Intro
Breaking down sheet materials — plywood, MDF, OSB, and chipboard — into manageable pieces is one of the first steps in almost every woodworking, carpentry, and renovation project. Doing it with a hand saw is slow and exhausting; doing it with a jigsaw gives you manoeuvrability but not speed or straightness. The tool designed specifically for fast, straight cuts in sheet goods and dimensional timber is the circular saw. With a rotating blade spinning at thousands of RPM and a rigid base plate that rides along the surface, a circular saw cuts through sheet material in seconds and rips timber to width with a precision that a hand saw cannot match. Moving to a cordless model adds the freedom to cut wherever the material is — on the sawhorse, on the ground, on the roof — without dragging a cable across the workshop or job site. For carpenters, kitchen fitters, flooring installers, and anyone who regularly breaks down full sheets of ply or cuts framing timber on site, a cordless circular saw is the tool that turns a labour-intensive task into a quick, clean, repeatable operation.
Generalities
Makita's DHS660Z is a 165 mm cordless circular saw in the brand's 18-volt LXT platform, powered by a brushless motor that delivers up to 5,000 RPM. It is sold as a bare tool — battery and charger not included — making it an ideal purchase for users already invested in Makita's extensive 18V cordless system. When choosing a cordless circular saw, the factors that matter most are the blade size (165 mm is the most common general-purpose size), the motor power and runtime from standard batteries, the bevel capacity for angled cuts, the quality and flatness of the base plate, and the safety features — specifically an electric brake that stops the blade quickly when you release the trigger.
This review examines the Makita DHS660Z in detail — its brushless motor performance, the 5,000 RPM cutting speed, the 50-degree bevel capacity, the soft-start and electric brake features, and real-world performance on sheet materials, timber, and board products. We cover battery life on common LXT packs, the quality of the aluminium base plate, and how this saw fits into a professional cordless toolkit.
Description
The Makita DHS660Z is an 18-volt cordless circular saw built around a 165 mm blade — the standard size for general-purpose cordless saws, offering a maximum cut depth of approximately 57 mm at 90 degrees and 41 mm at 45 degrees. The brushless motor spins the blade at up to 5,000 RPM, delivering fast, clean cuts in sheet materials and softwood timber. The brushless design means less internal friction, more efficient use of battery power, and no carbon brushes to wear out and replace — all of which contribute to longer runtime per charge and a longer overall tool lifespan. The motor is controlled by a variable-speed trigger with a soft-start function that ramps up gradually for controlled cut initiation, and an electric brake that stops the blade within approximately two seconds of releasing the trigger — an important safety feature that also speeds up workflow by letting you put the saw down sooner.
The design is classic Makita: the black and teal housing with ergonomic grip areas, a slim motor body, and an aluminium base plate that provides a rigid, flat reference surface for accurate cuts. The base plate is bevel-adjustable from 0 to 50 degrees, with positive stops at 22.5 and 45 degrees — covering the common angles for roofing, skirting, and general carpentry. The depth adjustment lever is positioned at the rear of the saw and is easy to operate with a thumb while holding the tool. At 3.2 kg without a battery (approximately 3.8 kg with a 5.0 Ah battery), the saw has enough weight to feel planted on the workpiece without being so heavy that it becomes tiring during extended use. The blade guard operates smoothly, retracting as the saw advances into the cut and springing back to cover the blade as soon as the cut is complete.
In use, the 5,000 RPM blade speed combined with the brushless motor's torque makes clean work of 18 mm plywood, 22 mm chipboard, and 45 mm structural timber. The saw tracks well along a guide rail or a clamped straight edge, and the aluminium base plate resists flexing under pressure — important for maintaining a square cut. The soft-start function is genuinely useful: the blade spins up progressively rather than jerking to full speed, which reduces the tendency for the saw to twist or kick on initial contact with the material. Battery life on a 5.0 Ah LXT pack delivers approximately 50 to 80 linear metres of cutting in 18 mm plywood or softwood, depending on the material density and cut quality required. A 3.0 Ah compact battery provides adequate runtime for lighter tasks while keeping the overall weight down.
The saw is sold as a bare unit — the DHS660Z body with the 24-tooth TCT blade fitted, a parallel guide for rip cuts, and a hex key for blade changes and adjustments. No battery, charger, or carry case is included, which keeps the price focused on the tool itself for users who already own Makita 18V batteries. The saw is compatible with Makita guide rails for splinter-free, dead-straight cuts in sheet materials — a worthwhile accessory for carpenters and kitchen fitters who regularly cut full sheets to size. Blade changes use the standard spindle lock and hex key method — not tool-free, but straightforward and secure.
The DHS660Z weighs 3.2 kg bare and measures compactly enough for one-handed operation on horizontal cuts, though two hands give better control for precision work. Customer feedback is excellent at 4.7 out of 5 stars from 329 reviews on Amazon, with a #269 bestseller rank in Circular Saws. Users consistently praise the brushless motor's combination of power and runtime, the effectiveness of the electric brake, and the overall build quality expected from Makita's professional range. The saw is backed by Makita's limited warranty and 1 year of EU spare part availability. For Makita LXT users looking to add a capable cordless circular saw without duplicating batteries and chargers they already own, the DHS660Z represents a focused, well-engineered option.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Brushless motor delivers 5,000 RPM with efficient power consumption — cuts through 18 mm plywood, 45 mm timber, and sheet materials smoothly, and extracts noticeably more cuts per charge than brushed equivalents.
- Electric brake stops the blade within approximately two seconds of trigger release — a significant safety feature that also speeds up workflow by letting you put the saw down or reposition sooner between cuts.
- Soft-start function ramps up speed progressively — reduces the initial torque twist and kick that can occur with instant-start saws, giving you more control and accuracy when beginning a cut.
- 50-degree bevel capacity with positive stops at 22.5 and 45 degrees covers common roofing, skirting, and carpentry angles — more range than many competing saws that stop at 45 degrees.
- Aluminium base plate is rigid and flat — resists flexing under pressure for accurate, square cuts, and is compatible with Makita guide rails for splinter-free straight cuts in full sheet materials.
- Part of the vast Makita 18V LXT ecosystem — shares batteries with hundreds of other Makita tools, making this an ideal bare-tool purchase for existing users who already own batteries and chargers.
- Strong 4.7 out of 5 stars from 329 reviews — users consistently confirm the real-world combination of power, runtime, and build quality that the specifications promise.
Cons
- Sold as a bare tool without battery, charger, or case — if this is your first Makita 18V tool, you need to budget separately for a battery and charger kit, which adds significantly to the total cost.
- At 3.2 kg bare (around 3.8 kg with a 5.0 Ah battery), the saw is not the lightest in its class — extended vertical cutting or overhead work can become tiring for users accustomed to lighter compact saws.
- Blade changes require the spindle lock and hex key — not tool-free — which is slightly slower than competing saws with tool-free blade change levers, though the process is still straightforward.
- Limited to a 165 mm blade — this is the standard general-purpose size, but users needing deeper cutting capacity in thick timber (above 57 mm at 90 degrees) will need a larger 184 mm or 190 mm saw.
- No integrated dust extraction port or dust blower as standard — while the saw can be connected to some vacuum systems with an adapter, sawdust clearing from the cut line relies on the blade's own ejection, which can obscure visibility on longer cuts.
Use cases
Designed for carpenters, kitchen fitters, and serious DIYers already invested in the Makita 18V LXT platform who need a brushless cordless circular saw that delivers fast, accurate rip and cross-cuts in sheet materials and dimensional timber on site and in the workshop.
Sheet Material Breakdown on Site
The primary job of a circular saw: reducing full 2.4 × 1.2 metre sheets of plywood, MDF, OSB, and chipboard into manageable pieces for construction, cabinet making, and flooring underlayment. Using a clamp-on straight edge or Makita guide rail, the DHS660Z cuts perfectly straight lines across full sheets. Cordless freedom means you can set up the sawhorses wherever the material is delivered rather than carrying sheets to a fixed saw station.
First-Fix Carpentry and Timber Framing
Cutting studs, joists, rafters, and noggins to length on the building site — often from a stack delivered to one location — is faster with a cordless circular saw that you carry to the timber rather than carrying the timber to the saw. The 57 mm depth of cut at 90 degrees handles all common structural timber sizes, and the bevel function cuts birdsmouth joints and angled rafter ends.
Flooring and Decking Board Cutting
Installing laminate flooring, engineered wood flooring, or decking boards means cutting every board in the final row to width and cutting boards to length. The DHS660Z with a fine-tooth blade makes clean, splinter-free cuts in laminate and engineered wood, and the 50-degree bevel handles the angle cuts where boards meet thresholds or angled walls. Cordless operation eliminates the trip hazard of a cable across the newly laid floor.
Roofing and Cladding Work
Cutting roofing timbers, fascia boards, and cladding panels on a roof or at height is inherently awkward with a corded tool and an extension lead. The DHS660Z's cordless design eliminates the cable snagging on tiles and ladders, while the 50-degree bevel covers steep roof pitches. The electric brake is particularly appreciated when working at height — the blade stops quickly, reducing the window for accidents during repositioning.
Kitchen Fitting and Worktop Reduction
Kitchen fitters regularly need to cut worktops and panels to size on site, often in finished rooms where dust control matters. The DHS660Z paired with a guide rail delivers the straight, clean cuts needed for visible worktop edges, and the cordless design means no cable dragging across installed flooring or finished surfaces. A fine-tooth blade substituted for the included 24-tooth blade delivers a splinter-free cut in laminate worktops.