Affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate, Atelier Malin earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.
DEWALT 20V MAX DCS380B (tool only)
For pruning, breaking down pallets and cutting pipe without paying for a pro saw
Check the price on Amazon- 1-1/8-in stroke at up to 3,000 SPM
- 4.7/5 from 8,596 Amazon.com ratings
- Tool-free 4-position blade clamp
Other options
This article contains affiliate links. Learn more. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
🗓️ Prices checked on October 27, 2026 on Amazon.com.
Written by Julien · Reviewed by Nadia on 10/27/2026 (prices, links and availability checked) — our editorial pen names
The 30-second version
- Yard work, pallets, PVC pipe, a few cuts a month: the DEWALT DCS380B, the best blade speed for the money in this guide.
- You already own RYOBI ONE+ batteries: the RYOBI PCL515B, the lightest saw here and one of the cheapest.
- Demolition, roots, opening up walls: the Makita XRJ05Z and its 1-1/4-inch stroke, if you can live with 8.2 lb at arm’s length.
- Overhead work and tight spots between studs: the DEWALT DCS367B, a compact 14.5-inch saw that weighs 5 lb without its battery.
- All five are sold as bare tools (no battery, no charger): pick your battery platform first.
Our pick: the DEWALT 20V MAX DCS380B, shipped and sold by Amazon.com, in stock at $99.00 tool only (list price $159.00, checked October 27, 2026), rated 4.7/5 from 8,596 ratings. No DEWALT battery at home? The DEWALT 20V MAX starter kit with a POWERSTACK compact battery and charger was $71.99 the same day.
See the DEWALT DCS380B on Amazon →Every guide on cutting tools is in our Cutting & Sawing section.
Which cordless reciprocating saw for which job? The numbers side by side
Specs published by the manufacturers on their Amazon.com listings; prices, ratings and stock checked on Amazon.com on October 27, 2026, tool only.
| Model | Stroke | Max speed | Weight | Amazon rating | Price (Oct 27, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DCS380B ✅ | 1-1/8 in | 3,000 SPM | 5.3 lb, no battery | 4.7/5 (8,596) | $99.00 · See price |
| RYOBI ONE+ PCL515B | 1 in | 3,400 SPM | 3.8 lb, no battery | 4.6/5 (1,681) | $69.97 · See price |
| Makita XRJ05Z (brushless) | 1-1/4 in | 3,000 SPM | 8.2 lb with battery | 4.8/5 (1,122) | $193.94 · See price |
| DEWALT DCS367B XR compact | 1-1/8 in | 2,900 SPM | 5 lb, no battery | 4.8/5 (10,874) | $199.00 · See price |
| BLACK+DECKER BDCR20B | 7/8 in | 3,000 SPM | not published* | 4.6/5 (4,099) | $59.00 · See price |
* BLACK+DECKER calls it “compact and lightweight” but the listing gives no weight; we don’t print a number we couldn’t confirm. Weights are those given by each listing or by the manufacturer (DEWALT for the DCS367B, Makita for the XRJ05Z with battery).
What each saw is good at
DEWALT DCS380B: the fastest blade for the price
DEWALT rates it at up to 3,000 strokes per minute with a 1-1/8-inch stroke, on a variable-speed trigger. The 4-position blade clamp lets you mount the blade teeth up or down for flush cuts, with no tool needed, and the pivoting shoe controls depth and spreads blade wear. It runs on every DEWALT 20V MAX battery and carries a 3-year limited warranty. Shipped and sold by Amazon.com, in stock, $99.00 tool only on October 27, 2026 (4.7/5, 8,596 ratings), the #1 seller in Amazon’s reciprocating saw category that day.
See the price (tool only) → See the DEWALT battery + charger starter kit ($71.99) →RYOBI ONE+ PCL515B: the lightest, for ONE+ owners
The highest stroke rate in this guide (3,400 SPM) with a 1-inch stroke, and a listed weight of 3.8 lb without the battery, about 1.5 lb less than the DEWALT. It runs on every RYOBI ONE+ 18V battery, a platform with hundreds of tools. On October 27, 2026 it was $69.97 from a third-party seller, with 9 units left (4.6/5, 1,681 ratings).
See the price →Makita XRJ05Z: the demolition saw
With a 1-1/4-inch stroke, the XRJ05Z removes more material per pass than any other saw here. Its brushless motor has two speed ranges, 0-2,300 and 0-3,000 SPM, the blade changes without tools, and it measures 17-1/4 inches long. The trade-off: 8.2 lb with an 18V LXT battery, according to the Makita listing. Shipped and sold by Amazon.com, in stock, $193.94 on October 27, 2026 (list price $219.00; 4.8/5, 1,122 ratings).
See the price →DEWALT DCS367B XR: the easiest on your arms
DEWALT’s compact brushless saw: 14.5 inches long so it fits between studs, 5 lb without the battery, a 1-1/8-inch stroke and up to 2,900 SPM. DEWALT claims up to 2.5x more runtime than an older DEWALT model. It’s the most-rated saw in this guide. Shipped and sold by Amazon.com, in stock, $199.00 on October 27, 2026 (4.8/5, 10,874 ratings). Worth it if you cut overhead or all day; overkill for a few cuts a month.
See the price →BLACK+DECKER BDCR20B: the cheapest, for occasional cuts
A 7/8-inch stroke at up to 3,000 SPM, tool-free blade changes, a pivoting shoe and an electric brake. It runs on BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX POWERCONNECT batteries. The cheapest saw here at $59.00 on October 27, 2026, shipped and sold by Amazon.com (4.6/5, 4,099 ratings), but also the one whose blade travels least per second.
See the price →Blade speed and weight: what the spec sheets don’t calculate
Listings give you two separate numbers, stroke length and strokes per minute. Multiply them and you get what really drives cutting speed: how far the blade travels in one second, at no load.
- Makita XRJ05Z: 1-1/4 in × 3,000 SPM = 62.5 in/s
- RYOBI PCL515B: 1 in × 3,400 SPM = 56.7 in/s
- DEWALT DCS380B: 1-1/8 in × 3,000 SPM = 56.3 in/s
- DEWALT DCS367B: 1-1/8 in × 2,900 SPM = 54.4 in/s
- BLACK+DECKER BDCR20B: 7/8 in × 3,000 SPM = 43.8 in/s
It’s a theoretical value: under load, speed drops, and faster on a small motor. But it ranks the saws in the right order, and it shows that the $99 DEWALT matches the $199 compact XR on raw blade speed. What the XR buys you is size, weight and runtime, not speed.
Weight limits your cutting time more than the battery does. A long afternoon of demolition is hard on your hands and forearms, and vibration figures are rarely published on US listings. Weight is the number you can compare: 5 lb for the compact DCS367B without battery, 8.2 lb for the Makita with one. If you cut overhead, buy light; if you demolish, buy stroke, and take breaks.
Still deciding between a reciprocating saw and a jigsaw? Our guide to the best jigsaw covers clean cuts and curves; this page is about rough, fast cuts.
Who should skip it
- If you need clean, square cuts in boards or plywood: a reciprocating saw cuts fast but rough. Get a circular saw; see our best circular saw guide.
- If you have no battery yet and only one job planned: budget the saw plus a battery and charger, or a kit, before comparing prices.
- If you cut all day overhead: skip the heavy demolition saws and go compact.
How we choose
Malin: “First I check which batteries are already on the workbench. Then I multiply stroke by speed, because every brand measures cutting capacity its own way. And if I’m tearing out a wall all weekend, I look at weight before price.”
Method: we have not run these saws in our own shop. This guide combines specs published by DEWALT, Makita, RYOBI and BLACK+DECKER, buyer ratings, and Amazon.com listings (prices, ratings, sellers, stock), all checked on October 27, 2026. Blade speeds are our own calculations.
FAQ
Which cordless reciprocating saw is best for pruning branches?
For branches up to about 4 inches thick, a 1 to 1-1/8-inch stroke is enough: the DEWALT DCS380B or the RYOBI PCL515B. Use a coarse wood or pruning blade, and pick the lighter RYOBI if you work with your arms raised.
Can a reciprocating saw cut metal?
Yes, with a bi-metal blade and a lower speed setting: nail-embedded wood, pipe and conduit are everyday jobs for a reciprocating saw. For sheet metal or a clean cut in steel, an angle grinder is more precise.
Are DEWALT 20V MAX batteries compatible with the DCS380B and the DCS367B?
Yes. Both saws are part of the DEWALT 20V MAX platform and take the same batteries. RYOBI ONE+, Makita 18V LXT and BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX batteries are not interchangeable with DEWALT or with each other.
Reciprocating saw or jigsaw: which should I buy first?
A jigsaw cuts panels cleanly and follows curves. A reciprocating saw demolishes, prunes and cuts where nothing else fits, but the cut is rough. For furniture and projects, start with a jigsaw; for yard work and renovation, start with a reciprocating saw.
How much does a cordless reciprocating saw really cost?
The saws here are sold without a battery. On October 27, 2026, the DEWALT DCS380B was $99.00 and the DEWALT 20V MAX starter kit with a compact battery and charger was $71.99, so $170.99 if you start from zero.
Our verdict
For most yards and workshops, the DEWALT DCS380B is the right buy: one of the fastest blades in this guide, 4.7 out of 5 from more than 8,500 ratings, and $99.00 tool only on October 27, 2026. Already on RYOBI ONE+? Get the PCL515B at $69.97. For demolition, take the Makita XRJ05Z ($193.94) and its 1-1/4-inch stroke. Cutting overhead a lot? The compact DEWALT DCS367B ($199.00) is worth the extra.
See the DEWALT DCS380B on Amazon →For straight, clean cuts in panels, see our best jigsaw guide or our best circular saw guide. Building your battery platform? Our best cordless drill guide shows which kits share batteries with these saws. For long sessions, protect your hearing: OSHA explains the risks on its occupational noise page.
All our tool picks are on the recommended tools page.
Sources: DEWALT, DCS380B product page · DEWALT, DCS367B product page · Makita USA, XRJ05Z product page · OSHA, occupational noise exposure · Amazon.com product listings of the six products cited, checked October 27, 2026 (no link).