The Top 10 Best Reciprocating Saws on Earth

You’ve continued your quest in building the perfect power tool collection. Or perhaps you’re looking to replace your already-owned reciprocating saw for a different model that will continue to last you for years to come of projects at jobsites, around the house or for that side-gig you’re making in the garage. We dug through the numerous models around the market and found the top 10 best reciprocating saws available today.

If we had to choose the best reciprocating saw on earth, we would have to say it’s the DeWalt DC385B. Although it’s on the higher end of the priced and quality spectrum, we feel it’s a great investment for those looking to grab a solid recip saw. It offers great comfort, high power, overall long-lasting build, as well as some other solid features such as quick blade changing and trigger lock. If you want a different model or something a little less pricey, continue reading for the 10 best we found.

Table of Contents

• What is it used for?
• How to choose
• The 10 best reciprocating saws

What is a reciprocating saw used for?

A reciprocating saw is a type of saw that works through a cutting action that it is done through the push and the pull reciprocating motion of a blade. It’s one of the most common saws out there and we often see them included in power tool combo kits. As opposed to other popular types in this category such as a table saw or even circular saw, this is geared more towards those looking to add versatility to their tool bets.

A reciprocating saw comes in handy when taking on demolition or construction work. This type of saw is also referred to as a sawzall, saw zaw, sabre saw or recip saw. It typically has a large blade that resembles a jigsaw and it is oriented to allow the saw to be used on vertical surfaces comfortably. The user is able to rest the foot on a surface that has to be cut in order to prevent the tendency of a blade to push away from or pull towards a cut while the blade travels within the cycle. The design may offer a wide range of features, speed and power. Most people couldn’t live without it in their power tool repertoire.

How to choose your reciprocating saw

• How much you’d like to spend – Reciprocating saws are pretty affordable if you’re comparing them to other essential power tools in the market. Some range from around $100 and under, unless you’re purchasing a kit that includes a battery and charger, it could get a bit costly.
• Corded or cordless? With this debate, the fact that you get versatility without a cord comes in handy, especially with a reciprocating saw. It isn’t completely impossible to use those with cords, however. Not to mention you won’t have to hassle with charging a battery after a specific amount of time. A lot of these are the bare versions so keep in mind you may need to buy an additional battery and charger. We review some of the best cordless reciprocating saws in our guide if you wanted a more constrained list, otherwise we have some in here as well if you scroll down.
• Voltage – How much power do you want it to have? We’d say going with 12, 18 or higher is best.
• Additive features – Specialized grips on the handles, blade clamps, easy blade switching, LED light guide and more. Which additional features would you like to be included in your saw?

The top 10 best reciprocating saws

DeWalt DC385B

As previously stated, this is probably the best recip saw in the market if we had to choose and money wasn’t a big factor. This DeWalt saw has a 1-1/8 stroke length to offer faster cutting speed than most competitors. Its spm is between 0-3000, so you can be sure to finish your cutting projects efficiently. The 4 position blade that clamps allows for flush sawing with increased versatility. It has a keyless blade and a lever action for easy and quick blade changes and the anti-slip comfort grip offers better control and comfort. The pivoting action may be adjusted on its top to offer better visibility, it has a variable speed option with a trigger lock, and it also features a variable and high performance speed motor, which is capable of enough SPM to complete a wide range of projects. The 4 position blade clamp lets the user complete flush cutting increased versatility according to the needs of the user. We love the DeWalt DC385B reciprocating saw if you want one of the highest quality models out there at the moment. Just keep in mind it’s the bare version so if you don’t have a batter you’ll need to purchase that as well.

Makita JR3050T

The Makita JR3050T reciprocating saw has a variable speed trigger to offer better cutting in a wide variety of different applications. The tool-less blade may easily be changed and the shoe adjustment feature also enables fast blade installation or removal. The long 1 1-8 inch stroke is used for even faster cutting. The well balanced design allows for reduced operator fatigue even with all-day use and it has a built-in dust blower which may clear the line cut to offer even greater accuracy. The soft grip handle is used for increased comfort and the overall construction is one we’d expect from Makita – very durable and solid. The needle bearing was made with an all-ball for even longer tool life. The large 2 finger trigger is going to lock at the button to offer added convenience. The Makita JR3050T is the ideal option for plumbers, electricians, carpenters and framers but merely anybody who wants a top-of-the-line reciprocating saw.

Black & Decker BDCR20B

The Black and Decker BDCR20B reciprocating saw is a lightweight, powerful and compact tool that begs for attention. The saw runs longer and it offers even better cutting power compared to other recip saws in the same category. It offers 3,000 SPM and it cuts through most materials without a problem, which makes it an efficient tool for many different tasks.  The simple tool-free blade is able to offer easy blade swaps. The pivoting shoe provides better control and flexibility during cutting and its pretty lightweight with improved control that reduces tiredness during an extended period. The variable speed control gives the user the right speed setting up to 3,000 rpm which isn’t too shabby in our opinion. We love the Black and Decker BDCR20B for those looking for a quality reciprocating saw that’s a bit more budget-friendly than the previous two models listed.

Milwaukee 2625-20 Hackzall

Milwaukee power tools coined their reciprocating saw title as a ‘hackzall’. This is a cordless model that operates with a lithium-ion battery. It has handed reciprocating saw features with anti-vibration and dual gears to offer great control and comfort. The lightweight design gives even better control with the versatility for one-handed or even overhead operations. The powerful motor is capable of offering 0-3000 strokes for each minute. The stroke length is 3/4 inches and it enables the user to perform even faster cutting on a wide range of materials. The quick-lock blade clamp may offer easy and fast blade changes. It performs fast cutting on different types of materials like PVC, metal and wood. The Milwaukee 2625-20 Hackzall features different speeds to offer precise and efficient work, rivaling a lot of the other heavy hitters out there. It supports Milwaukee’s HACKZALL and SAWZALL blades.

Bosch RS7

Cutting is made easy while using the Bosch RS7 reciprocating saw. This is a powerful tool in its class and features 11 amps for its cutting power. The dual LED lights may shine bright long enough to effectively illuminate its cutting zone, which is an additive feature many wish were included on all reciprocating saws (or any power tool at that). The RS7 is lightweight and it offers a comfort grip that makes the cutting job simple and quick.  The saw hooks make it easy for the user to store the saw between cuts and the tool-less blade change system allows for effortless and fast blade installation as well as removal. The ergonomic handle with soft grip provides maximum comfort with the right grip while cutting. The Bosch RS7 also comes with an all-purpose blade with a carrying case to boot, which makes this one of the best all-around reciprocating saws out there.

Porter Cable PCC670B

The Porter Cable PCC670B offers a joining compact, high performance and ergonomic cordless tool with a 20V lithium-ion battery which was designed to offer even better power with long run times. It features a high performance drive train which delivers a 1-inch stroke length and 0-3000 SPM for a better and more aggressive cutting speed. The compact design lets the user get into tight spaces and the tool-free blade release allows the you to perform easy changes. The variable speed trigger offers better control for cutting different materials.  The pivoting shoe is used to help in keeping in contact with the material which is being cut. The contoured overmolded handle is optimized to offer increased comfort.  The Porter Cable PCC670B reciprocating saw is pretty cheap but decent quality, so we’d say grab this if you want one priced around the middle.

DeWalt DCS387B

This is a reciprocating saw that features a lightweight and compact design that’s a bit different than the others. It is 14.5 inches in total and it fits within the studs and allows the user to make cuts in confined spaces. The 4-position blade clamp enables us to perform flush cutting with increased positional versatility together with tool free blade changes.  The stroke length of 1-1/8 inch offers faster cutting speed and the variable trigger’s 0-2900 SPM provides blade control for better precision cuts. Its bright LED is used to illuminate dark wood areas to offer good visibility if you were looking for some additive features as previously explained. The pivoting shoe offers versatility when it comes to cutting. The saw is protected under DeWalt’s guarantee as well. The DeWalt DCS387B is a reciprocating saw to take into consideration if you want a higher quality model and you don’t mind the cost.

Milwaukee 2420-20

Here’s another Milwaukee to consider. This reciprocating saw is 11 inches long and 2.6lbs in weight so if you want something small and handy this is a great option. It is a cordless lithium-ion saw and the powerful motor is capable of delivering 0-3000 strokes each minute with a ½ inch stroke length that allows for fast cutting of different materials like PVC, wood and drywall.  The variable speed trigger lets the user control the cut, and the ‘Quick-LOK blade clamp’ is their technology for fast and easy blade changes.  The saw is great for cutting in tight spaces and it comes with an all-metal gear case to offer added durability. It also features a variable speed trigger that offers better user control. The battery fuel gauge is used to display the remaining run-time which is never a bad thing. We love the Milwaukee 2420-20 if you want a smaller-sized, solid recip saw.

Hitachi CR18DGLP4

Yes, Hitachi is always making at least one appearance in our power tool shopping guides. The tool body offers convenience and comfort with fade free power, longer total battery life and a lighter weight that it is found with the lithium-ion battery. The tool is compatible with the 18-volt lithium ion slide-style battery that it is sold separately. It is able to offer a no-load speed for 3,300 SPM with an inch stroke length. The saw is lightweight at 5.7 lbs., not including the battery so you’re getting some pretty hassle-free use out of it. Considering its compact size and soft grip handle, this cordless reciprocating saw is easy to be used every day. The change of the blade based on the tool-less system is convenient and quick and helps to make sure that everything has less downtime. The Hitachi CR18DGLP4 reciprocating saw is pretty high up there in terms of overall quality.

DeWalt DCS380B

We’ll admit we were hesitant to include three DeWalt models in this article, but hear us out first. This recip saw uses a lithium-ion battery and it has four position blade clamps that enable the user to perform flush cutting with increased positional versatility. It also features a tool free blade change system like the others. The stroke length of 1-1/8inch offers fast cutting speed and it also has a variable speed trigger from 0-3000 SPM that offers solid blade control with fast cut speeds. The pivoting adjustable shoe can extend the blade life and it allows the individual to make deep cuts. In terms of construction, we all know their make, but it has rubber over the molded comfort grip which offers optimal comfort and control for an even longer period. Its double oil sealed shaft prevents contamination while increasing durability. Take a look at the DeWalt DCS380B reciprocating saw — it’s listed last but still worth checking out.