Makita XSS02Z
By Makita · Circular Saws · Power Tools
- No-load speed 3700 rpm
- Depth of cut 2-1/4 in at 90 degrees
- Depth of cut 1-9/16 in at 45 degrees
- Bevel 50 degrees
- Weight 7.3 lb with battery
Lowest price seen
$159.00
from $159.00 at Ace Tool · Checked Oct 11, 2026
- Ace Tool $159.00View at Ace Tool
- MakitaView at Makita
- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
- eBayView at eBay
- AmazonView at Amazon
Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
A lightweight 18V cordless circular saw for wood cutting, sold tool-only for people who already own Makita LXT batteries. Check the Z suffix before you buy: no battery or charger is in the box, and the brushed motor has been succeeded by brushless models.
Strengths
- Weighs 7.3 lbs with a battery attached — positioned as a compact, reduced-fatigue saw for job site or shop use.
- Runs on the widely available Makita 18V LXT battery platform, with broad US battery and parts availability.
- Carbon brushes are user-replaceable, and the manual includes replacement instructions.
- Star Protection Computer Controls guard against overload, over-discharge and over-heating.
- Makita publishes a parts breakdown and backs the saw with a 3-year limited warranty.
- A 16-tooth carbide-tipped blade comes in the box.
Weaknesses
- The brushed motor needs periodic carbon-brush replacement.
- The tool-only box can mislead buyers unfamiliar with Makita’s Z-suffix convention; no battery or charger is inside.
- Depth of cut trails 7-1/4 in saws: 2-1/4 in at 90° against 2-1/2 in or deeper.
- There is no variable speed control.
- Brushless successors such as the XSS03Z offer longer runtime and motor life.
- No independent test or owner discussion of this exact model could be found.
Verified specifications
| Platform | Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion slide-style battery, sold separately. |
|---|---|
| Blade diameter | 6-1/2 in (165 mm). |
| Arbor | 5/8 in. |
| No-load speed | 3,700 RPM from a brushed motor. |
| Depth of cut | 2-1/4 in (57 mm) at 90°, 1-9/16 in (40 mm) at 45°, 1-7/16 in (36 mm) at 50°. |
| Bevel capacity | 0° to 50°. |
| Dimensions | 13-5/8 in (347 mm) overall length. |
| Net weight | 7.3 lbs with a battery attached. |
| Handle | top handle with a rubberized soft grip. |
| Blade side | left. |
| Electric blade brake | yes; variable speed: no. |
| Dust port | yes, compatible with a Makita vacuum adapter. |
| Included blade | one 6-1/2 in 16-tooth carbide-tipped blade (T-01395). |
| In the box | tool and blade only; battery and charger sold separately. |
| Battery compatibility | Makita 18V LXT batteries bearing the Star symbol. |
| Protection | Star Protection Computer Controls guard against overload, over-discharge and over-heating. |
| Intended use | cutting wood products only. |
| Warranty | 3-year limited warranty on Makita’s product page; the instruction manual references a 1-year term. |
Full research notes and sources
Which model this is
The Makita XSS02Z (UPC 088381-663540) is a brushed-motor 6-1/2 in cordless circular saw. The Z suffix means tool only: the box holds the saw and one 16-tooth carbide-tipped blade, no battery or charger. It runs on Makita’s 18V LXT slide-style platform and works with any 18V LXT battery bearing the Star symbol — the manual references the BL1815N, BL1830 and BL1840 packs. If you don’t already own Makita batteries, a battery and charger kit is a separate purchase on top of the saw’s price, and a replacement battery pack (part 4NNN2) is sold separately too. One distributor listing (Imperial Supplies) labels the motor brushless; Makita’s manual settles it with a carbon-brush replacement section.
Cutting capacity and blade
The 6-1/2 in blade spins at 3,700 RPM and cuts up to 2-1/4 in deep at 90 degrees, 1-9/16 in at 45 degrees and 1-7/16 in at the 50-degree bevel limit — sized for light-duty wood cutting where that depth is enough. The manual states the tool is for cutting wood products only. An aluminum, precision-machined shoe is standard, and the electric blade brake is not a substitute for keeping the lower guard in place.
Brushed motor, upkeep and warranty
Being a brushed design, the XSS02Z will need new carbon brushes at some point. The manual includes replacement instructions, so the job is user-serviceable rather than a shop trip. Sawdust buildup on the lower guard and hub can stop the guard closing properly; the manual calls for regular cleaning. Makita publishes a parts breakdown for the saw and runs authorized service centers. The warranty wording is muddled: Makita’s product page advertises a 3-year limited warranty while the instruction manual references a 1-year term, which suggests an outdated manual or regional variation. Confirm coverage before you buy.
Pricing and total cost
Tool Nut lists the saw at $159.00 with free shipping; it was out of stock when checked, with 12-18 day shipping quoted. Imperial Supplies, a commercial distributor, lists it at $177.90 as package drop-ship pricing for B2B — not a consumer retail figure.
Neither price includes a battery or charger, so a first-time Makita buyer pays the saw plus a battery and charger kit on top.
No historical pricing from non-Amazon sellers was available at the check.
Is it worth it?
The saw makes most sense as a lightweight second saw for a shop already running Makita 18V LXT batteries. A buyer starting from zero pays the saw plus a battery and charger kit, and at that total the brushless successors — the XSS03Z and later — offer longer runtime and motor life for a small price difference. If you already own the batteries and cut wood only, the XSS02Z does the job. If you need variable speed, deeper cuts or a motor without brushes, price Makita’s brushless range first.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- Makita USA product page for the XSS02Z
- Makita XSS02 instruction manual (ManualsLib)
- Makita XSS02Z user manual (ManualsFile)
Retailers, spec pages and repair:
