Makita
Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw
$199Cheaper
Best Jigsaws · head-to-head
Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20)
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw is cheaper at $199. Every spec and price links to its source.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20)
$229
Which is better: the Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw or Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20)?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw is the cheaper at $199.
See Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw on Amazon See Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20) on Amazon
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw | Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $199 Bare tool, battery not included | $229 |
| Brand | Makita | Milwaukee |
| Released | — | — |
| Power source | cordless | cordless |
| Amps or voltage | 18 V | 18 V |
| Strokes per min max | 2600 | 3500 |
| Stroke length (in) | 1 in | 1 in |
| Orbital settings | 3 | 4 |
| Bevel capacity (°) | 45 | 45 |
| Tool less blade change | Yes | Yes |
| Brushless | No | Yes |
Sources — Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw: makitatools.com (verified 2026-06-20). Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20): ohiopowertool.com (verified 2026-06-20).
What's the difference between the Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw and Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Strokes per min max: Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw 2600 vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20) 3500
- Orbital settings: Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw 3 vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20) 4
- Brushless: Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw false vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20) true
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Makita XVJ03Z 18V LXT Cordless Jig Saw
One whitelisted hands-on reviewer covers this exact model. Pro Tool Reviews used all three Makita 18V jigsaws, including the brushed XVJ03 (XVJ03Z bare tool), which the reviewer owns. Praised were Makita's usual excellent build, the comfortable D-handle, bright LED and strong dust blower, and the brushed motor's superior slow-speed control that yielded more accurate cuts than the brushless siblings. Downsides flagged: a splitter guard that pops out (the reviewer abandoned it) and shorter runtime than the brushless models. No lab measurements were taken. (1 sourced review.)
Praised: Excellent Makita build quality across the lineup; Brushed motor delivers more control and accurate cuts at very slow speeds; Comfortable D-handle, bright LED light, and strong dust blower keep the cut line visible.
Flagged: Splitter guard pops out easily and gets abandoned; Shorter runtime than the brushless siblings because of the brushed motor.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw (2737-20)
Only one whitelisted tester, Pro Tool Reviews, hands-on reviewed this exact Milwaukee M18 FUEL D-Handle jig saw (title covers the 2737-21 kit; the body identifies the bare tool as 2737-20). It scored 9.6/10, praising class-leading cutting speed and a comfortable grip, but flagged weak dust collection, no lock-on button, and no variable-speed dial. No measured benchmarks were published; other tool sites fell outside the whitelist. (1 sourced review.)
Praised: Cutting speed — clearly faster than DeWalt and Ridgid despite the same top SPM; Comfortable D-handle design, overmold grip, and easy-to-control cuts; Cutline blower off switch improves dust capture versus rivals.
Flagged: Dust collection leaves something to be desired; No lock-on button, a drawback on longer curved cuts; No variable-speed dial (two-finger trigger only).