Best Reciprocating Saw for Plumbing Work (2026)

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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: For cuts in walls, cabinets and joist bays on DeWalt batteries, the compact DeWalt DCS367B, with a keyless blade clamp that takes the blade in four positions. On Makita batteries, the full-size Makita XRJ05Z, rated for pipe up to 5-1/8 inches. For heavy demo on house power, the 15 amp Makita JR3070CT, which adds a clutch and orbital action. The blade decides what you can cut: Diablo makes diamond grit and carbide-tooth blades it lists for cast iron.

Our pick for most plumbers: the DeWalt DCS367B 20V MAX XR brushless compact reciprocating saw. Check the DeWalt DCS367B on Amazon

A reciprocating saw is the tool a plumber reaches for when a pipe has to be cut where it sits: an old drain in a wall, a supply line under a cabinet, a section of steel or cast iron that nothing else will reach. This page compares four saws, two cordless and two corded, all sold by Amazon.com when we checked. Every spec comes from the makers’ own manuals and product pages, and the blade advice comes from the blade maker.

Reciprocating Saws Compared

Saw	Power	Stroke	Strokes per minute	Pipe capacity (maker)	Clutch / orbital (maker)
DeWalt DCS367B	20V MAX battery	1-1/8 in.	Up to 2,900	Not listed	Not listed
Makita XRJ05Z	Makita 18V LXT battery	1-1/4 in.	0 to 2,300 / 0 to 3,000	5-1/8 in.	No / No
Makita JR3070CT	Corded, 15 amp	1-1/4 in.	0 to 2,800	5-1/8 in.	Yes / 4 positions
DeWalt DWE305	Corded, 12 amp	1-1/8 in.	0 to 2,900	Not listed	Not listed

Figures from DeWalt’s DCS367B and DWE305 pages and manuals and Makita’s XRJ05Z and JR3070CT pages and manuals. Each linked saw was sold by Amazon.com and in stock on October 5, 2026.

What Plumbers Use a Reciprocating Saw For

Cutting pipe in place. Both Makita saws here are rated for pipe up to 5-1/8 inches. DeWalt does not list a pipe figure for its two saws.
Flush cuts. Both DeWalt saws take the blade in four positions, and DeWalt’s manuals say a horizontal blade lets you cut close to floors, walls and ceilings.
Demo. Opening a wall or floor to reach the pipe. The corded Makita adds orbital action, which its manual says greatly increases cutting speed.

Plumber’s note: for a new joint you will glue or press, cut the pipe with a proper cutter so the end is square; our pipe cutter picks cover those. On a cast iron stack, a snap cutter is usually the better first tool, and our cast iron pipe cutter guide explains why. The saw is for the cuts those tools cannot reach.

Pick the Blade for the Pipe

The saw only drives the blade. DeWalt’s manuals say to use a finer blade for ferrous metals and a coarser blade for non-ferrous materials, and not to force the blade, which shortens blade life and breaks blades. Diablo, a blade maker, lists these for the materials plumbers cut:

Cast iron: Diablo’s diamond grit blade (DS0930DGX), which it says is designed for cast iron, fiber cement, masonry and fiberglass, or its Steel Demon carbide-tooth blades, which it lists for cast iron, stainless steel and high-strength alloys from 3/16 to 9/16 inch thick.
Plastic pipe and demo: Diablo’s Demo Demon carbide blades, which it lists for wood, nail-embedded wood, plastic piping and metal from 1/8 to 3/8 inch thick.

We do not link these blades, because the Amazon listings we found for them were from third-party sellers. Buy them where you buy your other blades.

Best Cordless for Tight Spots

DeWalt DCS367B 20V MAX XR Brushless Compact Reciprocating Saw

20V MAX battery (tool only) · brushless · 1-1/8 in. stroke · up to 2,900 strokes per minute · keyless 4-position blade clamp · LED light · 3-year limited warranty

This is the saw I would point a plumber to for cuts inside a wall, under a cabinet or between joists on DeWalt batteries. DeWalt built it short: its page says the compact length fits between studs and other tight spots. It has a 1-1/8-inch stroke, a variable speed trigger up to 2,900 strokes per minute, and a brushless motor.

The blade clamp is the feature that matters for plumbing work. It is keyless, and it takes the blade in four positions. DeWalt’s manual says a blade set horizontally lets you cut close to floors, walls or ceilings, as long as the shoe is pressed against the framing to avoid kickback. That is the cut you make on a drain stub or a supply line that comes up tight to a wall. It is sold as a bare tool, so you need a DeWalt 20V MAX battery and charger.

Compact enough to fit between studs, per DeWalt
Keyless 4-position blade clamp for flush and horizontal cuts
Brushless motor, up to 2,900 SPM
Runs on DeWalt 20V MAX packs

Shorter 1-1/8 in. stroke than the Makita saws here
DeWalt lists no pipe cutting capacity, clutch or orbital action
Bare tool: battery and charger sold separately

Verdict: The pick for plumbers on DeWalt 20V batteries who cut pipe in cabinets, walls and joist bays.

Check the DeWalt DCS367B on Amazon

Best Full-Size Cordless

Makita XRJ05Z 18V LXT Brushless Recipro Saw

Makita 18V LXT battery (tool only) · brushless · 1-1/4 in. stroke · two speeds, 0 to 2,300 and 0 to 3,000 SPM · max. capacity 5-1/8 in. pipe, 10 in. wood · electric brake · XPT dust and water resistance · 8.2 lb with battery · 17-1/4 in. long · 3-year limited warranty

If you want a full-size cordless saw for demo and big pipe, the XRJ05Z has the longer 1-1/4-inch stroke and two speed ranges, 0 to 2,300 and 0 to 3,000 strokes per minute. Makita’s manual lists a maximum cutting capacity of 5-1/8 inches in pipe and 10 inches in wood.

Makita says a refined crank design reduces blade deflection and vibration, and it lists an electric brake, an LED light, a retractable hook and tool-less blade changes. Its XPT seals are meant to channel away dust and water. Makita’s spec table says this saw has no built-in clutch and no orbital settings. It weighs 8.2 pounds with a battery, per Makita, and it is sold as a bare tool.

5-1/8 in. pipe capacity, per Makita’s manual
Long 1-1/4 in. stroke and two speed ranges
Electric brake and XPT dust and water resistance
Tool-less blade change

No clutch or orbital action, per Makita’s specs
17-1/4 in. long, so it is not a tight-space saw
Tool only: battery and charger sold separately

Verdict: The pick for crews on Makita 18V LXT batteries who want cordless demo power.

Check the Makita XRJ05Z on Amazon

Best Corded for Heavy Demo

Makita JR3070CT AVT Recipro Saw, 15 Amp

Corded, 15 amp · 1-1/4 in. stroke · 0 to 2,800 SPM · variable speed dial · 4-position orbital/straight cutting · built-in clutch · max. capacity 5-1/8 in. pipe, 10 in. wood · AVT anti-vibration · 10 lb · 19-1/8 in. long · blades and metal case included

For a day of tear-out on house power, this saw has the biggest corded motor on the page: 15 amps, with electronic speed control that Makita says holds speed under load, a 1-1/4-inch stroke, up to 2,800 strokes per minute and a variable speed dial. Makita’s page lists plumbers among the trades it is built for, and its manual gives the same 5-1/8-inch pipe capacity as the XRJ05Z.

Two features set it apart for pipe work. A built-in clutch disengages the gears if the blade binds, per Makita. And its orbital action has four positions, from straight-line cutting up to a large orbit; the manual lists the straight-line setting for mild steel, stainless steel and plastics. Makita’s AVT counterbalance is meant to cut vibration. Makita’s spec table and manual give 10 pounds; one line of its page text says 9.7.

15 amp motor with constant-speed control, per Makita
Built-in clutch for blade bind
Straight-line or orbital cutting in four positions
Comes with a wood blade, a metal blade and a case

Corded: you need an outlet and the right extension cord
19-1/8 in. long, so it is not a tight-space saw
10 lb, per Makita’s specs and manual (one line of its page text says 9.7)

Verdict: Buy it for heavy demo and big pipe where power is available.

Check the Makita JR3070CT on Amazon

Simple Corded Saw

DeWalt DWE305 12 Amp Reciprocating Saw

Corded, 12 amp · 1-1/8 in. stroke · 0 to 2,900 SPM · variable speed trigger · keyless, lever-action 4-position blade clamp · 3-year limited warranty

The DWE305 is the plain corded option. DeWalt lists a 12 amp motor, a 1-1/8-inch stroke and a variable speed trigger up to 2,900 strokes per minute, with a keyless, lever-action blade clamp that takes the blade in four positions for flush cutting.

As with the cordless DeWalt, the manual says a horizontal blade lets you cut close to floors, walls and ceilings, with the blade guard pressed against the framing to avoid kickback. It also says to hold the saw only by the plastic handle and housing when sawing into walls or floors where live wires may be, because the blade can make the front metal parts live. DeWalt lists no orbital action, clutch or pipe capacity for it.

12 amp motor, up to 2,900 SPM
Keyless 4-position blade clamp for flush cuts
No batteries to charge
3-year limited warranty, per DeWalt

No orbital action or clutch listed
No pipe capacity listed by DeWalt
Needs an outlet

Verdict: A straightforward corded saw for plumbers who want flush cuts and no batteries.

Check the DeWalt DWE305 on Amazon

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What About Milwaukee?

I run a Milwaukee M18 Sawzall on my jobs. We do not link Milwaukee saws, because the Amazon listings we found for M18 Sawzall and Hackzall models were from third-party sellers. If you are already on Milwaukee batteries, buy from a dealer you trust and read Milwaukee’s own specs.

Before You Buy

Match your batteries. Both cordless saws here are sold as bare tools.
Size it to the job. A compact saw like the DCS367B fits between studs; the larger Makita saws here have a longer 1-1/4-inch stroke, which Makita says makes for faster cutting.
Look for a clutch if you cut a lot of metal. Of these four, only the Makita JR3070CT lists a built-in clutch for blade bind.
Cut steel and plastic straight. If your saw has orbital action, Makita’s manual lists the straight-line setting for mild steel, stainless steel and plastics.
Plan for blades. The right blade for cast iron or thick steel matters as much as the saw.

Safety: Cutting Pipe in Walls and Floors

DeWalt’s DCS367 manual says to inspect the work site for hidden gas pipes, water pipes and electrical wires before making blind or plunge cuts, and to hold the saw by its insulated gripping surfaces wherever the blade may contact hidden wiring. It says to hold the saw firmly with both hands for all cuts, because the blade may bind and kick the saw back toward you, and to clamp or otherwise support the work. Keep the shoe firmly against the material: Makita’s manual warns that if the shoe is held away from the work, strong vibration or twisting can snap the blade. DeWalt calls for eye protection that conforms to ANSI Z87.1, Makita says to wear gloves against hot flying chips when cutting metal, and DeWalt warns that the vibration of long use can injure fingers, hands and arms, so take frequent breaks. DeWalt’s manuals limit pocket or plunge cuts to wood.

FAQ

Cordless or corded reciprocating saw for plumbing?

Cordless for cuts in cabinets, crawl spaces and walls, where a cord is in the way: the DeWalt DCS367B or the Makita XRJ05Z, matched to the batteries you own. Corded for long demo days: the Makita JR3070CT has a 15 amp motor, a clutch and orbital action, per Makita.

What blade cuts cast iron pipe?

Diablo sells a diamond grit reciprocating blade that it says is designed for cast iron, fiber cement, masonry and fiberglass, and Steel Demon carbide-tooth blades it lists for cast iron, stainless steel and other thick metal from 3/16 to 9/16 inch. On a cast iron stack, a snap cutter is often the better tool; see our cast iron pipe cutter guide.

Can a reciprocating saw cut PVC pipe?

Yes, with a blade made for plastic. Diablo lists its Demo Demon carbide blades for wood, nail-embedded wood, plastic piping and metal from 1/8 to 3/8 inch thick, and Makita’s manual lists its straight-line setting for plastics. For a square end you will glue, a pipe cutter does a cleaner job.

What does orbital action do on a reciprocating saw?

Makita’s manual says orbital action moves the blade up and down and back and forth at the same time, which thrusts it forward on the cutting stroke and speeds up cutting. It lists the straight-line setting for mild steel, stainless steel and plastics. Of the saws here, only the Makita JR3070CT has orbital settings.

Do I need cutting oil when I cut metal pipe?

Makita’s manuals say to always use a suitable coolant (cutting oil) when cutting metal, or the blade wears early. DeWalt’s manuals say it is generally recommended to spread a thin film of oil or other lubricant along the cut line for easier cutting and longer blade life.

Why Trust Plumbing Picks

Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every spec here comes from the maker documents linked below, or from the Amazon listings we link; nothing comes from hands-on testing. On October 5, 2026, every linked listing was in stock and sold by Amazon.com. If you buy through a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.

Sources

Bottom Line

Buy the saw that runs on the batteries you already own: the compact DeWalt DCS367B for tight spots or the full-size Makita XRJ05Z for demo. For heavy demo on a cord, the Makita JR3070CT, with its clutch and orbital action. Then buy the right blade for the pipe, check behind the wall before you cut, and hold the saw with both hands.