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The DeWALT XR 20V track saw (DCS525B) costs $429 bare, and it does something even a $1,059 Festool cannot. I bought it with my own money and put it through walnut, plywood, and a kickback test. Here is whether it is worth buying, and the one feature it is missing.
The Short Answer
- The DeWALT XR 20V track saw is a must buy if you want a cordless track saw. I put it in the S plus tier.
- It runs $429 for the bare tool, model DCS525B.
- It is the only track saw I have tested that rides either side of its own track. It also fits Festool, Makita, and Milwaukee tracks.
- Its biggest miss is anti-tip, which Milwaukee, Makita, and Kreg all have.
- For most people, this or the Milwaukee M18 is the cordless track saw to buy.
Is the DeWALT XR 20V Track Saw Worth It?
Yes. I have been more excited about this saw than any other tool this year. I am a track saw person, and I think the track saw is one of the best woodworking tools ever invented. This one earns its place near the top.
The feature that sets it apart is the base. On a DeWALT track, it rides either the right or left side. DeWALT designed it so you cut 90 degrees on one side and bevels on the other. That way your bevel cuts never chew up the splinter guard you use for square cuts.
The base is also universal. It runs on Festool, Makita, and Milwaukee style tracks. I tested it on a Festool track with no issues, so you do not have to rebuy tracks to switch.
Out of the box, the fit and finish impressed me. The plunge is butter smooth, and DeWALT moved to a rear pivot instead of the out and down plunge on their 60V saw. Soft start and a blade brake are both here, and you can feel the power on startup.
The one thing holding it back is anti-tip. I think DeWALT missed big there. It is a quality of life feature, and with it this saw would have gone to the next level.
If you buy the bare tool, you get the saw and a dust bag. No battery and no track.
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Watch the Full Test
The video shows the kickback brake firing in real time and the saw lifting off the track on a forced plunge. You can also hear how it bogs on the smaller battery.
DeWALT XR 20V Track Saw vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL Track Saw
These are the two cordless track saws I would point most people toward. Three years ago, the Milwaukee won the Pro Tool Innovation Award for best track saw. This year, the DeWALT took that crown.
Milwaukee does a few things better. It has anti-tip, and it does it well. It also marks on track and off track depth right on the scale, which the DeWALT does not. That indicator helps if you use your track saw as a regular circular saw.
The Milwaukee does not have anti-kickback, but it does have a riving knife. Years ago I thought a riving knife was a must. After using a bunch of saws without one, I have found I do not really need it, even in thicker wood.
The DeWALT wins on anti-kickback, the two sided base, and price. When neither is on sale, you can usually get the DeWALT slightly cheaper. If you are already on M18, the Milwaukee makes sense. If you are on DeWALT 20V, this is the one. You can find current prices on both in my Home Depot tool deals and Acme Tools deals roundups.
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DeWALT DCS525B Track Saw Features
Depth of Cut and Micro Adjustment
Depth is a single button. Push it, move it, set it, and forget it, much like the Milwaukee and Festool. There is also a micro adjustment on top to dial in an exact depth. Some other top saws do not have that.
The scale is high contrast and easy to read. On the track, depth of cut is about 2 1/8 inches.
Bevel Range
The saw hard stops at 45 degrees. Release the stop and it lays over to 48 degrees. It also goes to negative 1 degree. The bevel knobs are plastic, but they are high quality and lock down solid with no flex.
Tool Free Track Adjustment
DeWALT's 60V track saw needed wrenches to adjust the fit on the track. I thought that was nonsense. This saw uses tension knobs you twist by hand to remove any wobble.
Scribe Cut, Splinter Guard, and Arbor Cover
Push in the scribe button and the blade stops just below the surface on the plunge. Pull the knob out to turn it off. The drop down splinter guard is in the box, so do not throw it away. It reduces splintering and helps a little with dust.
DeWALT also includes an arbor cover. As far as I know, no other track saw ships with one. I have used 3D printed versions on my other saws because it helps dust collection.
Variable Speed, Dust Collection, and Tool Connect
You get variable speed and Tool Connect. It comes with a 48 tooth blade. Dust collection is solid, and I think it is equal to the Milwaukee or Makita. After multiple cuts in plywood and walnut, there was not much sawdust left on the floor.
DeWALT 20V Track Saw Cut Test: Walnut and Plywood
I test every track saw on 2 inch thick walnut. With the 8Ah battery, the DeWALT went through it smoothly with no power issues at all.
Cutting plywood with the grain, I saw zero splintering. Across the grain, there was minor splintering at the start of the cut and none after that. Next to a cut I made with a regular circular saw, the difference was obvious.
Clamping is key with any track saw. I use low profile cam clamps that hold the work flat, so nothing sticks up in the saw's path.
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Best Battery for the DeWALT 20V Track Saw
DeWALT recommends the 8Ah PowerPack, and that is the one you should use. It gives you the most runtime.
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See the DeWALT 8Ah PowerPack Battery 2-Pack at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The 5Ah PowerStack battery worked just as well for power. I saw no difference between it and the 8Ah. You will just get less runtime.
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A standard 5Ah XR battery will run it in a pinch, but you can feel it bog much more. A small 2Ah class battery would not even power the saw on. You need the bigger batteries. Current DeWALT battery prices are on my Lowe's tool deals page.
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Does the DeWALT Track Saw Anti-Kickback Work?
Yes. On the first test, I drove the saw into the cut and it stopped right there. The brake light came on, and everything worked exactly as it should.
On the second test, I forced it down much harder than you would in normal use. It did kick back, lifted off the track, and scratched my Festool 100th anniversary track. The motor still shut off right after it came up.
I would like to see it activate a little faster. In normal use, I do not think you will have trouble. I am glad the safety feature is there.
DeWALT XR Track Saw vs Festool, Makita, and Kreg
| Feature | DeWALT XR 20V | Milwaukee M18 | Festool TS 55 | Makita | Kreg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rides either side of its track | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Anti-tip | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Arbor cover included | Yes | No | No | No | No |
I ranked every track saw I could get my hands on in my best track saws ranked for 2026 post. The Makita and Milwaukee both landed in the top tier there, and the DeWALT belongs in that same group.
DeWALT vs Festool TS 55
The Festool TS 55 is the fairest Festool comparison. Bevel adjustment is basically the same, with twist knobs on both. Depth is also similar, with push buttons up and down.
The Festool has anti-kickback, and it shuts the motor off if it loses contact with the track. I really like that. Its micro adjustment sits on top of the slide instead of up front. It does not come with an arbor cover, but you can add one.
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DeWALT vs Festool Dual Blade Track Saw
The $1,059 Festool dual blade saw has a small scoring blade up front. For melamine or delicate veneers, it handles cuts better than any other track saw. It also has Festool's anti-kickback. What it cannot do is ride either side of the track like the DeWALT.
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DeWALT vs Makita Track Saw
I have tested the Makita corded, 18V, and 40V track saws. All three are excellent. The 40V has way more power than any of them, and I think the corded Makita is the best corded track saw on the market.
Makita uses a single post depth adjustment, and it does it better than anybody. There is no micro adjustment, though. Makita does have anti-tip, which the DeWALT lacks.
See the Makita 40V Track Saw at Acme Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the Makita Corded Track Saw at Acme Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
DeWALT vs Kreg Track Saw
The Kreg used to be the budget pick, though the price went up with the new design. It now has a universal base that works on any track. It is still a solid corded option.
The Kreg runs in the opposite direction from the other saws, so the shroud sits on the other side of you. It has a smooth single post depth like the Makita and anti-tip. There is no on track and off track indicator, but it does have circular saw cut indicators.
See the Kreg Track Saw at Acme Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
DeWALT Track Saw Kits and Track Lengths
I bought the bare tool because the batteries and tracks were not available yet. DeWALT also sells kits that pair the saw with an 8Ah battery and a track. If you have no DeWALT batteries, a kit is the simpler buy.
See the DeWALT Track Saw Kit DCS525STWW1 at Acme Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the DeWALT Track Saw Kit DCS525ST at Acme Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
To use the two sided feature, you need a DeWALT track. They come in 30, 46, 59, and 102 inch lengths. If you already own Festool, Makita, or Milwaukee tracks, the universal base works on those too.
See the DeWALT 59-inch Track at Acme Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the DeWALT 102-inch Track at Acme Tools Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
All Tools From This Video
Lowe's
- DeWALT 20V Track Saw Bare Tool (DCS525B)
- DeWALT 8Ah PowerPack Battery
- DeWALT 8Ah PowerPack Battery 2-Pack
- DeWALT 5Ah PowerStack Battery
- DeWALT Standard 5Ah Battery
Acme Tools
- DeWALT 20V Track Saw Bare Tool (DCS525B)
- DeWALT Track Saw Kit (DCS525STWW1)
- DeWALT Track Saw Kit (DCS525ST)
- DeWALT 30-inch Track
- DeWALT 46-inch Track
- DeWALT 59-inch Track
- DeWALT 102-inch Track
- Festool Dual Blade Track Saw (576735)
- Festool TS 55 Track Saw (576708)
- Festool 55-inch Track
- Festool 55-inch 100th Anniversary Track
- Makita Corded Track Saw (SP6000J1)
- Makita 40V Track Saw (GPS01M1J)
- Makita 55-inch Track
- Kreg Track Saw (ACSCT2000)
- Milwaukee Guide Rail
- MicroJig Low Profile Clamps
- MicroJig Grid Router Guide
Home Depot
Wittworks
Faith Valley Tools (my company)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the DeWALT 20V track saw work on Festool tracks?
Yes. The DCS525B has a universal base that fits Festool, Makita, and Milwaukee style tracks. I ran it on a Festool track with no problems. You only need a DeWALT track if you want to cut from either side.
Does the DeWALT XR 20V track saw have anti-tip?
No. That is its biggest miss in my opinion. Milwaukee, Makita, and Kreg all let you leave the saw tilted on the track. I wish DeWALT had included it.
What battery should I use with the DeWALT track saw?
Use the 8Ah PowerPack for the best runtime. The 5Ah PowerStack matched it for power in my testing. A standard 5Ah XR works but bogs more, and a small 2Ah class pack will not power the saw on.
Is the DeWALT track saw better than the Milwaukee track saw?
For most people, these are the top two cordless track saws. The DeWALT has anti-kickback, rides either side of its track, and usually costs a bit less. The Milwaukee has anti-tip and an on track depth indicator. Pick the one that matches your battery platform.
What comes with the DeWALT DCS525B bare tool?
The bare tool comes with the saw and a dust bag. There is no battery or track. The 48 tooth blade, splinter guard, and arbor cover are already on the saw or in the box.
How deep does the DeWALT 20V track saw cut?
On the track, depth of cut is about 2 1/8 inches. It went through 2 inch thick walnut with no power issues on the 8Ah battery. A micro adjustment lets you dial in exact depths.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. 731 Woodworks may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I put the new DeWALT XR 20V track saw through walnut, plywood, and a kickback test. It does something even a $1,059 Festool can’t, but it’s missing one feature.