Best Budget Miter Saws of 2024

A miter saw is a godsend for most of us woodworkers and carpenters. It’s one of those tools that seems like it only has a single purpose (at first) but instantly changes your impression once you get it.

A handy miter saw for small projects will save you a lot of hours, make you more efficient, and allow you to achieve perfection that is just not possible with generic electric saws. (Believe us, we know.)

While professionals should focus on getting miter saws with a larger blade and more features, there are some great budget miter saws available for DIYers, home users, weekend woodworkers, hobbyists, and aspiring carpentry professionals.

• DEWALT DWS715
• Makita LS1040
• WEN MM1011
• Delta S26-263L
• Metabo HPT C10FCGS

Today, we will take a look at some of these inexpensive miter saws for beginners. Choose the one that best suits your needs and is affordable.

Let’s start with a quick look at the best budget miter saws in the US market.

Best Budget Miter Saws of 2024

Best Miter Saws Under $300

Our top three picks of the best miter saws under $300.

#1 - DEWALT 12-Inch Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw (DWS715)

Sometimes the name DeWALT is enough. Other times you need someone else to tell you that a tool is a top-of-the-line beast. Let that be us in the case of this 12-inch best-quality miter saw for the money.

Miter Saw Review

This is a 12-inch, heavy saw with a 15-amp motor that cuts at a high speed of 4,000 RPM. Get your cross and bevel cuts with a strong blade and a stainless-steel miter detent plate. The plate has 14 stops that should be enough for most of your needs.

It also boasts of a wide work area, enough to get your wood squares on the plate and plan your cuts. While a laser guide is missing here, the cuts will be precise if you set the fences and scale right.

The cutting head can swivel to up to 45 degrees and the handle has a pressure switch so that the operation is under your total control. As with most miter saws in the market presently, the blade cover automatically covers the blade when not in use.

Pro Tip #1 – This DeWALT miter saw is a tad heavy for us (43 pounds), hence we recommend getting a rolling stand. But if you have no plans to get one, make sure you plan where to keep this beast.

Pro Tip #2 – Do confirm the model number before purchasing.

#2 - Makita 10" Compound Miter Saw LS1040

Take home some Japanese tech, get this powerful miter saw under $300.

Miter Saw Review

At 28 pounds, it’s a miter saw that you can carry along with you to job sites. Although lightweight and portable, also owing to its smaller 10-inch blade (than the DeWALT model above), this Makita still packs a punch. It has a top speed of 4,600 RPM and is also one of the safest machines that we have tried.

It uses aluminum to make itself portable, which could cause a concern generally. But there’s nothing to worry about as despite the low weight it does not move around or wobble when you working on it.

The detent meter is not as intuitive as you want it to be, but hey, for the cost, it’s a fine little portable miter saw for home use.

#3 - TACKLIFE 12" Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser PMS03A

Tacklife, an American equipment manufacturer founded in 2015, is a new-age brand known for its stylish design and cutting-edge features. This low-cost sliding miter saw is a perfect example of why beginners should choose Tacklife.

Miter Saw Review

Get performance and satisfaction with this Tacklife 12-inch miter saw under $300. Equipped with a 40-toothed tungsten carbide tipped blade that can run through a variety of materials such as wood, allow, and plastics, this one gives a lot more than ordinary miter saws.

We are talking raw power maximum speed of 3,800 RPM and a maximum depth of 12.99 inches. How crazy is that? While the whole machine weighs a tad higher (55 pounds) than even the DeWALT machine above, we are not complaining. Because it has a wide work table, a 10-feet cable that allows you to keep it away from a wall/socket.

But what really takes the pie here is the double bevel cutting functionality and the manual laser guide. Just switch on the latter when needed and take full control of your woodworking.

And in case you get stuck while using the machine, talk to customer support. By far one of the best technical support we have seen in a mechanical equipment manufacturer.

Best Miter Saws Under $200

Don’t want to spend a lot of money but still want the convenience of an able miter saw? Check out these macho machines.

#4 - WEN MM1011 10" Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw with Laser

Operating in the United States since 1951, WEN is known for its compact design and affordability.

Miter Saw Review

The MM1011 is a compact 10-inch sliding compound miter saw under $200. A compound simply means doing both bevel and miter cuts (usually 45 degrees) on a piece of wood to get a proper cross-cut. This is not possible in most entry-level chop saws, so you would be better off getting this WEN machine.

In addition to the compound functionality, this one also has the following: up to 12 inches of cuts, 9 miter stops (in both directions), a laser guide, two table extensions, and cable extension.

What more do you need in a good cheap miter saw for beginners? Oh, yes, this can also cut through steel plates and aluminum.

#5 - Delta S26-263L Shopmaster 10 Inch Slide Miter Saw with Laser

Delta is an American brand that is more than a century old. It’s a household name in the woodworking field, so you know you are getting the best deal.

Miter Saw Review

Compact and lightweight (weighing roughly 30 pounds), this one easily qualifies in our list of the most inexpensive compound miter saws with laser. The guide is the best we have seen so far, with a manual switch and the ability to adjust (the beam) according to your needs.

But this Delta model stands apart primarily in two ways: one, the electric brake which instantly stops the blade instead of reducing the speed. We feel this is a good addition to generic miter saws that take a few seconds to stop completely.

Secondly, the spindle lock (something that was missing in the WEN model above) adds more glory here. The work table sits quietly and you can work with your pieces without anything getting out of your hand. Talk about precision woodworking, right?

Get this Delta machine if you believe in the brand and want a small yet powerful tool for your chop sawing needs.

#6 - RYOBI 18-Volt ONE+ Cordless 7-1/4 in. Compound Miter Saw (Tool Only) with Blade

Another Japanese brand on this list, Ryobi is known for its compact, easy-to-use tools and the iconic light green color.

Miter Saw Review

When you mean portable, you mean this small miter saw by Ryobi. It runs on 18-volt rechargeable batteries and does a pretty good job at that.

You would think that such a battery-operated miter saw will have low power and dull cuts. But that’s not the case. This 7-1/4 saw does what it is meant to do, with a tilting miter component, and also allows you to carry out compound cuts.

Make sure you keep extra batteries with you and this Ryobi will serve you for years to come. Do keep in mind that there’s no power plug, so if drain your batteries, you are out of luck.

#7 - Genesis GMS1015LC 15-Amp 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw

Genesis is another American brand that has been around 2003 and is usually preferred by home users, DIYers, and beginners. Its cheap miter saws for light-duty projects are true bang for the buck.

Miter Saw Review

The electric brake that we saw in the Delta model above is one of the unique features of this Genesis machine that takes a no-nonsense approach at chop sawing. Take a look at this silver-colored tool and you will know too.

It has a decent speed when cutting, which is accentuated by the 60-toothed 10-inch blade that makes for a clean, more precise cut on the wood squares. There is no support for material other than wood, so you should avoid abusing it.

The die-cast aluminum base is another feature here, which makes it sturdy and allows you comfortable cuts when dealing with large pieces.

Overall, a fine tool when you are on a budget. And the 3-year warranty is another reason.

Best Miter Saws Under $100

They say that when you buy a new tool you should buy the entry-level, cheap model one first. If you like it, you can invest in an advanced one.

Sounds about right? Check out our top pick in the entry-level miter saw range.

#8 - Metabo HPT C10FCGS Compound Miter Saw

Like Delta, Metabo is also nearly 100 years old. But it’s a German brand whose name literally translates to a ‘hand drill’. With Metabo, you get the world-famous German engineering packed with some of the most charming features, all under $100.

Miter Saw Review

This is a mobile miter saw for small jobs that differs from its competition for three main reasons.

It has the highest speed of 5,000 RPM, more than any other model on this list so far. It means that you get better cuts, despite the 24-toothed blade. More chafes but the output is still as precisely cut as you need.

Secondly, the thumb-activated positive stops, which is a wild feature if you ask us. The handle has this small black button (in addition to the start puller) that lets you control the table below. This will save you a lot of time moving the detent plates once you get a hang of it.

It’s also the lightest miter saw on this list far, weighing just around 24 pounds, giving you a lot of portability and control. Metabo truly gets it right about a power tool because this one has everything that a DIY woodworker would need.

Final Verdict

Buying a basic miter saw for when you are starting out should not be difficult. We know that the abundance in choices online can make it difficult. Hence, we created this short guide of the best budget miter saws in the American market right now.

Choose one of the eight great picks on the list and kickstart your woodworking projects. If you are already a DIYer, getting a miter saw will make your life easier and more efficient.

If you are on the fence on any of these tools, we will recommend picking one of the following three. Each is a great tool in its own regard with some notable differences.

• DEWALT 12-Inch Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw (DWS715)

• Makita 10" Compound Miter Saw LS1040

• WEN MM1011 10" Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw with Laser

You can never go wrong with these models that are already used and trusted by real Americans. Buy one today and let us know about your pick in the comments.