Our Experts Recommend These 5 Miter Saws for DIY Projects and Pros Alike

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Miter saws perform crosscuts, in which the cut goes across the grain of a piece of lumber. These saws are quick and accurate, and thanks to a pivoting and tilting blade, most can make angled miter and bevel cuts as well. This versatility makes miter saws essential for a wide range of DIY carpentry projects, from cutting deck boards to trim moulding.

With large handles that make it easy to raise and lower the blade with minimal user effort, miter saws are safer and less expensive than table saws, more accurate than circular saws, and faster than handsaws. Plus, when you connect them to a dedicated dust collection system, they require minimal clean-up as well.

The Best Miter Saws

• Best Non-Sliding: Metabo HPT 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw

• Best Value: Skil Dual-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw
  

• Best for Pros: DeWalt Sliding Miter Saw
  

• Best Battery-Powered: Makita Sliding Compound Miter Saw
  

• Best Upgrade: Festool Kapex Sliding Miter Saw

What to Consider

Sliding Versus Non-Sliding

There are two main types of miter saws. The most basic type, sometimes called a chop saw, swings straight down on a single pivot point. This simple, solid action provides excellent accuracy for a relatively affordable price.

Newer to the game is the sliding miter saw, with a blade assembly that not only chops straight down but also slides horizontally on smooth rails, increasing the tool’s crosscut capacity. Both types are attached to tables that pivot 45 degrees right and 45 degrees left.

If you already own a table saw (which is capable of making wide crosscuts), go with a non-sliding miter saw, which has less crosscut capacity but is generally more accurate and less expensive. Non-sliding miters have 10- and 12-inch blades—opt for the larger one to avoid overlap with your table saw.

Serious DIYers and professional trim carpenters should opt for a 12-inch sliding miter saw, which offers the most crosscut capacity and compound-angle cutting (but it’ll cost you—sliding saws are the priciest type of miter saw).

Beveling

Both sliding and non-sliding miter saws also lean sideways so you can perform bevel cuts—some only lean one direction while others, called dual-bevel or compound-bevel miter saws, tip both ways.

Most sliding saws are dual-bevel, so you can address quite a few of your workshop needs with just one sliding miter saw. Single-bevel saws are becoming less common because of their limitations, so we only recommend dual-bevel saws here.

Portability

Miter saws are extremely accurate, leaving the ends of your workpieces smooth and square, with perfect 45-degree angles for boxes and frames of all sorts (plus any other angle you might need). They’re also portable, which makes them easy to carry to where the work is happening, saving you countless trips to and from your workshop.

Cordless models are best if you’re working at a construction site. If you primarily work at home, you should opt for a corded model since it’ll afford you more power, dollar for dollar, and you’ll never have to worry about a battery giving out.

How We Selected

The original author of this piece, Asa Christiana, spent 30 years as a professional and DIY woodworker, and the miter saw was one of her first tool purchases. It was a beat-up old DeWalt she bought from a professional deck builder, and after a blade change, it served her well for 15 years. She used this experience, as well as her career testing and reviewing dozens of miter saws, to select the best saws on the market. Alex Rennie, who updated this piece, has also spent decades working as a contractor where he’s used every imaginable tool and brand.

To find the best miter saws, we looked for ease of adjustment, smoothness of cut, and the accuracy of the angles the saws cut, from 45 to 90 degrees. We’ve also taken into consideration price, maximum crosscut capacity, the ability to cut compound angles in various directions, and the tasks that different types of users tend to tackle.

12-Inch Compound Miter Saw

Powerful and accurate, this miter saw’s blade tips over in both directions for compound miters of all kinds. (Compound miters are created when the blade is tilted vertically and also pivoted horizontally at the same time.) This ability is helpful when installing trim into corners of a home that are not exactly 90 degrees, and a dual-bevel saw lets you cut compound angles in any direction.

Users report Metabo’s blade and bevel settings are perfect right out of the box, and they’re easy to adjust if needed. The tall fence lets you stand up large crown moldings for accurate cutting, and the saw is relatively quiet compared to others. If you don’t need or want to pay for the extra crosscut capacity of a sliding saw, this is for you.

MS6305 Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw

Skil’s new collection of powerful tools, designed for value, makes them a popular option. Their sliding miter saw with serious capacity won’t make the super-wide cuts of a 12-inch slider but can handle most of your projects with power and accuracy.

It has all the bells and whistles of higher-priced sliders, including dual-bevel capability and a tall fence for vertical molding cuts—with outstanding reviews on a variety of popular retail sites.

What sets it apart is an especially powerful 15-amp motor, which slices through the thickest, toughest boards without hesitation. Miter and bevel settings are accurate and easy to adjust. Users say they appreciate the comfortable horizontal handle, accurate LED cut-alignment system, and work supports that slide out from the base.

DWS716XPS Sliding Miter Saw

Known for tough, dependable power tools, DeWalt’s sliding miter saw checks every box. It’s got enough power to cut through the toughest timber without faltering, and its solid sliding rails deliver extra smooth cuts.

With category-leading crosscut capacity, thanks to an innovative fence design, it’s tall enough to let you tip large workpieces on edge for specialized cuts. It also features a wider miter range than the competition, with miter and bevel angles that are easy to adjust and hold their settings.

Dust collection is very good with a vac attached. Although pricey, this saw is a bargain for pros and serious DIYers.

XSL07PT Sliding Compound Miter Saw

Cordless miter saws are a great choice for professional carpenters and DIYers who need ultimate portability. Unlike most cordless saws that use 10-inch blades, this Makita model features a 12-inch blade, so you won’t need to compromise on cutting capacity.

You’re also getting two 18-volt LXT batteries, and combined with the efficient brushless motor, can perform up to 175 cuts per charge. A handy built-in laser lets you know exactly where you line-of-cut is, and two dust ports ensure that your workspace stays clean and tidy.

Kapex KS 120 REB Sliding Miter Saw

Like all Festool power tools, this new Kapex was designed in Germany from the ground up with zero compromises—and is perfect for those willing to pay for perfection.

The cut quality is unrivaled in a miter saw that’s lighter than the competition with a smaller footprint, thanks to an innovative design that places the sliding rails farther forward. Kapex’s unique features include an ergonomic handle and trigger; a special cutting position that accommodates very tall workpieces; and a counter-balanced blade assembly that holds its position when tipped sideways.

You can lock the blade height for slot cuts that don’t pass through the entire board and the direct-drive motor adjusts its output as needed. Its unique hood is amazingly effective at capturing dust. It’s expensive, but my friends who own this tool say they’ll never go back to another model.

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