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Top tools: Miter saws

Our pick for a 12 in. sliding miter saw for wide boards and trim

Recall: on Aug 4, 2022, the CPSC and DeWalt announced a recall of DWS779, DWS780 and DHS790 miter saws with date codes 2019 04 through 2022 04 that have no green dot on the nameplate and no black dot on the arm, because the rear safety guard can break or detach. The recall covers only those saws, sold April 2019 through May 2022. If you have one, CPSC says to stop using it and contact DeWalt for a free repair kit or service-center repair. See the CPSC notice.

Safety first: read the safety notes before you use one.

DeWalt 12 in. double-bevel sliding compound miter saw, product photo

12 in. sliding miter saw for wide boards and trim

DeWalt 12 in. double-bevel sliding compound miter saw

Model DWS780

Why we picked it

  • Our pick for a miter saw that handles wide boards, crosscuts and trim: a corded 12 in. sliding saw that bevels both ways.
  • TechGearLab bought and tested more than 10 miter saws side by side and named it the best overall, finding it came perfectly calibrated and cut 4x4 lumber easily, with a 13.6 in. cut capacity at 90 degrees.
  • Bob Vila tested it and rated it 5 of 5 for ease of use, performance, build quality and value, cutting a board up to 16 in. wide on its slide rails.
  • Popular Mechanics found its blade made cuts clean enough to glue trim joints without sanding, and its table pivoted easily even when caked with sawdust.

Specs (from the maker)

  • 15 amp corded motor, 3,800 RPM; 12 in. blade (from DeWalt's product page)
  • Double bevel; miters to 60 degrees right and 50 degrees left, with 10 positive stops (from DeWalt's product page)
  • XPS LED shadow cutline; no laser (from DeWalt's product page)
  • Cuts crown up to 7-1/2 in. nested and base up to 6-3/4 in. standing vertical against the fence (from DeWalt's product page)
  • 3-year limited warranty (from DeWalt's product page)

Keep in mind

  • It's heavy and needs room: TechGearLab measured 61.1 lb and over 32 in. wide with the table extensions out, and Bob Vila's tester called it heavy at 58 lb; the sliding rails also need clearance behind the saw.

Where to buy

More to keep in mind, and what the sources found (below)

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Photo credits
  • DeWalt 12 in. double-bevel sliding compound miter saw: Image: DEWALT product image

Before you use one

Read the manual first. DeWalt’s manual says to clamp any workpiece that would put your hand within 6 in. of the blade, to hold the work firmly against the fence and table, and never to cut freehand (DeWalt). Never cross your arms in front of the blade, and make a dry run with the saw off before you cut (DeWalt). Turn the saw off and let the blade stop completely before you move the work, change a setting or move your hands (DeWalt). Unplug it before you change the blade (DeWalt). Wear eye and hearing protection (DeWalt). Our shop safety essentials cover the basics.

More on DeWalt 12 in. double-bevel sliding compound miter saw

Keep in mind

  • Pro Tool Reviews, TechGearLab and Popular Mechanics all found the dust bag doesn't catch much; plan on connecting a shop vacuum.
  • It's a lot of saw for occasional small cuts; TechGearLab says it may be overkill if you only cut trim now and then.

What the sources found

  • TechGearLab: The best miter saws, tested (independent test, updated Feb 24, 2026; checked ): Bought more than 10 miter saws and tested them side by side for cut quality, capacity, usability and dust collection. Named the DWS780 the best overall: it came perfectly calibrated, cut 4x4 lumber easily, measured 4,050 RPM and cut 13.6 in. at 90 degrees, but it's over 60 lb and large. The site says it buys every product it tests and may earn a commission from links.
  • TechGearLab: DeWalt DWS780 review (independent test, Dec 12, 2023; checked ): Isaac Laredo's full test review: an easy miter adjustment, a shadow cutline, a measured weight of 61.1 lb, and dust collection about average with a vacuum but poor with the supplied bag, whose curtain got pulled into the port. The site says it buys every product it tests and may earn a commission from links.
  • Bob Vila: The best miter saws, tested (independent test, Feb 19, 2026; checked ): Hands-on test of miter saws. Rated the DWS780 5 of 5 for ease of use, performance, build quality and value; its rails let the tester cut a board up to 16 in. wide, though they need room, and it has an LED but no laser. The tester called it a heavy workhorse. The page says it uses affiliate links.
  • Popular Mechanics: DeWalt DWS780 miter saw review (independent review, Mar 10, 2022; checked ): Bradley Ford found the blade cut trim joints tight enough to glue without sanding, the table pivoted easily even caked with sawdust, and the LED cutline sped up accurate cuts; the sawdust collector fills quickly. The page says it may earn a commission from links.
  • Pro Tool Reviews: DeWalt DWS780 miter saw review (independent review, Oct 24, 2012; checked ): Clint DeBoer used it installing hardwood floors and a tongue-and-groove ceiling. Found the XPS shadow cutline very useful and visible even in direct sunlight, but the dust tube clogged often and the dust collection was far from DeWalt's claim. We didn't see an affiliate notice on the review page.
  • DeWalt: DWS780 12 in. double-bevel sliding compound miter saw (maker spec page, no date shown; checked ): Lists a 15 amp, 3,800 RPM motor, the XPS cutline, miters to 60 degrees right and 50 degrees left with 10 positive stops, crown up to 7-1/2 in. nested and base up to 6-3/4 in. vertical, over 75% dust capture and a 3-year limited warranty.
  • DeWalt: DWS780 instruction manual (maker guide, no date shown; checked ): DeWalt's manual: clamp work that would put your hand within 6 in. of the blade, never cut freehand, never cross your arms in front of the blade, let the blade stop before moving the work or your hands, unplug the saw before changing the blade, and wear eye and hearing protection.
  • CPSC: DeWALT recalls more than 1.2 million miter saws (safety authority, Aug 4, 2022; checked ): Recall of DWS779, DWS780 and DHS790 saws with date codes 2019 04 through 2022 04, except those with a green dot on the nameplate or a black dot on the arm: the rear safety guard can break or detach. CPSC says to stop using affected saws; DeWalt offers a free repair kit or free repair at a service center. About 1,253,741 were sold in the U.S.

How we picked

We didn't hands-on test these. We picked it by reading independent tests and reviews (TechGearLab, Bob Vila, Popular Mechanics and Pro Tool Reviews), checking DeWalt's spec page and manual, and checking the price at Home Depot and Amazon. Every pick has at least three independent sources from at least two different outlets, including at least one independent test or review. They're all linked with the pick, along with what each one found. We also searched the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database on Oct 25, 2026 and found a 2022 recall that covers some DWS780 saws; it's noted at the top of this page and with the pick. Prices, review counts and links were last checked on ; prices and stock change, so check the store before you buy.

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Some outlets we cite get review samples from tool makers; we don't use pieces a maker paid for or sponsored.

We pick tools from independent tests and reviews, not our own testing.