How we test gear. The Worx WG322 bar & chain tensioning system is a cinch to use. All trademarks property of their respective owners. And in the course of the work, we tackled a number of spring poles that were bent under tension. To test this, we took the average of several timed cuts through a specific dimension of wood from the lumber yard to ensure that each saw was tearing through the exact same volume for each cut. Finally, its rapid charger is four times faster than a standard one. If you are a two-stroke fanatic and are worried about the charge time associated with cordless electric chainsaws, look no further than the Greenworks Pro 80V. Not so much. It's the least complicated to use and the fastest to go from storage to slicing and dicing. Don't let the lightweight and compact size fool you; this tool is not a toy and is well suited for many chainsaw uses. But its adequate for landscape maintenance and a whole lot lighter than those other saws, by about 3 pounds. We also like the XCU07PTs crisp chain brake, its sensibly located power switch at the front of the handle, and a bright, well-placed battery gauge that you can read even in harsh sunlight. To eliminate any guesswork, we researched, bought, and tested 10 of the best battery-powered models available today through hands-on, side-by-side analysis. Although we did not find the weight to be a huge influence on the user-friendliness of the various saws, we did dock the scores of heavier models for users that might struggle to lift those few extra pounds. With a charge time measured at 2 hours, the 120i wasn't the quickest in this aspect, but it also isn't anywhere near the slowest. And chances are you already own a string trimmer or other cordless tool that uses a battery that can power the chainsaw. There are many differences between a gas-engine chainsaw and an electric chainsaw powered by a battery and motor. It appears that the brand intended it as much for carpentry and fence building as it did for yard cleanup, since Craftsman equipped the CMCCS620M1 with a pair of bubble levels (picture topping posts level to the ground, for example). Many manufacturers use this fact to entice people to buy battery-powered saws, so we decided to make this our final metric. Running a chainsaw without bar or chain oil can cause friction and create heat that can lead to severe damage to your saw. It is still a great and capable tool that will likely satisfy regular homeownership and tree care demands. During our SPL meter tests from a distance of 4 feet, we measured a mere 80 decibels. The Makita easily slices through logs that are nearly the diameter of its bar length. Its an easy saw to use, with excellent battery access and visibility. We also love that this saw consumes a small amount of bar & chain oil compared to many other models. For any sawyer doing a lot of firewood bucking, the Makita comes with metal bucking spikes to make the job easier. Another saw that uses the simple thumb safety & trigger system is the Worx WG322, which also features a tool-free bar mounting and chain tensioning system. A couple of words of warning regarding user-friendliness: The filler neck for bar oil is narrow and easy to overfill, and the cap isnt tethered to keep it from getting lost or rolling around in the dirt. The metal bucking spikes that are integrated into this model are far superior to the plastic nubs that several battery chainsaws use. Anyone who has followed our tool reviews knows that were fans of Echo outdoor power equipment, especially the companys string trimmers and chainsaws, which are simple to use and very effective. Our goal is to help you decide which battery chainsaw is right for you, so we started with the most obvious way to test we cut a whole lot of wood. The MSA 220 C-B is power tool excellence. Along with the advantages brings a few drawbacks. A fueled 50-cc gas-engine saw, with an 18-inch bar, weighs 11 to 12 pounds. This is among the heaviest saws we have tested, tipping the scales at 14.25 pounds. A homeowner-duty saw will make 20 to 30 cuts through the same log. No, it didnt have the guts of the Echo or the Milwaukee. Among the various types of controls that chainsaws have, our consensus is that simpler is better. The Worx WG322 has many attractive elements that the competition does not offer. The tool-free chain tightening further improves our opinion of it. And with good reason. It is hard to find a better option than the Ego Power+ CS1800. This device has one of the longest-lasting batteries that we've tested, and in "savE" mode, it further increases battery life by reducing the chain speed for less than heavy-duty tasks. Saws in this class are equipped with a chain brake (this one is), not just a hand guard, and a large bar-oil reservoir. If there are trees on your property, you need a battery-powered chainsaw. This model made quick work of large pine logs at the job site. The Milwaukee M18 Fuel exhibited an instantaneous wind-up during all of our tests. During our sound meter reading test, the MAX only registered 83.3 decibels, which is the lowest of any of the saws that we reviewed. For small jobs, a cordless chainsaw may be faster than a comparable gas-engine model, because you dont have to take the time to add fuel. We noticed that the Pro 80V uses a fairly large amount of bar & chain oil, but considering the long bar coupled with the quick cutting capabilities, this comes as no surprise. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. The latter is noticeably quieter. The CS1800 has the most innovative, easiest-to-use tool-free chain tensioning system that we have seen. At 8.4 pounds, it is more than 2 pounds lighter than any other model. We then noted how difficult each battery was to attach or remove from the saw. The Worx WG322 is the way to go when it comes to small bar 20V versions. The 540 LiXP is perfectly capable of firewood production, storm cleanup, and landscaping maintenance and closes the gap between electric and gas-engine saws. Scoring just below the quietest saws are the Ego Power+ 1400 and the Husqvarna 120i. Two side-saddle, 20-volt batteries (4-Ah apiece) supply the hefty side-mount motor on the WG385. Wed classify it as a light to medium-duty firewood cutter or as perfectly adequate for landscape and trail maintenance, and its certainly adequate to deal with the occasional downed tree or limb. Because these are largely considered to be consumer models, we also wanted to consider how much the sound produced by the tools might bother your neighbors. If the saw has a low threshold for thermal cutoff to protect the battery and circuitry, that will shut the saw off. The Milwaukee exhibited a runtime of 33 minutes and took 1 hour and 20 minutes to get back to full charge. The Makita XCU03Z LXT displayed cutting times ever so slightly slower with an average of 7.9 seconds. The downside is that if you really try to produce firewood with this saw, youll quickly wear the bar out. Pro-duty electric saws powered by a battery are expensive, costing in the range of $300 to $400; a mid-duty saw is likely to cost about $250, and an inexpensive saw suitable to handle the occasional downed tree limb is going to cost roughly $150 to $200. The Husqvarna 120i does a decent job, especially when compared to its price. The 20V battery life is quite a bit shorter than most higher voltage models. Battery chainsaws make this entire operation clean, quiet, and devoid of hassle. The HLCS01s disc count tells nearly the entire story; 46 hardwood discs is equal to a mornings work, especially when youre talking about cleaning up a small tree that blew down in a storm or a bunch of branches that fell over the course of the winter. In normal mode, the Husqvarna is already ahead of the field with a run time of 40 minutes in normal mode, but once switched to "savE" mode, it lasts even longer with a measured time of 54 minutes. The Worx WG322 had an okay wind-up time of 2 seconds and a rather slow average cutting time of 38 seconds, but taking into account the 20V battery and 10-inch bar, we were pleasantly surprised to see this thing ripping it up in the woodlot. We began by carefully inspecting each saw for subtle nuances in the design of each model. ), Key Specs: Volts: 36 | Number of discs cut: 96 | Weight: 10.4 lb (approx.). During our dimensional woodcutting tests, the Greenworks Pro 18V showed an average cutting time of 5.3 seconds, while the CS1800 put up a time of 5.9 seconds. Not everyone needs a colossal saw with a sizeable clunky battery. Key Specs: Volts: 60 | Number of discs cut: 43 | Weight: 12.45 lb (approx.). We find electronic power buttons to be a redundant feature when there's already a chain brake, safety switch, and trigger on most models. However, where the Pro 80V really shines is its charge time the Greenworks rapid charger is able to bring the massive 80-volt battery up to 100% in a lightning-fast 30 minutes. Looking for the top drill around for your next home We tested the top models on the market. This saw is one of the slowest to react to a fully pulled trigger and took 2.5 seconds to get up to speed. The tool clips into a compartment on the bottom. Key Specs: Volts: 40 | Number of discs cut: 124 | Weight: 10.39 lb (approx.). Given its performance, we think it could use a slightly more aggressive bumper spike (the spikes are rounded off), but thats a small complaint. The oil tank cap is located on the top of the saw body, which is convenient, but unlike the Power+ 1400, the Black+Decker model goes through a lot of bar & chain oil, so you end up dealing with the cap often while operating the saw. A number of pedestrians out on their lunch break strolled through the newly restored path, branches heaped up on either side of it. This version is capable of beyond adequate cuts, and it's relatively straightforward to use. The test exposes vibration, stalling, hesitancy, and lack of trigger response. Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. Other features we like are its crisp chain brake, large bar-oil reservoir, easy-to-grip oil cap, tool-free chain tightening, and well-located button to help you quickly determine how much charge is left. Contractors who are fully on board with Milwaukees 18-volt platform will appreciate this stubbornly powerful tool that runs on the same batteries as its drills and other saws. Our favorite part about this saw is that we found that the LXT easily turned pine to sawdust in the wood yard. The M18 was one of the fastest during our dimensional cutting tests. It can zoom through even large-diameter hardwood logs, and it comes with a five-year warranty. We've also put handsaws and cordless circular saws to the test. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Yes, its heavy like a gas-engine chainsaw, and its length, width, and balance will feel familiar to gas-engine users. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Drawbacks aside, we think this saw is the way to go if you want a longer bar and don't want to wait all day for your battery to recharge. To use this feature, called PowerSharp, you run the saw and simultaneously pull the red lever. It cuts viciously, and we pushed it as hard as we could. With his formal education in environmental science, you can rest easy knowing that he has created tests to compare the saws as accurately as possible. Our top-tier professional saws can make as many as 100 cuts (or more) through a 6-inch-diameter hardwood log. To measure sound, we used a sound level meter at a distance of 48 inches from the chain with the saw at full throttle. So it is with this saw. Our only complaint is a small one. However, to test these awesome tools side-by-side, we went well beyond just the saw performance. These tools can get very pricey if you don't need the extra bar length, battery life, and power, then there's no need to drop the extra cash on a super high-performance model. But theres more to it than battery girth. Its a powerful cutter, and the cookie count doesnt convey how enthusiastically it goes about its work, thanks to the great big motor and an equally massive battery to provide the needed current. The Milwaukee is another model that has metal bucking spikes to help get the job done faster. But maybe thats okay. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. There is a large range of prices for these devices, and a higher cost does not axiomatically mean a saw will work well for your planned use. The 540 LiXP is equipped with a massive 9.36-Ah battery, and that certainly helped boosts its number. Also, the WG322 can't hang with the best in overall cutting performance. (For these saws, youll see the disc count marked as N/A. We particularly appreciated several of its features, like its long bar reduces the amount of stooping you do to get at wood you need to cut, Also, its equipped with a chain brakenot merely a front hand guardto protect you against kickback. Key Specs: Volts: 56 | Number of discs cut: N/A | Weight: 11.4 lb (approx.). If battery life is your key deciding factor while shopping for a battery chainsaw, look no further than the Ego Power+ CS1800. One of its best traits is that it goes from being completely stopped to full speed instantly. One of the main ways that battery chainsaws are superior to gas-powered models is that they are much quieter. We produced a shed full of wood in the process. This one? The Husqvarna offers tremendous value, yet still holds its own with the best. The Husqvarna 120i is a high-performing battery chainsaw that won't leave you running low on funds. Key Specs: Volts: 20 | Number of discs cut: N/A | Weight: 9.9 lb (approx.). In general, this saw is very easy to use. Key Specs: Volts: 40 | Number of discs cut: 43 | Weight: 13.2 lb (approx.). Chainsaws Are Better When Powered by Batteries, The 2022 Popular Mechanics Yard & Garden Awards, 8 Best Pruning Saws to Keep Your Trees Tidy, MSA 200 C-B Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, 540 LiXP Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, RY 40580 Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, Nitro WG385 Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, DCCS670X1 Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, XCU07PT Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, Power+ CS1604 Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, 2727-20 Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, CCS-58VBT Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, Max CS300 Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, CS40L412 Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, CMCCS620M1 Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaw, This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. During these two different tests, we closely monitored how quickly the saws went through bar and chain oil. Consider that, at its widest point, the saw is only 5.5 inches across. It is one of the best at executing cuts and has a long-lasting battery. How can we improve GearLab? And youd be right. With a charge time of 1 hour and a run time of 28 minutes, the Makita XLT also hovers around the middle of the pack for battery life.