DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw
Black+Decker M1850BD Compound Miter Saw
Milwaukee 6955-20 12-Inch Sliding Dual Bevel Miter Saw
If you need to make a clean cut, you need a miter saw. When you buy one of these, you’ll never look back. They’re extremely useful, especially when you are cutting crown molding to size. But can be used for all sorts of DIY applications. We’ve been searching to find the best miter saw on the market. This article contains nine of the best including both compound miter saws and sliding miter saws.
The Best Miter Saw
1DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw
Dewalt has just released this new version of their popular miter saw. At half the price of the Bosch and with a respected brand like Dewalt behind it, this product is a worthy consideration. If you don’t need the sliding capability of the Bosch saw, we’d strongly recommend this saw. It has a similar 15amp motor, which powers the saw at 4,000 RPM. Honestly, you shouldn’t focus too much on this statistic – it doesn’t matter how fast the saw moves if it’s blunt. This product is the top end of DIY saws – it’s not quite capable of working on a job-site, but it will power through standard crown molding, framing, and other jobs.
DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw has 14 positive detent stops, which allow for accurate cutting. Plus, it has one of the tallest sliding fences to keep your workpiece in place. In short, if you’re looking for the perfect DIY miter saw, this is it. For more amazing tools like this, check out our guide to the best bench vises.
15amp motor
4,000 RPM no-load speed
14 positive detent stops
Tall sliding fence
Includes accessories such as dust bag
- BrandDEWALT
- ModelDW715
- Weight47 pounds
Best saw for DIYers
Easy to cut accurately
Great value for money
Heavier than competitors
2Bosch Power Tools GCM12SD Dual-Bevel Sliding Glide Miter Saw
Next up, we thought we’d show you the other end of the spectrum. The Bosch GCM12SD is the ultimate sliding compound miter saw. The main difference between this and a standard miter saw is that you can slide the blade and cut long and thick pieces of wood. The Axial-Glide System on this saw provides an impressive 14 inches of horizontal capacity and 6.5 inches of the crown and vertical capacity. And, because of its innovative design, it saves 12 inches of valuable workspace.
One of the most impressive features of this saw is the ultra-sharp 60-tooth blade. It will make quick work of even the thickest crown molding. It’s very easy to adjust, thanks to the easy-to-read bevel and miter scales, and it has a quick-lock feature that aligns the fence to the saw’s table at precisely 90º. This allows for quick and precise cuts every time. This is one of the best sliding compound miter saws available if you’ve got the money. You may also like some of the best nail guns from our list, so check them out and add one to your tool collection.
Sliding miter saw
15amp motor
3,800 RPM no-load speed
Sharp 60-tooth blade
Dust chute
Square-lock quick-release fence
Axial-Glide system
- BrandBosch
- ModelGCM12SD
- Weight3.2 ounces
The best cutting action of any miter saw
Extremely accurate
Easy to adjust
Dust chute collects 90% of dust
No laser
3Delta Power Tools – Homecraft H26-260L Compound Miter Saw
The Homecraft H26-260L Compound Miter Saw is one of the best value miter saws on this list. At only $200, it’s in direct competition with the Dewalt saw we just looked at – and, to be honest, it’s difficult to choose between them. They are both suitable for home DIY jobs, especially cutting frames and crown molding. If you read the Amazon reviews, you’ll find that a few customers have replaced the blade on this with a Makita blade. This is a cheaper way of making a very capable cutting tool. With the original 10-inch blade, it’s still okay for cutting wood, but the teeth are a little too far apart for small pieces of wood. However, we do love the fact that it has a laser to guide the saw down in the right place. This makes life a lot easier, especially for people who are new to cutting with a miter saw. Be sure to also check out our guide to the best electric chainsaws and pick the right one.
14amp motor
5,500 RPM no-load speed
Laser-guided
Spindle lock
Works with all miter saw stands
- BrandDelta Power Tools
- ModelH26-260L
- Weight25 pounds
Laser guide makes it accurate
Very affordable
Some cheap materials used
Teeth are far apart on a blade
4Milwaukee 6955-20 12-Inch Sliding Dual Bevel Miter Saw
The Milwaukee 69550-20 is a huge jump up in both quality and price. It’s a professional-grade woodworking tool that is just at home on the job-site as it would be in your garage. It even has two lights that fully illuminate the workpiece, so you can see what you’re doing, even in a badly-lit work environment. Like the Bosch GCM12SD, it’s a sliding, dual-bevel miter saw. That means it has the capability to cut thicker and longer pieces of wood and can be used to create bevels on either side, without adjusting the workpiece. It has a dust channel that collects 75% of the mess created by the saw. Basically, if you’ve got a big budget, it’s between this saw and the Bosch GCM12SD – they’re both extremely high-quality tools, so you’ll be pleased with either. Our guide to the best bench grinders features more great tools for DIY enthusiasts, so check them out.
Sliding miter saw
13amp motor
3,250 RPM no-load speed
Digital angle readout – accurate to 0.1 degree
Dust chute
- BrandMilwaukee
- Model6955-20
- Weight78 pounds
One of the best miter saws available
Dust chute collects 75% of dust
Extremely accurate digital readout
Job lights for working in the dark
No laser
5Makita LS1018 10-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw
Makita is one of the best-known power tool makers in the world. This sliding compound miter saw is a competitor for the Bosch and Milwaukee saws we’ve seen. It’s slightly cheaper than those saws, but it’s still just as good. Choosing between these tools is really about choosing which brand you prefer – every tool is more than capable and they don’t have much in the way of different features. It’s surprising that none of them have a laser attachment. However, it’s still possible to get extremely accurate cuts.
One thing we like about Makita LS1018 is that it comes with additional parts. You get a vise, a triangular rule, a dust bag, extension wings, and a wrench. These add-ons make it one of the best value high-end sliding miter saws. Plus, the handle is one of the most comfortable, with its ergonomic design and a rubber covering. Feel free to combine it with some of the best portable workbenches from our list.
Sliding miter saw
13amp motor
4,300 RPM no-load speed
Includes multiple accessories
Rear-handle bevel lock
Dust bag
- BrandMakita
- ModelLS1018
- Weight43.7 pounds
Accurate and powerful
Comes with useful accessories
Comfortable to use
Overly complicated
Fences can be bent easily
6DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw, Double Bevel (DWS780)
We’ve already looked at one Dewalt miter saw on this list. DWS780 is the compound sliding version, which makes it more suited to cutting thick and long pieces of wood. In fact, it’s capable of handling 7.5-inch crown molding, which is among the biggest on this list. It has a standard 15amp motor, which spins the blade at 3,800 RPM. It also has a technology called XPS Cross Cut Positioning. This is about as accurate as you can get, without having a laser guide. It allows the user to see the cutline, without the need for adjustment. In addition to that, it has lights that illuminate the workpiece, so you can work in a dimly-lit environment. Dewalt products are known for their durability and this saw is a leader in that area. Miter saws need to be portable, so they can end up getting bashed on things. We know that this product will stand the test of time. For more awesome tools for your projects, check out our reviews of the best band saws.
Sliding miter saw
15amp motor
3,800 RPM no-load speed
XPS Cross Cut Positioning
Workpiece lights
Dust chute
- BrandDEWALT
- ModelDWS780
- Weight56 pounds
Extremely durable
Easy to move around
Dust chute collects 75% of dust
The slide sometimes sticks
7WEN 70716 10-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The WEN 70716 Sliding Compound Miter Saw is the best value sliding compound miter saw on this list. Most sliding saws are $400 or more, so this one is a steal. Of course, with products like this, you get what you pay for. It doesn’t have the same cutting capacity and it won’t be anywhere near as durable as the high-end miter saws. However, it’s a great option for DIYers that need a cheap alternative. It can definitely handle simple jobs around the home like crown molding and other basic cutting jobs.
It’s got a 60-tooth carbide-tipped blade, which spins at 5,500 RPM. Some customers have claimed that the motor is underpowered for the size of the blade, but it will be okay for light use. The other good thing about this saw is that it’s lightweight and doesn’t take up a whole lot of table space. Be sure to also add some of the best circular saws from our list to your tool arsenal.
15amp motor
5,500 RPM no-load speed
60-tooth carbide-tipped blade
Dust bag
Lightweight
- BrandWEN
- Model70716
- Weight37.5 pounds
Very good value for money
Lightweight and small
Capable of DIY jobs
Some concerns about the motor being underpowered
8Black+Decker M1850BD Compound Miter Saw
Last on our list is the Black and Decker M1850BD. We’ve included it as our Best Value product because it’s hard to find a compound miter saw of this quality for so cheap. It’s definitely not up to professional standards, but it’s very useful for light DIY use. One of the best things about this model is the weight – it’s less 17 pounds, which makes it super easy to pick up and move around. It can be tilted both left and right up to 45º and has 9 positive stops to keep your workpiece in place. A lot of the miter saws on this list are overkill for cutting crown molding and doing other jobs around the house. So, this is a great option for the hobbyist DIYer. Als, be sure to wear safety glasses when you use it.
15amp motor
3,800 RPM no-load speed
Die-cast aluminum housing
Under 17 pounds
- BrandBlack+Decker
- ModelM1850BD
- Weight16.99 pounds
Very cheap for a miter saw
Lightweight and portable
Relatively durable
Not that accurate
Difficult to adjust
9Metabo HPT C10FCGS 10
To save any confusion, it’s worth noting that Metabo is the replacement for Hitachi Power Tools. The tools are basically the same, but with a few minor tweaks and different branding. The bottom line is that the C10FCGS (Hitachi or Metabo) is one of the most popular miter saws on the market. It’s very affordable at less than $100 and still delivers pretty impressive performance for DIYers.
It’s powered by a 15amp motor that can move the blade at 5,000 RPM when it isn’t loaded. The bevel range is 0-45º and it can be angled both left and right up to 56º, which allows you to make angled cuts. It’s not the best miter saw on this list, but we think it’s perfect for DIYers. If you need to cut some crown molding for the home, this tool is perfect. For more useful products, check out our reviews of the best digital calipers.
15amp motor
Lightweight design
Soft grip
5,000 RPM no-load speed
Large table
- BrandHitachi
- ModelC10FCE2
- Weight33.6 pounds
Lightweight and easy to transport
Large table makes it sturdy
Easy to angle for crown molding cuts
Complicated instructions
Guard can be defective