Best Miter Saw 2020 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

It’s time for a new miter saw to complete all those framing, molding, and milling projects you want to do. Table saws and circular saws each have their own place in your shop, but neither can match a miter saw for cutting the perfect angle.

We’ve chosen the best miter saws with a variety of cutting capacities and features so you can find the perfect one for your needs. Here is a quick overview of our top picks:

The top miter saws at a glance

12-inch sliding compound saws
DEWALT DWS78012-inch sliding compound saw with 15Amp belt drive motor
Handles large cuts in lumber up to 14” wide, or 16” with a special setup, and molding up to 7.5” tall
Miters 60 degrees right, 50 degrees left
Large and legible bevel scale with ten positive stops
Dust collection system captures 75% of sawdust
56-pound weight makes it easy to transport
Check Price
Makita LS1216L12-inch sliding double bevel compound saw
15Amp direct drive motor with no belt
Comes with adjustable laser that works whether or not blade is spinning
Handles cuts in wood up to 15” wide or molding up to 8” tall
Miters 60 degrees right, 52 degrees left
4-rail system requires less space to the rear of saw
Comes with 60T blade and dust bag
Check Price
Milwaukee 6955-2012-inch sliding dual bevel saw
Miters up to 48 degrees left or right
Nine positive stops as well as digital readout of precise angle, plus angle override
Electronic soft start
15Amp direct drive motor runs at 3250rpm under load
Twin work lights cast blade shadow along cut line
Check Price
Bosch GCM12SDVery compact, doesn’t need much space at the rear because of its Axial Glide system
Bevels up to 48 degrees left or right
Vertical cut height of 6.5” and horizontal 14”
Ambidextrous trigger
90% dust collection rate
Check Price
12-inch non-sliding miter saws
Makita LS122115amp direct drive motor
12-inch blade bevels 45 degrees left or right
Maximum cut 3-7/8” x 6”
Pivoting fence
Electric brake
Comes with dust bag and carbide tooth blade plus extension wings for long materials
Lightweight at only 37 pounds
Check Price
SKIL 3821-0112-inch blade miters up to 45 degrees
Laser shows the cutline
Extension wings to support long pieces
Powerful and fast, up to 4500rpm
Weighs only 43 pounds
Comes with dust bag
Check Price
10-inch saws
Festool Kapex KS 120Compact 10-inch miter saw with dual bevel
Dual laser system for accuracy
Bevels up to 47 degrees left or right
Special cutting position makes trenches for lap joints
Forward rail system means you don’t need a lot of space at the rear
Excellent dust extraction system
Comes with angle transfer tool
Only 47 pounds and has two carrying handles
Check Price
Hitachi C10FCH210-inch blade
15amp motor with maximum speed 5000rpm
Bevels left up to 45 degrees, miters left and right up to 52 degrees
Pivoting fence
Maximum cut capacity 2-5/16 inches high x 5-21/32 inches deep
Weighs only 26.5 pounds
Elastomer-coated handle
Comes with dust bag and blade
Check Price
Cordless miter saws
DEWALT DCS361M1Cordless, runs on 20V lithium-ion battery
7.25-inch blade and sliding design handles up to 8-inch wide cuts
Up to 275 cuts of pine baseboard on a charge
Bevels left from -3 to 48 degrees
Check Price
Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+Cordless, runs off 18V lithium-ion battery
7.25” blade cuts 2x4 lumber
Weighs only 15 pounds
Miters and bevels up to 45 degrees both left and right
Laser alignment system
Up to 4500rpm
1-1/4-inch dust port
Check Price

DEWALT DWS780—Best All-Around Contractor-Grade with the Largest Capacity

DEWALT DWS780
DEWALT DWS780

When you have big jobs to do, the DWS780 will keep up with you. It’s a 12-inch sliding compound saw from a company well known for producing professional quality tools. The large blade and the 15Amp motor will help you power through crown molding as tall as 7-1/2” or base molding up to 6-3/4” in size. Or you can crosscut 2×16 lumber and miter cut 2×12 pieces at up to a 45-degree angle. These facts make it the miter saw with the largest cutting capacity in our reviews today.

It’s not a slow saw, either. The blade spins up to 3800rpm, yet it’s not very noisy while it’s working. And unlike some less expensive models, the DWS780 is stable, sturdy, and smooth, with little vibration while it’s working. It’s built with a stainless steel rail system, retractable back fence, and it has stainless steel linear bearings. Combined with the built-in XPS laser alignment system, this saw is very precise.

You can perform miter cuts up to 50 degrees to the left, or 60 degrees to the right. The bevel scale has well-marked angle points and ten positive stops, making it very quick and easy to set up a new job. Or you can use the detent override and the cam lock miter handle to get the precise miter angle you want.

While you work, the dust collection system catches up to 75% of both chop and slide dust. This is very handy when you have a lot of wood to cut so you don’t need to stop often to clear your workspace. And when you’re done for the day, the 56-pound weight keeps it portable for one person to transport.

The DWS780 comes with a dust collection bag, a carbide blade, a blade wrench, and a vertical material clamp. It’s compatible with both 5/8-inch and 1-inch blade arbors, but it can only cut wood. It’s not recommended for use with metal.

DEWALT offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, a one-year free service contract, and a three-year limited warranty.

Pros
  • 12-inch sliding double bevel compound saw with 15Amp belt drive motor
  • Handles large cuts in lumber up to 14” wide, or 16” with a special setup, and molding up to 7.5” tall
  • Miters 60 degrees right, 50 degrees left
  • Large and legible bevel scale with ten positive stops
  • Dust collection system captures 75% of sawdust
  • 56-pound weight makes it easy to transport
  • Covered by 3-year warranty, free service contract, and money-back guarantee
Cons
  • For use cutting wood only
  • Blade guard isn’t transparent
  • Miters slightly less to the left than the Makita LS1216L

Click here to Check out DEWALT DWS780 Price on Amazon.com!

 

Makita LS1216L—Powerful, Precise Saw for Professionals

Makita LS1216L
Makita LS1216L

The LS1216L 12-inch miter saw is a typical example of Makita’s preference for superior engineering over brute force. For example, while it only reaches 3200rpm instead of the 3800rpm of the DEWALT DWS780, the Makita is designed to work as smoothly as possible. Its 15Amp direct drive motor has an electronic soft start plus speed control that makes it easy to cut through any kind of wood. And the direct drive has no belt for you to maintain, making it easier to keep this saw in service for years to come.

The retractable rear guard, triple gear system, and steel sliding rails give you a large cutting capacity for crown molding, baseboards, and dimensional lumber. For example, the LS1216L can handle up to 8-inch tall molding, 6.5-inch baseboard, or it can crosscut 15-inch wide lumber at 90-degrees.

As for precision, the Makita LS1216L has everything you need to get each cut right on the first try. First, it comes with a laser to show you the line of cut whether or not the blade is spinning. You can turn the laser on or off as you like, and adjust it to shine on either the left or right side of the blade.

Second, the saw has a sliding fence system composed of four fences that each allow you to adjust their upper and lower sections for perfect miter and bevel cuts. And third, the LS1216L miters up to 52 degrees left and 60 degrees right, just a hair farther than the DWS780 can manage. The well-marked scale has positive stops at the most commonly used angles so you can quickly find what you need.

Finally, we liked a few other thoughtful user-friendly touches on this saw. For one, it has a rubber coating on the handle that improves grip and reduces vibration. Two, the blade change process is very simple. And three, the saw doesn’t need as much space behind it because it has a four-rail design. It comes with a 60-tooth blade, a dust collection bag, a blade wrench, a triangular rule, and a vertical vise. Makita offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-year warranty.

Pros
  • 12-inch sliding double bevel compound saw
  • 15Amp direct drive motor with no belt
  • Comes with adjustable laser that works whether or not blade is spinning
  • Handles cuts in wood up to 15” wide or molding up to 8” tall
  • Miters 60 degrees right, 52 degrees left
  • 4-rail system requires less space to the rear of saw
  • Comes with 60T blade and dust bag
  • Covered by 3-year warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
  • Top speed slightly less than competitor DWS780
  • For use cutting wood only

Click here to Check out Makita LS1216L Price on Amazon.com!

 

Milwaukee 6955-20—For Digitally Precise Cuts

Milwaukee 6955-20
Milwaukee 6955-20

The Milwaukee 6955-20 12-inch dual bevel miter saw doesn’t come with a laser like the Makita model—it comes with bright lights instead. The lights are mounted on either side of the blade so they shine directly on the piece you’re cutting. This has the added benefit of revealing the cut line with a shadow.

Instead of only a simple scale marked with the miter angles, you also get a digital readout with the exact angle displayed right by the lock. This readout is accurate to 0.1 degree, so you can use the dial to override the detent for super-precise angle cuts. It bevels both left and right up to 48 degrees.

Like the Makita, the Milwaukee features a 15Amp direct-drive motor. The advantage of direct drive over belt-driven saws like the DEWALT DWS780 is that they usually require less maintenance. And also like the Makita saw, the Milwaukee has an electronic soft start that builds up to full speed in less than two seconds.

Milwaukee also says that the maximum speed of the blade is 3250rpm, both under no load and while cutting. This is due to the electronic controls that keep the speed steady even while sawing hardwood. And while the 6955-20 is working, the dust collection system sends debris out of the rear of the saw away from the work surface.

The manufacturer offers a 5-year warranty on the 6955-20 miter saw. While it doesn’t come with a dust bag, you can place a container below the dust collection system output, or attach Milwaukee’s own hose adapter, sold separately

Pros
  • 12-inch sliding dual bevel saw
  • Miters up to 48 degrees left or right
  • Nine positive stops as well as digital readout of precise angle, plus angle override
  • Electronic soft start
  • 15Amp direct drive motor runs at 3250rpm under load
  • Twin work lights cast blade shadow along cut line
  • 5-year warranty
Cons
  • Doesn’t come with dust collection bag
  • For wood only
  • Not very portable at almost 78 pounds

Click here to Check out Milwaukee 6955-20 Price on Amazon.com!

 

Bosch GCM12SD—Compact and Easy to Use

Bosch GCM12SD
Bosch GCM12SD

If you’re looking for a compact 12-inch miter saw, try the Bosch GCM12SD. It’s a sliding compound saw, which would ordinarily require quite a bit of work space. But Bosch’s Axial Glide system eliminates the typical rail design in favor of arm rack suspension. It gives you a 14-inch horizontal cutting reach, as well as a 6.5-inch vertical capacity.

When you need to nest crown molding, the Squarelock fence is easy to lock into place and unlock to slide out of the way. Both it and the miter scale are well-marked with highly visible measurements to help you make precise cuts.

Although the GCM12SD only bevels up to 48-degrees either left or right, it has a fast blade speed under no load up to 3800rpm. And it’s easy to control with the large rubber-coated trigger that fits either comfortably in either your left or right hand.

The saw comes with a 90-degree angled dust chute and a dust bag. According to Bosch, the GCM12SD captures up to 90 percent of debris and dust generated while you cut. You’ll also find a 60-tooth blade, a material clamp, and a blade wrench in the box. While its 65-pound weight doesn’t make this saw very portable, it is very compact. Bosch offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year limited warranty.

Pros
  • Very compact, doesn’t need much space at the rear because of its Axial Glide system
  • Bevels up to 48 degrees left or right
  • Vertical cut height of 6.5” and horizontal 14”
  • Ambidextrous trigger
  • 90% dust collection rate
  • Covered by money-back guarantee plus warranty
Cons
  • Not as portable as some saws because it weighs 65 pounds
  • For wood only

Click here to Check out Bosch GCM12SD Price on Amazon.com!

 

Festool Kapex KS 120—Precision Saw for the True Craftsperson

Festool Kapex KS 120
Festool Kapex KS 120

Let’s imagine that you want a portable, compact, and very accurate 10-inch miter saw that has superior dust collection. If price isn’t an issue, take a look at the Festool Kapex KS 120. This tool has several features that carpenters love. Let’s go over the most unique ones first.

First, the KS 120 has a special cutting position that uses the back part of the blade to cut trenches for lap joints or openings for pipes. Not many miter saws list that in their specs. It also slices through crown molding up to 6-5/8-inches tall.

Second, the cut quality is amazing. There are at least two reasons for this. One is that the KS 120 has dual lasers that let you align a cut from either the left or right-hand sides. The lasers are adjustable on three axes and they run off electricity, not batteries. Then the special Kapex blade with its thin kerf practically eliminates vibration so your cut stays true and straight.

Fourth, the KS 120 saw has two carrying handles and its magnesium-alloy body weighs less than 50 pounds. Its head locks down for transport, and you can store both the power cord and arbor tool onboard. And while you work, you need virtually no space at the rear of the saw since it has a forward rail system.

Finally, the dust extraction setup works even better than Bosch’s, removing up to 91% of debris from your work space. Of course, this astonishing figure requires you to use Festools’ own CT dust extractor.

As for the usual features on this type of miter saw, the KS 120 does not disappoint. It bevels up to 47 degrees both left and right on a rack and pinion setup that locks firmly into place. Choosing the angle you need is a breeze with the included angle transfer tool, too.

In conclusion, you’ll also love the quick and easy blade change process. Just turn the FastFix knob and swap the blade with one hand. Festools covers the KS 120 with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-year limited warranty.

Pros
  • Compact 10-inch miter saw with dual bevel
  • Dual laser system for accuracy
  • Bevels up to 47 degrees left or right
  • Special cutting position makes trenches for lap joints
  • Forward rail system means you don’t need a lot of space at the rear
  • Excellent dust extraction system
  • Comes with angle transfer tool
  • Only 47 pounds and has two carrying handles
  • 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-year limited warranty
Cons
  • Price a bit high for occasional use
  • Requires Festool blades and CT dust extractor system for top performance

Click here to Check out Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw Price on Amazon.com!

 

Makita LS1221—Powerful and Portable Workhorse for Flooring and Finish Carpentry

Makita LS1221
Makita LS1221

If you don’t need a sliding compound miter saw, but you still want to use a 12-inch blade, you may love the Makita LS1221. This is the perfect saw for someone who installs flooring or cabinets, or does finish carpentry, and doesn’t need to cut wide pieces of wood.

It has a powerful 15amp direct drive motor that speeds the blade up to 4000rpm, and that’s plenty of power to handle hardwoods all day long. Plus, the electronic controls keep the speed constant under load.

It miters both left and right up to 45 degrees, with 9 positive stops at the most common angles.With the pivoting fence, you can cut up to 5.5-inch tall crown molding. The electric brake stops the blade as you complete each cut.

Since the LS1221 weighs only 37 pounds, it’s easy to move to a new jobsite. It comes with extension wings to support long materials, a vertical vise, a carbide tooth blade, a blade wrench, and a dust bag. It’s covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-year limited warranty.

Pros
  • 15amp direct drive motor
  • 12-inch blade bevels 45 degrees left or right
  • Maximum cut 3-7/8” x 6”
  • Pivoting fence
  • Electric brake
  • Comes with dust bag and carbide tooth blade plus extension wings for long materials
  • Lightweight at only 37 pounds
  • 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-year limited warranty
Cons
  • None as long as the buyer understands the limitations of what the saw can do compared to a sliding compound miter saw

Click here to Check out Makita LS1221 Price on Amazon.com!

 

SKIL 3821-01—Best Budget-Priced Twelve-Inch Miter Saw

SKIL 3821-01
SKIL 3821-01

The SKIL 3821-01 12-inch compound miter saw is a noisy tool that doesn’t achieve the accuracy you would get with a Makita or a Festool.But it doeshave a laser that marks the cutline on the wood, a feature not often seen on lower-priced saws. And it’s speedy and powerful, with a 15amp motor that spins the blade up to 4500rpm. Plus, it has extension wings to support long strips of molding.

If you’re a homeowner or do-it-yourself who wants a 12-inch miter saw for occasional projects, but find yourself constrained by price tags, the SKIL 3821-01 might be just what you need. It weighs 43 pounds, so it’s not too heavy for transport. It comes with a dust bag and dust collection system that’s adequate, if not spectacular. SKIL offers a 3-year warranty.

 

Pros
  • 12-inch blade miters up to 45 degrees
  • Laser shows the cutline
  • Extension wings to support long pieces
  • Powerful and fast, up to 4500rpm
  • Weighs only 43 pounds
  • Comes with dust bag
Cons
  • Noisy
  • Dust collection is not the best
  • Accuracy may not be as good as a more expensive saw

Click here to Check out SKIL 3821-01 Price on Amazon.com!

 

Hitachi C10FCH2—Best Budget-Priced Ten-Inch Saw

Hitachi C10FCH2
Hitachi C10FCH2

Another less expensive option for the homeowner, home woodworker, or contractor with occasional cut jobs, is the C10FCH2 10-inch saw from Hitachi. It bevels up to 45 degrees to the left, plus it miters up to +/- 52 degrees left and right. There is a pivoting flip fence to help you cut crown molding up to 5-21/32-inches deep.

For this review, we selected the model that comes with a laser marker for the cutline. That one feature makes cuts a lot easier since the blade guard itself obscures the view. But the elastomer-coated hand grip reduces vibration to make using the tool more comfortable on big jobs.

The Hitachi C10FCH2 weighs only 26.5 pounds. It comes with a dust bag, a vise, a blade and blade wrench, plus a 5-year warranty.

 

 

Pros
  • 10-inch blade
  • 15amp motor with maximum speed 5000rpm
  • Bevels left up to 45 degrees, miters left and right up to 52 degrees
  • Pivoting fence
  • Maximum cut capacity 2-5/16 inches high x 5-21/32 inches deep
  • Weighs only 26.5 pounds
  • Elastomer-coated handle
  • Comes with dust bag and blade
  • 5-year warranty
Cons
  • Blade guard obscures view

Click here to Check out Hitachi C10FCH2 Price on Amazon.com!

 

DEWALT DCS361M1 20V Max Cordless Miter Saw—Perfect for Small Jobs

DEWALT DCS361M1
DEWALT DCS361M1

Corded electric saws are nice if you have a workshop or a job site with reliable mains power. But what about cordless electric saws? Sure, they’re portable, and handy for working where you have no electricity. But are they powerful enough to keep up with the job?

You will be happy to know that DEWALT’s DCS361M1 is indeed powerful enough to handle typical framing and molding jobs. Keep in mind that while it’s a sliding miter saw, it only has a 7-1/4-inch blade, so its cutting capacity is quite small compared to a model like the DEWALT DWS780. The most you can cut is up to 8-inches wide at 90 degrees, or 5.5-inches at 45 degrees. The maximum depth is 2 inches at 45 degrees as well.

The direct drive motor is made to be as efficient as possible with the 20-volt lithium-ion battery pack. This one pack, once fully charged, should give up to 183 cuts of pine two-by-fours, or up to 275 cuts of pine baseboard.

The accuracy of the cuts depends on DEWALT’s XPS positioning system and the solid build of the precise miter system. It bevels left only from -3 up to 48 degrees, and has ten positive stops at the most common angles you’ll need.

The DCS361M1 weighs only 31.6 pounds so it’s not too heavy to transport. It comes with a battery and charger, a material clamp, a carbide blade, and blade wrench. DEWALT offers their usual 3-year warranty, one-year free service contract, and 90-day money-back guarantee.

Pros
  • Cordless, runs on 20V lithium-ion battery
  • 7.25-inch blade and sliding design handles up to 8-inch wide cuts
  • Up to 275 cuts of pine baseboard on a charge
  • Bevels left from -3 to 48 degrees
  • Covered by 3-year warranty, free service contract, and money-back guarantee
Cons
  • Bevels left only
  • Blade and saw may be too small for some kinds of crown molding

Click here to Check out DEWALT DCS361M1 20V Max Cordless Price on Amazon.com!

 

Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ 7-1/4 inch Cordless Miter Saw P551—Best for Occasional Use, Very Portable

Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+
Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+

Why would you consider getting the Ryobi ONE+ P551 Cordless Miter Saw? Although it weighs only 15 pounds and looks quite small, it can crosscut up to 4.25 inches wide (like 2×4 lumber), plus it miters and bevels left and right up to 45 degrees. It also comes with a laser alignment system to show you the cut line. And all of this runs off Ryobi’s ONE+ 18-volt battery pack.

The main limitation you’ll find is that it can only handle wood with a maximum thickness of 1.5-inches.

 

 

 

 

Pros
  • Cordless, runs off 18V lithium-ion battery
  • 7.25” blade cuts 2×4 lumber
  • Weighs only 15 pounds
  • Miters and bevels up to 45 degrees both left and right
  • Laser alignment system
  • Up to 4500rpm
  • 1-1/4-inch dust port
Cons
  • Limited to cutting wood with max thickness of 1-1/2-inches
  • Miter/bevel markings hard to read

Click here to Check out Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ 7-1/4 in. Cordless Miter Saw – P551 Price on Amazon.com!

 

Buyer’s Guide to the Best Miter Saws

Now that you’ve seen our top picks for the best miter saws, how do you select the one that’s right for you? Let’s go over some of the most important features to help you decide.

 

Why use a miter saw instead of a circular, jig, or table saw?

This is a good question that people new to woodworking often ask. A miter saw is very handy for cutting precise angles for picture frames, baseboards, and crown molding. But it’s not made for ripping large pieces of wood or doing scroll cuts. Although you may find that the Festool Kapex KS 120 with its ability to cut trenches and openings is exactly the versatile tool you want.

 

What size saw should I get? 

The right size saw depends on the type of jobs you want to do. For example, a sliding saw with a 12-inch blade can handle 12-inch wide boards, or up to 14 and 16-inch wide pieces. But a 10-inch non-sliding saw will usually be unable to cross cut more than 6-inches width. So if you wanted to mill 2×8 lumber or make cabinets, for example, you’d need a sliding saw. But if you’re working on picture frames, you might prefer a smaller standard miter saw with a 10-inch or 7.25-inch blade.

Read the specs carefully to ensure that you can cut everything you need, even if you need to nest the molding against the fence. And if you know you might have larger pieces on occasion, get a saw with a movable and adjustable fence.

 

What is a compound saw? 

A compound saw miters and bevels, or tilts. A miter cut angles across the width of the wood, and a bevel cut goes through the thickness of the wood. So a compound saw can perform both kinds of cuts, even at the same time. And a dual bevel compound saw tilts both left and right so you don’t need to flip over a piece of wood to cut opposing bevels.

Mitering is more common than beveling unless you do advanced woodworking. Some miter saws don’t bevel, they only miter, and they do it by moving the table, not the saw blade. None of the saws in our selection today fit that description, though.

 

What features are essential in a miter saw? 

If you’re frequently cutting long pieces of crown molding or baseboard, you’ll find that extension wings and a sliding fence are very handy to have. If you hate cleaning up after work, get a saw with a superior dust extraction system.

And if you like to see ahead of time how a cut will look, get laser guidance, especially if it has dual lasers to show the width, or kerf, of the cut line. The lasers (or at least bright illumination from dual work lights) is necessary if the saw’s blade guard isn’t transparent.

Some experts also recommend getting a saw with an electric brake. The brake halts the blade’s spin within a second or two after the cut is complete. You can guess that this is useful for two reasons: it’s safer for the user, and it’s faster, too.

Speaking of faster, speed is also essential. The higher the rpm, the better the saw can handle tough hardwoods.

Finally, electronic soft start, like the Milwaukee 6955-20 has, is a great feature if you cut a lot of finished wood. It gives you better control over the cut right from the beginning.

 

What about positive stops, detents, scales, and so forth?

It won’t matter much to you if you only make 90 degree or 45 degree cuts because those are the most common. But if you often change the angle of your cuts, you’ll want a saw with well-marked scales that won’t lose their paint and become hard to read in a few months. It’s also nice to have positive stops for quick adjustments. The placement and style of the locking lever or knob may make a difference to you as well.

 

Do I need safety equipment for use with a miter saw? 

The basic equipment that saw manufacturers and OSHA recommend are these items: safety glasses or goggles, hearing protection, a dust mask, and protective footwear. It’s a good idea to clamp your work, too. Many of the saws in our reviews today come with a vise or clamp to aid you in securing the wood while you work.

 

Recommendation

It’s time for a decision. Let’s see if we can help. We’ll begin with the small miter saws for jobs like baseboards and picture frames, and work our way up to the largest and most powerful models for the pros.

If you want a portable tool for occasional use, take a look at the cordless Ryobi ONE+ P551 and the DEWALT DCS361M1. If you’re already have other tools that use one of these battery packs, that might influence your decision between them. You may prefer the Ryobi because it miters and bevels both left and right up to 45 degrees. Or you may like the DEWALT because it has a larger crosscut capacity.

If you’re on a budget, and you want a mid-size saw with a laser marker, check out the Hitachi C10FCH2. It has a ten-inch blade and quite a bit of power, plus it comes with a 5-year warranty, and it’s very portable. You might also like the SKIL 12-inch 3821-01 with laser guidance and extension wings, although it’s a bit heavier and not quite as easy to transport.

Meanwhile, the Makita LS1221 is ideal for a professional who wants a lightweight, portable 12-inch compound miter saw, but doesn’t want to break the bank for one of the more expensive models. It’s a well-engineered workhorse for those who lay floors and do finish carpentry at a variety of sites.

A craftsperson or carpenter who regularly uses a miter saw for precision work will love the Festool Kapex KS 120. This is especially true if they already have Festool components like their systainer storage boxes that can serve as a saw stand or the CT dust extractor.

The Milwaukee 6955-20 with its digital readout and dual work lights might also satisfy someone needing an accurate saw. The readout is precise down to 0.1 degree, and it can override the manual scale if needed.

If you have little space in your workshop, but you want a big saw, take a closer look at the Bosch GCM12SD and the Makita LS1216L. Although they are both sliding compound saws, they both have modified rail or arm rack suspension systems that don’t require much space behind them. The Makita has the advantage of an adjustable laser and a wider range of miter angles than the Milwaukee.

Finally, the DEWALT DWS780 is a durable, powerful sliding compound saw designed to work hard for the pros. It has the largest cutting capacity, a good dust collection system, and it’s portable. Although it was a hard choice, we selected it as our best all-around tool for contractors and those who want a large miter saw for regular use.

 

Conclusion

We hope our reviews and buyer’s guide helped you find the perfect miter saw today. Come back soon to see which top tools will makeyour work easier and save you money.

 

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