A miter saw is a great tool to have when you are trying to make angled cuts. It is usually used for making cuts on picture frames, crown molding, window casings, and other cuts that you cannot make with a regular saw. Every handyman or contractor knows that a miter saw is an essential tool in their workshop. With that being said, finding the best miter saw to match not only your budget but the tasks at hand can be difficult.
To make your job easier since we have better things we would rather be doing on our weekends then walking through home depot or lowes. We have compared 10 of the best miter saws on the market.
Table of Contents
- Best Miter Saws in 2020
- 10. DeltaS26-262L Shopmaster 10 In. Miter Saw With Laser
- 9. SKIL 12″ Compound Miter Saws
- 8. Metabo HPT 12″ Sliding Compound Miter Saw
- 7. TACKLIFE 12″ Sliding Compound Miter Saw
- 6. Bosch 120-Volt 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Glide Miter Saw
- 5. DEWALT 12″ DWS715 Miter Saw
- 4. DEWALT DW715 15-Amp 12-Inch Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw
- 3. DEWALT DWS780 12-Inch Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
- 2. Metabo HTP C10FCGS 10″ Compound Miter Saw
- 1. DEWALT DWS779 12″ Sliding Compound Miter Saw
- Miter Saws Buying Guide
- Conclusion
Best Miter Saws in 2020
10. DeltaS26-262L Shopmaster 10 In. Miter Saw With Laser
Shop Master 10 in. Miter saw with a battery-operated laser that makes aligning the blade to the workpiece more convenient and precise. It features a Spindle Lock that holds the blade in place during changes. The shop Master 10 in. Miter saw is perfect for the Dyer in the family or for everyday use. It features a powerful 15 amp motor that cuts through wood like butter and spins the 10 in. The blade at 5500 RPM. It has denoted stops at 0, 15, 22.5, 30, and 45 degrees.
The battery-powered laser ensures an accurate cut every time. It is UL listed and comes with a 3-year warranty. The saw can make left bevel cuts from 0 to 47 degrees. It works virtually with all Miter saw stands.
- The lightweight unit is easy to move
- Works with virtually all miter saw stands
- An issue with some of the material
9. SKIL 12″ Compound Miter Saws
It wasn’t one of our favorites, but the Skilsaw 3821-01 compound miter saw is a very solid product. Like most miter saws at this price point, this one is powered by a 15-amp motor. It’s got a 12-inch blade that can cut through 2×6 lumber with ease, but rather disappointingly, wouldn’t quite reach through a 2×8. Nine positive stops are built-in to make it easy and quick to set your miter angles. You also get a laser light to sight up your cut, and to our surprise, this one is pretty accurate and even somewhat visible. But our favorite feature was the slide-out table extensions that give you more support for when you’re cutting long pieces.
Despite all the features we enjoyed on this saw, there were still plenty of complaints from our testers. The short cut length was our first complaint since it wouldn’t reach through a 2×8. It can only cut pieces with a maximum height of 3.5 inches as well, so it’s not great for trim work. The blade only bevels to the left, but some other saws in the price range bevel to both sides. It’s acceptable for basic wood-work, but we don’t recommend it.
- Accurate laser light
- Durable and easy to use
- Table extensions for stability with longer pieces
- Only bevels to the left
8. Metabo HPT 12″ Sliding Compound Miter Saw
This C12RSH2S miter saw is the top of line 12″ sliding dual compound miter saw, ideal for trim carpenters, framers, and woodworkers who demand precision and reliability. The compact slide system requires zero clearance. The fixed rail system allows the miter saw head to smoothly glide along the fixed rails, eliminating the rear clearance that other sliding miter saws require. The compact slide system decreases the footprint of the saw by up to a foot, saving valuable real estate in any shop environment. This miter saw also features tall sliding fences that allow for cutting much larger material, while easily sliding out of the way when making bevel cuts.
Easily adjust the laser marker allowing the novice to expert users higher precision to make perfectly accurate cuts. Miter Angle 0-57 degree miter angle to the right and 0-45 degree to the left for flexibility, Bevel 0-45 degree bevel angle range to the right and left allowing quicker and easier cuts, Motor Powerful 15 amp motor to tackle tough cutting jobs with ease.
- Accurate cut
- Easy to carry
- Does not slide smoothly
7. TACKLIFE 12″ Sliding Compound Miter Saw
TACKLIFE is a less-known tool manufacturer that doesn’t share the same clout and reputation as DEWALT or Ryobi. For what you pay, this sliding compound miter saw offers a lot of great functionality, but it’s got some hard-to-miss flaws as well. The platform is pretty large to start, which we liked, and extends on each side for even more support. A dust containment bag is included but doesn’t work so well on its own. That said, you can attach a vacuum instead and we experienced very little mess with it attached. This saw bevels both ways and has a 13-inch cut length thanks to the 12-inch blade and sliding rails.
Though it has some nice features, the build quality of the TACKLIFE saw isn’t up to the standard set by some of the other saws we tested. It’s not as solid and doesn’t feel like it would survive too many trips in the back of your work truck. It’s also got a very low fence that doesn’t provide support when cutting taller trim. When cutting miters, there aren’t as many miter stops as we’ve come to expect, and the back rail is marked in centimeters instead of inches.
- Double-bevel
- Large cutting capacity
- Lower-priced than similar products
- The fence is a bit short
6. Bosch 120-Volt 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Glide Miter Saw
The Bosch-exclusive Axial-Glide offers wider cross-cuts, enhanced alignment, and a smooth glide for the life of the tool. The Bosch miter saw 15 Amp motor delivers no-load speeds of 3,800 RPM for quick, accurate cuts in many materials. For added convenience and versatility, the saw is compatible with a variety of 12 In. blades and it has a clear lower guard to provide unobstructed cut-line visibility.
The GCM12SD provides easy adjustments with upfront bevel and miter controls and detents at common angles. The saw’s all-metal bevel lock lever and range selector are located up front to make bevel adjustments easy.
- 1 Year Limited Factory Warranty
- Easy adjustments and stainless steel miter scales
- The fence is a bit wide
5. DEWALT 12″ DWS715 Miter Saw
Being one of the kings in the power tool world, it’s not surprising that DEWALT has ended up with two offerings on our list. The DWS715 is a stout 15-amp miter saw with a 12-inch blade that’s capable of sinking its teeth into anything five inches thick and eight inches wide or smaller. Overall, it’s a very capable saw, but it’s more expensive than some of its closest competitors without offering quite as many notable features. That said, DEWALT is known for producing sturdy tools with the very high build quality and this saw certainly lives up to that reputation. With the DWS715, you get a tall fence that’s great for cutting larger material.
The fence even slides out of the way for doing beveled cuts, but the blade only bevels to the left, unlike the Metabo saw in the position ahead of this DEWALT. This saw also doesn’t have a laser light for lining up your cut. However, the DEWALT is a good bit lighter at just over 40 pounds. DEWALT covers their tools with a three-year warranty, which isn’t the best in the industry, but it’s far better than nothing.
- Very sturdily built
- Affordable and easy to use
- More portable than sliding miter saws
- A bit expensive than similar competitors
4. DEWALT DW715 15-Amp 12-Inch Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw
The DW715 12 in. Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw is powered by a 15 Amp motor to drive 4,000 rpm, delivering extended power and durability. Features stainless steel miter detent plate and cam miter lock that provides repeatable accuracy and durability with easy adjustments. Tall sliding fences support 6-1/2 in. of base molding vertically and 5-1/4 in. of crown molding vertically nested. Lightweight design and built-in carry handle for portability.
- Best quality
- Comfortable to use
- A bit issue with the LED laser
3. DEWALT DWS780 12-Inch Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The DWS780 12 in. Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw has a 15 Amp motor and integrated XPS cross cut positioning system for adjustment-free accurate cut line indication. Tall sliding fences support 7-1/2 in. of nested crown and 6-3/4 in. of base molding vertically. Exclusive Back Fence design cuts up to 2×16 dimensional lumber at 90°. Increased miter capacity of 60° (R) and 50° (L) features a durable stainless steel miter detent plate with a cam lock for repeatable accuracy with easy adjustments.
- New precise miter system
- Powerful 15 Amp motor for advanced cutting power
- The plastic cover looks cheap
2. Metabo HTP C10FCGS 10″ Compound Miter Saw
Power tools can get expensive, and miter saws are on the larger, higher-priced end of the spectrum. But with the Metabo HTP C10FCGS, you can get an excellent miter saw at a very affordable price. It’s got a smaller 10-inch blade that can’t cut through larger lumber, but for anything 2×6 and smaller, it’s a great choice. Equipped with a powerful 15-amp motor, it’s got plenty of power to cut through anything that the blade will reach through. It’s even great for cutting through metals if you switch the blade out.
One problem we noticed with a lot of the premium 12-inch miter saws was that they were extremely heavy and bulky. You wouldn’t want to move them around often. That’s fine for a saw that will spend its life in a workshop, but if you ever move outside of your workspace for a project, then the smaller size and lighter weight of the Metabo C10FCGS will be a blessing that you’ll appreciate. Even though it’s smaller and cheaper than a lot of the competition, the five-year warranty should provide peace of mind. For us, it all adds up to the best miter saw for the money.
- Increased flexibility
- Powerful 15-amp motor
- Lightweight and portable
- 10-inch blade can’t cut larger lumber
1. DEWALT DWS779 12″ Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The DEWALT DWS779 slide compound miter saw is ideal for most cutting applications including crown molding up to 7-1/2 in. This miter saw is designed with a powerful 15 Amp, 3800 RPM motor that delivers extended power and durability. The exclusive back fence design cuts up to 2 x 14 dimensional lumbers at 90 degrees and 2×10 at 45 degrees.
- 3 year limited warranty
- Powerful 15 Amp and durability
- Don’t have an LED
Miter Saws Buying Guide
- Size: One of the main aspects of a miter saw is the fact that it is not used to run along a workpiece, such as a circular saw or jigsaw. The cutting ability is limited to the size of the blade for most miter saws, so the size of the blade is an essential specification. Although there are miter saws that can slide to take on an expanded cutting space, the actual blade size is still very relevant. Larger-sized miter saws are going to be more appropriate for industrial and professional use, while smaller sizes are better-suited for home use.
- Power: Most miter saws will have a sufficient amount of power, but any models that have an expanded amount will cut even more precisely. 15 amp motors are common for higher-end saws, providing anywhere from 3,000 to 3,800 RPM for blade speeds. Higher-powered miter saws can usually be used for a variety of materials that go well beyond wood, depending on the blade used.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a much better idea about miter saws, their capabilities, and what aspects to prioritize for your own use. We strongly recommend any of the six saws on this list, with each depending on your average project needs, and of course your budget. Regardless of which saw you go with, you’ll soon be enjoying the convenience and efficiency that miter saws can provide for your woodworking and material needs, setting you up for many successful projects in the future.
Last update on 2020-08-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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