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It’s understandable if buying a jigsaw seems overwhelming. There are many features to worry about, even when it comes to blades, let alone the tool itself.
But what if you knew that you could get a lot done with just the best jigsaw under $100 and that you can invest more in blades instead?
Snapshot! Best Jigsaws Under $100
In a hurry? Here are our top picks:
Best Overall | |
Runner-up | |
Best for the Money |
Comparison Chart of the Best Jigsaws Under $100
Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
Makita 4329K  | Best Overall | |
Black + Decker BDCJS20C  | Runner-up | |
Porter Cable PCC650B  | Best for the Money | |
Skil JS314901  | Honorable Mention | |
Galax Pro Jigsaw  | Editor's Pick |
Can You Find a Quality Jigsaw Under $100
You can, provided you know what you’re looking for, get a quality jigsaw for under $100. It may not be the most powerful, nor the quietest jigsaw, however, and you must understand that you get what you pay for with most tools.
Usually, the lower price range will bring with it smaller jigsaws that have smaller motors and less power. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s no performance to be found.
Some manufacturers do a good job of cutting corners in some less important areas to still maintain high performance and the ability to cut through different materials. Besides, it often happens that a high-quality blade can give a serious performance boost even to an entry-level and more affordable jigsaw.
Review of the Best Jigsaw Under $100
To see just what some of the cheaper jigsaws can offer, check out these following recommendations for specs, performance, and functionality.
Best Overall:
Makita 4329K
PROS
CONS
Our Review
Despite some hiccups, the Makita 4329K reigns supreme at this price point. It’s an ergonomic jigsaw with improved accuracy and control that has plenty of juice to tackle everything from plastic and hardwood to metal workpieces.
It can accept T-shank blades and comes with a few useful accessories and can even be set to run continuously for long cuts thanks to the lock-on button. The variable speed control makes it versatile and optimized for various projects and cutting angles.
In terms of performance, there’s nothing to complain about, except maybe the jigsaw’s less-than-favorable positive stop feature that can be sometimes inconsistent or unreliable.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
There are many things that set this model apart from others from the superior range of motion to the surprising motor power and adjustability. The fact that it will work on almost any material says a lot at this price point.
Runner-up:
Black + Decker BDCJS20C
PROS
CONS
Our Review
If you’re only looking for something to use for very quick projects and small cuts into thinner workpieces, this could be the jigsaw for you. The maximum 2,500 spm rating is not bad at all, and it’ll allow you to cut through metal workpieces, assuming you’re able to slot in a good blade.
The variable speed control will help you get smoother cuts. The angle adjustment on both sides is very important too, and the increased visibility of the working surface is always a plus.
We like that you can change the blades quickly. Between the lightweight build and the good counterbalance, the BDCJS20C is very easy to control.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Performance aside, one of its standout features is the built-in dust blower. This can come in very handy as it can keep the workspace clean and improve your visibility. If you can see better, you should be able to follow the cut lines better too and end up with smoother edges and fewer deviations.
Best for the Money:
Porter Cable PCC650B
PROS
CONS
Our Review
This is the bare tool only but you should still be able to get a Porter Cable 20V battery separately and fall under $100. You might find that it’s worth it as the PCC650B offers variable speed control of up to 2,500spm, which is not bad at all.
You can use it to cut through different materials, although you will need to get better blades. The jigsaw is comfortable even IF it seems a bit bulky. Perhaps because it has a heavy-duty dust blower built-in, which is always a nice perk.
The three orbital settings can give you good control for the smoothness of the edges. The counterbalance seems nice too.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
A good all-around combination of features is what makes the PCC650B stand out in this price range. Between the dust blower, T-shank and U-shank support, and three orbital settings – this is a small jigsaw with enough juice and adjustability to get the job done for smaller projects.
Honorable Mention:
Skil KS314901
PROS
CONS
Our Review
If raw power is what you need, this model might impress. It’s affordable yet boasts up to 600W of power from its 6A motor. It also comes with four orbital settings, one more than most of its competitors.
The level of control over the smoothness of the edges is superior. But it’s worth pointing out that you can only control the speed on the dial and not the trigger.
While that may sound convenient, there are other features that might make you forget about it, such as the bright work light, built-in dust blower, and two-finger trigger operation for added safety and control
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Setting aside the superior power, the included work light and dust blower may just be the standout features. They allow much better line tracking. The reason this may trump other perks is that the higher visibility is great when you have to operate the jigsaw at a higher speed.
Editor’s Pick:
Galax Pro Jigsaw
PROS
CONS
Our Review
This jigsaw isn’t made by one of the top five manufacturers so it’s understandable why it may sometimes be hit or miss with a few things. Nevertheless, when everything is aligned it does a good job.
It offers a powerful motor and speeds of up to 3,000 spm. It also boasts four orbital settings that are easy to adjust on the fly. The bevel adjustment goes quite smooth and the shoe does lock in place easily.
The jigsaw also offers laser guidance and a dust port. So, visibility isn’t going to be an issue as long as you don’t mind using a corded jigsaw with a vac attachment. Luckily, this is not a very heavy model.
What Makes This Product Stand Out?
Set aside the fact that this Galax Pro jigsaw looks like it means business. It’s the ease of making quick and precise adjustments that probably sets it apart. And at the end of the day, any handicap it may have isn’t related to the essential working components.
Quick Recap: Best Jigsaws Under $100
In summary, here are the best Jigsaws Under $100:
- Best Overall: Makita 4329K
- Runner-up: Black + Decker BDCJS20C
- Best for the Money: Porter Cable PCC650B
Comparison Overview: How Do Jigsaws Stack Up?
We have seen some of the best jigsaws under $100. Now, how do they stack up against other types of saws?
Jigsaw vs. Circular Saw
A jigsaw is most often used in smaller projects for making intricate cutouts, cutting along curved lines, and such. A circular saw is something you can use to cut straight lines speedily and work on large workpieces.
It’s also notable that jigsaws are much quieter and a bit harder to control by comparison. It’s recommended that you use a circular saw for framing jobs, while a jigsaw will suit you better for more intricate or delicate work.
Scroll Saw vs. Jigsaw
Both the jigsaw and the scroll saw can do much of the same work. It’s just that the scroll saw is a stationary machine, unlike the jigsaw. Furthermore, the jigsaw is better for free-hand work. Scroll saws, on the other hand, will offer additional precision and control.
But, it’s worth noting that a scroll saw doesn’t have the same cutting power and capacity as a jigsaw. You won’t be able to use it on thicker or heavier workpieces. It’s best used in high finesse projects.
Reciprocating Saw vs. Jigsaw
A reciprocating saw is a bit more aggressive and more powerful. Also, unlike a jigsaw, its blade has horizontal cutting action. While a jigsaw may be used for delicate cuts, the reciprocating saw is ideal for ripping through materials in short order.
Also important to note is that a reciprocating saw, like the Milwaukee Sawzall, won’t just have extra power but also higher weight. It will thus be more difficult to control. That said, it can do things that jigsaws can’t and it isn’t designed for finesse work anyway.
Jigsaw vs. Bandsaw
The only real similarity between a jigsaw and a band saw is that both can cut curves. That said, a bandsaw’s primary use is resawing. This is an ideal tool for splitting materials lengthwise and performing a variety of long cuts with great precision.
Conclusion
A cheap jigsaw is not necessarily a bad jigsaw. You can get tons of power from an entry-level machine and the build quality may not always be as important as the range of features. Or the quality and type of blade, for that matter. As you can see, there’s no reason why a jigsaw should set you back too much.
People Also Ask
To gain further understanding of what a jigsaw can do, here are some more general knowledge tidbits and answers to popular questions. Applying this knowledge with the buying tips should help you pick out a more suitable product for your line of work.
What Is a Jigsaw?
The jigsaw is a cutting tool used primarily for cutting intricate shapes and curves. It uses an up and down sawing motion and a reciprocating blade. This is a handheld saw that can take a variety of blades and cut through a wide range of materials.
What Type of Jigsaw Blade Do I Need?
The type of blade you need depends on the material and type of cut, or perhaps how fast you want to make the cuts. The more teeth are on the blade, the smoother but the slower the cuts. Stronger blades work better for harder materials and for straight cuts, while narrower blades are usually better with curves.
How Much Power Do These Jigsaws Have?
Bigger jigsaws have bigger motors and therefore additional power. Typically, a good jigsaw can be equipped with a motor of between 400W and 900W. But, the actually cutting power or proficiency may also be tied to the quality of the blade and its teeth, not just how fast the blade can go thanks to the motor. Of course, you may also come across motor ratings in Amperes – which is readily convertible to Watts if you also know the Voltage.
What Can a Jigsaw Cut Through?
A jigsaw’s motor and blade will determine what it can cut. Some jigsaws can cut through anything from wood to plastic, plywood, ceramic tiles, metal, and in some cases, even concrete plates. You can even cut a 2x4 with a jigsaw, provided you go with a slow and steady approach and a highly durable blade.