5 Cheap Folding Saw Horses That Outperform Expensive Brands

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It's hard to know if you're overpaying (or not paying enough) for a sawhorse, since they can vary wildly in price, costing anywhere from $15 to $300, although they typically retail for around $100 or so. These numbers simply measure what's coming out of your bank account, though, and are by no means a metric of how good you can expect the sawhorse to be at its job.

Several sawhorses under that $100 mark are considered by many to be superior, and there are even ones that users would choose over brands that cost even more than that. These more affordable sawhorses still offer the same convenient functionality as their pricier counterparts, including the ability to fold for easier portability and storage.

Of course, there are plenty of cheap sawhorses that are total duds, especially those made with cheaper materials. Considering a good sawhorse is needed when working with miter saws or other essential woodworking power tools, you'll want to make sure you end up with one of the high-quality models rather than a lemon. Here are five cheap folding sawhorses that, based on owner feedback, expert testing, and reputable hardware publications, outperform pricier brands. More information on how we selected these sawhorses can be found at the end of this list.

One of the tool brands owned by Harbor Freight is Central Machinery, which sells a 32-inch Polypropylene Folding Sawhorse for just $17 — a very attractive price for DIYers and casual users. Based on nearly 1,000 user ratings, the sawhorse has a solid 4.4 out of 5 overall customer score, with owners praising its ease of use and value in particular.

Another feature users really appreciate is its lightweight construction and relatively compact size, as it weighs around 5.25 pounds and is less than 23 inches wide. The DeWalt 32-inch Heavy-Duty Metal Folding Sawhorse is another top-quality option with lots to offer, but YouTube reviewers such as Concord Carpenter | Tool Lab have noted that it can be too big to fit in a van. It doesn't matter how good a tool is if you can't even get it where you need to use it. So when it comes to portability, Harbor Freight's model outperforms DeWalt's and costs significantly less.

DeWalt's 32-inch Heavy-Duty Metal Folding Sawhorse is available from Home Depot for $65. That's nearly four times the price of Central Machinery's model, making the Harbor Freight product a steal. That said, DeWalt's sawhorse can support more weight: its 1,000- and 2,000-pound capacity (for one and two units, respectively) is double the Central Machinery's 500 and 1,000 pounds. The Central Machinery 32-inch, 500-lb Capacity Polypropylene Folding Sawhorse (model 57561) is available from Harbor Freight for around $17.

Craftsman is often viewed as a hit-or-miss option when it comes to woodworking tools — the brand does not sit very high on SlashGear's list of every major miter saw brand ranked worst to best, for example. But its sawhorse is one of the highest-rated on Amazon: Based on over 1,100 user ratings, the Craftsman Folding Metal Sawhorse has an excellent 4.8 out of 5-star rating.

It even manages to edge out popular, premium options like DeWalt's 33-inch Plastic Folding Portable Sawhorse, which holds a 4.7 out of 5 average user score on the retailer's website. That's really impressive considering it's just $27, which is over $100 less than DeWalt's price.

Adding to the evidence of the Craftsman's reliability are additional strong reviews from Lowe's customers. Even the drawbacks mentioned by Lowe's shoppers, such as rubber feet dislodging on occasion and the legs being tighter than desired, aren't too bad; they're more nuisances than fundamental flaws. One potential dealbreaker, though, is that the height of Craftsman's sawhorse is fixed at 28.9 inches and cannot be adjusted. This probably makes it a no-go for professional situations, but it may not be much of an issue if it's only going to be used by one or two people. The Craftsman Folding Metal Sawhorse (model CMST11154) is available from Amazon for around $27.

DIYers, homeowners, and even professionals who can get past the mental block of using a tool with the name Amazon Basics imprinted on it can save a lot of money. The fact that it's a private label from a company not known for tools doesn't necessarily mean it's a shoddy product. After all, several of the retailer's tools, such as the Amazon Basics electric screwdriver, are highly regarded.

The same can be said for the Amazon Basics Collapsible Rectangular Folding Sawhorse, which has a strong 4.6 out of 5 overall customer score based on over 8,400 ratings. Not only is that a higher customer score than sawhorses from dedicated tool companies like Bora, but Amazon's option is significantly cheaper at around $120 per pair. 

One convenient benefit to buying from Amazon over more expensive brands is that it sells its sawhorse in a set. It can be hard to tell when a brand is selling an individual sawhorse (which is often the case) rather than a pair, and paying double the price you see on your screen can really throw off your tool budget. This also makes it easier to calculate its load capacity, too, since you don't have to double the number — Amazon states clearly that its sawhorse set can hold up to 900 pounds. It also comes fully assembled and includes six hooks for holding power cords or tools. The Amazon Basics Collapsible Rectangular Folding Sawhorse set (model B077K6G4FB) is available from Amazon for around $55.

After testing sawhorses from several reputable brands, Bob Vila named the Stanley 31-inch Plastic Folding Sawhorse its "best bang for the buck." Despite costing less than more premium brands like DeWalt — with a price closer to Amazon Basics' sawhorse than $100-plus products from DeWalt and Bora — Stanley's option is still, according to Bob Vila, "lightweight, durable, and sturdy," as well as "surprisingly strong."

The Stanley 31-inch Plastic Folding Sawhorse even offers grooves for two-by lumber, a solid capacity of 1,000 pounds per pair, and has a 31-inch height, similar to expensive models. Each sawhorse in a pair weighs 6.2 pounds each, making it highly portable as well. For what it's worth, Bob Vila's expert review does mention its design can lead to pinched fingers if you're not careful, though.

That's not terrible if it's the biggest trade-off for buying Stanley's sawhorse over something like the Bora Speed Horse XT — which costs over $100 more and has a lower overall user score from Home Depot shoppers. Users praise Stanley's cheaper sawhorse for the same qualities Bob Vila found in its testing, just as they also appreciate extra features like a lower storage shelf. Owners confirm the legs lock securely to offer a stable workbench, and many mention how the plastic construction helps make it very convenient to use, albeit at the cost of feeling flimsy. The Stanley 31-inch Plastic Folding Sawhorse (model 060864R) is available from Home Depot for around $55.

Users who seek advice from Redditors when buying sawhorses are often met with one brand: Jackass. On subreddits like r/Construction, those who use Jackass sawhorses overwhelmingly say it is one of the best options out there, with some users mentioning they keep them on hand for use at a moment's notice. Of course, there is one potential drawback to the Jackass Sawhorse Kit for some users — the word "kit." 

It's not a ready-to-go sawhorse as you'd get from more expensive brands. Instead, you get a set of high-quality components that'll help you build your own sawhorse legs and surface — hinges, rope, screws, a fold-out template, plus all the required ​​hardware and even two logo stickers. That's why it can be sold for as cheap as it is. 

Not everyone will be interested in procuring the materials or spending the time to build a sawhorse, but it shouldn't be much trouble if you're the type who needs a sawhorse in the first place. In exchange, you save a chunk of money and get one of the most well-liked sawhorses on the internet. The Jackass Sawhorse Kit is available from Jackass Sawhorse for just $20.

The folding saw horses included on this list were selected for qualities most users prioritize, including load capacity, stability, build quality, and durability. Sawhorses can be hundreds of dollars, so we set a $100 threshold for this list, although none of our picks ended up costing more than $55. The list prices mentioned reflect those at the time of this writing and do not include seasonal or temporary discounts.

We relied on a variety of sources to make sure that these products could indeed outperform pricier offerings. These include professional reviews, expert findings and opinions from hardware-focused YouTubers, and feedback from everyday owners, including both professionals and more casual users like DIYers and homeowners. We sourced user feedback from Reddit and major retailer websites including Amazon, Lowe's, Harbor Freight, and Home Depot.