If you love working with wood and you need to make smooth and precise angled cuts, then you need a great miter saw. The thing about miter saws is that there is no other tool that makes it easier to make angled cuts for things like door frames, window casings, picture frames, and much more. But, if you’re like me, you’ll be wanting to find the best miter saw out there that will fit your budget and needs.
So, I’ve made a very insightful list here of some of the best miter saws you can get your hands on and also a guide that will teach you everything you need to know about this very handy tool.
What is a sliding miter saw, a dual bevel one, a single bevel, and a compound miter saw? What are some crucial features I need to consider? What’s the best miter saw blade out there? Which are the best miter saws for beginners? All of this, and more, will be made clear here and now.
Best Miter Saws
Milwaukee 6955-20 12″ Sliding Dual Bevel Miter Saw
Most Accurate Miter Saw in the Industry
- Miter Angle Digital Readout
- 15 Amps
- Integral Dust Collection Channel
- Dual Integral Job Site Lights
We all know that professionals take their jobs seriously and will not accept inaccuracy in their work. Milwaukee’s reputation is outstanding when it comes to accuracy as this is only one of their products that offers so many great features in terms of power, precision, and cost.
This is, perhaps, one of the best 12-inch miter saws you can get that really stands out. This is a dual bevel miter saw with a single lever bevel adjustment with nine positive stops. The paddle on the back allows you to freely adjust the bevel and make every cut count.
Here’s the best part about this amazing miter saw. I really mean it when I say that you can’t make a mistake when it comes to accuracy here as it offers a miter angle digital readout with 0.1 accuracy. Throw in an amazing dust collection system here and you have one of the best miter saws on the market.
- Amazing Accuracy
- Very Powerful
- Easy Adjustments
- Expensive
DEWALT Sliding Compound Miter Saw DWS779
A Miter Saw That Has a Bit of Everything
- 15 Amp Motor
- 12-Inch Diameter
- ⅝” Arbor
- Double Bevel
What list of power tools is complete without at least one Dewalt choice? This manufacturer has an outstanding reputation when it comes to power tools and they are tough to beat in everything from price to quality, and more.
There’s almost no need to tell you how good something from Dewalt would be but you can at least get more informed about this specific model here. So, this is a 12-inch one and it’s one of the best sliding compound miter saws right now. It features a powerful 15 amp motor that reaches speeds of up to 3800 RPM.
Now, this one does not come with LEDs or a laser-guided system but at least it’s very affordable and it has an outstanding dust collection system that sucks in up to 75% of the dust.
- Affordable
- Excellent Dust Collection
- Extreme Dust and Water Protection
- Very Sturdy
- Dewalt 3 Year Limited Warranty
- No LED
- No Laser Guide
Metabo HPT 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw C12FDHS
Irresistible Combination of Strength and Accuracy
- 15 Amp Motor
- 12-Inch Diameter
- Aluminum Fence
- Thumb Actuated Positive Stops
- Double Bevel
When it comes to easy cutting and not having a hard time using a miter saw, this one by Metabo HPT is the one you’ll be looking for. This is a miter saw that features a firm combination of precision and strength and is easily among the best compound miter saws that you can get your hands on right now.
The laser marker will more than satisfy your need for accuracy and precise cuts. The 15 amp motor will make sure no piece of wood is left uncut. And the easy bevel adjustment system will make your cutting experience more than enjoyable and stress-free.
On top of all that, the price is fairly reasonable for the features you’re getting. There’s no doubt that this one is among the best miter saws for homeowners. You get a tall, pivoting aluminum fence, elastomer compound handle, a large base for more workspace, and much more.
- Fair Price
- Excellent Accuracy
- Very Easy to Work With
- Firm Grip
- 5 Year Warranty
- No Blade Included
Bosch GCM12SD Dual-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw
A Luxury Miter Saw Worth Every Penny
- Reasonable Price
- Very Satisfying to Use
- Easy Adjustments
- 60-Tooth Saw Blade Included
- Extremely Compact
The looks alone are enough to get any miter saw enthusiast to fall in love with this amazing model by Bosch. The breakthrough technology that this manufacturer uses is about to show you a new and very exciting miter saw experience.
First of all, this miter saw features an axial glide system. This means a few things. You get a more compact tool while at the same time experiencing wider crosscuts and better alignment. The cuts will be nothing if not smooth and you will have plenty of extra workspace to do with as you please. Its space-saving design makes it one of the best sliding miter saws around.
The axial glide system renders the old rail one obsolete as there won’t be a need for replacing this one for a long time. The tool is very easy to adjust and you are going to have a very enjoyable experience with this one. The price is a bit more than other average miter saws but it’s definitely not crazy considering the luxury experience that the tool offers.
- Reasonable Price
- Very Satisfying to Use
- Easy Adjustments
- 60-Tooth Saw Blade Included
- Extremely Compact
- A Bit Heavy
Makita LS1019L 10″ Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
A 10-Inch Miter Saw Perfect for Any Shop
- Laser-Guided System
- Soft Start Feature
- Bevels 0-48° Left and Right
- 15 Amp Direct Drive Motor
- Electric Brake
Similar to Dewalt, Makita is also another name that is likely to pop up on many best tools lists. This time, it’s a 10-inch one, and one of the best 10-inch miter saws around if I may say so myself. It’s a dual-bevel sliding compound model and here is what you can expect from this wonderful pick.
Portability is a feature you can expect to have a great time with here as the tool is not very heavy and doesn’t take up too much space. Durability and easy use are also two other features that come in the same package deal as well.
As for performance, the 15 amp motor will make sure you get all the power you need from this baby and the sturdy aluminum base will make sure everything is stable and precise. At 90 degrees, this miter saw offers 12 inches of cross cutting capacity at your disposal.
- Large Cutting Capacity
- Very Convenient
- Ideal for Demanding Jobs
- Requires Very Little Maintenance
- The Laser is Only on the Left Side of the Blade
DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw DWS715
A Budget-Friendly and Highly Efficient Miter Saw
- 15 Amp Motor with 4000 RPM
- Stainless Steel Miter Detent Plate
- Tall Sliding Fences
- ⅝ Inches Arbor
Dewalt makes another appearance on our list and this time with the 12-inch DWS715. This saw comes at a very affordable price and it might just be the best miter saw for the money. It has tons of great features at a price that no one could refuse.
It has a 15 amp motor powerful enough to spin the blade 4000 times per minute. The stainless steel miter detent plate comes in handy for improving productivity and making sure every cut is as accurate as the previous one. The cross-cut capacity of the DWS715 stands at up to 2×8 inch dimensional lumber at 90° and a 2×6 inch dimensional lumber at 45°.
The bevel can be adjusted up to 48 degrees to the left and up to 3 degrees to the right. There are positive stops at 0 and 45 degrees. This miter saw might not be perfect for a professional shop that’ll be stressing it 24/7, but it sure is more than perfect for around the house projects.
- Very Affordable
- Durable
- Very Portable
- High Accuracy
- None
CRAFTSMAN V20 Sliding Miter Saw CMCS714M1
Lightweight, Portable, and Very Powerful – The Perfect Combo
- 21.8 Pounds
- 20 Volts
- 7-¼ Inch Diameter
- Cordless
The last miter saw you get to see here is a smaller, more compact one. This is a cordless model that is really easy to move around and still manages to reach speeds of up to 3800 RPM.
If you’re looking for the best cordless miter saw that you’ll be wanting to use mostly for cutting 2x dimensional lumber, baseboards, and similar, then this is the saw for you. It features a smaller blade diameter than the rest on this list. This one stands at 7-¼ inch diameter with 8 inches cross-cutting capacity at 90 degrees and 5.5 inches at 45 degrees.
One of the best features of it is that it’s really lightweight which allows you to carry it around to various job sites. Portability and easy usage are the main features of this miter saw and if you’re looking for that then you can’t go wrong with this one. It’s among the best budget miter saws you will find that comes with many great features.
- Very Lightweight
- Affordable
- Portable
- Easy to Use
- 3 Year Limited Warranty
- Not Ideal for Extremely Demanding Tasks
How to Choose a Miter Saw
As with any power tool, there are a few things you always need to consider before going ahead and purchasing. These things can vary and it’s not the same for every tool. When it comes to finding the best miter saw on the market right now, you can find out what you need to look for to make an informed decision and not regret it later on.
The Main Types of Miter Saws
There are a few main types that everyone is using these days and the way you will know which one you need is after first learning what each of them is intended for.
Compound Miter Saw
This type is known for including two of the main features in a miter saw, a bevel and a miter. This means that with a compound one, you get the ability to make bevel cuts alongside its mitering ability. The most important thing to know here is that you’ll be needing this type of miter saw if you plan on working a lot with crown molding or similar wall installment trims.
Sliding Miter Saw
The main thing this model is known for is the rails that give it the ability to slide across and make deeper cuts. These saws are not great if you don’t have a lot of room to work with as they take up more space than the compound ones. You’ll need a sliding miter saw if you plan on cutting deeper material such as 1×12 and 2×12 lumber.
Compound Sliding Miter Saw
As you can probably tell by the name, this model features the best of both worlds. The compound sliding ones allow you to have the rails that offer the sliding feature while at the same time enabling compound cuts by adding a left bevel.
Cordless vs Corded
Yes, miter saws offer both cordless and corded options as well and you’ll be glad to know the differences between the two before you rush your decision. It’s probably already clear that a corded one would provide more power, but a cordless miter saw offers portability and convenience.
If you need all the power and strength there is and are not worried about how much space it will take up, then go for a corded one. But, if you don’t have much space in your shop and have no problem trading power for portability, then the cordless one will serve you wonderfully.
Blade Size
The most common sizes of miter saws you’re going to come across are a 10-inch and a 12-inch one. The main differences between the two are not extreme but can definitely make a difference in many cases and similar principles apply for most types of circular saws you will come across.
First of all, 10-inch models are more affordable as smaller blades are cheaper than the bigger ones. The blades will be cheaper to sharpen and the motor will use less electricity as the blade spins faster with less effort.
The 12-inch ones are a bit more expensive but bigger blades will provide longer cuts. The motors are more powerful which means more power will be used for cuts. This allows easier cutting of harder materials and sharper and cleaner cuts.
Single or Dual-Bevel
There are a few differences between miter saws that offer a single and a dual bevel feature. Here are the main ones you need to be concerned about.
Single bevel saws are easier to move around as opposed to dual bevel ones which are considerably heavier. Dual bevel saws offer more freedom as they cut both sides without having to move the board around. Having said this, it’s logical that a single bevel would be more affordable as opposed to the dual bevel ones.
Keep that in mind before going ahead and buying something you don’t need any paying more because you weren’t informed. The main thing to know here is that a single bevel is easier to use and a dual bevel is more ideal for professionals who know what they’re doing.
Dust Collection
This isn’t what cuts the lumber but it’s definitely a feature that you can’t afford to overlook. If you don’t have proper dust collection, then the shop will easily turn into a mess that requires to be cleaned up quite often. The same goes for similar tools like table saws as this feature is a lifesaver.
What you need to consider here is what percentage of dust does the miter saw you’re looking at suck in and where is the dust collection port placed. Plan ahead where your miter saw will be placed and see if there is space to set everything up.