If you simply want to know what we chose as our #1 pick for the best table saw under $500, then we recommend the DEWALT 7485 as the best choice.
A common misconception when it comes to table saws are that they always have to be expensive – this is 100% wrong. In fact, some of the best portable and hybrid table saws on the market today are available for less that $500.
There are very few types of woodworking equipment that are as versatile and reliable as table saws are; they help woodworkers work with wood faster and more efficiently than they would be able to otherwise.
It is certainly true that different table saws have features, materials, and accessories that make them unique to one another – not all saws are created equal, so it’s important to do your research before investing in a table saw.
Although $500 is not a lot of money relative to how expensive electric woodworking equipment can be, it is still a sizeable amount of cash – it’s important that you make the right choice of the best table saw for you.
Before we get into the 5 best table saws under $500, let’s go over some things to consider to help you make the most educated purchase possible.
The five saws we are going to review are:
5 Table Saws Under $500 Reviewed
Considering all the features and aspects of table saws we’ve outlined in this article, we’ve picked the top five table saws that are under the $500 price range.
They are as follows:
1.DEWALT 7485
Dewalt is a well-known brand in the woodworking world, and for good reason – they make great equipment that lasts long, performs well, and is cost-effective.
The DEWALT 7485 is our #1 pick as the best table saw you can buy for under $500.
This is a jobsite table saw, meaning it is fully portable; you can, quite easily, put it in the trunk of your car or carry it to various locations.
As far as accuracy goes, this table saw is just as precise as you would hope for a saw of this price range – the motor is solid as well.
This saw does not come with a stand which may be a downside for some – it does have a built-in roll cage which means, in the case of it being dropped, it will be protected. Also, the cage can be adjusted in order to accompany a stand.
The materials used to build this saw are quality enough that you can expect it to last for years.
The fence can be expanded in order to rip wood up to 20 inches in diameter, which is pretty sizeable considering how small this table saw model is.
Included with the saw are anti-kickback pawls, miter gauge, push stick, a blade, riving knife, and guards – everything you need to feel safe.
This saw includes a dust port as well.
All in all, this is a perfect table saw for under $500.
Pros
- good motor
- good safety features
- built-in steel roll cage
- accurate & precise
- compact & lightweight
- durable
- on-board storage
- fence is easily adjustable
Cons
- height adjustment occassionally stops working
- no stand
2.METABO HPT
The Metabo HPT is a jobsite entry-level table saw with a great motor and a built-in stand.
This saw has overload protection for automatic shutoff, and the emergency power switch is at the knee level which makes it easy to hit in case of emergency.
Included with this saw are all the accessories you could ask for, such as a blade guard, miter gauge, anti-kickback pawls, and a push stick.
The blade height and fence are easily adjusted, and all the measurements are on point.
Pros
- great accessories
- good motor
- well-built
- comes with a stand with collapsibility
- emergency power switch
Cons
- durability not as good as other saws
- not very stable
3.RYOBI RTS11
This is a lightweight table saw with a built-in stand that packs a surprising amount of power for how small it is; this saw can cut lumber with ease, efficiently performing any woodcutting job you throw at it.
The table and stand are very sturdy, and the entire saw is built with durable materials that will last years of abuse. The rip fence is also well-built.
A major downside of this saw is the rip capacity; at just 12 inches, more experienced woodworkers (or anyone who wants to rip larger pieces of plywood) will have extra work on their hands using this saw.
The accessories that come with this saw include a miter gauge, guards, anti-kickback pawls, and a push stick.
Pros
- compact and lightweight
- powerful motor
- great warranty policy
- foldable stand
- good accessories and safety features
- built-in dust port
Cons
- miter gauge is limited as far as precision goes
- small rip capacity
4.GOPLUS Table Saw
This is another solid table saw under the $500 price range – this model is sturdy, powerful, and quite stable.
The blade this saw comes with is better than some of the other saws in our top five; also, the fence and alignments as accurate as you might expect, allowing for precise cutting.
The stand this saw comes with is stable enough and the tabletop vibration during use is about average.
This saw comes with a riving knife, push stick, and blade guard.
All in all, this is an above-average table saw for under $500.
Pros
- sturdy
- accurate
- cost-effective
- lightweight
Cons
- not as durable as other models
- not many safety features or accessories
- no dust port
5.ROCKWELL RK7323
This saw is unique from all the other models featured in this article due to its incredibly small and compact size, as well as it’s low price.
The Rockwell RK7323 table saw is a ‘mini’ electric saw – weighing only 17 pounds, this saw is ready to cut wood right out of the packaging… no need for complicated set up.
Considering its size, this table saw is surprisingly powerful and accurate; that said, it will obviously not be able to handle the same size of wood as other, larger table saws. Also, you cannot expect this saw to last nearly as long as the other saws included in this article.
This table saw model is our 5th pick as best table saw under $500 because it simply cannot perform as well as other models in this price bracket; that said, it is – by far – the cheapest on this list.
If you are on a budget and don’t require a heavy-duty saw, then this is a great purchase that will bridge the gap between now and when you need a full-scale saw.
Pros
- dust port
- cheap
- portable and lightweight
- easy set-up
- easy-change blade
Cons
- lack of safety features
- poor build/durability
- small rip capacity
- limited in performance
Things To Consider
Although $500 may be slightly below the amount that you need to get a table saw with all the features and accessories that come with more expensive models, it is still a sizeable enough budget to get some.
Here is what you need to look for in a table saw:
Stability
Stability is a very important factor when considering table saws.
As you can expect, stability helps when you are cutting lumber; the more stable a table saw is, the better experience and more precise cutting you are available to have.
Since we are exclusively looking at table saws that are under the $500 limit, these will mostly be lightweight and semi-portable saws that are not designed for the same stability that you could expect from a heavy cabinet table saw.
That said, it is still an important characteristic to consider when choosing the right table saw for you.
Portability
How portable you need your table saw to be is entirely up to you; a saw that you can bring from Point A to Point B without stress or hassle is certainly a benefit, yet might not be important depending on the woodworker.
If you are a weekend-warrior woodworker without a dedicated shop base, you might need to move around your saw once its inside your shop to accomodate other equipment.
But, perhaps you have a large workspace where once you place your table saw, you never have to move it again.
Portabilty is a feature that you should consider when choosing the right table saw for you.
Tabletop
At a budget of $500 or less, you will not get many options between quality of table tops; typically, cast-iron table tops are what you want to look for but there are other options as well.
You will likely want a table saw with an aluminum table top – this will vibrate during use much more than with a cast-iron table top but the saw will be lighter and easier to transport.
Blade
The blade of your table saw plays a large role in how effective your saw is.
When it comes to sub-$500 table saws, the saw blades will typically be 10 inches in diamater at least – we do not advise going any smaller than that.
Different types of blades have different capabilities; for example, certain blades are intended exclusively for rip cuts.
Most of the blades that come with the table saws in this article are general-purpose blades, which are ideal if you plan on cutting a wide range of cuts.
Rip Capacity
Different table saws have different rip capacities, meaning how far right the rip fence can reach from the blade.
The larger the rip capacity, the easier it will be to work with larger sheets of wood.
If you are only going to be cutting 2×4’s all you need it is a 24-inch rip capacity; even if you don’t plan on ripping large sheets of plywood, it is still an important specification to consider.
Accessories
There are many accessories that are often included with the purchase of a table saw; with a $500 budget, you cannot expect all the accessories but there are some essential ones that you should deem important when choosing with table saw to purchase.
These accessories include:
- fence (this supports the lumber as it is pushed through the blade)
- miter gauge (this allows you to make angled cuts on your wood)
- dust port (this helps protect you from sawdust that naturally occurs during woodcutting with an electric saw)
In addition to these accessories, there are a number of safety features you will want to look for as well.
Safety Features
The number of safety features and capabilities you want in a table saw is entirely up to you; depending on your woodworking skill level, past experiences, and comfort, you may deem safety as a priority (or not).
In any case, there are some safety features that are quite standard when it comes to table saws and some that are more uncommon but very useful.
Safety features include:
- anti-kickback pawls (kickback is when pieces of wood fly out from the saw during use – this is a major source of injury when using table saws, and anti-kickback pawls protect you from this)
- riving knife (a riving knife moves along with the blade and helps to prevent kickback; it also protects the user from the back of the blade)
- blade guard (this helps users protect their fingers away from the blade – although many woodworkers don’t like this feature because it prevents measuring of cuts when attached, it is still a valuable feature)
- safety stop button (this is the shut-off button, and may or may not be magnetic – as long as it is within arm’s reach during use, then it works as it should)
- push stick (this helps you slide wood through the blade without having to get your fingers too close)
- sensors (these automatically turn the saw off if human skin makes contact with the blade – at a budget of $500 or less, it will be difficult to find a table saw with this feature)
Conclusion
All things considered, the DEWALT 7485 is our #1 pick as the best table saw you can buy for under $500; this model is portable, powerful, accurate, and cost-effective.
The Dewalt brand is well-known for building durable saws, and this model is no different.
That said, all of the other saws we’ve included in the article are great options as well for the $500 and under price range.
It’s important to do your own research and choose the best saw for you depending on the features, needs, and desires you have for a table saw.