We evaluated reciprocating saws based on power, features, and reliability. Our top choice, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel SAWZALL, has the high performance you’d expect from a tool whose very name is synonymous with reciprocating saws. Below, our picks for the best reciprocating saws. If you’re looking to purchase a reciprocating tool that’s durable and long-lasting, and with plenty of power to boot, we recommend the Milwaukee M18 Fuel SAWZALL Kit. With the name that has become synonymous with all reciprocating saws on the job site, the SAWZALL lives up to the hype as a reliable and strong-cutting machine. This kit includes an M18 battery, a battery rapid charger, a contractor carrying case, and an M18 Fuel SAWZALL reciprocating saw, along with one general-purpose blade. Like other SAWZALL saws, this one is designed to reduce vibration to your hands and arms. The SAWZALL’s 18-volt lithium-ion battery fuels up to 150 cuts per charge and delivers the power of a 15-amp corded saw, thanks to its POWERSTATE brushless motor. Its state-of-the-art design protects the tool from damage due to overheating or overloading, even when working under rigorous conditions. You have variable speed options up to a maximum of 3,000 strokes per minute (spm) and a stroke length of 1 1/8 inches. The keyless blade clamp and adjustable shoe make it a snap to change blades; you can use any standard reciprocating blade with this saw, including those for cutting wood, metal, and other materials. An incorporated LED light makes it easy to clearly see your cut line. All in all, it’s hard to beat this tool’s combination of power, speed, durability, battery life, and value when you consider that unlike most reciprocating saws, this one includes the battery and charger. It’s a great choice for demolition work, construction jobs, metal work, and similar heavy-duty tasks. Price at time of publish: $409 Power Source: Battery | Max Strokes Per Minute: 3,000 | Stroke Length: 1 1/8 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: No | Saw Weight: 8.9 pounds Don’t assume that the low price means low quality or a lack of features. In fact, this reciprocating saw offers many features you find on more expensive tools, including a variable speed trigger, pivoting shoe, tool-free blade changes, and an electric brake. The blade speed runs anywhere between 0 and 3,000 strokes per minute, with a stroke length of nearly 1 inch. This budget-friendly reciprocating saw comes with a general-purpose blade, battery, and charger—rare in most sets. Price at time of publish: $123 Power Source: Battery | Max Strokes Per Minute: 3,000 | Stroke Length: 7/8 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: No | Saw Weight: 4.9 pounds This DEWALT corded saw sports a 12-amp motor with a 1 1/8-inch stroke length and a 0 to 2,900 spm variable speed. The entire saw is 17.5 inches long and uses a variable speed trigger for absolute control. You get a 4-position blade clamp for versatility and a keyless lever-action blade clamp for easy blade changes when necessary Like most reciprocating saws, you can use this one with any standard reciprocating blade, not just DEWALT’s. On the downside, its fixed shoe makes it a little less nimble than some similar saws, but that’s not likely to be an issue if you plan to use it for basic demo or construction jobs. Price at time of publish: $129 Power Source: Corded | Max Strokes Per Minute: 2,900 | Stroke Length: 1 1/8 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: No | Saw Weight: 9.2 pounds Using an 18-volt LXT lithium-ion battery, this saw has a variable speed motor that delivers up to 2,800 spm. Combine that with a 1 1/4-inch stroke length, and you’ll appreciate how quickly you can saw through wood, metal, and other materials, including pipes up to a 5-1/8-inch diameter. The saw is water- and dust-resistant with vibration reduction and specific attributes to prevent overheating and overloading. It includes one general-purpose blade but can use any standard reciprocating saw blade. The battery and charger are sold separately. Price at time of publish: $139 Power Source: Battery | Max Strokes Per Minute: 2,800 | Stroke Length: 1 1/4 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: No | Saw Weight: 8.3 pounds In addition to the blades, this set includes an excellent saw. The cordless DEWALT reciprocating saw uses a 20-volt battery to power its brushless motor for variable speed cutting between 0 and 2,900 strokes per minute. You get a 1 1/8-inch stroke length, tool-free blade replacement, lever-action 4-position blade options, and an LED light for dark cutting. This saw also stands out from the crowded field for its lightweight feel, which contributes to its maneuverability. Price at time of publish: $223 Power Source: Battery | Max Strokes Per Minute: 2,900 | Stroke Length: 1 1/8 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: No | Saw Weight: 5.4 pounds This cordless reciprocating saw does not include a battery, but is compatible with any Ryobi 18-volt battery you already own. This lightweight tool has an efficient motor that can run up to 3,400 spm with a variable speed trigger. The blade moves with a 1-inch stroke length, so you’ll chew through wood quickly. The Ryobi P519 has a molded, comfortable grip handle, tool-less blade replacement, and a great pivoting shoe for any surface. This reciprocating saw includes a 6-inch wood-cutting blade, but of course you can swap it out for whatever other blade you might need. Price at time of publish: $77 Power Source: Battery | Max Strokes Per Minute: 3,400 | Stroke Length: 1 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: No | Saw Weight: 5 pounds The HACKZALL might be compact, but it has plenty of features found on bigger Milwaukee saws, including Quik-Lok tool-less blade changing, an LED light, and a battery level gauge. This tool can use any Milwaukee M12 battery, sold separately if you don’t already own one. The saw accepts all standard reciprocating saw blades, but comes with two—one for cutting wood and one for cutting metal—to get you started. At only 11 inches in length and 2.6 pounds, this compact saw is easy to store in any work bag, toolbox, or truck cab. Price at time of publish: $85 Power Source: Battery | Max Strokes Per Minute: 3,000 | Stroke Length: 1/2 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: No | Saw Weight: 2.6 pounds The compact and lightweight saw has a variable speed trigger that reaches top speeds of 2,900 spm. The stroke length is 1 1/8 inch, and the 4-position blade clamp lets you position the blade just how you need it, as well as providing tool-less blade changes. It has a pivoting shoe for more maneuverability while cutting and a bright LED work light so you can easily see your cut lines. It does not come with any blades, however. Price at time of publish: $240 Power Source: Battery | Max Strokes Per Minute: 2,900 | Stroke Length: 1 1/8 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: No | Saw Weight: 5.4 pounds With the right blades, this powerful tool can chew through wood, metal, plastic, and tile. It includes orbital motion for even more efficient cutting. A built-in work light helps illuminate your cut line, and an efficient blower prevents sawdust from blocking your view. Unlike many other tools, the 20-volt battery and charger are included, as well as a metal-cutting jigsaw blade, aluminum-cutting jigsaw blade, and wood-cutting reciprocating saw blade. However, you can use any standard reciprocating saw blade and any T-shank jigsaw blade with the tool. Price at time of publish: $120 Power Source: Battery | Max Strokes Per Minute: 3,000 | Stroke Length: 3/4 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: Yes | Saw Weight: 4.2 pounds The 429 has a comfortable, reduced-vibration handle. It’s equipped with an adjustable blade guide and positive blade retainer. The saw comes with six high-speed steel cutting blades and two hex keys. Note that you’ll need an air compressor capable of delivering up to 8 cfm at 90 psi to run this tool. Price at time of publish: $140 Power Source: Pneumatic | Max Strokes Per Minute: 10,000 | Stroke Length: 3/8 inch | Variable Speed: No | Orbital Mode: No | Saw Weight: 1.3 pounds This saw is designed to prevent overload damage to the motor even when working at the most demanding capacity. Plus, it has an adjustable shoe to extend blade life, has superior battery life, and can make up to 150 cuts on one charge. It even has a handy rafter hook for easy storage. The saw comes with one general-purpose blade. Price at time of publish: $249 Power Source: Battery | Max Strokes Per Minute: 3,000 | Stroke Length: 1 1/4 inch | Variable Speed: Yes | Orbital Mode: Yes | Saw Weight: 8.8 pounds Corded reciprocating saws mean no worries about running out of juice, but you are tethered to an outlet, so they aren’t as versatile for working away from the workshop. There are also pneumatic, or air-powered, reciprocating saws. These are mostly used in professional shops, but do have a lot of power for cutting through metal and other difficult materials.

Speed and Stroke Length

When choosing a reciprocating saw, there are two numbers to know: strokes per minute and stroke length. Strokes per minute (spm) is the speed at which the blade slices back and forth. Most reciprocating saws have a maximum spm of around 2,500 to 3,000. The fastest speed isn’t necessarily the best, however. The right speed depends to a certain extent on the material being cut and the accuracy you need. Still, a faster saw obviously gets through cuts faster. Stroke length is the maximum distance the saw’s blade can cut. This can be as little as half an inch, or as much as 1 1/2 inches, although the majority of reciprocating saws fall in between these distances. If you expect to do a lot of cutting on thick materials, a longer stroke length will get the job done faster, but for many users, this number isn’t a deal-breaker one way or another. Still, it’s important to pay attention to stroke length, as it’s one measurement of the tool’s versatility.

Size

Reciprocating saws come in various sizes, from one-handed and compact models to large, heavy-duty versions. Smaller versions are easier to use and work best on softer materials. Larger saws are more cumbersome to handle but are necessary for cutting through more heavy-duty materials. Choose the reciprocating saw that is tailored to the work you need to get done.

Orbital Action

Not all reciprocating saws come with orbital action. Designed for cutting through wood layers or hard materials, this feature adds an elliptical motion on top of the standard back and forth movement of the reciprocating saw blade. Choose a reciprocating saw with orbital action if you want to cut through wood more quickly. 

Why Trust The Spruce?

Michelle Ullman is the home improvement/tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs around the house and yard. For this roundup, she considered dozens of reciprocating saws, evaluating each for power and battery life, stroke length and strokes per minute, reliability, and overall value. She also considered feedback from customers, both positive and negative.