What Is a Circular Saw Blade?
The term circular saw blade can refer to either:
- A blade for a handheld circular saw
- A blade for any power saw that uses circular blades
In this guide, we cover blades for the most common power saws that cut with circular blades.
Key Parts of a Circular Saw Blade
- Teeth: Protrusions on the rim of a blade that cut the workpiece
- Gullets: Spaces between the teeth that allow removal of wood chips and dust
- Expansion and Cooling Slots: Cuts in the blade rim and body that help prevent warping from heat buildup
- Sound-Dampening Slots: Small slits in some blades filled with material that reduce sound and vibration
- Arbor Hole: The hole in the center of the blade that fits to the saw shaft or arbor
Which Circular Saw Blades Do I Need?
DIY-grade circular saw blades typically fit circular saws, miter saws or table saws and cut wood or wood composites. Some blades also cut plastic, vinyl and more. Keep these general tips in mind:
- Blades with fewer teeth and deeper gullets cut quickly but leave rough edges.
- Blades with more teeth and shallower gullets create a smooth finish but cut more slowly.
Other power saws also use circular blades, including tile saws, concrete saws and chop or cutoff saws.
Circular Saw Blade Types
We show several types of circular saw blades below, starting with blade types that work with a circular saw, miter saw or table saw.
General Purpose Blades
As the name suggests, these blades work for a wide range of projects.
- For use with wood, melamine, laminates and more
- Typically handles rip cuts and crosscuts
- Balance versatility, speed and cut quality
Rip-Cut Blades
Rip-cut or ripping blades cut along the grain of the wood, usually down the length of a board. Use a ripping blade to reduce the width of a board.
- For use on wood, but causes lots of splintering on plywood
- Usually have 16 to 40 teeth to cut quickly and aggressively
- Have deep gullets for efficient chip removal
Crosscut Blades
These blades cut across the woodgrain and the face of a board. Use this type of circular saw blade to cut a board to length.
- For use on wood
- Usually have 40 to 80 teeth
- Feature smaller gullets than rip-cut blades
- Don’t cut as quickly as rip-cut blades but create cleaner edges
Combination Blades
Combination blades make both rip cuts and crosscuts.
- For use on wood
- Have multiple groupings of teeth, each with one tooth for ripping and four for crosscutting
- Have deep gullets for efficient chip removal
Framing Blades
- For use on wood, particularly dimensional lumber, plywood and oriented strand board (OSB)
- Effective for rough carpentry
- Have 18 to 24 teeth
Plywood Blades
As the name suggests, these blades are best for cutting plywood.
- Reduce splintering
- Have 100 teeth or more
- Cut slower than some blades but leave a cleaner finish
Demolition Blades
Demolition blades are another type that provides speed and capability rather than a clean cut.
- For use on dimensional lumber and plywood
- Have low tooth counts for fast, aggressive cutting
- May have a narrow profile (thin kerf) for easier cutting and less material waste than other blades
Fine-Finish Blades
These blades are best for applications where the quality of the cut is most important, such as for cabinet building and joinery.
- Ideal for cutting wood, composite decking, melamine, plastic and vinyl
- Typically have 60 teeth or more
- Often have a narrow profile (thin kerf) for easier cutting and less material waste than other blades
Stacked Dado Blade Sets
Stacked dado blades are woodcutting accessories designed for use on table saws. These blade assemblies cut grooves (dados) in a board, such as for a shelf on a bookcase.
- For use on wood
- Might include two circular saw blades as well as several chipper blades and shims or spacers
- Different combinations of blades and shims create grooves of different widths
Make sure a blade is compatible with your saw and material. Manufacturers print blade diameter, arbor hole size, number of teeth and the blade kerf (the thickness of the cut) on the surface of a circular saw blade. You may also see tool types, maximum revolutions per minute (RPM) and material specifications.
Continuous-Rim Blades
Continuous-rim blades are usually a type of diamond-edged blade. These blades don’t have teeth or gullets like standard circular saw blades.
- For use on materials like tile and slate
- Cut with diamonds affixed to the blade edge
- Create a very clean finish
- Available for dry-cutting, wet-cutting or both
While some blades work in both wet and dry applications, make sure your saw is suitable for the type of cutting you need to do.
Turbo-Rim Blades
Turbo-rim blades are diamond blades similar to continuous-rim blades. They lack the teeth and gullets of standard blades but have a serrated rim.
- Can cut materials like brick and concrete
- Cut more aggressively than continuous-rim blades but don’t leave as clean a finish
- Available for dry-cutting, wet-cutting or both
Segmented Blades
Segmented blades also typically cut with diamond edges but have a rim divided by gullets like those on a standard blade.
- Can cut tough materials like brick and concrete
- Have the most aggressive cut of the diamond blade types
- Cut more quickly than the other diamond blade types but leave a rough finish
- Available for dry-cutting, wet-cutting or both
Which Circular Saw Blade Is Right for My Power Saw?
Your saw manual should provide information on compatible blades. Here are some quick tips on blade specifications.
Standard Circular Saw Blade Sizes
While blade capacity varies by saw type and model, there are some standard circular saw blade sizes for different saws:
- Standard Handheld Circular Saws: 6-1/2-inch or 7-1/4-inch blades
- Compact Circular Saws: 4-1/2-inch or smaller blades
- Tile Saws: 7-inch or 10-inch blades
- Table Saws: 10-inch blades
- Miter Saws: 7-1/4-inch, 10-inch or 12-inch blades
- Chop or Cut-Off Saws: 14-inch blades or abrasive cut-off wheels
Circular Saw Blade Material
High-Speed Steel (HSS) Blades
These blades are typically an economical option. They work best on softwoods but don’t stay sharp as long as carbide-tipped blades.
Carbide-Tipped Blades
This blade type has carbide material fused to the teeth tips. A carbide-tipped blade cuts softwoods, hardwoods and some non-ferrous metals. Carbide-tipped teeth stay sharp longer than steel-teeth blades.
Workpiece Material
Make sure your circular saw blade is suitable for the material you cut. You can find circular saw blades for many materials, including:
Circular Saw Blade Safety
Follow the use and safety instructions for your saw and blades. Keep these safety tips in mind:
- Wear heavy-duty work gloves when handling a saw blade.
- Disconnect the saw from power before you change the blade and before you adjust, clean or maintain the saw.
- Ensure the blade is sharp, in good condition and suitable for the saw and work.
- Avoid wearing loose clothes and jewelry. Tie back long hair.
- Put on eye protection, hearing protection and a respirator.
- Make sure the workpiece is free of fasteners or knots.
- Support and secure the saw side of the workpiece.
- Keep your hands clear of the blade while cutting.
- Let the blade stop fully before removing it from the workpiece.
A safe, successful project needs the right saw in addition to the right blade. See our guides to circular saws, miter saws and table saws to learn about your options.
Key Tips for Finding the Best Circular Saw Blade
The right blade makes just about any building project easier and safer. It’s a good idea to have several types available to take on just about any project. Keep these key facts in mind as you shop:
- Different blade types and sizes work with different types of power saws.
- Use only a blade designed for your saw and project.
- Choose a blade material based on cost and durability.
- Follow safety and use instructions from the saw and blade manufacturers.
Shop Lowes.com for circular saw blades for your power saw and material. Plus, we’ve got the safety gear you need for the work. You can also talk to a Lowe’s Red Vest associate at your local Lowe’s. They can help you find the right blade and make sure you have all you need to do your project right.
Frequently Asked Circular Saw Blade Questions
Use the answers to these questions to help you choose a blade and use it correctly.
How Do I Know What Circular Saw Blade to Buy?
Make sure the blade design and size are right for your saw and the material you need to cut. Choose the blade type and tooth design based on how you need to cut. Remember these tips:
- Cuts along or across wood grain require specific blade types.
- More teeth on a blade cut cleanly, fewer teeth cut quickly.
- Diamond blades without teeth cut materials like masonry and tile.
How Do You Change a Circular Saw Blade?
The steps for changing a circular saw blade vary by tool type. Refer to your saw manual for specific instructions, but in general, for a handheld circular saw:
- Disconnect the saw from power and put on heavy work gloves
- Immobilize the blade and turn the blade wrench counterclockwise to remove the blade stud. Remove the outer washer and blade.
- Place the blade on the shaft so it rotates in the correct direction.
- Replace the outer washer and hand tighten the stud clockwise. Lock the blade and tighten with the wrench according to the instructions.
Can You Sharpen a Circular Saw Blade?
If you need to sharpen a circular saw blade, take it to a professional. Sharpening some blades requires specialty tools. Sharpening other types risks ruining the blades. Reduce the need to sharpen blades by purchasing carbide-tipped blades.