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The most creative and inspired use of profanity that I’ve ever heard was articulated by a Canadian moose guide as he tried to start an old, neglected chainsaw. Every time he yanked the pull cord, the saw would sputter, but not start, and the guide would mutter a remarkable stream of cuss words (which I will not put down in writing). That guide had a good point: When not properly maintained, gas powered chainsaws are a pain in the butt. That’s why the best electric chainsaws are so appealing.
With a charged battery, sharp chain, and a little bit of bar oil, electric chainsaws get right to work. You can’t flood them, you don’t have to worry about feeding them old gas or swapping out their spark plugs, and you don’t have to cuss them into starting. Plus, they run much more quietly than a gas saw.
Lithium ion battery technology seems to keep getting better, and the electric chainsaws we have today are more powerful and longer lasting than models from a few years ago. If you’re in the market for a chainsaw to do light to moderate cutting work around the house, on the trail, or at deer camp, a battery powered chainsaw could be a good choice. There are solid options for cutting firewood, clearing trails, felling trees, and even light timber stand improvement.
But electric chainsaws do have their limits. They are not as powerful as top-end gas models. Because the batteries are heavy, the larger models are not much lighter than comparable gas saws. You can’t get them wet (don’t run them in the rain). Build quality varies greatly from brand to brand—most of the saws in this review are made in China. And, of course, they can run out of batteries.
To find the limits of the best electric chainsaws out there, I put eight top models through a series of tests. These are the saws that made the cut.
Small-Size (10- to 12-inch bar)
- Editor’s Choice, Best Small-Size: Echo DCS-2500T
- Worx Power 20V Share
Mid-Sized (14- to 16-inch bar)
- Best Mid-Size: Stihl MSA 220 C-B
- Best Value: Worx Nitro 40V Power Share
- Ryobi 40V HP
Large-Size (18- to -20-inch bar)
- Best Large-Size: Husqvarna Power Axe 350i
- Ego Power+
- DeWalt 60V Max
How I Tested the Best Electric Chainsaws
There are a surprising amount of battery powered chainsaws out there. To narrow the sprawling field, I selected models from companies with trusted names either in the chainsaw or power tool world. I went with mid-priced to top-end chainsaws, at the consumer-grade level. In my experience, cheap chainsaws are not worth the trouble.
From there, I tested each saw for cutting speed and battery life. For the large saws (18- to 20-inch bars) I used a 14-inch diameter black willow log. I timed how fast each model could saw through the log (averaging three times). For a control, I also ran my gas powered Stihl chainsaw with an 18-inch bar through the log.
After speed testing, I ran the saw through the log, cutting disk after disk, to see how many total disks it could cut before running out of battery. This test was designed to push the saw, with no break to cool down between cuts. For mid-sized saws (14- to 16-inch bars) I conducted the same test on a 12-inch diameter log. For the small saws (10- to 12-inch bar), I used a 6-inch diameter log. If the saw showed battery life but could no longer make it through the log, I stopped cutting. If it showed battery life but seemed to overheat, I stopped cutting. The final stats for each saw will be shown in the key features section and in the chart below. I also weighed each chainsaw (including battery and bar oil) on a postal scale.
After that, I took top performing saws to my deer hunting property in Wisconsin. I used them to clear trails, fell trees, limb trees, buck logs for firewood, and girdle trees for timber stand improvement. This practical use portion of testing gave me a good idea how each saw would handle in the woods and stand up to hard use.
The Best Electric Chainsaws: The Winners
Editor’s Choice, Best Small-Size: Echo DCS-2500T
Key Features
- Bar Length: 12 inches
- Voltage: 50.4v
- Amp Hours: 2.5ah
- Cut Time: 5.7 inches (6-inch diameter log)
- Number of Cuts: 65
- Weight: 7 pounds, 7 ounces (measured)
- Price: $570
- Made in Japan
Pros
- Incredibly handy
- Powerful for size
- Fast cutting and long battery life
Cons
- For smaller trees only
- Top handle saw designed for pros
Echo’s battery powered top handle saw, the DCS-2500T was by far the most impressive chainsaw in the test. In fact, I think it’s the pound-for-pound best electric chainsaw out there. For its small size, it’s surprisingly fast and powerful combining 50-plus volts with a 12-inch bar. That’s more voltage than some of the large-sized saws offer. It’s also light, and with its top handle design it can be run with one hand. Its cutting speed and the number of cuts it produced in the test were very impressive—it sliced through the 6-inch diameter log like it was butter.
Before we get too much further, it’s important to note that this saw was designed for professional arborists. Those are the folks who scale trees and cut limbs or fell trees that are too dangerous for the average joe to take on. Top handle saws are more difficult to control and are meant to be used at height—not sawing logs on the ground. I am not a professional arborist, and if you’re reading this story, you’re probably not either. So why might a non-professional want a saw that’s designed for pros? Because it can do everything your typical medium-sized gas powered saw can’t.
This would be a perfect saw for throwing in your side-by-side, canoe, or on a horse for a backcountry camping trip. Maybe you need to cover a lot of ground on foot to clear the trail but don’t want to haul a 14-pound saw with you. Or maybe you’ve got a bunch of shooting lanes to clear above waist height. The Echo will be your best buddy.
It has the typical features you’d see on a gas powered saw: handguard/chain brake, bumper spike, and typical chain tensioning system. But it also has a nice on/off button (for safety and battery life) which many of the other battery powered chains saws don’t.
If you’re a novice chainsaw user who just wants a simple saw to do yardwork, a top handle design is not a good option (smaller does not mean safer). But for experienced users who want a light, ultra capable saw, this is an excellent option. If you expect a chainsaw to perform like a gas-powered saw, then just get a gas powered saw. If you’re looking for an electric chainsaw to bring something new to your arsenal, then get the Echo DCS-2500T.
Best Mid-Size: Stihl MSA 220 C-B
Key Features
- Bar Length: 14 inches
- Voltage: 36V
- Amp Hours: 2.6ah
- Cut Time: 22.3 (12-inch diameter log)
- Number of Cuts: 16
- Weight: 12 pounds, 3 ounces (measured)
- Price: $410-$420
- Made in Austria
Pros
- Handy yet powerful enough
- Well made
Cons
- Limited versatility
The Stihl MSA 220 C-B would make for a good mid-sized saw to take on light duty at home or around camp. It could buck a weekend’s worth of firewood or clean up a few smaller toppled trees without problem. However, don’t expect an electric chainsaw of this size to take on bigger jobs.
It performed admirably during the speed and battery test. It barely had enough usable bar to get through the 12-inch diameter tree on one cut, but still managed to slice more disks than the Worx or Ryobi saws and it put up respectable speed scores, too. The Stihl also displayed a higher build quality than the other saws in its weight class. The pieces fit together tighter, more seamlessly. Notably, the saw is made in Austria, not China like many of the others.
Like the Husky saw, the chain tensioning system did get gummed up at times, but not too badly. The only other ding I have on this chainsaw is that it’s not quite big enough to tackle serious jobs, but it’s also not quite small enough to be highly portable. The saw is also offered with a 16-inch bar, which I would recommend. But still, you can’t expect this electric chainsaw to take on heavy duty jobs it’s not really suited for.
Best Large-Size: Husqvarna Power Axe 350i
Key Features
- Bar Length: 18 inches
- Voltage: 42V
- Amp Hours: 7.5ah
- Cut Time: 26.6 seconds (14-inch diameter log)
- Number of Cuts: 24
- Weight: 13 pounds, 15 ounces (measured)
- Price: $450
- Made in China
Pros
- Fast cutting speed
- Solid battery life
- Nice features
Cons
- Chain tensioner system got temporarily jammed
The Husqvarna Power Axe smoked the competition in the full-sized field. It was only three tenths of a second slower than the DeWalt, which is still impressive considering it has a shorter bar, but it cut twice as many disks and it never got bogged down while cutting. One of the performance features that impressed me about the Husqvarna is that it cut with full power until it ran out of battery—then it was dead. Other saws would begin to stall or not fully make it through a cut while still showing a quarter battery life. Even though those saws technically had battery power, they limped along but were useless at that point on a larger log. Not so with the Husky.
The saw has a nice on/off feature on the handle that lets the user know if the saw is turned on and if the chain brake is engaged. The Husky was the lightest large-sized saw in the test, and it felt well balanced and nimble when working in the woods. With its performance and ease of use, I think the Husky is the best electric chainsaw choice for most users.
The only thing to ding the Husqvarna on was that its chain tensioning system got jammed up with saw dust and crud. A couple times I had to unscrew the plastic cap, clear the tensioner of debris and then screw it back on. This is a relatively small quibble, but I prefer the traditional tensioning systems that require scrench. It’s a bit of a pain to keep the tool on hand, but that system seems to get gummed up less often. A few other saws in the test had issues with their “easy” tensioning systems, too.
Mid-Size Chainsaws
Best Value: Worx Nitro 40V Power Share
Worx Nitro 40V Power Share
Key Features
- Bar Length: 16 inches
- Volts: 40v
- Amp Hours: 4ah
- Cut Time: 17.3 seconds (12-inch diameter log)
- Number of Cuts: 13
- Weight: 12 pounds, 6 ounces
- Price: $319
- Made in China
Pros
- Affordable
- Fast
Cons
- Threw chain
- Got bogged down while cutting disks
- Plastic bumper spikes
If you want an affordable chainsaw to cut down small jobs in the backyard or around camp, the Worx Nitro is a solid choice. Here’s the bad news first: The saw got bogged down with sawdust during the disk cutting test. I had to keep banging the housing on the log to knock the blockage free (yes, the saws were tested roughly). I’m not sure if ultimately the saw’s batteries died or if it overheated, but either way, it only made 13 cuts through a 12-inch diameter log.
But while clearing trails and felling small trees (more practical uses), the Worx performed much better. It was able to handle everything I threw at it, and by the end of the day I was convinced the saw was a pretty damn good deal at just over $300. The one-dial tensioning system worked nicely at first but then gave in to the abuse and the saw ultimately threw the chain. Under regular working conditions—not a torture test—I would have stopped to take the saw apart to properly tighten the chain.
It runs on two 20v batteries which lock into both sides of the unit. These batteries can be found much more affordably, which would give your saw substantially longer run time.
Ryobi 40V HP
Ryobi 40V HP
Key Features
- Bar Length: 14 inches
- Volts: 40v
- Amp Hours: 4ah
- Cut Time: 24.7 seconds (12-inch diameter log)
- Number of Cuts: 11
- Weight: 11 pounds, 10 ounces
- Price: $229
- Made in Vietnam
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
- Plastic bumper spikes
- No chain brake
The Ryobi chainsaw has a handguard but no chain brake. In other words, when you press the safety and squeeze the trigger, the chain starts running. Experienced chainsaw users aren’t going to love that feature. Besides that, the Ryobi did have trouble working through the willow log, recording only 11 full cuts on a 12-inch diameter log. It’s worth noting the saw barely had enough usable bar to make it through the log in a single cut.
On the upside, this is one of the most affordable chainsaws in the test and it comes with a five-year limited warranty (three-year warranty on the battery). I liked the traditional and unsophisticated chain tensioning system and Ryobi includes a clever wrench holder in the handle of the saw. Plus, Ryobi has more than 85 products that run on a 40v battery. So if you’re already using Ryobi products—and already have the battery—you can get the saw for only $189.
Worx Power 20V Share
Worx Power 20V Share
Key Features
- Bar Length: 10 inches
- Volts: 20v
- Amp Hours: 8ah
- Cut time: 17.3 seconds (6-inch diameter log)
- Number of Cuts: 18
- Weight: 6 pounds, 11 ounces
- Price: $150
- Made in China
Pros
- Affordable
Cons
- Plastic bumper spike
- No chain brake
- Lesser build quality
This is the little brother to the Worx Nitro, and it was the lightest chainsaw in the test. It runs on a single 20v battery. The Worx recorded significantly lower scores than the Echo chainsaw, but it also costs about a quarter of the price. This saw is meant for very light work; you will not be bucking firewood with it. It has a similar chain tensioning system to the Nitro, but with a different knob. I’d recommend spending the extra money and stepping up to the Worx Nitro. Even if you only need a saw for light duty in the backyard, the Nitro will perform better for you.
Large-Size Chainsaws
DeWalt 60V Max
DeWalt 60V Max
Key Features
- Bar Length: 20 inches
- Voltage: 60v
- Amp Hours: 5.0ah
- Cut Time: 26.3
- Number of Cuts: 12
- Weight: 17 pounds, 4 ounces
- Price: $549
- Made in China
Pros
- Fast and powerful saw
Cons
- Ran out of battery quickly
- Heavy
Think of this saw as the defensive end on a football team: hefty, strong, and fast, but he’s going to tire out quickly. This was the most capable all-around saw of the test. With its longer bar length and fast cutting speed it’s well suited for bigger jobs. It was the fastest large-sized saw in the test, though it still got through the 14-inch diameter log three seconds slower than my gas chainsaw.
The DeWalt has a double bumper spikes (one on both sides of the bar) with aggressive tines. It brings the most voltage of any saw in the test, and comes with sturdy carrying case, unlike many of the other saws.
On the downside, this bad boy is heavy. It’s a good 3 pounds heavier than my gas saw. The battery alone weighs 4 pounds. Plus, it ran out of juice relatively quickly. It got bogged down a few times going through the willow log at the tail end of its battery life. If you have your heart set on this saw for bigger projects, I’d recommend getting a second battery—unfortunately, they’re spendy at about $360. The only other negative thing about this saw is that the battery housing is designed in a way that it’s easy for saw dust and debris to fall into it. You’ll have to keep checking to make sure it doesn’t get gummed up.
Ego Power+ 18-inch Chainsaw
Ego Power+ 18-inch Chainsaw
Key Features
- Bar Length: 18 inches
- Volts: 56V
- Amp Hours: 5ah
- Cut Time: 31.3 seconds (14-inch diameter log)
- Number of Cuts: 11
- Weight: 14 pounds, 12 ounces
- Price: $370
- Made in China
Pros
- Charges quickly
- LED light is a cool feature
Cons
- Ran out of juice quickly
Ego makes a variety of battery-powered outdoor tools including trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and even a zero-turn riding lawn mower. Their 18-inch chainsaw offers some cool features, including a LED light so you can see what you’re cutting in low light and a fast-charging 56v battery (most of the larger saws required four hours or more to charge, but the Ego charged in about half that time).
Unfortunately the battery drained relatively quickly too, as the Ego finished only 11 cuts through an 14-inch diameter log. The chain tensioning system is cool in theory: it’s just one knob to tighten or loosen. But in the field it got gummed up and I had to take the saw apart to get it working. Extra batteries are still spendy, but you can find them online for substantially cheaper than DeWalt extra batteries.
What to Know Before Buying an Electric Chainsaw
Generally speaking, electric chainsaws are not as powerful as comparably sized gas powered saws. But they are simpler to use and top-end models can saw through plenty of work. Here’s what to consider when picking the best electric chainsaw for you.
Bar Length
Saws with longer guide bars can take on bigger jobs, but they’re heavier. As a general rule, you want your bar to be two inches longer than the maximum diameter of the log or tree you intend to cut. If your electric chainsaw is going to be your only chainsaw, go with a longer bar length of 18- to 20-inches. If the electric saw is a backup or for special projects (like a camping trip) then go with a mid-sized or shorter bar.
Voltage
The voltage advertised on a saw’s battery is essentially a rating of its power capacity. Usually bigger saws have batteries with higher voltage, with the exception being the Echo, which boasts a 50v battery.
Amp Hours
The amp hours displayed on each battery is the amount charge that enables 1 ampere of current to flow for one hour. In other words, a higher AH should offer a longer run time. However, there are a lot of variables involved in how long a saw will run (how aggressively you’re running it, type of wood, and size of logs to name a few).
Safety
Chainsaw work is inherently dangerous. Even the more affordable chainsaws commonly described as “beginner” saws can buzz off a finger or chew deep into your leg in the fraction of a second. Just because a saw is smaller-sized or more affordable does not mean that it is safer. Plus, the cheaper models tend to not have chain brakes and are more prone to operating issues, which can be dangerous. You must be extra careful when switching from a gas powered saw to an electric saw. With an electric saw there is no rumble of the motor to remind you that the saw is “on.” Always remove the battery before checking and adjusting chain tension and refiling bar oil. Also, always wear safety gear. If you have no idea what you’re doing with a chainsaw, take a safety course, online or in person.
FAQs
Some of them are damn good. The Echo top handle saw is truly impressive, but should only be run by experienced users. The Husky and Stihl saws are capable and useful for medium-duty jobs that require a few hours of work. If you want a saw to run all day, get a gas powered model.
Start by flipping through the owner’s manual. No, seriously. Each saw has its own little quirks. Once you’ve got it assembled and figured out, charge up the battery. Fill the saw with bar oil, click in the charged battery and get to work. Easy.
For my money, the best electric chainsaw out there is the Echo top handle model. But this is not an ideal design for many users. The Husqvarna Power Axe 350i is the best all-around electric chainsaw.
Final Thoughts on the Best Electric Chainsaws
There’s a wide range of electric chainsaws out there, and many of them are low quality. Just like cheap gas-powered saws, cheap electric chainsaws are more of a headache than they’re worth. You’re better off spending more money and getting one of the best electric chainsaws that will do the work you need it to.
Small-Size (10- to 12-inch bar)
- Editor’s Choice, Best Small-Size: Echo DCS-2500T
- Worx Power 20V Share
Mid-Sized (14- to 16-inch bar)
- Best Mid-Size: Stihl MSA 220 C-B
- Best Value: Worx Nitro 40V Power Share
- Ryobi 40V HP
Large-Size (18- to -20-inch bar)
- Best Large-Size: Husqvarna Power Axe 350i
- Ego Power+
- DeWalt 60V Max
