Best cordless jigsaw tool | For building and woodworking

• Tooth design. The performance of a jigsaw–particularly of the blade–depends a lot on the cutting angle and the spacing and shape of the individual teeth. These factors could affect the speed and cleanliness of the cut.
• Blade Material. Choosing the right blade according to the work you need to do ensures better results, improved performance, and longer blade life. 
• Power. Jigsaws rated 600 watts should provide enough power for DIY work. For heavy-duty jobs or professional applications, consider getting a jigsaw rated at 720 watts or higher.

Before you buy a Jigsaw tool…

Research the brand.

 Some of the best brands of jigsaws to buy are Makita, Festool, DeWalt, and Milwaukee. The best models from these brands give you long runtimes and excellent performance and are powerful enough to cut through even hard and dense materials. 

Consider blade combadablity.

Make sure that your jigsaw can accommodate a variety of blades. You will want to be able to use different types of blades for different jobs. Blades with a high teeth-per-inch (TPI) rating will have more teeth than lower TPI blades and can produce cuts with smoother edges. The best jigsaw blades have high TPI counts that will make it easier for you to cut angles and curves.  

What’s the tool weight?

Get a jigsaw that strikes the ideal balance between weight and controllability. Heavier jigsaws will let you cut through dense materials more easily, but they can also be more difficult to control. Some lighter jigsaws might be underpowered for certain jobs, so try to go for a model that provides controllability without compromising power.

Do you need a cordless version?

Cordless jigsaws are better suited for quick and portable cutting work, especially if you have to work in crowded areas or places where there isn’t a power outlet nearby. But if you have to do a lot of cutting, make sure you have a spare battery on charge.

Is the tool durable enough for you?

Corded jigsaws tend to be more durable than their cordless counterparts. If you have to do a lot of heavy-duty cutting work–particularly on timber or metal–it’s hard to argue with the ruggedness and reliability of a corded model.

But if your needs are more modest, you could certainly find many battery-operated models that are durable enough for most applications while not being tethered to an annoying cord.

Think about the price.

It’s always a good idea to shell out the cash for a heavy-duty model instead of settling for a budget jigsaw. Spending on the best jigsaw for the money now will save you the cost of expensive repair and replacement later on. A common problem with DIY jigsaws is the metal attachment that holds the blade in place breaks.

Make sure you have a blade attachment that doesn’t rely on ln keys, but instead a quick release. These quick-release attachments are not only more durable but quicker to change your blades.

Cordless vs. Corded jigsaws

Early models of cordless jigsaws were severely underpowered. This meant that you had no choice but to use a high-powered corded model if you wanted to cut through hardwoods, ceramic, or metal.  But newer cordless models are a lot more powerful and more reliable, so you could easily cut through most of those materials just as efficiently as you would with a corded jigsaw.

Newer models also have more efficient lithium-ion batteries that give you longer life and longer run-times than ever before. Combined with faster charging times, these newer batteries made it possible for manufacturers to equip cordless jigsaws with motors that are powerful enough to handle heavy-duty jobs.

Of course, you do need to have one or two spare batteries handy if you need to do a lot of cutting. With a corded jigsaw, the only thing you have to worry about is working close to a power outlet, keeping the cord out of the way, and keeping an eye on the motor to prevent overheating.

But if you don’t mind packing a couple of spare batteries, a cordless model is a good choice. For my review on the best-corded jigsaw tool, that has more power and a cheaper alternative click here.

D-handle vs. Barrel grip jigsaws?

The D-handle vs barrel grip jigsaw tool debate really does come down to nothing more than personal preference, many builders, YouTubers, and DIY’ers have their opinion on what is best for them and their work.

For more information on tools used to cut circles read my guide on how to cut a circle in wood.

Choosing the best cordless jigsaw

#1 Best value cordless jigsaw tool

The Makita XVJ03 is one of the lightest jigsaws you can buy with this much power. It is also remarkably precise, allowing you to cut curves and shapes without a lot of effort required. It even handles straight cuts pretty well, definitely better than a lot of other jigsaws in this price range. 

The XVJ03’s engine is designed for maximum comfort and control, with a lot less vibration and lower noise than expected.

The speed can be set from 0 to 2,600 strokes per minute, so you could make smooth cuts in a variety of materials. There are also three orbital settings for added versatility. This model easily rivals the best Bosch jigsaws at a significantly lower price.

#1 Best barrel grip cordless jigsaw

The Festool has a few different jigsaw options, from the cordless to the corded model, that is better suited for workshops and factories that require constant cutting and use.

But for most applications I recommend the cordless tool hands down, the power button is located in a better spot, compared to the Makita barrel-grip and the Festool base plate can be changed with a quick-release rather than relying on a hex key.

The Festool 574716 CARVEX boasts of a carbide guidance system that combines triple-blade reinforcement with a solid support rod. The carbide jaws result in virtually no wandering and drifting of the blade, which allows for precise and controlled cuts. 

The interchangeable base system is a nice touch, as it allows for quick and easy changes from a butterfly-style angled base to the circle-cutting base. This gives you enough versatility to handle different jobs with a single tool. 

I also liked the addition of a 4-LED stroboscopic light that illuminates the cut line and keeps it perfectly aligned with the blade. I find that this feature lets me do precise cuts with fewer errors.

#1 Best small 12v cordless jigsaw

The Milwaukee 2445-21 M12 is one of the easiest to use and easiest to control jigsaws. The small footprint and lightweight allow for easy handling, which is all the more impressive considering how much power is available on tap. It can cut trim, wood, and even fiberglass with excellent results. 

The (2445-21) is a bit expensive considering that it only comes with a single battery and is rated at only 12 volts. That being said, having this much power in such a compact package makes it great for small finishing jobs.

What materials can be cut with a jigsaw tool?

Jigsaws can make different types of cuts in a variety of materials. But they are especially useful for cutting curves and circles in thin wood, plastic, or metal.

They are more effective for making curved cuts than coping saws and are easier to use as well, which makes them a good choice for woodworkers of all experience levels. For small circles, less than 5 inches you can cut out a perfect circle quicker using a hole drill bit.

Cut plywood.

Few tools are better suited for cutting into plywood than jigsaws. They can easily make straight and curved cuts, and can even cut at different angles easily if the plywood is thick enough.

Tooth orientation is an important concern when using jigsaws to cut plywood. With an upward cutting blade, the edges on the upper side of the wood will come out smoother. With a downward cutting bladed, the edges of the bottom side will be smoother.

Cut timber boards.

You can use your jigsaw to cut thicker slabs of timber, but you do have to keep a few things in mind. Jigsaws have thin blades with a lot of flex to them, so they tend to follow the easiest route through the grain. This makes it difficult to cut square on a straight line, even if you use a straight edge on thicker materials.

You could get better results when cutting timber by using the correct blade, making sure that it’s sharp, and combining a higher speed setting with a slower pushing action.

Cut even metal.

With the right blades, jigsaws can even cut through thin sheets of metal such as steel, iron, and aluminum. They can cut broad curves or straight lines, without the problems associated with cutting through thick slabs of timber. 

Jigsaws with powerful motors can even be used to cut through thicker metal, such as steel sheets up to 2/3” thick and aluminum sheets up to an inch thick. If you want to cut sheets of metal even faster consider a more dedicated metal cutter.

Cut through plastic.

Of course, cutting through plastic is a cinch for practically all jigsaws. For most plastics–including fiberglass–you could usually get the best results by setting the speed to the lowest possible setting. You should also fit your saw with a blade that is intended specifically for cutting plastic. Blades designed for cutting wood will generate too much heat, and possibly cause the plastic to melt.