Updated October 2026
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A reciprocating saw — the Sawzall-class demo saw — is the tool you hang a 6- or 9-inch blade in and push through studs, PVC, nails-in-wood, and the occasional prune. It is not a circular saw and it is not a jigsaw. We match manufacturer specs and kit contents to the Amazon listings we link. Prices move, so this page does not print street prices; check current price and seller on Amazon before you buy.
This is not a shop test. Milwaukee is a Home Depot exclusive in the US. Milwaukee invented the Sawzall name. We treat that line as the HD benchmark. We do not send you to an Amazon third-party listing for it.
Quick verdict
Best overall: DeWalt DCS382B — 20V MAX XR brushless, 1-1/8-inch stroke, tool only. Check current price and seller on Amazon. The yellow two-hand recip if you already own 20V MAX packs. Check price on Amazon
Best compact / one-handed: DeWalt DCS369B — 20V MAX ATOMIC, 5/8-inch stroke, 3.13 lb tool only. Same packs, one-hand saw. Check availability: often third-party or no featured offer on Amazon. Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Best budget: SKIL RS5870B-10 — PWR CORE 20 brushless kit with a 2.0Ah and charger. Manufacturer $110. The budget kit if you are starting from zero. Check price on Amazon
Comparison
| Model | Best for | Power | Stroke / SPM | Notes | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWalt DCS382B | Best overall cordless | 20V MAX XR | 1-1/8 in / 3,200 SPM | Brushless; tool only | Check price on Amazon |
| DeWalt DCS369B | One-handed ATOMIC | 20V MAX ATOMIC | 5/8 in / 2,800 SPM | Brushless; 3.13 lb; check availability — often third-party or no featured offer | Check availability on Amazon (often third-party) |
| SKIL RS5870B-10 | Budget kit from zero | 20V PWR CORE | 1 in / 3,200 SPM | Brushless kit, 2.0Ah + charger | Check price on Amazon |
| Craftsman CMCS300B | Already V20 | V20 brushed | 1 in / 3,000 RPM | Tool only; brushed | Check price on Amazon |
| Ryobi PBLRS01B | Already ONE+ | 18V ONE+ HP | 1-1/4 in / 3,200 SPM | Brushless; tool only | Check price on Amazon |
| Makita XRJ05Z | Already LXT | 18V LXT | 1-1/4 in / 3,000 SPM | 2-speed brushless; tool only | Check price on Amazon |
| DeWalt DWE305 | Corded 12-amp | 12 amp corded | 1-1/8 in / 2,900 SPM | 4-position clamp; corded | Check price on Amazon |
| WORX WX550L AXIS | Light-duty 2-in-1 (stretch) | 20V WORX | 3/4 in / 3,000 SPM | Converts recip ↔ jigsaw; 2.0Ah + charger | Check price on Amazon |
| Milwaukee 2722-20 | Pro benchmark | 18V M18 FUEL | 1-1/4 in / 3,000 SPM | Home Depot exclusive; SUPER SAWZALL; no Amazon link | Home Depot only |
Jigsaws and oscillating multi-tools are a stretch, not a pick.
DeWalt DCS382B — best overall
If you want one cordless two-hand recip and you already live in 20V MAX, this is the current XR. Brushless, 1-1/8-inch stroke, 2-finger variable trigger, twist-style keyless blade clamp, LED, pivoting shoe. Catalog and Toolup list 0–3,200 SPM. About 5.1 lb and 15.5 inches. Tool only — no pack, no charger. One blade in the carton.
Check current price and seller on Amazon. A parallel US listing (B09NP9H7SG) also exists.
Who it’s for. Already on 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT and you want a full-size cordless recip for demo, plumbing cuts, and nails-in-wood. Same packs run a cordless drill and an impact driver.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero — you would be buying a battery and charger on top of a tool-only box. A first kit is the SKIL RS5870B-10. Already on ONE+ or LXT? Stay there. Want one-hand overhead? That is the DCS369B. Want the Sawzall benchmark? Milwaukee at Home Depot.
Specs that matter. 20V MAX XR. Brushless. 1-1/8 in stroke. 0–3,200 SPM (catalog). Tool only. Model DCS382B. Amazon listing B09NP9K7V8.
Caveats. Confirm new vs renewed, and that the title is still the DCS382B — not the ATOMIC DCS369, not the compact DCS367, and not a corded DWE305. 3-year limited warranty on the DeWalt tool.
DeWalt DCS369B — compact / one-handed ATOMIC (check availability)
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
Same 20V MAX aisle, one-hand body. DeWalt’s official copy: 12.5 inches front to back, 3.13 lb tool only, 37% lighter than the DCS367 (DeWalt’s number), brushless, up to 2,800 SPM, 5/8-inch stroke, LED, tool-free blade release, variable-speed trigger, pivoting shoe. Belt hook and two blades in the carton. Tool only.
Price and seller on this listing change often. Check the live offer on Amazon before you buy.
The short stroke is the trade. 5/8 inch is not 1-1/8. This is the punch-list and overhead saw, not the demo hog.
Who it’s for. Overhead, stud bays, prune-and-go, and anyone who already owns 20V MAX packs and wants a recip they can hang from one hand.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero. Regular demolition and nail-embedded 2x — that is the DCS382B or Milwaukee at Home Depot. Anyone who will only buy from Amazon.com itself, unless the seller checks out at click.
Specs that matter. 20V MAX ATOMIC. Brushless. One-handed. 5/8 in stroke. 2,800 SPM. 3.13 lb. Tool only. Model DCS369B. Amazon listing B082BTT92H.
Caveats. Check availability: on recent checks this listing was often third-party, so treat it as a fallback, not a default. Confirm B082BTT92H is still the DCS369B tool-only, not a kit bundle with a no-name pack. Not the two-hand compact DCS367B.
Check availability on Amazon (often third-party)
SKIL RS5870B-10 — kit if you are starting from zero
This is the Amazon kit with a battery in the box that we can actually verify: PWR CORE 20 brushless recip, 2.0Ah pack, charger, wood blade, hex key. Digital brushless to 3,200 SPM. 1-inch stroke (Ace). Variable trigger, tool-free blade change, adjustable pivoting shoe, counter-balanced gearbox, electric brake. SKIL lists $109.99. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. No 18V / 20V packs on the shelf and you want one recip kit without buying DeWalt batteries first.
Who it’s not for. Already on 20V MAX, ONE+, LXT, or V20. Platform lock-in is the hidden cost. One 2.0Ah pack — when it dies, you wait. Heavy demo is still a 1-1/8 or 1-1/4 stroke on a bigger pack.
Specs that matter. 20V PWR CORE 20. Brushless. 1 in stroke. 3,200 SPM. Kit: 2.0Ah + charger. Model RS5870B-10. Amazon listing B0DXRJFG69.
Caveats. Manufacturer $110. Confirm the carton still lists the 2.0Ah and charger. Older SKIL RS5829 kits are a different, brushed family.
Craftsman CMCS300B — already on V20
The V20 tool-only. Brushed, 1-inch stroke, variable trigger Craftsman rates to 3,000 RPM (their wording), tool-free blade release, 14.5 inches long. Saw and a 6-inch blade in the carton. Tool only.
Check current price, stock and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Already on Craftsman V20 and you need a recip without starting a second platform.
Who it’s not for. A first battery purchase — a bare saw plus a 4.0Ah and charger is not a budget kit. That kit is the SKIL. Anyone who wanted brushless on yellow: that is the DCS382B.
Specs that matter. V20. Brushed. 1 in stroke. 3,000 RPM (Craftsman). Tool only. Model CMCS300B. Amazon listing B07KKHC784.
Caveats. Confirm the live price and that you are not looking at a random V20 kit box.
Ryobi PBLRS01B — already on ONE+
Ryobi’s ONE+ HP recip we can open on Amazon. Brushless, 1-1/4-inch stroke, 3,200 SPM, pivoting shoe, variable trigger, easy-release blade lever, LED. Ryobi rates 64% faster cutting and over 380 cuts per charge with a 9.0Ah. Those are Ryobi’s numbers. Tool only. A 6-inch wood blade in the carton.
Ryobi lists it at $116.64 regular. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
This is the PBLRS01, not the newer PBLRS02.
Who it’s for. Already in ONE+. Same packs as the rest of the green aisle.
Who it’s not for. Starting from zero. A 1.5Ah drill pack will feel short on a 1-1/4-stroke recip — use a 4.0Ah or HP pack if you have one.
Specs that matter. 18V ONE+ HP. Brushless. 1-1/4 in stroke. 3,200 SPM. Tool only. Model PBLRS01B. Amazon listing B0B2F99DTP.
Caveats. Confirm that the title is still PBLRS01B. Skip third-party “kits” that tape on a no-name pack.
Makita XRJ05Z — already on 18V LXT
Makita’s 18V LXT brushless recip: two-speed 0–2,300 / 0–3,000 SPM, 1-1/4-inch stroke, 17-1/4 inches long, 8.2 lb with a pack (battery not included). Tool-less blade change, LED, retractable hook. 6-inch 6TPI blade in the carton. Tool only. For the platform fit and caveats, read the full review: Makita XRJ05Z.
Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Who it’s for. Already on 18V LXT and you want the recip, not another platform.
Who it’s not for. A first LXT purchase. On DeWalt or Ryobi? Stay there.
Specs that matter. 18V LXT. Brushless. 2-speed. 1-1/4 in stroke. 0–3,000 SPM high. Tool only. Model XRJ05Z. Amazon listing B01IU92IYI.
Caveats. Confirm B01IU92IYI is still the new XRJ05Z, not a renewed carton.
DeWalt DWE305 — corded 12-amp workhorse
The Amazon 12-amp. Variable trigger to 2,900 SPM, 1-1/8-inch stroke, keyless lever-action 4-position blade clamp for flush cuts. Corded. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
A 12-amp cord does not care about amp-hours. It also does not leave the outlet.
Who it’s for. Demo next to an outlet, or anyone who wants a recip without buying into a battery platform.
Who it’s not for. A rooftop, a crawl, or a yard with no cord. Anyone who already decided cordless.
Specs that matter. 12 amp corded. 1-1/8 in stroke. 2,900 SPM. 4-position clamp. Model DWE305. Amazon listing B00N5FLVM8.
Caveats. A parallel listing (B01IU75RKW) also exists. Confirm the live page is still the DWE305.
Milwaukee 2722-20 — pro benchmark, not an Amazon buy
Milwaukee is a Home Depot line in the US. Milwaukee invented the Sawzall name. The current M18 FUEL SUPER SAWZALL is the 2722-20 tool-only. Milwaukee rates a POWERSTATE brushless motor at 3,000 SPM, a 1-1/4-inch stroke, on/off orbital, a 5-speed dial plus variable trigger, QUIK-LOK, and 15-amp-corded-class power — plus up to 150 cuts in 2×12 SPF per charge on a high-output pack. Those are manufacturer numbers, not a test from us.
Who it’s for. Pros, or DIY buyers who already live in M18 and can pick the saw up at Home Depot.
Who it’s not for. Anyone we would send to Amazon. Marketplace copies of a Home Depot exclusive are not first-party stock.
Caveats. Confirm the Home Depot price in the store or on HD’s page.
Stretch / adjacent — jigsaws, oscillating tools, compact XR
A jigsaw and an oscillating multi-tool cut different jobs. They are not on this buy list. The DeWalt DCS367B (B01M69K91R) is a real compact two-hand XR — 14.5 inches, 1-1/8-inch stroke, 2,900 SPM — but this page already has the DCS382B and the one-hand DCS369B. Read our full DeWalt DCS367 review. Makita’s corded JR3051T (B0843HVY3R) is a real 12-amp; the corded pick here is the DWE305. For occasional cuts where you also want a jigsaw, the WORX WX550L AXIS (B01LW6OEMU) is a light-duty 20V 2-in-1: the head converts between a recip and a jigsaw. It sits outside the demo-saw ranking above. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Do not buy an oscillating tool because a recip page mentioned one.
Buying guide
Stroke length. 1-1/4 inch (PBLRS01B, XRJ05Z, Milwaukee 2722) removes more material per stroke. 1-1/8 (DCS382B, DWE305) is the common two-hand class. 1 inch (SKIL, Craftsman) is enough for DIY demo and prune. 5/8 (DCS369B) is the one-hand trade: lighter, slower through thick stock.
SPM is not torque. 3,200 SPM on a 2.0Ah kit is not the same saw as 3,000 SPM on an M18 high-output pack. Shop the motor, the stroke, and the battery you already own.
Corded vs cordless. A 12-amp DWE305 does not care about amp-hours. Buy corded next to an outlet. Buy cordless if the work moves, or if you already paid for the batteries. A kit from zero is a battery purchase that happens to include a saw.
Platform lock-in. DeWalt 20V MAX, Ryobi ONE+, Craftsman V20, Makita LXT, and SKIL PWR CORE 20 do not share packs. Milwaukee M18 does not either, and you shop that at Home Depot. Already own a cordless drill kit? Buy the recip that eats those batteries. Brand comparison: DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Ryobi.
Kit vs tool only. Only the SKIL RS5870B-10 on this page is a verified kit with a pack and charger. Everything cordless else is tool only. A bare saw is not a deal if you still have to buy a 4.0Ah and a charger.
Third-party and stock. Check current price and seller on Amazon. Buy Home Depot exclusives at Home Depot, not from third-party Amazon sellers.
The other garage tools. Same-day framing is a 7-1/4 circular saw. Fasteners are an impact driver.
FAQ
Which reciprocating saw should I buy in 2026? Already on 20V MAX: DCS382B for two-hand, DCS369B for one-hand (check availability; often third-party). Already on ONE+: PBLRS01B. Already on V20: CMCS300B. Starting from zero: SKIL RS5870B-10. Want a cord: DWE305. Already on M18: Milwaukee at Home Depot.
Do I need one-handed or a full-size recip? One-hand (DCS369B) is overhead, prune, and punch list. Full-size (DCS382B, PBLRS01B, Milwaukee 2722) is demo and nails-in-wood. The 5/8-inch ATOMIC stroke is the limiter, not the badge.
Is 20V better than 18V? Not in the way the carton implies. DeWalt 20V MAX, Craftsman V20, and SKIL 20V sit in the same nominal 18V world as Ryobi ONE+, Makita LXT, and Milwaukee M18. Shop the motor, the stroke, and the batteries you already own.
Should I just buy Milwaukee? If you already own M18, buy the 2722-20 at Home Depot. It is the Sawzall benchmark, not an Amazon recommendation. We are not sending you to a gray-market listing.
Do I need a corded recip? Only if you cut next to an outlet and you do not want another battery. Most homeowners who already own 18V / 20V packs are happier cordless.
What about a jigsaw or oscillating multi-tool? Adjacent, not a substitute. This page is Sawzall-class reciprocating saws. A jigsaw follows a line. An oscillating tool does flush cuts and grout. If you only cut occasionally and also need a jigsaw, the WORX WX550L AXIS 2-in-1 kit converts between a light-duty reciprocating saw and a jigsaw on one 20V battery.
Related
Best Circular Saws · Best Impact Drivers · Best Cordless Drills · DeWalt vs Milwaukee vs Ryobi
Prices and Amazon offers change. We don’t list live prices; check Amazon for the current price and seller. Manufacturer prices, SPM, stroke, and “cuts per charge” claims are the manufacturers’ published ratings, not tests we ran. Check current price and seller on Amazon.
Related object: DeWalt DWE305 corded reciprocating saw review covers the outlet-powered 12-amp lane in detail.