Following up on my best 12-inch miter saw reviews article, I wanted to put together a more comprehensive guide to the best miter saws…period.
While cordless tools may rule the roost in many circles, miter saws largely remain popular as corded solutions. Still, newer cordless models seem like they may start gaining mainstream popularity. They certainly are in the PTR Shop!
I’ve reviewed, tested, and “driven” dozens of miter saws over the years. Choosing the best miter saw means looking at performance & power, cut quality, accuracy, features, and value. As usual, I gathered together a handful of professionals to help me test and evaluate these tools so I could make some solid recommendations for various use cases.
Unlike your kid’s Little League team, not everybody gets a trophy. If I recommend a miter saw here, it means I (and Pro Tool Reviews) really do recommend it. Just pay attention to the applications and purposes suggested along the way.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Bosch GCM12SD Axial Glide
↓ Jump to this Saw - Best Cordless: Bosch GCM18V-12GDCN14
↓ Jump to this Saw - Best for Woodworking: Festool Kapex KS 120 REB
↓ Jump to this Saw - Best 10-inch: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2734-21
↓ Jump to this Saw - Best Compact: Bosch CM8S
↓ Jump to this Saw - Best for the Money: DeWalt DWS779 15A 12-inch
↓ Jump to this Saw - Best for Homeowners: Ryobi TSS702
↓ Jump to this Saw - Best for Metal Cutting: Skilsaw SPT62MTC-22 Dry Cut
↓ Jump to this Saw
Best Overall
Bosch GCM12SD 12-Inch Axial Glide
- Type: Corded, 15A
- Max Cut: 2×14 @ 90°; 4×10 @ 45°
- Miter: 52° left, 60° right
- Speed: 4,000 RPM
- Weight: 65 lbs.
The Bosch GCM12SD Axial Glide miter saw provided the smoothest cutting we’d ever experienced thanks in large part to its axial glide system rather than standard rails.
Our best compound miter saw launched way back in 2010. It still beats nearly every other saw we’ve used for tall standing crown cuts and vertical base clearance. With more clearance than the Festool Kapex KS 120 REB, this saw weighs a bit more but also costs $1000 less. You can also find it in both corded and cordless configurations.
When making this recommendation, we took into account our entire catalog of sliding compound miter saw reviews. The $599 Bosch Axial Glide remains one of the most powerful saws with the best cut quality. Since it also allows for some of the highest trim clearances across the back fence it reigns as the best dual compound miter saw.
If you want to shave some weight off the Bosch GCM12SD (with only minimal capacity loss), consider the Bosch CM10GD 10-inch Glide miter saw at $629. You can get a lighter model with the same excellent cutting performance.
Reasons to Buy
- Powerful
- Excellent for tall standing crown cuts and vertical base clearance
- Saves a ton of space in the shop
Consider Another Model If You
- Need a lighter, more portable saw
Best Cordless Miter Saw
Bosch GCM18V-12GDCN ProFactor 12 in
- Type: Battery, 18V
- Max Cut: 4×14 @ 90°; 2×14 @ 45°
- Miter: 52° left, 60° right
- Speed: 2550/3000/3500/4,000 RPM
- Weight: 59.3 lbs.
The Bosch ProFactor 18V cordless 12-inch miter saw is an attention-grabber thanks to its Axial Glide sliding system. However, its performance and accuracy are what makes it a keeper. If you’re in the market for a cordless miter saw, we highly recommend giving Bosch’s ProFactor line a shot.
Without the battery, the saw weighs 59.3 pounds, which isn’t bad at all for a 12-inch dual bevel sliding miter saw. Still, if you’re going to take this to the jobsite (which is why you want a cordless saw in the first place!), we recommend using a rolling stand to make it easier on you. This saw features four speed modes (including “Eco”) which gives you a way to add additional runtime if needed when cutting non-demanding materials. Cutting is smooth and quick, and I noticed very little deflection on the blade.
Another great feature of this tool is the ability to position it right up against the wall of your shop. The mechanism requires no back clearance, helping you reclaim a lot of space that would otherwise be wasted. There aren’t a ton of quality cordless 12-inch miter saws on the market, and Bosch priced this one pretty competitively. Without a battery and charger, it runs $769. Adding the charger and 8Ah Core18V ProFactor battery brings it up to $929.
Reasons to Buy
- Saves a ton of space in the shop
- Ample power
- Speed modes help you conserve battery if needed
- Low deflection and smooth cutting
- Large cutting capacity
Consider Another Model If You
- Want more lightweight portability
- Need a low-priced budget solution
Best Miter Saw for Woodworking
Festool Kapex KS 120 REB
- Type: Corded, 13A
- Max Cut: 4×12 @ 90°; 4×9 @ 45°
- Miter: 50° left, 60° right
- Speed: 1400-3600 RPM
- Weight: 57.3 lbs.
We find it hard to overstate the incredible refinement of the Festool Kapex KS 120 REB miter saw. The “REB” model only tweaks minor details on the popular and enduring Kapex KS 120 EB saw.
This 10-1/4 inch miter saw has features you won’t see anywhere else. The rail-forward design lets you run the saw against a wall in your workshop. Kapex claims as much as 91% dust collection using the dust hood. You also get incredible clearance off the back fence. In the nested position, you can cut crown molding up to 6-5/8 inches. Vertically, you can cut trim up to 4-3/4 inches.
Festool also does other things that just make a lot of sense. They give you a dual laser cut line, for example. They also made the base of the saw exactly the height of a Systainer 1. That means you can use your Systainers as material supports when cutting.
Having used this saw, I simply find it smooth, powerful, and nearly unmatched. It’s clearly the best miter saw for woodworking by a long shot unless you want to triple the price and look at commercial solutions.
Reasons to Buy
- Rail-forward design lets you run the saw against a wall in your workshop
- Efficient dust collection system
- Powerful and smooth
- Ample standing cut capacity
- Flat cutting capacity that approaches many 12-inch miter saws
Consider Another Model If You
- Don’t want to pay a premium
Best 10-Inch Miter Saw
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2734-20
- Type: Battery, 18V
- Max Cut: 2×12 @ 90°; 2×12 @ 45°
- Miter: 50° left, 60° right
- Speed: 4000 RPM
- Weight: 45 lbs.
Furniture building and trim carpentry rarely require anything larger than a 10-inch saw. This Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2734-20 10-inch miter saw impressed us to no end. You get integrated “wings” off the table for extended support. The fence measured square out of the box, and you get excellent crosscut depth.
All of the slide, bevel, and miter adjustments work smoothly—we like the oversized bevel lock on the rear of the saw. Milwaukee includes a 60T finish blade—indicating they designed this tool for the trim carpenter. As a bonus, blade changes have the benefit of a guard that stays up on its own.
The 2734-20 cordless miter saw cuts base up to 5-3/4 inches in height or nested crown up to 5-1/4 inches against the fence. Lay a board down and you can cut through a 2×12 at 90 degrees.
The bare tool runs just $499, or you can buy it with an 8Ah battery and charger for $549. That may be the cheapest way to get one of Milwaukee’s new 8Ah packs!
Reasons to Buy
- Oversized bevel lock
- Integrated “wings” for extended support
- Tons of power and ample runtime
- Excellent value—particularly if you already have batteries
- Lightweight
Consider Another Model If You
- Hate the color red?
Best Compact Miter Saw
Bosch CM8S
- Type: Corded, 12A
- Max Cut: 3×12 @ 90°; 2×8 @ 45°
- Miter: 52° left, 60° right
- Speed: 5600 RPM
- Weight: 37 lbs.
The Bosch CM8S 8-1/2 inch sliding miter saw gave us excellent cutting performance, letting us power through both thick and detailed cuts with ease.
The Bosch also gave us some of the best cutting capacity. It cut 12-1/4″ at 90 degrees and 8-5/8″ at 45 degrees. We also loved the Bosch’s miter detent override. This thumb-actuated feature lets you smoothly bypass the miter stops when you need to cut a non-standard angle.
At 37 pounds, the Bosch CM8S may not seem lightweight, but the top handle begs to differ. This became one of the easiest saws to move around the jobsite by hand. Lastly, you can get an 18V battery-powered “clone” of this saw with the Bosch GCM18V-08N.
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent cutting capacity
- Respectable blade speed
- Lightweight, easy to transport with integrated handle
Consider Another Model If You
- Need more cutting capacity
- Require a taller back fence
Best Miter Saw for the Money
DeWalt DWS779 15-amp 12-inch
- Type: Corded, 15A
- Max Cut: 2×14 @ 90°; 2×10 @ 45°
- Miter: 50° left, 60° right
- Speed: 3800 RPM
- Weight: 68 lbs.
When we looked for the best miter saw for the money, we sought an all-around workhorse tool at an exceptional value. The tool comes with some street cred and represents yet another iteration of DeWalt’s belt-driven platform. The design gives you more depth and clearance than geared designs. How much? The tall sliding fences support 6-3/4 in. base placed vertically against the back or 7-1/2 in. nested. You can also cut 2×14 material at 90 degrees and 2×10 lumber at 45 degrees.
This saw tackles bevel, miter, and compound cuts easily with a quick-release front lock and easy-to-adjust rear bevel release. About the only thing missing is an LED cut-line indicator. Still, for about $399 we can’t find too much to complain about.
Reasons to Buy
- Good depth and clearance
- Powerful cutting
- Reasonable price
- 7.5-in nested crown support!
Consider Another Model If You
- Want to save some weight (this is a heavy saw)
- Want an LED cut line indicator
Best Miter Saw for Homeowners
Ryobi TSS702
- Type: Corded, 10A
- Max Cut: 2×10 @ 90°; 2×6 @ 45°
- Miter: 47° left, 47° right
- Speed: 5350 RPM
- Weight: 25 lbs.
When you can get a sliding compound miter saw for $219—that’s something worth looking into. The 10-amp Ryobi TSS702 miter saw spins the blade at 5,350 RPM and has a 10-inch crosscut capacity. It does this in a 7-1/4 inch saw that weighs just 25 pounds! That makes it very portable—something most homeowners can appreciate when doing flooring or creating shelving or other projects.
You get handy features like an LED cutline indicator and the ability to miter 47° left and right. A 1-1/4 inch dust port connects to many dust extractors to keep your garage or shop area clean. Lastly, you get a 3-year warranty.
I’ve cut with enough Ryobi saws to know that it won’t power through tough material as well as top-of-the-line products. It will, however, give you the ability to tackle DIY projects without fail. This gets my nod as the best budget miter saw for homeowners who need an all-around solution.
Reasons to Buy
- Good price/value
- Adequate cutting for most applications
- Super lightweight, very portable
Consider Another Model If You
- Need more cutting capacity
- Require a more powerful saw
Best Metal Cutting Miter Saw
Skilsaw SPT62MTC-22 Dry Cut Metal Saw
- Type: Corded, 15A
- Max Cut: 4.5 in @ 90°
- Speed: 1500 RPM
- Weight: 38.2 lbs.
We reviewed the Skilsaw SPT62MTC-22 several years ago, but it remains one of our favorites. Technically a chop saw rather than a miter saw (mitering happens at the clamp rather than pivoting the table), this saw quickly proved itself as a massive improvement to an existing metal-cutting setup. We recommend this dry-cut metal saw as an upgrade from an abrasive chop saw or an entry-level dry-cut saw.
The capacity you surrender going with the 12-inch blade over a 14-inch model gets compensated for by its light weight. This saw measures 20-45% less than the competition. It also has a more compact frame and runs on more affordable 12-inch blades.
The soft-start motor and smooth blade guard actuation, paired with the hot-knife-through-butter Diablo blade make this a very smooth saw. The SPT62MTC-22 is so smooth that you have to be careful not to cut too quickly.
Reasons to Buy
- Great price
- Compact, Lightweight
- Excellent visibility and chip clearing
Consider Another Model If You
- No major drawbacks
Best Miter Saw Stand
Bosch T4B Gravity Rise Miter Saw Stand
The Bosch T4B Gravity Rise miter saw stand has been our favorite since the first day we used it. This stand also stands the test of time—as evidenced by its 10+ year run.
The Bosch T4B stand adjusts in length via riser extensions. The risers make an excellent feature. If you set it up correctly, you don’t have to hold the end of the board to make sure you have a true cut.
Making multiple trips to lug an often heavy saw to the jobsite is part of the job. The Bosch T4B miter saw stand makes this less of a chore. It also improves the capabilities associated with making common cuts.
Best Miter Saw Blade
When it comes to making a cut with a miter saw, the blade makes all the difference. You can go with a number of blades, but we want to highlight the Italian-made CMT ITK Xtreme Fine Finish 80T Blade. For a 12-inch saw using a 1-inch arbor, this 80-tooth blade strikes an excellent balance of cut quality and value. We love the chrome plating that resists rust and the integrated noise and vibration reduction to keep the blade cutting smoothly and as quietly as possible.
Our Process and the Nitty Gritty
- Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews
- What We Look for When Buying a Miter Saw
- More Recommendations from Brands We Trust
Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews
Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the product or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d use it ourselves, and we don’t care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.
Since 2008, Pro Tool Reviews has provided in-depth tool reviews, buying guides, how-to articles, and industry news in the construction and lawn care industries. We focus on professionals in the trades and our writers have the skills and experience to know whether a tool or accessory will hold up on the jobsite.
Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Additionally, our team will put their hands on hundreds more tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year. If I recommend a work boot, that means I’d wear it myself (and perhaps I or one of our staff already does!)
What We Look for When Buying a Miter Saw
What You Do for a Living Affects Your Choices
I actually wrote a very comprehensive guide on what to look for when buying a miter saw. Things to consider include the type of work you intend to do. Are you a carpenter? Do you work primarily on trim or decking materials? The type of work you do determines the materials likely to hit that miter saw table and fence. Every item below flows from this question. Start with your desired applications and go from there.
Blade Size Affects Maximum Vertical Cuts
Before much else, look at the expected clearances you want to have when cutting materials like trim—particularly crown and baseboard. If you frequently cut taller trim, you likely want a saw that handles those types of cuts against the fence. Typically, a 12-inch miter saw gives you way more clearance than saws with smaller blades.
Vertical cuts are important for many carpenters because it eliminates a lot of the “math” associated with making a flat compound miter cut. With a vertical cut on crown or base molding, you simply measure your angle, divide by two, and make your cut. It will line up perfectly every time.
Also, I’ve found excellent clearance on some 10-inch miter saws, so your total cut capacity depends on several factors. The biggest one comes next…
Belt Drive, Worm Drive, or Direct Drive
While I can’t say for certain that either of these technologies always beats the others, one thing stands out. Across the board, belt drive saws cut more smoothly in terms of how they feel. They can also affect the clearance on the back fence. The design of a miter saw’s belt drive or gear drive determines whether or not it has impressive cutting height off the back of the blade. Notably, DeWalt’s vertical belt design seems to offer some of the highest cut capacities on the market.
On the other hand, direct and worm-drive miter saws tend to be more powerful on thick and dense material. If you’re cutting 45º miters in 4 x 6 PT for a pergola, you’ll notice you can power through the cut much more confidently.
Sliding Miter or Chop Saw?
The type of miter saw you buy also affects portability and functionality simultaneously. A basic chop saw, for example, can give you miter and bevel cuts in all directions but may only cut up to a 2×6 at 90 degrees. A sliding miter saw can cut up to a 2×12 or even a 2×14, depending upon your choice of setup.
That same chop saw also likely weighs a whole lot less than a comparable sliding miter with the same size blade. Take all these things into consideration before you take the plunge.
In general, I’d almost always choose a smaller sliding miter saw over a larger fixed chop saw. An exception would be in a production capacity where you know exactly what the tool needs to do every day.
Corded or Cordless Miter Saw?
The choice of a corded or cordless miter saw gets harder and harder each year. Some manufacturers, like Bosch and Makita, have released saws in both corded and cordless formats—saws that remain identical in all other features. Other companies, like Metabo HPT and Flex, have cordless miter saws with battery adapters that can connect you to 120V AC power.
Believe it or not, the newest cordless miter saws are matching their corded counterparts in power. If you find yourself looking at newer models, you no longer need to worry about premium models not being able to make the cut.
Typically, quality cordless miter saws cost a lot more than their corded counterparts—often significantly more. But you can’t beat the convenience of battery power when it’s hard to find an outlet. Battery-powered miter saws have also increased run-time significantly in the past 5 years. Using 2x4s as a reference, we’re now seeing hundreds of cuts on a single charge.
Cut Line Indicators
Some saws lack any sort of cut line indicator while others use a laser or LED. The LED-style cut line indicator works better than any other. It uses an LED light (or two) positioned just above the blade. Since it follows the blade down and hits both sides, it produces an exact shadow line where the blade cuts the wood.
The shadow-cut LED works perfectly, never needs to be adjusted, and functions on all blade types. It also works in broad daylight! It doesn’t even matter if you switch to a thin-kerf blade. The shadow never lies, and you always have an accurate “mark” for your cut. Seriously, it’s not my #1 must-have, but I hope all manufacturers switch to an LED shadow cut line system soon. Close to this is the Kapex dual laser system, but I still prefer a shadow cut line for daytime visibility.
Front vs Rear Controls and Clearance
Another thing I love about some miter saws has to do with up-front controls. Up-front controls reduce the need to reach around to make a bevel cut. All miter saws include front controls for mitering, of course. Adding a front bevel control steps up the saw to a new level of convenience. Very “worth it” if you do a ton of beveled cuts.
If you find a saw that combines front controls and zero clearance at the back, it’s a big win. There are systems, both with and without rails, that don’t require any part of the saw to extend behind it as you slide the blade. You can put it right up against the wall, and the saw takes up less of your valuable workspace.
Features to Look For
- Soft start motor to avoid that “jump” when you pull the trigger
- LED cut line indicator*
- Adequate miter and bevel crown detents
- Easy-to-use depth stops for cuts requiring sacrificial boards and fences
- Blade brake
- Removable fences
- Dust extraction
- Material clamp(s)
- Front bevel controls*
*We consider these “nice-to-have features but certainly not requirements
More Miter Saw Recommendations from Brands We Trust
Makita 40V Max XGT 12-in Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw GSL04M1
The GSL04M1 is a powerful but expensive full-size Pro miter saw with upfront controls and the capacity to cut 3-5/8 x 15 in at 90° and 8-in nested crown. Equipped with a direct drive system, this model delivers blade speeds of up to 3,600 RPM. And, no doubt, this tool is a truly 21st-century device thanks to its Auto-start Wireless System. This technology makes use of Bluetooth for wireless communication between the tool and dust extractor.
Ridgid R4251 12-in Dual-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw
Nearly identical to the Delta Cruzer miter saw, the R4251 offers exceptional crosscut capacity and excellent clearance for against-the-wall installations…if you can find it. This 15-amp belt-driven system can hit blade speeds of up to 4,000 RPM. It features up front bevel and miter controls, an LED work light, and a single-bolt blade change system.
SKIL 12-in Quick Mount Compound Miter Saw
Laser cut line and table extensions make this straightforward 15A saw a great deal for entry-level Pros and serious DIYers. Nonetheless, it has several standout features. These include extension rails, a laser, and a 15-amp motor that delivers 4,500-RPM blade speeds.
Ryobi TSS121 12 in Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The homeowner miter saw with a 13-1/4 in. capacity cross-cut that will make your neighbors jealous! The TSS121 comes equipped with a 15-amp motor, delivers blade speeds of 3,800 RPM, and safety features that include an electric brake. You can utilize the saw’s 1.25-inch dust port to help keep things clean.
Metabo HPT C3607DRAQ4 36V MultiVolt 7-1/4 in Miter Saw
Giving Festool a run for its money and weighing a lot less, this cordless professional saw melds portability and power into a single tool. The C3607DRAQ4 comes equipped with a dual-belt system to help boost precision. Overall, this is an excellent compact model. Oh, and you can grab a battery adapter for infinite runtime.
FLEX 12 Inch Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw FX7141A-1J
The FX7141A-1J offers both convenience and performance in one saw. Make quick, easy adjustments with the brand’s proprietary FLEXSHIFT bevel lever. Using the 10.0Ah Stacked Lithium battery, this tool will make up to 630 crosscuts in 3.25-inch MDF on a single charge. Additional features include an LED shadow light, the Quick Miter Lock System, which allows for precise angle settings, and an adjustable depth stop.
To Stand or Not to Stand
Around here, we love keeping our miter saws on stands. We also tend to run with pickup trucks, trailers, and work vans. That makes a wheeled gravity rise-style miter saw stand our top pick. If you need to load and unload into a smaller space, you may find that a smaller saw that removes easily from the stand works even better.
And, of course, for maximum portability, some forgo a stand altogether. You can always make cuts on a tailgate. You can also whip up a couple of sawhorses and use a piece of 3/4-inch T&G or plywood for a tabletop. Just take a look at your workflow and how you like to move tools on and off the job site.
Disagree with our Choices?
That’s okay! We know personal preferences take a front seat in determining the best circular saw for you, and every Pro is different. Do Pro Tool Nation a favor and tell us what your top pick is and why you love it. Feel free to put it on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
