Best Miter Saws

Learn about Miter Saws and Find the Best Option for You

Updated November 26, 2019

Looking for a miter saw that will enable you to perform complex cutting jobs with ease? You’ve come to the right place! Here we run down some of the finest miter saws available, any one of which will make a useful addition to your workshop.

One thing you will immediately notice about miter saws is that they tend to be better made than most other types of power tools. Built to the most stringent standards of performance, safety, and ease of use, miter saws are some of the most durable and dependable power tools you could invest in.

Take the models featured below for example. Constructed according to the highest standards, they utilize only the finest materials and assembly processes to ensure utmost reliability and safety even with rugged use. The quality of these miter saws is such that most any of them will represent an excellent deal. You simply can’t go wrong with any one of these, so choose the one in your preferred price point and find out what you’ve been missing all along!

This review comes to you from our Tools expert Bill
Published January 7th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Bill’s career in hardware dates back to his early childhood sitting behind the counter and learning about how to farm, make repairs, and manage a garden. Since then he has been a hardware store owner, a locksmith, and a home repair and maintenance expert for several decades. Bill knows how to solve almost any problem outside of the home in the lawn and garden, and has evaluated first-hand most products over multiple development cycles. In his spare time, you may find Bill working in his garden, tending to his perfectly manicured lawn, birdwatching, or riding his bike.

Miter Saws

The Better Lawns & Garden Team’s Favorite Miter Saws on the Market.

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Hitachi

Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw

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The Hitachi C10FCG is a lightweight yet powerful compound miter saw. Its 15-amp motor is capable of 5,000 RPM no-load performance, making it more than capable of most crosscut and miter cut tasks.

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The C10FCG is especially suited for making clean and precise bevel cuts. With its zero to 45 degree bevel range, it is an excellent choice for woodworkers that require utmost consistency and precision. It even has thumb actuated positive stops that enable you to adjust miters quickly. The C10FCG is equipped with a specially designed vice clamping system that keeps work pieces securely in place. This helps ensure safer and more efficient operation, with much less safety risk. A horizontal handle enhances secure fittings even further, and a dust collector attachment is included that reduces dust particles in the air.

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The Hitachi C10FCG seems to appeal to a good number of beginners to miter saws, many of who were able to gain familiarity with the tool fairly quickly. One user had never even handled a power tool before, but quickly out it to good use after only a few trial runs. For this particular user, the simplicity and straightforward design of the unit was perfectly suited as a starting point to more complex work. One user did emphasize the need to use a proper extension cord when operating the saw. After finding out that a thin-gauge cord unduly stressed the motor, this user quickly switched over to an extension cord designed for outdoor use, and encountered no further issues.

Value Pick

Delta

Shopmaster 10 In. Miter Saw with Laser

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The Shopmaster S26-260L is a great addition to any woodworker’s arsenal of power tools. Boasting of a host of useful features, it offers superb value in an affordable and surprisingly capable design.

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Features such as the battery-operated laser make blade alignment a breeze, speeding up even the most complex tasks while ensuring accuracy. The also has plenty of power to spare, with a 15-amp motor that can cut smoothly and cleanly in a single pass. The Shopmaster S26-260L is also quite a versatile unit that will work with most any miter saw stand.

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Those looking for excellent value in a miter saw have nothing but praise for the Shopmaster S26-260L. Even users that have had considerable experience with other miter saws have shifted over to this one, citing its superb value for the money. Some users do mention the need to consider the size of the blade when making cuts. Many have found that careful selection of the blade is essential for getting the most out of this unit.

Contender

DEWALT

Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw

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The Dewalt DWS780 combines a powerful 15-amp motor with a host of features to make cutting jobs easier and faster. Make precise, smooth cuts with the 12-inch double bevel sliding design.

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Features such as the XPS cross cut positioning system enable you to perform accurate cuts without having to adjust the saw repeatedly, so even the most complex tasks can be done with ease. A high-capacity cutting machine, it accommodates crown molding and base molding with equal ease. Like all Dewalt systems, the DWS780 is built for rugged durability.

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Users of the Dewalt DWS780 are absolutely impressed with the accuracy and versatility of the unit. Many cite its ability to handle a wide range of board widths, with cuts that are as precise as could be. The Dewalt DWS780 also earns praise for its smooth and quiet operation, especially among those that have used other miter saws in the past.

What to Look for When Evaluating Miter Saws

A miter saw is only as effective as its reliability and durability. Choosing the best miter saw you can find will ensure that you get the best performance possible and that you are able to enjoy your tool to the fullest. Careful comparison will also ensure that you get a power tool that meets the highest standards for safety. This is always an important concern, especially when it comes to miter saws, which may pose a safety hazard when improperly operated or constructed under less than optimal standards.

Evaluating the different types of miter saws is a much simpler task when you know what it is you are looking for. There are actually a few different types of these tools, each of which is designed for specific tasks. Each type also has its benefits and drawbacks.

First up are the basic miter saws that are commonly used for trim cutting and cross and miter cuts. Because these designs typically don’t have a bevel option, they are pretty much limited to making miter cuts. Although they may not be the most versatile miter saws around, they are quite accurate, and sufficiently effective for most basic cutting jobs.

Compound miter saws can be used to make tilted or bevel cuts, due to the addition of a bevel. They can also be used for miter cuts simply by making a quick adjustment. These types of miter saws come in single bevel and dual bevel designs. Compound miter saws are most effective at cutting crown moldings and the like, performing even more complex jobs with ease and accuracy.

For sheer versatility, a sliding compound miter saw is what you need. This is by far the most versatile type of miter saw available and the most costly one as well. It provides all the benefits and capabilities of a compound miter saw, with the added capability to cut wide and thick pieces of wood due to the inclusion of a sliding arm. Although overkill for most home woodworking jobs, the versatility and enhanced capabilities of these models make them pretty hard to beat.

Shopping Guide for Miter Saws

There are a few important things to keep in mind when shopping for a miter saw. Some of these factors are intended to help you work faster and more efficiently, while others will reduce safety risk and prevent injury.

Power is typically measured in amps. The higher the amp rating of a miter saw, the more effective it will be at cutting. When considering this factor, you do have to determine just how much power you actually need. While a high amp saw is indeed nice to have around, they will also cost considerably more than a lower spec’d miter saw.

Another factor you will want to look into is blade size. Miter saws typically come with 8-, 10-, and 12-inch blades, although some can accommodate even larger blades. The larger the blade, the more effective it is at making long cuts.

Other factors that may be equally important to you are positive stops, depth stops, and articulated blade guards. These features enhance the effectiveness and accuracy of miter saws, enabling you to perform more precise cuts. You may also want to look into electric brakes that enable you to stop the blade’s spinning motion quickly.

Why a Miter Saw?

Miter saws let you cut quickly at a variety of angles, which can be very useful for home renovation and a variety of other types of projects.

What are the Benefits of a Miter Saw?

Miter saws are some of the most useful tools to have in your shed or workshop. Among their benefits are:

Miter saws enhance accuracy and precision. Miter saws are known for their accuracy, which is why they are very popular among wood workers and practitioners of fine carpentry. Saws that come with angle-locking features are even more accurate, ensuring that cuts are exactly the same angle every time.

Miter saws make higher quality cuts possible. Another thing miter saws are known for is their ability to make smooth cuts of the highest quality. This is especially true of compound miter saws, which is routinely used for tasks that require the finest quality results. With such saws, you never have to deal with rough edges that require a great deal of sanding afterwards.

Miter saws enable you to make cuts of different angles. If you have ever wondered how experienced wood workers are able to make so many differently- angled cuts, a miter saw is likely the answer. The best compound miter saws can even cut in a variety of angles even without stopping the motor.

Miter saws are easy to use. Despite their ability to perform the most complex tasks, miter saws are surprisingly among the easiest of power tools to use. Even if you have never handled a similar tool before, you could probably be performing accurate and complex cuts after a few trial runs.

Miter saws can save a great deal of time. Miter saws can make even the most difficult jobs go smoothly and more quickly. They are especially useful for making wide cuts in large pieces of material, which would otherwise take a long time to do with other types of saws.

Best Miter Saws

Learn about Miter Saws and Find the Best Option for You

This review comes to you from our Tools expert Bill

Miter Saws

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Hitachi

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Delta

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DEWALT

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Editor's insights

What to Look for When Evaluating Miter Saws

Shopping Guide for Miter Saws

Why a Miter Saw?

What are the Benefits of a Miter Saw?

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Best Miter Saws

Learn about Miter Saws and Find the Best Option for You

This review comes to you from our Tools expert Bill

Miter Saws

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Hitachi

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Delta

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

DEWALT

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

What to Look for When Evaluating Miter Saws

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Shopping Guide for Miter Saws

Why a Miter Saw?

What are the Benefits of a Miter Saw?

Quick Links

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