Reciprocating saws and jigsaws can be incredibly powerful and can cut through just about anything depending on what model you have. But they make so much noise!
Maybe you’ve had your neighbors complain or you can’t handle the noise yourself. Whatever the case is, you need a quiet reciprocating saw.
All reciprocating saws will make a noise but some are quieter than others. That’s why we’ve reviewed 5 of the quietest reciprocating saws / jigsaws on the market. We've also compiled a quiet reciprocating saw buyer’s guide after the reviews.
OUR TOP PICK
While this reciprocating saw / jigsaw is known for making some noise, one of the features that makes it quieter than others like it is the vibration-absorbing soft grip handle.
This feature works to cut down on a lot of that unpleasant motion that a reciprocating saw normally makes. Less vibrations means less noise, so this is one of the quieter reciprocating saws / jigsaw.
You might be wondering why the saw has both, “reciprocating” and “jigsaw” in its name. Well, that’s because this particular product offers you 2-saws-in-1.
You can switch between the reciprocating saw and the jigsaw. What’s great is that the saw is compatible with many different blades so you can cut through various materials.
Because of the saw's lightweight and compact design, the saw is easily maneuverable and is much easier to hold.
The Worx reciprocating saw / jigsaw has been designed with orbital cutting, which is a feature that allows you to cut more efficiently and get jobs done quicker.
This saw has a great reputation for being powerful and yet easy to use. However we would have preferred if it had blade back-stabilization which can make cutting a bit easier.
Pros
- Easy to hold
- Budget-friendly
- 2-saws-in-1
- Compatible with different blades
- Vibration-absorbing grip helps reduce noise
- Designed with Orbital Cutting
- Powerful
Cons
- Has no blade back-stabilization
EDITORS CHOICE
This reciprocating saw immediately captures our attention because of the fact that it has different speed settings and is light on vibration.
We know that slower cutting and less vibration means less noise. The reduced vibration offers noise reduction right off the bat and the variable speed setting allows you to work a little slower and quieter when you don't want your neighbors to hear you.
The LED lights help you see what you’re doing if you happen to be working at night which is a huge safety feature. But even though it’s a lean mean cutting machine, it’s easy to use because it’s been designed for single handed operation.
If you’re someone who changes your saw blades regularly then you’ll appreciate the tool-free blade release feature that makes changing your saw blade quick, safe, and easy.
Overall, this Dewalt reciprocating saw delivers when it comes to its maneuverability, battery life, versatility, and ergonomics. Even though it will ask you to empty out your pockets a bit, the value of the reciprocating saw matches its price.
Pros
- Quiet operation
- Different speed settings
- LED lights to help you see
- Tool-free blade release
Cons
- More expensive
BEST VALUE
The Ryobi P5231 jigsaw has a lot to offer when it comes to quality and control. The 4 orbital settings allow you to choose the speed at which you cut into a material.
The higher and lower settings give you freedom of choice, allowing you to make curved cuts into metal or straight cuts into wood.
When the jigsaw operates, it’s not unbearably noisy. The jigsaw is not as powerful as the other reciprocating saws we’ve reviewed but, in a way, this contributes to its “quiet” operation.
We like that this jigsaw has a trigger lock system feature that allows you to have more control over the cut you’d like to make.
A blade saving base also contributes to the longevity of the jigsaw. If you find that your blade is wearing out, you can simply drop the base of your tool which will give you the option of using the newer jigsaw blades.
Of course, safety is always a must and that’s why we also like the fact that the jigsaw has LED Lighting that lets you see exactly what you’re doing. The built in dust blower clears debris away so that the surface you’re working on is clear, giving you good visibility. This feature will work nicely along with your quiet shop vac.
Pros
- 4 Orbital settings
- Less noisy operation
- Controlled cutting
- Trigger lock system
- Blade saving base
- LED lighting
- Built-in dust blower
Cons
- Can be a bit heavy for some
- Tool-only
RUNNER UP
The PORTER-CABLE Jig Saw is powerful enough to be used for a number of different projects. It’s able to cut through very thin material, gauge steel and even counter tops, just to name a few.
What we love about it, is that it’s one of the few jigsaws that doesn’t have a reputation for being noisy. Also, even though it is powerful, the handle has been designed to optimize comfort, making the jigsaw easier to hold and use for longer periods of time.
The 3 different speed settings definitely give you some control over how loud the jigsaw is going to be. Besides the speed settings, you also get 3 orbital settings that let you adjust the cutting speeds. The Porter-Cable jigsaw gives you a lot of control over the quality and accuracy of a cut.
Is it safe to use? It actually has a safety toggle and it’s been designed with a dust blower to help you enhance your line of sight.
The jigsaw also lets you use the tool-free blade release feature that makes switching blades really simple.
One downside when it comes to the blades, is that the jigsaw doesn’t have an independent rotatable blade.
Pros
Powerful
Safety toggle prevents accidental use
3 orbital settings
3 different speed settings
Doesn’t have a reputation for being noisy
Handle designed for comfort
Budget-friendly
Cons
No independent rotatable blade
Tool-only
RUNNER UP
The Black+Decker 20V MAX cordless reciprocating saw is one of the quietest reciprocating saws / jigsaws we’ve reviewed so far. It’s quiet enough that you’re actually able to have a conversation while using it.
Focusing on easy maneuverability, the reciprocating saw is both compact and lightweight and also has a pivoting shoe that allows you to have more control over what you’re cutting.
It’s powerful and can cut materials like wood, metal, plastic, rubber as well as other materials.
We're all for keeping our fingers attached so the extra safety offered by the built-in electrical brake is a welcome feature. How fast or slow the reciprocating saw works is up to you thanks to the different speed settings that the saw provides.
Blade changes are also really simple due to the tool-free blade change feature. We would have preferred an LED to illuminate our cutting path though. Otherwise this is a good budget friendly option if you're looking for a quiet reciprocating saw.
Pros
- Quiet operation won’t interrupt a conversation
- Compact and lightweight
- Pivoting blade shoe
- Built-in electrical brake
- Different speed settings
- Tool-free blade change
- Budget-friendly
- Powerful
Cons
- No LED lights for clear visibility
Buyer’s Guide & FAQ: Choosing the Best Quiet Reciprocating Saw or Jigsaw
Here are a few key points to look out for before making your purchase:
How much noise does the reciprocating saw make?
All reciprocating saws are going to make around 90dB to 110dB of noise. Some are quieter than others and the noise is often more dependant on the material you're cutting.
So, when you’re deciding on which reciprocating saw to buy, you have to consider how much it makes and even how much noise it will make in the future.
A reciprocating saw that’s naturally loud will only become louder over time as it wears out.
Look for reciprocating saws / jigsaws that have very detailed descriptions which tell you just how loud the saw is. You can ask questions like, “Does the description of the jigsaw indicate whether it’s been designed with low-noise technology?”,
“Does the reciprocating saw have a reputation for being quiet?”. Asking these questions and finding out the answers will help you to make the best possible choice when you’re buying a reciprocating saw.
It's seldom that a manufacturer will give a dB rating for their saw so you'll need to rely on user reviews to get a sense of how loud it is.
How much power do you need?
Are you going to be needing your reciprocating saw for a huge task or a small job? How much power is needed, will depend on the intensity of the work you need your reciprocating saw to handle.
Medium to heavy-duty jobs will require a lot more power than a small job. The bigger the job, the more voltage or power you’ll need.
You definitely don’t want to buy a saw that can’t do the job you need it to do so keep this in mind when you’re looking for a reciprocating saw.
Keep in mind that a more powerful reciprocating saw will be heavier and more difficult to hold. It'll probably be noisier too.
Corded or cordless?
While many prefer having cordless power tools, there are benefits to having both corded and cordless tools around. So, what should you use?
The answer to that question is entirely up to you but you should keep in mind these factors when deciding whether to buy a cordless or corded reciprocating saw.
- Corded reciprocating saw
A downside to having a reciprocating saw is that it needs to be plugged into a power outlet in order to be used. Basically, with a corded reciprocating saw, you can say goodbye to transportation.
It’s not easy to move the reciprocating saw around and it can’t be used just anywhere.
However, when it comes to their power, the corded reciprocating saw does far better than the cordless. Corded reciprocating saws can handle more difficult jobs that require lots of power.
One other thing to consider is that the cord can easily get in the way of your work, and it can be cut accidentally as well because it gets in the way.
A positive aspect to getting a corded reciprocating saw is that it doesn’t need to be recharged and can be used straight away if it has a power outlet to plug into.
- Cordless reciprocating saw
We prefer cordless saws to the corded versions. You can move it around wherever you please without having to worry about plugging it into an outlet or tripping over the lead. This makes reciprocating saw very handy for various different kinds of jobs and situations.
Even though some don’t like the idea of having to put batteries into the cordless reciprocating saw, the batteries will last for hours and don’t take a long time to charge. So, you can charge the batteries overnight and then use the reciprocating saw all day.
A lot of the one-handed reciprocating saw are cordless which actually makes them easier to use and are better to have around for different situations.
They tend to fit into more awkward positions and spaces where the corded reciprocating saw can’t. The cordless reciprocating saw does let us down in the power category because it’s not as powerful as the corded reciprocating saw.
What blade size and type do you need?
- Size
This is something you need to think about because any old reciprocating saw blade may not help you with the work you need to do. Your reciprocating saw blade has to match the intensity of the job you’re attempting to undertake.
The smaller the reciprocating saw blade is, the easier it’ll be to use it. It even helps to increase the reciprocating saws cutting efficiency. Most reciprocating saw blade sizes vary from 4"-12" (10-30cm).
- Type
You’ll need the right kind of blade depending on what you want to use the reciprocating saw for. If you want to cut through clean wood, a high-carbon steel blade will be better to use.
If pruning is the job you’re doing, you’ll need to look for a specialty blade that has deep gullets, as well as a tooth configuration that will be able to cut the material on both strokes (push and pull).
What about if the reciprocating saw needs to cut through metal? This is where it gets a little bit more complicated.
You have to use different blades depending on what kind of metal you’re cutting.
A diamond-grit blade will work best for cast iron whereas a carbide-tip is needed for cast aluminum.
A bimetal and a high-speed steel blade will cut through steep pipe, channels, bars, and plates.
A carbide-grit blade is used to cut through brick, clay sewer pipe and similar materials.
Does the reciprocating saw offer you various speed settings?
You might be asking yourself why various speed settings are important. You probably just about never picture yourself using a reciprocating saw on a low speed setting since you need lots of power.
But this is another important factor to consider because you could find yourself in a situation where you need your reciprocating saw to be less powerful than it normally is. A lower speed setting will also give you the option of cutting more accurately.
Most newer reciprocating saw models will give you the option of different speed settings but it’s definitely not something you can assume all reciprocating saws will have.
Check the product description to see whether the reciprocating saw offers this feature.
Conclusion
Today, we’ve reviewed 5 of the quietest reciprocating saws and some quiet jigsaws as well. We'd recommend going for a saw with variable speed settings and anti-vibration design elements. The safety features like an LED light and saw breaks are worth noting too. All reciprocating saws will make some noise but the models above are some of the quieter options on the market.