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I recently tested five DeWalt miter saws in various sizes, power options, and price points. Of those tested, the DWS780, a cordless 12-inch double-bevel saw with a sliding arm, earned the honor of being the best DeWalt miter saw of the bunch.
Don’t get me wrong—every DeWalt miter saw I tested excelled in its own way, but the DWS780 is robust, precise, and comes with user-friendly features designed to speed the project along while keeping the user safe. I cut dimensional lumber, oversize boards, and trim boards. The DWS780 didn’t miss a beat. Ahead, read my complete DeWalt DWS780 review and discover the one small tweak I think DeWalt could make to improve this dynamo even more.
DeWalt DWS780 Miter Saw: At a Glance
Rating: 4.9/5
Specs
- Power: Corded
- Blade diameter: 12 inches
- Cutting capacity: 14 inches
- Light: Yes
- Bevel: Double, 49 degrees
- Miter: Double 50/60 degrees
- Weight: 58 pounds
- Dust mitigation: Yes
What We Like
- Highly accurate XPS crosscut positioning system
- Versatile; cuts both large-dimension and small boards
- Positive detents for common cutting angles
- Cuts bevels and miters in both directions
- Nice dust collection system
- Adjustable stainless steel fences
What We Don’t Like
- On the heavy side at 58 pounds
Get the DeWalt DWS780 miter saw at:
What is the DeWalt DWS780 miter saw?
The DWS780 is a standout in DeWalt’s line of pro-quality miter saws. It features a powerful 15-amp motor that cuts at 3,800 revolutions per minute. This is a double-bevel saw, meaning the head tilts both to the right and left to cut bevels through the board’s thickness. It’s also a miter saw as it makes angled crosscuts in the material.
The term “compound” means being able to cut a bevel at the same time you’re cutting a mitered angle. As if that wasn’t enough, the DWS780 also comes with a sliding arm, which increases the tool’s cutting capacity. With the sliding feature, it’s possible to cut wider boards—up to 2x14s, although the widest I cut was a 2×10.
I cut several types of boards and trim on the DWS780, and this is a workhorse of a saw. It’s heavy at 58 pounds, so I wouldn’t classify it as portable, but it could be transported to a job or project site and mounted, where it would easily serve as the most important saw on the job.
Power and Precision
I love the high-capacity batteries DeWalt has recently been turning out; they’re beyond powerful. However, if I’m going to use a miter saw all day on a jobsite, I still prefer a corded model like the DWS780. This miter saw is versatile enough to be used through all project construction stages, from framing to finish trim, so I was happy to see it came with a cord.
The saw’s miter scale is made from stainless steel and has positive detents at the most common angles used in carpentry (0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, 45, and 60 degrees). Adjusting the angle was as easy as pressing the miter lever and rotating the arm to one side or the other. It clicked into place as it reached the detents, but I could also set it at custom angles and use the lever to lock it in place. The bevel angle adjusts via a standard knob at the back of the saw.
DeWalt knocked it out of the park with the DWS780’s XPS crosscut positioning system. This might be my favorite feature on the saw. The XPS system uses a shadow line instead of a laser guideline, which is much more accurate. I’ve seen laser lines in the past that were slightly off, but the XPS system uses the blade itself to cast a sharp shadow line on the material. This makes it simple to make highly accurate cuts.
Dust Collection Capabilities
The DeWalt compound miter saw has a good dust collection system. I was able to hook up the hose of my shop vacuum and substantially reduce airborne dust. Alternatively, I could attach a small dust bag that comes with the saw, and it also reduced the level of dust, but not quite as much.
This is where I would like to make one suggestion to DeWalt. The DWS780 features two flexible fins at the back of the cutting table that serve as the dust intake. The problem is that the suction on the saw is so powerful that it pulls the flexible fins together, which narrows (slightly) the dust intake port. Making those dust-intake fins out of a more sturdy material might go a long way toward keeping them from trying to close. Still, that’s a minor issue, and I found the dust collection system to be one of the best I’ve seen on a miter saw to date.
Features and Versatility
A few other features of the DeWalt 12-inch double-bevel sliding miter saw also caught my attention. The adjustable stainless steel fences slide easily and lock firmly into place. Best of all, they’re taller than standard miter saw fences, making it possible to cut nested crown trim up to 7.5 inches wide and vertical baseboards up to 6.75 inches wide.
The safety features are also well designed. The blade guard rotates up and out of the way, which is standard on a miter saw, but this guard has perforations along the edge, which make it easier to see the blade when cutting. Pros have been known to remove blade guards or push them up and out of the way while cutting, but that’s not necessary with the DWS780 because the perforations in the guard, combined with the XPS system, make it easy to see the exact cutline.
Other handy features include being able to lock the sliding arm in the down position for transportation. I also found a neat little spot on the safety trigger where I could insert a small padlock to prevent unauthorized use of the saw.
Cost Considerations
The DeWalt DWS miter saw currently sells for $549 on Amazon and at other popular retailers. From my research, that’s a competitive price for a top-end miter saw. It’s less expensive than a similar Bosch model we previously tried out while testing miter saws, but it’s pricier than budget-friendly saws like Ryobi and Craftsman.
The price of the DWS780 seems right. It’s a robust saw with high-end features, especially its XPS positioning system, and it will make a variety of cuts. It’s almost sure to be the most-used saw on a project. Is it the best sliding miter saw? That all depends on how you plan to use it.
Is the DeWalt DWS780 miter saw right for you?
The DWS780 is an excellent pick for anyone who needs a highly accurate saw for everything from framing lumber to intricate trim work. Its XPS positioning system uses the blade to make a cutline so it won’t go out of alignment as some laser guides will.
This miter saw is well suited for contractors and serious DIYers who work on large projects where the DWS780 can be set up and used for the duration of the project. It’s priced competitively and it’s corded, so as long as there’s an outlet, you’ll have precise and accurate cutting power.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a truly portable miter saw, this might not be the best pick. It weighs 56 pounds, which is on the heavy side if you plan to transport it frequently.
This is one nice miter saw, however, and I recommend taking it to the jobsite and mounting it to a workbench where it can be used to make many of the cuts needed for construction and finish work.
Where to Buy the DeWalt DWS780 Miter Saw
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a product tester and writer who specializes in the construction, remodeling, and real estate industries. She and her husband own a general contracting company, and Taylor is experienced in both residential and commercial building applications. She tests a wide range of power tools as well as other home improvement, household, and lawn-and-garden products.
