What is The Best Chainsaw To Buy?

What is the best chainsaw to buy?  The answer to this question depends on your needs, experience and budget.  Chainsaws come in many sizes from small electric saws intended for the home and garden use, to large “lumberjack” saws intended for heavier work.  With lots of options on the market, including gas-powered, corded-electric, and battery-powered chainsaws, you need to firstly decide the type of chainsaw you’re after and go from there.

Different Types of Chainsaws include:

• Gas Powered
• Corded-Electric
• Battery-Powered

Related: How Are Chainsaw Bars Measured?

Chainsaws are powerful and portable mechanical saws with teeth attached to a rotating chain that runs along a guide bar.  Chainsaws come in handy to make large cuts such as tree felling, pruning, cutting firebreaks in wildland fire suppression and making firewood.  Also pretty cool to use in chainsaw art too

Of course chainsaws generally form part of any DIYer’s arsenal of must have power tools for home maintenance.  Other products such as miter saws, circular saws, table saws, and sawzalls also make powerful cuts, but are generally stationary in use and provide a different purpose over chainsaw usage.

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Our Top 5 Chainsaws Compared

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Below are our top 5 Chainsaws from electric, gas powered and battery varieties.  We included the ones we personally use and ones we have read good reviews about.  As always, we would encourage you to check out a lot of reviews and consider the pros and cons of each product before forking out your hard earned cash.  Please note that if you make a purchase through one of our links, we will get a small commission that we put towards maintaining this site.  So thanks very much if you do!  Here are our Top 5 recommended chainsaws.

Related: Most Powerful Handheld Leaf Blower

**Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, with no additional cost to you, I can earn from qualifying purchases. 

What is the Best Chainsaw to Buy – Our Reviews

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Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw – Top Pick

 I can speak from experience here as I use this saw almost daily for months on end (depending on the season). I live on a large property and need a good chainsaw for cutting firewood in the cold winter months and general maintenance around the yard.  I had a group of weed filled trees at the back of my property and it had no problem devouring through the 12 inch thick trunks.

I especially like this saw because of it’s smooth operation and quieter noise. The battery life is great and provides a lot of power to the chainsaw.  Although the speed of recharging is good, I would still recommend you purchase extra batteries if you want to operate the chainsaw for long periods of time.

Another upside of battery powered saws like this is that there are no emissions of exhaust which makes it eco- friendly to the environment.

A big plus for regular users like me is that the saw is light and easy to handle and this really helps reduce stress during operation. The other thing I really like is the automatic oiler and tool-less chain tensioner.

The Greensorks 16-Inch 40v Cordless Chainsaw is a quality saw that does what it is suppose to do.  It makes a powerful, fast and efficient cut while still being light weight with low vibration.  It would meet the needs of homeowners, professional landscapers, and will also be a useful addition to your garden shed. A great little beast to have around.

If you would like to check the price of the Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw, Click Here.

The Good:

• Less vibration for user comfort while working
• Chain brake and low kickback chain for increased user safety
• Brushless Motor
• Automatic oiler
• 16″ battery included

The Bad:

• This is a G-Max 40v unit and requires a GreenWorks 40v battery for operation and cannot be used on a 80v battery.
• Does not come a hard case

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Husqvarna 20 Inch 455 Rancher Gas Chainsaw – Premium Quality

This Husqvarna chainsaw for its mid range price is awesome. Dad has one of these and it has never wavered, sputtered or choked. It is a very heavy duty and high powered robust piece of machinery. It is a favourite brand of mine that offers quality, reliability and sets the standard high for a great chainsaw to be built tough. Husqvarna are known for their quality saws and this one is no exception.

The gas powered engine drives the chain with excellent power. At dad’s place, I have used it on plenty of occasions to cut for fire wood, clearing trees and general pruning of larger trees.

It cuts through all types of timber with ease and precision. It is a well weighted saw (much heavier than my Greenworks 16”), but that comes with the territory of any larger chainsaw.

One of the features I like is the quick air release air filter.  This allows a very fast and easy clean up before putting away to store.

I have no hesitation in recommending this chainsaw – particularly if you need a high powered heavy duty saw for all cutting conditions.

If you would like to check the price of the Husqvarna 20 Inch 455 Rancher Gas Chainsaw, Click Here.

The Good:

• High powered and heavy duty chainsaw – perfect for big jobs
• Simple, side-mounted chain tensioning system allows for quick chain adjustments while working
• Automatic chain oiler delivers a steady supply of bar and chain oil for safe and effective use
• Quick release air filter facilitates easy cleaning and replacement of the air filter

The Bad:

• Chainsaw case sold separately

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WORX WG304.1 Chain Saw 18-Inch 4 15.0 Amp – Budget Friendly

I am no means a woodsman, but I do live out in the country and as such it’s handy to have a reliable chainsaw.  If you’re like me and you’re in need of a chainsaw, but need to find one that won’t break the banks as such, I’d recommend this one by Worx.  Although it’s more on the lower price end of the spectrum, it is a reliable operating tool.

This chainsaw requires no gas – just a long extension cord as it’s a corded model.  Probably the best feature overall is the super easy and very well designed automatic chain tightening feature.  It has a low kick back bar and built in chain brake for added safety.

Others have noted that it can go through bar and chain oil fairly quickly, but price wise, the chainsaw is hard to beat.  For something that is electric it is quite powerful.

If you’re looking for a commercial saw, this wouldn’t be it. But for work around your house, this saw will do the job.

If you would like to check the price of the Worx WG304.1 Chain Saw 18-Inch, Click Here.

The Good:

• 15 Amp motor output that delivers a more powerful cutting performance to the extended, 18-inch bar
• Automatic oil lubrication and built-in oil reservoir with window level indicator
• Comes fully assembled right out of the box.

The Bad:

• Comes with a plastic chain cover but no case
• Electrical powered lead

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DEWALT DCCS620P1 20V MAX – Most Innovative

I have always been a Dewalt fan.  My whole toolshed is stocked with various Dewalt products.  For this reason we couldn’t help but review a Dewalt chainsaw and the DCCS620P1 20V is our pick of the Dewalt range.

Being battery operated model this one would be interchangeable with the batteries of my other tools. There is no struggle with any cpold motors and ripcord to start the chainsaw. All you have to do is attach the battery and it’s go time.

This is a light weight 12” saw (so perhaps not so great for tree felling or firewood stockpiling) but is great for one hand operation so perfect for holding foliage out of the way to see what you’re doing.  It’s also quieter than a gasoline saw (no ear plugs necessary) plus has on demand starting instead of a pull cord (will come in handy while up a ladder or tree).

I have been impressed with the battery life and others comment that it carves through timber like butter but have noted it can go through chain oil at a high rate (a bit of an inconvenience here).

This saw is a best seller with most commenting that they would never bother with a gasoline one ever again since they discovered this little beauty.  It’s well worth considering for any small to medium chore you need a chainsaw for.

If you would like to check the price of the DeWalt DCCS620P1 20V Max, Click Here.

The Good:

• Low kick back 12″ Oregon Bar and chain: for construction and outdoor cutting applications
• HIGH EFFICIENCY BRUSHLESS MOTOR: maximizes run time and motor life
• Tool free chain tensioning and Bar tightening knob: for proper Bar clamping force
• Batteries are included

The Bad:

• No case included and only works with 20v batteries

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 Worx WG322 20V Cordless Chainsaw with Auto- Tension – Most Light Weight

Who would have thought that technology in chainsaws was the way of the future! This little gem has come of age and with oil and tension automatic, the days of mixing 2 stroke fuel are over.

A quiet, light weight and well balanced saw perfect for limb trimming and working on a steep hill side.  It’s good too if you have other Worx tools (their line trimmer is pretty good) as you can interchange the same battery pack (the same size that is) that are known to keep their charge for quite a long time.

One thing to note is that the chain comes off fairly easily if the tension isn’t just right but is simple to put back on.  It’s easy to put together out of the box (just make sure you fill the bar and chain oil up before using it)

Be mindful that this saw is not for lumberjacks, but if you don’t need a monster saw, it will cut through 4-6 inch limbs with ease (anything greater than 12in diameter is pushing this saw to the limit) and you can get a pole extension for it if need be.    I think you could damage the saw if you are not mindful of it’s size limitations and power but perfect for limbs and small jobs with no gas smell

If you would like to check the price of the Worx WG322 20V Cordless Chainsaw with Auto-Tension, Click Here.

The Good:

• Automatic, tool-free chain tension system ​
  Automatic chain Lubrication with oil lever indicator
• Compact and light weight design
• Brushless Motor
• Battery included

The Bad:

• Battery charge time could be better. You will need to upgrade to a new charger if you want quicker charging.

What is the Best Chainsaw to Buy? – Buyers Guide

A chainsaw consists of several parts:

Engine:  Traditionally are either a two-stroke gasoline (petrol) or an electric motor driven by a battery or power cord.

Drive mechanism:  Chainsaw typically have a centrifugal clutch and sprocket.  The clutch expands with increasing speed to engage a drum.  The drum has either a fixed sprocket or an exchangeable one.  The clutch does three jobs; when the saw is idle (approx. 2500-2700 rpm) the chain does not move; when the clutch is engaged and the chain stops (eg in the wood) it protects the engine.  Importantly, it protects the operator in case of a kickback.  The chain brake stops the drum so the clutch releases.

Guide bar:  The arm of flat metal that guides the chain –  it’s an elongated bar with a round end of wear-resistant alloy steel (approx. 16 to 36 in) in length.  It has an edge slot to guide the cutting chain.  All guide bars have elements of operation which include:

• Gauge: the lower part of the chain runs in the gauge.
• Oil holes: the head of the saw has two holes on each side.  These match with the outlet of the oil pump to pump the oil through the hole to the lower part of the gauage.
• Grease holes at the bar nose: grease is pumped through this hole to keep the nose sprocket well lubricated.
• Guide slot: here one or two bolts from the saw run through (depending on the size of the saw)

What are the different bar types?

There are different bar types available:

• Laminated bars: different layers to reduce the weight of the bar
• Solid bars: are solid steel intended for professional use (should have an exchangeable nose since the sprocket at the bar nose wears out faster than the bar)
• Safety bars: are laminated with a small sprocket at the nose to reduce the kickback effect.

Guide Bar Length

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.

The Cutting Chain

The cutting chain is a key component of a chainsaw as after all, you want a good cut.  The cutting chain consists of steel links held together by rivets (sort of resembles the bicycle-style chain but without the rollers) with sharp teeth on the outside of the chain loop and flat drive links on the inside.  This is used to retain the chain on the saw’s bar and engage the propulsion by the motor.

A good chain saw should have high power, high speed sawing applications that vastly outperform older designs while allowing a far greater degree of safety and reliability of use.  I personally like ones with low vibration as high vibrations are uncomfortable to use plus they tend to wear out the saw.

So, I want a chain saw, what now?

The best chain saw for each individual depends on a number of factors.

1. Project size, material size
2. Budget
3. Skill level

If you only intend to use it for a few days of the year then perhaps consider an electric chainsaw so you won’t have to worry about as much maintenance. Note that prices often correlate with engine size for gas saws and voltage for electric – along with the length of the cutting bar.  This doesn’t mean that bigger is better as how it handles in both horizontal and vertical cuts is very important.  Really you want one to stay stable during use, to be lightweight and can cut easily regardless of the saw’s position.

Other things to note are; ease of start, ease of adjustment and ease to maintain.  In a gas saw consider the location of the choke, access to the spark plugs and filters and the average number of pulls the saw requires to start.  Is it easy to add gas or oil to the saw?  All saws (including electric models) need bar oil and this should be straight forward plus it should be simple to adjust the cutting bar on the saw.

The Importance of Safety Features

Pay attention to any kickbacks during the course of cutting.  Also consider the placement of exhaust parts like a muffler that can become hot and burn you while cutting.  It’s also good if a saw comes with a protective case (or sheath) just to protect you and loved ones from accidentally being cut by the blade while not in use.

At the end of the day any tool should feel comfortable when you use it. Think about the work you need to do, and balance the power you want against the size and weight you can comfortably handle.

Of course, the number of the number of times you use the chainsaw and whether or not you’re using it for projects that require high amounts of power will also play an effect in overall durability.

For further information including feedback, comments, suggestions or questions, please contact us as we would love to hear from you.

 Quick Links to Our Top 5 Chainsaws

1. Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless – Top Pick
2. Husqvarna 20 Inch 455 Rancher Gas Chainsaw – Premium Quality
3. Worx WG304.1 Chain Saw 18-Inch 4 15 Amp – Budget Friendly,
4. DeWalt DCCs620P1 20V Max – Most Innovative
5. Worx WG322 20V Cordless Chainsaw with Auto Tension – Most Light