Makita 18V X2 LXT 36V Brushless Rear Handle Circular Saw Review: A Strong Deal for Demolition and Sheet Work

Introduction

Rear handle circular saws have quietly become a favorite among contractors and demolition workers, and this Makita is a good example of why. The 18V X2 LXT 36V Brushless Cordless Rear Handle Circular Saw (XSR model) pairs a 7-1/4-inch blade with two 18V batteries working together to deliver 36V of cutting power, all without a cord.

This particular kit was spotted at a notably accessible price of $250 at Home Depot, which is aggressive for a 36V-class saw that ships with batteries and a charger included. If you have been considering a rear handle saw for demolition or sheet goods work, this is a deal worth keeping an eye on.

What Comes in the Kit

The kit ships with two 5.0Ah batteries and a dual-port charger, so you can charge one battery while using the other. The dual-port charger is a genuinely useful inclusion for anyone running the saw all day, since it removes the downtime of swapping a single battery onto a single-bay charger.

Makita also ships the saw with a blade and the blade wrench included, so the tool is ready to cut out of the box. One small but appreciated detail: the batteries arrive already charged, which is how Makita typically ships them.

The dual-port charger itself has some nice touches. It chimes when charging is finished, which makes it easy to know your batteries are ready without hovering over the charger. It also supports USB charging, a handy extra feature for the jobsite.

Handling, Weight, and Where It Excels

The saw is slightly heavier than Makita’s top-handle equivalent, and its RPM is also a bit lower. Those are the trade-offs. In exchange, the rear handle layout gives you better reach and control for specific kinds of work.

Where this saw really shines is in tight spaces and one-handed situations. For hot tub demolition work, the rear handle configuration makes it much easier to get into awkward positions where a top-handle saw would be clumsy. It also handles one-handed cuts in plywood and similar sheet material with confidence, which is harder to manage on a top-handle design.

Battery insertion is at the rear of the saw, and a press-button power indicator lets you check the charge level of the installed batteries at a glance.

Why Own Both Saw Types

There is a good argument for keeping a rear handle saw alongside a top-handle one rather than choosing between them. The top-handle saw wins on speed and weight for general framing work. The rear handle saw earns its place on jobs that demand unusual positions, deeper reach, or one-handed control.

If you already own a top-handle saw, this Makita makes a strong complementary tool rather than a replacement. The shared 18V LXT battery platform means the batteries interchange across the Makita lineup, which keeps the total cost of ownership reasonable.

Buying Advice

At the $250 price point seen at Home Depot, this kit is a strong value for a 36V-class brushless saw with two batteries and a dual-port charger. Deals like this have been appearing regularly for Makita and other major brands at Home Depot and Lowe’s, so it is worth monitoring if the current price is not available in your area.

If your work involves demolition, tight-quarter cuts, or frequent one-handed sheet goods cuts, the rear handle format is worth the slight weight penalty. Pair it with a hot tub or demolition-focused workflow and it will pay for itself in convenience quickly.

Conclusion

The Makita 18V X2 LXT 36V Brushless Rear Handle Circular Saw fills a clear niche: powerful 36V cutting in a layout built for awkward positions and one-handed work. With two 5.0Ah batteries, a dual-port charger, a blade, and a wrench included at a $250 deal price, it is an easy recommendation for demolition pros and serious DIYers alike. If you can find it at that price, it is worth acting on.