Best Track Saws for the Money
A track saw cuts plywood sheets dead straight without a table saw. Our value picks from Makita, Kreg, Triton and Milwaukee, based on a woodworker's side-by-side test of 16 track saws.
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Our top picks at a glance
1 Best value overall
Makita SP6000J Corded Track Saw
Top-tier accuracy and smooth adjustments without Festool pricing. Read more
Pros
- Superb accuracy
- Smooth adjustments
- Corded power
Cons
- Track sold separately in some kits
2 Best budget
Kreg Adaptive Cutting System Plunge Saw
Smooth adjustments and an excellent track at a lower price. Read more
Pros
- Smooth adjustments
- Excellent track
Cons
- No anti-tip feature
3 Most power for the price
Triton TTS1400 Track Saw
A powerful corded saw that cut square in testing. Read more
Pros
- Powerful
- Square cuts
Cons
- Sticky depth adjustment
4 Best cordless
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Track Saw
Great battery life, excellent dust collection and an anti-tip feature for M18 owners. Read more
Pros
- Great battery life
- Excellent dust collection
- Anti-tip
Cons
- Pricey without M18 batteries
A track saw is a circular saw that rides on an aluminum rail. Lay the rail on your line, plunge and push, and you get a dead-straight, splinter-free cut through a full sheet of plywood. For many DIY woodworkers, it replaces a table saw for breaking down sheet goods, and it stores in a closet.
The best track saws, like Festool’s, cost a lot. The good news: several saws come close for far less.
Side by side
| Track saw | Power | Verdict in testing | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makita SP6000J | Corded | Top tier, “best corded value” | Check what the kit includes |
| Kreg plunge saw | Corded | Solid, excellent track | No anti-tip |
| Triton TTS1400 | Corded | Solid, powerful | Sticky depth adjust |
| Milwaukee M18 Fuel | 18V battery | Top tier | Price without batteries |
Verdicts are from 731 Woodworks, where woodworker Matt Outlaw tested 16 track saws side by side and ranked them in tiers. Makita's corded saw was named the best corded value; Festool, Mafell and Hilti also ranked at the top but cost much more.
1. Makita SP6000J Corded Track Saw: Best value overall
Who it’s for: Woodworkers who want pro accuracy without pro pricing.
In 731 Woodworks’ testing, Makita’s track saws landed in the top tier with Festool and Mafell, praised for smooth adjustments and superb accuracy. The tester called the corded Makita the “best corded value for the money.”
What bugs us: Kits vary. Some include the track, some don’t. Make sure you’re comparing complete setups.
Skip it if: you want cordless. Makita sells 40V and 36V versions.
2. Kreg Adaptive Cutting System Plunge Saw: Best budget
Who it’s for: DIYers breaking down plywood for cabinets and shelves.
Kreg’s plunge saw earned a solid rating for smooth adjustments and an excellent track.
What bugs us: There’s no anti-tip feature to keep the saw from rocking off the rail on bevel cuts.
Skip it if: you cut lots of bevels.
3. Triton TTS1400 Track Saw: Most power for the price
Who it’s for: Thick hardwood and heavy use on a budget.
The Triton was powerful and made square cuts in testing.
What bugs us: The depth adjustment was sticky.
Skip it if: you change cut depth often.
4. Milwaukee M18 Fuel Track Saw: Best cordless
Who it’s for: Milwaukee M18 owners.
The Milwaukee landed in the top tier with great battery life, excellent dust collection and an anti-tip feature for safer bevel cuts.
What bugs us: It’s expensive if you need to buy into M18 batteries.
Skip it if: you don’t own M18 tools.
Saws to avoid
731 Woodworks ranked several budget saws at the bottom: a Grizzly model with poor tracks and a base that flexed, an underpowered corded WEN, and a Ryobi 18V with poor dust collection whose riving knife prevented plunge cuts. A SKIL hybrid was called a “great budget value” but had awful dust collection and uses its own tracks.
How we researched these picks
We relied on 731 Woodworks’ side-by-side testing of 16 track saws, which ranked each by power, accuracy, adjustments, dust collection and features. It’s one woodworker’s evaluation rather than a lab test, so we’ve stuck to the clearest findings. We focused on:
- Accuracy and cut quality
- Adjustments
- Dust collection
- Safety features
- Price
We haven’t tested these saws ourselves. Read more about how we pick products.
Track saw tips
- Buy at least a 55- to 62-inch track to cross-cut plywood, or two that join for 8-foot rips.
- Hook up a shop vac. Dust collection on track saws works best with a vacuum.
- Cut on foam insulation board on the floor to support the whole sheet.
- Use the splinter strip. Trim it with your first cut, and it marks your exact cut line.
Common questions
Is a track saw worth it? If you break down a lot of plywood or have no room for a table saw, yes.
Can I use other brands’ tracks? Many saws fit Festool-style tracks; some, like SKIL and Ridgid, use their own. Check before buying.
Track saw or table saw? Track saws excel at sheet goods. Table saws are better for repeated narrow rips. Read miter saw vs table saw for more.