Milwaukee Tool is bringing the M18 FUEL system to 10-1/4-inch blade territory for the first time. The new 3026-20 rear handle circular saw cuts through 4x dimensional lumber in a single pass — something no cordless 7-1/4-inch saw can do — and it’s currently the lightest 10-1/4-inch cordless circular saw on the market at 10.3 pounds without a battery. Availability is expected at Home Depot in June–July 2026.
Why 10-1/4 Inches Matters for Framers
The existing M18 FUEL 7-1/4-inch rear handle saw (2930-20) is an excellent tool, but its depth of cut maxes out at around 2-9/16 inches at 90 degrees. That means two passes through a true 4x. The 3026-20’s 3-13/16-inch depth at 90 degrees clears a 4x in a single pass — and holds 2-9/16 inches at 45 degrees for compound cuts. On a framing job where you’re running hundreds of cuts through thick stock, eliminating the second pass is a meaningful productivity gain.
Milwaukee is also making an ergonomic claim worth noting: at 10.3 lbs, the 3026-20 beats other 10-1/4-inch saws on weight. Worm-drive and sidewinder saws in this blade size typically run 12–14 lbs. Over a full shift, that difference is felt in your wrists.
Specs
- Model: Milwaukee 3026-20 (bare tool) / 3026-21HD (kit)
- Blade size: 10-1/4 inch
- Depth of cut at 90°: 3-13/16 in. (single-pass through 4x lumber)
- Depth of cut at 45°: 2-9/16 in.
- No-load speed: 3,250 RPM
- Weight: 10.3 lbs (tool only)
- Runtime: Up to 250 cuts per charge in 4×4 (with FORGE HD12.0 battery)
- Blade included: 28T thick kerf framing blade
- Guards/shoe: All magnesium construction
- Safety: AUTOSTOP Advanced Kickback Protection, electric blade brake
- Other: LED work light, multi-size rafter hook
AUTOSTOP: Worth Calling Out
Milwaukee’s AUTOSTOP detects the angular velocity spike that precedes kickback and cuts motor power before the blade can react backward. It’s been on Milwaukee’s track saw lineup for a while. Putting it on a rear handle framing saw makes sense — framers often cut at odd angles and elevations where a kickback event is more dangerous than it would be at a bench. It’s not a gimmick at this blade size and weight.
Battery Situation
The 3026-21HD kit will ship with the FORGE HD12.0 battery. That’s Milwaukee’s highest-capacity M18 pack, and the runtime figure (250 cuts in 4×4) is tested against it. The bare tool 3026-20 runs on any M18 battery, but expect peak performance from the HD12.0 or FORGE HD9.0. If you’re already in the M18 ecosystem, you’re set. If you’re not, the kit will be the more economical entry.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing has not been announced. For context, the M18 FUEL 7-1/4-inch kit (2930-21HD) with a FORGE battery runs around $599 at Home Depot. The 10-1/4-inch kit will likely land above that. Milwaukee’s product page is accepting notification sign-ups now — expect preorder availability closer to the June launch window.
Milwaukee sells exclusively through Home Depot for this category — not Amazon. Check Milwaukee circular saw availability at Home Depot.
If you need a cutting solution before this ships, our Best Track Saws 2026 guide covers precision options available now. For a deeper look at Milwaukee’s M18 platform and how it compares to the competition, see our Power Tool Battery Technology Explained guide. And if you’re buying into the M18 system for the first time, our Best Cordless Impact Drivers 2026 roundup covers the M18 FUEL driver lineup that pairs with it.
Sources: Milwaukee Tool 3026-20 product page · Ohio Power Tool News
