Brushless vs Brushed Reciprocating Saw: Which One Should You Buy?

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Brushless vs brushed reciprocating saw: the short answer

Brushless is the motor type three of the four listings state: the DEWALT DCS382B, the Greenworks RSG404 and the Makita XRJ05Z all name a brushless motor in the title or bullets. The fourth listing, the DEWALT DCS387B, states no motor type at all, so it cannot be called brushed from this data; it is the compact, tight-space pick on its stated length and features. No listing here uses the word brushed, which matters for honesty: this guide compares stated brushless motors against one listing that leaves motor type unstated, not against a confirmed brushed motor.

The brushless claims differ across the three listings that make them. The DEWALT DCS382B listing promises optimized cutting power and efficiency from its brushless motor. The Greenworks listing claims up to 50% more run time and increased performance from its brushless motor, plus 20% more power and 35% more run time from its 24V lithium-ion battery. The Makita listing describes a Makita-built variable 2-speed brushless motor. Those are maker claims, reported as stated, not measured results.

How the two sides differ on paper

On paper, the difference is between a motor type the maker promotes and a set of practical figures that stand on their own. A stated brushless motor comes with efficiency and run-time claims, as on the Greenworks listing. A listing without a stated motor type, like the DEWALT DCS387B, leans instead on a 14-inch total length that fits between studs, a 4-position blade clamp for flush cutting, a variable-speed trigger at 0-2,900 spm, a bright LED and a pivoting shoe. Stroke length is another split: the Makita states a 1-1/4 inch stroke, the two DEWALT listings state a 1-1/8 inch stroke, and the Greenworks states a 1 inch stroke. Speeds are compared in the table below.

Voltage does not decide the motor question, and the figures show why. The DEWALT listings run on 20V MAX, the Greenworks on 24V and the Makita on 18V LXT, and 20V appears on both a brushless listing and the unstated-motor listing, so voltage alone does not identify motor type. Battery inclusion differs more than voltage: the Greenworks includes a 2.0Ah battery and a compact charger, while the DEWALT DCS382B, the DEWALT DCS387B and the Makita are tool only, with the Makita bullets stating plainly that battery and charger are not included.

The gear in this guide

Four listings are featured below, in the order shown in the table. The comparison follows stated motor, stroke, speed, included battery and warranty term, using only what each listing publishes.

Figures as stated in each listing. Where a listing states no figure, the table says so rather than borrowing a figure from another listing.

DEWALT DCS382B: the brushless compact with a short warranty

The DEWALT DCS382B states a brushless motor with optimized cutting power and efficiency, a 2-finger variable trigger, a 1-1/8 in. stroke length for fast cuts, a compact size for a high range of motion and a twist-style keyless blade clamp for quick blade changes. It runs on 20V MAX and is sold as tool only. Two cautions belong with it: the title marks this listing as Renewed, and the spec table states only a 90 days limited warranty, the smallest stated warranty term in this guide. No speed figure and no dimensions are stated for this listing.

Makita XRJ05Z: the longest stroke and the two-speed brushless motor

The Makita XRJ05Z states a variable 2-speed brushless motor at 0-2, 300 spm on low and 0-3,000 spm on high, with a 1-1/4 inch stroke length, a tool-less blade change system, a variable speed trigger and a compact and ergonomic design at 17-1/4 inches long. The bullets state it weighs 8.2 lbs. with battery, while also stating battery not included, and the spec table states 7.8 pounds, so the listing contradicts itself on weight; the bullets are trusted over the spec table here, with the battery-not-included note kept in mind. The box includes a 6 inch 6TPI recipro saw blade, and the spec table states a 3-Year Limited Warranty. It runs on 18V LXT and is sold as tool only.

Greenworks RSG404: the only kit with a battery in the box

The Greenworks RSG404 states a brushless motor, a 1 inch stroke at 0-3000 strokes per minute with variable speed, a tool-free blade release system, a compact body with an LED worklight for one-handed grip and dark and tight spaces, and a 24V lithium-ion battery with a compact charger included. The battery is stated as 2.0Ah. The listing claims up to 50% more run time from the brushless motor and 20% more power and 35% more run time from the battery, all reported as maker claims. No warranty term is stated in this listing, which is the one clear gap against the other three.

DEWALT DCS387B: the tight-space pick with no stated motor type

The DEWALT DCS387B states a compact and lightweight design at 14 inches in total length that fits between studs and allows cuts in confined spaces, a 4-position blade clamp for flush cutting with tool-free blade changes, a 1-1/8-inch stroke length, a variable-speed trigger at 0-2,900 spm, a bright LED for dark work areas and a pivoting shoe. One contradiction sits in the spec table: its dimensions are listed as 5.80708660825 inches by 1.3779527545 inches by 2.9527559025 inches, which does not match the bullets’ 14-inch total length, and the bullets are trusted over the spec table here. The spec table states a 3 year limited manufacturers warranty, and the listing is a bare tool only.

Choosing between them

Start with the job, not the motor label. For cutting in confined spaces, the DEWALT DCS387B is the only listing that states a 14-inch length and a fit between studs, plus a pivoting shoe and a 4-position clamp for flush cuts. For the longest stated stroke, the Makita at 1-1/4 inch leads, and it is also the only listing with two stated speeds. For a complete kit, the Greenworks is the only listing that includes a battery and charger, at 2.0Ah, so the other three listings are tool only and need a battery as well. For warranty term, the Makita and the DEWALT DCS387B state 3-year terms, the DEWALT DCS382B states 90 days, and the Greenworks states none.

Blade changing is quick on all four by the listings: twist-style keyless on the DEWALT DCS382B, tool-free on the DEWALT DCS387B and the Greenworks, and tool-less on the Makita. LED lighting is stated on the DEWALT DCS387B and the Greenworks, and not stated on the other two. If the work is mostly demolition-style cuts in open space, stroke length and speed matter most; if it is mostly cuts between studs or in dark corners, length, LED lighting and shoe design matter more. Compare corded and cordless options in corded vs cordless reciprocating saw, and see the wider cordless field in best cordless reciprocating saw.

FAQ: garage tools

Is a brushless reciprocating saw better than a brushed one?

On the listings in this guide, only the Greenworks listing states a run-time claim, up to 50% more run time, while no listing here states a brushed motor to compare against. The honest answer from this data is that a stated run-time claim, not brushless branding alone, is what supports a run-time pick, and the unstated-motor DEWALT DCS387B is the pick with a stated fit between studs instead.

Which listing states the longest stroke length?

The Makita XRJ05Z states a 1-1/4 inch stroke, longer than the 1-1/8 inch stroke on both DEWALT listings and the 1 inch stroke on the Greenworks.

Do all four saws include a battery?

No. Only the Greenworks RSG404 includes a 2.0Ah battery and a compact charger. The DEWALT DCS382B, the DEWALT DCS387B and the Makita XRJ05Z are tool only.

Which saw fits between studs?

The DEWALT DCS387B states a 14-inch total length that fits between studs, with a 4-position blade clamp for flush cutting in confined spaces.

What warranty terms are stated?

The Makita states a 3-Year Limited Warranty and the DEWALT DCS387B states a 3 year limited manufacturers warranty. The DEWALT DCS382B states a 90 days limited warranty, and the Greenworks states no warranty term.

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