The 8 Best Cordless Chainsaws
Updated by · How we research
Eight battery chainsaws compared on power, runtime and what ships in the box. The EGO Power+ CS1815 leads for homeowners who cut storm wood and firewood. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Independent timed cuts now show the best battery saws keeping pace with mid-size gas saws, with no pull cord or fuel mix. The catch is the battery: many saws are sold bare, and a large pack and charger can nearly double the price. This list is for homeowners clearing storm limbs, pruning and cutting firewood, not felling big trees all day.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The EGO Power+ CS1815 takes the top spot. Its close siblings won the timed cutting tests at Pro Tool Reviews and TechGearLab, and this kit pairs the saw with a big battery and a charger, which is what most readers here are looking for. The Husqvarna Power Axe 350i, which TechGearLab timed directly, is the pick for hardwood, and the EGO Power+ CS1611 is the value choice.
Nothing from the old list made it back. The Echo CCS-58V, Sun Joe ION16CS 40V and Greenworks 20322 have vanished, and the Makita XCU02PT, Husqvarna 120i, Oregon CS300-A6, DeWalt DCCS690M1, Ego Power+ CS1401 and Wen 40417 are no longer available or have been replaced. We also dropped the Black + Decker LLP120, which is a lopper with a chain rather than a true chainsaw.
We stopped at eight. The other saws we screened were unknown brands with thin documentation, or near copies of saws already here. The big pro saws from Stihl, Milwaukee and Ryobi are worth knowing, so they sit in the honors below.
Earlier notes
July 9, 2020, by Rafael Perez:
Removed the Worx WG322 in favor of the Echo CCS-58V.
The current energy density of lithium-ion batteries restricts the usefulness of cordless chainsaws. They can't come close to gas powered chainsaws because their batteries would have to put out so much current that the chainsaw would run out of power within a few minutes. So there's a compromise that they have to strike between the amount of current they output and the amount of time they can do that for. With your expectations tempered, you can expect to use models like the Echo CCS-58V and the Makita XCU02PT for cutting off tree limbs, cutting firewood, and occasionally felling trees of no more than 10 inches in diameter. No cordless chainsaw will replace a proper gas chainsaw and you won't be cutting through dense woods but they have their uses - heavy gas chainsaws with long bars are overkill for light yard work.
We've included both tool-less tensioning/clamping assemblies and standard tensioning/clamping assemblies as positive attributes. Being able to clamp your bar or tension your chain without an extra tool is convenient and it is a positive. But I prefer the standard two-bolt clamping system found on the Echo over the ratcheting systems used in many other models because it is a much more rigid connection and you don't have to worry about plastic parts wearing out. Another weak point in the ratcheting system is that naturally, since it is a single ratchet, you can only torque on a single point. So the assembly has one bolt and an adjacent pin keeping the bar in place instead of two solid clamping points. The ratchet is more convenient but only slightly (how much time and energy does it take to tighten or loosen two nuts?). In my opinion, the convenience is not worth the sacrifice in quality.
June 26, 2019, by Brett Dvoretz:
When you need to cut down a small tree, hack through some branches, or slice up a log, there are no more efficient tools than chainsaws. They can also be very dangerous though, so it is vital that you operate them with the utmost care. If you have never used a chainsaw before and are worried about operating one, you best option may be the Black + Decker Alligator Lopper. Though it can only be used on branches four inches or less in diameter, all of the cutting happens within the two jaws, making it safer to operate than traditional chainsaws. Another smart choice would be to go with a model that has a very small bar, like the Worx WG322 or 10-inch Makita XCU02PT. These give you more flexibility in application than the Black + Decker Alligator Lopper, but their small size still make them easy to control.
For those who need to cut through thick branches or logs, a model with a 16-inch bar is the best bet, such as the DeWalt DCCS690M1, Sun Joe ION16CS 40V, Greenworks 20322, Oregon CS300-A6, and Wen 40417. Remember though, that a 16-inch bar is designed to be used on trunks 14 inches or less in diameter. The Wen 40417 probably represents the best value out of all the models on our list, but is best suited to periodic home use, while the DeWalt DCCS690M1 can handle daily, high-volume use on the densest of woods.
Special Honors
Stihl MSA 300 Stihl's MSA 300 is a pro-grade battery saw that independent reviewers rank with the best gas-replacement saws. Stihl sells its battery saws through local dealers, which also handle setup and service, and the price is far above a homeowner kit. stihlusa.com
Milwaukee M18 FUEL Chainsaw Milwaukee's M18 FUEL 20-inch saw scored near the top in independent timed tests, and it runs on the same batteries as hundreds of Milwaukee tools, which makes sense for contractors who already own them. It is loud and costly for occasional yard work. milwaukeetool.com
Ryobi 40V HP Chainsaw Ryobi's 40V HP 20-inch brushless saw was praised for its value in an independent roundup. It is sold mainly through a home-improvement chain rather than here, but it's worth a look if you already own Ryobi 40V tools. ryobitools.com
Kit Or Bare Tool: Pick The Battery First
If you don't, pick the platform first, because that pack will also run your trimmer, blower and mower.
Many battery chainsaws are sold as a bare tool, and the battery and charger can cost nearly as much as the saw. The EGO CS1810 bare tool and the CS1815 kit are the same saw, and the kit adds a 6.0Ah pack and charger for a large share of the price. If you already own a brand's batteries, the bare tool is the bargain. If you don't, pick the platform first, because that pack will also run your trimmer, blower and mower. Both TechGearLab and Pro Tool Reviews give that advice.
Battery size, in amp-hours (Ah), sets both runtime and how hard the saw can pull in a thick cut. Makers rate runtime as cuts through a four-by-four post: about 50 for a small 2.0Ah kit, about 330 for EGO's 6.0Ah pack. Those are best-case numbers in soft wood. In TechGearLab's runs the top saws went a little over half an hour of steady cutting per charge, and Pro Tool Reviews notes that a saw working near its limit in oak may manage only a handful of big cuts. For a full day of firewood, plan on two batteries and a fast charger.
Bar Length, Power And Where Gas Still Wins
Choose a bar about two to four inches longer than the wood you usually cut, as TechGearLab suggests. Battery saws fall into four rough groups. Pruning saws with 6- to 8-inch bars handle limbs. Light saws with 10- to 12-inch bars suit small trees and brush. Homeowner saws with 14- to 18-inch bars cover storm cleanup and firewood. Pro saws with 20-inch and longer bars, such as the Stihl MSA 300 or Milwaukee M18 FUEL, cut like mid-size gas saws and cost far more.
Voltage no longer tells you much about power, according to Pro Tool Reviews. Makers instead compare their saws to gas engines, from about 40cc for a 16-inch EGO to 50cc for the 18-inch, and those figures are the makers' own. Independent timed cuts show that the best battery saws now match gas saws in the sizes most homeowners buy. Gas still makes sense for felling big trees all day or working far from an outlet for days at a time.
Kickback, Oil And Chain Care
Kickback is the main danger with any chainsaw. It happens when the upper part of the bar's tip touches wood or another object, or when the wood pinches the chain, and the bar jumps back toward the user. A chain brake, a lockout trigger and a low-kickback chain reduce the risk, but the best protection is a firm two-handed grip, a stance out of the bar's path and never cutting above shoulder height. The chainsaw safety features entry explains each part. Wear eye and hearing protection, gloves, cut-resistant chaps and sturdy boots, and don't work alone near falling trees.
Every saw here needs bar and chain oil, and most kits don't include it. Running the chain dry ruins it and the bar quickly. New chains stretch, so re-tighten a few times during the first hour, and loosen the chain at the end of a cold day so it doesn't pull tight as it cools, as Pro Tool Reviews advises. Charge batteries only with the maker's charger, in a dry place out of the sun. We found no recalls for any saw on this list in the CPSC recall database.
How we researched this
We compared 25 cordless chainsaws, including the ten on the old list, and screened nine in depth. We read the makers' specs and cut-per-charge ratings, used timed cutting results from Pro Tool Reviews and TechGearLab where they cover these saws or their close siblings, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Are battery chainsaws as good as gas?
For most homeowners, yes. In independent timed tests, the best battery saws match gas saws up to about the 50cc class, and they start instantly with no fuel mix. Gas still wins for felling big trees all day, unless you carry several charged batteries.
Do cordless chainsaws come with a battery and charger?
Not always. Many are sold as a bare tool. Kits like the EGO Power+ CS1815, Husqvarna Power Axe 350i, EGO Power+ CS1611 and both Greenworks saws here include them, while the DeWalt DCCS623B and Black+Decker LCS1020B do not.
How many cuts do you get per charge?
Makers rate it as cuts through a four-by-four post: about 50 for a small 2.0Ah kit and about 330 for a 6.0Ah EGO pack. Real runtime in hardwood is much shorter, so a second battery helps for firewood.
What size chainsaw does a homeowner need?
A 14- to 18-inch bar covers storm cleanup, firewood and small trees. An 8- to 12-inch saw is enough for pruning and brush. Choose a bar two to four inches longer than the wood you usually cut.
Do battery chainsaws need oil?
Yes. They need bar and chain oil, though not fuel. Most kits don't include it, so buy a bottle with the saw and check the level each time you cut.
What is the best cordless chainsaw brand?
EGO and Husqvarna saws led the independent timed tests we found, with Milwaukee and Stihl at the pro end. Choose the brand whose batteries you already own or plan to buy for other yard tools.
