The first-big-tool decision, answered by what you actually plan to build.
Verdict
They do different jobs and most shops end up with both. The table saw rips boards to width and handles sheet goods, which nothing else does well. The miter saw crosscuts to length quickly and accurately, which a table saw does slowly. Buy the table saw first if you are building furniture or working with plywood; buy the miter saw first if you are doing trim, framing or decking.
~$650
Check DeWalt DWE7491RS Table Saw Price| DeWalt DWE7491RS Table Saw | DeWalt DWS715 Miter Saw | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary cut | Rip, along the grain | Crosscut, across the grain |
| Sheet goods | Yes, with support | No |
| Repeat length cuts | Slower, needs a sled | Fast and accurate |
| Joinery | Dados, rabbets, tenons | Very limited |
| Footprint | Large, needs space around it | Small, sits against a wall |
| Safety | Highest-risk shop tool | Safer, but still serious |
You are building furniture, cabinets or anything from plywood. A table saw is the only tool that rips a board to a precise width repeatably, and almost all furniture work starts with that cut. It also does joinery a miter saw cannot touch.
Check DeWalt DWE7491RS Table Saw on Amazon
You are trimming out a room, framing, building a deck or cutting a lot of stock to length. A miter saw does that faster and more accurately than a table saw, takes far less space, and is much less intimidating to learn on.
Check DeWalt DWS715 Miter Saw on Amazon
For breaking down sheet goods, largely yes, and it is safer and needs less space. For narrow rips and joinery a table saw still wins. Many small shops now run a track saw and a miter saw and skip the table saw entirely.
The table saw, by a wide margin, because of kickback. Learn to use a riving knife, push sticks and featherboards before anything else, and never freehand a cut.
Consider the space around it, not just the tool. A table saw needs clear room on all four sides to handle a full sheet, which is often the real constraint in a one-car garage.
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these units side by side. Confirm current prices and specifications before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.