Top 10 Best Chainsaws for 2023

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The DeWalt DCCS690H1 is, in our opinion, the best cordless chainsaw currently on the market. Dewalt is a household name among people who use cordless electric tools. Every battery-powered tool manufacturer seems to have its own claim to fame and for Dewalt it is power. They are one of the few cordless power tool makers that strive to deliver performance in their tools that rival their traditional versions, and they made no exception with the DeWalt DCCS690H1 chainsaw.

Coupling a powerful 40-volt motor with a 6 AH (amp hour) battery, this chainsaw can handle cutting tasks that most people would not even consider possible for a cordless chainsaw.

But perhaps the biggest selling point of the DeWalt DCCS690H1 is not the saw itself. Sure, it is a powerhouse, but its real advantage lies in its versatile battery. Dewalt boasts an entire line of yard maintenance tools that revolve around these batteries, making them capable of sharing batteries. Having the ability to use the same battery for your other DeWalt tools and vice versa is a huge convenience, especially if you own or plan to purchase many other cordless power tools.

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Another high quality, cordless chainsaw that we recommend is the Oregon CS300-A6. Oregon has a reputation for making some of the best chainsaw chains in the industry, so it should come as no surprise that their chainsaws are just as good.

One of the best aspects of the Oregon 572625 is its automatic chain sharpening feature. This is a big deal. A really big deal. Such a big deal in fact that many people who buy this chainsaw do so mainly because of this feature. Usually, when you’re dealing with a dull chainsaw chain, you’ll have to use some kind of sharpening kit to individually touch up each tooth on the chain.

Among electric saws, it is even worse because, unlike with most gas saws, very few electric chainsaws allow a user to sharpen the chain while it is still on the saw. That means time and effort is required to remove the chain, sharpen it and then put it back on the saw and adjust it to the proper tension.

With the Oregon 572625, however, you simply run the saw for a few seconds with the sharpener engaged and your chain is touched up and ready to continue cutting. For anyone who hates the hassle of sharpening a chainsaw chain, this feature is a godsend.

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If you’re looking to get the best “bang for your buck,” look no further than the GreenWorks 20312. This cordless 40-volt chainsaw offers relatively quiet operation for anyone who needs to cut wood in areas where a great deal of noise would be problematic.

One of the best features of the GreenWorks 20312 is its sheer ability to hold a charge. And while the cutting time estimates in the marketing materials may be a tad optimistic, most users have found themselves pleasantly surprised by how long the saw can run on a single charge. Charge time, though, is pretty slow at about two hours to charge from empty to full. Because of this, anyone with a really big project may want to buy a second battery for this chainsaw.

Another great aspect of the GreenWorks 20312 is its low vibration, which gives users a greater level of control when cutting, as well as increasing user comfort and safety.

The performance, charge retention and quiet operation combine with a reasonable price tag to make the GreenWorks 20312 a great value for anyone who needs a battery powered electric chainsaw.

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Among corded electric chainsaws, the Makita UC4051A is our top pick. This high-end chainsaw is designed to handle anything from small tree limbs to full firewood logs. Makita is well known for its quality within small power tool circles, and the inline drive Makita UC4051A does nothing to diminish this well earned reputation.

The first indication of its quality is the Oregon semi-chisel chain that it comes with. Many chainsaw manufacturers equip their new saws with a cheap chain that cuts wood but tends to leave users disappointed. The Makita UC4051A’s high-quality chain offers excellent cutting qualities that reduces the need to lean on the saw excessively when cutting. It also creates less kickback than a full chisel chain and has excellent run times between sharpenings.

In addition, its automatic oil pump with easily monitored reservoir keeps its chain spinning as well as it did out of the box. For those new to using chainsaws who might not really be aware of how frequently they need to be oiled or those who know when to do it but would rather just concentrate on the task at hand without worrying about lubrication, this automatic system can be an immense time saver.

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Out of all the corded electric chainsaws that we looked at, the Worx WG303.1 seemed to strike the best balance between performance and price. This chainsaw is ideal for light duty yard cleanup or firewood cutting around the house.

One of the things that makes the Worx WG303.1 such a great value is its emphasis on safety. The saw features an automatic chain brake that causes the chain to stop spinning almost instantly when the trigger is released. Since one of the more common injuries related to chainsaws is when some accidentally touches the chain after it’s been set down, this a must have feature.

Additionally, there is a kickback brake on the saw that must be held in the “cutting” position for the chain to even start spinning and shuts it down immediately when not in the proper position. This addresses the second big injury risk when using a chainsaw. When a saw suddenly grabs and kicks back, the person using it now has something that is capable of cutting down a tree flying toward his or her body. Even with the kickback brake, the kickback could still cause the saw to hit you, but the big difference is that if it does, the chain will not be spinning.

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The Remington RM1425 Limb N Trim is a very affordable, light-duty chainsaw. Keep in mind that this is not a machine that is designed for cutting down 10 inch trees into firewood for the Winter. The Limb N Trim is designed more for the people who plan to use it to take down small saplings or to lop off small limbs from trees in the yard.

While the Remington RM1425 does lack power compared to some of the better, more expensive models, it does have a single large advantage over the competition, which is that it’s light and compact.

At around 6 pounds, this saw weighs only about half as much as your typical chainsaw. This light weight means it is a viable tool for people who might not be able to handle a more robust chainsaw. Additionally, many people have had success attaching the unit to a pole and using it to cut limbs they couldn’t otherwise reach. Using any chainsaw while on a ladder can be a risky proposition, so the pole option is attractive to many buyers.

If you need to clear a 100 year old oak tree that was felled by a storm, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you just need an inexpensive tool to keep the yard looking neat and saplings/tree limbs under control, the Remington RM1425 could be just the low cost solution you need.

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When it comes to gas-powered chainsaws, the Husqvarna 460 Rancher is quite easily the best out there. Husqvarna, or ‘Husky’ to those who talk about saws on a daily basis, is a legendary name in chainsaws. Known for their ruggedness and power, these chainsaws are a favorite among those who use chainsaws daily as a part of their profession. The Husqvarna 460 Rancher is a professional quality chainsaw that is engineered in keeping with the reputation. Among those who are fortunate enough to own one, the most commonly used word to describe this machine is “beast”.

With a powerful 60.3cc two-stroke engine and 20-inch bar, the Husqvarna 460 Rancher will breeze through just about any wood sawing task it comes across, outside of a professional logging operation. The saw is also a beast in terms of construction. Weighing about 13 pounds, this is an extremely solid and sturdy tool, not a flimsy toy disguised as a chainsaw.

However, there is a price to be paid to get the kind of power the Husqvarna 460 Rancher brings to the table, albeit minor they may be. Compared to lesser gas-powered chainsaws, the Husqvarna does consume a bit more fuel. Also, in spite of the air purge feature, it can take a pretty mighty tug to get the saw powered up.

But if you want to cut down a tree and want to do it as quickly and as pain-free as possible, the Husqvarna 460 Rancher is the chainsaw you want.

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A glance under the hood of the Poulan Pro PP5020AV reveals a pleasant surprise – the saw is made by Husqvarna! Getting a Husqvarna quality chainsaw for the price of a Poulan pretty much ensures that you’re getting a great value.

The Poulan Pro PP5020AV boasts an impressive 50cc engine that is plenty capable of handling any task a chainsaw that ships with a 20-inch bar would be expected to conquer. The automatic chain oiling system helps ensure that all that power is delivered smoothly and consistently.

There is, however, one caveat to keep in mind with this terrific value buy: the carburetor is shipped from the factory at a setting that burns a slightly more fuel rich mix than is optimal. This is done so the first few uses of the chainsaw serve to break the engine in. After this, the Poulan Pro PP5020AV’s carburetor should be adjusted to a more normal setting. Because of this, it’s a good idea to buy a carb adjustment tool along with the saw.

The Poulan Pro PP5020AV is more than capable of handling heavy-duty sawing tasks around the home, or even light professional sawing. Getting such quality and power at such an attractive price is what makes it such a good value.

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If you’re looking for a good quality gas chainsaw that won’t break the bank, we recommend the Remington RM5118R Rodeo. Like many products on the market, there are arguments abound about the different brand names when dealing with chainsaws. In such an environment, it can be difficult for a relative newcomer like Remington to make an impact because anyone who asks for a recommendation will be told to buy one of the leading brands.

To compete, a newcomer to the market must make it easy for people to try their product with as little investment as possible. Translation: the price is a bargain for what you get. But the fact that the Remington RM5118R Rodeo is so cheap does not mean that it’s without its features. Its 51cc engine and 18-inch bar the saw ships with are competitive with other chainsaws designed for non-professional power sawing.

One nice and surprising feature on this budget chainsaw is the start assist, which gives the pull start an electric boost with every tug, making the notoriously difficult task of starting a 2-stroke engine a little easier.

Anyone who needs good performance at an extremely affordable price and is not married to a certain brand name of chainsaw should give the Remington RM5118R Rodeo some serious consideration.