If your carpentry project involves cross-cuts and miter joints, you are probably on the lookout for a good miter saw. They’re also known as drop saws, and what’s great is that they’re usually small, easy to carry around, and have lots of attachments and innovations that provide multiple facilities.
There are numerous miter saws available on the market, with various features that give you the ability to make different types of cuts, providing you with a fantastic finish and trim. A sturdy, versatile miter saw creates that seamless professional look for any project, whether it’s a simple picture frame or a big-ticket job like furniture or a deck. Some miter saws also provide lighting for the entire workpiece so that you have more perspective and accuracy.
There are several types of miter saws that can be used for different types of work. First is the power/standard miter saw that is ideal for straight cross-cuts at different angles. Another type is the compound miter saw that has a rotary blade, which can be set at various inclines, and it is best used for making frames. Dual compound miter saws, on the other hand, are used to create decorative trims. There is also the sliding compound miter saw, which is the perfect choice for cutting lumber. Last is the modern miter saw, which is enhanced by a laser guide for more accurate cutting. The laser also provides illumination for the blade as it runs along the cutting edge.
Peruse our list below to select the one that best matches your requirements, preferences, and budget.
Here are the 8 best miter saws:
Hitachi C10FCG 15-Amp 10-Inch Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw
This miter saw is a good option when you want a smaller, lighter tool that has a big cutting capacity. Great for beginners, it weighs just 24.2 pounds, making it easy to move around indoors and outdoors, or to your project site.
You’ll find that though the blade appears a little rough, it cuts very smoothly, especially while working on cross-sections because the blade/arbor is quite true. The 0-50° miter left/right angle provides greater flexibility. It also has a handy dust collector that takes care of airborne particles. Also, you can get various attachments, like carbide blade, blade wrench, dust-bag, and a vertical clamp, for an extra charge.
This product is an excellent saw for flooring and trim work, and it is an ideal choice for hobbyists and homeowners. Plus, you’ll find the instruction manual easy to follow when you’re setting it up. Also, you can purchase a carbide blade if you want to cut other materials like aluminum. Lastly, the brand has recently changed to Metabo, and there’s a newer model with slightly enhanced features at a marginally higher price.
For more quality tool for the best performance, check out our guide to the top metal cutting circular saws.
Dewalt DWS715 12-Inch 15-Amp Single Bevel
This compound miter saw is a sturdy, durable product that has a powerful 4,000-rpm motor with 15 amps of power over an extended time. Its stainless steel plate or miter dent has 14 positive stops. Plus, it has a handy cam miter lock that allows you to select the miter angle easily, giving you accurate cuts without any fuss or bother.
If you need another angle, you can get it effortlessly, thanks to its easy-to-use adjustments, which also offers astounding accuracy. Aside from its lightweight (42.8 pounds) design, it also has a built-in carrying handle for easy transportation. You can move it around conveniently in your workplace or pack it into your vehicle and transport it to your worksite with ease.
The tall sliding fence offers 5.5-inch vertical base support. There are also bevel stops at most of the common bevel angles, so you won’t find it difficult to find one that suits you. The power source is corded electric, and you’ll see that it’s a very efficient saw at this price range.
Apart from the carbide blade, this product comes with an extension kit, blade wrench, dust bag, and a very simple to understand user manual. The company also offers a standard three-year limited warranty, one-year free service, and a 90-day cash back guarantee.
Our guide to the best band saws offers more amazing tools for your collection. Check them out.
Makita 1219L 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser
The Makita 1219L is an excellent tool for operations flush against a wall and when you have out-of-the-box cutting requirements. It has a creatively-designed direct drive gearbox and drives system that leverages the rear of the blade for greater accuracy and vertical cutting capacity. This feature is great to have if you’re working on the baseboard and nested crown moldings. The direct-drive gearbox is not hampered by belts that may slip and need replacement, which means that there is an efficient transfer of power from the motor to the blade.
You will find that the soft-start gives you a smoother experience, and it also enhances the longevity of the product. This saw has a patented Two-Steel Rail Sliding System that reduces the saw footprint. Moreover, it also has an in-front bevel lock for easier operation, and you’ll find that it is spot-on on the angle stops. Also, the dust-bag attachment is great for non-messy use.
With a weight of 65 pounds, the Makita 1219L is beefy enough for job site use. It is surprisingly easy to assemble, and it feels secure while you use it because the company uses an ergonomic design. It also has a horizontal D-handle for ease of operation. Also, you can purchase a range of attachments, including a folding miter saw stand, horizontal vise, fiber-cement blades, and crown-molding stopper sets. All in all, you certainly won’t regret the slightly higher investment that you may have to make with this miter saw.
If you are looking for top-rated power tools, take a moment to check out these excellent electric chainsaws.
Festool Kapex KS 120
If compact is what you’re looking for, this fantastic product is for you. The Festool Kapex KS 120 is a 120-volt corded electric saw with a weight of 52 pounds, making it the perfect tool for both your home workshop or job site. Though it is lightweight, it’s quite the heavyweight when it comes to performance, and it is one of the most advanced, sliding compound miter saws available on the market right now.
For hobby carpenters, this is a dream machine that allows you to make fantastic cuts and trim work. Dust extraction, precision, high-quality manufacturing and components, and ease of operation are its USPS. Don’t let its size fool you because this tool is capable of cutting through a three-inch hardwood like butter. It is also superb for cutting a 6 x 5/8-inch crown molding using the nested position.
This miter saw is also equipped with a German technology that ensures attention to detail, and its dual lasers are excellent. The micro-adjustable bevel angle-finder tool is a plus point in the accessory section. If you’ve been avoiding bevel cuts because you couldn’t trust the bevel gauges on other saws, you can safely plunge in now.
Overall, the Festool Kapex KS 120 is an excellent miter saw for the experienced workers. When you purchase this product, you’ll get an HW universal saw blade W60, an angle transfer device, hold-down clamp, and a hex key WAF 6. You can also select a range of accessories if you want to ramp up the functions.
Be sure to browse our list of the top circular saws for more powerful tools for your workshop.
Evolution Power Tools Rage3 10-Inch Multipurpose Cutting Compound Sliding Miter Saw
This miter saw is a terrific choice if you want a versatile, multipurpose tool. With a single blade, this product is capable of cutting steel, aluminum, and wood with nails and plastic. The secret is its patented professional Rage technology that incorporates a high torque gearbox that minimizes motor stress and boosts long-life and performance.
The great thing about this saw is that there are no heat, burr, or sparks produced while cutting steel, giving you a smooth, even finish without the need for a coolant.
The tool’s extra-large base offers cutting stability, and its double-bevel feature saves you time because you don’t have to turn over the piece you’re working on to get to the other edge.
If you purchase additional attachments, you can get enhanced capabilities. For example, the Evolution’s 10-inch diamond blade can help you with tile-cutting, especially when you’re working on roof-tiles. Other accessories that will transform your miter saw for various applications include the slide extension, saw stand, front-clamp, and a dust-bag.
Overall, the Evolution Power Tools Rage3 is an excellent bargain tool with a three-year warranty.
Our list of the best air hammers features more quality tools for your workshop. Check them out.
Milwaukee 69955-20 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw
Ease of use and amazing accuracy are what set this miter saw apart from the other products in its class. What’s useful is the miter angle digital readout that offers incredible repeatable accuracy of up to 0.1°. Its dual integral job-site lights, on the other hand, provide useful workpiece illumination and cut line visibility from both sides of the blade.
With this product, you can get constant cutting speeds under load and decrease start-up head-movement. Plus, you won’t have any mess, thanks to its integral dust channel that grabs 75% of dust and cut debris.
The smooth sliding action is provided by the dual horizontal steel rails with large linear steel bearings. Additionally, the direct-drive motor offers a steady start and a very consistent cut, which is helpful if you’re working with large framing lumber or hardwoods. Also, the bevel adjust is superb for its class.
Longer run time, safe, faster-cutting speed, great design, and reliable power output are the features that make this product a great purchase.
You may also be interested in these useful bench vises from our list. Check them out.
Bosh Power Tools GCM12SD 15-Amp 12-Inch Corded Dual-Bevel Sliding Glide Miter Saw with 60 Tooth Saw Blade
When your project demands wider cross-cuts, enhanced alignment, speed, and accuracy, this product should be your top pick. It delivers no-load speeds of 3,800 rpm, and it is a versatile tool for many materials.
The soft-grip ambidextrous handle is useful if you’re sharing the product with a differently handed person. It also has pre-aligned patented Squarelock fences that guarantee lifelong precision while its vacuum adapter and dust-chute provide neat and clean operations.
This miter saw provides large cutting capacity along with the easy to read bevel and miter scales. It also features a Bosch exclusive, the Axial-Guide system, for superior and more durable precision.
With this product, you get complete control in a more compact workspace. Also, this versatile saw is ideal for a range of different cuts, and it comes with a soft-trigger handle that’s pretty comfortable to use on wood and laminates.
CRAFTSMAN CMCS714M1 V20 7-1/4-Inch Sliding Miter Saw Kit
Specially designed to tackle lumber, hardwoods, baseboards, and trim, this miter saw has a sliding 7.25-inch blade that can handle cross-cuts up to eight inches. The side-carrying handles offer ease of transportation.
This miter saw is a battery-operated and a cordless unit, making it highly portable and very useful when you don’t have power. It also has a 7.25-inch carbide tipped blade along with a dust bag for non-messy operations. Also included in the kit is a fast-operating charger, which you can hang on a wall.
This product is a great miter saw you can use on both hard, rough lumber and MDF trim. It is also the perfect tool if you want to use it on various woods like oak hardwood flooring, pine lumber, PVC, pine trim, and walnut flooring.
Another great feature of this product is the LED light that casts a blade shadow and marks out the cut line when you’re using it. Lastly, you can also lock in all the adjustments of this miter saw for safety and ease of operation.
