We Tried a Handful of Hacksaws to Find the Fastest, Smoothest Cuts for the Best Price

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While most manual hand saws are a fine choice for cutting wood, they’re not much help when it comes to harder materials like metal and plastic. For this, you need a hacksaw.

These heavy-duty tools have thin blades, small teeth, and are durable enough to withstand the friction and heat that results from use on rigid materials. These features make hacksaws indispensable for tackling plumbing tasks that involve copper or PVC piping, as well as DIY projects that require rebar or conduit trimming.

The secret to a hacksaw's effectiveness is its ability to keep the blade extremely taut, using a built-in tension system that pulls the ends of the blade after being installed. While reciprocating saws are more productive and require less effort, a hacksaw is preferred for performing slower, precise cuts.

We got our hands on several professional-grade options, and the collection below represents the best hacksaws we recommend. Add one of these hacksaws to your toolbox to tackle the most demanding home improvement cutting tasks.

The Best Hacksaws

• Best Overall: Lenox 12-in High-Tension Hacksaw Frame

• Best Budget: Craftsman CMHT20138 Hand Saw
  

• Best Compact: Lenox Tools 20975975 Mini Hacksaw

• Best Heavy-Duty: Klein Tools 702-12 Hacksaw

• Most Versatile: DEWALT 5-in-1 Hacksaw
  

What to Consider

Blade type

Hacksaw blades use their small, hard teeth to smoothly cut through hard material, but the number of teeth differs from blade to blade. Make sure you choose the best teeth per inch (TPI) for your specific application. As a general rule of thumb, the thicker the material, the fewer teeth you want.

• Course-Grade (14-18 TPI): These are best for use on thicker and relatively soft materials, like aluminum, copper, and mild steel. Since course blades have fewer teeth, their cuts are rougher than higher TPI options.

• Medium-Grade (20-24 TPI): This is the most common hacksaw grade, and provides a good balance of aggressive cutting and smooth edges. In addition to metal, these blades are ideal for cutting plastic and PVC. If you need a hacksaw for a wide range of tasks, go with a medium-grade blade.

• Fine-Grade (24-30 TPI): Fine grade blades produce very smooth cuts, although they take longer than lower TPI blades to cut through thicker material. These are best for use on thin, or especially fragile applications.

• Superfine-Grade (30-32 TPI): Anything higher than 30 TPI is considered “superfine” grade, and ideal for cuts that leave no burrs or rough edges behind.

Blade Material

• Carbon Steel: These blades are the best option for general DIY-use. Although carbon steel wears down faster than other materials, it’s versatile enough for a variety of applications. Plus, it’s the most affordable.
  

• High Speed Steel: Made of a steel alloy, these blades withstand high temperatures generated by metal cutting. This heat resistance makes high-speed steel blades slower to wear down.

• Bi-Metal: With a carbon-steel body and high-speed steel teeth, bi-metal blades strike the balance between durability and performance. These blades are more expensive than those made of 100 percent carbon steel or high-speed steel.

Functionality

While all hacksaws have the same basic design—a blade suspended between a U-shaped frame—some convert into additional shapes and blade positions. Models with a “jab saw” option extend a pointed reciprocating saw blade, which is convenient for reaching into tight areas that a standard hacksaw body could not. On-board blade storage is another feature to look for. Many hacksaws have a hollow frame for storing multiple blades, handy for quickly replacing a worn-down blade in less than a minute. If you want to cut flush against a surface, look for a hacksaw whose blade position can pivot angled or flat.

Size

The longer the saw blade, the more metal you can remove with each stroke. Most hacksaw blades are 10-12 inches in length, with smaller models as short as 6 inches. While longer blades are more productive, compact options are convenient for those who work in tight or cramped areas.

Tension

All hacksaw blades are held tightly in place for speed and overall cutting effectiveness, but some have more tension than others. Standard tension hacksaws use a basic wingnut to tighten the blade, and are the cheapest options to purchase. High tension models use an expandable frame and powerful lever mechanisms to hold the blade extremely taut, practically eliminating any flexion or bending.

How We Selected

I’ve used both standard and high-tension hacksaws in various carpentry, demolition, and plumbing projects. This experience has given me the necessary insight to assemble a pool of popular and well-regarded options for DIY-ers, including brands and models that I’ve come to know and trust. For newer models that I haven’t used personally, I sourced samples and ran them through a comprehensive testing process, which involved cutting through half-inch rebar, 16D nails driven into a two-by-four, and PVC pipe. After my research and testing, I evaluated the remaining options based on overall usability, functionality, and durability, finally landing on the best six options listed here.

I’ve been using Lenox hacksaws for years–along with their outstanding tubing cutters–and this updated model was an easy choice as the best overall option. Its high-tension lever system integrates into the frame itself–so no bulky wingnuts sticking out–and the large “12” symbol lets you know exactly how many twists to apply.

My favorite feature of this saw is the high-quality, thick rubber handles, which provide a valuable combination of comfort and grip. These handles were especially apparent in my cutting tests, and along with the ultra high-tension 24 TPI blade, allowed me to quickly glide through half-inch rebar and one-inch PVC without any trouble.

Despite the low price, this Craftsman saw has a sturdy, well-made feel to it, from the handle to the individual components of the tension system. This standard tension saw features a large wingnut that’s comfortable to grip and twist, and the straightforward adjustment system makes it easy to mount the blade in either 90 or 45 degree positions.

The 12-inch length and nearly 4.5-inch cut depth is versatile enough for a wide range of basic cutting tasks, and the 1.23-pound weight cuts down on hand and arm fatigue. It didn’t cut as fast as the higher-end saws in my testing pool, but still did a fine job with the rebar, framing nail, and PVC tests. The main downside to this saw is its lack of blade storage, so it won’t be an ideal choice for frequent users.

If you need to access cramped or awkward spaces that a typical hacksaw frame wouldn’t fit, this mini hacksaw is the way to go. Best of all, you’re not even sacrificing that much cutting capacity, since it still accepts standard 10-inch blades. Made entirely out of corrosion-resistant aluminum, this saw is practically indestructible, and provides the structural integrity necessary to saw through tough tubing and bolts.

I’ve always found Lenox tools to be designed with comfort and usability in mind, which is clearly shown in the exaggerated ergonomics of the handle grip.

Klein Tools have been producing high-quality tools for tradespeople for more than 100 years, so selecting this model as my best heavy-duty option is a no-brainer. Soft-touch grips on the pistol and front grips allow users to maintain a comfortable and sturdy grip while they work, and the high-tension frame increases the speed and accuracy of those cuts.

This model also includes two blades: a 12-inch bi-metal blade for traditional cutting, and a 6-inch reciprocating blade for converting the frame into a jab saw. This extra blade is conveniently stored in the saw’s handle.

Capable of transforming into five different saw shapes and including two different blades, this DeWalt model offers an incredible amount of cutting versatility. In addition to the standard high-tension hacksaw design, the removable front handle and included reciprocating saw blade allows you to use both pieces for different tasks, such as a compact jab saw, and low-profile hacksaw.

You can even mount the 12-inch blade to the main pistol grip for jobs that require an extra long reach without obstruction. I found these different combinations simple to assemble, and thanks to its straightforward operation, didn’t even need any instructions to do so. This heavy-duty saw also absolutely powered through rebar, nail-studded wood and PVC during my testing, although its 2.3-pound weight is heavier than most.

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