Deck building and miter saws are the perfect match for tools and projects. I couldn't think of a better time when I was asked to do a review of one of the better 12" compound miter saws. Finding the best 12" miter saw requires testing many different tools simultaneously. My comparative review coincides with the renovation of two side-by-side 1920s bungalow-style homes. Both have full-width front and rear porches, and all four have had better times. The project required a complete demolition and reconstruction. Between that and the final pruning – lots of pruning in my future!
The new porches I designed for these homes were slightly different from the original framing. This is mostly 2×6 member with tongue and groove porch flooring. I had to step it up a bit to meet current Florida hurricane codes. I chose 2×8 framing members and larger lumber for the posts and railing posts. Needless to say, I had a lot of cutting plans for the seven saws.
Editor's note: Check out our best miter saws article for our top overall recommendations.
Best 12″ Corded Miter Saw
Bosch GCM12SD Axial Slide Miter Saw
- Pros: Compact size, integrated docking station extensions, easy-access side bevel levels
- Cons: Clunky thumb trigger safety, no crown ramp brake
The Bosch GCM12SD Axial Slide Miter Saw has many great features that make it an easy first choice. The axial slide mechanism makes these the smoothest sliding miter saws we've used. Even years after it was first introduced, we still haven't had a smoother saw. For something close, check out the 10-inch Delta Cruzer Miter Saw.
The 12" Bosch Axial Glide Saw cuts in a more compact fashion than most saws, yet it allows for some of the tallest cuts. You can go straight through 6-1/2" tall material against the fence.
We like the front-mounted bevel adjustment—it's the easiest to set up in the industry. They don't force you to put your hands behind the saw. We also really like the integrated table extensions, which easily extend from the sides beyond the base.
The saw will run you about $599.
Also recommend:
- Milwaukee 6955-20 Miter Saw with LED Angle Gauge
- Skilsaw SPT88-01 Worm Drive Miter Saw
- DeWalt DWS716XPS 15-Amp Miter Saw
You can't talk about a 12" corded miter saw without knowing the Milwaukee 6955-20 Miter Saw. With its incredible power and convenient LCD angle display, this saw stands out as a "Cadillac" among corded miter saws. While the basic design has changed little in the past decade or so, there's good reason for that. You don't mess with something that's already so well developed. If you can afford it, this saw will transform your shop space. Just don't expect to move it easily without attaching it to a good wheel stand.
This great saw retails for $749.
We also like the Skilsaw Worm Drive Miter Saw. It's a powerful, precise saw that also moves around the job site with ease. So easy, in fact, that other manufacturers should take note. This miter saw is great as a framing saw or remodeler—mainly because of the power output and size. Pruning carpenters and fine woodworkers should also consider a high TPI blade upgrade from the start.
You can buy it for $650.
In the end, the DeWalt DWS716XPS remains one of our favorites for its solid build quality. We also like the LED cutting wire that works in broad daylight. You'll never want to use a laser again. Works vertically with 6-1/2" bottom molding and vertically nested 6-5/8" crown molding.
Get it for $380.
Best 12″ Cordless Miter Saw
Makita XSL07PT Cordless Miter Saw (also known as XSL08PT)
- Pros: Front ramp control, wall placement, excellent run time, zero blade wobble
- Cons: Expensive, cutting upright crowns with a left bevel requires fence removal
The Makita XSL07PT Cordless 12-Inch Miter Saw runs off a pair of 18V batteries that provide 36V power. This flagship cordless 12-inch compound sliding miter saw helps us cut trim and framing materials like butter. Despite its capacity and size, this tool is very portable and compares well to its competitors.
The saw has absolutely no blade wobble, giving us perfectly consistent cuts every time. We found that we could cut 5-1/4" of the speed base vertically at 45 degrees in either direction. You have convenient front bevel adjustment and the blade has a 60º bevel in both directions.
The innovative rail design allows the saw to be placed against a wall without the complications of the Glide system. Lastly – and perhaps most importantly – we saved an entire day off the electricity bill with a pair of 5Ah batteries!
The XSL07PT kit comes with two 5.0Ah batteries, dual-port fast charger, blade, dust bag, vertical clamp, wrench, and triangle and retails for approximately $999. If you want the XSL08PT model with AWS-enabled wireless Bluetooth connectivity, it's on sale for $1,059.
Also recommend:
- Milwaukee Cordless 12" Sliding Miter Saw with One Button
- DeWalt FlexVolt DHS790AT2 Miter Saw
For a full-size cordless miter saw, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless 12-Inch Sliding Miter Saw does a good job. Weighing just 48 lbs with the M18 high output 12 Ah battery pack installed, it's 26% lighter than their corded Milwaukee 6955-20 miter saw. Easy-grip side handles make this full-size saw as portable as possible. It cuts like a wire saw.
You can get it for $849 kit or $699 bare-bones.
Of course, if you occasionally need a wired connection, it's hard not to love the DeWalt FlexVolt DHS790AT2 Miter Saw. Built on the flagship DWS780 platform, this is one of only 12-inch cordless miter saws with an available power adapter, allowing you to run it on AC power indefinitely.
The kit with battery and AC adapter is only $799.
Best Portable 12″ Miter Saw
Makita LS1221 Miter Saw
- Pros: Lightweight, safest to use, virtually no plastic, extended workbench, material clamps
- Disadvantages: Short cutting height for fenced material, small dust collection opening, no crown bevel stop
The Makita LS1221 is the lightest saw in our roundup. Ironically, it also has the fewest number of plastic parts – figure it out! Put it all together, and the Makita LS1221 is easily our best portable 12-inch miter recommendation.
However, don't let the light weight fool you into thinking this saw lacks features or power. This saw has a geared reduction direct drive motor and by default it is a single miter saw. Every part of the saw is painted or finished. There are no unfinished or sharp edges anywhere. The overall build quality of this saw feels like a Swiss watch.
Unlike all the other saws in this review, the swing arm that activates the blade guard is almost completely hidden for a clean look. We really appreciate the double table extension which can be easily removed. You also get a material clip. Plus, every user-removable or adjustable item can be adjusted with the same wrench included!
This saw retails for approximately $300 and includes the saw, 12" 40-tooth blade, vertical vise, (2) extension wings, socket wrench, and dust bag.
Also recommend:
- Skilsaw SPT88-01 12" Worm Drive Miter Saw
51 pounds might not seem like the ultimate in portability, but considering how powerful the Skilsaw SPT88-01 12-Inch Worm Drive Miter Saw is, it's surprisingly light. Also one of our favorite corded models, we love the power and accuracy of this saw. For framing or carpentry, we found an almost perfect balance of power and size.
You can buy it for $650.
Best 12″ Miter Saw for the Money
DeWalt DW716 Miter Saw
- Pros: Quiet, tons of bevel and bevel stoppers, removable fence allows cutting up to 2×10
- Cons: Material clip not included, blade guard will cut your thumb (read manual)
Because of its power and incredible capacity, the DeWalt DW716 stands out as our best value-for-money 12-inch miter saw.
We quickly identified the DeWalt as the quietest 12" miter saw in the line. Its refined belt drive system does the best job of making this possible. Saw tilts up to 48° in two directions with five universal detents. We like the quick miter bar lock and 11 stops (more than every other saw we tested).
The DeWalt DW716 works right out of the box. Probably our biggest complaint is that if you rest your thumb on the side of the handle instead of down, you can expect the blade guard to swing up and possibly grab your thumb as you move the saw toward the workpiece. Of course, this only happens once, until you understand how DeWalt makes you hold the handle. In the manual it explains that this is by design (not the thumb slicing part!). When you need to keep the guard out of the way, you can use your thumb to position the guard for certain cuts.
With the main fence removed, you can use the remaining smaller fence and 1-1/2" thick sacrificial board. This increases your crosscut capacity to a whopping 2×10. Remember, this saw has no slides! That alone makes it one of our favorites. If you pick up this saw, we recommend getting the excellent DWX726 stand as well.
This saw retails for approximately $299 and includes the saw, 12" 40-tooth blade, vertical vise, (2) extension wings, socket wrench, and dust bag.
- Skilsaw SPT88-01 12" Worm Drive Miter Saw
51 pounds might not seem like the ultimate in portability, but considering how powerful the Skilsaw SPT88-01 12-Inch Worm Drive Miter Saw is, it's surprisingly light. Also one of our favorite corded models, we love the power and accuracy of this saw. For framing or carpentry, we found an almost perfect balance of power and size.
You can buy it for $650.
Best Budget 12″ Cordless Miter Saw
Ryobi TSS121 12" Sliding Miter Saw with LED
- Pros: Low cost of entry, clearance up to 13-1/4 inches. Cross cutting, electric braking
- Cons: Single slope, average dust collection
For the serious DIYer, we found it hard not to like the $269 15-amp sliding miter saw. You get all the clearance of a 12" miter, but at a price comparable to a 10" model. On the slide you have enough room to cut 2×12 boards at 90 degrees. LED cutting line indicators and work lights help improve cutting precision and visibility.
The saw blade tilts 47° left and right, stopping at the most common crown molding angles of 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6° and 45°. There's also the expected miter brake coverage.
The 1-1/4" dust port works fine, but it doesn't collect as much dust as other saws we've used. Finally, we really appreciate the electric brakes that stop the blades quickly, and the 3-year warranty can't go wrong.
Also recommend:
- DeWalt DWS715 12-Inch Single Bevel Miter Saw ($229)
- Metabo HPT C12FDHM 12-Inch Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw ($179)
- Ridgid R4222 Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw ($399)
Common feature
Of the dozen or so saws we've considered and tested against these recommendations, certain features have remained common throughout. These should be the minimum criteria to look for when shopping. All saws have 15 amp motors, electric motor brakes, top mounted carry handles, adjustable fences and dust bags.
Each saw has carbide blades ranging from 30 to 60 teeth. For adjustments, all saws are capable of providing left and/or right miter cuts over 45 degrees. Also, at least, left-handed bevel cuts up to 45 degrees are available to all.
Not every manufacturer offers both single and double bevel capabilities, nor does every user need both (although we generally prefer dual bevels). Finally, all tested saws offer preset bevels and bevels—often with stops. Most have at least 9 built-in miter stop positions, with a stop at 0 degrees and stops at 15, 22.5, 31.6, and 45 degrees in both directions. Bevel stops usually have detents at 0 degrees and 45 degrees.
test preparation
When the saws came in, we carefully opened each box and inspected the tools. One of the first things we do when inspecting a brand new saw is to verify how true the blade is to the table and fence. We had to adjust the verticality of the two saws that came in. Everyone should learn how to calibrate a miter saw and not trust that what they get from the manufacturer is a dead angle.
To further level the playing field, we removed the factory installed blades and replaced each one with a brand new blade. Based on testing and cutting, we alternate between Irwin Marples and Diablo blades. Both inserts feature thin-cut ATB (alternate top bevel) ground carbide teeth. The same new blade is used for every saw cut, which makes comparing performance easier.
Testing a 12" Miter Saw
90 degree cutting ability test
Testing the seven saws does not happen simultaneously or in a very rapid fashion. These are large tools and it takes a while to understand what each one does. Thankfully, we had plenty of time to use the saw multiple times. We tested it in the shop and in the field on one of our four porch projects.
In testing, one of the first things that comes to mind when using a miter saw is how much wood it will cut. Given blade size, you'd think all saws would have roughly the same cutting ability, but there is some room for variation given blade shaft geometry, guardrails, and swing arm design. The best 12-inch compound miter saws will cut through 2×8 lumber with no problem, but some models will even slightly exceed it. A 12" sliding miter saw should easily clear a 2×12.
cutting wood
First we tried different sizes of nominal sized lumber at the 90 degree crosscut and it pretty much boiled down to a pass/fail of 4 to 8 inches if the saw could handle nominal sized material like 2×4, 4 x4, 2×6, 2×8 and 1x materials. Of course, every saw can handle any of these materials. We tested the widest and thickest pieces that can be cut flat on a table.
In our deck building we primarily use these saws to cut 2×8 framing members to length and trim 5/4”x6” decks. Since each saw has the same blade and essentially the same size 15 amp motor, we've never had any instances of the motor stalling or seeming to be stressed, even when cutting wet pressed new lumber.
Angle Cutting Ability Test
Miter cuts on all saws are easily adjusted and locked, even if it's not one of the preset stops. There are various ways to adjust and lock the miter, and most saws have a screw-in handle to lock the miter angle. All saws have at least 9 miter stops, the DeWalt has a higher number of 11. These preset angle stops make quickly finding common cutting angles a breeze. All saws allow covered pawls thanks to their digital miter angle readout, Milwaukee offers the most accurate method of miter angle measurement. All saws are capable of fully rotating the table in left and right directions.
The commonality in the miter cuts of these saws is where we found the biggest differences. Since some of these saws in this review are single bevel and others are double bevel, there are some noticeable differences. All saws stop at 0- and 45-degree bevel angles, and four of them also have a 33.9-degree detent setting for cutting crowns.
Cut Crown Molding
If you are not a regular at cutting crown moldings, this can be one of the most challenging cuts, as they require compound angle cuts. Since all of these saws allow for compound angle miter cuts, you no longer need to use the traditional method of upside down crown trim panels against a fence. Still, the vertical cutting capability reigns supreme and makes those cuts pretty easy.
You can also easily set miters and bevels with the integrated stops, and cut the crown trim so it faces up and lays flat on a table. We like that most Ridgid miter saws actually have the crown cutting guide permanently attached to the miter adjustment handle. For most people (or anyone who hasn't done this in a while), it takes a little thought to get it right, even with the built in angle stops.
Adjust bevel
Adjusting the bevel angle varies widely. The best 12-inch compound miter saw can easily adjust miter angles and miter cuts. Most of the saws we tested had some sort of large rotating handle on the back that had to be released to turn the head. On these saws, you have to reach behind or the saw to make adjustments.
The Hitachi has a unique micro-adjustment, once the main screw is loose, you can rotate the barrel to adjust the angle precisely. With the Milwaukee 6955-20, Makita LS1219L (and XSL07Z/XSL08Z) and Bosch GCM12SD Axial Glide you have direct bevel control. This makes adjusting the bevel almost effortless.
in conclusion
While no one miter saw can do everything, I think we have some good recommendations for most users. I use the budget-conscious Ryobi and Skilsaw models alongside the most expensive Milwaukee and Makita saws. To be sure there are differences. Your next miter saw purchase will depend on how you need to use it, price, capacity — and maybe even convenience.
Also, with your new cordless 12-inch miter saw, you may find yourself trying to match the new model to your battery platform of choice.
Keep in mind that the best 12-inch miter saws are aimed at users looking for the highest cutting power. You may find that you do better with a smaller, more portable slide saw.