If you are searching for the best chainsaws out there, you are at the right place. This review is aimed at show the best chainsaws out there. Read through to discover for yourself the best chainsaws.
BUYER’S GUIDE
Purchasing a chainsaw may seem like a daunting task for the typical homeowner or beginning professional, and if you’re just beginning to sift through the wealth of information online you’ll quickly realize that there are a lot of variables and options to consider when buying a chainsaw.
That’s why we decided to sit down and spend the time to write you a chainsaw buying guide to provide you with clarity and direction so you can hone on the correct chainsaw suitable for your needs.
What will you primarily be using a chainsaw for?
If you’re a typical homeowner with an occasional need for a chainsaw, only doing light cutting a few times a year, then an electric chainsaw should suit you just fine. On the other hand, if you’re felling medium sized trees or working in the woods then you’ll definitely need a gas chainsaw with at least a 45cc engine or larger. See the chart in this guide.
What’s your experience with using a chainsaw?
If you’re buying your first chainsaw and you’ve never used one before then you want the smallest chainsaw that will accomplish your project goals. For beginners, I would recommend you use a guide bar of 18″ or less – but you may only only need a 12″ bar. Again, it depends on your needs which I’ll help you determine shortly. The point being is that 20″ and up is only appropriate for experienced chainsaw users.
What type of trees will you be cutting? Soft or hard wood?
You’ll need a powerful gas chainsaw if you’re cutting hard woods, such as: dogwood, hard maple, hickory, birch, beech, oak or ash.
How often will you use the chainsaw?
If you only intend to use it for a few days of the year then I highly recommend you purchase an electric chainsaw as you won’t have to worry about maintenance. Gas chainsaws require far more maintenance, but there are people who love to get their hands dirty and tinker so if you’re a tinkerer then gas is probably the way to go.
Where will you be cutting?
If you own a large piece of land and need to roam freely or you plan on working deep in the woods then a gas chainsaw will be the right choice for you as it will allow you complete freedom of mobility. Electric chainsaws are limited by cord length or battery life.
What time of year will you be using your chainsaw?
If Winter, consider a chainsaw with a heated handle and a heated carburetor.
What’s the diameter of the wood you’ll be cutting?
See the section on guide bar length to determine the guide bar length you need.
What environment will you be using your chainsaw in?
If you’ll be working in an environment that requires you to be relatively quiet, such as: indoors, an environmentally sensitive area, within any areas with noise bylaws or you simply live with neighbors that may become your enemy if you create noise pollution then an electric chainsaw is the way to go.
What are the safety features you want?
Safety is essential when working with a chainsaw. The more safety features the better. We’ll talk more about safety later.
Four Factors to Consider when buying A Chainsaw
Four of most important attributes to consider when buying a chainsaw are: guide bar length, power type (gas or electric), engine power (cc, Volts, or Amps), safety features, and your fitness/strength level.
Guide Bar length
Guide bar length is measured from the tip of the chain to where it enters the housing. Bar length represents the active cutting area and represents the largest size length of wood the chainsaw can cut in a single pass. For homeowners, you should know that you can still cut large pieces of wood with a smaller chainsaw. You’ll just have to do it in two passes.
For example, a 16” guide bar can cut almost twice its length – that’s a whopping 32”. But it’s more than just the bar length that determines the size of wood you can cut. Is the engine powerful enough to cut through a 32″ log? Size does matter when it comes to chainsaws.
For the safest cutting, the bar length should be 2″ longer than the wood you want to cut, so if you want to cut a 14″ tree in one pass then a 16″ (or bigger) guide bar is ideal. If you need to cut a larger tree with a small chainsaw then you can do so in two passes. For example, a 16” bar length will cut a 32 inch tree.
But if you have the need to cut 32” trees on a regular basis then a 16” bar length will be the wrong choice. I’d recommend a professional heavy duty chainsaw for trees that large. If you’re a typical homeowner primarily doing light cutting then I recommend a bar length under 14”. For medium duty cutting then you’ll want a bar length between 16” to 20”. And for heavy duty cutting, you’re in professional territory and typically you’d need a bar length between 22” to 36”.
Electric chainsaws typically range in size from 14” to 20”. Also, the manufacturer has recommended bar length sizes for each chainsaw model they sell, so stick with their guidelines and consult with your local authorized seller when making your final purchase.
The larger the bar length, the more difficult it is to handle the chainsaw and the greater the risk of injury because the chainsaw becomes unbalanced and fatigue becomes a factor as the chainsaw feels heavy over long periods of usage.
Also, a common danger of chainsaws is the occurrence of kickback, which is more likely to occur with a longer bar length.
Engine Power Type:
Gas Chainsaws
Power is a measure of engine size in cubic centimeters (cc) or cubic inches (cu. in.). The higher the number, the more powerful the engine, but with great power comes more weight. Most homeowner chainsaws are typically between 24cc to 46cc.
Electric Chainsaws
Power in an electric chainsaw is referred to as Amperage or Amps (A), for short. The higher the Amps the more powerful the chainsaw.
Battery Powered Chainsaws
The Power in a battery operated chainsaw is referred to as Voltage or Volts (V), for short. The higher the Volts, the more powerful the chainsaw.
Battery powered chainsaws have come a long way in the past few years, capable of generating as much cutting power as a small gas chainsaw, such as the Dewalt FLEXVOLT 60V or the Greenworks PRO 80V — both are on par with a 45cc gas chainsaw.
Battery Power
The most common and superior battery type is lithium-ion (Li-ion), but you may still come across the older battery type called nickel-cadmium (NiCad).
NiCad chainsaws are cheaper and take longer to charge but for small projects they’ll be just fine. If you intend to do bigger projects then definitely buy a chainsaw with lithium-ion batteries. It will be lighter, last longer and charge quickly.
BEST CHAINSAW
- DEWALT chainsaw
- Husqvarna 16 Inch 130 Gas Chainsaw, Orange
- WORX WG304.1 Chain Saw 18-Inch 4 15.0 Amp
- Worx WG322 20V Cordless Chainsaw with Auto-Tension
- Milwaukee – M18 FUEL 16″ Chainsaw Kit – MIL 2727-21HD
- Husqvarna 20 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw
- Tanaka TCS40EA18 18-Inch 40cc 2-Stroke Gas Powered Rear Handle Chain Saw
- BLACK+DECKER 40V Max Cordless Chainsaw
- Greenworks 12-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw
- Earthwise CS33016 16-Inch 12-Amp Corded Electric Chainsaw
| NAMES | FEATURES | WHERE TO BUY |
| DEWALT chainsaw
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
| Husqvarna 16 Inch 130 Gas Chainsaw, Orange
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
| WORX WG304.1 Chain Saw 18-Inch 4 15.0 Amp
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
| Worx WG322 20V Cordless Chainsaw with Auto-Tension
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
| Milwaukee – M18 FUEL 16″ Chainsaw Kit – MIL 2727-21HD
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
| Husqvarna 20 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
| Tanaka TCS40EA18 18-Inch 40cc 2-Stroke Gas Powered Rear Handle Chain Saw
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
| BLACK+DECKER 40V Max Cordless Chainsaw
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
| Greenworks 12-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
| Earthwise CS33016 16-Inch 12-Amp Corded Electric Chainsaw
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GET IT ON AMAZON |
DEWALT chainsaw
The DEWALT 60 V MAX* chainsaw features a low kick back 16 In. Oregon® bar and chain for both construction and outdoor cutting applications. Its tool-free chain tensioning and bar tightening knob enable proper bar clamping force, and it features auto-oiling for continuous lubrication. It has a 60 V MAX* FLEXVOLT battery that Powers 60 V MAX* tools or it can be backwards compatible to work with 20 V MAX* tools.
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Husqvarna 16 Inch 130 Gas Chainsaw, Orange
The Husqvarna 130 is built for homeowners who need a lightweight and efficient tool for use around the yard. Featuring an X-Torq® engine for lower fuel consumption and emissions, this gas-powered chainsaw is ready for tree pruning, hobby work and other light tasks.
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WORX WG304.1 Chain Saw 18-Inch 4 15.0 Amp
The 18-Inch 4.0 HP 15.0 Amp chainsaw is a cut above the rest. The WORX exclusive, patented tool-free chain replacement and auto-tensioning system eliminates the headaches faced with most other chain saws. You don’t need to be a lumberjack to operate a chainsaw.
The auto-tension system includes a single, oversized knob that secures the bar and chain and maintains proper tension during operation-automatically. The WORX auto-tensioning system also works to extend bar and chain life by eliminating any chance of over-tightening.
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Worx WG322 20V Cordless Chainsaw with Auto-Tension
The chainsaw has handles and guards that are not only functional but also comfortable to hold and that serve to minimize hand and arm fatigue. The battery compartment is neatly tucked under the rear handle, keeping the battery out of the way so it doesn’t get hung up on wood while cutting.
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Milwaukee – M18 FUEL 16″ Chainsaw Kit – MIL 2727-21HD
The Milwaukee® M18 FUEL™ 16″ Chainsaw delivers the power to cut hardwoods, cuts faster than gas, and delivers up to 150 cuts per charge. The unit is designed to meet the performance, durability and ergonomic needs of professional landscape maintenance, power utility, and the installed M18™ user
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Husqvarna 20 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw
Husqvarna’s 460 Rancher is an ideal saw for landowners and part-time users who require a high-powered, responsive workmate for all cutting conditions. It combines the raw power of an X-Torq® engine with new innovations, such as Smart Start® and the LowVib® anti-vibration systems. You’ll be ready to take care of any outdoor task with this world-class saw.
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Tanaka TCS40EA18 18-Inch 40cc 2-Stroke Gas Powered Rear Handle Chain Saw
A chain saw can only perform as well as the engine behind it. This Tanaka TCS40EA18 tool’s 40 cc, 2.4-horsepower commercial-grade engine features PureFire low-emission two-stroke technology. Fewer fumes mean safer operation and less environmental impact. This design makes the saw CARB Tier III compliant for use in California.
In addition, this Tanaka chain saw’s engine is built with the S-Start system and a purge primer bulb. This starting system reduces the amount of force necessary for pull starting, which reduces the amount of stress placed on your body.
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BLACK+DECKER 40V Max Cordless Chainsaw
Fueled by electric power, BLACK+DECKER outdoor equipment gives you the power you need without the fumes and mess of gas. It also produces no emissions while in use, helping to keep the air we breathe cleaner.
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Greenworks 12-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw
The Greenworks G-MAX 12” Cordless Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery-powered chainsaw is touted as an eco-friendly replacement for a similarly sized gasoline-powered chainsaw. Electric, battery-powered chainsaws are making their way into the homeowner segment – in a big way
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Earthwise CS33016 16-Inch 12-Amp Corded Electric Chainsaw
Earthwise corded electric chain saw has a powerful 12 amp motor and reliable 16-inch Oregon bar and chain. Perfect size for clearing brush, trimming trees or stockpiling firewood. Easy care with automatic oiling system and oil level window, takes bar and chain oil (not included). Easy chain tension adjustment-requires no tools. Includes bar and chain cover and a safety start button. No gas. No fumes. Earthwise is the clean air choice. Tackle the tough jobs with the electric powered Earthwise corded chainsaw. The rubber over-molded handles provide a comfortable grip to this low kickback, 16-inch Chainsaw. This is a low maintenance and a high performance chainsaw
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Conclusion
We have come to the end of this review, these items have been thoroughly researched on, and they are reliable. They will definitely do the job you buy them for.