Runner-Up
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 16-Inch Chainsaw Kit
Best Bang for the Buck
Worx 20V Power Share 10-Inch Cordless Chainsaw
Best For Home Use
Ego Power+ 16-Inch Chainsaw
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A shelling chain saw relieve oneself short work of one thousand maintenance tasks , like cutting through fall tree and snip branches , without the loud noise level and upkeep of a gas - powered chain saw . Since there are three categories of these handytools , including short - duty , heavy - duty , and backbreaking - duty , we perform hours of enquiry and helping hand - on testing to find the best fit for various need .
Our top cream is theMilwaukee M18 Fuel 16 - column inch Chainsaw Kit . We put it through its paces , and its top executive was on par with that of a gas - powered chain saw . It also tender plenty of runtime for tackling tough jobs .
Other high up - performing models also made our list of recommendations . Whether you ’re doing light pruning or chopping fallen trees , this guide can help you determine the best battery chainsaw for your projects .
Our Top Picks
to pick out the upright barrage fire chainsaw , we tested some of the most popular chain saw from reputable power cock manufacturers . While some battery - powered chainsaw are create for DIY use and others for light professional use , we put all the saws through rigorous testing . The follow are some of the best battery chainsaws by family .
Best Overall
When maximum slip power is required for taking on overgrowth in a cubic yard , a grievous - tariff battery - power chainsaw is needed . This chain saw can make up to 150 cuts on a unmarried charge and wo n’t bog down down when face with a sturdy cut . Its 16 - column inch brand is capable of cut through tree diagram with body up to 14 inch in diam . It also has a two - bolt brand housing and an included chain saw wrench .
Designed with professional landscapers in head , this top order battery chain saw have Milwaukee ’s cutting - sharpness barrage applied science with its M18 Redlithium high - output battery . This redoubtable might source provides 50 pct more power and operates 50 percentage cooler than a stock 18V battery pack , make this attend somewhat like to a 40 - cubic - cm ( cc ) gas pedal - power chainsaw .
alas , the Milwaukee M18 ’s power does total at a cost . Weighing 17.3 pounds with the included assault and battery ( 13.9 pounds without it ) , this is one of the hard battery - power chainsaws .
What our examiner says:“During hands - on testing , this saw was just about as close to gas power as a bombardment chainsaw can get , with great chain swiftness , nice balance , and plenty of office and runtime . ”–Mark Clement , Cartesian product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Milwaukee barrage fire chainsaw outfit atAce HardwareorThe Home Depot .
Best Bang For The Buck
This thickset adage ’s low chain speed and slim 20V bombardment combined with its light free weight and courteous remainder make it desirable for someone who does n’t need or has never run a heavier - duty chainsaw . It ’s also low-cost , making it a great incoming - grade pick .
With its diminished bar , modest battery , and low strand amphetamine , the Worx fight in toughened fabric during our hands - on examination . However , like other unaccented - duty saws on this inclination , this chain saw is well suited for the episodic job of cutting a downed branch , kindling , or a small logarithm . Plus , the thick innovation makes it soft to store between uses , take up little shop class , shed , or garage space .
Workx also produces a likewise price battery chainsaw on a pole for those depend for extra range .
Get the Worx bombardment chainsaw atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orWalmart(tool only ) .
Best for Home Use
With a 16 - in bar , high chain velocity , and 5Ah 56V battery in a well - balanced saw , the Ego can make wood chips in downed branches , downed trees , and a stack of firewood . The battery substitution is exploiter - favorable , and the stamp battery gauge is bright and leisurely to read . The initiation and release switching both work well , too .
This handheld battery chainsaw has a diffused kickoff , meaning there ’s a slight suspension before the string reaches full speed . equate to gas - power chainsaws and some other battery chainsaws , this is a obtrusive feature that takes some getting used to . It ’s not a detriment for many user , but it is unlike . Once it ’s die , it ’s go , and this building block can process some pocket-size downed trees , arm , and firewood .
The fossil oil filter CRT screen is a generally good feature to help keep microprocessor chip and debris out of the oil reservoir , but if the barroom oil is viscous ( as it can be in cold temporary ) , it makes adding petroleum a ho-hum outgrowth because the oil needs to pass through the small apertures of the filter screen . With its 56 volts of magnate , this tool has a large , heavy battery that ’s hungry to make silicon chip .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
What our tester says:“In my field tests , the saw delivered good runtime cutting in hardwood . ”–Mark Clement , Product Reviews tester and author
Get the Ego Power+ barrage fire chain saw atAmazon , Ace Hardware , Lowe ’s , orAcme Tools .
Best Mini
Stihl GTA 26 Battery Garden Pruner Kit
Mini chainsaws , like the Stihl GTA 26 , bridge the gap between beltway pruner and established small chainsaws . Built for one - handed precision cutting , this garden pruner librate just 2.7 Syrian pound . The 4 - in guide bar and chain easily remove branches up to 3 column inch in diameter . Those searching for an option to pruning hook or a manual pruning saw will apprize how quickly and easily this lopper gets the job done .
In addition to its lightweight , compact design , the Stihl GTA 26 mini chainsaw feature ergonomics to belittle articulatio radiocarpea torsion and deal tiredness . The ambidextrous pistol - clasp handgrip is augment with an upper helping hand traveling bag on top of the saw for added constancy . The bar and chain are removable , with tool - free tensioning for easy criminal maintenance . Plus , this saw needs no bar oil . Just squirt a little of the include machine oil onto the chain before each use for bland trim back action . The outfit includes the saw and assault and battery , battery charger , and multi crude , all packed in a ready to hand bagful .
This mini bombardment chainsaw unquestionably has the potential to make gardening and landscape much easier . We preferred to use both hands when the cutting needed to be precise , but one - handed cutting work just fine when we were just cleaning up detritus .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
What our tester says:“I used the Stihl GTA battery chain saw to pick up fall limbs after a tempest , to remove low - hang tree diagram outgrowth that get in the manner while mowing , and to trim a few crimson sprig dogwoods . The blade cuts quickly and cleanly , with very little vibration transpose through the handle . ”–Mark Wolfe , intersection Reviews examiner and author .
Get the Stihl GTA stamp battery chainsaw atAce Hardware , Acme Tools , orStihl .
Best Large
Greenworks 80V 18-Inch Cordless Battery Chainsaw
With its massive 80V battery and brushless motor , this cordless chainsaw is one of the most muscular chainsaws in the grouping of battery chainsaws tested . Even with its formidable size of it , it ’s firewood quick . Well - balanced for bucking ( cutting log ) , it has a large cut capacity and can make serious chips . The bombardment exchange is easy , but it flew through its charge in just 20 minutes . It can sheer a lot with its 18 - column inch bar , and it ingest a lot of world power doing so .
As long as there are other load electric battery on hired hand or time to recharge , this quality brushless chainsaw can do the piece of work . Its stamp battery needs 30 second for a full recharge . It has a traditional two - bolt concatenation housing , but there is no chainsaw spanner included . With steel bucking spikes , an electronic chain brake for safe , and a weight of less than 11 British pound sterling , this chain saw is easy to manage . The Greenworks 80V is available with the battery and courser or as a tool only .
Get the Greenworks battery chainsaw atAmazon .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
Also Consider
DeWalt Flexvolt 60V MAX Brushless Chainsaw Kit
This equal to cordless chain saw from DeWalt is one of the most powerful battery chainsaws on the market . It ’s suitable for felling trees up to 14 inch in diameter or slew firewood . Coming in at 13.2 pounds with a chain Pteridium aquilinum for protection from kickbacks , this chainsaw is also prosperous to handle despite its long 16 - inch Browning automatic rifle .
Powered by DeWalt ’s 60V MAX battery system , this saw easily spatter out some wood chips during our theater of operations tests . It is well - balanced for work in the crown of a downed Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or processing firewood . It has a safe barrage fire life of about 30 transactions and an galvanizing pasture brake that stops that chain upon release the gun trigger .
Tool - barren range allowance makes this chain saw a low - upkeep model , enable you to work without gap . Like other cordless chainsaws , it come in with a rigid legal profession scabbard to protect the chain when not in enjoyment . It includes a charger and a 3Ah battery ( a 2Ah is also available ) . Overall , it ’s a good firewood - quick proverb .
Photo: Ace Hardware
Get the DeWalt brushless battery chain saw atThe Home DepotorDeWalt .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Battery Chainsaws
This trial of cordless chainsaws included DIY and professionally denounce tools of varying potential drop , bar length , and applications . Rather than having each tool vie directly against one another , we pick applications where the tools were best suited . The three category were : 1 ) heavy duty for firewood , logs , and pour down tree ; 2 ) gruelling - duty for downed trees , ramification , and logs ; and 3 ) calorie-free - duty for very occasional use .
In the arena , we cut hardwood tree downed from a late storm . We essay each battery - powered chainsaw for counterweight ( cut arm in the crown of the tree ) , power , initiation answer , switch , chain removal , and particularities and singular feature film that made certain cock brook out .
What to Consider When Choosing a Battery Chainsaw
Most DIYers base their purchase of a cordless mogul tool on the size of it and blade of the battery . While battery power is crucial , there are other factors to consider when shop for the bestcordless chain saw , include templet bar and chain of mountains distance , motor character , and weight .
Battery
Cordless pecker engineering has made quantum spring into outdoor power equipment territory that has been , until recently , entirely dominated by gasoline - powered pecker .
bombardment chain saw use lithium - ion batteries as a power source . Unlike their predecessors , which required up to 12 hours to reload , atomic number 3 - ion batteries produce more power , can reload in as lilliputian as 1 hour , and they ’re lighter to iron heel . With multiple lithium - ion batteries , it ’s well-situated to keep the woodcutting live on by simply rotating batteries .
When shopping for a battery operated chainsaw , there are a few thing to look out for that can help you determine how often it needs a recharge . To range how powerful they are , batteries use voltage . Some cordless chainsaws employ multiple 18V batteries , while others apply individual 20V battery . gamey - end battery chainsaw expend 40V and even 80V batteries .
Photo: Amazon
The high - voltage saw with bigger bar and batteries can serve more timber and have mountain range speeds ( which refers to how cursorily the chain move around the legal profession ) draw close that of gasolene - powered saws . Plus , they can — with multiple shelling — handle bigger jobs like downed tree whose diameter do n’t exceed their bar length . However , if there is a indigence to dismantle a downed 80 - foot oak or black walnut Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , it is n’t the shoes for a assault and battery - engage byword . While many of the saws in this test delivered near - gas power , they did n’t deliver it for long — and some did n’t even come closely .
Although runtimes diverge depending on function and the chain saw ’s sizing , expect to get about 20 to 30 minutes of intermittent use out of a cordless chain saw before it call for a accusation . For those who already have an armory of cordless power tools , consider buying a chainsaw of the same brand name to use the batteries interchangeably among cordless tools .
Motor Power
Battery chainsaws use standard motor or brushless motor . As is the case with the motor in other cordless power peter , brushless motors are more efficient because they produce less rubbing . This equates to a longer runtime before the shelling needs recharging ; less friction also mean respectable motor power . A brushless chain saw is typically about 85 to 90 percent efficient , whereas one with a brush motor is around 75 to 80 pct efficient .
Matching the uses to power need can avail ensure that using the adage is productive and gratifying . Choosing an underpowered saw for abbreviate up dense hardwood log will surely frustrate you as it will bog down and overheat . Conversely , using a leaden - obligation find out for limbing a fruit Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree might be punishing on your back due to its increase weight .
With battery - powered cordless chainsaws , much of the king rating is base on the voltage of the battery used , not its Ah rating . A battery ’s Ah rating has more to do with how long the battery will run . For prolonged use ( felling trees or reduce logarithm into firewood rounds ) , a DIYer benefits from a assault and battery with higher Ah ratings in the 6Ah or 8Ah range . For quick jobs , a 4Ah shelling can put up wad of runtime .
Photo: Amazon
Bar Length
The chainsaw ’s bar , the foresighted alloy objet d’art that point the strand , mold its film editing capacity . A chain saw can reduce trees with a body 2 inches less in diameter than the templet bar ’s distance . Due to might limitation , battery chain saw have bars 18 inches and brusque ; for general DIY utilization , the fresh smear for cordless chain saw is 14 or 16 in .
Smaller chain saw , which have a 10 - inch or 12 - inch prevention , are worthy for pruning . minuscule saws are lightweight and loose to use all Clarence Day , and they ’re useful for trimming limbs and small tree . They ’re also ready to hand at a encampment for cutting firewood to length ( where allow , of course ) .
Large chainsaw jobs , such as cut down a mature tree , expect a long 16 - in , 18 - inch , or longer taproom to handle the body ’s big girth . bombastic bars are most helpful for felling Tree and turn off firewood . However , they ’re heavier and less convenient for limbing tree diagram than a smaller saw .
Photo: Ace Hardware
Oiling System
Bar oil helps the string run swimmingly in the bar ’s groove without overheating . Oiling preclude the chain from tire out out untimely and the bar from burning from the fastness of the chain . It also allows the saw to run at optimal pep pill for the fastest cutting . top off the bar oil with each battery charge is an easy agency to retrieve this task .
The most convenient way to go is with an automatic tanker , which will continuously lube the bar during use , as long as the onboard reservoir is kept full . Older options admit a manual oiler ( a thumb - operate plunger that releases oil color onto the bar ) and , most fundamental , pullulate petroleum over the bar by script , but these outdated systems are not likely to be bump nowadays .
Chain Tensioning
Chainsaw chainsare love to debase with function due to a compounding of temperature change and motor force . New chains elongate quite a snatch due to the same cistron as well as just “ breaking in , ” and that ’s all satisfactory . However , when a chain stretch out , it can fit broadly speaking on the bar or even skip off of the ginmill tout ensemble — annoying , if not dangerous .
To describe for stretching , chainsaw bars have a back - and - advancing adjustment that takes the slack out of the chain of mountains . The most easily adjusted poser come with toolless tensioning organization . These system only call for you to simply tease a knob on the side of the streak by hand , twist the adjustment boss until the slack is gone , and stiffen the saloon up again — all without pulling out a single hand tool or having totighten a chainsaw chemical chain manually .
Handles
As with a standard chainsaw , capable cordless chainsaw have two handles : one in the backside that includes the trigger and a larger wraparound handle in the front for the channelize manus . On most chainsaws , the rear grasp is almost in - product line , behind the motor , where the hustler can lever downward on the bar for more keen superpower . Top - handle chainsaw have the rearward handgrip above the motor for a more compact , more maneuverable design that is more compatible with working among dense branches . Given the risk implicit in in using a chain saw , the grip is crucial .
Chainsaw handles use rubberized grip that allow you to get a good clutch of the chain saw . The rear handle also incorporates the trigger that activates the power saw and a guard switch that engages to shut off the power saw should the exploiter lose the grip on the rear handle . The front handgrip curve around the chainsaw , allowing you to hold the chainsaw in various positions for unlike cuts .
Safety
Tools are not toy — and any chainsaw can be dangerous if it ’s not operated correctly . In addition to these feature of speech , right manipulation can serve keep you safe whenoperating a chain saw . Look out for the stick to safety features that make using a chainsaw safer :
Additional Features
Other motley features may be found in the chainsaw market . Some may be irrelevant depend on a substance abuser ’s needs , but others may provide a compelling reason to select one peter over another .
The Advantages of Owning a Battery Chainsaw
For the correct exploiter , cordless chainsaws — and the tech behind them — deliver . If it ’s veer firewood or a shoot down branch or even a little tree diagram there ’s no rush to take , there ’s a lot to like in this cordless chainsaw category .
Among the numerous advantages of owning a cordless chain saw are the public convenience and lower maintenance than with stock gas chainsaws or corded chainsaw .
There is no motive to go through the tedious cognitive process of mixing gas for a two - cycle engine to power a cordless chain saw , nor do you have the inconvenience of running a long power electric cord for an electric chainsaw . plainly keep the barrage on the charger , pop it into the chain saw , and you ’re ready to go . Plus , if you have other stamp battery - powered tools from the same manufacturing business , you’re able to use the same batteries for your other tools .
Photo: Amazon
There also is n’t the demand to maintain a barrage fire - powered engine . If you only habituate a chainsaw on occasion , a gas - powered locomotive engine call for regular maintenance , or it can be difficult to start when you need it .
Gas chainsaws can be difficult to operate . They use pull up starters to get the engine running , requiring significant effort , peculiarly if the engine is cold-blooded . They also run to dilly-dally if the throttle is engaged too quickly . Battery chain saw wo n’t drag one’s heels , and they start with the button of a release .
FAQs
If you ’re still wonder about thebest chainsawspowered by batteries , take on for answers to the most cutting questions . If you ’re still wondering about battery - powered chainsaw , read on for answers to the most cutting head about chainsaws .
When it come to chain saw , a general rule of thumb is that they should be at least 2 inch longer than the heaviness of the tree diagram or branch you are trying to cut . With that in creative thinker , when shopping for a chainsaw , consider the character of job for which you ’ll be using the chainsaw . If you ’re planning on using the chain saw primarily for pruning and take out young Tree , a 10 - inch or 12 - inch chainsaw should suffice . For larger chore , consider purchasing a 16 - inch or 18 - inch chainsaw . More than just the capableness of the saw , the battery platform that you already own may be a prominent gene in choosing a chain saw .
A good electric battery chain saw typically runs about 30 to 40 minute with intermittent usage depending on the battery ’s size .
Photo: The Home Depot
There are several measure you should come after to keep up a chainsaw:1.Check the bar oil with each barrage fire change . Lubricant is necessary to keep the chain swimmingly rotating around the bar and through the Ellen Price Wood . Nothing will thwart your chainsaw job more than a juiceless blade , which will immediately numb the chain.2.Keep the chain astute . A astute chain not only improves the cutting baron of the chain saw but also prevent dangerous kickback . Backup chains are useful , too.3.Clean the saw blade after each use . check that to remove any dust or sawdust . Built - up debris can easy clog the vegetable oil fix , preventing lubricating substance from reaching the blade.4.Tighten loose nuts , bolt , and screws . chain saw hover a lot , and all of that quiver can shake fasteners loose , negatively impact the chainsaw ’s operation .
barrage powered chainsaws can cut through sapling and large tree diagram , depending on the chainsaw size of it . Larger models with 16 to 18 - inch bar and sufficient office are capable of edit through tree trunk from 14 to 16 column inch in diameter . In general , your chainsaw bar should be about two inch longer than the thickness of the tree you ’re cutting .
stamp battery chainsaws require streak and string petroleum to foreclose grinding and overheating . Add the recommended Browning automatic rifle oil to your chainsaw ’s reservoir as a part of general maintenance and sustainment .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe for Bob Vila
To sharpen your assault and battery - powered chain saw , start by transfer the stamp battery . Then , lie the chainsaw on a flat surface and use a vice or clamp to hold the bar in place . fasten the chain so that it ’s taut but still able-bodied to move swimmingly . Then , use a filer to sharpen every other tooth at the angle recommend by the manufacturer . After one side is pure , flip out the chainsaw over , use a frailty to clamp it , and repetition , sharpening every other tooth .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a author and ware tester with an extensive background in the greenhouse and landscape gardening diligence . For more than 20 year , he mowed , edge , planted , pruned , work , water , and renovated beautiful landscapes . Now he test and writes reappraisal about the recent outdoor power equipment , hand tools , lawn - concern ware , and other outdoor life good .
Additional research provided by Tony Carrick and Mark Clement .
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