Best Miter Saw for Beginners and Pros

Best Miter Saw for Beginners and Pros

Whether you are a beginner or an expert, Miter saws can always be a good addition to your toolbox, it is not only useful for woodworking but also for DIY activities. This is because miter saws are fully capable of providing clean yet precise cuts.

However, Best Miter Saw for Beginners is hard to find and there are reasons for it. At the start, newcomers are not ready to invest heavily in the machinery because of a lack of commitment and expertise. Moreover, some starters may have budget issues.

Aside from the budget constraints, beginners may also not possess enough knowledge to know what is best for them. This eventually leads them to buy miter saws which are not suitable for their type of job. Henceforth, wastage of time, energy, and money may occur.

If you are a starter and want the best beginners Miter saw for DIY Projects or commercial usage, then this detailed guide is for you.


Shopping Tips – Best Beginners Miter Saw

Are you wondering what to look for in a miter saw as a starter? Well, we have given a detailed account of it below.

Design and build

The outer structure is the first thing a person notices. A good design with a sturdy structure will be more appealing than a tool with an average appearance and structure. Also, the structure tells much about the quality of the tool and its overall performance at work.

That said, some reputable brands have average-looking tools while some obscure manufacturers have tools with catchy designs.

Now the question remains: What should you do?

Do not limit yourself to design and structure look for other elements before making a final decision.

Speed and Power

A miter saw that works fast can-do wonders.

A tool with excellent engine power can cut through various materials easily while being accurate and precise. On the other hand, a tool with average to low engine power is prone to making more mistakes.

While choosing a miter saw, you will have to consider the motor amperage and the Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) it delivers.

As for short-term or DIY projects at home, a miter saw with 10-15 amp motor and 0-2800 RPM could be great. On the contrary, a heavy-duty miter saw with a 16 amp motor and 0-5000 RPM can be an excellent tool for professional workers and long-term projects.

Though required motor amperage and RPM may differ from user to user and depends on the material, a 15 amp motor is good enough to have minimum to no performance issues. However, you will have to see the material you are working with before deciding on what motor amperage and how many Revolutions Per Minute suits you.

Precisely, required motor amperage and RPM may differ from user to user and depends on the material but a 15 amp motor is good enough to have minimum to no performance issues.

Cutting Capacity

Another important factor you need to consider is the cutting capacity of the miter saw. This is because the cutting capacity of your chosen miter saw will directly affect your work quality. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure that the miter saw can provide depth and angle adjustments easily.

As a beginner, you can work with a 10-inch miter saw or an 8-inch model for repair and maintenance at home. However, a 12-inch or above miter saw is recommended for large-scale work.

Fence System

A Fence system in a miter saw is present to fasten the material tightly while the worker performs the task and you will have to see how strong the fence system is. Along with this, the height of the fence is another important factor because the height requirement may vary from material to material.

Laser Guide

A laser guide is placed alongside the blade and it throws a laser beam to show the point that needs to be cut whenever the saw starts running. Therefore, a laser guide in a miter saw adds to the accuracy and consequently, you can have straight cuts easily.

Dust Collection

Whether you are working on a small scale or a larger scale, the area around you might get dusty resulting in a mess and blurred vision. This blurred vision can get in your way and get be hazardous. Therefore, it is imperative for a miter saw to have a good dust collection system. So, you can work safely without cleaning your surroundings time and again.

Other Safety Measures

While dust collection may be one measure of safety at work. Another important feature is an electric brake option and a blade guard. Once you activate the electric brake, the miter saw stops almost immediately. Whereas a blade guard protects your fingers while working.

Portability

You will also have to look for some intangible features like the portability of the tool. Though this factor may be more crucial for starters who are looking for mobility, some experts may also want the tool to be flexible.

However, this factor may not be significant for people who handle large-scale projects. If you want a portable miter saw that can be moved around easily, consider the weight and dimensions of the tool before buying it.

Ease of use

While choosing the best miter saw for yourself, see how easy it is to handle the machine and operate it. A machine with complex functionality will be difficult to operate and can lead to mistakes which can lead to inaccurate cuts and wastage of time and material.

Thus, find a miter saw that is easy to operate so you can save up on time and energy.

Budget

Last but not the least, do keep your budget in mind before looking for a miter saw since the market is full of options ranging from low to high prices.

Nevertheless, do not always go for the miter saws that are low priced. It is best to compare other tangible and intangible features along with the price of the miter saw.


What Miter Saw do I need?

Miter saws are a versatile tool with good utility. They can be extremely useful for various professionals as well as beginners. This is because they are made to cut through wood, window cases, crown molding, door frames, and other types of hard or soft surfaces easily.

Therefore, you may need a miter saw if you are a woodworker or a DIY enthusiast.


Best Miter Saw Reviews At a Glance:

  1. Dewalt DWS715 Miter Saw
  2. BOSCH Sliding Miter Saw
  3. Craftsman V20 Miter Saw
  4. Dewalt DWS716 Miter Saw
  5. Hitachi Saw with Laser Marker
  6. Metabo Single Bevel Miter Saw
  7. Dewalt Compound Miter Saw
  8. Genesis Miter Saw With Laser
  9. SKIL 3821-01 Miter Saw
  10. RYOBI 7-1/4 in. Miter Saw


Best Miter Saw for Beginners and Starters

DEWALT DWS715 (Image credit: Amazon)

Dewalt DWS715 Miter Saw

Best Beginner Miter Saw for Woodworking

REASONS TO BUY

Relentlessly powerful

3-year warranty with a 90-day money-back guarantee

Easy to comprehend miter scale

REASONS TO AVOID

The absence of laser may affect the performance

This 12-inch miter saw is everything a woodworker may need. Being the Best Beginner Miter Saw for Woodworking. It is innovatively designed to provide ease of use to the user all the while being aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. As for the weight, it is light enough to be portable.

Moving further, it has a powerful motor that can offer 4000 Revolutions Per Minute. The tool is also capable of providing accurate yet precise cuts, thanks to the machined fence.

Also, it enables the user to bevel from 0 to 45 degrees from the left and 0 to 3 degrees from the right and is innovatively designed with the machined fence to provide ease of use alongside excellent quality cuts to the user. Its cross-cut capacity at 90 degrees is 2×8 inches and 2×6 inches at 45 degrees.

Aside from this, the stainless-steel miter plates work efficiently to ensure productivity and accuracy. Moreover, it has an excellent crosscut capacity. All such factors make it a suitable starter miter saw for woodworking.

BOSCH Corded Gliding Miter Saw (Image credit: Amazon)

BOSCH Sliding Miter Saw

Best Heavy-duty Miter saw for Starters

REASONS TO BUY

Extremely versatile

Works with precision

Stable Miter saw stand

REASONS TO AVOID

Not so portable due to heavyweight

With a patent gliding system and a 12-inch long blade, this sliding miter saw is fully capable of providing wide crosscuts and exceptional alignment along with accuracy and is known as the Best heavy duty miter saw for starters.

Furthermore, this sliding saw is extremely easy to use. The SquareLock quick-release fences add to the alignment. To make it more convenient, the unlock feature is present in the tool.

Another feature that adds up the ease of use is the all-metal bevel lock lever and the range selector located at the front of the saw rather than at the back.

This machine weighs 65 pounds and is powered by a 15 amp motor which is fast enough to get the work done within minutes. Also, it makes the tool the tool fully capable of providing accurate and high-quality cuts.

CRAFTSMAN V20 Sliding Miter Saw Kit
CRAFTSMAN V20 Sliding Miter Saw Kit (Image credit: Amazon)

Craftsman V20 Miter Saw

Best Cordless Miter Saw for Rookies

REASONS TO BUY

Built-in LED lighting

Great accuracy and precision

Comes with a storage bag

REASONS TO AVOID

Limited battery charging station

Craftsman V20 is another sliding saw that is the Best Cordless Miter Saw for Rookies. The saw has a 3-speed brushless motor that works extremely fast and can provide 3,800 Revolutions Per Minute with a torque of 1700 lbs.

The tool also comes with an in-built Led lighting system to improve vision and consequently, the accuracy by preventing shadows at dark work areas.

Dewalt DWS716 Miter Saw (Image credit: Amazon)

Dewalt DWS716 Miter Saw

Best Compound Miter saw for Newbies

REASONS TO BUY

Great blade flexibility

Fast enough to cut quickly

Excellent accuracy and precision

REASONS TO AVOID

Thin dust bag

If you are looking for the best Compound Miter saw for Newbies with excellent work performance and durability, Dewalt DWS716 is the one for you. The double-bevel structure of the tool enables the user to bevel from zero to forty-five degrees with zero positive stops at various angles.

Aside from this, the built-in 15 amp motor in this tool offers 3800 Revolutions Per Minute. Therefore, making it one of the top beginner’s miter saws.

Hitachi C10FCH2 (Image credit: Amazon)

Hitachi Saw with Laser Marker

Best Corded Miter Saw

REASONS TO BUY

Increased flexibility

Adjustable bevel

Powerful 15 amp motor

Comfortable grip and handling

REASONS TO AVOID

Limited cutting capacity

A poor dust collection system

This 10-inch miter saw is all that a starter on a budget needs. It weighs 26.5 pounds which makes it extremely lightweight. The machine is capable of delivering 5000 Revolutions Per Minute and providing cross cuts on the roughest of surfaces.

Another notable feature of this miter saw is the built-in Laser Marker system to improve the cut quality and accuracy. From day one, this laser will help you in having extremely accurate cuts.

Along with this, the tool has a large pivoting flip fence and a horizontal handle for a firm grip. It gives you sturdy support while you work. All of these factors make it the Best Corded Miter Saw for Starters.

Metabo Single Bevel Miter Saw (Image credit: Amazon)

Metabo Single Bevel Miter Saw

Best Beginner Miter Saw for DIYers

REASONS TO BUY

Excellent precision

Versatile enough o work with different materials

Ease of use

Reasonably priced

REASONS TO AVOID

It is not suitable for large scale projects

Metabo HP C10FCGS is an extremely lightweight miter saw which is portable enough to be moved around the worksite. Also, the horizontal handle offers a firm grip making it easier to handle and secure to hold.

As for its work performance, the in-built 15 amp motor can deliver up to 5000 RPM and can help the user to cut through various surfaces quickly and easily.

Furthermore, this miter saw’s angle range varies from zero to fifty-two degrees from left and right. This gives more flexibility to the user when working with different materials.

What’s more? This saw is extremely affordable and falls under the budget of pretty much every newcomer if you are into DIY activities, this is undoubtedly the Best Beginner Miter Saw for DIYers.


DEWALT DWS779 Compound Miter Saw
DEWALT DWS779 (Image credit: Amazon)

Dewalt Compound Miter Saw

Best Single Bevel Miter Saw for Beginners

REASONS TO BUY

Stainless steel miter plate

An excellent dust collection system

Impressive cutting capacity

Convenient to use

REASONS TO AVOID

Limited dust collection capacity

No laser guide included

This single-bevel miter saw is a versatile tool that provides accurate cuts. It offers bevels ranging from zero to forty-eight degrees and ten integrated positive stops for quick direction selection. Therefore, the user can save a considerable amount of time.

Along with this, it has a sturdy 15 amp motor that is fully capable of providing 3800 Revolutions Per Minute to aid the workers in time-intensive projects. The weight also ensures stability while the saw is on the go making it the Best Single Bevel Miter Saw for Beginners.

Apart from exceptional performance, this miter saw keeps the environment as clean as possible with the rear-mounted dust collection sack. While you are busy with the projects, this feature will fully protect your job site.

Genesis Miter Saw with Laser Guide
Genesis Miter Saw with Laser Guide (image credit: Amazon)

Genesis Miter Saw With Laser

Best Budget Miter Saw

REASONS TO BUY

Compact design

Lightweight

Includes a laser guide

Abhor lock enables quick blade changes

REASONS TO AVOID

Non-sliding saw

Genesis GMS1015LC is the Best Budget Miter Saw for Beginners with excellent work performance and accuracy. With a 15 amp motor, it is can offer 4600 Revolutions Per Minute while being lightweight and portable.

Also, the 10-inch long blade has 60 carbide-tipped teeth which make the cuts smooth and enhance the cross-cutting capacity. The tool can bevel up to forty-five degrees as well. However, the cutting capacity reduces at this position. Therefore, it is mostly suitable for small-scale projects.

SKIL 3821-01 Miter Saw
SKIL 3821-01 Miter Saw (image credit: Amazon)

SKIL 3821-01 Miter Saw

Best Beginner Miter Saw for Homeowners

REASONS TO BUY

A good dust collection system

User-friendly

Lightweight

REASONS TO AVOID

No LCD design present

SKIL is a reputable brand and their SKIL 3821 01 12-inch miter saw is the Best Beginner Miter Saw for Homeowners. It comes with a 15 amp motor which can produce 4500 Revolutions Per minute. This makes it extremely powerful and fast enough to cut through hard surfaces easily.

In addition to this, it has an adjustable speed setting. You can adjust your speed according to the surface you want to cut. Therefore, you can easily blade through soft as well as hard surfaces. Not to mention how much accuracy the speed setting provides.

Aside from this, the tool is equipped with nine positive stops which makes it easy to set common angles during work. Consequently, you can save much of your time and energy.

Another notable feature of this saw is the laser guide which can guide the user about the placement of the blade. This can be helpful, especially if you are a starter.

RYOBI Miter Saw
RYOBI 7-1/4 in. Miter Saw (Image credit: Amazon)

RYOBI 7-1/4 in. Miter Saw

Best Starter Miter Saw for the Money

REASONS TO BUY

Built-in Laser Light

Three years limited warranty

Portability

REASONS TO AVOID

Limited cutting capacity

Ryobi is a heavy-duty saw with a 9 amp motor. The motor of this saw can deliver over 5100 Revolutions Per Minute. Alongside this, the tool is extremely versatile which means the user can blade through any surface; whether hard or soft. This saw by Ryobi is the best budget miter saw.

Also, the extended miter range from 47 degrees left and right allows a wider variety of cuts and a 24-tooth carbide-tipped blade enables fast yet neat cuts.


Types of Miter Saws

By now you may know what are the best miter saws for beginners. From Ryobi to Metabo HP, a range of different brands are selling their models with different features.

However, it might be difficult for you to choose the right miter saw out of all the options available in the market. For this reason, you might need some shopping tips for buying the most suitable miter saw.

Before jumping into the main factors to keep in mind while buying a miter saw, you will need to understand what are the different types of saws and how they work. Only then you will be able to decide what’s best for you.

A basic miter saw is made for angled crosscuts and is a good choice when cutting through materials with a smaller width. It comes in different versions described as follows:

Compound Miter Saw

Though the miter saw and compound miter saw are thought to be the same, it is a different tool with different abilities altogether.

This type of saw is a more compound version of a basic miter saw and has the capability of tilting the blade and head at different angles while working. Therefore, it can bevel alongside mitering which helps when working with crown molding or other materials that get installed into a wall.

Good for: woodcutting

Sliding Miter Saw

A sliding miter saw has added rails that help in sliding the tool back and forth across the material. As a result, the worker can put a cut with much more depth than a miter with no rails.

Good for: cutting deeper materials

Compound Sliding Miter Saw

As the name suggests, this miter saw is a mixture of a compound and a sliding saw.

It has rails for more crosscut capacity and a left bevel for more compound cuts. Therefore, the user can have greater flexibility while working. It would be safe to say that with this type of saw, you can have the best of both worlds!

Good for: deeper cuts

Dual Compound Sliding Miter Saw

This is a heavy-duty saw that includes rails and a miter table along with single and double bevels. This tool is pretty much ca[able of providing compound cuts with depth quickly and in no time at all. Also, the beveling can save you from a lot of hassle and frustration.

Good for: bevel-cutting crown

Conclusion

To wrap up, there are various best miter saws for beginners that I have explained about. These miter saws can be extremely useful for a range of different tasks. This can help you find the best fit for yourself.

What could be better than a miter saw that fulfills all your requirements and gives the best value for money while offering the best power and enhancing your work quality? So, choose the one you deem good for you and get started!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best miter saws for the money?

The market is filled with a range of different miter saws that have different benefits. However, some of them outpower the others and we have given a detailed account of such miter saws above. We have also started some of our top picks for further guidance but there is one miter saw that can be considered as the best miter saw for the money.
This miter saw is none other than the Bosch GCM18V-12GDCN
From axial gliding system to excellent cutting capacity, Bosch GCM18V-12DCN is suitable for all types of projects and materials.

What is the best compound miter saw?

As mentioned earlier, compound miter saws are a sub-type of a miter saw. With a compound miter saw, the worker can bevel-cut material which enhances the accuracy and quality.
There are several compound miter saws from the various brands that are a good value for money. However, our top pick is DWS780 has a 15 amp motor along with a 12-inch blade that can drastically improve the quality of the task you are performing. Features like a Laser guide and LED lights further make it easy to use.

Can a beginner use a miter saw?

hey definitely can! This may be hard to believe but miter saws are one of the easiest tools to use as a starter but with all the safety measures in line. You can master the art of operating a miter saw within days.
Are you into woodworking, carpentry, or DIY activities? You use a miter saw for a range of different tasks even as a beginner. Who knows? You may learn to use it correctly along with the progress of building new things using a miter saw.

Are Cheap miter saws worth it?

Cheap vs expensive miter saws have always been a close face-off for beginners as well as the experts.
Some people consider miter saws on a lower price side as a good value of money. This is because such miter saws have all the essential features to perform small to medium scale projects. However, these miter saws usually lack advanced features such as the laser guide and the LED lights. These factors make cheap miter saws not so suitable for heavy-duty tasks.
Therefore, you will have to see the nature of your task and the number of materials alongside your budget before buying a cheap miter saw.

What cut should you never do on a miter saw?

Miter saws are considered safe for wooden surfaces and can perform cuts easily on such surfaces with good accuracy. Anything aside from wood can be risky.
If you are thinking of using metal or a material similar to it, we wouldn’t prefer you to do it because of various reasons.
Firstly, some blades are made to handle such materials while others are not so you may need to replace the blade for cutting metal. This can be time-consuming. Secondly, you will have to take plenty of safety precautions.

How much does a good Miter saw cost?

Though it mainly depends on the type of miter saw, the price range differs and so does the quality accordingly. You can find extremely low-priced miter saws with basic features but a good basic miter saw will cost you around $100. Whereas a dual-bevel miter saw can cost you $200 while a professional grade miter saw can go up to $800

Bahram Shahab
Bahram here! A certified Electrical Engineer who knows his way around using power tools like a professional. My journey of using these robust tools started back when I graduated. Since then, I have finished almost a dozen DIY woodworking jobs. Apart from that, I have developed this habit of jotting down my personal experience about using a specific tool. So, I write on them to help the community in the best possible way.