What’s the Best Chainsaw under $200? Under $100? Under $300? Under $400? Under $500? How much chainsaw do you truly need? Is this for your home or work? We look at some of the top rated chainsaws for homeowners.
We choose the best chainsaw for any budget, no matter what it is. We’re sure you’ll find a chainsaw here that meets your needs.
► We’ve updated our comprehensive GUIDE on the BEST Chainsaws for Homeowners for September — 2019. Check it out. Our latest recommendations. Plenty of new chainsaws.
What’s the Best Chainsaw under $200?
Truth is, there’s more than one. There are a lot of great chainsaw for any amount you want to spend.
A chainsaw can transform the process of cutting wood into something that is quick, fast, and satisfying.
As a general rule while felling trees, the length of your chainsaw’s bar must be at least 1 to 2 inches longer than the diameter of 75 to 80 percent of the logs you plan on cutting.
If you are chopping a tree that has already fallen, the cutting range increases to nearly twice the length of the bar because you can cut from both sides and meet in the middle. Then you need to consider chainsaw power- this will determine how easily your saw can cut through wood without bogging down or jamming. Even if you attach a giant 24” bar to your 45cc mid-range saw, it won’t magically transform into a heavy- duty saw.
Excellent Gas Chainsaw Under $200 | Remington Rebel — RM4216
Chainsaws with longer bars and chains also encounter more resistance while chopping through wood, and the harder the wood, the more resistance there is. If you cut wood regularly, you need a chainsaw that gets the job done fast. And the power of a gas chainsaw depends on the size of its engine. Engine displacement for most gas chainsaws on the market ranges between 33 to 65 cubic centimeters. For DIY work, general purpose trimming, and taking down damaged tree limbs around your house, any chainsaw with an engine size between 33 to 45cc should be enough.
For regular chopping of firewood and limbing trees, you need something in the 45 to 55cc range. Semi- professional saws intended for felling, bucking, thinning tree stands, etc. feature engine sizes between 55 to 65cc. Any gas chainsaw with an engine larger than 65cc is considered a professional grade model and is designed to be handled by trained lumberjacks and arborists.
Remember that you must match the bar length with the power of your chainsaw. You can’t oversize the bar or undersize the engine, otherwise the chainsaw will feel awkward to operate. For most of you reading this article, what you need is a light duty chainsaw with a bar length between 10 to 14”. Entry level chainsaws are more than adequate for chopping up some 2 x 4 wood or pruning fruit trees in the orchard. And the best part about them is that they are relatively easy to operate, which makes them a great learning platform for woodcutting enthusiasts who want to step up to bigger equipment in the future.
Remember, every chainsaw is dangerous, even the light cordless models with a 12- inch bar. But a smaller chainsaw will be easier to swing around in between cuts, and it won’t kickback as hard compared to a heavy duty saw with a large engine. To ensure a hassle- free experience, read the owners manual and follow all necessary safety instructions. Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, earmuffs, and a good pair of chainsaw chaps before you operate your chainsaw.
What’s the Best Chainsaw Under $100?
Worx WG303.1
Powerful Electric Chainsaw on a Budget — under $100
Features:
- 14.5 Amp motor output delivers a cutting performance similar to gas chainsaws for homeowners, farmers, and ranchers
- Patented auto-tension chain system prevents over-tightening; stays at the right tension for hundreds of uses
- Low kickback bar and built-in chain brake for added safety. This model does not include a battery. This is an electric tool. Chain Speed : 12m/s. Rated Voltage : 120V~60Hz
- Automatic oil lubrication and built-in oil reservoir with window level indicator and chain pitch is 3/8 inch, chain gauge is 0.05 inch, oil tank capacity is 200 ml
- Includes 3-year manufacturer’s warranty
Ideal for: Light to medium duty work. Light usage includes pruning ornamental trees or cutting down shrubs around your home. Medium duty workloads can be limbing fallen trees, cutting timber into firewood sized pieces, and bucking logs up to 12” in diameter.
Overview:
Quite simply put, this is the best electric chainsaw you can purchase under 100 dollars. It might even be the best all- round chainsaw under the 100- dollar range, since there are no good gas chainsaws in this price range. For such an affordable price you are getting a brilliant piece of machinery that is well built and capable of tackling a wide range of cutting jobs. Worx has equipped the WG303.1 with a low kickback Oregon bar and chain assembly so that novice users will have a much easier time controlling the saw. It gives many of the entry level gas chainsaws from Husqvarna and Stihl a run for their money in terms of cutting performance, thanks to the robust 14.5- amp electric motor which packs plenty of torque for making all kinds of cuts through even the hardest of woods.
The WG303.1 is equipped with a 16” bar and can be used to limb fallen trees or chop firewood. If you are skeptical about Worx’s claims that this chainsaw performs similarly to a 3.5hp gas chainsaw, you wouldn’t be wrong. Going by the officially supplied numbers, the maximum power output of the WG303.1 can be obtained by multiplying the voltage with current- 120V x 14.5A = 1740 watts. Converting to horsepower (1hp is 745.7 watts), we get 2.33hp.
But in real world performance, it doesn’t seem to be that far behind a 2.8hp gas chainsaw like the Husqvarna 445, which uses a 50.2cc engine. Maybe that is because of the massive torque output, an advantage that electric motors have over internal combustion engines. The WG303.1 has no trouble making a bore cut through a log of frozen spruce (see video below) that is around 10” thick.
VIDEO | See The WORX Chainsaw in Action
Crosscuts are even easier, and we believe the Worx WG303.1 is an awesome chainsaw for cutting firewood sized chunks out of logs that you haul over from the forest to your home.
You can fell trees in the woods with your large gas chainsaw, bring the logs home and chop them up quietly without disturbing your family our neighbors. Isn’t that awesome? But if you want to do some serious cutting, get a gas chainsaw like the Husqvarna 455 Rancher (55.2cc) or the Makita DCS6421RFG (64cc).
It is also incredibly light at just 11 pounds, which means that you can prune shrubs and ornamental trees without feeling exhausted after a while. Unlike gas chainsaws, it doesn’t vibrate since the electric motor functions differently from a single cylinder 2 stroke engine. Power delivery is extremely smooth, and there is plenty of torque all across the RPM curve. Since it doesn’t vibrate, you won’t experience any weird tingling sensation in your hands, or numbness like you would if you operated a gas chainsaw for several hours a day. Not to mention the fact that it is much quieter than a gas chainsaw, and you don’t have to bother with mixing fuel and oil. No exhaust gases either, so your lungs stay cleaner and you can operate it inside your garage or basement without exposing your family to toxic fumes.
WORX 20V Chainsaw for under $200
Note: If you are looking for a 50- foot long extension cord it has to be 14 gauge. If it is a 100- foot extension cord, it has to be 12 gauge as stated by the user manual. Here is a nice 50- foot extension cord from Otimo that can carry 15 amps and is equipped with a high visibility bright yellow exterior, as well as flame and water retardant materials. If you want some more range to walk around with your WG303.1, you can buy this 12 gauge 100- foot extension cord from Watt’s Wire which features built in power indicator lights along with moisture protection and flame retardant coating.
Best Chainsaw Under $200
DEWALT DCCS620B
20V MAX XR – Great Cordless Chainsaw for DIY
Features:
- Low kick back 12 in. Oregon bar and chain for construction and outdoor cutting applications
- Compact, lightweight design (9 lbs. with battery) for maximum user control
- High-efficiency brushless motor maximizes runtime and motor life
- Up to 90 cuts per charge on 4×4 pressure treated wood (using a 20V MAX* 5Ah battery)
- Tool-free chain tensioning and bar tightening knob for proper bar clamping force
- Part of the 20V MAX* system of tools
- Bare Tool: Battery and charger not included
Ideal for: Light construction work and DIY projects. It can be used to cut wooden beams, 4 x 4 timber, 2 x 4 timber, etc. Can also be used to clear brush or chop away damaged tree limbs that are 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Or you can push the limits of this saw by cutting 8 to 10-inch logs of pine and maple.
Overview:
The 20V MAX lithium ion battery platform from DeWalt is a brilliant invention which you can use across a wide range of cordless DeWalt products. The same 20V MAX battery that you use in your chainsaw can also be used to power their hammer drills, die grinders, orbital sanders, and much more. But right now, we aren’t concerned with any of those tools. Instead, we are here to review one of DeWalt’s best 12” cordless chainsaws- the DCCS620. This is just the tool, meaning that you don’t get a battery, charger, or carry bag when you purchase it.
We highly recommend that you purchase the twin pack of 20V MAX 5.0 Ah Premium XR batteries (model DCB205-2), along with the DCB115 12/ 20V MAX charger. Why two batteries? Well, if you intend to do any kind of moderate wood cutting a single battery won’t last you very long and you certainly can’t get through a day on the construction site with just one battery. If you plan on cutting firewood with this chainsaw, you need a twin battery setup so that one charges while the other one powers your chainsaw.
Moving on, let us take a look at the actual chainsaw itself. The construction seems very robust and gives the impression that this thing was designed to take a few drops and can definitely live through rough handling. Although DeWalt markets it as a tool for construction sites, it is more of a home workshop/ DIY chainsaw. You can tell by the 12” bar that this machine was never intended to fell trees, instead it is a highly portable and clean alternative to entry-level gas chainsaws such as the Husqvarna 240 or Poulan PL3816.
The low kickback Oregon bar and chain let you crosscut and rip wood with relative ease, and the compact size is amazing for weaving through areas covered in thick brush. It weighs just 7.8 pounds without batteries and when you install the 20V MAX XR 5.0Ah DCB205 battery, total weight is 7.8 + 1.4 = 9.2 pounds. DeWalt states that you can make 90 cuts on pressure treated 4 x 4 pine with a single charge using this battery platform (5.0Ah 20V MAX XR).
In terms of ergonomics, the DCCS620 is focused towards being compact and lightweight more than supporting a comfortable grip. It does have the nice rubber padding on its rear handle, but the handle is located on top of the saw resulting in a higher grip position compared to traditional rear handle chainsaws. With a little bit of practice, you will get the hang of it, but it was designed with arborists in mind who need to use chainsaws one- handed while climbing trees. Cutting performance is outstanding for a 20V cordless chainsaw, it slices through pressure treated 2 x 4 like a knife through butter, and can handle 6” logs without any problems, not even a hint of bogging down as it slices through them.
VIDEO | See the DeWalt 20V MAX XR Chainsaw in Action!
The DCCS620 can support a larger bar and chain, there are people who have modified theirs with 14” bars in order to make felling trees and bucking logs easier. You can do that too, a 14” bar + chain kit can be found for under 35 to 40 bucks. Once you attach a longer bar the DCCS620 can be used for making firewood out of logs as thick as 12”, which is insane performance from a package this light and compact. And since it is a cordless chainsaw, you don’t have the restrictions of a corded model. You can take it with you into the woods if you want, or to a friend’s house for some woodworking projects.
You can easily fell 3 to 4 small trees (6 to 8” trunks) before the battery runs out. It can handle all types of wood from pine to oak. Cutting through a 10” maple tree takes about 40 seconds, faster than most corded electric saws but not something you would want to do all day. Think of it as a medium duty saw if you are into yard work, it takes about 8 seconds to go through a 6” section of maple. You can also use it for light demolition work, like ripping up hollow core doors and plywood.
Best Chainsaw under $300
Husqvarna 240 Chainsaw
Best Entry Level Gas chainsaw for under $300.
Features:
- X-torque – delivers lower fuel consumption and reduced exhaust emission levels in accordance with the world´s most stringent environmental regulations
- Air injection – centrifugal air cleaning system removes larger Dust and debris Particles before reaching the air filter. This results in reduced air filter Cleanings and improved engine life
- Combined choke/stop control – allows for easier starting and reduces the risk of engine flooding
- LowVib – system designed to reduce vibration levels to the operator, which lessens fatigue
Air Purge – removes air from carburetor and fuel system for easy starting
Ideal for: Clearing overgrowth from the backyard, removing dead stumps, cutting 6 x 6 lumber, 4 x 4, 2 x 4, etc. Medium duty chainsaw for yard work, great for DIY projects and home improvement stuff, can be used in construction jobs because of light weight and above average power.
Overview
The Husqvarna 240 is an extremely popular entry level gas chainsaw and comes in at under 200 bucks which makes it one of the best low- budget landscaping tools on the market. It is capable of all the wood cutting tasks an average homeowner would desire to do, such as clearing up fallen trees from your yard, trimming overgrowth, chopping up firewood from small to medium sized logs, etc. You can also use it to cut pressure treated 6 x 6, 4 x 4, and 2 x 4 lumber in DIY projects, or to saw down some particle board. The 16” low kickback bar and chain on this machine makes it incredibly easy to operate on a wide range of woods such as birch, pine, maple, oak, cedar, etc.
The Husqvarna 240 has zero trouble while felling trees with trunks as thick as 10 or even 12 inches. This chainsaw is rated for just 2hp and is clearly punching way above its weight class with that tiny 38.2cc 2- stroke engine. Since it is equipped with a 16” bar by default, you can try your hand at bucking some large logs, although we would recommend you purchase a more powerful model if you want to chop firewood daily and are interested in cutting logs 16” or larger in size. Something like the 3.2hp Husqvarna 450 with an 18” bar would be more suitable for that kind of heavy- duty work, the 240 is a beginner’s chainsaw designed for workshops and backyards.
It can be used in some construction / demolition work too, you can use it to square off wooden beams and tear down doors or fences. Don’t try running it through muddy or frozen wood, since this chainsaw is equipped with a bar nose sprocket which is optimized for low kickback. The sprocket will get jammed up quickly if you move the bar through dirty wood and this can cause the chain to seize in the middle of work.
The 240 is also equipped with some of the hallmark Husqvarna innovations such as X- Torq and Air Injection. The latter comes in handy when you are working in dusty environments such as a busy workshop or construction site, since most of the larger debris is swept out of the chainsaw before it can reach the air filter. This reduces the amount of time you spend cleaning the filter and allows you to be more productive.
Best Chainsaw Under $300
Makita UC4051A
Best Corded Electric Chainsaw under $300. This is an exceptional electric chainsaw due to it’s high-quality engineering. Typically, electric chainsaws lack power, but this Makita model will surprise you. It truly is one of the best homeowner chainsaws you can buy, period.
Features:
- “Tool-less” blade and chain adjustments for convenient operation and easy maintenance
- Rubberized grip handles are ergonomically designed for comfort
- Large trigger switch with soft start for smooth start-ups
- Built-in current limiter helps protect motor from burnout by reducing power to motor when saw is overloaded
- Large oil reservoir with view window allows operator to check bar oil level
- Automatic chain oiler for heavy continuous cutting
- Electric chain brake for maximum productivity
- Zero emissions and reduced maintenance
- Soft start for smooth start-ups
- Current limiter helps protect motor from damage caused by heat
Ideal for: Small to medium duty yard work, DIY stuff, and limbing trees. It can also be used for cleaning up damaged trees and poles after storms, but you will likely need a generator for that since this is a corded electric chainsaw.
Overview:
The UC4051A from Makita is definitely one of the more expensive electric chainsaws on the market and is competing with some of the premium cordless models from reputed brands like Husqvarna and DeWalt despite this being a corded chainsaw. For instance, the DeWalt DCCS670B FLEXVOLT 60V MAX cordless chainsaw comes in at nearly the same price as the Makita and is equipped with a brushless motor. So why should you pay this much money for a corded chainsaw? Well if you want one of the most powerful electric chainsaws on the market, this is it. It outperforms most cordless models with ease, and unlike a battery powered chainsaw doesn’t lose power over time since it is fed by the outlet in your home.
The UC4051A effortlessly slices through 10-inch thick lumber and does so while making much less noise than any gas chainsaw on the market. It cuts right across a log of hickory 12” in diameter within 40 seconds. This chainsaw was also tested on a 10” x 10” beam of red oak and made a crosscut in just over a minute. It also goes through 4 x 16 inch slabs of walnut and other dense lumber with ease. You can buy one of these for your workshop and process large pieces of lumber into manageable chunks for your bandsaw to resaw. Since it is so quiet, you can work all day in your shop or garage without annoying the neighbors.
Read our indepth review of the Makita UC4051A .
Under $400
DEWALT FLEXVOLT 60V – DCCS670X1
Most Versatile Cordless Chainsaw
Features:
- Tool-Free chain tensioning and bar tightening knob for proper bar clamping force
- Auto-Oiling for continuous lubrication. Quarter-turn oil cap for quick oil re-fills
- Chain brake for kick back protection
- Up to 70 cuts per charge* *on a 6 in. x 6 in. pressure treated pine wood
Ideal for: Trimming and pruning work in the yard, clearing fallen trees after the winter, and DIY projects. When you go hunting or camping, you can carry this along with you as a clearing tool for brush and overgrowth. Can also be used to chop up 6 x 6 and 4 x 4 for construction.
Overview:
Not exactly a professional grade chainsaw by any means but is quite powerful for a 16” cordless electric model. It uses the 60V FLEXVOLT battery system, which operates in two modes- 20V and 9Ah, or 60V and 3.0Ah. Like most modern chainsaws it is equipped with a low- kickback bar and chain, which should help you make crosscuts easily through a wide variety of wood types. Not the best chain type for ripping lumber, but that isn’t what most homeowners plan to do anyways. The DCCS670X1 kit includes a DCCS670 chainsaw (tool), a 60V MAX 3Ah battery, a charger, and a bar cover. The battery lasts fairly long through moderate usage, DeWalt claims it will do 70 cuts through pressure treated 6 x 6 pine with a single charge.
VIDEO | What Professionals say about this Dewalt Flexvolt 60V Chainsaw
It will go through 8 and 10 inch thick logs quite comfortably but can struggle a bit while cutting anything that is more than 12 inches in diameter. With a single battery, you can chop up a small tree under 30 feet in height into manageable chunks of timber that can be hauled on the bed of your truck back to home. The battery is not meant to last for a 5 to 7 hour work day, so make sure you have 2 of them if you intend to use this regularly as a landscaping tool. On the construction site or as part of a landscaping crew, this chainsaw can be used to cut wooden beams, clear vegetation, or fell small trees.
Read our full review of the DEWALT FLEXVOLT 60V – DCCS670X1.
Best Chainsaw Under $500
Husqvarna 455 Rancher
Ultimate Heavy Duty Gas Chainsaw
Features:
- X-TORQ – Delivers lower fuel consumption and reduced exhaust emission levels in accordance with the world´s most stringent environmental regulations
- SMART START – The engine and starter have been designed so the machine starts quickly with minimum effort
- AIR INJECTION – Centrifugal air cleaning system removes larger dust and debris particles before reaching the air filter. This results in reduced air filter cleanings and improved engine life
- LOWVIB – System designed to reduce vibration levels to the operator, which lessens fatigue
- TOOL LESS CHAIN TENSIONING – Quick and easy chain tensioning and assembling of the bar and the chain without using any tools
Ideal for: Limbing, felling, and cutting firewood. It is also great for use in the workshop, and on the farm (as you tell from the name).
Overview:
This is what we call a jack of all trades, and it seems that Husqvarna agrees with us since the 455 Rancher is the 3rd most expensive chainsaw in their “all- rounder” series, right behind the 460 and 465. So, what makes this gas chainsaw so popular? Well it is almost like a professional saw but lacks some of the durability and endurance of a true professional grade saw like the 372 from Husqvarna’s XP series. The 455 is equipped with a 55.5cc X- Torq engine, featuring a 3 piece forged crankshaft for added durability. It is powerful enough to drive the 20” bar and chain through 24” thick logs of spruce and fir at insanely high speeds.
In fact, 3.5hp is sufficient to support a 24” bar and chain if you want. Professionals complain that the default chain supplied by Husqvarna (H48 3/8” 1.5mm) is a little too tame and doesn’t cut fast enough. There have also been some issues with the automatic oiler on the 455 which has been reported to stop working altogether in the middle of work for several minutes, causing damage to the bar and chain. This issue likely arises from a design defect with the oil pinion gear. Another complain is that the gas tank is a bit too small (0.93 pints) for anyone looking to do more than 30 minutes of cutting before refueling.
But this chainsaw was never designed to be a true professional grade saw. The 455 Rancher is a premium grade saw for homeowners and ranchers who want something that is robust and delivers top end performance for an affordable price. Yeah, its over 400 bucks but still much cheaper than fully fledged pro chainsaws from Husqvarna like the 372 XP or 390 XP, both of which cost over 1000 dollars. The 455 can work in all types of climates- from the sub zero temperatures of Alaska to the sweltering heat of Arizona. It fells trees with trunks as thick as 24 inches and can comfortably cut through 10 square inch oak beams in less than 60 seconds. The anti- vibration system on the 455 Rancher has been praised greatly, for it allows the operator to do heavy duty work for hours without getting numb hands.
