I Tested 5 Beginner Miter Saws: These are the Best (2024)
Miter saws come in all shapes and sizes, but if you’re a beginner just getting starting with your woodworking hobby, it can be easy to be overwhelmed.
That’s why I put together this quick list of the best beginner miter saws so you can get the best bang for your buck.
In a hurry? The best beginner miter saw is the DeWalt 12″ Miter Saw. It has all of the features you’ll need as a beginner, at a decent price.
Quick Answer: Here are My Favorite Beginner Miter Saws! 👇
Best Miter Saws for Beginners
- DeWalt 12″ Miter Saw – #1 Best Overall
- Makita Slide Compound Miter Saw – #2 Runner Up
- Milwaukee 12″ Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw – Highest Quality
- BOSCH Cordless Miter Saw – Best Cordless Saw
- Kobalt 7-1/4-in Sliding Compound Miter Saw – Best Budget Miter Saw
1. DEWALT 12″ Compound Miter Saw
- Stainless-steel miter detent plate of 12-inch miter saw blade comes with 14 positive stops
- The mitre saw features the precise miter system and machined base fence support
- Tall sliding fence of DEWALT miter saw supports 5-1/2-inch base vertically
The best miter saw for beginners is hands down the DeWalt 12″ Miter Saw. This saw basically has everything you need as a beginner at a great price.
With a powerful 15 amp motor that produces up to 4,000 RPMs – this saw can make any cut you need.
It has a tall sliding fence and features a pretty good dust collection system. It bevels left up to 48 degrees which makes it great for a wide range of cuts.
This saw is also very accurate. While it doesn’t have the laser that some miter saws feature, it’s still easy to see where you cut and has great accuracy.
This is the best compound miter saw you can find for the price making it one of the best budget miter saws on the market.
What I Liked:
- Very powerful motor for the price allowing you to make heavier duty cuts
- Great for making crosscuts, miter cuts, bevel cuts, or compound cuts
- Great value for the price
- Strong 3-year warranty so you don’t have to worry
What I Didn’t Like:
- Not the most powerful saw on the market
- Doesn’t have all of the features that more advanced saws have
- Corded model, so be sure to keep this in mind
My Thoughts
Ultimately, I highly recommend this DeWalt 12″ miter saw for beginners, homeowners, and even some professionals. It’s a great saw for the money and it has all of the features you’d expect. DeWalt is one of my favorite brands, and their miter saws are no different. This is a corded model, and it’s pretty heavy – so it’s not as great if you need to take it on the go, but if you plan to use it in your workshop – it works great.
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2. Makita LS0815F Slide Compound Miter Saw
- Compact and Lightweight Design for Job Site Portability
- Powerful 10.5 AMP direct drive motor requires less maintenance and delivers 5,000 RPM
- Miters 0-50 Degrees left & 0-60 Degrees right, with positive stops at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, 45 and 50 Degrees…
If you want something a little nicer than the DeWalt miter saw, the Makita Compound Miter Saw is another great choice.
This is a smaller saw with a 8 1/4 inch blade, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t as good as others.
It’s more powerful than the DeWalt, with a motor that can produce 5,000 RPM which means you can cut through thicker, more dense woods without a problem.
This is a sliding miter saw, which adds more flexibility to the types of wood you can cut. It has all of the safety features you’d expect like a blade guard, and includes a great dust collection system to keep sawdust out of the way.
I made this saw my runner up pick because of the price difference. It’s a decent amount more than the DeWalt, and while it comes with many more features, I don’t think all of them are necessary for a beginner woodworker.
What I Liked:
- Powerful 10.5 amp motor that produces 5,000 RPM so you can cut through many different woods and materials
- More lightweight and portable than other models so you can take it on the go
- Sliding model allows you to cut wider pieces of wood
What I Didn’t Like:
- Smaller blade size than some other models
- More expensive than the DeWalt
- Corded model
- Only a 1-year warranty
My Thoughts
Ultimately, this Makita miter saw is a great choice if you want a mid tier saw that’s going to last for years. Makita is another trusted brand that I love and this saw is one of the best for the price. Because it’s a compound sliding miter saw, you can make a wider range of cuts that might be required for some woodworking or DIY projects.
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3. Milwaukee 6955-20 12″ Sliding Dual Bevel Miter Saw
- Miter angle fine adjust with detent override makes it simple to dial-in precise miter angles
- Miter angle digital readout provides repeatable accuracy to 0.1 degree
- Dual integral job-site lights fully illuminate the work piece and cut line from either side of the blade
If you’re looking for the best of the best, this Milwaukee 12″ Dual Bevel Miter Saw is for you.
This is a larger 12-inch miter saw that offers a greater cutting capacity than smaller saws and it can cut wood with ease.
This saw is extremely powerful, with a 15 amp motor that produces 3.3HP and can cut through just about anything.
Because it’s a sliding, dual bevel miter saw – you can make any cut you need whether you’re cutting wood trim, thick wood, or any other material.
It has an excellent dust collection system that does a great job of keeping sawdust out of the way for more accurate cuts.
What I Liked:
- The most powerful saw on this list despite lower RPM
- Sliding, dual bevel for large range of cuts
- Extremely accurate with detent override
- Extended 5-year warranty so you don’t have to worry about it breaking
What I Didn’t Like:
- Most expensive saw on my list
- Very heavy and not very portable weighing 65 pounds
My Thoughts
If you’re less concerned about the price of your saw and you want to invest in high quality equipment, the Milwaukee 12-inch Miter Saw is one of the best miter saws you can find. This saw is extremely powerful and can make a wide range of cuts. While it’s more expensive than all of the other saws on my list, if you use it frequently – I think it’s worth the money. This saw also features a 5-year warranty which is one of the longest warranties you’ll find.
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4. BOSCH 18V Surgeon 7-1/4 In. Single-Bevel Slide Miter Saw
- PROFACTOR PERFORMANCE: A truly mobile jobsite solution, this saw provides light weight and pro capacity
- PRO CAPACITY: Delivers 3-3/4 in. nested crown cutting, with 45° left against fence and 8-1/4 in. crosscuts
- CONVENIENT PORTABILITY: Weighs only 26 lbs. (tool only, not including battery) and features a carry handle
If you’re looking for a miter saw that’s more easy to transport or you don’t want to worry about cords, this Bosch 18V 7 1/4″ saw is for you.
It’s battery powered, so you won’t have to mess with extension cords and it weighs just 26 pounds so you can take it with you. This is much less than the 81 pounds of the Milwaukee saw above.
When it comes to miter saws, I typically lean towards corded models, but cordless options have their place and they’re great power tools to own.
What I Liked:
- Cordless saw and lightweight, so you can take it with you
- Very accurate axial glide arms
What I Didn’t Like:
- Not as powerful as corded models, not a direct drive motor
- Smaller blade than other saws
My Thoughts
Overall, the Bosch Cordless Miter Saw is a great saw that I would recommend for woodworkers who want more portability in their saw. While it’s not as powerful as most corded models, it’s still powerful enough to make the majority of your cuts.
5. Kobalt 7-1/4-in Sliding Compound Miter Saw – Best Budget
- Maximum crosscut up to 2-in x 8-in; ideal capacity for moulding and framing cuts
- Light weight due to compact die-cast aluminum construction-easy to move from storage to jobsite
- Vertically mounted laser guide projects accurate pre-cutting line for precise alignment
Looking for a great miter saw on a budget? The Kobalt Sliding Compound Miter Saw is a terrific saw that I’d recommend to beginners who don’t want to spend a fortune.
This chop saw is great at cutting materials on the go because of how lightweight it is. You can also purchase a stand that makes it super easy to use.
It also features a laser guide for better cutting accuracy, which I love.
What I Liked:
- Price, price, price
- Very lightweight and great for making smaller cuts
- Laser guide for more accurate cutting line
What I Didn’t Like:
- Not as powerful as other saws
- Smaller blade size
My Thoughts
Overall, the Kobalt Sliding Miter Saw is a great choice for the price. This is a decent saw without an enormous price tag – making it great for beginners. No, it’s not as powerful as others and it lacks some features, but for the money – it’s a really great miter saw. This miter saw battery powered, so you don’t have to worry about cords, but be sure your battery is charged before starting your work!
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What to Look for in a Miter Saw
Power
As with all power tools, one of the most critical components to any saw is the power it can produce. In most cases, the more power, the better the cut.
Not only will power allow you to cut through denser materials, it also gives you a more accurate cut and it helps prevent blade burnout – which occurs when a blade overheats.
Looking for more saws? Check out the best beginner circle saws and the best contractor table saws for all of your woodworking needs!
Precision
When using a saw of any kind, cutting accuracy and precision are vital. Whether you’re making angled cuts or straight cuts – you need the cut to be exact.
Most miter saws are quite accurate out of the box, but some of them you may need to adjust slightly for the best results.
You’ll want to look for an easy to read and accurate miter, adjustment, bevel adjustment, and fence system that will making cutting accurately easy.
If you’re looking for a new blade, check out these best miter saw blades that I recommend!
Types and Size of Cuts
Different miter saws can make different types and sizes of cuts.
For example, some miter saws will offer a large bevel range that will impact the angles that you can cut.
There are a few main types of miter saws:
- Standard miter saw – allows you to make angled cuts
- Compound miter saws – allow you to make angled and beveled cuts
- Sliding miter saws – allows you to increase cutting capacity
- Dual compound miter saws – allow you to tilt the blade in both directions which makes cutting both sides of wood easier
Sliding miter saws will offer greater capacity and sizes of wood you can cut.
Finally the blade size can impact the thickness of wood you cut. For example, a 12-inch miter saw can cut through thicker materials than an 8″ miter saw.
Curious about which type of saw is best for you? Check out my miter saw vs compound miter saw comparison for more info!
Construction & Quality
The build of the saw is also worth considering. Some saws are constructed with stainless steel while others will use a lightweight aluminum build.
Additionally, the type of blade should be considered. You can always purchase an aftermarket blade for your miter saw, but some will come with quality blades.
In the market for a cordless miter saw? Check out the best cordless miter saws you can buy!
Dust Collection
Sawdust can be a big problem when it comes to cutting wood. You should look for a miter saw with a quality dust collection system that can remove sawdust easily so it’s not in the way when cutting.
Some saws will come with a dust bag that collects dust, while others might come with a port to connect a vacuum to your saw.
Warranty
If you’re spending decent money on a miter saw, you shouldn’t have to worry about it breaking. That’s where a warranty comes into play.
Most miter saws will come with a warranty between 1 and 5 years. The best miter saws will feature and extended warranty so you don’t have to worry about them breaking.
Price
Obviously, the price of your saw should be considered.
There’s a wide range of prices when it comes to miter saws. You can find a cheaper saw for a few hundred dollars while the most expensive miter saws can cost thousands.
Safety Features
Safety features are another important consideration when purchasing a miter saw. All miter saws should include a blade guard but some will include electric brakes, safety clamps, and other features designed to keep you safe.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the best miter saw for beginners is the DeWalt 12″ Miter Saw. It’s a great saw for the price and can make all of the necessary cuts a beginner could ask for.
If you’re looking for a more advanced saw and want the best of the best, I’d recommend the Milwaukee Miter Saw. It’s the most powerful and advanced saw on my list and works amazing.
If you’re looking for something more budget friendly, I recommend the Kobalt Miter Saw. This is a decent saw for the price and works wonderful for beginners.