The Best Cordless Reciprocating Saw in Australia

Pulling out old timber or tackling a renovation is enough work without buying the wrong cordless reciprocating saw. Our first choice is the Makita DJR187Z: its stated wood-cutting capacity and independent recommendation make it the strongest starting point here for buyers wanting more capability.

Spend less on the Stanley FATMAX V20 if budget comes first. For awkward spaces and a one-handed design, look at the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall. All seven picks are in stock at Amazon Australia at our latest check.

The best cordless reciprocating saws in Australia

• Best overall for cutting capability: Makita DJR187Z
• Best for Bosch Professional 18V owners: Bosch GSA 18 V-LI
• Best for one-handed access: Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall
• Best budget pick: Stanley FATMAX V20
• Best for vibration control: Makita DJR189Z
• Best for flush-cutting flexibility: DeWalt DCS367N-XJ
• Best for jigsaw blade compatibility: HiKOKI CR18DA(H4Z)

Product		Price
	Makita 18V LXT Brushless Reciprocating Saw DJR187Z Tool Skin Only		Unavailable
	Bosch Professional Bosch GSA 18 V-LI (060164J007)	from $388.82 at Amazon	$388.82 at Amazon
	Milwaukee M18FHZ-0 18V FUEL Brushless Hackzall Reciprocating Saw Skin Only	from $219.00 at Amazon	$219.00 at Amazon
	STANLEY FATMAX V20 (SFMCS300B-XJ)	from $179.00 at Amazon	$179.00 at Amazon
	Makita DJR189Z 18V Brushless Cordless Reciprocating Saw	from $239.00 at Amazon	$239.00 at Amazon
	DeWalt 18V XR Li-Ion Brushless Compact Reciprocating Saw (DCS367N-XJ)		Unavailable
	HiKOKI CR18DA(H4Z) 18V Li-ion Brushless Reciprocating Saw Skin Only	from $169.00 at Amazon	$169.00 at Amazon

1. Best overall for cutting capability: Makita DJR187Z

If substantial timber cuts are the reason you’re buying, start with the Makita DJR187Z. Makita lists a 255 mm wood-cutting capacity, giving you a clear specification to match against the work ahead rather than relying on a vague promise of power.

homebuilding.co.uk recommends it as a higher-performance brushless upgrade for buyers wanting more capability than the budget DJR186Z. That recommendation puts it ahead of the models selected on Amazon sales rank alone.

Our take: the cutting capacity is the reason to choose it; the vibration-reducing crank mechanism is a useful supporting feature. Makita says the mechanism reduces vibration, but that doesn’t tell us how comfortable it will be for you.

The catch is the total cost. It’s dearer than the Stanley, HiKOKI and Milwaukee picks, and the tool-skin listing means you need to budget for a battery and charger unless you already have the compatible equipment.

Our verdict: Buy the DJR187Z if cutting capability matters more than getting the lowest price. For occasional work on a smaller budget, we’d start with the Stanley instead.

2. Best for Bosch Professional 18V owners: Bosch GSA 18 V-LI

Already own compatible Bosch Professional 18V batteries and want to add a demolition saw? The Bosch GSA 18 V-LI makes more sense for you than for someone buying their first cordless tool. Bosch states that its Professional batteries work with new and existing tools in the same voltage class.

The SDS blade-change mechanism should keep switching blades straightforward. The included L-BOXX also gives you a case for storage and transport, rather than another loose tool to find room for.

An Australian owner on productreview.com.au recommends it for interior-wall demolition and flush-cutting bolts. That support rests on one review, so don’t mistake it for broad owner approval.

It’s the most expensive pick in this guide, without a battery or charger. Our take: existing battery compatibility is what makes the price worth considering. Starting a new tool system around this saw is harder to justify.

Our verdict: Choose the Bosch if you’ve already invested in its compatible Professional 18V system. Otherwise, the Makita DJR187Z is our preferred starting point.

3. Best for one-handed access: Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall

When there isn’t much room around the cut, the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall is the one we’d consider first. Milwaukee’s compact, one-handed design addresses access directly, rather than asking you to work around a larger saw.

Milwaukee also says its dual-gear counterbalance mechanism reduces vibration compared with traditional reciprocating saws. That’s a useful design aim, though it doesn’t establish a measured advantage over the other picks here.

The objection is buying a skin when you need a complete setup. This isn’t a ready-to-go kit, so account for compatible battery and charging equipment.

Our verdict: Buy the Hackzall for its compact, one-handed layout. That’s a clearer reason to choose it than Milwaukee’s broad cutting-performance claims.

4. Best budget pick: Stanley FATMAX V20

An occasional demolition job doesn’t automatically justify an expensive saw. The Stanley FATMAX V20 is our budget choice because it costs less than every other pick here while retaining variable-speed control and tool-free blade changes.

Those are useful features to keep at this price: you can adjust speed for the task and change blades without reaching for another tool. Stanley lists demolition, plasterboard, timber and metal among its applications.

Our take: the price and practical controls make it worth considering. It’s supplied as saw only, which makes the low purchase price more attractive if you already have the compatible V20 equipment, and less representative of your total spend if you don’t.

Our verdict: This is the one we’d choose when keeping the cost down matters most. Compare the complete setup cost before treating the saw-only price as your budget.

5. Best for vibration control: Makita DJR189Z

If you’re concerned about strain during cutting, the Makita DJR189Z deserves a look. Makita says its integrated counterweight reduces vibration and operator fatigue, making comfort the clearest reason to consider this model.

Its constant-speed control is intended to maintain speed under heavy load. We’d put more weight on those two features than on a long list of general performance promises.

The catch is the fixed shoe. If you want to adjust the shoe position, choose a model that explicitly offers that facility, such as the HiKOKI below.

Our verdict: Choose the DJR189Z if vibration-reducing design is your priority. Skip it if shoe adjustment matters more to the work you have planned.

6. Best for flush-cutting flexibility: DeWalt DCS367N-XJ

A cut close to a surface can make blade positioning more important than a headline speed figure. The DeWalt DCS367N-XJ is our choice for that problem: DeWalt says its four-position blade clamp allows flush cutting and greater versatility.

The compact body is also designed to improve access to hard-to-reach cuts. Together, those features give you a specific reason to pay more than you would for the Stanley or HiKOKI.

Don’t pay the extra simply because it says XR on the listing. Pay it because the blade positions solve a job you need to do, and check the package contents before buying.

Our verdict: Buy the DeWalt when flush-cutting flexibility is worth the extra cost to you. For straightforward jobs on a tight budget, we’d save the money.

7. Best for jigsaw blade compatibility: HiKOKI CR18DA(H4Z)

If jigsaw blade compatibility is on your shopping list, the HiKOKI CR18DA(H4Z) gives you a reason to look beyond the cheaper Stanley. HiKOKI also lists tool-less shoe adjustment, so you can change the shoe position without a separate tool.

We wouldn’t stretch the compatibility claim into a promise that it replaces a jigsaw. Check the blade requirements and intended application before choosing it for that feature.

It’s cheaper than five of the other picks, but costs more than the Stanley and comes as a tool skin only.

Our verdict: Choose the HiKOKI for its blade compatibility and adjustable shoe. If neither feature matters to you, the Stanley is the better budget choice.

Cordless reciprocating saw buying guide

If you already own cordless tools, start with the battery

A battery reciprocating saw can be a cheaper addition when you already have compatible batteries and a charger. Match the exact system, not just the voltage or brand name. Bosch’s stated compatibility here is with its Professional tools in the same voltage class; Stanley specifies its FATMAX V20 system.

For a first purchase, compare the cost of everything needed to get working. A tool skin and a complete kit aren’t equivalent buys.

If the cut is awkward to reach, prioritise access

Look for a design that addresses the space around your cut. The Milwaukee lists a compact, one-handed layout; DeWalt lists a compact body and multiple blade positions for flush cutting.

Choose the feature that solves your access problem. A smaller-looking saw alone doesn’t tell you whether the blade can reach the required position.

If you’re cutting substantial timber, check capacity

Match the stated cutting capacity to the material dimensions. The Makita DJR187Z lists a wood capacity of 255 mm, which is more useful for planning a job than an unqualified claim that a saw is powerful.

Don’t choose the best reciprocating saw for your work on strokes per minute alone. A no-load speed figure doesn’t tell you how quickly it will complete your particular cut.

If handling worries you, look beyond motor specifications

Vibration-reducing mechanisms, handle design and balance deserve attention. Several picks list features intended to improve handling, but the supplied information doesn’t establish which is the most comfortable.

Use those features to narrow the shortlist, then check dimensions and weight in the listing or manual before ordering.

If you’ll change tasks often, make adjustments easy

Tool-free blade changes save you needing another tool for the change. Shoe adjustment is a separate feature: the HiKOKI lists it, while the Makita DJR189Z has a fixed shoe.

Pick blades specified for the material and compatible with the exact saw. A blade fitting the saw doesn’t mean it’s right for every job.

If you’re comparing a cordless and an electric reciprocating saw

These reviews cover battery-powered models. If you’re deciding between a cordless saw and a mains-powered electric reciprocating saw, consider where you’ll work and whether managing batteries suits you. This guide doesn’t rank corded alternatives.

How we chose

These picks are based on available owner ratings, independent recommendations, maker specifications, and price and stock checks. We found no independent owner rating for any of these seven models at the retailers we check. The Makita DJR187Z and Bosch GSA 18 V-LI lead on their listed recommendations; the other five are included because they sell well on Amazon Australia and follow in best-seller rank order. Sales rank isn’t an owner rating.

When we checked Amazon Australia, the listed ranks were:

• Milwaukee M18 FUEL Hackzall: ranked number 2 in Power Saws.
• Stanley FATMAX V20: ranked number 6 in Power Saws.
• Makita DJR189Z: ranked number 12 in Power Saws.
• DeWalt DCS367N-XJ: ranked number 15 in Power Saws.
• HiKOKI CR18DA(H4Z): ranked number 16 in Power Saws.
• Makita DJR187Z: ranked number 47 in Power Saws.

Amazon Australia is the only retailer shown as stocking each pick in our data. Check the warranty and returns terms before ordering.

Related buying guides

• The Best Circular Saws
• The Best Cordless Impact Wrenches
• The Best Cordless Electric Screwdrivers
• The Best Cordless Drills
• The Best Sanders
• The Best Angle Grinders