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Drywall is light, affordable, and relatively easy to cut, hang, and repair when you have the necessary tools and supplies, such as drywall tape, drywall screws, and drywall saws. A handheld drywall saw or jab saw has a long, narrow blade with large teeth and a sharp tip specifically designed for cutting into drywall. These tools are affordable and easy to use, making them a great option for any DIYer’s tool box.
Trying to take on a drywall installation or repair project completely unprepared can lead to a difficult, time-consuming mess. Like all tools, you will want to find a drywall saw that is durable, accurate, and effective so that you can accomplish any drywall cutting tasks with relative ease. Take a look at this list of the best drywall saws to find a product that is suitable for your next home renovation or drywall repair project.
Best Overall
DeWalt DWHT20540 Jab Saw
Pros
- Comfortable contoured handle improves ease of use
- Aggressive tooth pattern increases cutting efficiency
- Useful for cutting drywall, plastic, and other soft building materials
- Durable, induction-hardened teeth stay sharp for longer
Cons
- Not suited for large, clean cuts
- Teeth may tear soft-sided tool bags
Specs
- Blade material Carbon steel
- Number of teeth 8 TPI
- Blade length 6 inches
One of the top considerations for every DIYer selecting a quality drywall saw is the design of the handle. This DeWalt drywall saw features a comfortable, padded grip with a contoured handle that minimizes hand fatigue so you can work for longer periods without worrying about your hand cramping up. Additionally, the aggressive tooth pattern makes it easier for the blade to slice through the drywall, reducing the amount of power it takes to control the tool.
At 6 inches in length, the blade of this DeWalt drywall saw is long enough to pierce through several sheets of drywall and make accurate cutouts for ceiling lights, electrical outlets, pipes, cables, or any other objects that might protrude. It can also be used for cutting plastic and other soft building materials thanks to the highly durable, induction-hardened teeth. Just make sure to store the drywall saw in a solid plastic or metal toolbox that can withstand wear and tear from the sharp teeth.
What our tester says: “The tip of the saw penetrates drywall easily, and the long triple-ground saw teeth cut into drywall cleanly without tearing the paper at the edges of the cut. I also found the cushioned handle comfortable, which made it easy for me to control the blade for straight or curved cutting.” -Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the DeWalt Drywall Saw at Amazon, Home Depot, or Ace Hardware.
More Drywall Saws Worth Your Money
Whether for making cutouts in the ceiling for new lights or cutting out damaged patches of drywall for minor repairs, these quality drywall saws come highly recommended. Choose the tooth pattern and blade design that suits your next project, or opt for one of the folding drywall saws to make tool storage easier.
- Goldblatt Folding Jab Saw, available at Amazon, Floor & Decor, or Walmart.
- Irwin Tools ProTouch Jab Saw, available at Amazon, Lowes, or Walmart.
- Klein Tools Folding Jab Saw, available at Amazon, Lowes, or Acme Tools.
- Shark RockEater Drywall Saw, available at Amazon, Sharp Corp., or Hardware World.
- Great Neck Double Edged Drywall Saw, available at Amazon, AutoZone, or Hardware World.
How We Chose the Best Drywall Saws
In order to select the best drywall saws for this list, we researched and reviewed a wide range of products from the top tool manufacturing brands. From a pool of over 30 potential options we narrowed our choices based on durability, blade design, blade material, size, weight, and any additional features, such as a folding blade that would make it easier to store the drywall saw.
We aimed to choose a variety of blade styles and drywall saw designs to provide a diverse selection of top tools for this list. The price of each saw also influenced our assessment, though the most important factor we considered was the overall quality of each drywall saw. With this in mind, we eliminated products with weak blades, uncomfortable handles, and low durability until only the best drywall saws remained.
FAQs
Before starting the search for the best hand saw to cut drywall, it’s worth finding out as much as possible about drywall saws and the right methods for cutting drywall. Otherwise, you may invest in a drywall or wallboard cutting tool that isn’t suitable for the project or that can only be used for certain aspects of the job, like an adjustable drywall hole saw. Check out this list of frequently asked questions about drywall and drywall saws to round out your understanding.
Whether you need a special blade or not depends on the type of saw. When selecting a tool for cutting drywall it’s important to make sure the drywall cutting tool is equipped with a drywall blade for the best results. A utility knife is a common tool to cut drywall that can be used with the standard blade to make long, straight cuts. Similarly, drywall saws already have a specially designed blade for small, accurate cuts, though when paired with a drywall cutting blade, some of the best oscillating tools can also be used to make clean square cuts for those who prefer an electric drywall saw.
Rotary tools equipped with drywall cutting bits can be some of the best tools to cut drywall. Jesse Andrews, owner of New England Home Pros, says “an electric rotary tool like the Dremel, paired with a drywall bit, offers superior speed and control for large-scale projects or intricate patterns.” You can also choose between a jigsaw vs reciprocating saw if you are looking for an alternative power drywall cutter.
Jesse Andrews, owner of New England Home Pros, explains that “drywall and Sheetrock are terms often used interchangeably, though Sheetrock is a brand.” This means that while all Sheetrock is drywall, only some drywall should be considered Sheetrock. Other drywall products may be made using a different chemical composition and can range from low to high quality, but when you are cutting Sheetrock you know that this material is made with a specific formula and is widely considered to be a high-quality product.
Part of learning how to cut drywall is understanding which side of the material to cut. Typically, drywall will have a light finished side and a dark paper side. Jesse Andrews, owner of New England Home Pros, says “when cutting, start on the finished side for cleaner, more professional-looking results.”
