No matter the project, a miter saw will make quick and accurate cuts to speed up your work progress. A miter saw is an essential power tool for any cutting job that requires repetitive and consistently accurate cuts. If you’re wanting clean miter and bevel joints, and also a saw to cut through a wide range of lumber sizes, get a miter saw—it will quickly become your favorite tool.
Blade Sizes
No matter the project, a miter saw will make quick and accurate cuts to speed up your progress. When it comes to size, the number one question is whether you’re using your saw for predominantly outdoor or indoor projects.
If you’re planning on building a deck or fence at some point, get a 12 or 10-inch blade miter saw because that’ll maximize your cross-cutting width and thickness. If you’re only doing interior trim, casing, and other finishing wood work, you can drop down from a 10-inch to as small as an 8-inch.
As a general rule, bigger blades can cut smaller objects, but smaller blades can only cut small objects. This is a simple enough principle, so apply it to the projects you plan to undertake in the immediate future and further down the road.
Compound Sliding And Dual Bevel Features
Being able to slide the cutting blade back and forth adds to the user’s control and helps with cutting wider material. I’d recommend having one unless you’re only cutting smaller lumber.
As for deciding if you want a single or double bevel miter saw, ask yourself how much crown molding (ceiling molding) am I planning to cut? The double bevel feature is awesome for doing compound miter cuts without having to flip your lumber. For general carpentry it’s not necessary, but good to have if the need arises.
Miter Saw Stands
If you’re doing a lot of outdoor work, you absolutely need a stand. The stand will give you the mandatory stability you need, and will come with adjustable work supports to manage longer pieces of lumber.
The stand can also be useful for indoor applications, but it’s not a complete necessity.
The Best Miter Saws On Amazon
DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw
Estimated Price: $580
This is a builder’s staple.
The Dewalt DWS780 comes with a 12-inch blade, 15-amp motor, and spins at 3,800 RPM. The miter and bevel scales are very easy to read, and the unit’s miter and bevel locking systems ensure precision cuts.
With this saw’s sliding mechanism, you can cut a 2×16 at 90 degrees and a 2×12 at 45 degrees. The dual bevel feature is perfect for crown molding jobs.
With a 90-day money back guarantee, one-year service plan, and three-year limited warranty, you can assume Dewalt doubts you’ll have any issues with your saw. In my experience, this saw and its sibling models are the best in the business.
DEWALT 10-Inch Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Estimated Price: $470
This is the 10-inch version of the DWS780, but with a few differences. This unit revs up to 4,000 RPM and comes with a built-in clamp for your convenience.
Like its larger brother, this model has a cam lock miter handle for quick cut degree changes and a tight miter and bevel locking system for accuracy.
The saw allows for a 0-60 degree scale on miter cuts, and a 0-48 degree on bevel cuts. The tall fence on this saw allows for vertical cuts up to 6 ¼ inches tall. This saw is perfect for all your outdoor and indoor building needs.
MAKITA 10-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw With Laser
Estimated Price: $350
Dewalt isn’t the only trusted brand in the power tool market.
The Makita LS1018L has all of the bells and whistles, including a 10-inch blade, top-of-the-line locking system, and a laser guide to ensure you always hit your mark.
This unit also dawns a high fence for tall vertical cuts and two adjustable props to add rigidity to your cutting material.
You can’t go wrong with this miter saw.
HITACHI 10-Inch Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw
Estimated Price: $146
If you’re looking for an affordable option without making too many compromises, this is your saw. You’ll give up the dual bevel feature and the compound sliding function, but if you’re planning on using this saw for finishing carpentry applications and don’t mind flipping your material on a compound miter cut, you’ve won the price war.
This saw runs on a 15-amp motor and flies at 5,000 RPM. It turns to a maximum 52 degree miter and a 45 degree bevel. It has a high fence for tall vertical cuts and a built-in laser for pinpoint accuracy.
Hitachi has always made a solid miter saw.
BOSCH 8-1/2 Inch Single Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Estimated Price: $450
Of course, Bosch would make a single bevel, 8 ½ inch blade miter saw with the same cross cut capacity (12 ¾) as its competition’s 10-inch miter saw. That’s what Bosch does, and it does it while cutting 30% of the weight.
At 37 pounds, this saw is light, efficient, and effective. With its compound sliding system, you can use this saw for nearly all of your cutting needs.
In a nutshell, this saw is well designed, compact, and will run forever.
