How Many Watts Does a Circular Saw Use?

Setting up a woodworking workshop may sound easier but it is hard to provide the right amount of power without knowing what your tools need. For example, one must know how many watts does a circular saw use.

Circular saw uses 2400 watts as a starting wattage and then requires 1200 watts as its running wattage. However, different types of saws have different wattage requirements depending upon their size and motor.

Just as I mentioned above, there is no fixed value of watts for circular saws because of the size and motor difference. 

I know circular saws aren’t the only tools used in a woodworking workshop and there are surely other tools such as miter saws, routers, table saws, etc. However, for the sake of simplicity, I will limit our discussion to a circular saw only.

But to give you an idea about each tool, be sure to check out the infographic attached at the end of this article.

What Is the Difference Between Starting and Running Watts of a Circular Saw?

Before learning about how many watts does a circular saw use, you must know the difference between starting and running watts of a circular saw.

The starting wattage is the only time when tripping occurs due to the high amount of power currently needed by the motor. After realizing that it can’t be provided smoothly, it switches off for a fraction of a second and then comes back on.

This is what causes the first noise, but once it passed over that hump, it runs smoothly until you turn off power to it which means this is the running wattage of a circular saw.

The Number of Watts Required by Different Types of Tools:

Now let me tell you how many watts does a circular saw use and also the requirement of watts by other tools.

You will be surprised to know that difference between running and starting wattage is tremendous for each type of tool which means you need to check out every single dimension of your workshop where one or more tools are going to be placed.

First, start with doing the math to find out how many watts does a circular saw use because it determines your workshop’s basic requirement.

You must also keep in mind that you are going to add other tools which make the running and starting wattage more than just a woodworking tool. In fact, if you have any other appliance through which you are drawing power, then you must be more concerned about the power source.

Here is a table that shows the watts required by different tools:

Tool	Starting Wattage (W)	Running Wattage (W)
Circular Saw	2400	1200
Drill	1800	720
Edger	2400	960
Electric Chainsaw	2400	1200
Electric Lawn Mower	4320	1440
Electric Pressure Washer	3600	1200
Electric String Trimmer	1500	600
Jig Saw	1800	720
Miter Saw	2100	840
Orbital Sander	1800	600
Paint Sprayer	1080	360
Planer	2400	960
Router	1500	600
Water Pump	3000	1000
Wet/Dry Vacuum	2500	888
Winch	5400	1800

What Size Generator Do I Need to Run a Circular Saw?

So what size generator do you need to run a circular saw? As I have said in the beginning, there are no fixed values because it depends on the tool that you want to power with your generator.

However, you can get away with a standard 7KW or 10KW portable generator and be sure of powering up all your basic tools.

Here is a list showing the estimated wattage you can get from different generator sizes:

7KW Generator – 3,300 to 4,000 watts of useable power (3100 starting and 3400 running)

10KW Generator – 6,500 to 9,500 watts of useable power (6500 starting and 8500 running)

Can You Run a Circular Saw on a 2000 Watt Generator?

It is not advised to run a circular saw on a 2000 watt generator because it might burn your motor just after ten minutes.

The reason behind this is that you need more than 10 amps of power for running every circular saw and 2000 watts generator can give you maximum 11.5 amps.

However, its starting capacity is 15 amps which means 7500 watts of pure running power which is more than enough for your saw.

But if you are thinking about getting a portable 2000 watt generator just to run this one particular tool, then it would be wiser to spend some extra bucks and get something more reliable that will last long.

Can a 1000 Watt Generator Run a Circular Saw?

It is safe to say that a 1000 watt generator can run a circular saw but you need to make some adjustments.

The first thing that you must understand is the difference between running and starting watts because it matters a lot while buying an inverter generator.

In fact, when it comes to using portable generators for powering up tools other than lights, its running watts are more important than the starting ones.

Here is an example to help you understand this concept:

If your generator has 5,500 starting watts and 8,075 running watts then it can run a circular saw without any problem. But if it has 3,300 starting watts and 4,025 running watts then it cannot power up your saw because of the difference between starting and running watts.

Will a 900-Watt Generator Run a Skill Saw?

As I have mentioned above, a 900 watts generator can only run a skill saw if it has a running power of at least 4,000 watts.

So, if your generator has enough wattage, you will be able to run it without any problem.

However, I would suggest going for a more reliable and high-powered generator like the ones that are mentioned above because investing in something which cannot serve your purpose is never a wise thing to do.

Can You Run a Circular Saw on a Solar Panel?

You cannot run a circular saw on solar panel because it has nowhere near enough power to do that.

In fact, 1000 watts solar panel can only provide you with 400 to 500 watt-hours of energy daily which is less than what an average skill saw needs.

The reason behind this is that most of the portable tools run on 12V batteries and using a solar panel to charge 12V battery is not a wise decision.

Can You Run a Circular Saw on a Car Battery?

Car battery provides around 20 amps of power (maximum) which is nowhere near enough to get your saw started or run it for more than 5 minutes.

However, if you are thinking about running it that way then you need to add one more thing in your calculations which is the wattage.

In simple words, if you run a circular saw on 20 amps car battery (which is going to last for only 5 minutes), then its wattage will be around 100 watts.

So, in this case, it would be a better idea to use that battery for running something small and reliable.

How Long Can You Run a Circular Saw on 20 Amp Car Battery?

You cannot run your skill saw continuously on a car battery because it is not capable of powering up your tool for more than 5 minutes.

In fact, even if you try to do that, you will not be able to cut anything because it will die down as soon as you start your saw.

How Many Amps Does a Circular Saw Use?

A circular saw uses between 10 and 15 amps depending on the model you are using.

However, if you are thinking about running a circular saw with an inverter generator then your calculations must be based on running watts instead of starting watts.

In simple words, if your generator has 5,500 starting watts and 8,075 running watts then you don’t need to add anything else in your calculations because it has enough wattage to run a circular saw.

How Many Amps Is a Portable Generator?

When it comes to buying any piece of equipment, the main thing that matters is its power and electrical ratings.

Since inverter generators are more popular among people who like outdoor activities, most of them are designed to provide clean and smooth power for running different tools and appliances.

As far as electrical ratings go, inverter generators have two main categories that are watts (power) and amps (current).

But since people usually look for power when it comes to buying an inverter generator then its wattage is the main thing that matters.

How Many Amps Does a Portable Generator Put Out?

As I have mentioned above, most of the inverter generators come with wattage ratings and current ratings which are enough to run different kinds of equipment without any problem.

However, there is one more important thing that you need to look at before buying an inverter generator which is its running watts.

In simple words, if you are looking to run a tool or appliance then you should look for inverter generators that have enough wattage so that your equipment can work properly.

How Much Power Does an Inverter Generator Put Out?

An inverter generator puts out anywhere between 300 and 3000 watts depending on the model and brand you are using.

However, if your inverter generator is running at its maximum capacity then it will provide as much power as it has been rated for.

For example, Yamaha EF2000iS puts out 2000 watts of power which is going to be enough for powering your appliances and tools in a house.

Final Words

How many watts does a circular saw use? well, according to my research, an average circular saw will use 2400 watts as its starting wattage limit while it will require 1200 watts for running.

However, there are a few factors that can impact the wattage of the circular saw. The size of the tool matters a lot as we all know the bigger the tool the more power it will require to run.

So before buying a power source for your workshop you need to know about the requirements of your tool.

If you are not sure how many watts does a circular saw use then you can check out the package or reach out to the manufacturer of your circular saw. They will mention the exact specifications of your particular saw model.