2024 Update — Best Rated Chainsaws in Every Category

BLACK+DECKER 40V 12-Inch LCS1240 — High customer satisfaction. Recommended! (Amazon)

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What are the Best Rated Chainsaws in 2023?

Are you overwhelmed by all the choices of chainsaws on the market? This article was written to give you clear and concise advice. There’s a big debate about whether to go for a gas chainsaw, a corded electric or battery chainsaw, and opinions differ.

Truthfully, you can get a great chainsaw in any of these categories — it really depends what you need it for. So before we go on to review the best rated chainsaws available to you, let’s look at what type of chainsaw is your best option.

Table of Contents...

1 Gas Chainsaws
2 Electric Cord Chainsaws
3 Battery Chainsaws
4 A Safer Alternative to Chainsaws
5 Review — Best Rated Chainsaws in 2019
6 WORX WG303.1 & WORX WG304.1
7 Zombi ZCS12017
8 BLACK & DECKER LCS1020
9 BLACK & DECKER LCS1240
10 DEWALT DCCS670X1 FLEXVOLT
11 Husqvarna 455 Rancher
12 WORX WG320

Gas Chainsaws

If you ask any professional lumberjack, they’ll probably tell you that gas chainsaws are the only real option. This can be true if you need a very powerful chainsaw that can be used anywhere and allows you to work for hours without interruptions.

The question is, how many of us actually need all that power and are you going to be using it far from an electrical outlet? Let’s start by saying that if you’re going to be cutting large trees fast and efficiently, even if you’re miles away from anywhere, then a gas chainsaw will be your best bet.

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Fast Facts on this Remington (recommended) Chainsaw :

42cc engine delivers enough power for a variety of cutting tasks — trimming medium to large branches
⭐️— Includes hard carrying case (bonus)
Quick-start system makes pull starts easier
5-point anti-vibration system protects you
Easy Maintenance : Tool-free access to filter and spark plug
Cushioned wrap handle provides a comfortable grip
2-year limited warranty

Drawbacks of GAS Chainsaws

The downside to using a gas chainsaw is the noise, this can be a big disadvantage for homeowners, living in the suburbs. Your neighbors will very likely voice their objections to you disrupting their peace and quiet with a roaring beast of a chainsaw. Gas chainsaws can also be quite heavy, making them difficult for some people to use. High levels of vibration from the engine can also be problematic for some.

🔹 Released in 2019 — 100V Battery-Power : Sun Joe iON100V-18CS-CT

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Features : 100V Sun Joe cordless

1500 Watt motor / 18-inch bar chain
Easy to use : Tool-less tensioning
Onboard auto-oiler : Always lubricated chain
Safety — hand brake for superior kickback control. Built-in safety switch to prevent accidental starts

The maintenance required to keep a gas chainsaw functioning properly is much more than their electric equivalents. You need to keep the engine serviced and, of course, they can sometimes be a hassle to start – especially in cold weather. For some people, the emissions from the gas engine can also be a problem. Because most gas chainsaws use a two-stroke engine, there’s also the need to mix gas and oil to the correct ratio. If you don’t, you’ll either get a smoking machine and the carb will become clogged with carbon (if you mix too much oil with the gas) or, if there’s too little oil in your mixture, the engine will overheat and sustain damage.

So, while gas chainsaws may be the number one choice for most professionals, your average home user may prefer a chainsaw that’s easier to use and requires less maintenance. Even if this means opting for a less powerful machine.

Electric Cord Chainsaws

Going electric takes a lot of hassle out of owning and using a chain saw and they’re generally much cheaper than any other option. An electric chainsaw that runs on household power via an electric cord is great for use around the yard – cutting firewood, maintaining your garden and also for woodwork artists.

Cord electric chainsaws are relatively light and, therefore, easier to use. Because they’re not as powerful as gas chainsaws, electric models will not have the largest bar and chain (usually no more than 18”). This is fine for most of us but if you’re looking for a heavy-duty chainsaw with a bar length of 20” or more, you will have to get a gas machine. Even the most powerful 15A electric chainsaw won’t be able to hold up to the bigger gas chainsaws.

Professional Quality Electric Model | Makita UC4051A (Review)

What's the best chainsaw on the market? — Ideal for cutting firewood, pruning and limbing trees.

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Obvious advantages of electric chainsaws are the fact that they produce a lot less noise and there are no toxic emissions. Many also prefer electric for the ease of operation. There’s no pulling on a recoil starter – you simply press the start button and off you go.

Because of the many advantages of using an electric chainsaw, they’re very popular for home users who really don’t require the extra bar length and power of a gas chainsaw. The biggest problem with using a corded electric chainsaw is that you always need to be close to a 120V power source. In your garden, this can often be okay, if your yard isn’t so big that you can’t reach everywhere with an extension cord. If you’re working too far from an electrical outlet, you’ll need to use a generator and this will require gas and can have the same noise issues that you get with gas chainsaws. Though you do get silent generators that are barely audible.

Battery Chainsaws

For quite a few years now, battery chainsaws have grown in popularity. This is mainly due to the improvement of battery technology. Major tool manufacturers have invested massively in battery research and development. Because these tools are so versatile, combining the ease of use that you get from electric and the freedom of movement that you get from gas, many people are choosing battery power over other types of power tools.

Even though modern lithium-ion batteries offer improved working times, you are still limited to battery life. This can be a problem if you intend working for long periods. Though most of who have come to depend on battery tools have realized the value in buying extra batteries. With enough batteries, you’re able to work for any length of time.

Women Love this Battery Powered Chainsaw from Greenworks

woman cutting a log with a chainsaw — Excellent lightweight cordless chainsaw in 2019. (▶ Buy from Amazon)

So the only real drawback to buying a battery chainsaw is the cost. A battery chainsaw costs more than a corded electric equivalent. If you’re going to buy extra batteries, your cost goes up even further. They’re also slightly heavier than traditional chainsaws that use a power cord.

Despite these disadvantages, battery-powered chainsaws are growing in popularity. In my experience, battery tools make life much simpler. If you’re one of those people who use a number of battery tools, it makes sense to use battery power wherever possible, provided you use tools that all use the same battery. Having a wide range of tools that use the same battery, reduces your costs considerably (you don’t need different batteries for each tool). The more tools you use (with the same battery), the more cost effective it becomes to buy extra batteries.

A Safer Alternative to Chainsaws

There are a lot of people who shy away of from chainsaws because they seem so dangerous. It’s true that you need some skill to use a chainsaw safely and there are a number of risks involved. If you’ve stayed away from chainsaws for fear of losing a limb, there’s a fantastic alternative to regular chainsaws.

The “Jaw Saw” is designed for easy and safe operation, though you are limited by the cutting width that the jaw offers. We’ll review this revolutionary new idea as an alternative for people who want to clear up branches but have never felt safe using a regular chainsaw.

More on the WORX Jaw Saw WG320 later in the article.

safest chainsaw on the market. — The safest chainsaw alternative. Great product design.

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Review — Best Rated Chainsaws in 2019

So whether it’s the power of a gas chainsaw you’re looking for or the affordability and convenience of an electric model or, perhaps, a bit of both by choosing a battery chainsaw, you’ll want to get a good bang for your buck. Chainsaws are some of the more expensive power tools to own, so you want to get something that’s going handle the work that you throw at it and still fall within your price range.

This review is going to cover the chainsaw models that are rated most highly by those who’ve bought them and are happy with what they paid for. To make it onto our list of best-rated chainsaws, these products had to receive the highest ratings from hundreds of satisfied customers. This will help you in your decision, all these people can’t be wrong.

It’s no small feat getting great ratings by genuine customers. If you think that people are quick to complain when they have a problem with a product but seldom bother to write in and say that they are impressed, ratings will usually be slanted toward the unfavorable outcome. We’ve researched thousands of customer reviews to give you the best options in the view of ordinary users like you. So you can cut through all the sales talk and get straight to the point. Which chainsaw is going to give you the best value for your hard-earned cash?

To cover all the bases, you will have a choice between the best electric, battery, and gas chainsaws. As a bonus feature, we’re also going to include the Worx WG320, a jaw saw that makes for the safest and most convenient way to cut branches and logs.

Best Rated Electric Chainsaws

Let’s start by looking at the best electric chainsaws by way of consumer ratings. In terms of affordable quality, there really can’t be a better option than these models.

WORX WG303.1 & WORX WG304.1

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Features:

Powerful 14.5 Amp motor offers consistent performance and durability
Patented auto-tension chain system prevents over-tightening for extended bar & chain life
Built-in chain brake for added safety
Automatic oil lubrication and built-in oil reservoir with level indicator

Worx tools always seem to feature highly and receive many positive reviews. I think this is because of the combination of price vs quality. They don’t cost as much as many premium brands but still offer a high standard of build and design, making them incredibly good value for money.

The Worx WG303.1 is a 14.5A electric cord chainsaw with a 16” bar and chain. There’s a larger version of the same chainsaw, the Worx WG304.1, which is a 15A model with an 18” bar and chain. The only difference between the two is that they have different motors and different ratings for bar length. In all other respects, their features remain the same.

Worx WG304.1 | 18″ bar & chain with 15 Amp Motor

Worx WG304.1 : best top rated chainsaws — A little more power than the WG303.1. Excellent Value! **(Amazon)**

Whether you choose the Worx WG303.1 or the larger Worx WG304.1, you’ll get all of the safety features and convenience that you’d want from an electric chainsaw. They have an automatic chain tensioner, requiring no tools. The benefit of this mechanism is that it’s impossible to over or under tighten the chain. This makes them one of the safest chainsaws, particularly for people who are not too familiar with how to tension the chain correctly. It also has an automatic chain brake for increased safety.

Like most modern chainsaws, the Worx WG303.1 and WG304.1 have automatic chain lubrication and these two have a 200ml oil reservoir which includes a level indicator. Many users have noted that the lubrication system uses a lot of oil and the reservoir needs to be filled more often than most. One guy suggested using thicker oil to reduce the amount of oil used. While another user said that using thicker oil causes the automatic lubrication system to stop functioning.

WORX WG303.1 electric chainsaw. — WORX provides great features in an inexpensive chainsaw. (Buy from Amazon)

I’d say that over lubrication is better than under lubrication. That extra oil that’s being pumped onto your chain will help the saw remain sharper for longer and increase the lifespan of the machine. So, I’d recommend using the specified SAE30 oil. Using a bit more oil may increase your running cost slightly but it will save you money in the end as the chainsaw will keep on working perfectly for a longer period of time.

Using these chainsaws is a real pleasure. They’re lightweight – the Worx WG303.1 weighs 11 LBS and the Worx WG304.1 weighs 11.2 LBS (machine weight). They have comfortable handles that give you a good grip on the machine and allow you to work for long periods without experiencing fatigue.

Worx equipment is widely accepted by many homeowners as providing exceptional value for money. The automated operation of the Worx WG303.1 and WG304.1 make them about the easiest and safest chainsaws to use. Their design is perfect for home users, who are not as experienced as the professional. With a 3-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee, you can have a great deal of confidence in your purchase.

Zombi ZCS12017

13 Amp Corded-electric chainsaw. One of the best rated chainsaws on the market.

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Features:

Powerful 13 amp capable of cutting through tough cutting jobs
16 inch auto lubricating Oregon Bar and chain
Safety lock button and a front hand guard for complete safety
Light weight with rubber over molded handle for max comfort
Steel bucking heavy duty teeth/ Tool-less chain tensioner

The name Zombie really appeals to my sense of humor, conjuring up images from apocalyptic films of chainsaw wielding zombies. Not that these films are a joke, it’s the fact that a serious piece of hard-working machinery can be named in this way that made me chuckle. Make no mistake, the Zombie ZCS12017 is manufactured by a serious company. The American Lawn Mower Co, the name behind the Zombie brand, has been around since 1865. So despite the tongue-in-cheek approach to naming this chainsaw range, they are, in fact, serious competitors in the chainsaw market.

When you look at the Zombie ZCS12017, that sense of ironic humor continues into the funky Zombie color scheme of the machine. Though the design and functioning of this chainsaw is no joke, it competes well with the best of them. The 13A electric motor drives an Oregon double guard 16” bar and chain. Most professionals swear by Oregon as the number bar and chain manufacturer. The chain is self-lubricating and requires no tools for tensioning. The two large steel bucking teeth are designed for heavy-duty work and are extremely durable.

Weighing around 13LBS with fantastically designed handles, the Zombie ZCS12017 is a great chainsaw to use. The soft grip front handle has a wrap-around design, giving you the ability to work safely and comfortably in any situation. The chain guard is also well-positioned for both safety and maximum visibility whilst working. The electric cord is double insulated for added safety.

In my search for complaints about the Zombie ZCS12017, I came up with no real complaints (at least in my opinion). I saw that one guy complained about the chain coming loose, but I find that hard to believe as Oregon is generally considered to be the best. The fact that I haven’t anyone else with the same complaint, leads me to believe that he didn’t tension the chain correctly.

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for stupidity. Other than this one complaint, the majority of people seem to feel that the Zombi ZCS12017 is a fantastic electric chainsaw. The American Lawn Mower Company offers a 5-year warranty on their tools, though I couldn’t find any details on the actual warranty agreement.

Read our in-depth article on Zombi chainsaws.

— Best Rated Battery Chainsaws

For many people, paying extra for the versatility of a battery-powered tool is money well spent. If you’re one of these people, here are some fantastic options when looking for a quality battery chainsaw.

BLACK & DECKER LCS1020

The Black & Decker brand is synonymous with affordable quality and they’ve been around since 1910. This trait has made their products a household favorite around the world for over a century. When it comes to battery chainsaws, we have selected two models that exemplify this philosophy.

The Black & Decker LCS1020 is the first model that we’ll be looking at. This a small (10”) chainsaw that’s suited for smaller cutting jobs around the yard. Felling a large tree with this model will be a time-consuming job and you’ll probably find it easier to use the larger Black & Decker LCS1240 if you’re going to be doing larger jobs. That being said, the Black & Decker LCS1020 is fantastic for cutting firewood and clearing up branches. It’s incredibly compact and light, weighing only 7.2 LBS, you certainly don’t need to be a burly lumberjack to handle this little machine.