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Best miter saw for beginners

By: Daniel Smith

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Updated:

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Are you just getting started in woodworking and you are in need of a miter saw? We’ve got you covered! We compared all the miter saws on the market today and this is our guide to finding the best miter saw for beginners.

What makes the best Miter saw for beginners?

In order to find the best miter saw for beginners we first need to determine what we are actually looking for. Here is a list of things that we look for in a good miter saw:

  • Power – A good miter saw should have sufficient power to cut practically every type of wood.
  • Battery life – If you are shopping for a cordless miter saw the battery life is an important factor.
  • Price – We want a miter saw that has great value for money and is affordable for beginners.

The best miter saw for beginners is the DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw. With a 12-inch blade and a max RPM of 4000, this saw will cut through large and tough pieces of wood with ease.

So with these things in mind, we can now compare all the miter saws and find the best one for a beginning woodworker.

The best miter saw for beginners

Here is a list of our favorite miter saws that we think would be a great choice for a beginner.

Hphtools’ choice

Our favorite miter saw for beginners

DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw

our score: 9.4
  • 12 inch miter saw
  • 15 Amp motor
  • Up to 4000 RPM

Pros and cons

According to our experts
  • Plus icon indicating a pro

    This is a great miter saw if you are a beginner. The DEWALT DWS715 offers great value for money.

  • Plus icon indicating a pro

    Very powerful corded miter saw with a speed of up to 4000 RPM.

  • Minus icon indicating a con

    This saw is slightly more expensive than our budget alternative.

DEWALT DWS715 Description

The DEWALT DWS715 is a great miter saw if you are new to using these types of saws. It is powerful and accurate, Making it easy to make clean cuts.

Everyone who knows about woodworking will tell you that you need a 12-inch saw. The DEWALT DWS715 is the cheapest 12-inch miter saw that also offers great value for money.


Budget option

Metabo miter saw, our favorite budget option

Metabo HPT 10-Inch Miter Saw

our score: 8.6
  • 10 inch miter saw
  • 15 Amp motor
  • Up to 5000 RPM

Pros and cons

According to our experts
  • Plus icon indicating a pro

    This is the cheapest miter saw with decent quality we could find.

  • Plus icon indicating a pro

    The metabo HPT has a powerful 15 Amp motor that can deliver speeds of up to 5000 RPM

  • Minus icon indicating a con

    Unfortunately this is a 10-inch miter saw which is good for beginners but not ideal in the long run.

Metabo C10FCGS Description

This saw from Metabo is our favorite budget miter saw. If you are a beginner on a budget this is the best miter saw for you!

The Metabo HPT has a 10-inch saw blade and a powerful 15-Amp motor. It can deliver a speed of up to 5000 RPM, which makes it an ideal saw to make quick work of smaller pieces of wood.


Premium choice

SKIL 10-inch compound miter saw

Skil 10″ Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw

our score: 9.5
  • 10-inch premium miter saw
  • 15 Amp motor
  • Up to 5000 RPM

Pros and cons

According to our experts
  • Plus icon indicating a pro

    This is a dual bevel saw making it able to tilt both ways.

  • Plus icon indicating a pro

    The SKIL miter saw comes with a led shadow line. This makes it a very accurate miter saw.

  • Minus icon indicating a con

    Because this saw has premium quality and features, it also comes with a high price.

SKIL MS6305-00 Description

The SKIL 10-inch miter saw is ideal for beginners that are not limited to a budget or are serious about getting into woodworking.

It has a dual bevel making it easy to cut angles in both directions. We’ve found this to be a great addition to a normal single-bevel miter saw.

Professional saw

Professional Bosch compound miter saw

BOSCH GCM12SD 15 Amp 12 Inch miter saw

our score: 9.8
  • 12-inch premium miter saw
  • 15 Amp motor
  • Up to 3800 RPM

Pros and cons

According to our experts
  • Plus icon indicating a pro

    The Bosch GCM12SD is a glide miter saw. This makes it a perfect saw for large pieces of wood.

  • Plus icon indicating a pro

    This miter saw has a very stable base. It is also extendable to add even more stability.

  • Minus icon indicating a con

    Since this is a premium miter saw it also comes with a premium price.

Bosch GCM12SD Description

If you are looking to kickstart your woodworking career the Bosch GCM12SD is a great premium miter saw. You will enjoy every cut with this saw and it is worth every dollar in the long run.

The Bosch GCM12SD has a 12-inch saw blade and is a dual bevel miter saw. It also has a glide mechanism making it easy to cut large pieces of wood.

Overall the Bosch GCM12SD is our favorite miter saw if you are a beginner and money is no issue.

Overview of the best miter saws

Miter SawAMPSpeedScore
Our favorite miter saw for beginners
DEWALT DWS715
15 Amp4000 RPM9.4
Metabo miter saw, our favorite budget option
Metabo C10FCGS
15 Amp5000 RPM8.6
SKIL premium miter saw
Skil MS6305-00
15 Amp5000 RPM9.5
Professional Bosch miter saw
Bosch GCM12SD
15 Amp3800 RPM9.6
The Author
Daniel Smith
My passion for power tools and work clothing started when I was a kid. My father and I used to build tree houses together, he taught me all the tricks of the trade! Meanwhile, I'm a 28-year-old with more than 7 years of experience on various job sites.

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