Accurate crosscuts, mitres & bevels are quick & easy with a compound mitre saw. Jobs ranging from decking & bespoke joinery to picture frames & mouldings are all doable without fuss or sweat.
What is a Mitre Saw?
A mitre saw is used to make crosscuts, mitres & bevels by positioning a mounted & pivoted circular saw across the workpiece. A variety of controls and adjustments make both straight cuts and angles possible.
- The basic mitre saw is one step up from a chop saw. Where a chop saw is only capable of making 90° cross-cuts (see diagram), a mitre saw will do this and can make a mitre cut (see diagram) at any given angle. A chop saw is undoubtedly a useful bit of kit but is effectively redundant once you own a mitre saw. In short, only buy a chop saw if you have very specific needs. Otherwise, opt for a mitre saw – this is a very versatile tool that’s accurate, quick and easy to use.
- A compound mitre saw does everything a standard mitre saw can do, plus it can be tilted to make bevel cuts (see diagram). As an example, a bevel cut is needed for skirting board corners while a mitre is the right join for a picture frame. A compound cut is simply a combination of the two. The need for a compound cut is less frequent, but both mitre & bevel cuts are very useful – whichever model you buy, make sure it can do both.
- The sliding crosscut mitre saw adds yet more flexibility. In addition to moving up & down, the saw blade also slides. This is very useful, as it means you can cut much wider boards.
Best Mitre Saw UK
Accuracy, power, blade size, dust extraction, durability, build quality & safety features are the seven key factors we use to compare & evaluate mitre saws.
Specification & price vary enormously with the top end trade saws costing over a grand. As these models are beyond most people’s budget, we’ve constrained our research to mitre saws under £400.
Clearly, what’s important is finding the right model for the tasks you have planned.
Start with the size of material you want to cut. High capacity models will also cut smaller items, but this doesn’t work the other way around. Having a quality saw that’s too small for the job is very frustrating. Big is usually better. However, a mitre saw capable of handling large cuts can be tricky to store, heavy to move and tends to cost more.
Once you own a cross-cut mitre saw, you wouldn’t dream of being without it. Speed & accuracy make it a joy to use. Choose from the recommendations below to find the right model for your plans & budget…
Budget Mitre Saw [BEST SELLER]
Evolution R210CMS
The Evolution R210CMS is small, lightweight and perfect for numerous jobs. This model is reasonably powerful, comes with a multipurpose blade and best of all – it’s very affordable.
Complete with a multipurpose blade, it’s good for carpenters, builders and landscapers alike. However, if you’re planning a big decking project, laminate flooring or similar, do check the size of your timber. The maximum crosscut is 125mm.
The supplied saw blade can also handle copper pipes, aluminium channelling and steel ducting. It’s truly versatile. The specification matches this mitre saw to trade but the price makes it a perfect choice for DIY too.
This is much more than a basic chop saw. It will quickly and accurately square off numerous materials at 90°, it’s also capable of precise mitre and bevel cuts.
The Evolution R210CMS mitre saw is lightweight, easy to use, compact and designed to handle a variety of materials. Plus, it’s usually available for under £100.
SPECIFICATION: MAX CROSS CUT 125×55 | MAX MITRE CUT 125×55 | MAX BEVEL CUT 85×35 | POWER 1200w (110v & 220v – 240v) | BLADE SIZE 210mm | NO LOAD SPEED 3750 rpm | WEIGHT 5.8kg | SIZE H260 x W393 x L381mm | NOISE 110dB | WARRANTY 3 Years
Evolution R210CMS | Verdict Price £85
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Best Sliding Mitre Saw [BEST BUY]
Dewalt DWS774-GB
The Dewalt DWS774-GB sliding mitre saw is powerful, compact & accurate. The small footprint and clever design features, such as XPS, make this professional-level kit a joy to use.
The rigid fence & base coupled with precise controls allow you to make accurate cuts easily and quickly. Adding to this is the clever Dewalt XPS shadow cut indicator. A light illuminates your workpiece with a precise shadow showing the cutline.
The compact dimensions of this Dewalt mitre saw, allow it to sit comfortably on a workbench and it’s portable too. The robust design means that it’s not the lightest mitre saw, but the two handles make it easy to move, use and store anywhere. (the handles are a great upgrade to the earlier model, that’s used in the Verum workshop!).
There’s everything to like about the Dewalt DWS774-GB. It’s a great mitre saw for use on-site, in a workshop or for any DIYer who’s looking for professional results.
SPECIFICATION: MAX CROSS CUT 250×62 | MAX MITRE CUT 173×62 | MAX BEVEL CUT 190×48 | POWER (220v – 240v) 1400w | BLADE SIZE 216mm | NO LOAD SPEED 6300 rpm | WEIGHT 12kg | SIZE H590 x D550 x L490mm | NOISE 104dB | WARRANTY 3 Years
Dewalt DWS774-GB | Verdict Price £399
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Sliding Mitre Saw for Large Material
255mm Evolution R255SMS+
The Evolution R255SMS+ is a powerful, all-purpose, sliding compound mitre saw.
The specification and user evaluations draw comparisons to much more expensive models – this is a great piece of kit, capable of handling large material, at a very affordable price.
This mitre saw will cut 300mm boards to a depth of 80mm – This makes it the right choice for numerous woodworking tasks from decking through to skirting boards, flooring and alike. Plus, this size of cut makes it appropriate for construction timber.
Similar to the smaller Evolution saw recommended above, this model comes complete with a blade designed to cut wood, plastic, aluminium, copper and steel.
A multi-material blade has lots of benefits, especially if you work with reclaimed wood. Should you hit a nail with a dedicated woodcutter, at best you’ll damage the blade but with this saw blade, no problem.
If you need to cut stone or unglazed tiles, simply swap in a diamond-edged blade (available separately).
Looking for negatives, the laser guide could be brighter. However, clamp the material carefully & you’re guaranteed an accurate cut, every time.
If you plan to work with large materials, the Evolution R255SMS+ compares well to models costing twice the price. It’s a great mitre saw that’s also excellent value for money.
SPECIFICATION: MAX CROSS CUT 300×80 | MAX MITRE CUT 210×80 | MAX BEVEL CUT 300×45 | POWER (220v – 240v) 2000w or (110v) 1600w | BLADE SIZE 255mm | NO LOAD SPEED 2500 rpm | WEIGHT 15.3kg | SIZE H360 x W705 x L730mm | NOISE 109dB | WARRANTY 3 Years
Evolution R255SMS+ | Verdict Price £180
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Cordless Mitre Saw
Ryobi EMS190DC
The best small cordless mitre saw is the Ryobi EMS190DC. Compact & lightweight, this model is portable & affordable. And while it’s these qualities that make it stand out, what’s important is that it’s perfect for accurate, cross, mitre, bevel & compound cuts.
At less than 8kg, it’s easy to carry and the joy of it being cordless makes all the difference. It uses the excellent, Ryobi One+ battery system. A 5Ah battery will give you approaching 200 cuts between charges.
Cordless freedom and the compact design mean you can use this saw, right where you’re working. The cross-cut capacity of 38mm x 108mm makes it the right choice for skirting, architrave, picture frames, nogging pieces and even decking boards.
This cordless Ryobi mitre saw is a great piece of kit for anyone who needs accurate cuts coupled with cordless freedom.
SPECIFICATION: MAX CROSS CUT 108×45 | MAX MITRE CUT 76×35 | MAX BEVEL CUT 108×34 | POWER 18V Ryobi One+ | BLADE SIZE 190mm | NO LOAD SPEED 4200 rpm | WEIGHT 7.9kg | NOISE 103dB | WARRANTY 3 Years
Ryobi EMS190DC | Verdict Price £169
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Buyers Guide
How to Use a Mitre Saw Safely
A power saw is simple and safe to use by following the manufacturer’s precautions and instructions. Here are the Top 5 rules:
- Unplug the saw when it’s not in use and when you’re making adjustments
- Use ear and eye protection. A mask and gloves are also of value
- Make sure the material is firmly clamped and aligned before starting the motor
- Keep your fingers well away from the blade
- Allow the blade to stop turning at the end of each cut BEFORE lifting
Choosing the Right Mitre Saw Blade
Starting with the basics, make sure a new blade fits in terms of bore size and external diameter. There’s a huge amount of detailed information regarding blade design. Base your blade choice on two principal factors – the material you’re cutting and the required quality of finish you desire.
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UK VERDICT
The Evolution R210CMS is our best seller. And, for good reason. It’s perfect for small materials, portable, easy to use and great value for money. Plus, the multipurpose blade makes it a good choice for a wide variety of tasks.
The Evolution R255SMS+ is the right model for cutting larger materials.
For performance, accuracy and value, the Dewalt DWS774-GB is our overall BEST BUY. It’s robust, precise and reasonably compact. The XPS positioning is worth having and although a small detail, the handles make it easy to move, position & store.
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