A cordless communication system includes a base unit and a handset. The base unit is connectable to a communication line. The handset includes a handset wireless communicating unit, a handset communicating unit, a handset switching unit, and a handset starting unit. The handset wireless communicating unit implements wireless communications with the base unit wireless communicating unit. The handset communicating unit is capable of communicating signals with the base unit. The handset switching unit switches between a handset normal mode in which power is supplied to the handset wireless communicating unit and a handset power-saving mode in which power to the handset wireless communicating unit is interrupted. The handset starting unit controls the handset switching unit to supply power to the handset wireless communicating unit in order to switch to the handset normal mode from the handset power-saving mode if the handset communicating unit receives a handset start signal instructing the handset to cancel the handset power-saving mode during the handset power-saving mode.