7 Best Corded Reciprocating Saws (By Type & Purpose)

Last Updated on August 28, 2022 by Barry Gray

If you need to do demolition work or remodeling, a reciprocating saw will quickly become your best friend. I know I don’t use my own version regularly, but it makes short work of any task when required.

What I really love is the way most models can effectively cut through a long list of materials. This saw is not simply for cutting wood. Instead, I’ve used mine to cut PVC and even some metal.

But as with any power tool, you have many different options on the market. Often, you won’t even know where to start when choosing one, so I’ve saved you the trouble.

What you will find below are seven of the best corded reciprocating saws available right now. I’ve also made sure to cover all the bases, so I reckon the perfect saw for you will be included in the list.

• Most Powerful Corded Reciprocating Saw – Milwaukee 15 amp Super Sawzall
• Best Corded Reciprocating Saw for Pruning – Galax Pro 766E Mini
• Best Corded Reciprocating Saw Under $100 – Tacklife RPRSO1A
• Best Budget Corded Reciprocating Saw – Skilsaw SPT44A
• Best Value Corded Reciprocating Saw – TECCPO TARS24P
• Best One-Handed Corded Reciprocating Saw – Ridgid R3031 Fuego 
• Best 12 amp Corded Reciprocating Saw – Dewalt DWE305

What I Based My Decision On

To come up with my list, I focused on several key areas I felt were important. I didn’t go just by the price but also reliability, the blades, power, and what others said regarding their own experience with the saw.

By the end, I could compile this list, and I feel the seven I’ve included represent the best on the market right now.

Most Powerful Corded Reciprocating Saw – Milwaukee 15 amp Super Sawzall

• Weight: 9.8 pounds
• Speed: 2,800 SPM
• Power: 15 amp

If it’s power you are after, I suggest you cannot look past the 15 amp Super Sawzall. This tool is a beast and will make short work of anything you throw at it.

But aside from the power, the one thing that stands out for me is their ‘Constant Power Technology.’ They claim to be the first manufacturer to include this in their tools. What it means is you know the power driven from the motor to the blade does not diminish even when under pressure. 

I love this fact because there is nothing worse than feeling as if any tool is just not performing as you would expect. So, those days are gone with this model.

But there is a thing called overkill where you could quickly burn out parts of the motor. Once again, this model has you covered.

It comes with a gear-protecting clutch, and its aim is to soak up those massive forces that occur should the blade lock up. Those lock-ups can seriously damage any reciprocating saw, so anything that counteracts that damage is excellent.

It comes with a variable speed trigger, and you also have a dial speed control. This precision makes you feel like you are in charge of the saw and can change speed quickly, depending on the job.

Finally, don’t worry about all this power leading to an increase in vibrations. That’s not happening, thanks to their own patented counterbalance mechanism. Reducing vibration gives you more control even on those more challenging jobs.

Overall, this saw is an excellent choice for heavy-duty use on heavy-duty projects. The extra power could make a huge difference.

Pros

• It has a huge amount of power
• It doesn’t vibrate too much even with that power
• Changing the speed is exceptionally easy
• The blade clamp system makes it easy to change blades when required
• The gear-protecting clutch should prevent excess damage to the motor

Cons

• The power may be too much if you have never used a reciprocating saw before
• It’s on the heavy side

Best Corded Reciprocating Saw for Pruning – Galax Pro 766E Mini

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• Weight: 5.05 pounds
• Speed: 3000 SPM
• Power: 5 amp

Using a reciprocating saw for pruning makes so much sense, but you don’t always want a model that feels too large and bulky in your hands. That’s why I see the Galax Pro 766E as the best model for pruning.

First, it only weighs just over 5 pounds, which is basically nothing. However, it still comes with 5 amps of power and a maximum speed of 3000 SPM. 

Now I know you might look at that power and think that it means this reciprocating saw is slow, and it is. But I don’t think that’s an issue when using it for pruning.

You are typically cutting branches and forms of soft wood, so you don’t need that extra power. It also comes with the ability to adjust the speed setting, so if you want to take some extra care, then that’s always possible. However, the speed setting is pressure-sensitive, but that’s something you will get used to.

You don’t need too many features using a reciprocating saw for pruning. I feel that this model, complete with a wood blade, will work well for all your pruning needs.

Pros

• It weighs almost nothing
• It’s easy to control the speed for pruning
• It’s small in size, so it gets into those tricky branches
• It still delivers an amazing 3000 SPM
• It works perfectly on softwoods

Cons

• It only works well on smaller jobs

Best Corded Reciprocating Saw Under $100 – Tacklife RPRSO1A

• Weight: 8.19 pounds
• Speed: 2,800 SPM
• Power: 7 amp

Not only is the Tacklife RPRSO1A reciprocating saw offering you value for money, but it also delivers an excellent saw capable of outperforming so many more expensive models. It even shows how there’s no need to always jump to a huge brand name if your budget cannot stretch that far.

Yes, it has a lower power output at 7 amp, but with a maximum speed of 2,800 SPM, this model will still be capable of demolishing many projects. I also love the ease of using the variable speed control. It makes you feel you can control how the saw performs.

For stroke length, you are looking at 1 ⅛ inch, which is perfectly reasonable. You get to choose from three different handle angles, and it even comes with a 6T HCS blade and a 14T BIM blade. 

Overall, this reciprocating saw packs in a whole lot for not much money.

Pros

• The variable speed control is easy to use
• You get three different handle positions
• The adjustable shoe gives greater versatility than you expect
• Changing blades is quick and easy

Cons

• It is more on the heavier side
• It does lack in power for heavy-duty jobs

Best Budget Corded Reciprocating Saw – Skilsaw SPT44A

• Weight: 9 pounds
• Speed: 2,800 SPM
• Power: 13 amp

It’s easy to feel drawn into spending a fortune on a reciprocating saw, but that need not be the case. This is even more important when just starting out with a reciprocating saw, and I suggest checking out the Skilsaw SPT44A.

I do admit that this model is on the higher end of the weight scale at 9 pounds, but that’s not an absolute disaster. For me, I love the raw power that comes with the model. Even those new to reciprocating saws can dive into their demolition project knowing this saw has their back.

Moving between stroke speeds is exceptionally easy. A key feature is that the vibration level does not increase as much as you increase the speed. That means you do feel in control at all times.

The stroke length is your typical 1 ⅛ inch, so it shows how saws on a budget don’t generally come up short. Yes, it might not come with as many fancy features, but you don’t need so much when starting out.

Overall, what I like best about this model is that it delivers power and gets the job done without too much hassle. It comes with a tool-free blade change as standard, and you can literally take it out of the box and start using it.

Pros

• It delivers perfect power for a beginner
• It keeps things simple by paring down the features
• It has tool-free blade changes
• It doesn’t struggle with vibrations

Cons

• It is slightly on the heavier side
• It does take longer than other models to cut through materials

Best Value Corded Reciprocating Saw – TECCPO TARS24P

• Weight: 7.41 pounds
• Speed: 2,500 SPM
• Power: 9 amp

While this model is not the cheapest on the market, I feel it represents real value for money when you look at everything you get in this kit. 

Not only do you get an excellent reciprocating saw, but you also get both 6” and 4” saw blades. These blades are pretty strong, so they should last for some time before you need to think about changing them.

Talking of changing the blades, this model comes with a metal knob that locks them into place. That means it’s a tool-free change, and you can do all of this in seconds.

I admit the speed is slower than most, but people don’t find that it struggles too often with most projects. It also comes with an adjustable speed option where the control is the pressure from your grip. However, you can then lock in the speed when you feel it’s hitting the perfect power and speed ratio.

The final thing I love about this model is the adjustable shoe. It’s different from what you tend to get elsewhere.

First, you can extend the shoe by up to ¾ inch, but that’s not all. It’s also easy to adjust the angle by up to 10 degrees, offering greater control and precision over your cuts.

Pros

• Changing the blades is quick and easy
• The added control with the shoe and pivot angle is impressive
• The grip reduces vibration by up to 40%
• It comes with an adjustable speed option

Cons

• It could do with more power with tougher materials

Best One-Handed Corded Reciprocating Saw – Ridgid R3031 Fuego 

• Weight: 5 pounds
• Speed: 3,500 SPM
• Power: 6 amp

While so many reciprocating saws require two hands to operate, that’s not always the case. You may come across times when you need one hand to be free, and that’s where the Rigid R3031 stands out from the rest.

This machine only weighs five pounds, and it’s easy to operate even with one hand. But the thing that blows me is the speed with a maximum of 3,500 SPM, which is impressive from a 6 amp reciprocating saw.

It still comes with tool-free blade changing, but you will need more than one hand, and changing that speed is done via a variable speed control. Once again, this can be done with one hand.

It also comes with LED lighting to help you out in those small spaces, and the overall saw is very compact. However, it does still pack that punch, so watch out.

Pros

• It’s fast at 3,500 SPM
• It’s very light at only 5 pounds
• The variable speed control is easy to use
• You can change the blades in seconds

Cons

• It feels as if it could struggle a bit with heavy-duty projects

Best 12 amp Corded Reciprocating Saw – Dewalt DWE305

• Weight: 7.5 pounds
• Speed: 2900 SPM
• Power: 12 amp

I simply love this reciprocating saw by Dewalt; it offers more than merely a name you can trust.

You get a 12 amp motor with a maximum speed of 2,900 strokes per minute. That should offer you more than enough power for most projects. Also, the variable speed option is easy to use, and you can change it from anything between 0 and that 2,900 maximum speed.

For stroke length, you are at 1.125 inches, which is ample. The entire saw is less than 18 inches long, so this is not a bulky tool.

But on the cutting aspect, you have four different cutting angles to choose from. Moving between the options is straightforward, as is using the keyless blade clamp. You have full customization meaning this machine can be used almost anywhere.

Overall, Dewalt has not gone crazy here with features, but the DWE305 offers a simple corded reciprocating saw that delivers on what it can do.

Pros

• The saw is not too bulky to handle
• It has four different cutting angles
• Changing blade position is very easy
• It has a maximum speed of 2,900 SPM
• The stroke length is more than adequate

Cons

• No blades or case is included

How to Choose the Best Corded Reciprocating Saw For Your Needs

The different corded reciprocating saws I’ve mentioned above all work exceptionally well in their own right. However, if you feel somewhat undecided about which one to go for, let me explain what I see as the key areas to focus on when making your decision.

Now, this is in no particular order of importance. For me, each part is equally as important when looking to purchase a reciprocating saw.

Speed

When talking about speed, we are referring to the speed at which the saw blade moves. You should always go for a reciprocating saw with a variable speed option. It just makes life so much easier when cutting through different materials.

Look out for corded reciprocating saws with a speed of up to 3000 spm. However, if the model you want to purchase only goes up to 2500 spm, don’t stress. That’s still performing exceptionally well, but finishing the job might take a bit longer.

Stroke Length

Stroke length is another key factor, and I suggest never opting for anything below 20mm. If you drop below that length, then expect to take longer to cut things, and the blades lose their sharp edge quicker than they should.

I much prefer when the stroke length is on the longer side. It means I feel like I’m getting stuck into things, and it’s far more pleasurable when you see real progress.

Cutting Depth

To cover most bases, I suggest ensuring your corded reciprocating saw has a minimum of 100mm cutting depth. That should mean your reciprocating saw can tackle most jobs without problems.

Weight

Weight is another critical thing to consider with your reciprocating saw. The corded version will often weigh less than the cordless due to no battery, but it can become quite heavy over time.

Generally, most corded reciprocating saws weigh from 6.8 pounds to just under 9 pounds. But weight doesn’t always equate to power, so don’t make that mistake.

Blade Changing

The modern corded reciprocating saw generally makes life much easier when changing blades. You should aim for a keyless blade clamp, which means you can make those changes in seconds.

The last thing you want is to own a saw where you waste so much time messing around with blades when you just want to get on with that demolition job. So, look out for those keyless versions.

Blade Angles

I also suggest looking at models that offer more than one blade angle. You want something that offers three or four angles. Your reciprocating saw can easily be adjusted to tackle different jobs at various angles. I know the difference it makes to demolition jobs when I can get the correct cutting angle.

But it’s about more than just the angles. You also want something that is easy to change. Just with the blades, you want the job to be quick and easy to let you get on with the task.

Overall Conclusion

If you plan on doing demolition or remodeling work, I would highly recommend a corded reciprocating saw. At least with the corded version, you have no need to worry about that battery running out.

Remember to check for that variable speed and cutting depth before purchasing. Also, keep an eye on the weight of the saw if possible. Some models can quickly exhaust your arms, making life more complicated than necessary.