Best Battery Chainsaw Reviews 2022 | Best Cordless Chainsaws

Boy, did we open a can of worms when we started searching and testing to determine the best battery-powered chainsaw models. Not that long ago, there weren’t that many cordless chainsaws, and even fewer had high enough performance to warrant replacing gas saws.

Fast forward to today and cordless chainsaws meet and even exceed gas performance all the way up to 20-inch models. The big change this year is we have battery options to replace farm and ranch chainsaws!

Best Battery-Powered Chainsaw for Pros

Sithl 20-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw MSA 300 C-O

Pros have more options than ever before and as of Spring 2022, that includes 20-inch cordless chainsaws. Of the three available, Sithl earns our pick as the best battery-powered chainsaw for professionals in a tight battle (DeWalt and Greenworks Commercial also have 20-inch models this year).

Stihl is introducing the AP 500 S battery along with the saw, giving the MSA 300 C-O an advanced power source to pull high performance from. Where it pulls away from the pack is intelligence. The saw has 3 performance settings so you have options when you want to prioritize runtime over power. It also has an LED screen that displays power status, mode, chain brake position, and has a low oil alert. For those of you managing inventory, it’s also Smart Connector A 2 compatible.

Price: TBA

Best Cordless Chainsaw for Home Use

EGO 56V 18-inch Cordless Chainsaw CS1800

In choosing the best battery chainsaw for home use, we didn’t want to sacrifice the power we enjoy from our professional saws. While there are a lot of options available, we tend to get the best balance of performance and weight in the 60V class.

Moving to an 18-inch bar, we put the EGO CS1800 on the top of the charts. It has excellent power and there’s plenty of runtime with available batteries up to 10.0Ah (a 5.0Ah pack comes in the kit).

In addition to its performance, EGO’s auto-tensioning system makes it super-easy to adjust the chain tension and access the bar and chain without the use of additional tools. There’s even an LED to help with post-storm cleanup when the power’s out and you can’t wait for sunrise.

Price: $259 bare, $349 with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Most Powerful Cordless Chainsaw

Greenworks Commercial 82V 20-Inch Chainsaw

In late 2021 at GIE, DeWalt, Geenworks Commercial, and Stihl all announced new 20-inch battery-powered chainsaws with the power to take on the farm and ranch class. All three also claimed to have the most powerful and as the dust settled, Greenworks Commercial’s had the highest-rated power.

The caveat here is that we haven’t been able to fully test these saws yet. They’re too new. We got our hands on them at GIE, though, and no matter which one you choose, you’re in for a treat! Once we get a chance to use for a more thorough test, we’ll be sure to share our experience. Learn more at the links below.

• DeWalt 60V Max 20-Inch Chainsaw DCC677 (March 2022)
• Greenworks Commercial 20-Inch Chainsaw
• Stihl 20-Inch Chainsaw MSA 300 C-O (Summer 2022)

Best Battery Top Handle Chainsaw

Makita 18V X2 (36V) Top Handle Chainsaw XCU08

Top handle chainsaws are an arborist’s and lineman’s best friend. The differences in design give these saws a very different feel while you’re cutting and we generally only recommend them for experienced chainsaw users.

Our choice for the best battery top handle chainsaw is the Makita XCU08. It’s a legitimate gas replacement that has the muscle to hang with traditional names such as Stihl and Husqvarna. The best part is that it comes in with a lower price tag.

The saw comes stock with a 14-inch bar, but you can also order the XCU09 if you want the same saw with a 16-inch bar instead.

Price: $339 bare, $449 with two 5.0Ah batteries and charger

Best Battery Pole Saw

Makita 18V X2 LXT Telescoping Pole Saw XAU02

When it comes to the best battery pole saw, multi-head systems are an excellent platform. However, most professional crews prefer dedicated tools to attachment systems. If that sounds like you, check out Makita’s XAU02. It’s a 9- to 13-foot telescoping system that reaches significantly higher than most of its competition.

Its performance is impressive, using two 18V batteries with its 10-inch bar to cut at speeds up to 3940 fpm (20.0 meters per second). In terms of overall power, it’s the equivalent of a 30cc gas engine, and Makita’s internal testing shows it cutting faster than a 31.4cc gas competitor.

What helps set this model apart is a torque boost mode. You can do most of your cutting on a battery-saving standard setting and then kick it up to full power for thicker or harder braches.

Price: $499 bare

Best Small Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Choosing the best small cordless chainsaw isn’t just a matter of choosing something lightweight with a 10- or 12-inch bar anymore. The introduction of battery pruners with a 4- to 6- inch bar and chain ups the ante. So we picked one of each for you.

DeWalt 20V Max Compact Cordless Chainsaw DCCS620

DeWalt launched a line of light-duty OPE for its popular 20V Max platform as a way to give contractors the ability to clear jobsites using the batteries they already have. Those same OPE tools are great for homeowners that need occasional or limited use equipment.

The name says it all: DeWalt’s 20V Max compact cordless chainsaw features a highly-manageable 12-inch bar and chain that works with one of the deepest lines of cordless power tools available. For dedicated lawn care, you might look to the FlexVolt 60V Max line, but this saw is just right for limbing and light felling around your home.

Price: $179 bare, $249 kit with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Best Battery Pruner

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hatchet 6-inch Pruner 2527

As the only current member of Milwaukee’s OPE line to use the M12 battery platform, the M12 Fuel Hatchet does a couple of things better than its limited competition.

First of all, we like that it’s a 6-inch bar and chain rather than 4-inch. Even though it’s only 2 more inches, it gets you into cutting branches you might normally turn to a heavier standard-form chainsaw for.

We also like that this model has an auto-oiler, something that’s missing on Stihl’s model. Combined, this makes it the best cordless chainsaw for those looking for a truly compact pruning tool.

Price: $189 bare, $269 with 4.0Ah battery and charger

Best Value Cordless Chainsaw

Greenworks 60V Pro 16-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw C60L212

We were thrilled with the performance improvement in Greenworks’ 2nd-generation 60V Pro chainsaw. Capable of cutting faster than 42cc gas saws, it’s a fantastic all-around chainsaw for property maintenance and storm cleanup.

In addition to its higher performance, it has a more professional-grade feel with metal bucking spikes, dual captured bar nuts, and excellent balance. If your priorities include getting a lot of bang for your buck, this is the chainsaw for you!

Price: $229.99 bare, $299.99 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best Budget Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Skil PWRCore 40 14-Inch Cordless Chainsaw CS4555-10

Just because you’re on a sub-$200 budget doesn’t mean you can’t get a quality brushless chainsaw. Skil’s PWRCore 40 system includes a 14-inch brushless chainsaw that finds an excellent balance between performance, design, and price.

We tested this saw cutting oak and it did an excellent job of confidently melting through branches up to 12 inches thick. With auto-oiling and a tool-free chain adjustment system, it’s very easy to use as well. Best of all, the kit is just $199.99.

Price: $199.99 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

See Also: Can battery power cut it? Read our article: Why use a battery-powered chainsaw

More Recommendations from Brands We Trust

Best DeWalt Cordless Chainsaw

Without a doubt, DeWalt’s 60V Max 20-inch cordless chainsaw (DCCS677) is the best model in Yellow’s lineup. As one of three battery-powered 20-inch chainsaws announced launching in the spring of 2022, it’s in a very elite class.

In designing the saw, DeWalt’s development team used the largest brushless motor in any tool they have, period. Along with a list of features that verify its professional pedigree, it’s also the first DeWalt chainsaw to come with a case.

Price: $349 bare, $449 with 4.012.0Ah battery and charger, $499 with 5.0/15.0Ah battery and charger

Best Hart Battery-Powered Chainsaw

Hart makes a strong statement with its 16-inch brushless chainsaw (HLCS021). For starters, a 16-inch chainsaw is no joke—you need a stronger motor than most DIY saws use.

A 360° tour around this model reveals a big step forward for Hart. Dual bar nuts are a nod to Pro-style design while the scrench conveniently stores on the handle. There’s an automatic oiler and the saw comes with a hard plastic case for storage. Overall, this is a much more capable cordless chainsaw than we saw from Hart’s initial offerings.

Price: $274 with a 4.0Ah battery and fast charger

Best Echo Cordless Chainsaw

Echo is moving away from its original cordless line to a new 56V Force system (the two systems are not compatible). Along with the initial launch, there are two chainsaw offerings: a homeowner-grade 18-inch model and a Pro-focused 12-inch top handle.

The top handle is our choice as the best Echo battery-powered chainsaw. As part of the X-Series, the DCS-2500T oozes professional design. It starts with a muscular brushless motor and builds out the drop protection (including a quickdraw harness ring) you expect from a professional gas top handle saw. It’s definitely not your least expensive top handle option, but it is designed with the demands of professional tree care use in mind.

Price: $429.99 bare, $499.99 kit with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best Husqvarna Cordless Chainsaw

In the end, Husqvarna’s 540i XP is one of the best cordless chainsaws for professionals. Though not as powerful as the Greenworks Commercial 82V, its balance of 40cc power and weight makes it an excellent all-rounder for cordless cutting.

We also like the option to use a standard battery pack or switch over to a battery backpack for extended cutting.

Price: $589 bare (14-inch bar), $599 bare (16-inch bar)

Best Greenworks Cordless Chainsaw

Take the Greenworks model we recommended as the best value cordless chainsaw earlier, flip out the 16-inch bar for an 18-inch, and you get our favorite Greenworks chainsaw for homeowners. With performance that rivals a 42cc gas engine, its 18-inch bar offers excellent capacity you’ll get plenty of runtime from the 4.0Ah battery that comes in the kit.

Price: $279.99 bare, $429.99 with 4.0Ah battery and charger

Best Makita Cordless Chainsaw

Makita’s cordless chainsaw didn’t take long to get dialed in really well and they make some of the best cordless chainsaws in the industry. The XCU08 top handle we recommended earlier is a sold choice for arborists.

For a rear handle design, go for the XCU04. It’s a 16-inch 36V (18V X2) model that’s reasonably lightweight at 11.1 pounds with batteries. Like Makita’s other cordless chainsaws, expect smooth cutting and exceptional balance. Its 32cc gas equivalence isn’t quite as strong as some of the competition, but its refined design makes up for it and then some.

Price: $299 bare, $329 with two 5.0Ah batteries and dual-port rapid charger

Best Milwaukee Cordless Chainsaw

Milwaukee had one of the first really great cordless chainsaws and the M18 Fuel 2727 is still an excellent choice. It sports a brushless motor that runs its 16-inch bar and chain to levels that exceed 40cc gas power. It has a quality build with metal bucking spikes and dual captured bar nuts.

Even though other brands have pushed the power boundary forward, we still highly recommend this saw. Now that Milwaukee has raised the bar with its self-propelled lawn mower, there are whispers beginning to ask if there’s a new high-performance chainsaw in the works for later this year.

Price: $329 bare, $499 with 12.0Ah battery and charger (also available with a 14-inch bar for $319)

Best Ryobi Cordless Chainsaw

Ryobi’s launch of HP Brushless tools has been impressive and it’s a game-changer for the 40V lawn care and landscaping line. The 40V HP Brushless 18-inch chainsaw is a fantastic example. With cutting performance far ahead of any other chainsaws we’ve tested from Ryobi, it earned our respect and recommendation.

While it’s not completely Pro-style with its plastic bucking spikes, property owners looking for a high-performance cordless option to replace gas can rely on Ryobi.

Price: $189 bare, $349 with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Best Battery Chainsaw Buying Guide | What We Look For

Performance is King

Thanks to advanced brushless motors, electronics, and batteries, voltage no longer tells the entire story. However, cutting speed with the torque to get through thick hardwood species is the number one priority for us.

Runtime is (Sort of) a Big Deal

Ideally, a battery-powered chainsaw balances cutting speed and power with runtime. Larger batteries are certainly helping. Advancements in battery technology are as well. Denser cells with more robust connections are able to more efficiently transfer energy from the battery to the chain, giving you higher performance without a drop in runtime that makes the saw irrelevant.

The other side of the conversation involves rapid chargers. Most brands offer them now and several include them as a standard part of the kit. With today’s cordless technology, two batteries and a rapid charger can be enough to keep you running continuously all day.

Triggered

Most chainsaws are similar in form and share all of the same basic operational features. Where the best cordless chainsaws differ in form is primarily in their switches and triggers.

All of the saws have a UL or similar test lab certification on them, but they’re not all the same. In use, some of the saws in our test have more defined two-step triggers while others can be easily activated with a single grasp around their lockout button and trigger. At the end of the day, we expect our chainsaws to have a trigger mechanism that will keep us from accidentally activating the motor, and all of our recommendations meet that requirement. From there, it’s just a matter of the feel or function you prefer.

The true two-step lockouts aren’t difficult to operate in normal conditions. In odd positions, such as reaching around a tree while limbing, sometimes the mechanical lockouts can be tricky to slide.

For select cordless chainsaws, the first of two (or sometimes three) stages of starting is an electronic power button.

Some electronic switch saws can be run with a single grab once powered on. You just have to be mindful of the auto timeout feature. It can be frustrating the pull the trigger to no effect when you thought the saw was ready.

Ease of Adjustment

Chainsaw bars need to be adjusted nearly every time you use the saw. A new chain stretches out pretty quickly. You need to snug it up at least a few times as it breaks in.

If your chain gets tight rather suddenly, it usually means the bar is not getting oil. Don’t loosen it until you make sure the saw is oiling properly.

Pro Tip: Get into the habit of loosening your chain at the end of the day. Cold weather can cause it to tighten as it cools and damage parts.

A saw’s bar will be designed for either tool-free adjustment or will require a screwdriver-wrench combination tool called—yep, you guessed it—a scrench. Tool-free adjustment is the quickest and easiest with plastic knobs and/or dials built into the saw. They loosen the bar, move the bar forward or back to properly tension the chain, and lock the bar down tight again.

Dual Studs vs Tool-free Adjusters

Saws with tool-free adjusters use a single stud to attach the bar to the saw, but manual adjusting models typically have two mounting studs. Some old-school users view dual studs as an indication that the saw is geared toward professionals, but we don’t think that’s a hard, fast rule. Not for modest-sized saws anyway. However, the biggest and strongest chainsaws made all have dual stud bar mounts.

Pro Tip: Be sure to snug the nuts evenly because torquing down on only one can loosen the other.

Aw, Nuts!

Lost bar nuts are a frequent occurrence during regular use in the field. To prevent this, some saws have the added feature of captive nuts that won’t come all the way off the cover no matter how much you spin them.

Pro Tip: Keep a spare nut on hand if the ones on your saw aren’t captuve—it’s not unusual to lose one in the field!

To keep your adjustment tool close at hand, look for models that have storage slots built into the saws.

Your preferences may vary, but I can appreciate both adjustment methods. We like the speed and convenience of tool-free adjustments for my small saws. For big saws, we feel more confident securing the business end of these powerful tools down with a wrench.

It’s not a deal-breaker either way for the saws in our test unless the mechanism itself is flawed. The best battery-powered chainsaw for you is the one that instills a sense of both confidence and convenience.

Bars and Chains

Most chainsaw brands don’t try to reinvent the wheel by making their own bars and chains. Instead, many use quality Oregon components, though Stihl makes their own bars and chains. Most cordless chainsaws use 3/8-in. pitch, 0.043-in. gauge chains while stronger models are moving up to 0.050-in. gauge.

Oiling Systems

Bar and chain oil is the lifeblood of a chainsaw as the saw cannot run without it for very long. Most saws oil readily, but we occasionally run across models that have issues after a while. If a saw oiled well out of the box, it usually just needs a good cleaning to unclog it.

Oil Visibility

Most battery-powered chainsaws have translucent windows that let you check if there’s oil in the tank, and most let you estimate the level pretty well. If yours has a small window or none at all, be sure to stop and check the oil level frequently. About every hour of working time or anytime you notice a change in performance is a good rule of thumb.

Oil Caps

The ease of filling the oil reservoir is a noteworthy convenience factor when considering the best battery-powered chainsaw. We don’t like having oily fingers, so being able to fill the tank while leaving our work gloves on is our preference. Look for oil caps with lugs that are easy to turn with gloves on and/or flip-up tabs that provide an even better grip.

Spills & More Spills

Chainsaws often leak oil while sitting because daily heating and cooling shrinks and expands a plastic tank like a rudimentary pump. Some saws are messier than others.

Wherever you store your saw, put a piece of cardboard underneath it to collect any oil. You can switch it out as needed and whenever an Amazon order arrives.

Be careful when filling your chainsaw. Some have a large section of the cap that goes inside the tank and displaces a surprising amount of oil when you fill it anywhere close to the top. Wiping gooey oil off a chainsaw is an annoying waste of time.

Another cause of spills is an oil tank with a filler neck that is too narrow. Bar and chain oil is thick and tacky. It can pour like molasses in the cold, so it easily “piles up” and overflows in a narrow neck.

Pro Tip: Only poke a small hole in the foil of your oil container or use a (clean) syrup bottle to dispense oil into your chainsaw’s reservoir.

Providing another challenge, plastic filters at the inlet of its tank can constrict the diameter.

Caps that cross-thread easily can also make the oil-fill process more of a chore.

Environmental Sidetrack: Try Biodegradable Bar and Chain Oil

The other part of this cleaner, greener, lithium-ion-powered story is you can pair your battery chainsaw with a biodegradable bar and chain oil made of vegetable-based ingredients, such as Stihl Bio Plus. Those barrels of useful wood waste also contain a few gallons of oil from the saws.

Aside from having to landfill all of your petroleum-preserved sawdust, it’s just good practice to minimize your exposure to petroleum oil on your skin, clothing, and the atomized portion that you breathe in.

Naked? Don’t Use a Cordless Chainsaw Like This Guy!

Back on Track… Bucking Spikes

For pushing a saw through wood more efficiently, chainsaws come fitted with bucking spikes (a.k.a. bumper spikes, felling spikes, or dogs). These spikes sit against the body of the saw alongside the bar and anchor the saw in place while the bar pivots through the cut.

The spikes allow you to apply a lifting motion of the rear hand instead of pushing downward. Holding the saw tight to the wood, the motor can exert its maximum pulling power. This saves you from some of the cutting vibrations and especially the jerking common to holding a saw away from your work.

Our battery-powered saws all have some semblance of spikes. Most aren’t as long or as sharp as those on large gas saws, but actual steel spikes are becoming more common. We prefer those to the simple plastic ridges on other models.

Pro Tip: Applying leverage with spikes adds control, but go easy and listen to the pitch of the motor. You can overload battery chainsaws with too much pressure, and the weaker models stall easily.

Balance

While it’s true that the comfort and feel of a tool are largely subjective, it’s also true that some designs work better than others. Most Pros and experienced homeowners can immediately tell.

For the best battery-powered chainsaw, a balanced feel in your hands and the ability to cut straight without introducing a twisting motion to overcome are both important ergonomic factors.

Holding a saw with your left hand on the front handle in front of you should have the saw balancing fairly flat. Being a bit front-heavy is okay, but a rear-heavy saw lifts the cutting end of the saw up towards you and requires more effort and vigilance to use and carry safely.

Cutting Sideways

Determining a good feel for felling cuts while holding the chainsaw sideways is more about the comfort of applying force to the front and rear handles as you grasp it from the side, and also the ease of operating the trigger while sideways.

Handles

In general, chainsaws with thicker handles are more comfortable to grasp in use because have more surface contact and soften that contact with your hand. Of course, rubber handle surfaces help too, not only for padding but also for the increased grip they provide.

Trigger Comfort

Most cordless chainsaw triggers are large enough for two fingers to fit on them. Some have an extra-long trigger with more room to vary your grip stance for comfort. The best feeling triggers retract flush with the handle instead of leaving a raised bump your fingers have to push against.

Weight

The dry weight of the best battery chainsaws can swell to well over 15 pounds. Experience shows that a saw’s weight is less important than proper balance overall as you only feel the full weight when you’re NOT cutting.

But carrying around and positioning a heavy saw can certainly be more taxing over a long workday. The catch with these saws is that the batteries are a major part of the weight. So the stronger, longer-lasting saws with high-capacity battery packs and longer bars that we prefer end up being the heaviest.

Battery Selection

While we do the majority of our testing with the kitted batteries, it’s worth looking at the full range a manufacturer has available for your cordless chainsaw. If you end up investing in the entire lineup, you’ll likely want to consider the biggest batteries you can buy for it to get all of your lawn chores done efficiently.

You might also want a lower-capacity battery to shave some weight when you don’t have a lot of work to complete.

“Current” State of Affairs

Voltage

Higher voltage means more power, right? There’s certainly an argument for that, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.

Power is measured in watts and that comes from multiplying the voltage times the current. You can make a 36V chainsaw with the same power as a 56V model. The lower voltage simply has to produce more amps (current) to get there.

That’s why you see chainsaws with 40cc gas performance at 18V, 36V, and 60V. It’s all about the combination of volts and amps.

Watt-Hours

Another thing that is interesting to note is the discrepancy between the amp-hour and watt-hour ratings on some of the batteries in our tests for their given voltage. We’ve covered the subject of battery voltage, storage capacity, and current output many times. To review simply:

Volts x Amp Hours = Watt Hours

It’s the same basic equation we use for power, just applied to energy storage instead of output. It’s an easy way to compare the available energy of one battery to another when they have different voltages.

We’re increasingly finding that manufacturers—perhaps to simplify things for consumers—are rounding amp-hours. Some calculate their watt-hours with maximum voltage while most use nominal. Unfortunately, this makes some comparisons more challenging and adds to potential confusion.

“Nominal” Differences

When you charge a lithium-ion battery, it will reach its maximum voltage. Shortly after putting it to use, it settles into a slightly lower voltage—its nominal voltage. The nominal voltage is where the battery spends most of its working life and is roughly 90% of the maximum voltage.

Brands have to choose which one to display. When you see numbers such as 60V Max, that’s a battery that settles into a 54V nominal voltage. When you don’t see “Max” on the battery and packaging, you’re usually looking at a battery that is displaying its nominal volts.

We say “usually” for a reason. Some brands market their maximum voltage but don’t make it clear.

Some European countries regulate stated voltages more stringently, and it seems that it could only serve to help if the simple math all added up.

Buy Into a System

One other consideration for these saws is the system of battery-powered OPE to which they belong. Like other cordless tools, you can purchase some of our best battery-powered chainsaws as bare tools at significant savings over the kit. If you’re already invested in one of these systems, the overall winner may not interest you as much as seeing which model from your brand is the best in the lineup. Though not the best overall, it might be the best balance of performance and value for you.

Look at the Entire Model Lineup

If you haven’t bought into a system yet and may pick up more outdoor power tools in the future, check out the entire lineup from a brand. Make sure they can fulfill your wish list before going after just the chainsaw. For many users, the saw functions as a secondary tool when compared to the hours you spend with a string trimmer or mower.

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