To determine the best sliding miter saw, we considered the following features — motor and RPMs, positive stops and bevel angles, additional accessories, and safety features. A strong motor and high RPMs will give you the power you need to easily make cuts, even with thicker pieces of wood. Depending on your project needs, a comprehensive range of positive stops and a widely adjustable bevel angle can help make cutting faster and easier. And finally, additional features can give you confidence that you’re making precise cuts while safety is always going to be an important feature. That is the beauty of using the best tools.
After considering all of the above, we selected the DEWALT DW715 15-Amp 12-Inch Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw as our Top Pick. This saw features a 15-amp motor with speeds of up to 4,000 RPMs. The four positive stops are ideal for the casual or professional user while a maximum 2×8 crosscut capacity is impressive as well. Keep reading to learn more about our top picks.
Top 6 Best Sliding Miter Saw
#1 DEWALT DW715 15-Amp 12-Inch Single Miter Saw
Award: Bevel Compound Miter Saw – Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: A solid sliding miter saw that puts safety first with a powerful motor and 4,000 RPM speed that makes it ideal for consistent use.
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- Powerful 15-amp, 4,000-RPM motor
- 2 x 8 crosscut cutting capacity
- 14 positive stops & 3 year warranty
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- Saw vibrations during operation
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Dewalt is a brand that any DIY enthusiast or construction professional knows and trusts for good reason — because they produce quality products that stand the test of time. We’ve selected the DEWALT DW715 15-Amp 12-Inch Single-Bevel Compound Miter Saw as our Top Pick and the best overall because it combines a powerful motor with a wide crosscut capability and enhanced angle adjustments.
We like that this model features a 15-amp motor and reaches up to 4,000 RPMs. This single bevel compound miter features a 12-inch carbide blade and offers miter detent override to give you more control over your cuts. You’ll also like that the tall sliding fences provide enhanced support for taller materials. The tall fences support 6-1/2 in. of base molding vertically and 5-1/4 in. of crown molding vertically nested. The bevel cut can be positioned up to 48 degrees to the left and three degrees to the right. Plus there are 14 positive stops on the miter plate. And the added cam-lock miter handle makes it easy to quickly make adjustments between bevel cuts.
#2 DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: A heavy-duty sliding miter saw that’s perfect for a dedicated workspace that features the CUTLINE Blade Positioning System for adjustment-free cut line indicators and improved accuracy.
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- Swivel blade design
- 15 amps, 3,800 RPM
- 2 x 16 crosscut capacity
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- Heavy — 56 pounds
- Dust collection inconsistent
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It’s no surprise that Dewalt makes our list more than once. This time, they’re our Honorable Mention choice with their DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw. While this is one of the larger sliding miter saws in our roundup, it’s a great option for the power tool user who has a dedicated workshop and intends to permanently place this saw, which is not a hacksaw, rather than constantly move it. The 15-amp motor gives you the power you need to consistently cut through wood with ease.
Although the 3,800 RPMs are some of the lowest in our roundup, we like that this option is a double bevel model that gives you enhanced precision. Specifically, this model features the CUTLINE Blade Positioning System for adjustment-free cut line indication. The back fence design gives you the capacity to make 2×16 lumber dimensions at 90 degrees and 2×12 at 45 degrees. You’ll like that the miter can shift 60 degrees to the right and 50 degrees to the left.
#3 Metabo 10-Inch HPT Compound Miter Saw
Award: Best Budget
WHY WE LIKE IT: An affordable, lightweight yet powerful sliding miter saw that offers plenty of functionality without breaking the bank for occasional users.
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- Lightweight & compact design for easy storage
- Most powerful RPMs
- Thumb actuated positive stops
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- Blade guard may arrive loose
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If you’re an occasional power tool user, you might not be in the market to spend significant sums of money on a device. But that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice on quality. The Metabo 10-Inch HPT Compound Miter Saw (formerly Hitachi) is an affordable and lightweight solution — making it ideal for the person who doesn’t have a dedicated space for a power tool like the sliding miter saw. This compact tool is only 24.5 pounds, making it easy for one person to quickly move it between rooms.
In terms of functionality, you’ll like that this 10-inch blade model offers a 15-amp motor and a powerful 5,000 RPMs. The miter angle can be adjusted between zero to 52 degrees while the single bevel range can be adjusted between zero and 45 degrees. Best of all, you’ll like the thumb actuated positive stops that allow you to quickly adjust between cuts for faster workflow. This model also features a larger table and a vice clamping system for enhanced stability. Do note though, that a common complaint we found with this model was that out of the box, the blade guard may not be completely secure. So, always inspect the equipment before you begin using it. Also check out our guide on the best wire strippers.
#4 Genesis GMS1015LC 15-Amp 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw with Laser Guide
Award: Best Portable Saw
WHY WE LIKE IT: A 24-pound sliding miter saw that’s lightweight for a single user to move between workspaces with ease, and features laser guides and additional accessories to enhance functionality.
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- Innovative laser guide for accurate cutting/cuts
- 15 amps, 4,200 RPMs
- 9 positive stops
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- 9 positive stops
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There are two types of power tool users — those who have a dedicated space to work and those who don’t. When you don’t have a workshop, an oversized power tool can be a problem. Not only do you not have anywhere to store it, but setup and breakdown can be a real pain. We’re including the Genesis GMS1015LC 15-Amp 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw with Laser Guide in our roundup because of its lightweight design. At a mere 24 pounds, anyone can easily move this sliding miter saw between rooms.
But we like that you get a 15-amp motor to help power through tough projects with an average RPM of 4,200. This 10-inch saw also features a laser guide so you can be confident that you’re making precision cuts. You’ll like that this model can make precise miter cuts up to 45 degrees in either a right or left direction. And that’s also thanks to the 9 position stops. We also think the extension wings and dust bag are great value-added accessories to improve the functionality of this sliding miter saw as well as the best disc sander.
#5 Hitachi C12RSH2 15-Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser Marker
Award: Best Value
WHY WE LIKE IT: A comprehensive sliding miter saw with a laser guide that features a dual-bevel design and a vibration-reducing grip to make operation easier and more comfortable.
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- Table and saw glide effortlessly & laser guide
- 15 amps, 4,000 RPMs
- 0 – 57-degree miter angles
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- Blade guard performance issues
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Hitachi is another quality power tool brand that appears on our list more than once (Best Budget — Metabo). This time, we’re nominating them for our Best Value award. The Hitachi C12RSH2 15-Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser Marker, while a more expensive option, offers a wide range of features that makes it a smart buy for the professional or power enthusiast user. We liked that the 15-amp motor pairs with the 4,000 RPMs to give you more than enough power for any task.
This model has a larger sliding fence that can be raised up to 5 ⅛ inches to cut materials that are up to 7.5 inches tall. With the miter angle, you can shift between zero to 57 degrees to the right and zero to 45 degrees to the left. And you’ll also like that the bevel you can adjust it from zero to 45 degrees either right or left as well as easily flip the 12-inch blade while leaving the material in place. Much like our Best Budget choice, the blade guard proved to be a concern with this selection too. Always inspect your saw and ensure all parts are securely affixed before you begin operating them. And with that in mind, you might want to find the best wood polish, since it’s a great way to finish many jobs of this type. On another note, if you want to easily fasten an inaccessible nut, you have to get the best socket wrench.
#6 SKIL 3821-01 12-Inch Quick Mount Compound Miter Saw with Laser
Award: Best Quick Assembly
WHY WE LIKE IT: A sliding miter saw that’s easy to mount and adjust, because it’s designed with power users in mind who need to make consistent angle adjustments for precision cuts.
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- Excellent laser guide & extension rails
- Quick mount feature
- 15 amp, 4,500 RPMs
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- Heavy
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If using a sliding miter saw is just one of the many steps you need to take to complete a job, the last thing you want to do is spend too long fumbling to set up that power tool. The SKIL 3821-01 12-Inch Quick Mount Compound Miter Saw with Laser is the perfect solution as it is specifically designed to be quickly mounted and dismounted with the SKIL miter saw stand. But beyond that, we think you’ll like the robust features that will make this the perfect compliment for your workflow.
A 15-amp motor gives you up to 4,500 RPMs for a powerful performance. We also like that there are nine positive stops and that there’s a laser guide to give you enhanced precision. Plus extension rails with vise grips help to keep larger projects in place as you work. If you want the best tool to break down rocks, get the best sledgehammer.
How We Decided
Sliding miter saws can be an essential power tool if you need to regularly make precise, angled cuts. To help narrow down the field, we looked at the best miter saws the market had to offer and focused on the following core features — motor and RPMs, positive stops and bevel angles, additional accessories, and safety features.
You’ll note further down in our considerations section that we mention a motor should ideally be at least 15 amps. All of the models on our list offer 15-amp motors. But you’ll note that the RPMs vary with the smallest being 3,800 RPMs (Honorable Mention) and the largest being 5,000 RPMs (Best Budget). However, the bulk of the models range between 4,000 to 4,500 RPMs.
Positive stops and bevel angles are important as this is the main reason someone purchases a sliding miter saw — to create angled cuts. The total number of positive stops available on a sliding miter saw can vary. More affordable models might only offer as few as four predetermined positive stops whereas a more high-end option can offer as many as nine (#7). But what’s also important (and helps determine the best miter saw) is how easily you can shift between those angles. Our Best Budget was the only model in our roundup that specifically highlighted thumb actuated positioning for easier shifting between angles. Wherever available, we made it a point to list the total angle potential for both the miter and bevel.
Additional accessories can enhance a sliding miter saw’s functionality. You’ll note that our #5, #6, and #7 selections also feature laser guidance which helps you visually confirm that you’re cutting in the right angle. But some models also included wings that give you the freedom and stability to work with larger pieces of wood. And in the case of our #7 selection, quick mounting and disassembly is a major selling point if you only have one dedicated workspace and need to move this tool out of the way when it’s not in use.
And finally, we considered safety. While all of the models in our roundup featured standard safety features like blade guards, we did make note of common complaints about blade guard failure specifically for the Hitachi/Metabo models. So, it’s always important to inspect your machine — even right out of the box — before you begin operation.
Another popular option that just missed our list was the BOSCH GCM12SD – a Corded Dual-Bevel Sliding Glide 60 Tooth Blade Miter Saw. The Bosch provides simple adjustments with a large easy-to-read uniform bevel and stainless steel miter scales with marked detent plates – bevel detents: 0, 33.9 degrees, 45 degrees left and right make it easy to ensure accurate cutting in any one direction. This compact miter saw comes with an axial glide system that allows for wider cross cuts and increased alignment.
Sledgehammer Buying Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Blade Size
Compound miter saws are designed to allow you to easily make angled cuts. But depending on the diameter of your blade, you can make longer cuts. However, you should also keep in mind that the overall size of your sliding miter saw will also determine the blade diameter that you can use. For example, if your miter saw is 12 inches, you can only use a 12-inch blade with it. Most sliding compound miter saws feature a 10 or 12-inch blade, but it is possible to find blades as small as four inches. - Tooth Count
Every blade has teeth on it. And the number of teeth matter because they impact how smoothly a sliding miter saw will cut through materials. As a general rule, larger diameter blades have more teeth. However, if you know that you’ll be using a miter saw to cut through thick materials, then a lower tooth count is optimal as it gives you more power. - Positive Stops
These are the predesignated angles on a miter saw that help you precisely cut through the material as opposed to guessing or measuring and marking by hand. Depending on your budget, you can even find sliding miter saws that allow you to quickly switch between angles. But overall, look for saws with a higher number of positive stops. - Lock & Bevel
By default, a sliding miter saw is meant to move (tilt, rotate, bevel left and right). But when you’re changing angles, your saw needs to be properly locked into place so that it won’t move while in operation, causing a bad cut. Likewise, a bevel is another important feature that lets the saw tilt and rotate to create the desired angle. - Motor
No one wants a power tool that is a chore to use because it struggles to complete basic tasks. With a sliding miter saw, you also don’t want to feel like you’re fighting the saw to make cuts. The level of power you need is going to be dependent upon the projects you’re attempting to complete and the frequency with which you’ll use this tool. However, if you plan to consistently use a sliding miter saw, look for saws that offer at least 15 amps and a rotation speed of 3500RPMs. Occasional users and homeowners may not need a saw this powerful. - Dust Collection
Cutting wood or other materials is, by default, going to create dust. Whether you’re an avid power tool user or just an occasional one, a good built-in dust collection system can help cut down on your clean up after the project is complete. - Safety Features
Power tools can make quick work of tough projects, but they do pose health and safety hazards if not used properly. A good sliding miter saw should feature a saw guard to help protect your hands from the exposed saw as you’re moving or repositioning it. Likewise, electric brakes can help to quickly stop your saw in as little as two seconds after being triggered. - Accessories
Depending on your budget, you might be able to purchase a sliding miter saw that features upgraded accessories that make using this power tool easier. The two most common upgrades are laser attachments and clear-cutting guards. A laser attachment acts as a guide to ensure that you’re cutting exactly where you need to be. And a clear-cutting guard gives you safe control over your materials while still giving you unobstructed viewing of the cutting process and area.
