DEWALT DCS367B 20V MAX XR Compact Reciprocating Saw Review

Why you should trust this review

I bought the DCS367B bare at retail to pair with the 20V MAX batteries my crew already runs. DEWALT did not sponsor this. I run a small remodeling and finish carpentry outfit, and this saw replaced an older corded compact recip that finally gave up. The reason I reach for a compact saw at all is that most of my cutting is not heavy demolition, it is the constant drip of cutoffs in tight spaces that a full size Sawzall simply cannot reach.

Over eight months it has handled plumbing rough out alterations, electrical box demolition, cabinet teardown in cramped corners, overhead trim removal during demo, and even a Sunday afternoon of tree pruning at my own house. That spread is the right test for a compact recip, because the whole value proposition is reach and handling, and you only learn whether a saw delivers that by using it where a big saw fails.

How we evaluated

I cut four inch cast iron drain pipe with a fresh bi metal blade, averaged across three cuts, and compared the time directly against a full size demo saw on identical material. I cut overhead framing in tight stud bays for chase work, demolished a cabinet bank against a wall, and made repeated quick cuts in copper pipe to test trigger response. I trimmed three inch tree branches from a ladder to judge one handed handling, and I verified the shoe lock and blade clamp stayed consistent across more than thirty blade swaps.

Compact size: the reason this saw exists

The genuine value here is the size. At a shade over fourteen inches long and a hair over six pounds bare, the DCS367 is dramatically more compact than a full size saw. It fits between joists with the shoe down, slides into cabinet bays for shelf mount demolition, and works in tight plumbing spaces where a Sawzall just does not go. That reach is the difference between making a cut in place and tearing out half the surrounding structure to get a big saw in.

The compact body also makes one handed work practical, which is not true of full size saws. I have cut overhead framing in tight bays for an entire afternoon without my arms giving out, something a larger heavier saw would have made miserable. For a finish tradesman who is constantly working in awkward positions, that handling advantage is worth more than raw cutting speed.

Cut speed and stroke

The shorter stroke is the honest tradeoff for the compact size. On the cast iron test, the DCS367 averaged around ninety seconds per four inch pipe cut, against roughly a minute for the full size demo saw with the same blade. That stroke difference adds up on heavy material. For finish carpentry and remodel work the slower cut is rarely a problem, because I am usually cutting smaller stock, but for pure demolition pace the bigger saw is the right tool.

Within its lane the cut quality is good. The motor delivers power linearly rather than surging, which makes it controllable on the small precise cuts that fill a remodel day. It will cut cast iron when you need it to, just not as fast as a saw built for that single purpose, and that is a fair compromise for a tool you are choosing for its reach.

One hand ergonomics

The DCS367 is balanced for one handed use in a way full size saws are not. The trigger position, the weight balance, and the compact body combine to make one hand cutting genuinely workable rather than a strain. I have cut overhead framing one handed for short stretches, which with a larger saw would have meant a step ladder and two hands. For overhead trim removal and plumbing rough in, that capability changes how you work.

The four position blade clamp is a quiet standout for this kind of work. Being able to lock the blade in upside down or sideways lets me get into orientations that matter for plumbing rough in, where the cut is often above your head or behind a fixture. After thirty plus blade changes the clamp has not lost its grip.

Battery efficiency and build quality

Runtime is solid for a compact saw. On the cast iron test a mid size pack made fourteen cuts before cutout, and a larger pack pushed that higher. For typical mixed demo work a single mid size battery covers a half day comfortably, which is what you want from a tool you carry from room to room rather than parking next to an outlet.

Build quality has held up over eight months. The steel shoe stays flat, the blade clamp has not lost grip, and the brushless motor runs cool even on sustained cuts. The vibration is the one area where it trails full size saws, with a noticeable buzz on cast iron and rebar, but on the wood and pipe that make up most of my cutting it is smooth enough. The bright work light is genuinely useful in the dim cabinet bays and crawl spaces where this saw spends much of its life.

Who should buy the DEWALT DCS367B?

Buy it if you already own 20V MAX batteries and need a compact recip for finish carpentry, electrical, plumbing, or remodel demolition. It is the right tool if you frequently work overhead or in tight spaces where a full size saw does not fit, and if you want a saw you can run one handed.

Skip it if your work is heavy demolition, where a full size saw cuts noticeably faster. Skip it too if you have no DEWALT batteries, where a kit is a smarter starting point, or if you specifically need maximum power on big material, where a high output saw is the right pick.

The verdict

The DCS367B is the compact class champion for the 20V MAX platform. It cuts heavy material slower than a full size saw and it ships bare, so it assumes you already have batteries, but neither of those is a strike against what it is built for. For carpenters, electricians, and plumbers who spend their days in tight spaces and overhead, the reach and one handed handling are the whole point, and this saw delivers both.