand, Hitachi. It is a popular brand and they have earned the trust of customers over the years. The portable band saw comes with a cut capacity of 3.5 inches which makes it ideal to cut larger materials than its competitors.
It is cordless, so you would be able to use it anywhere and anytime as long as it’s fully charged. The portable band saw also comes with overheating and overload protection which makes it quite durable and safe to use. It also features a lifetime warranty. It is also lightweight and easy to use. Although the price is a bit high than the other portable band saws listed here, given the features and quality, you might want to consider buying it.

9. Bosch GCB10-5 Deep-Cut Band Saw

We have another one of the best portable band saws from Bosch and you would most certainly love this one too. It is lightweight and easy to handle, but most importantly it features clean and precise cuts. This one is even ideal for professional jobs, so people who are looking for a professional yet portable band saw would certainly like this one. It may be a bit expensive, but given the quality and functionality, it is worth spending the money on.

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10. MILWAUKEE’S 2729-20 M18 Fuel Deep Cut Band Saw Tool

This one from Milwaukee has also impressed us and made a place on our list. This one too is a professional-level portable band saw that features the best features. It comes with a speed range from 0 to 380 FPM and a cutting capacity of 5 by 5 inches along with 14 TPI. It is cordless yet competes with several corded band saws. Overall, this one might be the best option for you, go ahead and take a look.

Things to Consider While Buying a Portable Band Saw:

Well, while buying any product you would have to look for plenty of features and there are certain features that you can’t overlook or neglect. If you are buying a portable band saw for the first time, you may or may not know what to look for or how to choose a portable band saw.
Here are some of the features that you would like to have in your portable band saw, have a look:

1. Power Source
One of the first things you would want to look for in a portable band saw would be the power source. You can either buy an electric one that is plugged directly into an outlet source or you can prefer a battery-operated one. Since you are looking for a portable band saw, you might want to have a look at the battery-operated band saw.
A few years ago, battery-operated products or power tools might not be a good choice, but battery technology has come a long way and we can certainly rely on battery-operated products as well. Both the corded and the cordless ones have their own sets of advantages. A corded portable band saw would be a lot cheaper than the cordless one, although you would also be able to use the corded one as long as you have a power outlet beside you.
On the other hand, you would be able to use the cordless portable band saws whenever and wherever you would need to, as long as it is fully charged or you have spared battery by your side.

2. Cutting Capacity
One of the other things that you should be looking for in a portable band saw would be the cutting capacity. This means the necessity to cut material to a particular size may narrow the choices. You should also check out the width of the cut and the depth of the cut. Both of these are important features to look after as you would get the precise idea of the cutting capacity of the band saw and if it would meet your requirements.

3. Speed and Blade Type
You should certainly look after the speed as well as the blade type of the portable band saw that you are about to buy. The speed of a portable band saw is measured in surface feet per meter or SFPM/FPM. It would be better if you get more speed so that you can effectively work with your band saw. Most of the portable models feature a speed from 0 to 550 FPM, so you would be able to cut a wide variety of materials. You should also see the various speeds and see if you can also adjust the speed or not.
Apart from the speed, the blade type will too make a big difference when it comes to working with the portable band saw. You don’t want to end up with a portable band saw that doesn’t feature a good enough blade. Most of the blades that are used to cut metals come with 14 to 18 teeth per inch (tpi) while it is around 8 to 10 TPI for wood cutting blades.
Make sure the quality of the blade is superior and it can last for a long time too. You don’t want the blade to wear down quickly.

4. Size and Portability
One of the other major factors that you should be looking for in a portable band saw would be the size and of course the portability. You don’t want to choose a portable band saw that isn’t portable enough to meet your requirements or needs. So you might want to see if it can be carried around easily or not.
Size is the main factor for portability and you don’t want to compromise that either. You should also look at the weight or if it has a carrying case or not. You should see if it would be easy to store or not. Overall, size and portability are something you don’t want to compromise.

5. Other Features
Some small features or accessories can also make a big deal, so you may want to see if you would get some accessories or multi-functional features in your portable band saw. Things like Bumpers, Cases, Lighting, and Bare Tools, are important and you may want to know if you would get these with your portable band saw.
The bumpers will be fitted into the exterior of the wheel shrouds as they are used to absorb the day’s impacts. So in a way, these would be protecting the tool from shock or any other damage. The same goes with the storage case, but you may not get that with every portable band saw.
You should know that some portable band saws also come with a flashlight that would help you world effectively if the lights aren’t that good. If you are buying cordless portable band saws, see if you are getting a battery or a charger.
Overall, you should look after these small features to see if you are getting a good deal.

6. Safety and Comfort
You should also look at the safety of the band saw as well. Since the tool is pretty powerful you will need to be extra careful while using it. So make sure that you are getting a great portable band saw with good safety features. You might want to see if it comes with the safety lock so it doesn’t cause an accident.
Apart from this, the portable band saw should also be comfortable for you to use and you don’t want to use the one that isn’t very comfortable or features complicated settings or features.

7. Price
You should also see if you are getting the best value for money. For this, you would also like to know if the portable band saw comes with a reasonable price and if it fits into your budget. You don’t want to buy something too expensive and at the same time something that comes with not so good features.
You should get the best value for the money you are spending, so make sure you look at all the features and overall quality of the portable band saw and compare it to the other competitors available in the market to see if you are getting the best deal.

Conclusion

So these are some of the best portable band saws that you would find. We have listed some of these portable band saws because these come with plenty of useful features and these are also very popular among the customers. These are the highest-rated portable band saws with so many positive reviews too.
So go ahead and check them all out and see which one would be the best option for you and make sure you don’t have any difficulty while working on your projects. That would be all for now and we hope you got everything you have been looking for. Thank you.