About SKIL
SKIL's roots go back to the 1920s, when founder Edmond Michel's Michel Electric Handsaw Company built what is credited as the world's first portable circular saw, the Model E, a machine that helped earn SKIL the nickname "the saw that built America." The brand grew into one of the top power-tool makers worldwide, expanding into Europe in 1960 and into South America and Asia Pacific through the 1980s. Robert Bosch GmbH owned SKIL from 1996 until 2017, when it was acquired by Chervon (HK) Ltd., the Nanjing-based manufacturer that also owns EGO, FLEX, and Hammerhead. SKIL Power Tools is headquartered in Naperville, Illinois, and sells power tools, saws, and outdoor power equipment through major US retailers including Amazon.
The current lineup is built around SKIL's PWR CORE battery platforms, PWR CORE 12, PWR CORE 20, and PWR CORE 40, which let one battery run tools across categories instead of locking buyers into a single-purpose pack. Cordless power tools and outdoor equipment carry a 3-year warranty that extends to 5 years with product registration, and SKIL's high-performance SPT-prefix cutting tools add a 180-day money-back STAY TRUE guarantee. On DIYRated, that mix of proven engineering and broad accessibility is why the SKIL 3550 wet tile saw is one of the products we rated highest in our testing, and why SKIL tools keep turning up among our picks across our saw and tool coverage.
Brand website: skil.com
What SKIL makes
SKIL's range runs wider than the products we review. The lines we know best from our own testing are marked with a star:
Saws & Cutting Tools
circular, table, miter, jigsaw, worm drive, and tile saws — featured on DIYRated — featured on DIYRated
Drills & Drivers
cordless drill/driver kits and impact drivers on the PWR CORE 20 platform — featured on DIYRated
Outdoor Power Equipment
cordless chainsaws, mowers, blowers, hedge trimmers, and string trimmers — featured on DIYRated
PWR CORE Battery Systems
PWR CORE 12, 20, and 40 shared battery platforms across tool categories
Benchtop & Corded Tools
benchtop table saws and corded power tools for the shop
Lasers, Levels & Measuring
laser levels and measuring tools
Why we recognized SKIL
The DIYRated Top Brand recognition isn't paid for and can't be applied for. We award it to the brands whose products consistently stand out in our hands-on category reviews. SKIL earned it on the strength of the products below, evaluated the same way every product on this site is: bought, put to work on real jobs, and judged on merit.
SKIL products we rated highly
SKIL 3540-02 7-Inch Wet Tile Saw
The deepest proven track record in the 7-inch class, 4.4 stars across more than 8,300 reviews and the #3 bestseller in Amazon's tile and masonry saw category. The HydroLock water containment system keeps splash close to the blade for indoor cutting, and the rust-resistant aluminum tabletop with a sliding side extension supports tile up to 18x18, covering modern plank and floor tile.
Read the 7 Best Tile Saws of 2026 guide →
SKIL 5280-01 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw with Laser Guide
A single-beam laser guide projects a clean line for straight freehand cuts, and a spindle lock speeds blade changes, a feature that costs twice as much on competitor saws. The 15-amp motor delivers genuine 7-1/4-inch sidewinder performance at 8.7 pounds, light enough for one-handed cuts and comfortable for users learning the trade.
Read the 7 Best Circular Saws of 2026 guide →
SKIL PWR CORE 40 Brushless 40V 14-Inch Chainsaw Kit (CS4555-10)
The only complete name-brand kit at its price point, including a 2.5 Ah PWR CORE 40 battery and the Auto PWR Jump charger, so a first-time buyer gets everything needed out of the box. At 11.5 lbs it is the lightest kit in its class, genuinely comfortable for overhead pruning, limbing, and light storm cleanup.
Read the 7 Best Cordless Chainsaws of 2026 guide →
SKIL DL6280B-10 PWR CORE 20 Brushless 20V Drill Driver Kit
A brushless motor at this price point is exceptional value, most drills in its price class use less efficient brushed motors. The PWR CORE 20 battery wraps each cell in cooling material for longer runtime, and 17-stage torque adjustment plus a dedicated drill mode gives finer clutch control than most drills at twice the price.
Read the 7 Best Cordless Drills of 2026 guide →
SKIL JS314901 6-Amp Corded Jigsaw with Halo Ring LED
A Halo ring LED encircles the blade and is roughly ten times brighter than a single bulb, lighting the cut line evenly. A strong 6-amp corded motor reaches 3,200 SPM, and the saw accepts both U-shank and T-shank blades, giving it the widest replacement-blade selection in its class.
Read the 7 Best Jigsaws of 2026 guide →
SKIL MS6305-00 10-Inch Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Outstanding value as a full-featured sliding dual bevel compound saw well under the price of comparable models. A powerful 15-amp motor handles hardwood cuts without stalling, and a smooth slide mechanism with minimal play delivers consistent crosscuts across the full range of travel.
Read the 8 Best Miter Saws of 2026 guide →
SKIL 15 Amp 10 Inch Portable Jobsite Table Saw with Folding Stand (TS6307-00)
A rack-and-pinion fence delivers precise, repeatable adjustments at a price point that used to mean a basic stamped fence, and parallel blade micro-alignment is a premium feature rarely found in its class. Lightweight at 49 lbs with stand, one person can load and unload this saw without a second set of hands.
Read the 7 Best Table Saws of 2026 guide →What earned SKIL the recognition
- SKIL invented the world's first portable circular saw in the 1920s and is often called "the saw that built America", a heritage that shows up directly in our testing: its wet tile saw is a standout, with repeat picks across circular, miter, table, and jigsaw categories on DIYRated.
- Backed by a 5-year warranty (a 3-year base term extendable with product registration) on cordless power tools and outdoor equipment, plus a 180-day STAY TRUE money-back guarantee on SPT-prefix high-performance cutting tools.
- PWR CORE 20 and PWR CORE 40 battery platforms let one battery run tools across categories, from drills to chainsaws, instead of forcing buyers to stock a separate battery and charger for every tool.
- The SKIL 3550-02 with HydroLock is one of the products we rated highest in our wet tile saw testing, backed by more than 8,300 verified reviews, and SKIL products are also among our picks for circular saws, cordless chainsaws, miter saws, table saws, and corded jigsaws.
- Now part of Chervon (HK) Ltd., a global power-equipment manufacturer that also owns EGO and FLEX, giving SKIL access to shared engineering and battery R&D beyond what a standalone budget brand could self-fund.