Circular saw blade buying guide: match the saw first
Updated: 22 October 2026
You already own a circular saw, the old blade is dull or the wrong type for the next job, and amazon.co.uk is sorted by stars. Before you read a single review, the disc has to match the machine: diameter, bore, marked speed, and the material line in the bullets. Tooth count and price only matter after those checks pass. The [circular saw blade comparison](/hub/saw-accessories/circular-saw-blade) lists the amazon.co.uk discs in this set, from 115 mm to 255 mm. This guide walks the order those listings assume.
You already own a circular saw, the old blade is dull or the wrong type for the next job, and amazon.co.uk is sorted by stars.
You already own a circular saw, the old blade is dull or the wrong type for the next job, and amazon.co.uk is sorted by stars. Before you read a single review, the disc has to match the machine: diameter, bore, marked speed, and the material line in the bullets. Tooth count and price only matter after those checks pass. The circular saw blade comparison lists the amazon.co.uk discs in this set, from 115 mm to 255 mm. This guide walks the order those listings assume.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Diameter | Bore | Stated job | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Saxton Saxton TCT18580T20B 185 mm 80-tooth | 185 mm | 20 mm, 16 mm ring | Wood and board | 8.8 | about £13.99 | View offer |
| Best value |  Saxton Saxton TCT16560T 165 mm 60-tooth thin kerf | 165 mm | 20 mm, 16 mm ring | Thin-kerf wood | 8.6 | about £12.99 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Evolution Evolution 10BLADEAL 255 mm aluminium | 255 mm | 25.4 mm | Aluminium | 8.6 | about £87.98 | View offer |
On this page
Match the diameter to the saw
A circular saw is built around a maximum blade size stamped on the guard or in the manual. In this set, diameters run from a 115 mm three-pack through 160 mm and 165 mm handheld sizes to 185 mm and a 255 mm mitre-style aluminium blade. A 185 mm Saxton 80-tooth blade cannot mount on a saw rated for 165 mm, however many reviews praise the edge.
On a bench saw, HSE WIS16 warns that a blade much smaller than the machine’s maximum, often cited as under about 60 percent, can raise kickback risk because the riving knife and guard were set for a larger disc. Handheld saws follow the manual.
Bore, ring, and a flange that covers it
The bore must match the arbor, or you use a reducing ring the manufacturer allows. Most wood blades here use a 20 mm bore, and several include a 16 mm ring. A ring only makes a larger hole smaller. Trend’s blade safety sheet is blunt: if the ring is loose, do not use it. It must sit flush, be thinner than the plate, and be covered by the flange.
The Evolution aluminium listing is 255 mm with a 25.4 mm bore, and the CRALY pack has a 9.5 mm arbor. Neither is a 20 mm handheld spindle. The DeWalt 40-tooth thickness field shows 20 mm, which is the bore, not kerf.
The marked speed has to cover the saw
Every blade should carry a maximum rpm. HSE L114 states the marked speed on the blade must be at least the speed of the saw. The BRSCHNITT ferrous blade lists a maximum of 5,000 rpm and recommends 3,000 rpm for iron and angle. Many cordless wood saws spin well above that on no load. Matching 165 mm is not enough if the saw outruns the stamp. Wood blades in the set generally sit in the usual handheld range, but you still read the mark on the disc before the first cut.
Read the material bullet before the tooth count
Wood ATB blades in the set, the Saxton 60- and 80-tooth listings and the DeWalt framing discs, state timber, board, laminates, and plastic. An 80-tooth count does not make them ferrous blades. The Evolution 10BLADEAL is sold for aluminium on Evolution and other low-rpm saws: 255 mm and a 25.4 mm bore. The BRSCHNITT listing says ferrous metal, never use on wood, with that 5,000 rpm ceiling.
A DeWalt title may mention multi-material while the amazon.co.uk bullets still describe timber and sheet. Pick wood, aluminium, or ferrous first. Where those families split is wood or metal circular saw blade.
What to ignore in the listing
Stars matter only after the mechanical checks. A 4.9 from eight ratings on the negative-rake Saxton 185 mm blade does not outrank 4.7 from 2,502 on the standard 80-tooth Saxton at the same diameter. The .PRO listing at £10.99 puts 80 teeth in the title and 60 in the model line. The Saxton 185 mm top pick shows model field TCT18540T20B while the title says 80 teeth. Count the teeth on the metal.
The best value Saxton 165 mm 60-tooth states 1.5 mm kerf and 1.0 mm plate; one reviewer said a very thin plate missed the riving knife. Do not invent kerf for the DeWalt 40-tooth, and a TÜV line in a PAYA title is not a BS EN 847-1 certificate. Tooth bands are on circular saw blade tooth count.
Common questions
What diameter circular saw blade does my saw take?
Read the rating plate, guard, or manual for the maximum size in millimetres. In this comparison, 165 mm and 185 mm cover most UK cordless and corded handheld saws; 160 mm and 115 mm appear on specific models only. Do not assume your saw matches a neighbour’s DeWalt or Makita without checking.
Can I use a 20 mm bore blade on a 16 mm arbor?
Only with a reducing ring supplied for that blade and seated flush and tight, thinner than the plate, with the flange covering the ring. Several Saxton listings include a 16 mm ring. The ring cannot enlarge a small arbor to 20 mm, and it cannot make a 20 mm hole fit a larger spindle.
Is a loose reducing ring acceptable if the flange is tight?
No. Trend and HSE-related guidance treat a loose ring as unacceptable. If it rattles on the spindle during a dry fit, do not use it. The ring has to sit flush, stay thinner than the plate, and disappear under the flange when the screw is tight.
Does the blade’s maximum speed have to be higher than the saw’s?
The mark on the blade must be at least the operating speed of the saw. HSE L114 is the source of that rule. A 5,000 rpm maximum ferrous blade is a poor match for a fast cordless wood saw even when both are 165 mm, because many cordless saws exceed that mark on no load.
What if the model code and the title disagree on tooth count?
Treat neither field as proof until you count teeth on the disc. The .PRO listing puts 80 teeth in the title and 60 in the model line. The Saxton 185 mm top pick shows model field TCT18540T20B while the part number and title say 80 teeth. Both conflicts are in this set.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings stored for this comparison on 19 October 2026. Page updated 22.10.2026.
- HSE WIS16: Circular saw benches — Safe working practices (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE: Circular saw benches used for ripping (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE: Woodworking machinery standards (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE L114: Safe use of woodworking machinery (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- BSI: BS EN 847-1:2017 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Trend: Saw blade safety sheet (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- DeWalt DCS391 instruction manual (retrieved 19 October 2026)