How many watts does a circular saw use?
A typical circular saw uses 1,560–1,800 watts when running and draws 13–15 amps at 120 volts.
Circular saw watts, amps and circuit
| Running watts | 1,560–1,800 W |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 120 V |
| Running amps | 13–15 A |
| Circuit | standard 120 V outlet |
Also called: skill saw, skilsaw, corded circular saw.
Circular saw watts by size and type
| Size or type | Running watts, W | Volts, V | Amps, A | Starting watts, W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circular saw | 1,560–1,800 | 120 | 13–15 | — |
| 7 1/4-inch, 13 A corded | 1,560 | 120 | 13 | — |
| 7 1/4-inch, 15 A corded | 1,800 | 120 | 15 | — |
What size generator runs a circular saw?
A circular saw needs a generator that supplies at least 1,800 running watts. Starting a circular saw takes a short surge of several times its running watts, and the surge is not listed here: size the generator from the locked-rotor amps (LRA) on the nameplate or the maker's generator guidance, not from the running watts.
How long a portable power station runs a circular saw
| Battery capacity, Wh | At 1,800 W, h | At 1,560 W, h |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| 1,000 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 2,000 | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| 3,600 | 1.7 | 2 |
A 500 Wh portable power station runs a circular saw drawing 1,800 W for about 0.2 hours at 85% inverter efficiency. Runtime = capacity × 85% ÷ watts; the 85% efficiency is an assumption. The power station's AC output must be at least 1,800 W.
What it costs to run a circular saw
Running a circular saw at 1,680 W, the middle of its 1,560–1,800 W range, for one hour a day uses 613.2 kWh a year. That costs about $110 a year at $0.18 per kWh, the US average residential price for August 2026.
Your bill's total ÷ kWh used. 0.18 is the US residential average.
- Per day
- $0.30
- Per year
- $110
- Energy per day
- 1.68 kWh
- Energy per month
- 51.1 kWh
How it is calculated
- kWh per day = 1,680 W × 1 h ÷ 1,000 = 1.68
- Per month = 1.68 kWh × 30.4 days × $0.18 = $9.20
What affects circular saw power use
Corded 7 1/4-inch circular saws are rated 13 to 15 A, and the watts here are that rating times 120 V, the most the saw is rated to draw. Starting the motor and binding in the cut cause short surges. On a generator, leave margin above the running watts for those surges.
How the amps are calculated
Amps = watts ÷ volts. For 1,800 W at 120 V that is 15 A. The 1,560–1,800 W range covers typical models; the nameplate on a circular saw gives the exact figure.