We evaluated miter saws based on accuracy, reliability, durable construction, versatility, and overall performance. Our top choice is the Bosch GCM12SD 12-inch Axial Glide Miter Saw, which excels in all areas. Here are our favorite miter saws. Pre-aligned square-lock fences keep the saw precise, while the clear lower blade guard lets you see exactly where you’re cutting the whole time you’re working. The markings for bevel and miter settings are very easy to read, and there are presets for the most common angles. You can use this saw for miter cuts up to 52 degrees to the left and 60 degrees to the right. It can cut bevels up to 45 degrees in either direction. All adjustments are very easy to make, and the saw even has an ergonomic, comfort-grip handle that is easily grasped whether you are left-handed or right-handed. With the highly efficient dust-collection system, which can attach to the included dust bag or to your shop vac, you won’t have to deal with too much sawdust and debris. And should you want to increase the versatility of the tool even further, Bosch sells an optional laser guide for this miter saw. The saw has a 15-amp motor with a no-load speed of 3,800 rpm. It adjusts for miter cuts up to 60 degrees to the right and 50 degrees to the left, and bevel cuts from 48 degrees to the right or left. Ten positive stops on the stainless steel detent plate make quick work of precisely cutting at common measurements. And you won’t need to worry about excessive sawdust; the highly efficient dust collection system captures over 75 percent of dust, although you still need to wear protective eyewear as with any power saw. At 90 degrees, the saw can cut 5.1 inches across, and at a 45-degree angle, the maximum cut is 3.6 inches. The maximum cutting thickness is 4 inches, so you can cut a 4x4 in one pass with this saw, but larger lumber will require two passes. The saw only adjusts to the left for bevel cuts up to 45 degrees. Miter cuts to the left are a maximum of 45 degrees, and 52 degrees to the right. At 24 pounds, it’s reasonably lightweight, which is a plus if you expect to take it to jobsites rather than leave it in your workshop. While there’s no sliding rails for cutting wider materials—the maximum width is 5-21/32 inches—nor a laser for extra guidance, you do get a saw with a 15-amp motor, a no-load top speed of 5,000 rpm, a bevel range of 0-45 degrees to the left, and a miter range of 0-52 degrees to the left or right. That’s pretty much all you need to tackle most DIY projects around your home or workshop. The miter saw includes a dust bag, 10-inch 24-tooth saw blade, and vise assembly. This 10-inch miter saw has plenty of capacity for a variety of cuts. Lay a 2x12 board flat, and the saw can cut across it in one pass. It can do the same for a 2x8 board at a 45-degree angle. This saw has a whopping 5-3/4-inch vertical capacity, which is better than even most corded miter saws. You can bevel up to 48 degrees to either the left or the right, and cut miters up to 50 degrees to the left and 60 degrees to the right. The maximum speed of the tool is 4,000 rpm. All in all, this cordless miter saw performs as reliably and powerfully as its corded counterparts. You can cut bevels up to 47 degrees to either the left or the right, and miters up to 45 degrees in either direction. The tool can cut up to 8 inches deep when used at 90 degrees and up to 5.5 inches at a 45-degree angle. According to the manufacturer, this saw can make up to 585 cuts in 3-1/4-inch MDF baseboard on a single charge. It’s top speed is 3,800 rpm. The kit includes the battery and charger. The carbide blade is 12 inches in diameter for wider cuts. When even more width is required, the blade moves back-and-forth on the sliding arm. With a dual-bevel cutter capable of up to 48-degree angles in either direction, this blade is also a perfect choice for people wanting more drastic bevels in their wood cuts. The 15-amp motor is one of the most powerful drivers on the market, capable of up to 3.3 horsepower to chew through denser materials. The saw has a 15-amp motor and no-load top speed of 2,500 rpm. It can crosscut wood up to 11.75 inches wide, and cuts bevels up to 45 degrees and miter cuts up to 50 degrees in either direction. And with the included laser guide, you’ll always know that your cuts are precise. The dust bag keeps sawdust under control for a cleaner workshop. Basically, a miter box is a metal box—this one is aluminum—with slots for positioning a small hand saw at just the right angle for making accurate miter cuts. The box has three 0.14-inch slots: one each for 45, 60, and 90-degree angled cuts. You can cut materials up to 2 inches in width and 7/8 inches in depth. You’ll also get a wooden-handled fine kerf universal saw with a 6-1/2-inch, 42-teeth-per-inch blade. The saw easily cuts through balsa and other soft woods, plastic, copper, and brass, leaving behind smooth edges without any ragged spots requiring further sanding. The Olson Saw Miter Box is the perfect addition to any crafter’s toolkit, or as a useful tool if you want to cut a few pieces of wood or other materials to use as trim on furniture or around the house. The majority of miter saws are corded power tools that run off your household AC current. The common motor sizes are 10-amp, 12-amp, and 15-amp. But while the lower powers are sufficient for light, occasional use, if you expect to rely on your miter saw for frequent use, cuts through large or thick pieces of wood, or extended cutting sessions, you’ll likely be happiest with a 15-amp motor. Cordless miter saws generally run on a 20-volt battery. The advantage of these tools is that you can take them anywhere without needing to worry about an electrical outlet or a cord getting in your way. On the downside, they are not as powerful as their corded counterparts and you’ll need to keep track of the battery’s available life to avoid running out of juice midway through a project. In terms of safety, Andrew Wilson, home improvement contractor and founder of Contractor Advisorly, adds “One of the biggest dangers with corded tools is the cord itself. Along with potentially being a tripping hazard, it can also be an electrical hazard if the cord is damaged in any way. You want to check that there are no cracks or fraying in the cord before each use.” Whether corded or cordless, most miter saws reach a maximum unloaded speed of somewhere between 2,500 rpm and 5,000 rpm.
Type
There are several different types of miter saws, based on the cuts and angles they can achieve. As the name suggests, all miter saws are capable of a miter cut, which is an angled cut across the width of the board, and a crosscut, which is a simple cut straight across the board, but some miter saws go beyond that to include bevel cuts, which are angled cuts that create something like an “overhang” at the cut edge. The five basic types of power miter saw are:
Basic: This saw cuts miters and crosscuts, but does not tilt for beveled cuts. Single Compound: The simplest compound miter saws cut miters, crosscuts, and tilt to the left for bevel cuts. The one-way tilt means that you’ll need to turn the board over to create a bevel from the other direction. Dual Compound: Like a single compound miter saw, this tool cuts miters, crosscuts, and bevels, but can tilt in both directions, making it a much more convenient choice if you cut a lot of bevels. Compound Sliding: These single compound miter saws have extended rails so you can cut longer boards. Dual Compound Sliding: The most versatile choice, these miter saws are capable of crosscuts, miter cuts, bevel cuts from either direction even on longer boards.
Blade Size
The two most common sizes of miter saw blades are 10 inch and 12 inch, although there are also saws with smaller blades for detailed work. If you only expect to use your miter saw for cutting trim or siding, and don’t plan on cutting anything more than an inch thick or 6 inches wide, a 10-inch miter saw should be sufficient. But if you need to cut larger boards, or just want more versatility, a 12-inch miter saw is the better choice.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. For this roundup, she considered dozens of miter saws, evaluating each for basic features, extras, and customer feedback, as well as input from Andrew Wilson, home improvement contractor and founder of Contractor Advisorly. Crosscuts are the most basic type of cut; you simply cut straight across the board against the grain of the wood. Miter cuts are angled cuts at the end of a board or piece of trim, like where the trim meets at the upper two corners of a door. Beveled cuts are an undercut angle cuts, like where two baseboards meet together in a corner. Lastly, compound cuts combine both a bevel and a miter. These cuts are often used on crown molding to achieve perfect joinings at corners. Unlike miter saws, circular saws are also useful for straight cuts with the grain (rip cut). They are an excellent choice when you need to cut a large piece of plywood down to size or perform other basic cutting activities. They are generally used on framing and other construction projects and can cut masonry, concrete, and even metal. Meanwhile, miter saws are best used for angled cuts, including miters, bevels, and compounds. Miter saws are the best choice if you need to cut a lot of angles; for example, when cutting baseboards, crown molding, trim for cabinets, or when building furniture.
