5 Best Reciprocating Saw Blades – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide 2023

Reciprocating saws make many jobs easier, whether you’re tearing down a house or just want to make your yard look great. However, it’s not easy to shop for replacement blades online. Manufacturers aren’t shy about inflating what their blades can do while downplaying potential downsides. If you want to get a deal on a great set of reciprocating saw blades but don’t know which sets are good and which are junk, you’ve come to the right place.

With you in mind, we’ve created these reviews of the best reciprocating saw blades. We break down every set and show you its strengths and weaknesses so you can find the set that works the best for you. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide, so if you’ve never bought replacement blades, you can learn everything you need to know before you buy.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2023 Update)

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Milwaukee 12-Piece Reciprocating Saw Blades	Great variety of blades Excellent case for keeping organized Thicker blades for demolition	CHECK PRICE
Best for Pruning		Bosch 5-Piece Reciprocating Saw Blades	Great for pruning Long-lasting blades 12″ blades	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		DEWALT DW4856 Reciprocating Saw Blades	Six blades Raker tooth design	CHECK PRICE
		IRWIN Tools 11-Piece Reciprocating Saw Blade Set	8% cobalt teeth 11 blades	CHECK PRICE
		Janchi 5 Piece Sawzall Blades Kit	Made for pruning Carbon steel for durability	CHECK PRICE

The 5 Best Reciprocating Saw Blades

1. Milwaukee 12-Piece Reciprocating Saw Blades – Best Overall

Two of the essential characteristics needed when it comes to reciprocating saw blades are strength and variety. With this Milwaukee 12-Piece Reciprocating Saw Blade Set, you will get both. These blades are built for demolition. You can use the ax blades for rough wood with nails. The wrecker blades are great for general demolition, and the torch will be your best friend when you have metal to cut.

These Milwaukee blades range from .042 to .062 inches thick and won’t warp or bend even under challenging conditions. This set also comes with a nice carrying case, which includes a compartment for each blade size, which makes it easy to find the size you’re looking for when you need it.

The one thing you have to watch out for is the weight of the blades. They’re taller and thicker than most blades, which means they could put a strain on weaker reciprocating saws. If you’re using a battery-powered saw, you might want to get a set that’s a bit thinner. However, these are the best overall reciprocating saw blades available.

2. Bosch 5-Piece Reciprocating Saw Blades – Best for Pruning

If you need blades for your reciprocating saw because you have landscaping to do, we found a great set of blades. The Bosch 5 Piece Set comprises 12-inch 6-TPI blades to help with tough pruning and woodcutting. The blades feature Turbo-Teeth technology, designed to last three times longer than a typical reciprocating saw blade.

When dealing with dense landscaping brush and roots, your blades will wear down rather quickly, but the Bosch blades should hold up well. Another great thing about these Bosch RP125 Recorporacting Blades is the 12-inch length. The extra length is essential when you are dealing with pruning. The 12-inch blade also allows you to cut a thicker branch.

3. DEWALT DW4856 Reciprocating Saw Blades – Best Value

The DEWALT DW4856 blade set includes six blades ranging from 6-24 TPI, capable of cutting metal, plastic, drywall, and wood. Each 6-inch blade has a different purpose. In the balance of quality and value, the Dewalt set contains the best blades for the money.

The blades aren’t as effective if you are trying to cut through tough material. The blades also feature raker teeth, which increase the cutting blade’s surface area, leading to faster cuts, even when you’re using blades with more teeth per inch.

The only downside to that you’ll lose a bit more of the front casing on whatever reciprocating saw you use set with the 6-inch blade. That means you could get as little as 3 inches of usable blade, which is enough for home projects but would disappoint a contractor. If you’re looking for a great price and don’t need long saw blades, this is the set for you.

4. IRWIN Tools 11-Piece Reciprocating Saw Blade Set

The IRWIN Tools 11-Piece Set (4935496) isn’t the cheapest option on our list, but it comes with several blades, which somewhat justifies its price. This set includes 11 blades across four sizes, though it confusingly includes nine blades in the two smaller sizes and just two in the larger, more useful size. It also contains 8% cobalt in the teeth, which should strengthen the blades.

However, the teeth are welded on instead of being pressed or sharpened. That’s the weakest configuration on saw blades, and it could lead to an early loss of teeth. The blades are also prone to getting bent. That’s never a quality you’ll want to have in your reciprocating saw blades. Ultimately, they’re not very durable, which kept them near the bottom of our list.

They are still relatively cheap, and if you’re looking to buy in bulk and don’t mind burning through them quickly, they could meet your needs. However, they are the wrong choice for most people, and if you’re looking for the toughest saw blades on the market, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

5. Janchi 5 Piece Sawzall Blades Kit

The Janchi 5 Piece Sawzall Blades are great for light to medium-duty pruning with your reciprocating saw. The five carbon-steel blades are only for trimming wood. However, they have one huge quality control problem. They’re prone to breaking at the base near where the blade connects to the reciprocating saw. They also don’t hold their sharpness, so if you’re looking for something that will last a long time, you’re out of luck with this set.

Overall, this might be a good set for you if you’re looking for a very cheap set of pruning blades, but ultimately, the blades probably won’t last long enough for you to get your money’s worth out of them. If you’re looking for a better pruning option, check out the Bosch set that’s higher on our list.

Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Reciprocating Saw Blades

We hope our reviews already have you thinking about a set you might like to buy. If you’re still unsure what you’re looking for, check out this buyer’s guide. It’s a good resource if you don’t know much about reciprocating saw blades or if you’re buying replacements for the first time in a long time and want to see if anything new on the market could upgrade your experience.

SEE ALSO: our reviews of the best reciprocating saws this year

Blade Material

There are four main types of materials when looking at reciprocating saw blades. You should choose a material that matches the kind of work that you need to be completed.

• High-Speed Steel: Very strong, prone to snap because of the strength and rigidity
• Bi-Metal: A mix between high-speed steel and high-carbon steel, expensive but used by professionals because of the strength
• High Carbon Steel: Softest and cheapest, doen’t hold up as well
• Diamond: Used for concrete, fiberglass, and ceramic

Teeth Per Inch

Teeth per inch is the biggest distinguishing factor in reciprocating saws. Different blades might have different lengths or thicknesses, but if they have the same teeth per inch, they’re generally used for the same tasks.

Any saw blades that you find that have fewer than 10 teeth per inch (TPI) will be most helpful in dealing with wood. They’re great for pruning, cutting logs, or cutting firewood. Saws that fall into this category are also typically capable of cutting through nails, so if you’re using a 6-TPI blade, you don’t have to worry about using it when taking apart a framed structure.

At 10 teeth per inch and higher, the blades become less useful for cutting wood and might even burn it badly while you cut, but they can cut PVC and metal. At about 14 teeth per inch or higher, the blades should be used on PVC or metal only, and you’ll want to hold off on cutting the hardest metals until you get to 18 teeth per inch or higher.

Blade Length

Reciprocating saw blades come in lengths from 4 to 12 inches. When you work with a short blade, it is more rigid and aggressive when cutting. Longer blades are flexible and are suitable for pruning. A helpful tip when choosing the length of your blade is to pick something that is 2 or 3 inches greater than the width of the material you are cutting.

Thickness

Reciprocating saw blades are sold in a variety of thicknesses. The standard thickness is .035 inches, and the heavy-duty thickness is .062 inches. You can use these two numbers as the range and determine what you may need based on that range.

Thicker blades are best for demolition and cutting wood with nails. You will not get as much bending or vibration when working with a thick blade while cutting. Thinner blades are going to be less costly, and they usually provide a fast cut.

Durability

Something to watch out for is welded-on teeth. The best saw blades are sharpened by hand or machine, while the next best category is pressed or stamped sharp. The latter category already displays a significant decrease in quality.

If the teeth are cheaply welded, you can expect them to shear off the blade quickly. It’s not that you can’t get a good blade with welded-on teeth, but it’s generally a good sign that the manufacturer is cutting corners, and the odds are good that it wasn’t done correctly in the factory.

While thicker and taller blades last longer and are generally more pleasurable to use than blades with more flex, you’ll want to ensure that your reciprocating saw is up to the task. Battery-powered models generally don’t have the same power as a corded electric or gas-powered model, so if you want to use thicker blades, you’ll want to avoid battery-powered models.

Package Sets

Reciprocating saw blades are often sold in packs with a small case to keep them organized. Choosing a brand that has several blades is the best way to save money and always be prepared when it comes to the next task at hand. Don’t think that because they are sold together as a pack, they are not high-quality blades; it is a standard way that reciprocating saw blades are sold.

Conclusion:

The Milwaukee 49-22-1129 12-Piece Set is our favorite option for cutting metal and includes thick, durable blades that will last you a long time. The Bosch 5-Piece Set B000FAPPAA is the best reciprocating saw blade set for pruning due to its excellent wood-cutting blade. This set includes four other great blades, though the flex that they have keeps them out of first place. The DEWALT DW4856 has six blades featuring a great raker-tooth design that speeds up your cuts and comes at the best price on our list, making it the best value overall.

We hope our reviews and buyer’s guide have led you to a set of reciprocating saw blades that will serve you well and that you can get at a price you’ll love.