Top Overall Pick
DEWALT DWS779
Premium Choice
Makita LS1219L
Best Value
DEWALT DWS715
If angled cuts are a regular task in your DIY projects, a miter saw is an essential part of your tool kit. Whether you’re a professional tradesperson or a part-time DIY enthusiast, a regular saw just won’t cut it for every job.
The best 12-inch miter saw will perfect those awkward angles on picture frames, window casings, door frames, crown molding, and more.
Miter saws come in different sizes. Depending on your needs, you might find the more substantial 12” miter saw more versatile. With hundreds of miter saws available, finding the best 12-inch miter saw can be a labor-intensive task.
Luckily, we’ve done the research for you and present the top five 12 inch miter saw reviews.
Our Favorite 12 Inch Miter Saws on the Market
5 Best 12-Inch Miter Saws - Reviews
1. DEWALT (DWS779) 12-Inch Miter Saw - Best Overall Pick
Key Features
With powerful 15-amp motor and 800 RPM, you'll undoubtedly feel the power in your fingertips with the DeWALT DWS779 Sliding Compound Miter Saw. The kit comes with a miter saw, a carbide blade, and a blade wrench for changes. Horizontal steel rails and linear ball bearings create a compact and durable unit that delivers accuracy and clean, smooth cuts.
A back-fence design exclusive to this model allows you to cut through 2” X 16” lumber (90 degrees), as well as 2” X 12” lumber (45 degrees). The maximum cut on this model is 6.75”. The integrated cutline blade positioning allows adjustment-free cutline indication to improve accuracy.
This DeWALT compound miter saw can support crown molding way up to 7½” and base molding of up to 6¾”, with its tall, sliding-fence system. Engineered to be mobile, it easily slides to allow bevel cuts when needed.
And as a bonus, say goodbye to sawdust with DeWALT’s highly effective dust-collection system whipping away up to 75% of dust and debris.
Pros
Cons
2. DEWALT (DWS715) 12-Inch Miter Saw - Best for the Money
Key Features
If you’re looking for a high-functioning machine on a smaller budget, we recommend this DeWALT DWS715 12 inch single bevel miter saw. This DeWalt model includes a miter saw, carbide blade, blade wrench, dust bag, and a vertical clamp.
Power and durability combine to give you 15 amp motor of cutting power with 4,000 RPM. The stainless-steel miter detent plate comes with 14 positive stops, supported by a miter detent override to adjust to your own setting.
Twin sliding fences support base molding way up to 6½” vertically and crown molding way up to 5¼” nested. The fences easily slide to allow for bevel cuts. Crosscut capacity ranges from 2” X 8” of dimensional lumber (90 degrees) and 2” X 6” lumber (45 degrees).
The DeWALT DWS715, 15 amp miter saw bevels both right and left, which is unusual for such an economic unit. Achieve angles up to 48 degrees to the left and 3 degrees to the right. Positive stops on this unit are at 0 degrees, 45 degrees, and 33.9 degrees, and bevel stops are at 0, 33.9, 45, and 48 degrees. This is slightly less than higher-end miter saws but still allows a wide range of cutting angles.
Pros
Cons
3. Makita (LS1219L) 12" Miter Saw with Laser - Premium Choice
Key Features
You get what you pay for with the Makita LS1219L.
Combine accuracy, power, and cutting capacity with one of the best 12-inch miter-saw models available. This product includes a dustbag, triangular rule, vertical vise, 12” 60T micro-polished miter-saw blade, and a hex wrench.
Its unique two-steel rail-sliding design reduces the footprint of the saw, allowing it work flush against a wall. It also features a large aluminum base to improve stability when you are cutting. The handy forward position of the bevel lock allows for adjustment and facilitates a smoother operation.
This Makita miter saw produces cuts in a wide range of angles, from 0 degrees to 60 degrees, with both left and right tilts. Positive stops are at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 22.5 degrees, 31.6 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees, again with both left and right tilts.
A direct-drive motor and guard system give this unit a higher vertical cutting capacity than other miter saws – up to 8” crown molding, 6¾” baseboards, and 15" crosscuts at ninety degrees.
Dual dust-collection ports provide excellent dust extraction for use with a bag or vacuum. This feature makes for a cleaner working environment and greater visibility of your cutting material.
Additional saw features include a clear blade guard for greater visibility and a laser guide for accurate cutting.
Pros
Cons
4. DEWALT DWS780 12 Inch Miter Saw
Key Features
Dewalt DWS780 is another excellent model that makes our list with this 12 inch sliding compound miter saw. It’s reasonably priced for the value you get.
Dewalt DWS780 powerful 15-amp motor offers consistent power and accuracy under load. The back-fence design exclusive to DeWALT cuts up to 2” X 16” dimensional lumber (90 degrees), and 2” X 12” lumber (45 degrees), bringing high efficiency to your workflow.
The gearbox system and belt drive increase your vertical cutting capacity. The Dewalt DWS780 crosscut capacity is a maximum width of 14” to 16”, and it allows you to make cuts of up to 45 degrees on 4” X 8” timber.
An adjustable stainless-steel miter detent plate has ten positive stops for easy adjustment and continuous workflow. An integrated XPS crosscut positioning system gives adjustment-free cutline indication
Pros
Cons
5. TACKLIFE (PMS03A) 12 inch Miter Saw
Key Features
The Tacklife Sliding Compound Miter Saw is an excellent mid-range investment. The product includes a Tacklife PMS03A Miter Saw, a 40-tooth TCT blade, a clamping device, a dustbag, side support, and allen wrenches.
This Tacklife compound miter saw delivers 3,800 RPM and 15 Amps of power to help cut through your timber like a hot knife through butter.
You can enhance your precision by controlling the laser guide with a single switch, and extensions on both sides pull out to create a large working table. The width is sufficient to accommodate timbers up to six feet, and a vice clamping system ensures that your materials stay secured to your job site for precision and safety.
The unit comes with a 305mm 40-tooth TCT blade, ideal for cutting smooth wood, plastic, and even soft metal. The Tacklife 12” miter saw is designed for dual bevel cutting, and you can make adjustments of up to 45 degrees, both to the right and left.
What’s more, you’ll benefit from cleaner air with the integrated dust-collection bag or the 35mm dust port to connect to your vacuum cleaner.
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict: Our Overall Winner
DEWALT DWS779
When it comes to the perfect combination of value for money, accuracy, and ease of use, we can’t help but choose the DeWALT Sliding Compound Miter Saw, 12-Inch (DWS779) as the best 12 inch miter saw.
Its high-quality carbide blade, horizontal steel rails, and linear ball bearings deliver consistently accurate results in a compact design. Sleek, quiet, and durable, the DeWALT Sliding Compound Miter Saws will become a favorite in your workshop for years to come.
We also reviewed top 5 cordless miter Saw. Check this link if you are interested.
Buyer’s Guide: Tips for Choosing a 12-Inch Miter Saw
Let’s start with some foundational tips for choosing the 12-inch miter saw for you!
You might be tempted to head straight for the top shelf and buy the biggest-and-best 12-inch miter saw there is. But doing so probably will be an overspend if you’re just planning on doing a bit of weekend DIY.
On the other hand, if you’re a professional trades-person hoping to earn a living from your craft, it pays to invest a bit more for a higher-functioning machine.
But let’s start with some foundational tips for choosing the best miter saw for you! Before you buy, consider the following points:
How Much Power Do I Need?
As a general rule, people who will be using their miter saws regularly should consider 15 amps of power as the bare minimum, with a rotation of 3,500 RPM. Anything less than this will deliver insufficient drive, making it frustrating to achieve polished results.
If you’re only going to take your miter out of the tool closet once in a blue moon, something with less voltage might suit you just fine.
What Size the Blade Will Work Best?
The most popular blade sizes are 10” and 12”. They can start as small as 4” for very fine-cutting work. Due to the unit design, the blade size must match the unit size to function correctly. For example, if you have a 12-inch saw, you would only be able to fit it with a 12-inch blade.
Another thing to consider with the blade you choose for your miter saw is the tooth count. Each miter saw is going to have a varying number of teeth, with larger blades having more teeth than smaller ones. A higher tooth count will produce a smoother, more polished finished. But this might not always be the best choice. A lower tooth count is more effective for cutting through thicker material.
What Types of Cuts Will I Be Making?
The least you can expect from a miter saw is that it’s able to cut. But there’s more to it than just chomping through timber. For polished results, look for a miter saw that has multiple positive stops. These stops are pre-set for the most common cutting angles, with a quick change.
Also, have a look at the bevel. In more budget-friendly models, the bevel will tilt only one direction. This feature is perfectly functional but slows progress when you’re doing multi-directional cutting. The best 12-inch miter saw models would have a bevel that tilts in both directions.
Dust Collection
Dust is a pet peeve of many a DIY enthusiast – and it’s not good for your health. Some of the best 12 inch miter saws come with dust-collection ports that force the dust down into a collection basket while you cut. This feature can create a healthier work environment, especially if you use your miter saw regularly in your job site. It also keeps your cutline free of dust and easily visible, so you can achieve a more precise finish.
Other extras, including laser guides and clear-cutting guards, can enhance your experience and make your work a whole lot simpler.
