When it comes to useful items to have around the workshop, construction site, or DIY project, it’s tough to beat a good pair of adjustable sawhorses. These handy A-frame-shaped supports are useful for just about any cutting task, as well as for painting, or other detailed work. They also allow you to set up a makeshift table just about any time the need arises.
Adjustable sawhorses have the added advantage of being height adjustable. This allows you to quickly and easily change the sawhorse’s height on the fly – so you can create the ideal work surface for your current needs. Compare that to traditional sawhorses, where you’re limited to a single height which may not be ideal for all cutting tasks.
Some of these sawhorses also offer extra features like built-in clamps, vices, shelves, and other goodies. Most also feature folding legs, so you can fold them into a compact package for storage.
Let’s take a look at some of the best adjustable sawhorses on the market, so you can tackle that next project with complete confidence.
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Quick Answer: 4 Best Adjustable Sawhorses
- Best Overall: Kobalt 42-in Steel Adjustable Saw Horse
- Runner Up: Dewalt Adjustable Metal Legs Sawhorse
- Budget Pick: Stanley Adjustable Sawhorse Twin Pack
- Also Consider: Rockwell JawHorse Sheetmaster
Top 4 Adjustable Sawhorses
Best Overall
Kobalt 42-in Steel Adjustable Saw Horse
Key Features:
- Load capacity: 800 lbs. per sawhorse (1600 for pair)
- All legs are independently adjustable for working on uneven surfaces.
- Non-marring feet for working on sensitive flooring.
- The top surface features several shallow channels for working with non-flat items like pipes and dowels.
- Integrated 2×4 support grooves allow you to easily create a rock-solid and flush work surface.
When it comes to the world of adjustable sawhorses, the Kobalt adjustable sawhorse is about as good as it gets. It comes with a mountain of useful features, including independently adjustable legs, built-in carry handles, and folding legs for easy transport and storage from the garage to the worksite.
Each sawhorse has a number of integrated shallow channels for supporting workpieces like pipes, dowels, or oddly shaped items that need extra grip. Each one also sports a pair of 2 x 4 support grooves for supporting workpieces, and they can be used in conjunction with a flat piece of plywood to create a rock-solid and completely flush work surface.
The sawhorses are made from sturdy, high-grade steel, offering unmatched support, reliability, and durability. The load capacity is 800 lbs. per sawhorse, for a total of 1600 lbs. when combined into a pair.
The legs are adjustable from 22 inches to up to 33 inches, allowing you to change the cutting surface height as the situation demands. It also means people with different heights are able to use the sawhorses at their own ideal height.
Runner Up
Dewalt Adjustable Metal Legs Sawhorse
Key Features:
- Load capacity: 2500 lbs. (pair)
- The sliding mechanism lets you set the desired length on each leg.
- V-groove on top for working on rounded workpieces.
- Integrated 2 x 4 cutouts.
- Rubber inserts on leg bottoms provide grip on all surfaces.
Rugged, well-built, and easily adjustable, these sawhorses from Dewalt make an excellent choice when you’re looking for a top-performing sawhorse at a reasonable price. The design is fairly straightforward, with a high-quality metal and plastic frame that can support up to 2500 lbs. when used as a pair.
A unique sliding mechanism allows you to set your desired depth (between 31” and 39”) on each leg with ease, which also means you can set each leg to a slightly different depth when working on an uneven surface. A V-groove integrated into the top of each sawhorse makes working on a rounded or curved surface a breeze.
Rubber inserts on the leg bottoms provide a rock-solid grip on nearly and work surface, while 2 x 4 cutouts near each edge allow you to set up a pair as a flush and stable workstation.
Budget Pick
Stanley Adjustable Sawhorse Twin Pack
Key Features:
- Load capacity: 1000 lbs. (pair)
- Legs can be adjusted to both open and closed positions.
- Small tray for storing tools.
- Both height and width are adjustable.
- Folds flat for storage.
If you’re looking for a well-made and functional pair of sawhorses at a price that won’t break the bank, you’ll have a tough time beating these ones. They feature many of the same design features as more expensive models, including easily adjustable legs, anti-slip rubber grip on the feet and top for safety, and a unique sliding width adjustment.
The height can easily be adjusted to both the open and closed position, while a handy tool trap opens to easily stash your most needed tools. Each pair can hold an impressive 1000 lbs. giving it slightly less capacity than other models, but still more than enough for the vast majority of projects.
In addition to adjustable heights and extendable widths, each sawhorse also folds up flat for storage. This makes them a great option for those with small workshops or limited storage space.
Also Consider
Rockwell JawHorse Sheetmaster
Key Features:
- Load capacity: 600 lbs.
- 3-in-one functionality (Workbench, vice, and machine press)
- Holds an entire sheet of 8 x 4 plywood by itself.
- 10 times the clamping force of standard vice and pressing power of a one-ton press.
- All steel construction is built to last.
While it’s not an adjustable sawhorse per se, this portable sawhorse has the ability to hold an entire sheet of 8 x 4 plywood all by itself. It can be set up to be used as a 3-in-1 workstation functioning as a workbench, vice, and machine press all in one.
The setup allows you to raise your project off the floor to a comfortable working height while keeping it firmly clamped in place. With 10 times the clamping force of a standard vice, and the pressing power of a one-ton machine press, it’s strong enough for heavy-duty tasks like metal bending or straightening.
With a max load of 600 lbs, the Jawhorse is more than capable of handling nearly anything your likely to throw at it, plus the tripod design actually increases stability over comparable 4-legged sawhorses. It weighs in at 53 lbs. which considering its impressive strength and capabilities, is fairly reasonable. Retractable wheels on the 2-legged side also allow you to pick up the opposite side and wheel the entire unit around like a wheelbarrow.
No-mar urethane pads on the clamp grip the material without leaving a mark, making the clamp perfect for fine woodworking projects.
How to pick the right adjustable sawhorse?
With so many different options and features, choosing the right adjustable sawhorse can seem like a difficult task. Luckily, there isn’t that much you need to consider to make the right decision. Let’s take a look at some of the most important features to keep in mind before making a purchase.
Weight Capacity
Weight capacity is an important feature to consider when choosing a pair of adjustable sawhorses. Of course, your requirements for weight capacity will depend on the type of work you plan on doing. If you’re working on seriously heavy workpieces, then going with the highest-rated sawhorse makes sense.
On the other hand, if you’re planning on mostly ripping plywood and cutting 2 x 4’s, then pretty much any weight capacity will be more than adequate.
Height Adjustability
As this is a review of adjustable sawhorses, all of the above models feature legs with adjustable heights. This is an outstanding feature to be on the lookout for when purchasing sawhorses as it greatly increases their functionality and overall usefulness around any job site, workshop, or DIY project. If you’ve ever had to cut something on a pair of sawhorses that was too short or too high, then you’ll know what I’m talking about.
It’s important to consider you’re ideal cutting height when using sawhorses. The ideal height will vary depending on your own height, arm length, and personal preferences. Most adjustable sawhorses span a fairly wide range, but it’s worth paying attention to this number, especially if you’rer particularly tall or short.
Durability
Perhaps the most important feature to consider when it comes to any sawhorse is its durability. As these things tend to get treated like rented mules most of the time, you’ll want to make sure they’re up to the task of being kicked around and having heavy objects dropped on top of them.
All metal sawhorses tend to perform the best in terms of durability, although newer plastic polymers will also offer surprisingly good durability at a more reasonable price point.
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