This Old House Reviews Team

Miter saws are specialty woodworking tools that can make quick and precise cuts to a variety of materials, including crown molding, picture frames, and baseboards. While miter saws are effective at delivering accurate crosscuts, their value over traditional circular saws is their ability to make angled and beveled cuts with ease, a product of their stationary design and up-and-down blade movement.

Miter saws are typically easy to use, and many models are equipped with features like adjustable bevel stops and increased vertical capacities that help users make adjustments and accommodate wood of various sizes. To help you select a miter saw with the accessories and features your DIY woodworking project requires, the This Old House Reviews team researched the best miter saws on Amazon. Here are our top picks.

 

1. Best sliding miter: DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw
2. Best value: Metabo HPT Compound Miter Saw
3. Most versatile: Bosch Sliding Glide Miter Saw
4. Best cross-cutting saw: Delta Sliding Compound Miter Saw
5. Best accessories: SKIL12-Inch Compound Miter Saw

Buyer’s Guide

When purchasing a miter saw, consider the model’s cut type, size, and dust collection.

1. Cut type

Cut type refers to how the miter saw can cut a piece of wood. The three most popular cuts are crosscuts, miter (angled) cuts, and bevel cuts. Crosscuts are basic cuts that run parallel to the workpiece’s sides. Miter cuts are angled cuts that slice the workpiece at an angle. The most common miter cut is at a 45-degree angle and is used to seat two corners of wood together.

Beveled cuts are angled cuts that cut into the thickness of the wood rather than its width. Beveled cuts are generally used to create an appealing finish to the end of the wood, seen when two baseboards meet at a corner.

2. Size

The size of a miter saw is determined by the size of the blade it can hold. The blade size you’ll need depends on the width of your workpiece. If you work with thicker wood, you may want to purchase a 12-inch miter saw with a larger blade size.

3. Dust collection

Investing in a miter saw with a dust collection function keeps your workspace clean and prevents irritation during operation. Nearly all miter saws are equipped with a dust bag that collects sawdust, though some models offer hose ports that allow you to connect a vacuum cleaner for additional dust management.

FAQs

What’s the difference between a chop saw and miter saw?

A chop saw is a useful power tool for making crosscuts, as its blade can only move up and down at a 90-degree angle. Miter saws are equipped with adjustable blades that can make beveled and angled cuts to suit a variety of woodworking needs.

Can a miter saw cut through metal?

Yes. To cut metal with a miter saw, ensure that your tool is equipped with the proper metal-cutting blade, and make sure that you’re cutting at a low enough RPM to prevent excessive sparking and burnout.

Are miter saws safe?

As with any power tool, operating a miter saw comes with some risks. However, if you follow the proper precautions during use, you can prevent an accident from occurring. When operating a miter saw, wear protective eye goggles and earplugs to prevent damage to your eyes and ears. Additionally, use any included safety clamps and blade guards while operating the machine to prevent an accidental laceration.

 

 

The This Old House Reviews team provides overviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, hands-on testing in select cases, and other objective criteria unique to a given product line. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for DIY or other non-pro users only. Editor’s picks are made by members of the Reviews team, and do not imply an endorsement by the experts on This Old House or Ask This Old House.