Best Reciprocating Saw Australia: 6 Picks for First-Home Buyers

Which reciprocating saw should you actually buy?

A reciprocating saw is the tool you reach for when neatness does not matter and speed does. Pruning storm branches, ripping out an old vanity, cutting a rusted bolt flush, trimming a door frame during a reno: this is the demolition and rough-cut workhorse of an Australian garage. For a first-home buyer building a tool kit from scratch, the honest question is not which saw a tradie would grab, but which one gives you real cutting power without a $500 outlay or a battery platform you will regret. We studied the reciprocating saws available on Amazon Australia right now, cross-checked their listed specs, star ratings and review counts, and narrowed the field to six that suit different budgets and jobs. Our overall pick is the Makita DJR188Z 18V LXT Brushless, a compact brushless saw that punches well above its size, but the right saw for you depends on whether you already own cordless batteries, how often you will use it, and whether you want a full-size two-handed saw or a nimble one-handed one.

The short answer for busy buyers

If you want the best all-round cordless saw and you are happy to add an 18V battery, buy the Makita DJR188Z: a brushless motor, tool-free blade changes and a genuinely compact body make it the one most people will be glad they bought. If you are starting with no batteries and want something that works out of the box, the BLACK+DECKER BDCR20C kit includes a 20V battery and charger and is the most-reviewed saw on this list by a wide margin, which makes it the safest first-tool bet. And if you just need occasional cutting power for the least money, the WORX WX543.9 is the cheapest saw we recommend here. Each of these is covered in full below, along with a corded option, a one-handed pruning saw and a trade-grade one-hander.

How our reciprocating saw picks compare

Here is the quick side-by-side. Tap any name to see the current price and reviews on Amazon Australia. Prices move daily, so treat the card figures as the source of truth and this table as the shortlist.

How we evaluated these reciprocating saws

NestPath does not run a workshop or bench-test tools. We research and study what is actually for sale to Australian buyers and read it against the listing data, so you get an honest shortlist rather than a lab report. Here is what shaped these picks.

• Real availability and ratings on Amazon AU. Every pick is in stock for Australian delivery with a genuine star rating and a meaningful number of reviews, checked at the listing level.
• Specs taken only as the listing states them. Voltage, wattage, strokes per minute, brushless motors and blade systems are quoted from each product page, not from our own cutting trials.
• Value across the whole range. We wanted a saw for a first-timer with no batteries, a corded option, a budget pick and a couple of premium one-handers, not six near-identical tools.
• Battery ecosystem sense. Where a saw is a bare tool, we flag it clearly so you know a battery and charger are an extra cost, and we favour platforms you can grow into.

Best reciprocating saw overall: Makita DJR188Z 18V LXT Brushless

The Makita DJR188Z is the saw we would point most first-home buyers toward once they have decided to invest in a cordless platform. It runs an 18V brushless motor rated to 3,000 strokes per minute with a variable-speed trigger, so it feathers from a slow, controlled start into full demolition speed. The listing quotes a cutting capacity of 255mm in wood and 130mm in mild-steel pipe, which comfortably covers fence posts, joists, old plumbing and pruning. It is genuinely compact and, at about 2.55kg bare, light enough to hold overhead on a ladder without your forearms giving out. Blade changes are tool-free, and there is an LED work light and a lock-off to stop accidental triggering. It carries a 4.8-star rating, among the highest here.

The one thing to be clear about: this is a bare tool, or "skin" in Australian tool-speak, so it does not include a battery or charger. That is normal for Makita LXT and it is the reason the saw itself is priced where it is. If you already own, or plan to own, other Makita 18V tools such as a drill or impact driver, the batteries are shared and the DJR188Z becomes the obvious buy. If this is your very first cordless tool and you have no batteries at all, factor in the cost of an 18V LXT battery and charger, or look at the BLACK+DECKER kit below. The Makita's brushless motor is the payoff over cheaper brushed saws: more runtime per charge, cooler running and less to wear out. If you want the matching drill for the same battery, our best cordless drill guide covers the Makita and its rivals.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

No battery or charger in the box will sting if you are starting fresh, and Makita's warranty terms explicitly warn against non-genuine batteries. There is no orbital-action setting, which purpose-built demolition saws offer for faster, rougher wood cuts. For a general-purpose home saw, neither is a reason to walk away.

Best value cordless kit for your first tool: BLACK+DECKER BDCR20C

If the Makita's bare-tool pricing gives you pause, the BLACK+DECKER BDCR20C is the answer. It is a complete 20V MAX kit that includes the saw, a wood-cutting blade, a 20V lithium battery and a charger, so you open the box, clip in the battery and start cutting. That "ready to go" completeness, plus a friendly price, is why it is the most-reviewed saw on this entire list by a wide margin, with thousands of ratings behind its 4.6-star average. It has a variable-speed trigger, an electric brake for control, tool-free blade changes and a pivoting shoe to steady the cut. For a homeowner who mostly needs to prune branches, break down bulky waste and tackle the odd reno job, it does the lot.

This is the pick for the buyer who has no cordless tools yet and does not want to think about ecosystems. BLACK+DECKER's 20V MAX batteries also run a large range of affordable garden and DIY tools, so the platform grows with you cheaply. It is not a brushless, trade-grade saw and it is not pretending to be: reviewers routinely describe it as light, easy to handle one or two-handed, and plenty powerful for branches up to a few inches thick, while noting the single included blade is basic and worth supplementing. For the money, and given it arrives cut-ready with a battery, it is the sensible default first saw.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The brushed motor means shorter runtime and a bit more heat than a brushless saw under heavy load, so it is happier with intermittent home jobs than all-day demolition. The bundled blade is short and flexes on thicker limbs; a small pack of longer wood and metal blades transforms it. Neither undoes the value of a battery-included kit at this price.

Best budget reciprocating saw: WORX WX543.9 20V PowerShare

The WORX WX543.9 is the cheapest saw we are comfortable recommending, and it earns its place rather than just being the low number on the page. It sits on the WORX 20V PowerShare platform, runs a variable-speed motor to around 2,600 strokes per minute, and includes something the pricier saws here leave out: a four-position pendulum, or orbital, setting that lets you dial the aggression up for fast wood cuts or down for a cleaner finish. Blade changes are tool-free, there is a dust-clearing feature to keep your cut line visible, and it holds a solid 4.7-star rating across more than a thousand reviews. For occasional pruning, breaking down pallets and light demolition, it is a lot of saw for a little money.

The catch is the same one to weigh with the Makita: the WX543.9 is a bare tool, so a PowerShare battery and charger are extra. If you already own WORX 20V garden or DIY gear, the batteries drop straight in and this becomes a near-unbeatable budget buy. If not, add the battery cost to the sticker and it still lands below most of the field. It is the right call for a buyer who wants cutting power in the shed for the odd weekend job and does not want to spend big. The orbital action is a genuinely useful feature to find at this price and something even some dearer saws skip.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The listing's spec sheet is a little muddled about its power source, and as a bare tool it needs a PowerShare battery to run, so read it as "cheapest entry, add a battery" rather than a plug-in-and-go saw. The WORX platform is not as widely stocked in trade circles as Makita or Milwaukee. For a home user on a budget, it is more than enough.

Best corded reciprocating saw: Bosch PSA 700 E

Not everyone wants to manage batteries, and for a saw that lives in the shed and comes out a few times a year, corded still makes a lot of sense. The Bosch PSA 700 E is a 710W mains-powered saw that never runs flat, never needs a charger and delivers constant, unlimited power for as long as you are cutting. The listing quotes a cutting capacity of 150mm in wood and 10mm in steel, with a variable-speed trigger to about 1,900 strokes per minute and a tool-free blade change. It comes with a wood blade in the box, weighs about 3.2kg, and carries a 4.6-star rating from thousands of buyers, many of whom bought it specifically for tree and hedge work.

Corded suits a specific but common buyer: someone who does not already own a cordless battery platform, who values never worrying about charge, and who mostly works within reach of a power point or an extension lead. Because all the money goes into the motor rather than a battery and charger, you get a lot of continuous cutting power for a modest outlay, and there is no battery to degrade over the years the tool sits idle. The trade-off is obvious the first time you want to trim a branch at the back of the block: you are tethered to a lead. For garage-based and near-house jobs, that is a fair deal.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The cord limits reach and rules it out for roof or far-fence work without a long extension lead, and it ships in a cardboard box rather than a case. Its stroke rate is lower than the cordless brushless saws here, so it is steady rather than savage. For a corded shed saw at this price, those are easy to live with.

Best one-handed saw for pruning and tight spaces: CRAFTSMAN V20 CMCS340B

Full-size reciprocating saws are two-handed tools. Sometimes you want the opposite: a compact, one-handed saw you can steer into a hedge, under a sink or between studs with a single hand while the other holds the branch or steadies you on a ladder. The CRAFTSMAN V20 CMCS340B is exactly that. It weighs about 1.5kg, measures under 33cm front to back, and the listing quotes a 19mm (three-quarter inch) stroke at up to 2,800 strokes per minute. It has a variable-speed trigger, a tool-free blade release and a pivoting shoe, and CRAFTSMAN pitches it squarely at pruning small limbs and quick cuts in awkward spots. It holds a 4.8-star rating, among the highest on this list.

This is the saw for the buyer who already has, or wants to start, a CRAFTSMAN V20 kit, and whose main jobs are garden pruning and one-handed access work rather than heavy demolition. Being able to reach and cut with one hand genuinely changes how comfortable ladder and overhead work feels. It is a bare tool, so a V20 battery and charger are extra, and it will not chew through a fence post as fast as a full-size saw. But for what it is designed to do, tidy, controllable one-handed cutting, it is a pleasure to use and priced sensibly.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The shorter stroke and one-handed body mean it is slower on thick, dense timber than a two-handed saw, and as a bare tool it needs a V20 battery to run. Its review count is the smallest of our picks, though the rating is strong. As a dedicated pruning and access saw, it is well judged.

Best one-handed saw for trade-grade use: Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall

At the top of the one-handed class sits the Milwaukee 2719-20 M18 FUEL Hackzall, and it is the priciest saw among our picks for a reason. It pairs Milwaukee's POWERSTATE brushless motor with REDLINK overload protection and REDLITHIUM battery smarts, in a one-handed body that weighs under 2kg. A pivoting shoe keeps it planted for smoother cuts with less bucking and vibration, and the brushless motor gives it cutting speed and power that belie its compact size. It carries a 4.8-star rating and slots straight into the huge M18 battery ecosystem that runs across Milwaukee's trade tool range.

This is the pick for the serious DIYer or trade buyer who is already on, or committed to joining, the Milwaukee M18 platform and wants a compact demolition saw that will shrug off years of hard use. It is a bare tool, so factor in an M18 battery and charger, which pushes the true cost up further. But if you value the brushless durability, the overload protection and the ability to share batteries across a growing kit of professional tools, it is the most capable one-hander here. For occasional home use it is more saw, and more money, than you need; for regular demanding work it is worth it.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is the dearest saw on this list and, as a bare tool, the M18 battery and charger add meaningfully to the outlay. A one-handed body will never match a full-size two-handed saw on the very thickest cuts. For anyone invested in Milwaukee M18, those are expected trade-offs rather than faults.

What should you look for in a reciprocating saw?

A reciprocating saw is a simple tool, but a handful of features decide whether you enjoy owning it. Here is what matters for a home buyer.

• Corded or cordless. Corded saws give unlimited, constant power and never go flat, which suits a shed tool near a power point. Cordless 18V or 20V saws give you freedom to work anywhere, at the cost of buying batteries. If you already own a cordless drill or garden tools, matching the same brand's battery is the smartest move.
• Brushless motor. Brushless motors, like those in the Makita and Milwaukee here, run cooler, last longer and squeeze more cutting per charge than brushed ones. They cost more, and for light occasional use a brushed saw such as the BLACK+DECKER is perfectly fine.
• Tool-only versus kit. A "bare tool" or "skin" is the saw alone, with no battery or charger; a "kit" includes them. Bare tools save money only if you already have compatible batteries. If you do not, a kit like the BLACK+DECKER is usually cheaper overall.
• Stroke length and speed. A longer stroke and higher strokes per minute cut faster through thick material. One-handed saws use shorter strokes for control; full-size saws use longer strokes for demolition.
• Tool-free blade change and orbital action. Every saw here changes blades without tools, which you will appreciate often. Orbital or pendulum action, which the WORX offers, adds a slight up-and-down swing for faster, rougher wood cuts.
• Anti-vibration and grip. A pivoting shoe and a cushioned grip cut fatigue and improve control, which matters most on longer jobs and overhead work. Pair the saw with proper eye protection from our safety glasses guide before you start.

One safety note that applies to every saw here: keep both hands on a full-size saw where the design allows, fit and check the blade with the tool switched off, wear eye and ear protection, and read the manual before your first cut. Reciprocating saw blades run hot and can grab in awkward material.

How do you care for a reciprocating saw?

Reciprocating saws are low-maintenance, but a few habits keep one cutting cleanly for years. Change blades before they go blunt, because a dull blade makes the motor work harder and produces rough, slow cuts; blades are cheap and consumable, so keep a small stock of wood and metal ones on hand. After demolition or pruning work, blow or brush sawdust out of the blade clamp and vents so grit does not build up. Wipe the shoe and body down, and check the blade clamp holds firmly with no play before each session. For cordless saws, store batteries at a partial charge in a cool, dry spot rather than flat or in a hot car, and avoid leaving them on the charger indefinitely. For the corded Bosch, check the lead for nicks and never carry the saw by the cord. Keep the tool and its blades together in a drawer or case so nothing walks off between jobs; a lockable tool chest earns its keep here.

You'll also want a few blades and safety basics

A reciprocating saw is only as good as the blade in it, and the single blade in most boxes is a starter at best. A small kit of the right blades, plus eye and ear protection, is the difference between a saw that frustrates you and one that flies through the job. These add-ons pair with any of the saws above.

• Bosch S 1531 L Top wood blades (5-pack) for fast general timber and pruning cuts.
• Bosch S 1122 BF flexible metal blade for cutting steel pipe, bolts and nails.
• LENOX bi-metal demolition blade for tough nail-embedded timber and reno tear-outs.
• Diablo bi-metal nail-embedded wood blade for cutting through old framing without wrecking the edge.
• Makita reciprocating saw blade set if you want a ready mix of wood and metal blades.
• Bosch RP125 wood-cutting blades (5-pack) for longer, coarse-tooth cuts through thick branches.

The competition: saws we looked at but did not pick

A few well-known saws just missed the cut for this list. The DeWalt 20V MAX XR Reciprocating Saw (DCS367B) is an excellent brushless bare tool with a large review base, but its bare-tool price on Amazon AU sits well above the comparable Makita, so it lost on value rather than quality. Ozito's PXC reciprocating saw is the genuine budget champion Australians rave about, but it is a Bunnings-exclusive line rather than an Amazon product, so it falls outside what we can link and stand behind here. The Milwaukee M18 Sawzall (2621-20) full-size saw is a superb trade demolition tool, but for a first-home buyer it is more saw than most jobs need, and we favoured the compact Hackzall from the same platform. Ryobi's ONE+ saw is a popular affordable cordless option too, though again it is stocked through Bunnings rather than Amazon. None of these are bad; they simply lost to picks that fit an Australian first-home buyer shopping on Amazon better.

Reciprocating saw questions, answered

Corded or cordless reciprocating saw: which is better?

Neither is universally better; it depends on how and where you cut. A corded saw like the Bosch PSA 700 E gives you constant, unlimited power and never goes flat, which suits a shed tool used near a power point. A cordless 18V or 20V saw frees you to work anywhere, including up ladders and at the back of the block, but you pay for batteries and manage charging. If you already own a cordless drill or garden tools, matching that brand's battery is usually the smartest and cheapest path.

What can you cut with a reciprocating saw?

With the right blade, a reciprocating saw cuts wood, tree branches, plastic pipe, metal pipe, bolts, nails, plasterboard and old framing timber. It is a rough-cut and demolition tool, not a finishing tool, so it is ideal for pruning, tear-outs and getting into awkward spots, but it will not give you the clean, straight edge of a circular saw or drop saw. The blade you fit matters more than the saw: use coarse wood blades for timber and pruning, and fine bi-metal blades for steel.

Do you need a brushless reciprocating saw?

Not necessarily. Brushless motors, like those in the Makita DJR188Z and Milwaukee Hackzall, run cooler, last longer and deliver more cutting per charge, which is worth paying for if you will use the saw often or for demanding work. For occasional home jobs, pruning a few times a year and the odd reno, a brushed saw such as the BLACK+DECKER kit is perfectly capable and saves you money. Match the motor to how hard you will actually work it.

What is the difference between a full-size saw and a one-handed hackzall?

A full-size reciprocating saw is a two-handed tool with a longer stroke, built for fast demolition and thick material. A one-handed saw, often called a hackzall, is compact and light enough to steer with a single hand, which suits pruning, overhead work and cutting in tight spaces where the other hand holds the material or steadies you. One-handers trade some outright cutting speed on thick timber for control and reach. Many buyers who do a lot of both eventually own one of each.

Are cheap reciprocating saws any good?

For occasional home use, yes. Budget saws such as the WORX WX543.9, and Bunnings-stocked lines like Ozito, cut branches, pallets and light demolition perfectly well and represent real value. Where they give ground to premium saws is in runtime, durability under heavy daily use, and refinement rather than in basic ability to cut. If you prune a few times a year and break down the odd bulky item, a budget saw is genuinely all you need; if you will lean on it hard and often, spend up for a brushless model.

Build out the rest of your garage

A reciprocating saw is one tool in a first-home kit. If you are setting up a garage from scratch, these NestPath guides cover the pieces that pair with it, from the cordless drill that shares your batteries to the boots and glasses that keep you safe.

• Best cordless drill in Australia
• Best circular saw in Australia
• Best jigsaw in Australia
• Best tool chest in Australia
• Best work boots in Australia
• Best safety glasses in Australia
• Best work gloves in Australia

About the author

Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first-home-buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first-home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au