The Milwaukee 2732-20 has lived on my truck for a year, and in that time it has logged enough cuts that I no longer plug in a corded circular for anything except production OSB sheathing days. The full 7-1/4 inch blade, the brushless motor, and the M18 HD12.0 battery combine to make a cordless saw that genuinely cuts like a corded one. That was a thing I did not believe was possible until I owned this one.
Why you should trust this review
I run a small commercial remodel crew, and we standardized on M18 batteries about four years ago. I bought the 2732-20 bare at retail to pair with the M18 stable, including two HD12.0 batteries. The saw has been used on a full-house deck rebuild, an addition framing job, two basement remodels, and the steady drip of remodel cutoff work. None of the testing was sponsored by Milwaukee.
How we tested the 2732-20
- Cut 2x10 pressure-treated lumber at 90 degrees with a fresh 24-tooth Diablo blade and an HD12.0 battery until cutout.
- Cut full-depth 1-1/2 inch LVL at 90 degrees to test sustained power.
- Sheathed a 24-foot wall section (twelve 4x8 OSB sheets) on a single HD12.0 to test runtime.
- Bevel-cut 2x6 at 45 degrees to confirm depth-at-bevel.
- Compared head-to-head against a corded Skilsaw HD77 worm drive on identical 2x10 crosscuts (10 cuts averaged).
- Verified shoe flatness with a 24-inch precision straightedge at month 0 and month 12.
- See our methodology page for the standard procedure.
Who should buy the Milwaukee 2732-20?
Buy this saw if you are a working pro on the M18 platform with HD12.0 or 8 Ah High Output batteries on hand. Buy it if you do framing, deck, and remodel work where you are tired of dragging extension cords around. Buy it if you wore out a corded circular saw and want the cordless equivalent.
Skip this saw if you have no M18 batteries (start with a kit), if your budget is under $200 and you do not need pro-grade build (the DCS570B is the value pick), or if you do all-day production sheathing where corded is still faster.
Cut depth and capacity
2-1/2 inches at 90 degrees and 1-7/8 inches at 45 degrees. That is full corded-saw depth, enough to crosscut 2x lumber in a single pass and to cut 1-1/2 inch LVL with margin. The depth lever is positive and locks firmly. Depth calibration is consistent: marked depths and actual cut depths agree within 1/32 inch on the bench.
Power under load
Under cutting load on 2x10 with an HD12.0 battery, the saw averaged 4950 RPM, which is within 200 RPM of a corded Skilsaw HD77 worm drive on the same cut. That is the genuine reason to spend $229 on this saw. With a smaller XC5.0 battery, the saw drops to about 4500 RPM under load, which is still capable but no longer matches corded. With a CP2.0 (compact) battery, the saw works only on light cuts and cycles into thermal protection on extended runs.
Shoe accuracy and build
The magnesium shoe is the part that has surprised me. After twelve months of daily jobsite use, including drops onto concrete, my 24-inch precision straightedge still passes no light under the shoe. The shoe also stays clean under wet pressure-treated cuts because the metal does not gum up the way some saw shoes do. The blade guard returns smoothly and consistently. The bevel detent is positive at 0 and 45 degrees.
Battery efficiency and runtime
On the OSB sheathing test (twelve 4x8 sheets at depth), a single HD12.0 cut all twelve sheets with about 18 percent battery remaining. An XC8.0 High Output pack cut nine sheets. An XC5.0 cut six sheets and the saw started cycling into thermal cutout. For sustained production work, run an HD12.0 pack and have a backup charging.
Build quality
Five-year warranty. Magnesium shoe stays flat. Brake works reliably. Blade lock is positive. Trigger and switch lockout are well placed. After twelve months of hard jobsite use, the only complaint I have is that the dust port collects sawdust faster than I would like under sustained crosscutting.
Verdict context
Against the DEWALT DCS570B and the Skilsaw worm drive, the 2732-20 is the M18 pro pick. It is not the cheapest. It is the cordless saw that genuinely replaces a corded one when paired with the right battery.
Milwaukee 2732-20 M18 FUEL 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Blade | Depth | Battery | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 2732-20 | ★★★★★ 4.6 | 7-1/4 in | 2-1/2 in | HD12.0 ideal | $229 | Top Pick Pro Cordless |
| DEWALT DCS570B | ★★★★★ 4.5 | 7-1/4 in | 2-9/16 in | 5 Ah min | $169 | Top Pick Cordless |
| Skilsaw SPT77WML-01 Worm Drive | ★★★★★ 4.7 | 7-1/4 in | 2-3/8 in | Corded | $189 | Top Pick Corded |
| Bauer 1786C-B 20V Circular Saw | ★★★★☆ 3.7 | 7-1/4 in | 2-7/16 in | 20V Bauer | $79 | Skip for Pro Use |
Full specifications
| Voltage | M18 (18V) |
| Motor | POWERSTATE brushless |
| Blade | 7-1/4 inch (5/8 inch arbor) |
| No-load RPM | 5800 RPM |
| Cut depth at 90 | 2-1/2 inches |
| Cut depth at 45 | 1-7/8 inches |
| Bevel range | 0 to 56 degrees |
| Shoe | Magnesium |
| Weight (bare) | 8.5 lb |
| Warranty | 5 year limited |
Should you buy the Milwaukee 2732-20 M18 FUEL 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw?
The Milwaukee 2732-20 is the cordless circular saw working pros should buy if they own the M18 platform. The POWERSTATE brushless motor delivers corded-equivalent power, the 5800 RPM no-load speed holds steady under sustained framing load, and the magnesium shoe stays flat through hard jobsite use. Sold bare; price assumes you already own M18 batteries.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Milwaukee 2732-20 worth $229 in 2026?+
Yes for working pros who own M18 batteries and need a real cordless replacement for a corded saw. The bare-tool premium over the DEWALT DCS570B is real, but Milwaukee buyers get the larger M18 ecosystem and slightly more sustained power. Casual users save money with the DEWALT.
2732-20 vs DCS570B: which cordless saw should I buy?+
Both are 7-1/4 inch full-depth pro cordless saws with magnesium shoes. The Milwaukee runs slightly cooler under sustained load with an HD12.0 battery and is more refined. The DEWALT is $60 cheaper bare. Choose by the platform you already own; both are good saws.
Can the 2732-20 actually replace a corded circular?+
For framing, deck work, and most remodel cuts, yes. With an HD12.0 battery the saw cuts a full 4x8 OSB sheet without cutout, and on 2x lumber crosscuts the speed difference vs corded is small. For all-day production sheathing on a wide-open framing crew, corded is still faster because battery swaps cost time.
What battery do I need to get full performance?+
HD12.0 (12 Ah High Output) or 8.0 Ah High Output minimum. The standard 5 Ah XC pack works but the saw is noticeably slower and cycles into thermal protection faster. Below 5 Ah, the saw is not a full-power tool.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Confirmed pricing and current battery recommendations.
- Apr 8, 2025Initial review published after 12 months of pro use.
