RYOBI P553 Miter Saw Review: 18V Battery Power for Cordless Cutting

P553 Overview

The RYOBI P553 is a Miter Saw priced at $239, rated 4.5/5 by 391 buyers.

Cordless miter saw ownership means moving the saw where the cut is, not moving stock to a fixed station.

RYOBI P553 makes that easier with an 18 Volts battery-powered layout and a 7-1/4 in. blade. The smaller blade size is the key trade-off here, since it favors portability over wider single-pass cuts.

We screened 71 Miter Saws and selected 15 for full review. P553 earned that spot with 391 buyer ratings, the 15th most of the 71 screened. Full reviews go to the most-rated products that pass screening, at most 2 per brand. This review is for you if you want a cordless saw and can work within a compact blade format.

Consider the detailed spec breakdown for the Bosch CM10GD for heavy-duty tasks.

The Short Answer on the P553

Best for: you want a cordless miter saw with a 7-1/4 in. blade and a 45-degree bevel for lighter trim work.

Choose the P553 if portability matters more than wider cut capacity, and expect to pay around $239.

• Pro: The 7-1/4 in. blade size keeps the saw in the compact cordless class.
• Pro: Its 45-degree bevel range supports the angled cuts used for crown and casing work.
• Pro: At 19 pounds, it is easier to move than many heavier saws in this category.
• Con: The 7-1/4 in. blade limits crosscut capacity, so wider boards are more likely to need a different saw.
• Con: The bare-tool package leaves out a battery, so you need an 18V setup before it can run.

Don’t buy this if: you need a 12-inch sliding miter saw for wider stock or baseboard cuts in one pass.

Price assessment: $239 is fair for a cordless saw with this blade size and bevel range.

You can find a guide to the best sliding miter saw for larger cuts.

Full Specifications for This Miter Saw

Bevel range separates this P553 most clearly. It measures how far the saw head tilts sideways for angled cuts.

Before You Buy: Mitre Saw Checklist

The first thing to check is the cut style you need, because this RYOBI P553 is cordless and uses a 7-1/4 in. blade. That size favors compact cuts, not wide stock in one pass.

• ☐ Confirm your crown and casing work fits a 45 Degrees bevel — the saw tilts one way only, so compound cuts can slow down if you need the opposite direction.
• ☐ Check that your trim and framing stock fit a 7-1/4 in. blade — wider material may need a different saw, or you will be left with incomplete crosscuts.
• ☐ Measure the weight you are willing to move — 19 Pounds means easier carrying than heavier saws, but it still shapes how often you will lift and reposition it.
• ☐ Budget for battery use — Battery Powered means you can work away from an outlet, but you will need charged packs instead of a corded setup.
• ☐ Confirm you want a bare-tool purchase — Included Components: Bare-Tool means batteries and charger are not part of the listing, so you may have to buy them separately.

Do not buy this saw if you need repeated compound cuts in both bevel directions or wider crosscuts than a 7-1/4 in. platform usually supports.

What These Specifications Let You Do

What Cordless 18-volt Power Lets You Do

P553 is cordless and runs on 18 volts, so you can move it to a driveway, garage, or jobsite without a cord in the way. That battery setup suits quick setup and repeated repositioning better than a fixed outlet location.

The bare-tool package means you need a compatible battery and charger before the saw is ready to cut. That trade-off favors you if you already own the same 18V platform, because the saw itself stays lighter and simpler to carry between cuts.

What a 7-1/4 in. Blade Means for Cutting

P553 uses a 7-1/4 in. blade, which places it in the compact miter saw class rather than the wider 10-inch or 12-inch formats. That size is the right fit for trim work and smaller stock, while standard 2x lumber can still be part of the job when the cut length and setup stay within a compact saw’s limits.

The 45 Degrees cutting angle gives you the bevel range needed for the common angled cuts used on crown and casing. For an inside corner on crown molding, that means you can handle the easier end of that job without moving to a larger bevel range, but more demanding compound work still deserves a wider-angle saw.

Lightweight Build

P553 weighs 19 pounds, so you can carry it between rooms or store it on a shelf without much strain. That weight favors an upgrader who wants a portable saw for trim, punch-list work, and occasional site moves.

The 19-pound figure also makes this saw easier to set on a bench where you need frequent repositioning for short cuts. Plastic and metal in the body keep the build straightforward, but the weight does not tell you anything about cut width, so the blade size remains the more important limit for stock size.

The P553 Against Similar Miter Saws

The P553’s clearest edge is portability: it is cordless, weighs 19 pounds, and uses a 7-1/4 in. blade with a 45 Degrees bevel range. That blade size is the compact end of this category, so it favors lighter handling over the wider crosscuts a larger saw can cover.

• Against the RYOBI 7-1/4-Inch Sliding Miter Saw, the P553 is $0.01 more expensive, so price is essentially a tie. The real difference is form factor: the P553 is cordless, while that model is a sliding saw with a 12 in. blade.
• Against the Ryobi EMS190DCL Miter Saw, the P553 shares the same 45 Degrees bevel range. The P553’s 7-1/4 in. blade is the more compact option, which suits smaller trim and easier carrying.
• Against the WEN MM1015 Miter Saw, the P553 is $6.10 more expensive. WEN’s 10-inch blade gives it the wider blade format, so it is the better pick if you want more capacity from the blade side of the decision.
• Against the CRAFTSMAN V20 CMCS714M1, the P553 is lighter at 19 pounds versus 31 pounds. If you move the saw often, that weight gap matters more than the matching 45 Degrees bevel on the P553.
• Against the DEWALT DWS713R Miter Saw, the P553 is $10 cheaper. DEWALT’s 10-inch blade gives it the larger blade size, so choose that one if blade diameter matters more than price.
• Across the six similar models listed here, the P553 ranks second on buyer rating, with a 4.5 average from 391 ratings. That places it behind the highest-rated option without changing the blade-size trade-off.

Choose the CRAFTSMAN V20 CMCS714M1 instead if you want a larger blade format and do not mind the 31-pound weight. Choosing the wrong blade size can force a second cut on wider stock, which costs time and can mean a return or a rebuild.

If you need more power, view our full review of the Hitachi C10FCH2.

Setting Up This Miter Saw, and What Support Covers

Getting the P553 ready to cut

The P553 needs an 18-volt battery before it can do any work.

1. Charge and fit an 18-volt battery, since the saw is battery powered.
2. Confirm that the blade diameter is 7-1/4 in. before you mount or replace a miter saw blade.
3. Set the bevel to 45 degrees for angled cuts, including crown molding work at the easier end of that range.
4. Lock the workpiece in place and start a straight crosscut with the installed 7-1/4 in. blade.

Warranty and support checks for this mitre saw

Warranty cover varies by seller and country.

• Confirm the return window length, because the P553 uses a battery platform and a replacement battery may be the first extra cost you face.
• Confirm whether the battery is included, because the listing says Bare-Tool and the saw will not run without one.
• Confirm the blade size you are buying, because a miter saw blade has to match the 7-1/4 in. diameter.

On the day it arrives, check the box contents immediately and make sure the 18-volt battery plan, the 7-1/4 in. blade, and any missing dust bag are all resolved while a return is still possible.

P553 Buying Questions Answered

How much does the RYOBI P553 weigh to carry around the jobsite?

P553 weighs 19 pounds, so it stays in the lighter part of the miter saw range among the 71 listings we screened that state weight. That matters for moving it in and out of a truck, especially if you carry tools by hand between cuts. The listed weight is useful for portability, but it does not say anything about cut capacity or motor strength.

Is the RYOBI P553 worth the price if it is a bare tool and I still need batteries and a charger?

For a bare-tool cordless saw, P553 costs around $239 before batteries and a charger enter the budget. The 18V platform keeps the purchase cordless, but the real outlay depends on what you already own. If you already have compatible batteries, the sticker price is the main number to judge; if not, add the battery system cost before you compare it with corded 15-amp options.

Does the RYOBI P553 handle crown molding cuts?

Yes, the P553’s 45-degree bevel gives you the angle needed for the easier end of crown molding work. That is enough when your cut plan stays within the 45 to 50 degree range often used for inside and outside corners. The saw’s 7-1/4 in. blade points to a compact format, so wider stock still needs a separate capacity check.

What should I check before buying the RYOBI P553 for my older setup?

Check the 18V battery setup first, because P553 is battery powered and sold as a bare tool. That means the saw itself is not the whole purchase if your current batteries do not match. The 7-1/4 in. blade size also tells you this is a compact miter saw, not a 12-inch sliding model for wider crosscuts.

It helps to understand the various types of miter saws before making a final purchase.

Is the P553 Right for You?

Who the P553 suits and the jobs it is the wrong choice for, listed below with the reason for each.

Where to Buy This Miter Saw

The P553 sat at $239 in the listing data from November 2026; the price you see at checkout can differ.

Miter saws are sold by the retailers below – we do not track which of them has the P553 in stock, so check availability and the current price with the retailer before making a trip.

• Amazon (online only) — wide assortment across brands and models
• Acme Tools (online only) — specialist retailer with knowledgeable power-tool focus
• Northern Tool (online and physical stores) — useful for tool-focused shopping and in-store pickup
• Ace Hardware (online and physical stores) — local-store convenience for common miter saw options
• Walmart (online and physical stores) — broad mass-market assortment and easy returns
• Home Depot (online and physical stores) — broad range of mainstream miter saws and easy in-store returns
• Lowe’s (online and physical stores) — broad selection for DIY buyers and convenient physical-store pickup

Final Verdict on the P553

You’re a fit for the P553 if you want a cordless 18V miter saw with a 7-1/4 in. blade and a 45-degree bevel. Around $239 makes it a straightforward upgrade if portability matters more than a larger saw.

The 45-degree cutting angle is the key number here. It gives you the tilt range needed for standard compound cuts, while the 19-pound weight keeps the saw relatively easy to move.

Skip it if: you need wider crosscut capacity, or you want a larger blade size than 7-1/4 in. for bigger stock.