Best Budget Track Saw for Plywood: 5 Picks Compared

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For most DIYers, the best budget track saw for plywood is the WEN CT1065 paired with WEN’s CT9110 110-inch rail. Together they cost less than many premium track saws alone, and they give you enough rail to rip a full 8-foot sheet in one pass. Below we compare five budget-friendly track saws by price, cutting depth and included rail. We also cover how much rail you really need, the mistakes that waste money, and when a cheap track saw is the wrong tool.

• Best budget setup for plywood: WEN CT1065 + CT9110 110″ rail. About $180–$195 for both at major retailers in October 2026.
• Cheaper starter option: WEN CT1065 bundle with 100″ of rail. Good for crosscuts and most rips, but it may be short for a full 96″ rip.
• Step up: WEN CT1274. 7-1/4″ blade, variable speed, 2.6″ cutting depth.
• Best cordless on a budget: Ryobi PTS01K. The kit includes a battery, a charger and a 55″ track.
• Most rail in the box: Grizzly T33300ZX. 108″ of rail, plus clamps and connectors.

How We Chose These Saws

ThePlywood.com did not bench-test these saws. We picked them using criteria that matter for cutting sheet goods:

• Cutting depth: the saw must clear 3/4″ plywood plus the rail, with margin to spare.
• Rail length: it must handle a full 8-foot rip, either out of the box or by adding one affordable rail.
• Total system cost: we priced the saw, rail and clamps together, not just the saw.
• Edge quality and setup: hands-on findings come from Bob Vila’s February 2026 track saw test, credited wherever we use it.
• Fit for occasional use: these are weekend and small-shop tools, not production saws.

Specs come from manufacturer and retailer listings. Prices are ranges we saw at major retailers in October 2026. They change often, so check before you buy.

Budget Track Saw Comparison Chart

Saw	Approx. price (Oct 2026)	What that price includes	Max cutting depth at 90°	Bevel	Rail included	Best for
WEN CT1065	~$110–$120	Saw only	2-1/3″ (manufacturer max)	0–45°	None (add CT9110 110″ rail, ~$70–$80)	Best value plywood setup
WEN CT1274	~$150–$155	Saw only	2.6″ (manufacturer max)	0–45°	None (CT9502 100″ or CT9110 110″)	Thicker stock, speed control
Ryobi PTS01K	~$299–$419 (varies with sales)	Saw, 4Ah battery, charger, 55″ track	1-15/16″ with track	-1° to 48°	55″ (2 × 27.5″)	Ryobi 18V owners
Grizzly T33300ZX	~$245–$289	Saw, three 36″ rails, 2 clamps, 4 connectors, limit stop, anti-tilt bar	1-31/32″ with rail (2-5/32″ without)	0–45°	108″ (3 × 36″)	Most rail out of the box
Makita SP6000J1	~$350–$590 depending on seller	Saw, case, 55″ guide rail	2-3/16″ (manufacturer max)	-1° to 48°	55″	Cleanest cuts if you can stretch

Cutting depth note: Ryobi and Grizzly publish depth with the rail in place. WEN and Makita publish a single maximum, and depth on the rail will be slightly less. Every saw here still clears 3/4″ plywood on its rail with room to spare.

💸 Cost difference: The saw’s price is not the system’s price. One retailer listed the WEN saw, 110″ rail and clamps at roughly $119, $79 and $20 separately ($218 total), while a bundled deal sold all three for about $170. Price the complete setup (saw, rail and clamps) before deciding which option is cheapest.

How to Read This Chart for Plywood Work

Cutting depth: almost any saw here is enough

To cut a sheet of 3/4″ plywood, the blade has to clear the panel plus the rail. Every saw in the chart does that comfortably, including the two lowest with-rail figures: Ryobi at 1-15/16″ and Grizzly at 1-31/32″. Depth only becomes a deciding factor if you also plan to rip 2x stock or butcher block. For that, the CT1274’s 2.6″ capacity is worth the step up.

Rail length: the detail most budget kits get wrong

The saw should stay fully supported on the rail from before the blade enters the sheet until after it exits. Always use the rail length your saw’s instructions specify for the cut you’re making. As a rough planning guide:

Rail length ≈ panel length + length of the saw’s base

Cut	Panel length	Saw base (WEN CT1065 = 12″)	Rail to plan for
Crosscut a 4×8 sheet	48″	12″	~60″ or more
Rip a 4×8 sheet full length	96″	12″	~108″ or more

This guide comes from simple geometry. It does not replace the manufacturer’s instructions. Here’s how it applies to the kits in this article:

• 55″ kit rails (Ryobi, Makita) are shorter than the ~60″ this guide suggests for a 48″ crosscut. If your rail can’t fully support the saw at both ends of a cut, add a second rail with the manufacturer’s connector. Don’t run the cut with the saw partly off the rail.
• The 100″ WEN bundle is a good budget starting package, but it may be short for a full 96″ rip.
• WEN’s CT9110 (two 55″ rails plus adapters) is designed for the CT1065 and made for ripping full 8×4 sheets. It’s the upgrade we recommend.
• Grizzly’s 108″ of rail meets the guide for a full rip out of the box.

⚠️ Warning: Every joint between rail sections adds a chance for error. Bob Vila’s testers had the Grizzly’s three-piece rail bind at the seams until they adjusted it several times. One Lowe’s buyer of a WEN track found a curve of about 1/8″ in his rail only after cutting a door. Check any joined rail against a known straightedge before your first good cut.

Accuracy: the rail matters more than the motor

On a budget saw, most accuracy problems come from three sources: the base fitting loosely on the rail, rail sections that aren’t straight, and depth scales that don’t match the actual cut. Bob Vila’s testers noted the WEN had more vibration and less smooth rail engagement than higher-end saws. They found the Ryobi’s rail alignment finicky and the Grizzly’s depth gauge slightly shallow. None of these ruins the saw. You just have to set it up and check it before trusting it.

Best Budget Track Saw Picks for Plywood

1. WEN CT1065 + CT9110 Rail: Best Budget Setup for Plywood

The CT1065 is a 10-amp plunge saw with a 6-1/2″ blade, a 0–2-1/3″ depth range, a 45° left bevel and a back-mounted dust port. Adding the CT9110 gives you 110″ of track for full-length 8-foot rips. In Bob Vila’s test, the CT1065 scored well for build and cut quality and lower for ease of use.

Why pick it: It’s the lowest-cost complete setup that rips full sheets.

WEN CT1065 on Amazon · WEN CT9110 110″ rail on Amazon

Lower-cost alternative: the WEN CT1065 bundle with 100″ of rail works for crosscuts and most rips, but full 96″ rips may need more rail.

2. WEN CT1274: Best for Thicker Stock and Speed Control

The CT1274 has a 12-amp motor, a 7-1/4″ blade on a standard 5/8″ arbor, variable speed from 2,000 to 6,000 RPM, and 2.6″ of depth. Slowing the blade helps on dense hardwood plywood, and the standard arbor makes replacement blades easy to find. The rail is sold separately.

Why pick it: More depth and speed control for a small step up in price.

WEN CT1274 on Amazon

3. Ryobi PTS01K: Best Budget Cordless

This is an 18V brushless saw with a 40-tooth blade, riving knife, track clamp, two 27.5″ tracks, a 4Ah battery and a charger. Ryobi rates it at up to 260 linear feet of cutting per charge. Its track system is Ryobi-specific, so plan on Ryobi rails if you need more length.

Why pick it: You already own Ryobi batteries and want to cut without a cord.

Ryobi PTS01K at The Home Depot

4. Grizzly T33300ZX: Most Rail Out of the Box

This bundle pairs a 9-amp, 6-1/4″ plunge saw with three 36″ rails, two rail clamps, four rail connectors, a limit stop and an anti-tilt bar. That’s 108″ of rail plus clamps, with nothing else to buy. The trade-off is setup time. Bob Vila’s testers had to adjust the rail joints several times to stop binding, and the depth gauge read slightly shallow.

Why pick it: You want to rip full sheets on day one without buying extra rail or clamps.

Grizzly T33300ZX at Grizzly

5. Makita SP6000J1: If You Can Stretch the Budget

This isn’t a budget saw, but it’s the one to consider before buying a second cheap one. It has a 12-amp motor, 2-3/16″ maximum depth, a -1° to 48° bevel and a 55″ rail. In Bob Vila’s test it left zero tear-out in maple plywood.

Why pick it: You cut finish-grade plywood often and tear-out is costing you material.

Makita SP6000J1 on Amazon

Don’t skip clamps. For the WEN saws, the CT992F clamps lock the rail to the sheet: WEN CT992F on Amazon

Which Budget Track Saw Should You Buy? (Decision Chart)

If you…	Buy	Why
Mostly break down 3/4″ plywood for shelves and cabinets	WEN CT1065 + CT9110	Lowest-cost setup that rips full sheets
Want the lowest upfront cost and mostly crosscut	WEN CT1065 100″ bundle	Cheapest complete starter
Also rip butcher block or 2x stock	WEN CT1274 + 110″ rail	2.6″ depth, variable speed
Already run Ryobi 18V tools	Ryobi PTS01K + a second Ryobi rail	Cordless; extra rail covers full crosscuts and rips
Want full-sheet rips with no extra purchase	Grizzly T33300ZX	108″ of rail and clamps in the box
Cut prefinished or veneer plywood every week	Makita SP6000J1	Cleaner edges cost less than wasted sheets

When a Budget Track Saw Is the Wrong Choice

• Daily production work. Budget saws have more vibration and looser rail fit. That’s fine for weekend projects, but the small tolerances get tiring over hundreds of cuts.
• Melamine and prefinished panels. The coating chips easily. Our melamine plywood guide recommends scoring the surface first. A budget saw with a worn splinter strip makes chipping worse.
• Many identical narrow strips. A table saw with a good table saw fence is faster for repeat rips. A track saw is better for breaking a full sheet down to manageable sizes.
• Mixing brands of rail. WEN describes its CT9110 rail as compatible with Evolution, Makita and Festool saws, but the Ryobi track system doesn’t work with other brands. Confirm compatibility for your exact saw and rail before you buy.

😬 Regret: You buy the shortest kit to save a few dollars, then discover on your first 8-foot rip that you have to move the rail halfway through the cut. That reposition is exactly the error a track saw is supposed to eliminate.

Common Mistakes When Buying a Budget Track Saw

1. ❌ Mistake: Buying the saw without a rail. The WEN CT1065 and CT1274 ship without track. They can still make plunge cuts on their own flat base, but without a rail you lose the guided, straight-line accuracy that’s the reason to buy a track saw. Consequence: you pay for a track saw and get circular-saw results.
2. Buying too little rail. A single 55″ rail may not fully support the saw through a 48″ crosscut, and it can’t handle a full-length rip. Consequence: you reposition mid-cut and get a step in the edge. Add rail with the manufacturer’s connector instead.
3. Trusting the depth scale out of the box. Testers found budget depth gauges reading off. Consequence:incomplete cuts or a scored bench. Test-plunge on scrap first.
4. Skipping rail clamps. Consequence: the rail creeps on smooth faces and the cut drifts. Clamped rails are the fix our straight-line cutting guide recommends.
5. Cutting a full sheet with no support underneath. Consequence: the offcut sags, pinches the blade and splinters the edge. Support both sides on sawhorses or sacrificial foam.
6. Underestimating sheet handling. A 3/4″ sheet is heavy and awkward (see our plywood weight chart). Consequence: strain and dropped sheets. Breaking sheets down where they lie is one of the main reasons to own a track saw.

FAQ

What is the best budget track saw for plywood?

For most DIYers, the WEN CT1065 paired with the WEN CT9110 110″ rail. It cuts 3/4″ plywood with depth to spare, and the 110″ rail handles full 8-foot rips.

How long a track do I need to cut a 4×8 sheet of plywood?

Follow your saw manufacturer’s instructions first. As a planning guide, figure the panel length plus your saw’s base length. That works out to about 60″ for a 48″ crosscut and about 108″ for a full 96″ rip with a 12″-base saw like the WEN CT1065.

Is a 55-inch track long enough to crosscut a 4-foot sheet?

It may not be. A 48″ crosscut calls for roughly 60″ of rail by the panel-plus-base guide. If a single 55″ rail can’t keep the saw fully supported from start to finish, join a second rail with the manufacturer’s connector before making the cut.

Can you use a track saw without the track?

Yes. Saws like the WEN CT1065 and Grizzly T33300 can run on their own flat base as plunge saws. Without the rail, though, you lose the guided straight cut that makes a track saw worth owning.

Is a budget track saw accurate enough for cabinets?

It can be, once it’s set up properly. Check joined rails for straightness, verify the depth scale, and clamp the rail down. Budget saws need more setup than premium ones, but the rail does most of the work keeping the cut straight.

Corded or cordless for cutting plywood?

Corded budget saws give you unlimited runtime at the lowest price. Cordless makes sense if you already own the battery platform. Ryobi rates its PTS01 at up to 260 linear feet per charge on a 4Ah High Performance battery.

Bottom Line

The best budget track saw for plywood is the WEN CT1065 paired with the CT9110 110″ rail. It costs far less than a premium saw and handles full 8-foot rips. Step up to the CT1274 for more depth and speed control, or choose the Grizzly T33300ZX if you want 108″ of rail and clamps with nothing else to buy. Whichever saw you choose, use the rail length the manufacturer specifies, clamp it down, and check every rail joint before you trust it with a good sheet. For more technique, see our guide to making long cuts in plywood.