Best Benchtop Bandsaws of 2021 – Top Picks Reviewed

| Last Updated: December 30, 2021

Benchtop bandsaws can be some of the handiest power tools available on the market today for woodworkers and those who anticipate needing to make irregular or curved cuts in their home improvement projects.

 Read on to learn more about what these awesome saws are capable of doing and the many ways they can make your life easier.

Comparison of the Best Benchtop Bandsaws

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • It is easy to make the tracking adjustments
  • Our choice for the best overall benchtop bandsaw
  • Does not produce any significant vibration or noise
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  • Can cut through thick, hard wood easily
  • Our runner-up choice for best benchtop bandsaw
  • Work space can be swiveled around to make angled cuts
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  • Saw comes with a two year warranty
  • Easy to move around, thanks to its lighter weight
  • Best choice of benchtop bandsaw for the money/metal
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  • Well made with great attention to detail
  • Assembly instructions are well written and clear
  • Best benchtop bandsaw by the reliable Grizzly brand
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What is a Benchtop Bandsaw?

A band saw is designed specifically to make complicated cuts, usually those that are curvy or have some other sort of irregularity. These cuts can be extremely difficult to make by hand, and almost impossible to make accurately with a handsaw.

A benchtop bandsaw is a type of bandsaw that you can set up right on your work bench. This type of bandsaw can be ideal for larger projects that you anticipate taking a long time.

What is a Benchtop Bandsaw Best Used For?

As mentioned above, the best use of a bandsaw is to make the kind of cuts that you will not be able to effectively make with any other kind of saw, including a handsaw. Benchtop bandsaws come in handy when the project is large enough that you are bringing your work to your saw, instead of your saw to your work. Benchtop bandsaws are normally steadier than other kinds of bandsaws and are great for ensuring maximum accuracy.

How to Choose a Benchtop Bandsaw

Seeing as there is an extremely wide range of different kinds of benchtop bandsaws out there, here are the things that are most important for you to look for:

Ease of Setup and Use

Some bandsaws can be extremely laborious to set up and calibrate to be as accurate as possible right out of the box. Instead of doing all of that work yourself, invest in a bandsaw that already comes calibrated and ready to go upon arrival.

Versatility

Most bandsaws are designed primarily for working with wood and making wood cuts. But, some bandsaws are tough enough to also be capable of making cuts through different materials such as metal. If you anticipate wanting to work with a wide range of materials, it could be worthwhile to invest in a versatile band saw.

Durability

As with all power tools, you want to go with an option that will last you for the long haul, not have blade teeth start to chip off or the motor start to sputter after just a few projects. Find yourself a saw with a proven track record of durability.

Review of the Best Benchtop Bandsaws

Now that you are more familiar with the concept of bandsaws and what can differentiate a good benchtop bandsaw from a bad benchtop bandsaw, let’s go check out our top picks for actual products!

Best Overall:
Rikon With Fence, 10 Inch

RIKON 10-305 Bandsaw With Fence, 10-Inch

PROS

  • Runs smoothly
  • Great build quality
  • Has plenty of power
  • Rikon provides good customer service
  • Dust port effectively removes most dust

CONS

  • Included blade does not cut very well

The Rikon Bandsaw With Fence, 10 Inch is an extremely effective and impressive benchtop bandsaw that is far and away our first choice for a best overall bandsaw for your workbench. It is simple and easy to use, even when it comes to making the tracking adjustments. It does not produce any significant vibration or noise.

Users report it can effectively cut through both hard wood and soft wood, including black walnut, alder, poplar, and pine – even when the wood is up to three and a half inches thick! Oh, and its included instructions manual and parts list are simple and easy to understand. What more could you want?

Bottom Line

The Rikon Bandsaw With Fence, 10 Inch is an amazing benchtop bandsaw that can cut through anything you throw at it, and continue to be used with absolute ease thanks to its straightforward operating instructions and simple tracking adjustment system.  Just know that in all likelihood, you will probably want to switch out the included blade for something a bit more high quality that cuts better.

Runner-up:
WEN Two Speed with Stand and Worklight, 10”

WEN 3962T 3.5-Amp 10-Inch Two-Speed Band Saw with Stand and Worklight

PROS

  • Easy to set up
  • Has a two year warranty
  • Great at making curvy cuts
  • Lightweight and easy to move around
  • WEN provides good customer service

CONS

  • Vibrates a decent amount

The WEN Two Speed Band Saw with Stand and Worklight, 10” came in a very close second for our choice for best overall benchtop bandsaw, and that is just because the Rikon Bandsaw With Fence, 10 Inch is so amazing, not because of any fault from this WEN model!

This WEN saw is also completely fantastic. It can cut through thick, hard wood easily, and the attached work space can be swiveled around in order to make more angled and complicated cuts.

Its extremely powerful motor has a two speed operation system so that you have the option of choosing to make either slow or fast cuts. Plus, its dust collection system will fit a wide variety of extraction hose sizes!

Bottom Line

The WEN Two Speed Band Saw with Stand and Worklight, 10” is an amazing bandsaw that comes in a close second for our best overall choice. It does vibrate a bit more than some of its other competitors, though, so keep that in mind.    

Best for the Money and Best for Metal:
WEN 9”

WEN 3939 2.8-Amp 9' Benchtop Band Saw

PROS

  • Simple and straightforward to set up
  • WEN provides good customer service
  • Can easily cut through different types of hard wood
  • Work space swivels to allow for cutting at different angles
  • The best 12 inch miter saw for the money and for working with metal

CONS

  • Work light does not properly illuminate the work area

If your primary needs in a benchtop bandsaw are a saw that will work well when cutting, but not steal your life savings out from under you, as well as a saw that is effective at cutting through metal, you may have given up on ever finding such a tool…but we are here to prove you wrong! The WEN 2.8 Amp 9” Benchtop Band Saw is all of those things and more.

This is one of the lighter band saws on this list, so it is simple to move around. It comes with a two year warranty, just in case anything breaks (but it won’t!). It can cut through multiple types of metal in addition to multiple types of hard wood. There really is not much to dislike about this saw!

Bottom Line

The WEN 2.8 Amp 9” Benchtop Band Saw is an amazing benchtop bandsaw if you are looking to save a few bucks on a saw that also works great when cutting metal. Just know you will likely need to set up your own light for your work space, as the included one on this saw is not great.

Best by Grizzly:
Grizzly Industrial 9”

PROS

  • Runs quietly
  • Includes an LED work light
  • Has an excellent carrying handle
  • Grizzly provides good customer service
  • Best benchtop bandsaw we could find by Grizzly

CONS

  • Not great for cutting metal

The Grizzly Industrial 9” Benchtop Bandsaw is the absolute best benchtop bandsaw we could find that is produced by the reliable Grizzly brand, a tool manufacturer you can always trust. And this saw certainly lives up to the Grizzly name! It is well made, with fantastic attention to detail. Its assembly instructions are well written and clear, making this a joy to set up.

It can make smooth, measured cuts on all kinds of wood, from oak to maple to pine and everything in between. It comes with pre drilled bolt holes that allow to lock it to your work bench in any configuration. You will not have much to complain about with the Grizzly Industrial 9” Benchtop Bandsaw!

Bottom Line

The Grizzly Industrial 9” Benchtop Bandsaw is a phenomenal bandsaw by the trusted Grizzly brand, with a number of awesome features and the ability to chomp through any kind of wood you might throw at it. Just know that it is not designed for cutting through any sort of metal, even if you switch out the blade.    

Conclusion

Benchtop bandsaws can truly change the game when it comes to woodworking and other projects that may require precise yet irregular kinds of cuts. But you do not want to rush into a benchtop bandsaw purchase: make sure you consider everything you are looking to get out of your bandsaw, including the kinds of materials you want it to work with and the projects you anticipate doing. If you go with one of the awesome models from our list, we promise that you can’t go wrong and will thoroughly enjoy your choice.