A metal-cutting bandsaw makes clean, square, low-waste cuts in bar, rod, tube, and angle that a chop saw or grinder can only rough out. Choosing one comes down to three things: cutting capacity (the largest round or rectangle the throat and vise will take), blade speed (metal is cut at a fraction of wood speeds, measured in surface feet per minute), and format (portable, horizontal, or vertical). Below are our top metal-cutting bandsaw picks for 2026, followed by a buying guide. For wood-focused saws see our full bandsaw guide, and if you are building out a metal shop, pair a saw with our best metal lathes guide and a sheet metal machine for bending, shearing, and rolling stock once it is cut to length. Not sure a metal saw is what you need? Our wood vs metal bandsaw comparison explains why blade speed, teeth, and coolant keep the two from being interchangeable.
Best benchtop horizontal: the Grizzly G0592 10" x 18" 2 HP horizontal/vertical saw for square, repeatable shop cutoffs. Best portable factory-direct: the Grizzly G0885 5". Best corded portable: the DEWALT DWM120K deep-cut. Best cordless: the Milwaukee M18 Fuel deep-cut. Best value floor saw: the Klutch BNDSW1 3/4 HP horizontal/vertical. Rule of thumb: match the saw's cutting capacity to your largest common stock, then check the blade speed range for the metals you cut.
Our Top Metal-Cutting Bandsaw Picks
Specs and pricing vary by production run and retailer; treat prices as planning estimates and tap any button for current pricing.
Grizzly G0592 10" x 18" 2 HP Metal-Cutting Bandsaw
2 HP, 10x18 capacity, horizontal/vertical
Shop at Grizzly.com →
Grizzly G0885 5" Portable Horizontal Metal-Cutting Bandsaw
Portable, 5" round capacity
Shop at Grizzly.com →
DEWALT Portable Band Saw, Deep Cut, 10 Amp, 5-Inch (DWM120K)
Corded 10-amp deep-cut portable band saw with a 5-inch cutting capacity.
Milwaukee Electric - M18 Fuel DEEP Cut Band Saw
Cordless M18 Fuel deep-cut band saw for cutting metal in place, no cord required.
Klutch BNDSW1 3/4 HP Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw
3/4 HP horizontal/vertical metal-cutting band saw that clamps stock for square cutoffs and tilts upright for freehand work.
Two of our picks come from Grizzly Industrial, often priced lower factory-direct than through a reseller and backed by full parts availability and U.S. support: the G0592 10" x 18" 2 HP horizontal/vertical saw for the bench, and the G0885 5" portable horizontal saw for cutting in place.
Metal-Cutting Bandsaws Compared
| Model | Type | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzly G0592 | Benchtop horizontal/vertical | Check Grizzly | Best Benchtop Horizontal |
| Grizzly G0885 | Portable horizontal | Check Grizzly | Best Portable Grizzly |
| DEWALT DWM120K | Corded portable | Around $414.99 | Best Corded Portable |
| Milwaukee M18 Fuel | Cordless portable | Around $309.99 | Best Cordless |
| Klutch BNDSW1 | Floor horizontal/vertical | Around $1,495.19 | Best Value Floor |
Metal-Cutting Bandsaw Buying Guide
Cutting Capacity & Orientation
Capacity is the headline spec: it is the largest round or rectangular stock the throat and vise will take, usually listed as a round diameter and a rectangular width and height (for example, 10" x 18"). Size the saw to your largest common cut, then leave headroom. Orientation matters just as much. A horizontal saw clamps the workpiece in a vise and lowers a gravity-fed blade for square, repeatable cutoffs of bar, rod, and tube. A vertical saw holds the blade upright so you feed the work by hand for curves and notching. Horizontal/vertical combo saws tilt to do both.
Blade Speed & SFM for Metal
Metal is cut far slower than wood, measured in surface feet per minute (SFM). As a general guide, mild steel is cut around 200 to 300 SFM, stainless and tool steels lower near 80 to 150 SFM, and aluminum and brass much faster. A saw built for metal runs a slow blade speed, and multi-speed models let you drop down for hard alloys and up for soft ones. Running a wood-speed blade in steel overheats the teeth and dulls the blade quickly. Match blade tooth pitch to wall thickness too: thin tube wants a finer tooth so at least three teeth stay in the cut. Our feeds and speeds reference covers the numbers.
Portable vs. Benchtop vs. Floor
A portable band saw goes to the work: it cuts installed pipe, conduit, strut, and bar in place, and cordless models like the Milwaukee M18 Fuel free you from an outlet while corded saws such as the DEWALT DWM120K give steady runtime. A benchtop horizontal saw trades portability for accuracy, clamping stock and feeding under its own weight for square, hands-off cutoffs. A floor saw like the Klutch BNDSW1 adds mass, capacity, and a stand for heavier production work. Many metal shops keep a portable for fieldwork and a stationary saw at the bench.
Dial In Blade Speed for Any Metal
Check the right surface speed and blade for your material before you cut with our feeds and speeds reference.
Open Feeds & Speeds ReferenceAs an Amazon Associate and Grizzly Industrial affiliate, WorkshopCalc earns from qualifying purchases. Our picks are based on published specs and category research, not paid placement.