The 10 Best Rolling Saw Stands

Editor's Notes

October 21, 2020:

While many of our previous picks made it through this round of updates, we ended up eliminating the Powertec MT40042 and Husqvarna for TS 70 and TS 90, due to quality concerns and a lack of available ratings that made it difficult to rank the latter item credibly. We also removed the DeWalt DW374911, recognizing that our list already included two additional options from the company — the DeWalt DW7440RS, which is suitable for table saws, and the DeWalt DWX726, which is designed for miter saws. Our new additions this time around were the Bosch T4B — a rugged model that’s a pleasure to setup, thanks to the company’s patented collapsing system; the Protocol Equipment Professional — which features an impressive 500-pound capacity and 124-inch extended width; and the Delta Power Equipment 36-267 — a durable option with a handy release pedal that keeps setup simple.

A few things to look for in this category:

Compatibility: As our discussion of DeWalt stands has already hinted at, many (indeed, likely most) rolling stands are designed with a specific tool in mind. While models like the Powertec MT4009 and DeWalt DW7440RS are intended for use with table saws, other choices like the Metabo HPT UU240R and Wen MSA330 were made with miter saws in mind. If you are trying to outfit a miter saw, we also maintain a separate page for miter stands, which may be of interest to you.

It should also be noted that even if you’ve got the tool type right, not all stands are universal, although it does appear that many have made an effort to get as close to that point as possible. Before your order, do your due diligence and compare your prospective stand’s mounting specs with those of your saw, in the interest of avoiding unnecessary aggravation.

Capacity: This consideration is twofold, especially when considering miter stands, which are often depended on for cutting long material. Not only do you want a saw that can handle the combined weight of the saw and the material you’ll routinely be putting on top of it, but you also want one that can handle the widest range of material possible.

To handle the first consideration, simply look at the stand’s rated weight capacity. While the DeWalt DW7440RS is only rated to handle 200 pounds, most options in this category can handle over 300, while top-end models – including the Ridgid AC9946 and Bora Portamate Portacube STR – can accommodate 400 pounds. At 500 pounds, the Protocol Equipment Professional boasts the highest weight capacity of any model that we ranked this time around.

To get a clue regarding the second consideration, take a look at the stand's maximum extended width (which is often alternatively labeled as extended length). The Bosch T4B, which has an 8-1/2-foot extended width, brags that it has the “highest capacity among fully portable units,” with an 18-foot material capacity, but it isn’t made explicitly clear why it should be able to accommodate longer material than say the Delta Power Equipment 36-267 – which features a 9-1/2-foot extended width – or the Protocol Equipment Professional — which boasts a 124-inch extended width.

Convenience: While many models in this category feature slick bells and whistles that further contribute to their convenience – like the lumber-stacking brackets on the Protocol Equipment Professional, or the reversible design on the Bora Portamate Portacube STR, which easily converts it to a viable workbench –the biggest thing you want to be looking for, if you like having your life made easy, is a convenient collapsing system.

Bosch likes to brag about their patented “Gravity Rise System” – which I can say, based on firsthand experience, really is excellent – but in terms of functionality, I’m not sure that it’s much different than that of the Ridgid AC9946 — which is also outstanding. Though I haven’t had an opportunity to work with the Delta Power Equipment 36-267 or Metabo HPT UU240R, models like these also appear to have convenient, well-thought-out collapsing systems, as do others on our list and elsewhere throughout the category.

Selections like the Wen MSA330 and Protocol Equipment Professional, which feature sawhorse-style configurations, tend to be a bit more cumbersome and, if used regularly over the long term, present a potential source of agitation. However, they can also be much more affordable, and still quite functional. Because its collapsing system was the only major observable flaw we found with the Protocol Equipment Professional, it still made it quite close to the top of our list.

February 16, 2019:

Assuming that the stand is safe and stable, the next most important consideration is ease-of-use. The DeWalt DW7440RS was exemplary in this category, as it's simple for a single user to operate, even with hands that are otherwise occupied. The Wen MSA330 is another standout, thanks in large part to its three electrical outlets. At the other end of the spectrum is the Powertec MT4002 Deluxe, which is inexpensive and gets the job done, but will likely cause you a fair deal of frustration along the way.