Best Reciprocating Saws for Demolition and Remodels
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Prices were listed by the retailer as of Oct 30, 2026 and can change. Confirm the current price and availability on the retailer's page before you buy.
The first decision when shopping for a reciprocating saw is not which brand to pick but whether to buy a bare tool or a kit. A bare tool is listed as the saw alone: no battery, no charger. A kit bundles the saw with at least one battery and a charger, and sometimes a bag or case. In this catalog, 38 of 53 models are listed as kits, 7 as bare tools, and 8 do not state a configuration. That split matters because the cheapest-looking price can leave you buying a battery and charger separately, while a kit can duplicate batteries you already own.
The second decision is corded versus cordless. Of the 53 models listed, 47 are cordless, so cordless is the norm here. A corded saw draws power from an outlet and never runs down, while a cordless saw trades that for freedom of movement on a remodel site where outlets and extension cords are a nuisance. Cordless saws live and die by their battery platform, which is simply the family of batteries and chargers a brand's tools share. The platforms in this catalog include M18 (25 models), M12 (5), 18V (4) and ONE+ 18V (3). If you already own batteries from one platform, a bare tool on that platform can be the smarter purchase.
A brushless motor is the other spec worth understanding. In general terms, a brushless motor uses electronic control instead of carbon brushes that wear down; the listing's statement of it is a feature to note, not proof of any performance edge. In this catalog, 83 percent of models state a brushless motor. Check what each listing states, and what it leaves out.
How to choose
Bare tool or kit
A bare tool is listed as the saw only. A kit adds a battery and charger, and sometimes a bag or case. Read the listing's in-the-box line, because only what it states is included. If you own compatible batteries, a bare tool avoids paying twice; if you are starting fresh, a kit is the simpler route.
Battery platform
A platform is a family of batteries and chargers that work across a brand's tools. Choosing a saw on a platform you already own can save the cost of another battery. Starting from scratch, consider which other tools you might add later, since the catalog lists M18 most often at 25 models.
Voltage and battery capacity
Voltage and amp-hours are both stated in listings. In general, higher voltage and higher amp-hours describe a bigger battery energy store, which usually means a larger, heavier pack. Compare the numbers in the listing, and remember that this describes the battery, not how fast or how long any specific saw will cut.
Brushless motor
A brushless motor replaces carbon brushes with electronic control. In this catalog, 83 percent of models state it. Treat it as a listed feature and check that the listing actually says yes, since some listings leave specifications out. It is one line on the spec sheet, not a promise of results.
Price against what you get
Compare like with like: a bare tool at a low price and a kit at a higher price are not the same purchase. Add the cost of any battery or charger the listing does not include before judging value.
Our picks from the catalog
These picks come from what the listings state: prices, specifications and kit contents. Each says which listed facts it is based on.
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless HACKZALL Reciprocating Saw Kit w/ One 4. 0Ah Batteries Charger, Bag, &Light
$279.00 · Kit · Voltage: 12 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M12 · Battery capacity: 4 Ah
This Milwaukee M12 FUEL HACKZALL kit is listed at $279.00, inside the middle half of prices in this group. The pick rests on having the most listed specifications and kit items for the price: 12 V, a brushless motor stated in the listing, the M12 platform and a 4 Ah battery. The listing states one battery, a charger and a case or bag. Keep in mind that it is a 12 V saw on the M12 platform, which is a different battery family from the M18 saws also listed.
Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Compact One-Handed Recip Saw (Tool Only) w/ LINK Standard Tool Box & Recip Blade Set (35-Pc)
$208.94 · · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: ONE+ 18V
This Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V compact one-handed saw is listed at $208.94, the lowest price among the 51 models whose listings state at least two specifications. It states 18 V, a brushless motor and the ONE+ 18V platform, and the listing mentions a case or bag. The thing to keep in mind is that it is a bare tool, listed as the tool only. It states no battery capacity, so you would need a compatible battery and charger of your own.
DeWalt FLEXVOLT 60-Volt MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Reciprocating Saw with FLEXVOLT 12.0 Ah Battery Pack
$299 to $628 · Kit · Voltage: 60 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: FLEXVOLT 60V MAX · Battery capacity: 12 Ah
This DeWalt FLEXVOLT 60-volt saw earns the heavy use label because it has the highest listed battery energy in this group, at 60 V and 12 Ah, with a brushless motor stated in the listing. It is listed as a kit with a FLEXVOLT 12.0 Ah battery pack, at a price shown as $299 to $628.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless SAWZALL Reciprocating Saw Kit w/ 5. 0Ah Battery/Charger & PACKOUT Tool-Box
$249 to $608 · Kit · Voltage: 18 V · Brushless motor: Yes (stated in the listing) · Battery platform: M18 · Battery capacity: 5 Ah
This Milwaukee M18 FUEL SAWZALL kit is the pick for most complete kit contents stated. The listing states one battery, a charger and a case or bag, with 18 V, a brushless motor stated in the listing, the M18 platform and a 5 Ah battery. The price is shown as $249 to $608. Keep in mind the wide price span: confirm which configuration the price you see belongs to before comparing it with other kits.
Skip it if...
- Skip a bare tool if you do not already own a compatible battery and charger, since the listing offers the tool only.
- Skip the Ryobi bare tool pick if you want a battery-capacity figure up front, because its listing states none.
- Skip any listing that does not state its configuration if you need certainty about what is included; 8 of 53 models here leave it unstated.
- Skip a new kit if you already own batteries on that platform and would only be duplicating them.
Buying checklist
- Decide bare tool or kit before comparing prices.
- Check the in-the-box line for battery, charger and case.
- Confirm the battery platform matches any batteries you own.
- Compare voltage and amp-hours between listings.
- Verify the listing states a brushless motor if you want one.
- Add the cost of any missing battery or charger to the price.
- Check whether the price shown is a single price or a range.
- Look for the model number so you can match the exact configuration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a bare tool and a kit?
A bare tool is listed as the saw only, without a battery or charger. A kit bundles the saw with at least one battery and a charger, and sometimes a bag or case. In this catalog, 38 models are listed as kits, 7 as bare tools, and 8 do not state a configuration.
How many reciprocating saws are listed, and what do they cost?
The catalog lists 53 reciprocating saw models. Of those models, 47 are cordless. Prices vary by configuration, so a bare tool and a kit are not directly comparable.
What is a battery platform?
A battery platform is a family of batteries and chargers that work across a brand's tools. Examples in this catalog are M18 with 25 models, M12 with 5, 18V with 4 and ONE+ 18V with 3. Matching a saw to a platform you own can avoid buying another battery.
What does a brushless motor mean?
In general terms, a brushless motor uses electronic control rather than carbon brushes. In this catalog, 83 percent of models state a brushless motor. It is a listed feature, so check that the specific listing says yes rather than assuming it.
Does a kit always include a battery and charger?
Only when the listing says so. The two Milwaukee picks state one battery, a charger and a case or bag. The DeWalt pick lists a battery pack but gives no in-the-box line. The Ryobi pick is a bare tool, listed as the tool only.