Best Band Saws: Pick the Power Source First
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Prices were listed by the retailer as of Oct 30, 2026 and can change. Confirm the current price and availability on the retailer's page before you buy.
Picture a Saturday in the garage. You grab a band saw because a curved cut needs doing, and halfway through you realize the battery is from a different brand than every other tool you own. Now you have a second charger, a second set of packs and a second platform to keep feeding. That is the quiet cost of a band saw choice, and it is why the power source comes before any other spec.
Of those, 28 are cordless, and they sit on four platforms: M12 (8 models), M18 (7), 20V MAX (5) and LXT 18V (4). A battery platform simply means a family of batteries and chargers that fit many tools from one brand. If you already own packs on one platform, a saw on that platform costs less to add than one that needs a whole new system. The rest of the catalog is mains-powered bench and floor machines, led by brands such as JET (28 models), Grizzly Industrial (21) and Powermatic (13).
After power, the specs that matter depend on the job. Throat capacity is the distance from the blade to the frame, which sets how wide a board you can cut. Resaw capacity is the maximum height under the guides, which decides how thick a piece you can slice into thinner boards. Motor horsepower tells you how much grunt the saw has in general terms, though the listing does not say how any one saw performs. Bench versus floor is about footprint and weight. Metal cutting adds another question: whether the listing states what it is built for, since a portable cordless saw and a shop machine are different tools.
How to choose
Power source and platform
Decide corded or cordless first. In this catalog 28 of 96 models are cordless, spread across M12, M18, 20V MAX and LXT 18V. A common mistake is buying a saw on a new platform and then needing extra batteries and a charger. Match the platform to packs you already own, or accept that you are starting a new system.
Throat or resaw capacity
Capacity is the number that limits your work. Throat sets board width; resaw height sets how thick a piece you can slice. Buyers often shop on motor size and discover the saw cannot fit their stock. Read the stated capacity in the listing and compare it with the widest and thickest pieces you expect to cut. Not every listing states it.
Motor horsepower and brushless
Horsepower describes motor output on mains-powered saws, and a brushless motor is a design that uses electronics instead of carbon brushes. In the catalog 68 percent of models are listed as brushless. Treat these as stated specs, not proof of results, and do not assume a bigger number fits your work without checking capacity too.
Bench versus floor
Bench saws take less room and can be moved; floor saws usually offer more capacity but need space and a solid spot. A frequent mistake is ignoring weight and footprint until delivery day. Measure your shop, think about how often you will move the saw, and check the listing for size or weight details before you buy.
Skip it if...
- Skip a cordless saw if you need big resaw capacity; the cordless picks here list no resaw or throat capacity beyond the Hilti's 12 in. figure.
- Skip the Hilti bare tool if you own no compatible 22 V battery and charger, since none are stated with it.
- Skip any listing that does not state capacity, motor size or configuration if those facts decide your purchase; 60 of 96 models do not state a configuration.
- Skip a new platform if you already own packs elsewhere; the M12, M18, 20V MAX and LXT 18V families do not share batteries.
Our picks from the catalog
These picks come from what the listings state: prices, specifications and kit contents. Each says which listed facts it is based on.
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Band Saw XC Kit with (2) Batteries, Charger, Reamer, 3 Blades, and Bag
$492 to $520 · Kit · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Weight: 6 lb
This Milwaukee M12 FUEL kit, model 2529-21XC-48, is the value pick because it lists the most specifications and kit items for the price, at $492 to $520, inside the middle band of prices in this group. The listing states a brushless motor, the M12 platform, a 6 lb weight, two batteries, a charger, a reamer, three blades and a bag. Keep in mind it is a 12 V compact saw, so the listing does not state a capacity figure to compare against bench machines.
Hilti 22-Volt SB 4-A22 Lithium-Ion Cordless Band Saw with LED Light and 2-12 in. Cutting Depth (Tool-Only)
$219.00 · · Voltage: 22 V · Size / capacity: 12 in.
The Hilti SB 4-A22, model 2149567, is the budget pick at $219.00, the lowest price among the 46 models whose listings state at least two specifications. It is listed at 22 V with a 12 in. size or capacity figure and is sold as a bare tool. Keep in mind that no battery or charger is stated, so you would need compatible packs and a charger, which adds cost and may mean buying into a new platform.
Makita 40V max XGT Brushless Cordless Deep Cut Portable Band Saw Kit, 4.0Ah
$809.00 · Kit · Voltage: 40 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: XGT 40V · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
The Makita GBP01M1 is the heavy-use pick because it has the highest listed battery energy in this group, 40 V at 4 Ah, on the XGT 40V platform. It is priced at $809.00, is sold as a kit, and its listing states a brushless motor. Keep in mind that the listing does not itemize what is in the box, so confirm the battery and charger count on the listing before ordering.
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V Lithium-Ion Cordless Compact Band Saw XC Kit with One 4.0 Ah Battery, Charger, Bag, and Fan
$469.00 · Kit · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Battery capacity: 4 Ah · Weight: 6 lb
The Milwaukee M12 FUEL kit, model 2529-21XC-0820, is the kit pick because it has the most complete contents stated: one 4 Ah battery, a charger, a bag and a fan. It is priced at $469.00, weighs 6 lb and is listed with a brushless motor on the M12 platform. Keep in mind it includes one battery where the other Milwaukee kit here lists two, so heavy back-to-back use may need a spare.
Buying checklist
- Choose corded or cordless before comparing models
- Match the battery platform to packs you already own
- Check stated throat or resaw capacity against your widest and thickest stock
- Note whether a brushless motor is stated in the listing
- Measure shop space for a bench or floor saw
- Check weight and size in the listing
- Compare kit price to bare tool plus batteries
Frequently asked questions
How many band saws are in this comparison?
The catalog lists 96 band saw models. Of these, 28 are cordless and the rest are mains-powered. The most common brands are JET with 28 models, Grizzly Industrial with 21, Milwaukee with 16 and Powermatic with 13, followed by DeWalt and Makita.
What is the price range?
The picks here sit at the lower and middle end, from $219.00 for the Hilti bare tool to $809.00 for the Makita kit. Shop machines with larger capacity make up the higher prices.
What does a battery platform mean?
A platform is a family of batteries and chargers from one brand that fit many of its tools. The catalog lists four for band saws: M12 with 8 models, M18 with 7, 20V MAX with 5 and LXT 18V with 4. Choosing a platform you already own avoids buying more packs.
What is the difference between a kit and a bare tool?
A bare tool is listed as the tool only, with no battery or charger. A kit is listed with items such as batteries and a charger. In this catalog 27 models are kits, 9 are bare tools and 60 do not state the configuration, so read the listing.
Do these listings say which saw is best for metal or resawing?
No. Check each listing for stated capacity and intended materials, and treat the picks as value and spec-based, not proof of results on a given job.