DeWalt DWE7485 8-1/4 Inch Compact Table Saw Review: Worth It? (October 2026)
The DeWalt DWE7485 is a compact 8-1/4 inch table saw with a 24.5 inch rip capacity and modular guarding. It suits a small garage or shop with a set place for the saw, and people who need to rip sheet goods without a full-size saw.
On this page (16 sections)
- The DeWalt DWE7485 at a glance
- Are DeWalt table saws good?
- The rip capacity and sheet goods
- Fence, guarding and storage
- Power and weight
- Setting up without a folding stand
- Setup in the first hour
- Blade options for a compact saw
- Working with a compact saw day to day
- Dust and cleanup
- Who should look at a 10-inch saw instead
- Who should buy the DWE7485
- Who should skip it
- Alternatives to compare
- DWE7485 or DWE7485WS?
- Verdict on the DWE7485
The DeWalt DWE7485 is a compact portable table saw with an 8-1/4 inch blade and a 15 amp motor. Among the DeWalt saws we cover, it's the smallest, and it's built for a shop where floor space is tight.
This review covers the footprint, the fence and guarding, the rip capacity, the blade size and who should skip it.
The DeWalt DWE7485 at a glance
DEWALT DWE7485 8-1/4 Inch Compact Table Saw
- 8-1/4 inch blade
- 15 amp, 5800 rpm motor
- 24.5 inch rip capacity
- Rack and pinion telescoping fence rails
- Site-Pro modular guarding
- Metal roll cage base
A compact 8-1/4 inch saw with a 24.5 inch rip capacity, rack and pinion telescoping fence rails and modular guarding, for a small garage shop.
Pros
- Compact footprint for a small garage
- 24.5 inch rip capacity
- Rack and pinion telescoping fence rails
- On-board storage for the guard, fence and wrenches
Cons
- About 54 pounds, so plan its spot before you buy
- The 8-1/4 inch blade cuts less deep than a 10-inch blade
- No folding stand built in, so plan on a bench or stand
It's a compact 8-1/4 inch saw with a 24.5 inch rip capacity and rack and pinion fence rails, sized for a small shop. The base is a metal roll cage, and the saw stores its guard, fence and wrenches on board.
Buy it if you need a saw that fits a small garage and still rips wide sheet goods. Skip it if you need the deepest cut or a folding stand built in.
Are DeWalt table saws good?
DeWalt builds table saws in several sizes, and the DWE7485 is its compact 8-1/4 inch model for small spaces. A saw this size rewards a shop that already knows where it will sit.
Whether it's good for you depends on the room and the cuts you make.
Its rip capacity, guarding and fence cover the core jobs. The smaller blade and the lack of a built-in stand limit it compared with a 10-inch saw.
The SKIL vs DeWalt comparison shows how it stacks up against the SKIL TS6307.
DeWalt's own 10-inch saw, the DWE7491RS, has a much wider rip and a rolling stand. The DeWalt DWE7491RS review covers that saw for shops with more floor space.
The rip capacity and sheet goods
The 24.5 inch rip capacity handles most rips, and DeWalt says it's enough for 4x8 sheet goods. Rip capacity is the distance from the blade to the far side of the fence, so it sets the widest piece you can cut in one pass.
That covers most trim, shelving and boards. Check it against your widest piece before you buy, since it's the number that will limit your work most.
A full sheet is heavy, and a compact saw needs support on both ends. Plan the support before you start, and check the manual for the cut method it allows.
DeWalt DWE7485 blade and cut depth
The 8-1/4 inch blade cuts less deep than a 10-inch blade. A shallower cut matters for thick lumber, so check the depth against your thickest stock before you buy.
The saw's 15 amp, 5800 rpm motor is the power DeWalt lists for it. Speed matters less than the blade you pick for the job, so don't choose on rpm alone.
If you cut thick hardwood often, the 8-1/4 inch blade may feel limiting, and the 10-inch saws we cover suit that work better.
Fence, guarding and storage
The rack and pinion telescoping fence rails and the modular guarding are the features that make the DWE7485 easier to set up. Both are worth checking against the saw's own documentation before you commit.
The fence rails are rack and pinion and telescope, so the fence moves smoothly. DeWalt's Site-Pro modular guarding adjusts without tools, which helps when you switch between a rip and a crosscut.
The saw has on-board storage for the blade guard assembly, fence, wrenches and miter gauge. DeWalt also lists a non-through cut riving knife and anti-kickback pawls, which you should set up as the manual directs before the first cut.
Power and weight
The saw runs a 15 amp motor from a 120-volt outlet, and it weighs about 54 pounds. That weight sits on a metal roll cage base, which DeWalt says is built for jobsite durability.
At 54 pounds, plan where the saw will live before you buy it. A small shop with a fixed spot suits it better than one that moves the saw often.
Plug the saw into a circuit that can carry its 15 amp rating, and don't share that circuit with other heavy tools.
Setting up without a folding stand
The DWE7485 has no folding stand built in, so plan a bench or a separate stand before you buy. A bench needs to be flat and strong enough to hold the saw and the board.
A separate stand is one more thing to buy and store. This model doesn't come with one, so have the bench or stand ready before the saw arrives.
If the stand matters to you, consider the stand version, the DWE7485WS, and check that the stand suits the saw's footprint before you order.
Setup in the first hour
Set the guard, the riving knife and the fence before the first cut, and make sure the saw sits level on its base. Each step follows the manual's method for this model.
DeWalt's modular guarding adjusts without tools, so set it for the cut you're making. Check that the riving knife lines up with the blade.
Check the fence is parallel to the blade before the first cut. Repeat the check after any move, since a moved saw can shift the setting.
Blade options for a compact saw
The 8-1/4 inch blade narrows your choices, so check blade availability before you buy the saw. Check the size, the arbor and the tooth count first.
A fine-finish blade in the right size suits trim and furniture work. The best table saw blades roundup covers blade types for home woodworking.
Working with a compact saw day to day
A compact saw runs best when the work is supported at both ends and the blade's path stays clear. Support long boards on the outfeed side as you cut.
Use push sticks for narrow pieces, as the manual directs, and keep your hands and the cord clear of the blade's path. Clear offcuts from the floor so you can move around the saw safely.
Dust and cleanup
Plan cleanup before the first cut, and check the manual for the dust port size on this model. The table saw dust collection guide covers adapters, including one made for the DWE7485.
Who should look at a 10-inch saw instead
A 10-inch saw suits you if you rip thicker stock or want a stand that's part of the saw. The SKIL TS6307 has both, and the SKIL TS6307 review covers it in detail.
The Evolution R10TS review is another 10-inch option, with a dado plate and a sled in the box. Choose the DeWalt if the room is tight, and a 10-inch saw if the depth and the stand matter more.
Who should buy the DWE7485
Buy it for a small garage or shop with a fixed spot and a need to rip sheet goods. It suits people who build shelves, trim and small furniture, and who have a bench or stand ready for the saw.
The modular guarding and the rack and pinion fence make it a practical pick for a first saw in a small space. Read the manual before the first cut, as with any saw.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you need a deep cut in thick stock or a saw you can fold and store. A 10-inch saw gives a deeper cut, and a folding stand is built into the SKIL TS6307, so that saw suits people who move their saw often.
If cut depth matters more than a few inches of floor, the SKIL TS6307 review covers a 10-inch saw with a built-in stand.
Alternatives to compare
Two saws we cover make useful comparisons with the DWE7485. Both are 10-inch saws with different stand setups.
For a broader look at compact saws, read best compact table saws. It lists the smaller saws we compared.
DWE7485 or DWE7485WS?
DeWalt also sells the DWE7485WS, which adds a jobsite stand and a blade brake. With the stand it weighs about 66 pounds, against about 54 pounds for the saw alone.
Choose the plain DWE7485 if you already have a bench. Choose the WS if you want the stand in the box.
The best compact table saws roundup scores both.
Verdict on the DWE7485
The DeWalt DWE7485 is a compact, sensible table saw for a small shop, and it scores 8.1 on our scale. Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.
The DWE7485 earns its score for its footprint, fence and guarding. It loses some points for its smaller blade and the lack of a built-in stand.
If the room is small and the saw has a fixed spot, it's a good match. If you need a deeper cut or a stand that folds, look at the other saws we cover first.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DeWalt DWE7485 a good first table saw?
Any table saw can cause serious injury, so a first-time user should start with the manual. The DWE7485 includes a riving knife, anti-kickback pawls and a guard that adjusts without tools, and the manual shows how to set each one.
Can the DWE7485 rip a 4x8 sheet?
DeWalt says its 24.5 inch rip capacity handles 4x8 sheet goods. A full sheet is heavy, so plan support on both ends and check the manual for the cut method it allows before you start.
Does the DWE7485 have a folding stand?
No, it doesn't have a folding stand built in. Plan a bench or a separate stand, or look at the stand version, the DWE7485WS, if you want a stand included with the saw.
What blade size does the DWE7485 use?
It uses an 8-1/4 inch blade, which cuts less deep than a 10-inch blade, so check the depth against your thickest lumber before you buy.
