There are a surprising number of miter saws for homeowners to choose from these days. In this article, we’ll take a look at your best options whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned DIYer so that you can make the right choice for your needs.
Here are our picks for the best beginner miter saws for DIY home projects in 2024:
1. Dewalt DWS779
The Dewalt DWS779 is a great choice for your first miter saw. It is a little pricey for a beginner miter saw, but its ease of use and cutting capability will make each job a little easier. If you’re not concerned about spending a little more to get a saw that will make those household woodworking jobs easier, this is worth every penny.
If you’re just starting your woodworking journey and you’re looking for a miter saw with a good balance between quality and value, the Dewalt DWS779 deserves strong consideration. It’s got more than enough power to handle all of your household jobs and it retails for under $400.
This saw takes advantage of a 15-amp motor that gives it enough power to operate at 3800 RPMs – that will give you a nice clean cut every time. It’s great for working with crown moulding, door frames and window frames.
It also includes built-in dust collection, a steel rail clamping system for stability, it can perform bevel cuts up to 48 degrees and it has large crosscut capacity.
At $400 it may seem a little on the high side for a beginner which can be a sticking point, but it will give you years of reliable use. It doesn’t include a laser guidance system either and it is corded so you will need an available power outlet.
- 15-amp motor operates at 3800 RPM.
- Built-in dust collection.
- Steel rail clamping system.
- Bevel cuts up to 48 degrees.
- Large crosscut capacity.
- Pricey at $400.
- No laser guidance system.
2. Metabo HPT C10FCH2S
If you’re a homeowner looking for a decent miter saw for odd jobs here and there, the Metabo HPT C10FCH2S is up to the task. It isn’t a heavy-duty product though, so if you’re an avid woodworker this is probably not the saw for you.
When you’re searching for the best saw for home use it can be a bit of a challenge. A great choice at a great price is the Metabo HPT C10FCH2S. It’s surprisingly packed full of great features for the price such as a laser marking system, it operates on 15 amps of power and it has a dust bag for collecting sawdust.
In addition, it features a nice compact design which makes it more mobile and ideal for use as your go-to saw in the home.
As this is an inexpensive saw, the build quality may not compare to higher-end models and you may find yourself having to make minor alignment adjustments from time to time. It will also struggle a bit with thicker woodcuts.
- Priced under $200.
- Lightweight and compact.
- 15 amps of power.
- Dust collector included.
- Cheaper build quality.
- Struggles with thick wood.
3. Bosch GCM12SD
Apart from the price tag and the mobility limitations of working with a corded product, we don’t really have any complaints with the Bosch GCM12SD. This is a powerful, but easy to use miter saw that’s great for beginners or power users.
The Bosh GCM12SD is a great miter saw for DIY projects of any kind. It’s a great option for beginners or more experienced DIYers because of its ease of use and tons of great features.
It uses a 15-amp motor for power, it has a glide movement controller, dust chute and bag, soft trigger handle for comfort, two square lock quick release fences and it has an upfront bevel lock. We meant it when we said it was packed full of features!
Probably the biggest issue we had with this miter saw was the hefty price tag, it will put a few potential purchasers off. It is also a corded product, which does mean you’ll always need a power outlet somewhere nearby and the cord can get in the way.
- 15-amp motor.
- Glide movement controller.
- Two square lock fence releases.
- Upfront bevel lock.
- Soft trigger handle.
- Hefty price.
4. Dewalt DWS780
The Dewalt DWS780 is a great miter saw for any level of user. It is a little pricey, but it’s also built to last. Our only real complaint is that the manufacturer doesn’t ship it with a more precise blade for finer cuts. Overall, this is one of the best miter saws on the market at any level.
Dewalt has one of the most versatile lineups of miter saws on the market and one of the best beginner-friendly options in their arsenal is the DWS780 12-inch miter saw.
It has an integrated cutline blade positioning system, LED light projection technology for cutting accuracy and a dual bevel system for easy adjustments. It’s also highly portable which makes it ideal for home-based beginners as well as seasoned professionals. The dust collection system also helps you avoid any mess.
There’s no denying the $600 plus price tag is a little on the steep side, but it is designed to last so the price will be offset over many years of use.
Also, it only ships with a 32 tooth saw blade which can make for some rough cuts. For precision cuts, you’ll have to buy a better blade separately which seems odd for a high priced miter saw like this.
- Integrate cutline blade positioning.
- LED laser cutting accuracy.
- Dual bevel system.
- Highly portable.
- Dust collection system included.
- High price tag.
- Only ships with 32 tooth saw blade.
5. Genesis GMS1015LC
The Genesis GMS1015LC may not be the most durable product available, but it’s an amazing value for a beginner miter saw priced under $150. We love the fact that you get laser-guided cutting precision at this price point.
If you’re fairly new to the DIY scene, Genesis is probably not a name that you’re too familiar with when it comes to power equipment. For a starter miter saw though, you won’t find a much better deal than the Genesis GMS1015LC.
This affordable machine includes all of the standard features you’d expect such as a dust collection system, an adjustable bevel, compound cutting capability and a laser-guided cutting system. It also has an Arbor lock for quick blade changes. All of this for under $150.
As you might expect at this price point, it’s not made from the most durable materials on the market. The clamp can also be a bit awkward to adjust when you’re repositioning the blade.
- Priced under $150.
- Dust collection system.
- Adjustable bevel.
- Compound cutting capability.
- Laser-guided cutting.
- Not as durable as competitors.
- Clamp is awkward to adjust.
6. Metabo HPT C10FCGS
You usually sacrifice a bit of quality when you opt for a budget model miter saw, but that isn’t the case with the Metabo HPT C10FCGS. This is a great product for the price. Yes, it is a bit heavier than some of its competitors at about 25 pounds, but it’s still highly mobile. It would be better if the depth was adjustable, but for beginner users, this shouldn’t be a major issue.
Anyone looking for a beginner miter saw that’s highly capable and a great bargain at the same time will want to check out the C10FCGS. It’s one of the few decent options you’ll find under $150.
Highlights include an adjustable bevel, included dust collector, 15-amp motor that spins the blade at 5000 RPMs and a locking clamp that holds your wood in place as you work away.
While this is easily one of the highest-rated budget miter saws, it does have a couple of issues. Firstly, it does weigh almost 25 pounds which is heavier than some more expensive models in this category. Also, it is corded so you need power nearby. Our only other issue is that you can’t adjust the depth on this model.
- Priced under $150.
- Adjustable bevel.
- Dust collector.
- Operates at 5000 RPMs.
- Locking clamp.
- A little heavy at almost 25 pounds.
- Depth is not adjustable.
Conclusion
We were pleasantly surprised with the number of great options available for first-time users of miter saws on the market in 2024.
The Dewalt DWS779 may offer the best combination of quality and value of the products we reviewed, but any one of the miter saws reviewed here are capable and worth considering.
For more great picks, check out our recommendations for the best 10-inch miter saws and the best 12-inch miter saws on the market.
