Fresh off our best 12-inch miter observed assessments article, we wished to get our audience a far more comprehensive tutorial into the best miter saws…period.
While cordless tools may rule the roost in many circles, miter saws largely remain popular as corded solutions. Still, newer cordless models seem like they may start gaining mainstream popularity. They certainly are in our shop!We’ve reviewed, tested, and “driven” dozens of miter saws over the years. Choosing the best miter saw means looking at performance & power, cut quality, accuracy, features, and value. As usual, we gathered together some of our Pros to do the testing so we could make some solid recommendations.
Unlike your kid’s Little League team, not everybody gets a trophy. If you see a best miter saw recommendation here, it means we really do recommend it. Just pay attention to your applications and purposes we suggest along the way.
Blade Recommendation: If you only plan to cut lumber, the stock blade might be fine. However, for most trim and finish carpentry use, we recommend going with an upgraded miter saw blade. Look for a higher tooth count so you get nice, smooth cut edges.
Bosch GCM12SD Axial Glide Miter Saw
The Bosch GSM12SD Axial Glide miter saw provided the smoothest cutting we’d ever experienced thanks in large part to its axial glide system rather than standard rails.Our best compound miter noticed launched way back in 2010. It still beats nearly every other observed we’ve used for tall standing crown cuts and vertical base clearance. Bosch still makes this sliding miter observed and its newest models seem to focus on far more maneuverable 8.5-inch saws. Those also come in both corded and cordless models.
When making this recommendation, we took into account our entire catalogue of sliding compound miter noticed assessments. The Bosch Axial Glide remains one of the most powerful saws with the absolute best cut quality. Since it also allows for some of the highest trim clearances across the back fence it reigns as the best dual compound miter saw.
If you don’t mind shaving some weight and capacity off the Bosch GCM12SD, consider the Bosch CM10GD 10-inch Glide miter noticed at $499.99. You can get a lighter model with the same excellent cutting performance.
BEST CORDLESS MITER SAW
It was very hard not to give the Makita XSL08PT the #1 overall spot in our best miter observed critiques article, even over corded models. Price allows the dated Bosch Glide Miter to barely edge it out.There’s so much to like about this saw, it’s hard to know where to start. For starters, it doesn’t feel like you’re cutting with a cordless miter saw. There’s simply no compromise in power and the direct-drive motor is incredibly confident cutting through all of our test materials.
We found absolutely no blade wobble while cutting. You simply get perfectly consistent cuts on trim, base, and crown every time. It also cuts 5-1/4″ speed base upright at 45 degrees in either direction and miters left and right to 60 degrees.
Finally, you get a ton of convenience features—like front bevel adjustments and a rail design that lets you put this noticed right up against a wall. Run-time surprised us as well. We cut an entire day’s worth of crown and base off a single pair of 5Ah batteries!
You can get this observed as a bare tool and kit—plus you can opt for the tool with or without AWS Bluetooth support. Since we like connecting a vac to our observed in the shop, AWS support seems worth the added cost.
Milwaukee 12-inch Cordless Miter Observed with One-Key
The Milwaukee 2739-20 cordless miter saw can tackle up to 330 cuts in 3-1/4-inch baseboard on a single twelve.0 Ah High Output battery. Thanks into the direct-drive motor, you get excellent clearance. In fact, you can cut 6-3/4 inch speed base and 7-1/2 inch nested crown. All of this works because of the high clearance provided by the direct-drive motor.Essentially, the DeWalt FlexVolt 120V Max Sliding Miter Noticed is built on the flagship DWS780 platform. For a ~$200 premium, you’ll upgrade to cordless capability with a pair of batteries, a dual-port quick charger, and an AC adapter for when you’re close to power.
Bosch 12-inch Axial Glide Miter Saw (GCM12SD)
Considering the Bosch 12-inch Axial Glide Miter Saw is already our #1 pick, it also wins as our best 12-inch miter saw for the reasons we already mentioned. One thing we really want to highlight—the Glide system lets you put this noticed right against the wall. That makes this saw perfect for saving precious working space in your shop.
Makita LS1219
Another great 12-inch miter saw choice is the Makita LS1219. It possesses all the features of the cordless Makita XSL07Z except that it uses a cord instead of 36V battery power. This miter noticed has tons of clearance and keeps you in front of it for all adjustments and cutting.As a premium option, the cordless Makita XSL08Z runs $839 and comes Bluetooth-ready with Makita AWS system support.
Also high on our list is the Skilsaw SPT88-01 12-inch worm drive miter saw. This powerful, accurate observed easily moves around the job site. It works great for framers and remodelers and has plenty of power. Carpenters and woodworkers will want to replace the stock blade.
Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt C3610DRA
This Metabo HPT C3610DRA MultiVolt 10-inch miter saw impressed us to no end. The fact that it runs off dual-power (36-volt battery or AC adapter) alone makes for a good selling point. You get integrated “wings” off the table for extended support. The fence measured square out of the box and you get excellent crosscut depth.
All of the slide, bevel, and miter adjustments work smoothly. While the integrated laser had some issues adjusting and staying true to our cut line, we have high praise for this miter observed. The 10-inch blade makes the Metabo C3610DRA quite compact at 45.5 pounds.
We loved plugging it in at the shop and then using the 36V battery pack for the job site. Just keep in mind that the 10-inch noticed makes this best-suited for 3-1/2 base and smaller.
The bare tool runs $519 or you can grab it with an AC adapter for $699 and kitted with a 4Ah battery for $599. Look for deals as they pop up.
Ridgid R4210
The Delta Cruzer miter noticed uses “robot” tutorial arms similar to the Bosch Glide Miter saws. We found the articulating system yielded very smooth and stable cuts save for just a small amount of play at full extension. You also get plenty of power, front bevel controls—and you can cross-cut a 2×16!
The Ridgid R4210 is another candidate for best 10-inch sliding compound miter observed. For its size, this observed puts out serious power. During our testing the 15-amp direct-drive motor cut through pressure-treated lumber and pre-fab PVC railings like butter.
Metabo HPT C12RSH2
best miter saw for the money for Pros
The Metabo HPT C12RSH2 miter noticed is simply the rebranded Hitachi C12RSH2 we tested back in 2018 and is the same in every other way.
Sometimes you stick with what works. We dub the Metabo HPT C12RSH2 (formerly the Hitachi C12RSH2) the best miter noticed for the money and also our best budget miter saw for Pros.
The tool comes with some street cred as well as some big shoes to fill. It’s the second (possibly third with the renaming) iteration of the original Hitachi C12RSH. When Metabo HPT (Hitachi) originally designed the C12RSH, they gained a loyal following of woodworkers by offering forward-thinking features.
Now, this observed continues to deliver. We like the fine adjustment knobs for both bevel and miter settings, the vertical handle, and the zero-clearance rail system that made the original saw a really big deal back in 2006.
That zero clearance rail lets you place this noticed very close for the wall. It saves valuable space in a shop space or garage. Finally, it cuts like a dream—smooth and powerful.
Ryobi TSS103
When you can get a 10-inch sliding compound miter observed for $179—that’s something worth looking into. The 15-amp Ryobi TSS103 miter saw spins the blade at 4,600 RPM and has a 12-inch crosscut capacity. You get handy features like an LED cutline indicator and work light to illuminate your material. You can miter 47° left and right, and a 1-1/4 inch dust port connects to many dust extractors to keep your garage or shop area clean. Lastly, you get a 3-year warranty.
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We’ve cut with enough Ryobi saws to know that it won’t power through tough material as well as top of the line products. It will, however, give you the ability to tackle DIY projects without fail. For the occasional users, this gets our nod as the best budget miter noticed for homeowners.
We can’t neglect to mention the capable DeWalt DWS713 as another great option if you want a step up. This 10-inch single bevel miter saw offers up to 4-1/2 inches of vertical crown or base clearance. We also find it an extremely portable miter noticed. It weighs less than 31 pounds.Keep in mind that this isn’t a sliding miter noticed. You can crosscut up to 2×6 dimensional lumber at 90° and 2x4s at 45°. If you need far more than that, consider a slider.
Festool Kapex KS 120 REB
We find it hard to overstate the incredible refinement of the Festool Kapex KS 120 REB miter saw. The “REB” model only tweaks minor details on the popular and enduring Kapex KS 120 EB noticed.This 10-1/4 inch miter noticed has features you won’t see anywhere else. The rail forward design lets you run the noticed against a wall in your workshop. Kapex claims as much as 91% dust collection using the dust hood. You also get incredible clearance off the back fence. Cut crown molding up to 6-5/8 inches in the nested position. Vertically, you can cut trim up to 4-3/4 inches.
Festool also does other things that just make a lot of sense. They give you a dual laser cut line, for example. They also made the base of the saw exactly the height of a Systainer 1. That means you can use your Systainers as material supports when cutting.
Having used this observed, we simply find it smooth, powerful, and unmatched. It’s clearly the best miter observed for woodworking by a long-shot unless you want to triple the price and look at commercial solutions.
The Metabo HPT MultiVolt 7-1/4″ dual bevel miter noticed is one of the best-built, smoothest, and most accurate miter saws we’ve had the pleasure of testing. It comes with a premium price tag, but definitely makes sense for woodworkers and carpenters who really need portability.
Buy this miter noticed if your skill level and reputation lean towards high-end work and you can benefit from portability. Pass if you don’t need that kind of accuracy or you need a deeper cut capacity.
Skilsaw SPT62MTC-22 Dry Cut Metal Saw
We reviewed the Skilsaw SPT62MTC-22 several years ago but it still remains one of our favorites. Technically a chop noticed rather than a miter noticed (mitering happens at the clamp rather than pivoting the table), this saw quickly proved itself as a massive improvement to an existing metal-cutting setup. We definitely recommend this dry cut metal noticed as an upgrade from an abrasive chop noticed or entry-level dry-cut observed.The capacity you surrender going with the 12-inch blade over a 14-inch model gets compensated for by its light weight. This noticed measures 20-45% less than the competition. It also has a more compact frame and runs on more affordable 12-inch blades.
The soft-start motor and smooth blade guard actuation, paired with the hot-knife-through-butter Diablo blade makes this a very smooth noticed. The SPT62MTC-22 is actually so smooth, in fact, that you have to be careful not to cut too quickly.
If you really need a more traditional miter saw-like solution, consider the Evolution R255SMSDB multi-material saw. This dual bevel sliding miter saw uses Evolution blades to cut through wood, metal…or even wood with nails. IF you want the flexibility or find yourself needing to combines metal and wood-cutting duties, it’s a great solution.
Bosch T4B Gravity Rise Miter Saw Stand
The Bosch T4B Gravity Rise miter observed stand has been our favorite since the first day we used it. This stand also stands the test of time—as evidenced by its 10 year run.
The Bosch T4B stand has adjustable length and riser supports. The risers make an excellent feature for the fact that, if you set it up correctly, you don’t have to hold the end of the board to make sure you have a true cut.
No one wants to make multiple trips lugging all of the equipment around the house when cleaning up at the end of the day. The Bosch T4B miter observed stand makes this less of a chore.
We really can’t neglect to mention the Ridgid AC9946. For $219, you get a very functional rolling miter observed stand that operates in a similar manner into the Bosch Gravity Rise. Though not as refined, we do like the oversized wheels and easily-removable clamping mounts. With those, you can pull the noticed off the stand as needed just by flipping a couple of levers.
What You Do for a Living Affects Your Choices
We actually wrote a very in depth manual on what to look for when buying a miter observed. Things to consider include the type of work you intend to do. Are you a carpenter? Do you work primarily on trim or decking materials? The type of work you do determines the materials likely to hit that miter saw table and fence.
Before much else, look at the expected clearances you want to have when cutting materials like trim—particularly crown and baseboard. If you frequently cut taller trim, you likely want a saw that handles those types of cuts against the fence. Typically, a 12-inch miter observed gives you way additional clearance than saws with smaller blades.
Still, we’ve found excellent clearance on some 10-inch miter saws, so it really depends on a number of factors. The biggest one comes next…
While we can’t say for certain that either of these technologies always beats the others, one thing stands out. Across the board, belt drive saws cut much more smoothly in terms of how they feel. They also, however, reduce the clearance on the blade. That means most belt-driven miter saws won’t give you the same amount of impressive cutting height off the back of the blade that you get with gear-driven systems.
On the other hand, the direct and worm drive miter saws we use are a lot more powerful on thick cuts. If you’re cutting 45º miters in 4 x 6 PT for a pergola, you’ll notice you can power through the cut much much more confidently.
The type of miter saw you buy also affects portability and functionality simultaneously. A basic chop saw, for example, can give you miter and bevel cuts in all directions, but may only cut up to a 2×6 at 90-degrees. A sliding miter observed can cut a 2×12 or even a 2×14 depending upon your choice of setup.
That same chop saw also likely weighs a whole lot less than a comparable sliding miter with the same size blade. All these things should come under consideration before you take the plunge.
The choice of a corded or cordless miter saw gets harder and harder each year. Some manufacturers, like Makita, have released saws in both corded and cordless formats—saws that remain identical in all other features. Other companies, like Metabo HPT and DeWalt, have cordless miter saws with battery adapters that can connect you to 120V AC power.
Believe it or not, the newest cordless miter saws are matching their corded counterparts in power. If you find yourself looking at newer models, you no longer need to worry about premium models having enough power.
No matter what, cordless miter saws cost a lot far more than their corded counterparts—often significantly extra. But you can’t beat the convenience of battery power when it’s hard to find an outlet. Battery-powered miter saws have also increased run-time significantly in the past 5 years. Using 2x4s as a reference, we’re now seeing hundreds of cuts on a single charge.
Some saws lack any sort of cut line indicator while others use a laser or LED. The LED-style cut line indicator works better than any other. It uses an LED light (or two) positioned just above the blade. Since it follows the blade down and hits both sides, it produces an exact shadow line where the blade cuts the wood.
It works perfectly, never needs to be adjusted, and functions on all blade types. It also works in broad daylight! It doesn’t even matter if you switch to a thin-kerf blade. The shadow never lies, and you always have an accurate “mark” for your cut. Seriously, it’s not our #1 must-have, but we hope all manufacturers switch to an LED shadow cut line system soon.
Another thing we really love about some miter saws has to do with up-front controls. Up-front controls reduce the need to reach around to bevel a cut. All miter saws include front controls for mitering, of course. Adding a front bevel control steps up the saw to a new level of convenience. Very “worth it” if you do a ton of beveled cuts.
If you find a noticed that combines front controls and zero clearance at the back, it’s a big win. There are systems both with and without rails that don’t require any part of the observed to extend behind it as you slide the blade. You can put it right up against the wall and the observed takes up less of your valuable workspace.
Around here, we love keeping our miter saws on stands. We also tend to run with pickup trucks, trailers, and work vans. That makes a wheeled gravity rise-style miter noticed stand our top pick. If you need to load and unload into a smaller space, you may find that a smaller saw that removes easily from the stand works even better.
And, of course, for the maximum portability, some forgo a stand altogether. You can always make cuts on a tailgate. You can also whip up a couple of sawhorses and use a piece of 3/4-inch T&G or plywood for a tabletop. Just take a look at your workflow and how you like to move tools on and off the job site.
For more information: https://bestwoodrouterguru.com/best-miter-saws-reviews/
That’s okay! We know personal preferences take a front seat in determining the best circular noticed for you, and every Pro is different. Do Pro Tool Nation a favor and tell us what your top pick is and why you love it. Feel free to put it in the comments below or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
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