Description:

Key Features

Single-Pass 4x Cuts The deep 3-13/16 inch cut at 90 degrees lets this circular saw handle up to 4x material in one pass. That means fewer flips, straighter cuts, and less time spent wrestling big lumber. Lighter for All-Day Work At 13.6 pounds with the included battery, it is built to cut hard without wearing you out. Less tool weight matters when you are making repeated framing cuts or working overhead and off ladders. Kickback Protection AUTOSTOP advanced kickback protection shuts power off during a severe kickback event. It is the kind of feature that matters most when the cut goes wrong fast.

Overview

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw Kit, model 3026-21HD, is a cordless rear handle circular saw built for pro framing, remodeling, and heavy lumber cutting. This is a rear handle circular saw designed for deep framing cuts, fast rip cuts, and single-pass cutting through large dimensional lumber. If you want cordless freedom without stepping down in cut capacity, this is the reason this saw exists.

The big story here is cut depth and jobsite output. With a 10-1/4 inch blade and 3-13/16 inch depth of cut at 90 degrees, this saw is built to cut up to 4x material in a single pass. That matters on posts, beams, blocking, stair stock, and other framing work where smaller saws force a flip-and-finish routine. Milwaukee also calls out fast application speed, so this is not just about blade size. It is about moving through demanding cuts with the pace pros expect.

Milwaukee built this saw on the M18 platform and gave it a POWERSTATE brushless motor with REDLINK PLUS electronics. In plain terms, that means the saw is set up to pull hard under load while also protecting itself from overload, overheating, and over-discharge. For contractors, that translates to more consistent cutting when you are working through wet lumber, pressure-treated stock, or repeated long rip cuts instead of babying the tool to keep it alive.

The rear handle layout is the right call for users who prefer a familiar worm drive style feel and better leverage on long cuts. Milwaukee also uses magnesium guards and shoes, which is a real-world durability and weight decision, not just a spec sheet filler line. Magnesium helps keep the tool lighter while still standing up to jobsite abuse. Add in the multi-sized rafter hook and you get a saw that is easier to live with when you are moving around framing decks, roof work, or rough carpentry setups.

Safety and control are not an afterthought here. AUTOSTOP advanced kickback protection cuts power during a severe kickback event, and the electric blade brake helps the blade stop quickly after the trigger is released. There is also an LED work light for low-light cuts and a vacuum adapter for users who want better cleanup in interior remodel work or enclosed spaces. Those details make a difference when the job moves from open framing to punch-list and occupied-site work.

Runtime is another strong point. Paired with the included M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE HD12.0 battery, Milwaukee states up to 250 cuts per charge in 4x4 material. That is the kind of battery-and-tool pairing that makes sense for a large blade cordless saw. Just as important, the saw stays compatible with all M18 REDLITHIUM batteries, so crews already on Milwaukee M18 can drop this into an existing battery platform instead of adding another system to the truck.

This kit is not a stripped-down bare tool either. You get the saw, the FORGE HD12.0 battery, an M18 and M12 rapid charger, a 10-1/4 inch 28-tooth thick kerf framing blade, a blade wrench, a vacuum adapter, and a contractor bag. That means a buyer can get to work right away instead of chasing down the battery, charger, or blade separately.

Who should buy it? This saw makes the most sense for carpenters, framers, remodelers, and general contractors who regularly cut large lumber and want cordless mobility without giving up the feel and capacity of a rear handle saw. If your work is mostly sheet goods and light trim, it is more saw than you need. If you cut beams, posts, headers, and framing stock every week, this is exactly the kind of cordless circular saw worth paying for.

Cut Big Lumber Without Flipping the Work

This saw is built for the cuts that separate a serious framing saw from a basic cordless circular saw. The larger blade and deep capacity let you work through thick stock in one clean pass, which saves time and helps keep cuts more consistent.

• 3-13/16 inch depth of cut at 90 degrees
• Cuts up to 4x dimensional lumber in a single pass
• 10 inch to 10-1/4 inch blade size range

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw Kit Ready to Work

This kit makes sense for buyers who want the full setup from day one. The included FORGE HD12.0 battery and rapid charger are matched to a high-demand saw, so you are not handicapping a big blade tool with the wrong power source.

• Includes M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE HD12.0 battery pack
• Includes M18 and M12 rapid charger
• Includes 10-1/4 inch 28-tooth thick kerf framing blade and contractor bag

What's in the Box

• (1) M18 FUEL 10-1/4 inch Rear Handle Circular Saw (3026-20)
• (1) M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE HD12.0 Battery Pack (48-11-1813)
• (1) M18 and M12 Rapid Charger (48-59-1808)
• (1) 10-1/4 inch 28-tooth Thick Kerf Framing Circular Saw Blade (48-40-1048)
• (1) Blade Wrench
• (1) Vacuum Adapter
• (1) Contractor Bag

Milwaukee image data also references a dust plug with the kit. Milwaukee's in-the-box list does not separately list it.

Key Specifications

Compatibility

Battery Platform Compatible with all Milwaukee M18 REDLITHIUM batteries. Charger Platform Includes an M18 and M12 rapid charger for charging both Milwaukee battery systems. Blade Size Range Accepts 10 inch to 10-1/4 inch circular saw blades.

Built For

Carpentry Construction General Contracting Remodeling Framing Lumber 4x Material Cutting Rip Cuts Jobsite Wood Cutting

Pro Tip

If you are buying this saw for full-depth 4x cuts, run it with the included FORGE HD12.0 battery. A big blade cordless saw works best with the high-output pack it was designed around, especially when you are making repeated long cuts in framing stock.

Warranty & Support

Milwaukee states this circular saw is backed by a 5-year limited power tool warranty. The included battery carries a 3-year limited warranty, and the included charger carries a 5-year limited warranty.

Tool Nut's Take

Tool Nut's Take

Big Blade Cordless Power for Real Framing Work

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10-1/4" Rear Handle Circular Saw Kit is the kind of cordless saw you buy when a standard 7-1/4 inch saw is leaving too much work on the table.

• Who it's for: Framers, carpenters, remodelers, and contractors cutting 4x stock, beams, posts, and other heavy lumber on a regular basis.
• Why it stands out: You get deep single-pass cut capacity, rear handle control, a lighter overall package for this class, and a properly matched FORGE battery right in the kit.
• Worth knowing: This is a purpose-built large circular saw, not a compact grab-and-go trim saw. If you mainly cut sheet goods and small stock, it is more tool than you need. If you need full-depth framing performance without a cord, it makes a strong case fast.

Common Questions

• What battery platform does this saw use? It uses the Milwaukee M18 battery platform and is compatible with all M18 REDLITHIUM batteries.
• How deep will it cut at 90 degrees? Milwaukee lists a 3-13/16 inch depth of cut at 90 degrees.
• Can it cut 4x material in one pass? Yes. Milwaukee states it cuts up to 4x dimensional lumber in a single pass.
• Does it include a blade? Yes. The kit includes one 10-1/4 inch 28-tooth thick kerf framing circular saw blade.