The best jigsaws
Curves, cut-outs and boards trimmed to fit: five corded jigsaws for DIY at home, from Bosch’s light PST 700 E to an 800W saw with a laser guide.
A jigsaw is the saw for shapes: a curve in plywood, the hole for a sink in a new worktop, a notch round a pipe or a shelf trimmed to fit an alcove. Its narrow blade cuts on the upstroke, and blades for wood, laminate, plastic and metal swap over in moments.
All five here plug into the mains and tilt to 45° for angled cuts. What separates them is power, how deep they cut in wood and orbital action, which swings the blade forward on each stroke for quicker cuts in timber. The Makita, HYCHIKA and SORAKO have it; the Bosch and BLACK+DECKER keep things simple with a straight stroke.
What matters
- Power and depth: the 450–520W saws cut wood up to 65–70mm; the 800W HYCHIKA quotes 110mm.
- Orbital action, for faster cuts in timber.
- Tool-free blade changes, and a blower or vacuum port to keep the line clear.
- What comes in the box: a case, spare blades, a guide ruler.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Bosch PST 700 E Jigsaw (500W)
£80.95 RRP
Light and well balanced at 1.7kg, with tool-free SDS blade changes and a switchable blower that keeps sawdust off the pencil line, for shelves, worktop cut-outs and curves in wood up to 70mm thick. The first jigsaw, the Lesto, came in 1947 from Scintilla, a Swiss firm Bosch later took over.
What owners say: Owners find it slices through thick timber and MDF cleanly, and like how light it is to guide on DIY jobs.
A closer look: The trigger sets the speed, so squeeze gently for a controlled start on a curve or in laminate, then press fully for long cuts in softwood. Between jobs, the hook on the cable guide lets it hang from a pegboard or a nail in the shed, and the case keeps saw and blade together.
- 500W, 500–3,100 strokes a minute
- Cuts wood up to 70mm
- SDS tool-free blade change
- Switchable air blower
- Carry case and one blade
Best for: Everyday DIY cuts
- Power
- 500W
- Strokes a minute
- 500–3,100
- Cuts wood up to
- 70mm
- Orbital action
- No
- Blade change
- Tool-free (SDS)
- Laser guide
- No
- In the box
- 1 blade, carry case
#2 of 5
Runner-up
Makita M4301 MT Series Jigsaw (450W)
£30–£50 Price range
Three orbital settings swing the blade forward on each stroke for quicker cuts through timber, with straight cutting for neater edges, and the base tilts to 45° either way. The rubberised grip and 2m cable suit longer sessions at the bench.
What owners say: Owners rate how well it’s built, and say it takes jobs like cutting out a kitchen worktop in its stride.
Heads up: Blades change with the small hex key that clips onto the saw, so keep it there rather than in a drawer.
A closer look: Register it with Makita online soon after buying to stretch the warranty to three years. Leave the orbit off for metal, plastic and laminate, where a straight stroke chips less, and turn it up for fast, rougher cuts in softwood such as cutting up old shelving or pallets.
- 3 orbital settings plus straight
- 0–3,100 strokes a minute
- Cuts wood up to 65mm
- Bevels 45° left and right
- 3-year warranty when registered
Best for: Faster cuts in timber
- Power
- 450W
- Strokes a minute
- 0–3,100
- Cuts wood up to
- 65mm
- Orbital action
- 3 settings
- Blade change
- Hex key, kept on the saw
- Laser guide
- No
- In the box
- 1 blade
#3 of 5
Best for beginners
BLACK+DECKER KS701EK Compact Jigsaw (520W)
£30–£50 Price range
Nothing to set beyond the speed, which follows the trigger: blades swap without tools, the universal clamp takes both T- and U-shank blades, and the base clicks to 0° or 45° for square or angled cuts.
What owners say: Owners who’d been cutting by hand find it far easier than a handsaw, and like how quickly the blades swap over.
A closer look: A wire guard in front of the blade keeps the cut line in view, and the lock-on switch saves holding the trigger through a long straight run. Compact and light, it steers easily round curves in plywood or MDF, and the kit box keeps saw and blades in one place.
- 520W, 0–3,000 strokes a minute
- Cuts wood up to 70mm
- Tool-free blade change
- Dust blower and extraction outlet
- Kit box and wood blade
Best for: A first jigsaw
- Power
- 520W
- Strokes a minute
- 0–3,000
- Cuts wood up to
- 70mm
- Orbital action
- No
- Blade change
- Tool-free
- Laser guide
- No
- In the box
- 1 blade, kit box
#4 of 5
Best budget
HYCHIKA 800W Jigsaw with Laser Guide
£30–£50 Price range
The most power here for less than the big names, with a laser line to follow, a guide ruler for cuts parallel to an edge and six blades for wood, plastic and metal. HYCHIKA quotes cuts up to 110mm deep in wood.
What owners say: Owners like the laser line and the spread of blades in the box, and say it feels solid and has plenty of power for home projects.
A closer look: Butt the guide ruler against a board’s edge for long parallel cuts, like ripping a shelf to width. The vacuum adapter takes a vacuum cleaner hose to keep the dust down indoors, and the speed dial lets it run slower for plastic and metal than for wood.
- 800W, 7 speeds
- Cuts wood up to 110mm
- Laser guide
- 3 orbital settings plus straight
- 6 blades and a guide ruler
Best for: Power for less
- Power
- 800W
- Strokes a minute
- 800–3,000
- Cuts wood up to
- 110mm
- Orbital action
- 3 settings
- Blade change
- Tool-free
- Laser guide
- Laser
- In the box
- 6 blades, guide ruler
#5 of 5
SORAKO 600W Corded Jigsaw
£30–£50 Price range
A mid-power saw with a six-step speed dial and four orbital positions, which covers the everyday jobs: cutting plastic waste pipe, notching boards and shaping plywood up to 60mm thick.
What owners say: Owners use it for small carpentry jobs and for cutting plastic pipe, and find it cuts accurately with a solid feel.
Heads up: Two blades come in the box, so a mixed pack for wood and metal is worth having before a bigger project.
A closer look: Plug a vacuum hose into the dust connector when cutting indoors, and use the guide ruler for straight cuts parallel to an edge. With a 2m cable there’s room to work round a sheet of plywood laid across two trestles without moving the extension lead.
- 600W, 6 speeds
- Cuts wood up to 60mm
- 3 orbital settings plus straight
- Tool-free blade change
- 2m cable
Best for: Pipe, boards and small jobs
- Power
- 600W
- Strokes a minute
- 800–3,000
- Cuts wood up to
- 60mm
- Orbital action
- 3 settings
- Blade change
- Tool-free
- Laser guide
- No
- In the box
- 2 blades, guide ruler
How they compare
| Feature | #1Bosch PST 700 E | #2Makita M4301 | #3BLACK+DECKER KS701E | #4HYCHIKA 800W | #5SORAKO 600W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best for beginners | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.6 |
| Price | £80.95 RRP | £30–£50 Price range | £30–£50 Price range | £30–£50 Price range | £30–£50 Price range |
| Power | 500W | 450W | 520W | 800W | 600W |
| Strokes a minute | 500–3,100 | 0–3,100 | 0–3,000 | 800–3,000 | 800–3,000 |
| Cuts wood up to | 70mm | 65mm | 70mm | 110mm | 60mm |
| Orbital action | No | 3 settings | No | 3 settings | 3 settings |
| Blade change | Tool-free (SDS) | Hex key, kept on the saw | Tool-free | Tool-free | Tool-free |
| Laser guide | No | No | No | Laser | No |
| In the box | 1 blade, carry case | 1 blade | 1 blade, kit box | 6 blades, guide ruler | 2 blades, guide ruler |
| Best for | Everyday DIY cuts | Faster cuts in timber | A first jigsaw | Power for less | Pipe, boards and small jobs |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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