Metal-Cutting Circular Saw Blades: Teeth, Dry-Cut, What Fits

Which metal cutting circular saw blade fits your saw: teeth for steel, stainless and aluminum, the RPM rule, and the USA-made ITM blades we stock, with prices.

Tools11 in this guide

Read7 min

UpdatedOct 21, 2026

Quick answer: A metal cutting circular saw blade has carbide teeth and a speed rating, and that rating has to match your saw. Read the maximum RPM printed on the blade and the no-load RPM on the saw's plate: the blade's number must be the same or higher. For a standard 7-1/4 in. circular saw that means a blade rated 5,800 RPM with a 5/8 in. arbor, such as our ITM 102636 (48 teeth, for steel, made in the USA, $68.93). Use 56 teeth for stainless steel and aluminum. Our 12 and 14 in. carbide blades are rated 1,800 RPM, so they go only on low-speed dry-cut saws, never on an abrasive chop saw.

What blade do I need to cut steel with a circular saw?

To cut steel with a circular saw you need a carbide-tipped metal cutting circular saw blade, rated for your saw's speed, with enough teeth for the thickness you cut. A wood blade is the wrong tool. Its big, hooked teeth grab the edge of the steel and snap off. A metal cutting blade has more, smaller teeth with a flatter angle, so each tooth takes a small chip and the metal stays cool enough to touch after the cut.

The other way to cut steel with a circular saw is an abrasive cut-off wheel made for circular saws. It costs less per wheel but cuts hotter, throws sparks and leaves a burr. The comparison is further down.

"A blade should never be the weak link in the system. Ours are rated to 5,800 RPM, so they match the standard corded and cordless saws pros already trust." -- Eldorado Tools 'President, David Castro

Can I put a metal cutting blade on a regular circular saw?

Yes, you can put a metal cutting blade on a regular circular saw if the blade's maximum RPM is at or above the saw's no-load speed. The speed is on the saw's data plate, and the blade's rating is printed on the blade. Our 7-1/4 in. and 8 in. ITM metal blades are rated 5,800 RPM, which covers standard corded and cordless circular saws whose plate reads 5,800 RPM or less.

Check two more things before the first cut:

Arbor. Standard circular saws take a 5/8 in. arbor, usually with a diamond knockout. Our 20 mm blades fit dedicated metal-cutting saws with a 20 mm spindle, not a standard saw.
Chips. Steel chips come off hot and sharp. Wear safety glasses and a face shield, clamp the work, and keep chips away from the motor vents of a saw built for wood.

Metal cutting circular saw blade chart: size, teeth, arbor and RPM

This metal cutting circular saw blade chart lists every ITM METAL blade we stock, with the arbor and the maximum speed ITM rates it for. Match the size and arbor to your saw, then check the RPM.

Blade	Cuts	Arbor	Max RPM	SKU	Price
5-3/8 in., 32T	Steel	5/8 in., 20 mm and 10 mm	4,200	102513; box of 10: 102940	$51.23 each; $479.26 a box ($47.93 a blade)
7-1/4 in., 48T	Steel	5/8 in. with knockout	5,800	102636; box of 10: 102971	$68.93 each; $644.68 a box ($64.47 a blade)
7-1/4 in., 48T	Steel	20 mm	5,800	102643	$68.93
7-1/4 in., 56T	Aluminum	5/8 in. with knockout	5,800	102650	$66.25
7-1/4 in., 56T	Aluminum	20 mm	5,800	102667	$66.25
7-1/4 in., 56T	Stainless steel	20 mm	5,800	102698	$83.33
8 in., 48T	Steel	5/8 in. with knockout	5,800	102704	$72.56
10 in., 52T	Thin steel	5/8 in.	5,200	102766	$115.35
10 in., 72T	Aluminum	5/8 in.	5,200	102773	$115.89
12 in., 60T	Steel	1 in.	1,800	102797	$151.23
14 in., 66T	Steel	1 in.	1,800	102841	$193.61
14 in., 90T	Stainless steel	1 in.	1,800	102889	$238.04

ITM METAL carbide-tipped blades, made in the USA, sold individually unless a box is listed. Speed ratings from ITM. Prices checked on eldoradotools.com on Oct 19, 2026.

The boxes of 10 save about 6%: $47.93 a blade instead of $51.23 on the 5-3/8 in., and $64.47 instead of $68.93 on the 7-1/4 in. Browse them all in our circular saw blades collection.

How many teeth should a metal cutting circular saw blade have?

A metal cutting circular saw blade should keep at least three teeth in the wall of whatever you cut. With fewer, each tooth hits the edge alone, catches and chips off. That is the same rule we use for portable band saw blades. In practice the tooth count follows the material:

Material	Typical jobs	7-1/4 in. blade	Larger blade
Mild steel	Strut, angle, flat bar, steel studs	48T: 102636	10 in. 52T for thin steel: 102766; 14 in. 66T: 102841
Stainless steel	Stainless tube, sheet, angle	56T, 20 mm arbor: 102698	14 in. 90T: 102889
Aluminum	Extrusions, plate, sheet	56T: 102650	10 in. 72T: 102773

More teeth give a smoother cut on thin walls. Fewer teeth leave bigger gaps between them, which clear the larger chips from thicker stock.

Can you put a metal cutting blade on a miter saw or chop saw?

You can put a metal cutting blade on a miter saw or chop saw only if the saw runs at or below the blade's rated speed. Our 10 in. metal blades are rated 5,200 RPM. Our 12 and 14 in. blades are rated 1,800 RPM, which is a low-speed dry-cut saw speed. A standard abrasive chop saw spins much faster than that, so it takes an abrasive cut-off wheel, not a carbide blade. Read the plate on the saw before you buy. A blade run past its rating can throw teeth.

Dry-cut carbide blade or abrasive wheel?

A dry-cut carbide blade cuts cleaner, cooler and faster than an abrasive wheel, while an abrasive wheel costs less up front. Pick by how much you cut:

	Carbide metal cutting blade	Abrasive cut-off wheel
Cut	Clean, almost no burr	Rough edge with a burr
Heat and sparks	Cool chips, few sparks	Hot cut, heavy sparks
Wear	Keeps its diameter	Gets smaller as it wears, so cut depth drops
Our pick for a 7-1/4 in. saw	102636, $68.93	Walter ZIPCUT 7 in. x 1/16 in. x 5/8 in., 11T070, rated 8,600 RPM, $10.86 a wheel, sold in 25s
8 in. saw	102704, $72.56	Walter ZIPCUT 8 in., 11T080, rated 7,600 RPM, $11.96 a wheel, sold in 25s

For a few cuts a month, the abrasive wheel is fine. For daily strut, angle or stud work, the carbide blade pays for itself in clean cuts that need no deburring.

Why is my metal cutting blade losing teeth?

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Teeth chip on strut or studs	Thin wall catching between teeth, or the work vibrating	Clamp right next to the cut line, feed steadily, use a blade with more teeth
Teeth break off in the first cuts	Saw faster than the blade's RPM rating	Check the saw plate against the blade; use a lower-speed saw or a blade rated for it
Blade grabs and kicks	Wood blade on metal, or the cut pinching	Use a metal cutting blade; support the work so the cut opens, not closes
Blue chips, slow cutting	Dull teeth, or too many teeth for thick stock	Replace the blade, or use fewer teeth on thick walls
Chipped teeth on bolts or rebar	Hardened steel in the cut	Cut around fasteners, or switch to an abrasive wheel for that cut

For metal cutting in tight spots, compare blades in our reciprocating saw blade guide. Foundation crews cutting pier pipe will find the rest of the kit in our foundation repair tools guide.

FAQ

Can I use a wood blade to cut metal?

No. A wood blade's large hooked teeth grab metal and break off, and the blade can kick. Use a carbide metal cutting blade or an abrasive wheel made for circular saws.

Will a steel cutting blade cut stainless steel?

It will, but it wears fast. Stainless needs more teeth: our 56-tooth 102698 for 7-1/4 in. saws with a 20 mm arbor, or the 90-tooth 102889 for 14 in. dry-cut saws.

Does a 20 mm blade fit my circular saw?

Only if your saw's spindle is 20 mm, as on many dedicated metal-cutting saws. Standard circular saws take 5/8 in. Use 102636 or 102650 on those.

Can I put a 14 in. carbide blade on an abrasive chop saw?

No. Our 14 in. carbide blades are rated 1,800 RPM, and an abrasive chop saw runs much faster. Use them only on a low-speed dry-cut saw.

How much does a box of 10 save?

About 6%. The 5-3/8 in. blade is $47.93 each in a box of 10 against $51.23 single, and the 7-1/4 in. steel blade is $64.47 against $68.93.

Not sure which blade fits your saw? Call our team at (833) 4-ETOOLS or email sales@eldoradotools.com with the model number on the label.

Prices checked on the store Oct 19, 2026.

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