Best Milwaukee Reciprocating Saws of 2026
The Milwaukee M18 FUEL Sawzall is the best Milwaukee reciprocating saw for heavy-duty demolition and demolition cutting. For compact work in tight spaces, the M12 Hackzall Kit with battery is the right tool.
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| # | Product | Award | Price | Our Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Milwaukee 2625-20 M18 18-Volt Lithium-I… |
Best Overall | $85 | 9.2 | Buy → |
| 2 |  Milwaukee M18 Fuel Sawzall Brushless Co… |
$149 | 8.9 | Buy → | |
| 3 |  Milwaukee M12 Hackzall Reciprocating Sa… |
Best Compact Kit | $149 | 8.5 | Buy → |
| 4 |  Milwaukee 2720-20 M18 FUEL Sawzall Reci… |
Best Professional | $347 | 8.2 | Buy → |
Showing 4 of 4 products
Milwaukee 2625-20 M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Hackzall Reciprocating Saw, Bare Tool
“Milwaukee M18 Hackzall 2625-20 is the entry-level M18 reciprocating saw — the one-handed design is genuinely useful for overhead demolition work where two-handed grip isn't possible.”
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Milwaukee M18 Fuel Sawzall Brushless Cordless Reciprocating Saw Bare
“The right reciprocating saw for Milwaukee M18 users — the FUEL brushless motor delivers professional cutting power that justifies the price for daily trade use.”
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Watch out for
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The Milwaukee M18 FUEL brushless Sawzall delivers FUEL-class brushless performance for M18 ecosystem users who already own compatible batteries. The POWERSTATE brushless motor produces higher SPM and better cuts-per-charge efficiency than standard non-FUEL Milwaukee reciprocating saws, with less heat buildup during extended demolition work where sustained cutting generates significant motor heat. At $149.00 tool-only, M18 battery and charger are needed if not already in the platform ($80-120 additional). For existing M18 trades users, this is the direct step up to brushless performance without a platform change. The Milwaukee 2720-20 at $347.80 provides a more advanced FUEL configuration with 4-speed trigger control and ANTI-VIBRATION for all-day professional use — $198 more for heavy daily trade applications. For regular professional use without maximum-demand daily applications, the $149.00 M18 FUEL provides professional cutting performance at a significantly lower cost.
Milwaukee M12 Hackzall Reciprocating Saw Kit 2420-21
“The Milwaukee M12 Hackzall is a specialist tool that no full-size saw replaces effectively in tight-space cutting. Under-sink plumbing cuts, demo work in attics and crawl spaces, one-handed branch tri”
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- One-handed design enables cutting in spaces where full-size saws can't fit
- Lightweight at 3.5 lbs — meaningfully easier for overhead and vertical cuts
- Kit includes battery and charger — ready to use out of the box
- 3-second blade change without tools for fast application switching
Watch out for
- 3/4-inch stroke length limits cutting speed vs full-size saws
- 12V platform means less runtime and power than 18V tools
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The Milwaukee M12 Hackzall's one-handed design enables cuts in spaces where a full-size reciprocating saw body cannot fit — under-sink plumbing, cuts in wall cavities with limited clearance, attic and crawl space work where two-handed operation is physically impossible. This access capability is what distinguishes it from every other saw on this page; no full-size model replaces it in confined-space applications. The kit includes battery and charger, making it immediately functional without additional investment for buyers new to M12. At 3.5 lbs it is significantly lighter than full-size reciprocating saws, reducing fatigue for overhead and vertical cuts. The 3/4" stroke length limits cutting speed versus full-size saws — this is a specialist access tool, not a replacement for a full-size Sawzall on open demolition work. At $149.80 it is the right secondary purchase for trades users who own a full-size reciprocating saw and need one-handed compact access capability as a complement. Plumbers, electricians, and finish carpenters working in finished spaces regularly encounter the confined-cut scenario that makes the Hackzall irreplaceable. For a buyer who owns only one reciprocating saw, a full-size M18 FUEL at $149.00 covers more applications — the Hackzall is best as a purpose-specific addition to an existing saw kit.
Milwaukee 2720-20 M18 FUEL Sawzall Reciprocating Saw (Tool Only)
“The professional benchmark — FUEL brushless motor delivers maximum cuts per charge with 0-3,100 SPM and ANTI-VIBRATION technology for all-day use.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- FUEL brushless motor — maximum performance
- 0-3,100 SPM 4-speed trigger
- ANTI-VIBRATION reduces fatigue
- M18 ecosystem compatible
Watch out for
- Premium price (~$199 tool only)
- M18 battery required separately
- Overkill for occasional DIY
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The Milwaukee 2720-20 4-speed trigger (0-3,100 SPM) provides control that single-speed and basic variable-speed triggers cannot match — low speed for controlled cuts through nail-embedded lumber where a fast stroke binds and kicks; high speed for efficient demolition through open framing. This precision is the specification that separates professional from basic reciprocating saw capability and determines cut quality in mixed-material applications. ANTI-VIBRATION technology uses mass dampening to reduce resonance that causes operator fatigue during all-day demolition work. For a framing contractor or renovation specialist using a reciprocating saw for 4-6 hours per day, vibration reduction directly affects productivity and long-term joint health. The FUEL brushless motor maximizes cuts per charge, reducing battery rotation interruptions during sustained production cutting. At $347.80 tool-only, the 2720-20 costs $198 more than the M18 FUEL basic at $149.00. The premium is the 4-speed trigger precision, ANTI-VIBRATION system, and higher-grade FUEL specification. For occasional DIYers and homeowners, the $149.00 M18 FUEL covers professional cutting needs without the anti-vibration premium. For contractors and heavy daily trade users where vibration fatigue and cut control across a full work week matter, the 2720-20 is the correctly specified tool and the $198 premium is justified by accumulated daily professional use.
Milwaukee Reciprocating Saws of Buying Guide
Photo by Jean-Paul Wettstein / PexelsHackzall vs. Sawzall: Milwaukee's Two Reciprocating Saw Formats
Milwaukee makes reciprocating saws in two fundamentally different form factors. The Sawzall is the full-size reciprocating saw — two-handed operation, full-length body, maximum stroke length and cutting power. The Hackzall is a compact one-handed reciprocating saw — smaller body, shorter stroke, designed for cutting in confined spaces where a full-size Sawzall won't fit. The Milwaukee 2625-20 M18 Hackzall at $85 is ideal for plumbers, electricians, and finish carpenters who need to cut pipe and conduit in walls, overhead, or in cabinets. The M18 FUEL Sawzall at $149 and 2720-20 M18 FUEL at $347.80 are two-handed tools for demolition, structural cutting, and any application demanding full stroke length and sustained power.
M18 vs. M12 vs. M18 FUEL: Platform Decisions
The M12 Hackzall kit at $149.80 uses Milwaukee's 12V platform — lighter, more compact batteries, lower max power. The M18 Hackzall at $85 bare and the M18 FUEL Sawzall use the 18V M18 platform — more powerful, heavier batteries, compatible with Milwaukee's full M18 tool ecosystem. M18 FUEL adds a brushless motor engineered to Milwaukee's highest performance spec — the 2720-20 at $347.80 is Milwaukee's professional-tier Sawzall for contractors who use a reciprocating saw as a primary tool daily. For occasional use (demolition projects, pruning, emergency pipe cuts), the M18 standard Hackzall delivers adequate performance at significantly lower cost. The M12 makes sense only for existing M12 users who want the compact Hackzall form without adding another battery platform.
Blade Selection for Reciprocating Saws
A reciprocating saw's versatility comes entirely from blade selection. Wood-cutting blades use fewer, larger teeth and cut fast but rough. Metal-cutting blades use fine teeth (18–24 TPI) and cut slower but cleanly. Bi-metal demolition blades handle mixed-material cuts — wood with embedded nails, plaster, drywall, plastic pipe. Pruning blades handle green wood and branches. Never use a wood blade on metal — the large teeth catch on metal edges and break. The included blade with most Milwaukee saws is a general-purpose demolition blade; buy a blade set for the full versatility these saws offer. Milwaukee's Torch bi-metal blades and Diablo's demo blades are the preferred aftermarket choices at professional job sites.
Orbital vs. Non-Orbital Action
Most Milwaukee Sawzall models offer orbital action — a setting where the blade moves in an oval pattern (forward on the cutting stroke, arcing back slightly on the return) rather than purely linear. Orbital action cuts wood significantly faster because the blade attacks material on the downstroke and chips out material on the return rather than dragging cleanly backward. For metal cutting and flush cuts against surfaces, orbital action should be turned off — it produces rougher cuts and more vibration in hard materials. The switch between orbital and straight-line cutting is a physical setting on the saw body. New reciprocating saw users often leave orbital mode on always; turning it off for metal and pipe cuts improves blade life and cut quality.
Milwaukee Reciprocating Saw Buying Mistakes
Don't buy a bare tool without confirming you own compatible M18 batteries — verify specifically that you have M18 (not M12 or M28) batteries before purchasing bare. Don't plunge-cut into walls without checking for electrical wiring and plumbing — reciprocating saws for demolition work in occupied walls require verification with a stud finder and non-contact voltage tester before cutting. Don't force a blade through material the saw is struggling with — the correct response to a stalling saw is a sharper or more appropriate blade, not more pressure. Forcing a blade flexes it beyond its design limits and risks blade breakage under tension.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a reciprocating saw used for?
What reciprocating saw blade should I use?
What's the difference between Milwaukee's Sawzall and SUPER Sawzall?
Is the Milwaukee M18 reciprocating saw powerful enough for trees?
How do I extend reciprocating saw blade life?
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