Compact DEWALT Sawzall-Style Saws for Tight Spaces

Best for
Pros wanting a ready-to-run brushless kit

Best for
Budget-minded DEWALT battery owners

Best for
Owners of 20V batteries wanting brushless runtime

The DEWALT 20V MAX XR Reciprocating Saw is the DCS367B, the brushless bare tool that sits at the top of DEWALT’s compact lineup. The listing claims up to 2.5x more runtime, and the fine print explains that figure compares it with an older DC385 saw on a different battery while cutting 2×4 wood, so treat it as a generational gain rather than a lab number you will match every time. The body is 14.5 inches long and DEWALT quotes 5 lbs tool only, though the specification block lists 5.4 pounds, so expect somewhere in that range once a blade is fitted.

Performance numbers are the familiar compact DEWALT recipe: a 1-1/8-inch stroke, a variable speed trigger up to 2,900 strokes per minute, a keyless 4-position blade clamp and an LED light. One note: the spec table also lists “2800 rpm,” which does not match the 2,900 SPM in the features; we trust the feature and description text here. It comes with a 3-year limited warranty. Battery and charger are sold separately, so this one suits readers who already have a shelf of 20V packs. If you are still building that shelf, our guide to the DEWALT drill battery options is a sensible next read.

• Brushless motor with up to 2.5x runtime claim
• 14.5-inch length to fit between studs
• Keyless 4-position blade clamp for flush and overhead cuts
• 3-year limited warranty

Best for
Occasional cutting on a spare 20V pack

The DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Reciprocating Saw is the DCS387B, the original compact body without the XR brushless branding. It shares the headline numbers you actually feel in the hand: a 1-1/8-inch stroke, a 0 to 2,900 SPM variable speed trigger, a 4-position blade clamp that allows flush cutting, tool-free blade changes and a bright LED. It also adds a pivoting shoe, which helps you keep the saw planted against the work at awkward angles.

The listing is a little messy on size. The features say 14 inches in total length, while the dimension table says 14.75 inches, and the weight is given as 2.25 kg, roughly 5 pounds. Nowhere does the listing claim a brushless motor, so if long runtime per charge matters most, the DCS367B is the stronger pick. The DCS387B makes sense for someone who cuts occasionally, already owns batteries, and wants a genuine DEWALT tool with the same stroke and speed. It is sold as a bare tool.

• 0 to 2,900 SPM variable speed trigger
• Pivoting shoe for control at angles
• 4-position clamp for flush cutting

Best for
DIYers wanting a light third-party bare tool

The Brushless Cordless Reciprocating Saw for Dewalt is not a DEWALT product. It is made by a brand listed as 1797 and designed to run on DEWALT 20V batteries, with the listing naming DCB200, DCB201, DCB203, DCB204, DCB205 and DCB206 as compatible. It is a bare tool with no battery or charger, but the box is well stocked: four saw blades, a storage box, safety glasses, gloves and a user manual.

The listing claims a brushless motor with up to 3,800 SPM and a weight of 2.2 lbs without the battery, which would make it notably lighter than DEWALT’s own bodies. It adds a tool-free blade clamp, a safety lock, an LED light and overheat and overcurrent protection. Maximum cutting capacity is listed as 7.1 inches in wood. The listing does not specify the stroke length, and a faster stroke rate does not by itself tell you how aggressively a saw cuts, since stroke length matters just as much. It suits DIYers and homeowners who already own DEWALT packs and want a light saw for pruning and occasional demolition, but it gives way to the DCS367B for heavy daily work and for anyone who values DEWALT’s warranty and service network.

• Listed at up to 3,800 SPM
• 2.2 lbs without battery
• Four blades, glasses, gloves and storage box included

The DEWALT 20V MAX XR Compact Reciprocating saw is the DCS367P1, the same brushless compact body as the DCS367B bundled with a 5.0-amp-hour battery. That means the same up to 2.5x runtime claim, the same 14.5-inch length, 5 lbs tool-only weight, keyless lever-action 4-position blade clamp, 1-1/8-inch stroke, up to 2,900 SPM and LED light.

This is the kit for readers who want a brushless DEWALT compact saw and no guessing about batteries. A 5.0Ah pack is the kind of battery that lets you finish a full run of cutting before a swap, although it adds weight at the back of the tool compared with a small 2Ah pack. The spec sheet also lists an 8-inch high-speed steel blade, but the listing does not clearly say whether a blade ships in the box, nor whether a charger is included. If you already own batteries, the bare DCS367B gives you the identical saw without paying for a pack you do not need.

• Brushless motor with extended runtime claim
• 5.0Ah 20V MAX battery included
• Lever-action 4-position blade clamp

The Cordless Reciprocating Saw Compatible with Dewalt comes from a brand called Funnywhale, not from DEWALT. Like the 1797 saw, it runs on DEWALT 20V MAX batteries such as the DCB200 through DCB206, and it is tool only, with no battery or charger. The listing describes a brushless motor, a quick blade chuck with tool-free release, a built-in LED light, and a list of protections that covers overheating, overload and low voltage plus a safety lock against accidental starts.

Four blades are included for wood, metal pipe, plaster, PVC and similar materials. What the listing leaves out is significant: it does not specify strokes per minute, stroke length, weight or length. That makes it hard to compare fairly with the DEWALT models, so we see it as a spare-battery saw for light, occasional jobs rather than a primary demolition tool. If you want to know exactly what you are getting, any of the four DEWALT models is the better pick.