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SKIL 5280-01
The circular saw for straight cuts: the right first buy
Check the price on Amazon- Best value: a full-size 15 A saw for $59
- 2-3/8-in depth of cut, laser guide
- 4.6/5 from 14,223 ratings
Other options
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🗓️ Prices checked on October 27, 2026 on Amazon.com.
Written by Julien · Reviewed by Nadia on 10/27/2026 (prices, links and availability checked) — our editorial pen names
Our pick: the SKIL 5280-01 circular saw, because at $59.00 it makes straight cuts up to 2-3/8 inches deep, has a 15-amp motor and a laser guide, and is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 14,223 Amazon.com ratings (checked October 27, 2026).
See the SKIL 5280-01 on Amazon →See the SKIL JS314901 (jigsaw) →Circular saw vs. jigsaw: the 4-point version
- A circular saw cuts straight, fast and clean. Its round blade spins continuously and its shoe follows a guide: it’s the tool for boards, sheet goods, deck boards and countertops. The SKIL 5280-01 cuts 2-3/8 inches deep, according to its listing.
- A jigsaw cuts everything that isn’t straight. Its thin blade moves up and down: it follows a curve, cuts a sink opening in a countertop or a hole in the middle of a panel. SKIL lists the JS314901 for 85 mm (about 3-3/8 in) of wood and 9 mm (about 3/8 in) of metal, at 4.9 lb.
- The prices are close. On October 27, 2026 on Amazon.com: $59.00 for the circular saw, $54.00 for the jigsaw, both shipped and sold by Amazon.com and in stock.
- Circular saw first if you mostly build (shelves, cabinets, decks, siding); jigsaw first if you mostly fit and shape (cutouts, curves, small parts).
More head-to-heads and buying guides are in our Cutting & Sawing section.
Circular saw vs. jigsaw: who wins what, line by line?
Specs from the SKIL listings; prices, ratings and stock checked on Amazon.com on October 27, 2026. Examples: SKIL 5280-01 for the circular saw, SKIL JS314901 for the jigsaw, two corded saws from the same brand.
| What you compare | Circular saw (SKIL 5280-01) | Jigsaw (SKIL JS314901) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price on Oct 27, 2026 | $59.00 | $54.00 | ✔ jigsaw, by $5 |
| Long straight cuts (sheets, boards, countertops) | Built for it: rigid blade, laser guide, wide shoe | Possible along a clamped straightedge, but the thin blade can wander | ✔ circular saw |
| Thickness cut square | 2-3/8 in at 90° | About 3-3/8 in max; past about 1-1/2 in of hardwood, rarely square | ✔ circular saw |
| Curves and inside cutouts (sink, outlet box, round hole) | Impossible: a round blade only cuts straight | Built for it: a thin blade that follows a line | ✔ jigsaw |
| Metal and plastic | Wood blade included; wood and wood products first | About 3/8 in of metal listed, with the right blade | ✔ jigsaw |
| Weight | 8.7 lb | 4.9 lb | ✔ jigsaw (3.8 lb lighter) |
| Motor | 15 A | 6 A | ✔ circular saw |
| Speed on a long cut | Fast: the blade spins continuously | Slower: the blade goes up and down | ✔ circular saw |
| Buyer ratings on Amazon.com | 4.6/5 from 14,223 ratings | 4.7/5 from 2,402 ratings | ✔ tie |
Score: 4 lines for the circular saw, 4 for the jigsaw, 1 tie. The score doesn’t weigh the lines: for a sink cutout, the curve matters more than everything else. Prices checked on Amazon.com on October 27, 2026: SKIL 5280-01 $59.00 (list price $69.99; 4.6/5, 14,223 ratings, sold by Amazon.com) · SKIL JS314901 $54.00 (4.7/5, 2,402 ratings, sold by Amazon.com).
What the spec sheets don’t say: the thickness that matters and the price of both
Put the SKIL listings next to the October 27, 2026 prices and four points stand out that no listing highlights.
- The misleading number is 3-3/8 inches. The jigsaw lists more thickness than the circular saw (about 3-3/8 in vs. 2-3/8 in), but that’s a maximum: in thick hardwood, its thin blade drifts. To cut square, compare 2-3/8 inches for the SKIL circular saw with our rule of thumb of about 1-1/2 inches of hardwood for a jigsaw in this price range: the circular saw goes further.
- Three thicknesses are enough to decide. A sheet of 3/4-inch plywood and a 2x board (1-1/2 inches actual) pass in one go with the SKIL 5280-01. A 4×4 post (3-1/2 inches) does not: it takes two passes from opposite sides with any 7-1/4-inch saw, including the DEWALT DWE575SB and its 2-9/16 inches.
- Both SKILs cost $113.00 together, less than the DEWALT DWE575SB alone ($142.48). Bought together, the pair covers straight cuts and curves for the price of one premium saw.
- The circular saw weighs 78% more and costs only 9% more. 8.7 lb vs. 4.9 lb according to the listings, for a $5 difference. Price doesn’t separate these two saws: the work you’ll do most often does.
What if I have neither?
The real question isn’t only “circular saw or jigsaw,” but how much to spend on your first projects. Three levels, checked on Amazon.com on October 27, 2026.
- Best quality: the DEWALT DWE575SB circular saw, $142.48. 4.8/5 from 5,213 ratings, sold by Amazon.com. DEWALT lists a 15-amp motor, a 7-1/4-inch blade, 2-9/16 inches of depth, an electric brake and 8.8 lb. See the price of the DEWALT DWE575SB
- Best value: the SKIL 5280-01 circular saw, $59.00, our pick: 4.6/5 from 14,223 ratings, sold by Amazon.com, in stock, with a 24-tooth carbide blade and a carry bag. See the price of the SKIL 5280-01. For the jigsaw side, its sibling the SKIL JS314901 costs $54.00 (4.7/5 from 2,402 ratings).
- Cheapest that holds up: the BLACK+DECKER BDEJS300C jigsaw, $29.98. 4.6/5 from 9,176 ratings, sold by Amazon.com, in stock. Enough for occasional cutouts. For the circular side, the GALAX PRO 4-1/2-inch mini circular saw costs $39.99 (4.1/5 from 1,635 ratings, third-party seller) and cuts 1-11/16 inches deep. See the price of the BLACK+DECKER BDEJS300C
To get both at once: the two SKILs cost $113.00 together, and the BLACK+DECKER jigsaw plus the GALAX PRO mini saw $69.97 (prices of October 27, 2026).
See the SKIL 5280-01 on Amazon →Verdict by profile: which one should you buy first?
- Shelves, cabinets, siding, deck boards, plywood to size: the circular saw, the SKIL 5280-01 at $59.00. To compare more models and blades, read our guide to the best circular saw.
- Sink or cooktop cutout, shapes, toys, small parts, a little metal: the jigsaw, the SKIL JS314901 at $54.00. Other budgets are in our guide to the best jigsaw.
- Framing lumber, posts, heavy decking: the circular saw, in a sturdier version: the DEWALT DWE575SB at $142.48.
- Trim and baseboard at precise angles: neither one does it as well as a miter saw; see our best sliding miter saw guide.
- Long, perfect cuts in expensive panels: a track saw on a rail, the step up from a circular saw.
- Branches, pallets, demolition: neither; read our guide to the best cordless reciprocating saw.
- One budget for everything: both SKILs for $113.00, or the BLACK+DECKER and GALAX PRO pair for $69.97.
Who should skip both
- If you only crosscut boards at angles: a miter saw is the better first saw.
- If you can’t clamp the workpiece: set up two sawhorses and clamps first; both saws need a stable piece to cut safely.
And keep three habits with either one. Kickback: if a circular saw blade pinches in the cut, the saw can jump back; support the piece on both sides of the cut and let the blade stop before lifting it. Blades: each box comes with one wood blade; buy the right one for laminate, metal or fine cuts. Noise and dust: wear hearing protection (OSHA explains why on its occupational noise page) and connect a shop vac when you cut indoors.
How we choose
1. The shape of your cuts: mostly straight, or mostly curves and cutouts.
2. The thickness you’ll cut most often: plywood, 2x lumber, posts.
3. A model in stock, rated by thousands of buyers, sold by a seller we can name, at today’s price.
Method: we have not run these saws in our own shop. This guide combines Amazon.com listings (prices, ratings, sellers, stock) and the SKIL and DEWALT specs, checked on October 27, 2026. We found no independent review comparing these two exact saws side by side. The weight and price comparisons are our own math.
FAQ
Circular saw or jigsaw: which should I buy first?
The circular saw if most of your cuts are straight: boards, plywood, countertops, decking. The jigsaw if you mostly cut curves, openings or small parts. On October 27, 2026 on Amazon.com, the SKIL 5280-01 circular saw cost $59.00 and the SKIL JS314901 jigsaw $54.00.
Can you make a straight cut with a jigsaw?
Yes, by guiding it along a straightedge clamped to the workpiece, in thin material. In thick stock or over a long distance, the thin blade drifts and the cut rarely comes out square: that’s a job for a circular saw.
Can a circular saw cut curves?
No. Its round blade only cuts in a straight line. For a sink cutout, a rounded corner or an opening in the middle of a panel, you need a jigsaw.
How much do a circular saw and a jigsaw cost?
On October 27, 2026 on Amazon.com: $59.00 for the SKIL 5280-01 circular saw, $54.00 for the SKIL JS314901 jigsaw, $113.00 for both, $142.48 for the DEWALT DWE575SB circular saw, and $69.97 for the budget pair of a BLACK+DECKER jigsaw and a GALAX PRO mini circular saw.
Our verdict
Our pick: the SKIL 5280-01 circular saw, because at $59.00 it makes straight cuts up to 2-3/8 inches deep, has a 15-amp motor and a laser guide, and is rated 4.6 out of 5 from 14,223 Amazon.com ratings (checked October 27, 2026). The jigsaw comes first if your projects are made of curves and cutouts: the SKIL JS314901 at $54.00 also cuts thin metal. And if you want both, the two SKILs cost $113.00 together, less than one premium circular saw.
See the SKIL 5280-01 on Amazon →See the SKIL JS314901 (jigsaw) →Go further: all our tool picks are on the recommended tools page, and our best jigsaw guide compares four jigsaws.
Sources (checked October 2026): DEWALT, DWE575SB product page · OSHA, Woodworking eTool · OSHA, occupational noise exposure · Amazon.com listings of the products cited, checked October 27, 2026 (no link). Deals change daily: check the price on the day you buy.