Ridgid vs Dewalt – Which Brand Makes the Best Saw?

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As you begin the hunt for new power tools to add to your workshop, you may be wondering what brand you should invest in. The choice can be daunting, especially when choosing between Ridgid vs. Dewalt saw products.

Both companies claim to offer the best power tools on the market, but which one is really is the top brand? I’ve made a comparison of Dewalt vs. Ridgid right here, so you can further understand what you are buying when you select either manufacturer’s saws as your own.

The History of Dewalt

Just so you have an understanding of Dewalt and what makes its saw products so tough, I thought I give you the highlights of the company over the last almost 100 years. The idea for the company was started in 1922 by Raymond DeWalt.

Two years later, he formed DEWALT Products Company in Leola, Penn.

The first product marketed by the company was the DeWalt Wonder-Worker. This was a woodworking machine that was developed to be configured in as many as nine different ways.

Following its time in Leola, the company soon grew and moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1947, it was renamed DeWalt Inc., and expansion continued for the business.

By 2001 the company sold a line of more than 200 power tools and 80 accessories. Today, it has a name that is known for toughness and advanced technology.

It produces quality saws, combo kits, and other products and stands behind each and every one of them with a warranty or guarantee.

It’s best known for its cordless power tools, which encompass an extensive collection from drills to routers to staplers and saws. It also has a preference to making its products in the USA.

Workshop at home tools saws

The History of Ridgid

Another manufacturer of saws is Ridgid. This company’s beginnings date back to 1923, when it first invented the pipe wrench. Its product line includes a bevy of saws as well as equipment for electricians, plumbers, and general-purpose contractors, to name a few.

Ridgid, like Dewalt, has placed emphasis on the strength of its tool lineup by creating legacy products that are handed down from generation to generation. They are designed to make the user more efficient and faster. And they are built by their employees with pride.

The company has several patents for its tools, but none are for its saw offering. It is best known for its pipe wrenches which launched the company in the ‘1920s.

Ridgid vs. Dewalt

​When I compare the Ridgid vs. Dewalt lineup, both companies bill their saws as tough or strong. Dewalt is an aggressive competitor in the category for the ruggedness of its products, offering saws that can and will stand up to frequent and heavy use.

While the product line from Ridgid also claims to be able to combat professional contractor, carpenter, or woodworker use, the company’s saw line often falls short. Products are not as savvy with features, or they just don’t produce the results and power that a user is looking to achieve with such a technology.

At the top of the list of Dewalt’s many saw models is the jigsaw – available in both corded and cordless models. These saws have manageable cutting speeds that allow for more accuracy while also providing plenty of functionality and flexibility in their design.

You can really use these jigsaws for a range of applications.

Working on wood wood projects saw dewalt

The company is well-known for its high-performing table saws that also come in portable and cordless versions. It’s all about capacity with these saws. Dewalt offers plenty of power and can rip through virtually any wood surface with ease.

I also like the scroll saws it produces as well as their tile saws. Both provide a high level of accuracy, which is really needed when using either one of these saws for the applications they require. 

Dewalt’s scroll saws, in particular, are designed to be quieter which is a nice feature, and I also like that they produce a good speed when cutting.

The tile saw lineup for the company also performs well. I found that many of the models offered by the company are solid in construction and provide plenty of power when cutting – just what you want in such a piece of equipment.

The saws from Dewalt do come with a higher tag than those offered by Ridgid, but you are really paying for the durability difference between the two lineups. In this instance, you really do get what you pay for in a brand from Dewalt.

Regarding Ridgid, I don’t have a particular favorite among its saw offering, but it is important to note that the company does produce circular saws, reciprocating saws, miter saws, table saws, and tile saws as part of its tool collection. For working with metals and whatnot, their top-rated angle grinders are good, too.

For example, see my Ridgid miter saw review for one of my favorite saws of theirs. And, here is my Dewalt 10″ miter saw review.

Ridgid saws don’t have the durability in their construction that I think you need. Like some of the other brands I’ve compared with Ridgid, their saws are not necessarily made to last.

When you compare Ridgid cordless tools vs. Dewalt ones, you will also discover that the first brand is much more reliable.

This isn’t to say that you won’t pick up a Ridgid saw and have it last for a long time. From my experience, though, it is a flip of a coin.

Dewalt saw grinding wood which is better ridgid

You don’t want to buy a tool that will only last you for a short period of time. Dewalt provides a really high-quality product and a long-lasting warranty to back it up.

For this reason, I don’t think there is much comparison when it comes to Ridgid tools vs. Dewalt ones.

The saws that are offered by Ridgid are not comparable with Dewalt. They just don’t have the power, performance, and features that Dewalt ones do.

There are a number of well-built, inexpensive saws that I recommend, but none are made by Ridgid. If you wish, check out my comparison guide on Ridgid and Milwaukee products.

​These are the top saws that I recommend from Dewalt. They are as tough as the manufacturer claims and will perform well in a variety of woodworking and construction applications.

I also have an in-depth review of the Dewalt DWE7491RS table saw.

DEWALT 20V MAX Jig Saw

DEWALT Bare-Tool

DEWALT Table Saw

DEWALT 10-Inch Table Saw

DEWALT Scroll Saw

DEWALT Wet Tile Saw

Table Saw Accessories: Overview of ALL the SawStop Extras

Conclusion

When deciding between Ridgid vs. Dewalt for saws’ brand to buy, the choice is clear to me. I choose Dewalt.

I like that the strong durability of the products it designs and the additional accessory options it often provides that you need but now don’t have to buy separately. There are some combo kits, though, that may be worth your attention later on.

I also like the company’s commitment to making American-made products, and I find several saws within their line A-grade above the other brands.

Dewalt really is a high-end construction contractor brand, and both their cordless and corded saws will hold up well to everyday use. They also work well for general purpose work and woodworking applications.

An expert at home repair, remodel, and DIY projects for nearly 40 years. His first experience came in completely restoring an antique home. Completely redone from the inside out, and restored to its original form, the home is a featured design by renowned Southern California Architect Cliff May, considered to be the father of the California Ranch Home. Now Dennis spends his time on fine woodworking projects and tool comparisons.