The 10 Best Cordless Jigsaws

Ambitious projects — whether you’re a professional tradesperson on the job or planning to orchestrate a significant home renovation — require heavy-duty tools, and the Makita XVJ03 (about $408) can be accurately described as such. It’s powerful, efficient and versatile.

It’s straightforward enough for a casual do-it-yourself enthusiast, but most plumbers, carpenters and general handymen will also be satisfied with the Porter Cable PCC650B (around $50). It can slice through metal and wood efficiently, and it comes with a blade.

The low-profile build of the Makita VJ04R1 (appx. $138) makes it appropriate for gentle trim work that necessitates the use of precision, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also handle tough jobs that require more force than finesse. It offers three convenient orbital settings.

Anything from straight lines to looping curves to 90-degree corners are easily within reach using the DeWalt DCS331B (around $198), a well-balanced tool with a quick, keyless blade change mechanism. Woodworkers will appreciate its impressive maneuverability.

A cleverly designed footplate on the Bosch JSH180B (around $149) makes it simple to tweak the angle of the bevel up to 45 degrees to accommodate a variety of different cuts. A built-in dust blower helps remove debris to keep your work area nice and tidy.

Both speed and accuracy are crucial for contractors like trim carpenters and electricians, which is why the Milwaukee 2445-20 (around $86) aims to provide a reliable combination of both attributes. It features a bright light for illuminating your cutting surface.

It’s not on par with some of the major workhorse models out there, but the Hitachi CJ18DGLP4 (about $160) is tailor-made for puttering around the garage or the basement. It’s lightweight and versatile, with an adjustable cutting angle for different applications.

To help you maximize the utilization of each blade, the Ryobi P523 (around $76) allows you to adjust the position of the foot, which, in turn, changes the depth of the blade. This puts new, sharp teeth into action, so you don’t have to worry about diminishing performance too soon.

It doesn’t quite deliver the power of a corded model, but the Bosch JS120BN (around $89) provides enough maneuverability to make up for that minor shortcoming. It features a distinct battery indicator light to keep you aware of how much juice you’re working with.

While the Black+Decker BDCJS20C (appx. $59) offers plenty of power, it produces a bit of a racket while you’re using it, which can get old in a hurry. It offers several different speed settings, and will accept both U-shank and T-shank blades.