Portable Band Saw Blade Sizes: Which Blade Fits Your Saw

How do I know what size portable band saw blade I need?

You know what size portable band saw blade you need by the make and model of your saw. A band saw blade is a closed loop, cut to length and welded at the factory. It cannot be shortened or stretched, and the saw's tension lever only takes up a fraction of an inch. So the blade has to match the saw's wheels exactly.

The best advice we have heard on this is also the simplest:

"The way to easily and correctly purchase band saw blades is by the make and model of your machine, since they come pre-measured and welded. Once you have them, there's no changing them, but it's pretty easy. Just know the machine that you're using, and the band saw blade should fit perfectly."

David Castro, Eldorado Tools

The model number is on the label on the saw's motor housing, usually next to the voltage. If the label is gone, read the length printed on the old blade, or measure the old blade as described further down.

Portable band saw blade size chart by saw model

This portable band saw blade size chart lists the blade length for the most common Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita and Bosch saws, with the matching blade we stock. Every blade in the chart is 1/2 in. wide and .020 in. thick.

Brand	Saw (model)	Type	Blade length	Our blades (box of 3)
Milwaukee	M12 Sub-Compact (2429)	Sub-compact	27-3/16 in.	B270018 18 TPI, B271418 14/18 TPI
Milwaukee	M12 FUEL Compact (2529-20, 2529-XC)	Compact	30-9/16 in.	B300018 18 TPI, B301418 14/18 TPI
Milwaukee	M18 Compact (2629-20, 2629-22), M18 FUEL Compact (2829), corded Compact (6242-6)	Compact	35-3/8 in.	B350018 18 TPI, B351418 14/18 TPI
Milwaukee	M18 FUEL Deep Cut (2729, 2929), corded Deep Cut (6232)	Full-size deep cut	44-7/8 in.	Any 44-7/8 in. blade below
DeWalt	20V Compact (DCS375B), ATOMIC 20V Compact (DCS377B)	Sub-compact	27-3/16 in.	B270018 18 TPI, B271418 14/18 TPI
DeWalt	20V Compact (DCS370, DCS371B)	Compact	32-7/8 in.	B320018 18 TPI, B321418 14/18 TPI
DeWalt	20V Deep Cut (DCS374), FLEXVOLT Deep Cut (DCS376), corded Deep Cut (DWM120)	Full-size deep cut	44-7/8 in.	Any 44-7/8 in. blade below
Makita	18V Sub-Compact (XBP05ZB)	Sub-compact	28-13/16 in.	B280018 18 TPI, B281418 14/18 TPI
Makita	18V Compact (XBP03Z, XBP04Z)	Compact	32-7/8 in.	B320018 18 TPI, B321418 14/18 TPI
Makita	18V Deep Cut (XBP02), corded (2107F)	Full-size deep cut	44-7/8 in.	Any 44-7/8 in. blade below
Bosch	18V Compact (GCB18V-2N, GCB18V-LI), corded (BSH180)	Compact	28-13/16 in. (733 mm)	B280018 18 TPI, B281418 14/18 TPI

Fit list from ITM, our blade maker (2026 catalog), and the saw makers' published specs, checked Oct 15, 2026.

Notice the pattern. Every full-size deep cut saw, from any brand, takes the same 44-7/8 in. blade. That length is the industry standard, so one box fits a mixed fleet of Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita deep cut saws. The compact and sub-compact saws are where brands split, and even one brand changes length from model to model. Those smaller sizes are fairly new, and each tool maker picked its own.

Pick your saw to see the blade length and the boxes that fit it:

Why do Milwaukee band saws use different blade lengths?

Milwaukee band saws use different blade lengths because each saw size has different wheels. The M12 sub-compact (27-3/16 in.), the M12 FUEL compact (30-9/16 in.), the M18 compact (35-3/8 in.) and the deep cut saws (44-7/8 in.) each need their own blade. So "a Milwaukee band saw blade" is not enough to order the right one. Ordering by model number is.

DeWalt works the same way. The DCS375 and ATOMIC DCS377 compacts take 27-3/16 in., the DCS370 and DCS371 compacts take 32-7/8 in., and the deep cut saws take 44-7/8 in.

Which TPI portable band saw blade should I use?

Use a portable band saw blade with enough teeth per inch (TPI) to keep at least three teeth in the wall you are cutting. Fewer than three and the teeth catch on the edge and strip off. Too many and the small gaps between teeth pack with chips, so the blade rubs instead of cutting. On pipe and tube, the wall thickness counts, not the outside diameter.

Wall or material thickness	Typical jobs	TPI	Our 44-7/8 in. blade
Under 1/16 in.	EMT conduit, sheet metal, thin tube	24	279SB0024
1/16 to 1/8 in.	Strut and Unistrut, rigid conduit, thin-wall tube	18	279SB0018
1/16 to 3/16 in.	Mixed jobs: pipe, angle, threaded rod	14/18 (all-round)	279VP1418
1/8 to 1/4 in.	Schedule 40 pipe, angle iron, channel	14	279SB0014
3/16 in. and up	Pier pipe, heavy-wall pipe, solid bar	10/14	279VP1014

Compact and sub-compact lengths come in 18 TPI and 14/18 TPI, which cover most electrical, plumbing and strut work. A 14/18 variable pitch blade has teeth spaced at both counts along the band. It cuts a wider range of walls with less chatter, which is why it is the best single blade to keep on the saw.

Slide the material and the TPI below to see how many teeth sit in the cut:

What blade cuts pier pipe with a portable band saw?

A 10/14 TPI bi-metal blade on a full-size deep cut saw is the blade for cutting pier pipe with a portable band saw. Most steel pier pipe has a wall between 3/16 and 5/16 in., which is right where 10/14 TPI keeps three or more teeth in the cut without packing the gullets. Pier pipe is usually 2-7/8 or 3-1/2 in. across, so it needs a deep cut saw with about 5 in. of capacity. A compact saw such as the Milwaukee M18 FUEL compact tops out at 3-1/4 in.

Our pick for foundation crews is the 279VP1014: 44-7/8 in., 10/14 TPI, 8% cobalt bi-metal, made in the USA, $22.99 for a box of 3. It fits the Milwaukee 2729 and 6232, the DeWalt DCS374 and DWM120, and the Makita XBP02. See the rest of the kit in our foundation repair tools guide.

Our portable band saw blades and prices

Every blade we stock is an ITM bi-metal blade with 8% cobalt teeth, 1/2 in. wide and .020 in. thick, made in the USA and sold in a box of 3. They cut steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

Length	Fits	TPI and SKU	Price per box of 3	Per blade
27-3/16 in.	Milwaukee 2429, DeWalt DCS375 and DCS377	18: B270018; 14/18: B271418	$22.58	$7.53
28-13/16 in.	Bosch GCB18V-2N, GCB18V-LI and BSH180, Makita XBP05	18: B280018; 14/18: B281418	$22.58	$7.53
30-9/16 in.	Milwaukee M12 FUEL 2529	18: B300018; 14/18: B301418	$22.58	$7.53
32-7/8 in.	DeWalt DCS370 and DCS371, Makita XBP03 and XBP04	18: B320018; 14/18: B321418	$22.58	$7.53
35-3/8 in.	Milwaukee 2629, 2829, 6242	18: B350018; 14/18: B351418	$22.58	$7.53
44-7/8 in.	All full-size deep cut saws	24: 279SB0024; 18: 279SB0018; 14/18: 279VP1418; 14: 279SB0014; 10/14: 279VP1014	$22.99	$7.66

Prices checked on eldoradotools.com on Oct 15, 2026.

Browse them all, filtered by saw brand, length and TPI, in our band saw blades collection.

How do I measure a band saw blade if my saw is not listed?

To measure a band saw blade, cut the old blade once, lay it flat and straight, and measure it end to end. That number is the blade length. Or mark one tooth with tape, roll the uncut loop along a tape measure on the floor until the mark comes back around, and read the distance. You can also measure from the saw itself: it is the distance around both wheels with the tension lever in the running position.

Round to the nearest standard size: 27-3/16, 28-13/16, 30-9/16, 32-7/8, 35-3/8 or 44-7/8 in. If your number falls between two, call us before you order.

Can I use a slightly longer or shorter band saw blade?

No, you should not use a band saw blade that is even 1/4 in. off the saw's length. A blade that is too long will not tighten, wanders in the cut and jumps off the wheels. A blade that is too short will not go on at all, or it over-stretches and snaps at the weld. Width and thickness matter too: these saws are built for 1/2 in. wide, .020 in. thick blades, and a thicker .025 in. blade cracks from bending around the small wheels.

Why does my portable band saw blade keep breaking or coming off?

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Blade jumps off the wheels	Wrong length, loose tension, or worn rubber tires on the wheels	Check the length against the chart, set the tension lever fully, replace cracked or slick tires
Teeth strip off	Too few teeth for a thin wall	Move up in TPI, for example 24 TPI on EMT
Blade snaps at the weld	Twisting the saw in the cut, or too much down pressure	Keep the saw square and let its own weight feed the cut
Slow cutting, blue chips	Dull blade or too many teeth for a thick wall	Replace the blade, or drop to 14 or 10/14 TPI
Crooked cut	Worn blade guides or a dull side of the blade	Clean or replace the guide bearings; swap the blade

For other metal cutting, compare blades in our reciprocating saw blade guide.

FAQ

Are all portable band saw blades the same size?

No. Portable band saw blades come in several lengths, from 27-3/16 in. on sub-compact saws to 44-7/8 in. on full-size deep cut saws. Width (1/2 in.) and thickness (.020 in.) are nearly universal. Length is what you match to your saw.

What size blade does a Milwaukee M18 band saw take?

The Milwaukee M18 compact and M18 FUEL compact band saws (2629, 2829) take a 35-3/8 in. blade. The M18 FUEL deep cut band saws (2729, 2929) take a 44-7/8 in. blade.

What size blade does a DeWalt band saw take?

The DeWalt DCS374, DCS376 and DWM120 deep cut band saws take a 44-7/8 in. blade. The DCS370 and DCS371 compacts take 32-7/8 in., and the DCS375 and ATOMIC DCS377 take 27-3/16 in.

What size blade does a Milwaukee M12 band saw take?

The Milwaukee M12 FUEL compact band saw (2529) takes a 30-9/16 in. blade. The older M12 sub-compact band saw (2429) takes a 27-3/16 in. blade.

Do I have to buy the same brand of blade as my saw?

No. Any blade with the right length, width and thickness fits. A 44-7/8 in. x 1/2 in. x .020 in. blade fits every full-size deep cut saw, whatever brand is on the box.

What does 14/18 TPI mean on a band saw blade?

14/18 TPI is a variable pitch blade. Its teeth alternate between 14 and 18 teeth per inch, so one blade handles thin and medium walls with less vibration. It is the best all-round blade for a portable band saw.

How many blades come in a box?

Every portable band saw blade we sell comes in a box of 3. Prices run $22.58 to $22.99 a box, about $7.53 to $7.66 per blade.

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.

First published Oct 15, 2026, with prices checked on the store that day.