Best Mitre Saw Australia (2023 Buyers Guide)

As you know, the best mitre saw isn’t a simple one size fits all solution.

If you just want to do some DIY around the house you don’t need the same state of the art equipment as when you’re a working professional who plans to use his new mitre saw every day for hours on end.

With power tools like these, you will notice that more expensive is often better. So if it’s just for the occasional home use, the budget option might already be enough. But if you constantly have large-scale projects coming up, spending more will be better in the long run.

Below, you’ll find a combination of both budget and best-in-line options. These mitre saws were carefully reviewed and tested by experts, alongside dozens of others who didn’t make the cut. Whichever mitre saw best fits your personal needs, you’re sure to get a great quality product!

How to Choose the Right Mitre Saw?

If you are a professional just looking to upgrade your arsenal with the next best mitre saw then you can go ahead and skip this section. You can straight away go to those mitre saw reviews.

But if you’re not that experienced, or just want to brush up your knowledge a bit, then we’d recommend you read this section first.

Know Your Cuts

Let’s start with the very basics and go through the types of cuts you can make. After all, a mitre saw is named after the type of cut it makes: A mitre cut.

There are different types of cuts you can make with a saw:

• Rip cuts are straight cuts that go along the woodgrain.
• Crosscuts are straight cuts that go across the woodgrain.
• Mitre cuts are 45-degree cuts. Two of these cuts together create a 90-degree angle, called a mitre joint.
• Bevelled cuts are angled cuts made at the edge of the material that are not perpendicular to the face of the material.
• Chamfer cuts are similar to bevelled cuts that they are at the end of the material. Chamfer cuts are often 45-degree angled cuts between two joined right-angled faces.
• Compound cuts are a combination of mitre cuts and bevelled cuts.

Mitre saw vs. Chop saw vs. Drop saw

While we’re talking terminology. You might have heard the terms chop saw and drop saw used before as well. They are often used interchangeably, although there are slight differences.

A chop saw is generally larger and more powerful than a mitre saw, but it can only cut straight down at a 90-degree angle. This saw is sometimes called an abrasive saw (1). A mitre saw, on the other hand, can rotate and cut in different angles (mitre cuts).

So where a chop saw is more for brute force to chop down any type of material, a mitre saw is more used for precision work.

The term drop saw is also often used, but this can refer to either a chop saw or a mitre saw. A drop saw simply refers to a saw that you dropdown. So if you’re looking for the best drop saw or drop saw reviews, then you’re in the right place!

Types of Mitre Saws

There are five main categories of mitre saws.

• Hand mitre saw
  The first is the original hand mitre saw, which was before the invention of power tools. This was simply a normal saw used together with a mitre box. A mitre box is a plastic or wooden box that contains 45-degree and 90-degree slits to help you make a mitre cut in a piece of material.
• Powered standard mitre saw
  This is the most basic powered mitre saw. It lets you make straight crosscuts in a piece of material.
• Stationary compound mitre saw
  As the name suggests, a compound mitre saw allows you to tilt the blade at different angles so you can create both mitre and bevel cuts.
• Dual compound mitre saw
  A dual compound mitre saw is similar to the stationary compound mitre saw. It has the added benefit that it allows you to rotate the head when at an angle on both the right side and the left side. This way, you can saw through your piece of material at any given angle.
• Sliding compound mitre saw
  This is the most versatile of all mitre saws, as it also allows you to cut both larger and smaller pieces of material. A sliding compound mitre saw is positioned on a rail, on which you can slide the saw head back and forth. This way, you can easily adjust according to the size of your material.

Important Features to Look For

Now you know a bit more about the types of mitre saws, let’s have a quick look at some common features and how they might benefit you.

• Laser guide or LED light
  

Some mitre saws come with a laser beam that marks the path of your blade on the material, helping you see exactly where you are going to cut.

This can really increase your accuracy while sawing, but do bear in mind that it’s not always 100% perfect and the laser can be hard to see when using it outside.

Alternatively, some mitre saws use a simple LED light that shines down on the blade and the material. This way you can see the shadow of the blade on the material and use that as guidance. Although less sophisticated than a laser, you do know for sure the shadow will always be accurate.

• Cordless mitre saws

Cordless mitre saws are growing in popularity for obvious reasons, but do remember that a mitre saw uses a lot of energy. If you use your mitre saw for hours on end every day, you’re probably better off sticking to a normal mitre saw.

You can still get a cordless one though, for example, if you don’t have access to a power outlet, but then we do advise you to purchase additional batteries for backup power on the go.

But if you only use your mitre saw every now and then, and only for an hour or two each time, then a cordless mitre saw can be a perfect solution.

Dust Port and Bag

You know how messy working with a mitre saw can get. This might not be a problem if you’re working outside, but if you’re cutting indoors you want a dust extractor.
And not just because of the mess. Dust flying around can be a serious health and safety hazard for you and everyone around you (2). A dust port and bag protect you from this.

Knowing how do I choose a miter saw? will help you to choose the right one for yourself.

Blade Cutting Capacity

The size of your blade and the ability to slide it both impact your blade’s cutting capacity. What size you need depends on the type of work you’re planning on doing with your mitre saw.

Mitre saw blades tend to range between 7-¼-inch and 12-inch diameters. Generally speaking, the larger the blade, the larger the piece of material you can cut with it. For personal use around the house, a smaller diameter will probably do just fine.

But if you need to cut pillars and other large materials, you’re better off with a 12-inch blade.

6 Best Mitre Saw Reviews Australia

Now you know a bit more about the different types of mitre saws and what benefits to look for you’re ready to choose the best drop saw to fit your personal needs.

This is the Best Mitre Saw. It’s powerful and accurate, using this saw will make your work with ease. Glides through cuts like butter and very little breakout.

You also won’t get caught out if you have to work away from a power source. No generator needed, no 110v cables, and no heavy transformer. Just make sure to have spare batteries and keep them charged. The battery life is surprisingly long.

Pro Tip: Buy the highest AH battery. We recommend 5AH or above.

With a household name like Bosch, you know you simply can’t go wrong. And with the Bosch GCM 8 SJL sliding mitre saw they deliver just what you expect.

This high-end sliding mitre saw easily adjusts to the size of your piece of material by sliding it back and forth. This makes it a very versatile piece of equipment. It further comes with an improved dust management system to ensure clean use (whilst taking care of your health as well).

Another great feature is the integrated laser to guarantee precise sawing. The 216-millimetre blade and sleek (yet robust) design add to this saw’s relatively low weight of 17 kilograms (considering it’s a professional-grade, sliding mitre saw).

This is great for maximum mobility when you need to carry your Bosch mitre saw to a job or project.

Lastly, this sliding mitre saw reviews are nothing short of raving, with an excellent five-out-of-five star rating on Amazon from previous customers.

Best suited for:

As the name suggests this is a professional-grade mitre saw, which you will also see reflected in the price. That said, if you are a working professional using this mitre saw every day, it is definitely worth every penny.

If you need a mitre saw that does the trick but doesn’t break the bank then this is your go-to option. But don’t think budget means bad.

Its Japanese tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) blade seamlessly cuts through a wide variety of materials, including wood, steel, and aluminium. This makes it a great multi-material solution.

Precise angle setting is easy to ensure accuracy, while the quick click mitre stop function stops the blade as soon as you’re done to ensure safety. 

Another top feature of this mitre saw is that it weighs only 5.8 kilograms and is incredibly compact. This means you can easily move it around or store it away if you’re not using it.

Best suited for:

With high performance for a low price, the Evolution Power Tools R210CMS compound mitre saw gives you great value for your money. That said, it isn’t the best option if you’re a professional who needs to use their mitre saw every day for heavy-duty projects.

Instead, we’d recommend this mitre saw more to DIYers or people who need it for the occasional job.

If you really have some heavy-dutyprofessional-grade work to do on a regular basis, then the DEWALT DWS715 compound mitre saw is probably your best bet.

If you’re a professional who has worked with mitre saws before you will be familiar with the brand and its reputation already. Their high-quality products are renowned for being extremely durable and they offer best-in-class precision for every job.

The DWS715 definitely lives up to that reputation, resulting in a 5 star rating based on over 2,500 customer reviews!

Some of the brilliant features include the powerful 4,000 RPM motor for getting through even the toughest materials, the tall sliding fences for maximum customisation, and the stainless-steel base for lifetime value.

It further comes with a dust bag to keep both your lungs and your workspace clean and dust-free. Finally, the large 305-millimetre blade and the 14 positive detent stops ensure you can get any job done on this beast of a mitre saw.

Best suited for:

Professionals who want a compound mitre saw that will stand the test of time and are willing to pay a little extra for that guarantee.

Do you want to have the freedom to use your sliding mitre saw anywhere you like, even when there are no power sources available? Do you want this at an affordable price?

Then the Ryobi R18MS216-0 One Plus cordless sliding mitre saw might just be the mitre saw for you. 

Aside from it being cordless and reasonably priced, the Ryobi comes with a cast aluminium base for a durable cutting surface. The forward sliding motion of the tool allows it to sit flat against walls, and the handy laser lets you cut anything with perfect precision.

Do note that this is not a compound mitre saw, which means the angles you can use it in are limited.

Best suited for:

People who are specifically looking for an affordable cordless sliding mitre saw so they can use it without having to be near a power outlet.

If you want the best, highest-quality cordless mitre saw for professional use, then nothing beats the DEWALT DCS361M1.

Not only is it cordless, but with a compact 184-millimetre blade, a foldable design, and a weight of just 14.3 kilograms this mitre saw is incredibly portable as well. But don’t worry. Just because it’s portable doesn’t mean you have to settle for less power or performance.

From the durable stainless steel base to handy adjustability features like the bevel scale or the integrated XPS crosscut positioning system. The DEWALT DCS361M1 combines compact design with high-class performance.

Best suited for:

Whereas the Ryobi is great for DIYers, the DEWALT DCS361M1 cordless compound mitre saw is better for professionals who don’t mind spending a bit more in exchange for one of the best mitre saws on the market.

Verdict: The Best Mitre Saws

After careful review, the Makita 36V (18Vx2) 190mm Cordless Brushless Slide Compound Saw came out on top as the best overall mitre saw.

This is mostly because it combines professional-grade materials and features, as well as one of the most reputable brands in the business, with an affordable price. This makes it a great pick for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts.

If you are specifically looking for a cordless mitre saw we highly recommend the DEWALT DCS361M1 cordless compound mitre saw. It is on the pricey side, but it’s just such an amazing and high-quality product that you know you will be set for life if you choose to buy this mitre saw.