The circular saw is used for a wide range of cutting depth in woodworking. It is very important to know about cutting depth because when the saw blade is inclined its cutting depth also varied with the angle. So let’s see how much depth a circular saw can cut?
Circular saw cutting depth depends on the shoe and motor height and flanges diameters. When those are higher it can cut lower depth. So 4 1/2″ blade can cut 1 11/16″, 5 1/2″ blade can cut 1 3/4″, 6 1/2″ blade can cut 2 1/8″ and 7 1/4″ blade can cut 2 1/2″ of maximum depth of cut.
So let’s see how each blade can cut with various inclined angles.
How to Measure The Circular Saw Cutting Depth?
We can calculate the cutting depth of the circular saw blade by using its maximum cutting capacity and inclined angle.
Cutting Depth = Maximum Cutting Deth x Sin (Cutting Angle)


How Much Depth Can a 4 1/2″ Circular Saw Blade Cut?
A 4 1/2″ circular saw blade can cut a maximum of 1 11/16″ of cutting depth when the saw blade angle is 90 degrees. Other angles will be varied like this.
Saw Blade Angle | Cutting Depth In (Inches) | Cutting Depth In (Millimeters) |
0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | 1/8 | 4 |
10 | 5/16 | 7 |
15 | 7/16 | 11 |
20 | 9/16 | 15 |
25 | 11/16 | 18 |
30 | 7/8 | 21 |
35 | 15/16 | 25 |
40 | 1 1/16 | 28 |
45 | 1 3/16 | 30 |
50 | 1 5/16 | 33 |
55 | 1 3/8 | 35 |
60 | 1 7/16 | 37 |
65 | 1 1/2 | 39 |
70 | 1 9/16 | 40 |
75 | 1 5/8 | 41 |
80 | 1 11/16 | 42 |
85 | 1 11/16 | 43 |
90 | 1 11/16 | 43 |
How Much Depth Can a 5 1/2″ Circular Saw Blade Cut?
A 5 1/2″ saw blade can cut a maximum depth of 1 1/8″ when it is in 90 degrees and it can cut 1 3/8″ of depth when it is in 45 degrees saw blade angle.
Saw Blade Angle | Cutting Depth In (Inches) | Cutting Depth In (Millimeters) |
0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | 1/8 | 4 |
10 | 5/16 | 8 |
15 | 7/16 | 11 |
20 | 5/8 | 15 |
25 | 3/4 | 19 |
30 | 7/8 | 22 |
35 | 1 | 25 |
40 | 1 1/8 | 29 |
45 | 1 1/4 | 31 |
50 | 1 5/16 | 34 |
55 | 1 7/16 | 36 |
60 | 1 1/2 | 38 |
65 | 1 9/16 | 40 |
70 | 1 5/8 | 42 |
75 | 1 11/16 | 43 |
80 | 1 3/4 | 44 |
85 | 1 3/4 | 44 |
90 | 1 3/4 | 44 |
How Much Depth Can a 6 1/2″ Circular Saw Blade Cut?
A 6 1/2″ circular saw blade can cut 1 1/2″ of depth when the saw blade is a 45-degree inclination. It can cut a maximum of 2 1/8″ of depth when the saw blade is 90 degrees.
Saw Blade Angle | Cutting Depth In (Inches) | Cutting Depth In (Millimeters) |
0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | 3/16 | 5 |
10 | 6/16 | 9 |
15 | 9/16 | 14 |
20 | 3/4 | 18 |
25 | 7/8 | 23 |
30 | 1 1/16 | 27 |
35 | 1 3/16 | 31 |
40 | 1 3/8 | 35 |
45 | 1 1/2 | 38 |
50 | 1 5/8 | 41 |
55 | 1 3/4 | 44 |
60 | 1 13/16 | 47 |
65 | 1 15/16 | 49 |
70 | 2 | 51 |
75 | 2 1/16 | 52 |
80 | 2 1/16 | 53 |
85 | 2 1/8 | 54 |
90 | 2 1/8 | 54 |
How Much Depth Can a 7 1/4″ Circular Saw Blade Cut?
A 7 1/4″ saw blade can cut a maximum of 2 1/2″ of cut when the saw blade is 90 degrees. When saw blade is 45 degrees it will cut 1 3/4″ of depth.
Saw Blade Angle | Cutting Depth In (Inches) | Cutting Depth In (Millimeters) |
0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | 3/16 | 6 |
10 | 7/16 | 11 |
15 | 5/8 | 16 |
20 | 7/8 | 22 |
25 | 1 1/16 | 27 |
30 | 1 1/4 | 32 |
35 | 1 7/16 | 36 |
40 | 1 5/8 | 41 |
45 | 1 3/4 | 45 |
50 | 1 15/16 | 49 |
55 | 2 1/16 | 52 |
60 | 2 3/16 | 55 |
65 | 2 1/4 | 58 |
70 | 2 3/8 | 60 |
75 | 2 7/16 | 61 |
80 | 2 7/16 | 62 |
85 | 2 1/2 | 63 |
90 | 2 1/2 | 64 |
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