The present invention discloses a reciprocating compressor which can linearly reciprocate a piston (6) inside a cylinder (4) as a linear motor (10) is driven, compress a refrigerant by sucking the refrigerant into a compression space (P) between the cylinder (4) and the piston (6), and then discharge the same. In the reciprocating compressor, the piston is operated at a top dead center position and in a resonance state by symmetrically applying a voltage even if load is varied, the elastic coefficient of the mechanical spring (8a) is set in consideration of the degree of shift of the piston (6) influenced by the gas springs varied by load, and the initial value of the piston (6) for maintaining the stroke (S) of the piston is set so as to correspond to a required cooling capacity condition. Accordingly, electric power consumption caused by applying an asymmetrical voltage can be reduced, a tuning operation for applying an asymmetrical voltage can be omitted, thereby decreasing inconvenience. Further, the piston (6) is operated at the top dead center position and in the resonance state under all load conditions, thereby further increasing operation frequency.