We evaluated battery chainsaws based on battery life, power, ease of use, and cutting ability. Our top choice, the EGO Power+ 56V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw, is ready and willing to tackle even tough tasks around your property. Here are our favorite battery chainsaws. Customers also appreciate the other great features of this chainsaw, including: independent dials for fast and easy chain and bar adjustments; an automatic oiling system to keep the bar running smoothly; a high-efficiency brushless motor that requires less maintenance than brushed motors; and a chain speed of 20 meters per second. Plus, the metal bucking spikes help keep the log in place while you saw through it, and the chain is designed to help prevent dangerous kickback (when a saw “catches” on an irregularity in the wood and “kicks back” towards the user). This is a great chainsaw for anyone looking to get away from the noise and smell of a gas-powered tool or the bother of a corded chainsaw. You still have plenty of power, speed, and control to tackle just about any typical landscape maintenance around your property. Price at time of publish: $279 The chainsaw comes with a 20-volt max lithium battery and charger, along with a scabbard to cover the tool when idle. The chain tension is easy to adjust, with no tools required, and the auto-oiler keeps the chain turning smoothly. For safety, the bar and chain are designed to reduce the risk of kickback, and the front guard helps protect your hands from flying debris. Even if you are new to chainsaws, you should find it easy to effectively wield this tool around your yard. Price at time of publish: $139 This is a formidable tool for pruning or other work in trees, tall shrubs, or brush. It has a 14-inch bar, high chain speed, torque-boost mode for tackling large branches, and variable speed trigger combined with plenty of power. Certainly, you could use this chainsaw on level ground. Still, a top-handle chainsaw is best for those who already have experience working with chainsaws and expect to use it mostly for removing branches up in a tree. Price at time of publish: $420 At a lightweight 9 pounds, this chainsaw shouldn’t tire you out quickly. Also, a brushless motor reduces maintenance needs, an automatic oiler keeps the chain turning smoothly, and tool-free adjustment knobs make it easy to tighten the chain and bar. Plus, the DEWALT 20-Volt Max XR is designed to reduce the risk of dangerous kickback. This just might be your favorite tool for working around the yard when it’s time to prune, clean up after a storm, or even do some light demolition for a DIY carpentry project. Price at time of publish: $279 Despite the reasonable price, you still get plenty of features, including automatic chain lubrication, an automatic chain-tension system to prevent overtightening, and a fast 12.5 feet-per-second speed. Worx even sells a separate pole-saw attachment that gives you up to 10 feet of reach for pruning high branches. Price at time of publish: $150 When you’ve fully charged this commercial-grade chainsaw, you can make up to 150 cuts, and take advantage of its fast speed, strong torque, and overall power. Sturdy steel bucking spikes hold logs in place while you work; an automatic chain oiling system reduces maintenance, and a brushless motor furnishes long life and superior runtime. Plus, it charges super fast; in as little as 30 minutes, it’s ready to go. Price at time of publish: $350 A brushless motor extends the chainsaw’s life and runtime, and you take advantage of all the extras you expect from a Ryobi tool, including the automatic-oiling chain, easily adjusted chain and bar tension, and a reasonably fast charging time. This is a great chainsaw for anyone who regularly cuts firewood and demands reliable, powerful performance. Price at time of publish: $219 While the bar is short, the chainsaw still boasts plenty of big features. The battery allows you to make up to 120 cuts per charge in 2-inch oak. You also get an automatic oiler, easily accessed knob for adjusting chain tension, and even metal bucking spikes to keep branches steady while you cut. The compact size and light weight of this pruning saw makes it easy to maneuver, so you only clip the branches you aim for. It’s an excellent addition to the toolshed of any avid gardener. Price at time of publish: $258 This pole saw has an automatic oiler, a low-kickback design, a hook that makes it easy to retrieve branches once you’ve cut them, and a brushless motor for long runtimes without a lot of maintenance. The 20-volt battery has enough oomph to fuel up to 96 cuts before needing a recharge. The balanced design and comfortable handle make the tool easy to wield and maneuver without too much stress or strain. Price at time of publish: $229 Generally, a cordless chainsaw runs on one 20-volt lithium-ion battery. (Heavy-duty chainsaws use 40-volt or even 80-volt batteries.) Some chainsaws combine batteries for extra power, but typically, the tool uses one battery at a time. It’s useful to own two batteries, so one lives in the saw while the other charges, thus doubling your available work time. Charging time is another consideration. Lithium-ion batteries charge fairly quickly, but different brands of chainsaws have varying charging times, ranging from as little as 30 minutes to as much as a few hours. So keep that in mind when choosing your cordless chainsaw.
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the biggest considerations when choosing a cordless chainsaw. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most difficult numbers to pin down, as battery life and battery runtime depend highly on the demands placed on the chainsaw. If you use the tool for light pruning, the battery should run quite a bit longer than if you muscle your way through a large tree trunk. Still, you should expect roughly 20 to 40 minutes of runtime if you use the tool intermittently to prune or cut small to medium logs or branches. Many manufacturers define runtime in terms of how many cuts the chainsaw can make on one fully charged battery. This is the number of cuts on a 4x4 piece of wood, not a large log. Depending on the chainsaw, you might get anywhere from 50 to 100-plus cuts before needing to recharge the battery.
Bar Length
Don’t assume that the bigger the bar, the better. A longer bar allows you to tackle larger logs, but a shorter bar is easier to control. Ideally, match the length of your chainsaw bar to the average size of the expected cuts. Generally, you can easily cut through a log with a diameter two inches less than the length of your chainsaw bar. So, for example, a 12-inch chainsaw can easily handle branches up to 10 inches in diameter. (Of course, by cutting first from one side and then from the other, you can cut larger pieces of wood.) For most homeowners, a chainsaw with a bar from 10 to 14 inches is the sweet spot; that’s long enough to prune or cut most tree branches or logs but short enough to manage, even by someone fairly new to using a chainsaw. If you expect to be cutting down trees, however, or splitting large logs, opt for a chainsaw sporting a 14-to-18-inch bar. If you need a chainsaw only for light pruning around the yard, an eight-to-10-inch bar is sufficient.
Automatic Oiling System
As the chainsaw spins the chain around the bar, a lot of heat and friction build up. Without near-constant oiling, the friction creates drag and eventually can break the chain. That’s why all chainsaws require oiling the chain as you work. Luckily, most chainsaws have an automatic oiling system. This handy feature lets you work steadily without frequent oil breaks between cuts. Chainsaws without this feature usually require you to press a button to dispense oil onto the chain between cuts.
Tool-Less Chain Tension Adjustment
Chainsaw chains tend to loosen over time due to stretching. A loose chain reduces tool efficiency, and if the chain becomes too loose, it can slip off the bar, which is a potential safety hazard. That’s why it’s necessary to periodically tighten the chain. Some chainsaws require using a tool to tighten the knob that maintains chain tension. It’s more convenient to choose a chainsaw that allows you to adjust the chain tension by hand.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience writing about all things related to the home and carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. Still, unless you’re a professional lumberjack, chances are you can accomplish anything with a battery chainsaw you can do with a gas chainsaw, including felling trees, splitting logs, cutting firewood, pruning, and light demolition. Plus, you don’t have to contend with stinky fumes, super-loud noise, or environmental concerns. While the use of a cordless chainsaw can vary from brand to brand, the following guidelines are helpful for most of them:
Never use a chainsaw when you are tired, not feeling well, or under the influence of any substance that might impair your reflexes, balance, or judgment.Before using your chainsaw, don protective gear. At a minimum, you should wear eye protection, work gloves, long pants, and shoes with sturdy tread, so you are in no danger of slipping. Check the chain tension before starting work and periodically as you work. The manufacturer’s guide gives specific instructions on how to do this. Most position a tension-adjustment knob on the side near the handle.Stand with legs hip width apart on a flat, dry surface. Position your dominant hand on the handle towards the rear of the chainsaw. Your other hand should hold the upper handle. Disengage the chain safety lock and push the start button.Cut at around waist level. Keep your running chainsaw away from the ground, as contact of the bar with the ground can cause kickback. Don’t use a chainsaw to cut high above your head.Stand slightly to the side of the chainsaw as you work.Cut with the center of the bar, not the tip.Never force or push hard on the chainsaw; let the chainsaw do the work. You should hold the bar against the log firmly but not forcefully. Once you are finished working, turn the chainsaw off and re-engage the chain safety lock. Let the chainsaw cool down before you touch the bar or chain, as these can become quite hot due to friction.
To sharpen a chainsaw, you need a sharpening kit, containing a round file, a flat file, and a depth gauge. Round files come in different sizes, so check the owner’s manual to find the right size for your specific tool. It’s not difficult to sharpen a chainsaw, although it is a bit tedious. Here are the basics: For more comprehensive instructions, read our guide to sharpening a chainsaw. She considered dozens of chainsaws for this roundup, evaluating each for basic features, extras, and customer comments. She also received advice and suggestions from Aaron Barnett, qualified builder and instructor of building and DIY at Bangingtoolbox.com.
