DeWalt DCS331 Jigsaw UK Review

The DeWalt DCS331 sits second in our best cordless jigsaws UK comparison, and its position on the most widely stocked cordless platform in UK retail is a meaningful practical advantage that the specification alone does not capture. XR batteries are available at B&Q, Screwfix and Toolstation as standard – a replacement or spare is accessible in most UK towns without ordering online and waiting for delivery. For trade professionals who cannot afford downtime, this distribution advantage compounds into real-world value. The DCS331 itself is a capable, well-built jigsaw with a 3,000 spm maximum stroke rate – the highest in our comparison – and four orbital settings that cover the full range of cutting tasks competently.

Where the Makita DJV182Z edges it is on cut precision, anti-vibration and the brushless motor’s runtime efficiency. The DCS331 uses a brushed motor, which means lower runtime per charge and a shorter projected motor lifespan under daily heavy use. For an existing XR platform user these considerations are largely irrelevant – the platform match makes the DCS331 the obvious choice and the performance gap with the Makita is not large enough to justify switching ecosystems. For a buyer starting fresh, the XR platform’s retail accessibility is a genuine differentiator worth weighing alongside the raw performance comparison.

Overview and first impressions

The DCS331 has the immediate quality feel of DeWalt’s XR professional range. The yellow and black livery is familiar, the housing is solidly assembled and the build quality is consistent throughout – nothing flexes, rattles or feels underbuilt. The grip is well-proportioned with a comfortable rubber overmould that provides secure purchase across a range of hand sizes. At 1.6kg bare it is lighter than the Makita’s 1.5kg differential is negligible in practice, and the balance with a 3.0Ah battery fitted is good without being nose-heavy.

The blade change is tool-free via a key-type release lever – faster than a traditional tool-required system and straightforward to operate, though slightly less positive in feel than the Makita’s sliding lever or the Bosch’s SDS mechanism. Blade retention in the holder is firm with minimal play, keeping cut precision acceptable. The base plate pivots cleanly for bevel cuts up to 45 degrees and locks via a thumbscrew that held its angle reliably throughout our bevel cut tests. The dust blower is effective, keeping the cut line clear through most cutting operations. Four orbital settings are selected via a clearly marked dial with firm detent positions at each setting.

The variable speed trigger is well-calibrated with usable slow-speed control at the bottom of travel – the lower end is slightly less refined than the Makita’s brushless trigger response but fully adequate for starting cuts precisely on a marked line. The overall impression is of a professional tool built to a consistent standard throughout, with no single standout feature but no weakness either. It is the definition of a reliable, all-round performer.

Specifications and scores

How it performed in our tests

The DCS331 performed strongly across all standard cutting tasks in our matched test programme. In 18mm plywood on orbital setting 1, cut quality was very good – the edge was clean and straight with only minor tearout on the exit face that a fine-toothed blade would minimise further. In 45mm softwood at orbital setting 2, cutting speed was fast – the 3,000 spm ceiling, the highest in our comparison, translates into a genuine pace advantage in straight-run softwood cutting that is measurable against the 2,600 spm Makita and Bosch. In 18mm hardwood at orbital setting 0, the cut was clean and accurate. In 3mm mild steel, progress was clean and controlled with the appropriate bi-metal blade.

The 3,000 spm advantage matters most in straight-run work through softwood and sheet material where speed is the priority. In precision work and curved cuts, the slightly less refined low-end trigger feel compared to the brushless Makita is the more relevant factor – the DCS331’s trigger response at very low speed is adequate but not as linear. For most trade applications where the tool spends the majority of its time cutting in a straight line through softwood framing and sheet material, the DCS331’s speed advantage is a real daily benefit.

Battery system and runtime

The DCS331 runs on DeWalt’s 18V XR platform – the most widely stocked cordless battery system in UK retail. XR batteries are available at B&Q, Screwfix, Toolstation and Amazon as standard, which gives the DCS331 a distribution advantage over every other tool in this comparison. A replacement battery can be sourced from a local high street store in most UK towns on the same day it is needed. For trade professionals who cannot afford downtime waiting for next-day delivery, this accessibility has genuine practical value that does not show up in any specification table.

The brushed motor delivers lower runtime per charge than the Makita DJV182Z’s brushless unit on equivalent tasks. In our testing the DCS331 completed approximately 20% fewer cuts per charge than the Makita on the same 3.0Ah battery and same material. Over a full working day that gap means a brushless tool will typically complete more work on a single 5.0Ah charge where the brushed DCS331 may need a mid-afternoon top-up on the heaviest cutting loads.

Performance and limitations

The DCS331 is a strong all-round performer that sits behind the Makita DJV182Z primarily because of the brushed motor’s runtime and longevity disadvantages rather than any significant cut quality deficit. In standard cutting tasks the performance gap between these two tools is modest – most buyers comparing them side-by-side would find the DCS331 fully competitive in everyday use. The XR platform’s retail distribution advantage is a genuine practical benefit that the Makita cannot match in UK high street availability. For XR platform users the choice is clear and straightforward. For buyers starting fresh, the combination of strong performance and the most accessible battery platform in the UK makes the DCS331 a compelling option.

Final verdict – is it worth it?

The DeWalt DCS331 is a very capable jigsaw that earns its second-place position in our comparison with strong all-round performance and the considerable practical advantage of the XR platform’s UK retail distribution. The 3,000 spm maximum stroke rate makes it the fastest cutter in straight runs through softwood and sheet material in this test group, and the build quality is consistent with DeWalt’s well-regarded XR standard. For an existing XR user it is the obvious choice – the platform match is the right decision and the performance is entirely competitive.

The comparison with the Makita DJV182Z comes down primarily to brushed versus brushless motor. For a trade professional cutting with a jigsaw for several hours every day, the Makita’s brushless efficiency and anti-vibration handle combine into a meaningful working-day advantage. For a serious DIY user or a tradesperson using a jigsaw several times a week rather than daily, the DCS331’s performance is entirely competitive at a slightly lower body price, and the XR battery availability advantage tips the balance in its favour for anyone starting fresh on a platform.

At around £105 body only, the DCS331 is honest value for a professional-grade jigsaw on the UK’s most convenient battery platform. It finishes a strong second in our comparison – not the top pick, but the right pick for a significant proportion of UK tool buyers who value what the XR platform delivers beyond the tool specification.