The Best Battery Chainsaws, Tested and Reviewed
Most of us associate chainsaws with the earsplitting growl of a 110-decibel motor. Thanks to quantum leaps of innovation in cordless power tool technology, quieter battery-powered models are now becoming more competitive with the telltale buzz of a gas-powered chainsaw.
Among these battery-powered chainsaws, there are three categories: light-duty, heavy-duty, and heaviest duty for everything from small branches to large tree trunks. Through hands-on testing, we used all the chainsaws on the following list in real-world applications to determine which is best for different uses. Whether you’re doing light pruning or chopping fallen trees, this guide can help you determine the best battery chainsaw for your projects.
- BEST OVERALL: Husqvarna Power Axe 350i With Battery Charger
- RUNNER-UP: Milwaukee M18 Fuel 16-Inch Chainsaw Kit
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Echo eForce DCS-5000 56V 18-Inch Battery Chainsaw
- BEST FOR CUTTING TREES: Stihl MSA 140 C-B Battery Chainsaw Kit
- BEST FOR HOME USE: Ego Power+ 16-Inch Chainsaw
- BEST LIGHT-DUTY: DeWalt 20V MAX XR Compact 12-Inch Chainsaw
- BEST COMPACT: Makita XCU03Z 36V LXT 14-Inch Brushless Chainsaw
- BEST MINI: Stihl GTA 26 Battery Garden Pruner Kit
- BEST FOR YARD WORK: Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 18-Inch Battery Chainsaw
- BEST ENTRY-LEVEL: Worx 20V Power Share 10-Inch Cordless Chainsaw
- BEST FOR FIREWOOD: Greenworks 80V 18-Inch Cordless Battery Chainsaw
- BEST TOP-HANDLE: Echo eForce DCS-2500T 56V 12-Inch Chainsaw
- HONORABLE MENTION: DeWalt Flexvolt 60V MAX Brushless Chainsaw Kit
- ALSO CONSIDER: Black+Decker 20V 10-Inch Cordless Chainsaw
How We Tested the Best Battery Chainsaws
This test of cordless chainsaws included DIY and professionally branded tools of varying voltages, bar lengths, and applications. Rather than having each tool compete directly against one another, we picked applications where the tools were best suited. The three categories were: 1) heaviest duty for firewood, logs, and downed trees; 2) heavy-duty for downed trees, branches, and logs; and 3) light-duty for very occasional use.
In the field, we cut hardwood trees downed from a recent storm. We tested each battery-powered chainsaw for balance (cutting branches in the crowns of the trees), power, trigger response, switches, chain removal, and particularities and unique features that made certain tools stand out.
Our Top Picks
In order to select the best battery chainsaws, we tested some of the most popular chainsaws from reputable power tool manufacturers. While some battery-powered chainsaws are created for DIY use and others for light professional use, we put all the saws through their paces in the field. The following are some of the best battery chainsaws by category.
Best Overall
Husqvarna Power Axe 350i With Battery Charger
This Bob Vila Approved product carries our brand’s highest level of recommendation.
Bob Vila Approved recognizes the household and DIY products that impressed us most in our real-world testing and that exemplify core values of the Bob Vila brand, including craftsmanship, innovation, and value for the dollar. Winners of this designation come recommended by our professional review team and are personally approved by Bob Vila.
Product Specs
- Voltage: 40 volts
- Bar length: 18 inches
- Weight: 14.2 pounds
What We Like
- 18-inch guide bar is well sized for a wide range of chainsaw tasks
- Noticeably lower vibration than any of the other saws we tested
- Quick tool-free chain-tensioning system minimizes downtime
- High-efficiency brushless motor cuts aggressively and extends battery life
- Power-boost mode increases motor output on demand for tougher cuts
What We Don’t Like
- Long bar; is not the best option for selectively pruning dense branches
- At 14-plus pounds, a bit heavy where numerous high cuts may be required
Husqvarna’s Power Axe 350i 40-volt (V) chainsaw takes our top spot, thanks to high scores on performance, safety, and operator comfort. In addition to the 18-inch guide bar and efficient brushless motor, this saw comes equipped with numerous details that minimize downtime and reduce user fatigue.
The Power Axe features a relatively lightweight build for an 18-inch chainsaw, weighing just 14.2 pounds with the battery, bar, and chain installed. Push-button power-boost mode allows the saw to preserve its charge during normal cutting and increase output for larger, harder cuts. A tool-free chain-tensioning system eliminates the need for a scrench—a chainsaw tool that combines a screwdriver and a wrench—which means less downtime looking for tools and less clutter in the tool box. The 7.5-amp-hour (Ah) battery is compatible with all Husqvarna battery tools, improving overall outdoor power efficiency.
The Husqvarna Power Axe made fast, powerful cuts with minimal vibration and maximum battery life, giving us 75 minutes of power before we had to recharge. In our tests, it delivered the best overall performance in terms of general cutting ability in different work settings and boasted the best design for user comfort. The combination of the quiet motor and the Husqvarna X-cut chain made for a satisfyingly efficient workday. Simply put, it cuts hardwood logs like a hot knife slicing through butter.
The saw’s narrow motor housing and unique horizontal battery installation positioned the saw’s center of gravity closer to the body than other models. This configuration greatly enhanced balance and stability for safer, more comfortable chainsaw work, whether bucking logs in an open area or navigating obstacles while limbing the crown of a downed tree.
Get the Husqvarna battery chainsaw at Lowe’s.
Runner-Up
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 16-Inch Chainsaw Kit
Product Specs
- Voltage: 18 volts
- Bar length: 16 inches
- Weight: 17.3 pounds
What We Like
- Powerful commercial-grade tool is capable of heavy-duty cutting tasks
- Designed for professional landscapers’ needs; as powerful as agas-powered chainsaw
- Innovative, high-performance battery technology
- 150 cuts per battery charge for long or tough tasks
What We Don’t Like
- Heavyweight construction may cause some fatigue
When maximum cutting power is required for taking on overgrowth in a yard, a heavy-duty battery-powered chainsaw is needed. This chainsaw can make up to 150 cuts on a single charge and won’t bog down when faced with a tough cut. Its 16-inch blade is capable of cutting through trees with trunks up to 14 inches in diameter. It also has a two-bolt blade housing and an included chainsaw wrench.
Designed with professional landscapers in mind, this chainsaw features Milwaukee’s cutting-edge battery technology with its M18 Redlithium high-output battery. During our hands-on testing, this saw was just about as close to gas power as a battery chainsaw can get, with great chain speed, nice balance, and plenty of power and runtime.
This formidable power source provides 50 percent more power and operates 50 percent cooler than a standard 18V battery pack, making this saw somewhat comparable to a 40-cubic-centimeter (cc) gas-powered chainsaw. All that power does come at a cost. Weighing 17.3 pounds with the included battery (13.9 pounds without it), this is one of the heavier battery-powered chainsaws.
Get the Milwaukee battery chainsaw kit at Ace Hardware or The Home Depot.
Best Bang for the Buck
Echo eForce DCS-5000 56V 18-Inch Battery Chainsaw
Product Specs
- Voltage: 56 volts
- Bar length: 18 inches
- Weight: 14.8 pounds
What We Like
- Budget-friendly price for this level of cutting power and performance
- Cuts quickly and aggressively, even in dried hardwoods
- Flip-lever cap makes it easier to top off the bar and chain oil
- 18-inch guide bar and chain tackles a wide range of property maintenance tasks
What We Don’t Like
- Less runtime than the top competition (about 30 minutes per charge)
- A bit more vibration in the handles than some of the other models
Budget shoppers in need of a general-purpose chainsaw will find lots of value in the Echo eForce DCS-5000. The saw is equipped with an 18-inch guide bar and chain, an efficient brushless motor, a convenient side-access chain tensioner, and onboard tool storage. It is powered by a 56V 2.5Ah lithium-ion battery.
This is a great saw for all kinds of yard work, such as storm cleanup, cutting firewood, light tree removal, and pruning. At 14.8 pounds, it’s one of the heavier saws on our list, but not the heaviest–comparable to many gas-powered chain saws. The narrow, well-balanced saw body brings the center of gravity close to the operator. Combined with cushioned grips, it helps to reduce user fatigue over time.
We really liked this saw’s aggressiveness. It cut slightly faster than the Husqvarna Power Axe, but the battery didn’t last quite as long. Our top-performing battery chainsaws ran up to an hour per charge, while the Echo eForce lasted roughly half of that. Still, the 18-inch Echo battery chainsaw was also the least expensive of the large models we tested, making the value much better than average.
Get the Echo 18-inch battery chainsaw at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Chain Saws Direct.
Best for Cutting Trees
Stihl MSA 140 C-B Battery Chainsaw Kit
Product Specs
- Voltage: 36 volts
- Bar length: 12 inches
- Weight: 8.6 pounds
What We Like
- Lightweight, balanced, easily maneuverable design for hard-to-reach work areas
- Extended running time; up to 45 minutes per battery charge
- Fast cutting action with low vibration makes chainsaw work less tiring
- The 12-inch bar is ideally sized for pruning branches or limbing fallen trees
What We Don’t Like
- Too small for heavy-duty felling and bucking of larger trees
- Slow 3-hour charge time with the included AL 101 battery charger
Working on standing or fallen trees requires a nimble, efficient chainsaw. The Stihl MSA 140 C-B chainsaw is the right tool for the job. Weighing just 8.6 pounds and equipped with a 12-inch guide bar, this saw’s compact, lightweight build makes accessing hard-to-reach work areas a little easier and allows you to perform detailed tree work with ease.
The Stihl MSA 140 B-C comes ready to work, with a bar sheath, narrow kerf saw chain, AK 30 36V battery, and AL 101 battery charger. It runs up to 45 minutes per charge. The quiet brushless motor is great for working in neighborhoods or for maintaining low noise levels out in the woods. It produces high torque and very low vibration, delivering efficient cutting performance and excellent operator comfort. The balanced design helps to boost working stability and maneuverability.
We were very pleased with this saw’s performance, but not totally surprised since it comes from Stihl. The MSA 140 C-B was arguably the best small chainsaw we tested, working smoothly and efficiently for well over an hour per charge, after accounting for stoppage between cuts. It vibrated less and felt better balanced than any of the other saws in our test, with the possible exception of the Husqvarna Power Axe. The short blade and light motor made it much easier to make chest-high cuts compared to the heavy-duty saws. This could be an excellent limbing saw for serious woodcutters or a primary yard maintenance chainsaw for any homeowner.
Get the Stihl MSA battery chainsaw at Ace Hardware or Stihl.
Best for Home Use
Ego Power+ 16-Inch Chainsaw
