Top 10 Best Chainsaws (Reviews & Buyers’ Guide 2022)

Alas, the king is here. The Japanese-led Makita brand has been dominating the market for decades, and it is high time for competitors to finally acknowledge who sits atop the throne. This is our #1 pick for the best chainsaw for sale in 2022.

The Makita XCU03Z 18V X2 (36V) LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Chainsaw is a power tool that fits almost all cutting descriptions. Its two 18V LXT batteries consistently deliver 36V for raw power and peak performance; since the motor is a brushless one, power reduction is kept to a bare minimum, leaving the 2 batteries virtually unscathed. The cordless chainsaw’s outer rotor boasts a high-power efficiency that rivals that of a 32cc gas-operated chainsaw.

Since the cordless electric chainsaw uses LXT batteries, expect to have faster charging and 50% more runtime compared to ordinary ones. Judging from the batteries alone, the Makita chainsaw already won the durability department.

A feature that makes this chainsaw ahead of the game is its variable speed trigger, which allows the user freedom to adjust speed (from 0-3) in accordance with whatever the cutting job may require. The chain can reach speeds up to 940 FPM, showcasing an improved cutting performance. Also, the automatic power-off function has greatly improved. Previous iterations of the chainsaw saw numerous customer complaints, specifically highlighting the 4-second shutdown after non-operation.

A user has reported that 1 charge of the cordless chainsaw can hack its way easily through a 6-in limb blocking the driveway.

Well, the Japanese brand has had decades of excellence to back its products – one can never go wrong in choosing Makita. After all, Japan is well-known for products exhibiting extraordinary feats of endurance and quality.

The DeWalt 20V Max XR Chainsaw comes in hot at second place, earning a 4.7-star rating in Amazon. The product is helmed as one of the best – it has a #1 Best Seller tag under the Power Chain Saws category. With those credentials, the product is without a doubt a must-have for home improvement owners. This is one of the best chainsaws for home use in 2022.

For power tool enthusiasts, the DeWalt 20V Max XR Chainsaw is certainly an add-to-cart item. The cordless chainsaw basks in glory in the convenience department; its compact and lightweight design appeals to most users. Furthermore, the entire chainsaw only weighs 8.8lbs – perfect for trimming activities that require minimal effort.

The cordless electric chainsaw is equipped with a high-efficiency brushless motor – the battery from which it draws power gets minimal power reduction thereby maximizing cutting operation. It sports a tool-free chain tensioning system which makes it convenient for any power tool user. A chain brake is also reworked as part of its safety precaution system to prevent or reduce kickbacks. For accident protection, the product has a bar sheath that serves as a cover for the chain.

To combat improper bar clamping, a designated bar-tightening knob is located near the body for the user to manually adjust. Other products have this in a form of a button.

The DCCS620B model is topnotch, and even after hours of operation, users do not experience any kind of drawback after purchasing it. The endurance of the product certainly helps it climb the charts.

The only critic is that it has no length upgrade option for the bar and chain – the product sticks to the vanilla 12’’ length.

If you’re planning to buy it, the base yellow model costs $146.17. However, if you do want the full experience, throw in an additional $179.11 to get both DeWalt 20V Max Battery (Double Pack) and the Oregon R45 Advance Cut 12-in Chainsaw Chain.

The Greenworks 40V 12-in Cordless Chainsaw is still one of the most sought-after chainsaws in 2022. Achieving a Top 3 finish is no easy feat, especially when you know Black+Decker is coming in fourth despite having a distinction on a global scale. And also, as you may have noticed already, the Top 3 products are all cordless in nature – it is indeed convenient to own one.

The cordless chainsaw is powered by a 40V G-Max Lithium-ion battery, enough to go around cutting branches for hours of operation. Its high-performance battery ensures no memory loss after charging, even after being idle for long periods of time. Be wary though, the G-Max and Lithium-Ion batteries are not cross-compatible; think twice before buying a replacement.

Cordless chainsaws are typically lightweight, and thus only shorter bars are allowed to focus on maneuverability. But worry not, its 12-in bar and chain can still perform up to speed and produce the smoothest cuts in no time. Also, the chainsaw is equipped with an Automatic Oiler system to ensure the bar and chain are sufficiently lubricated for extended periods of operation. This system is designed to keep track of oil level – a translucent oil tank is present for the user to gauge whether to refill or not.

The battery-powered cordless electric chainsaw also has a tool-less tensioning system intact – one twist from the knob should do the job. The chain itself will adjust smoothly according to user preference.

At the time of writing, only 2 are left in stock – better get that credit card ready if you want to grab this beauty. Here’s a pro tip: while you’re at it, grab the exclusive 3-in-1 bundle (the base product, an Oregon Chainsaw Bar and Oil, and a Greenworks 12’’ chain) offered by Amazon. A $181.75 price tag for quality items (reviewed at 4.7 stars on Amazon) shouldn’t hurt the wallet that much.

Black+Decker has been a staple in the hardware industry since its inception. Anyone with eyes, especially home improvement owners, knows the famous brand for its chainsaws. One of the brand’s products, the LCS1240 40V Max Cordless Chainsaw, is quite a testament to its excellent reputation. This is easily one of top choices for the best chainsaw for home use.

The 12-In electric chainsaw sports a powerful Lithium-Ion 40V max battery to support hours of non-stop cutting activities. When idle, the battery can last up to 18 months on a single charge. Talk about endurance.

The batteries are entirely interchangeable - find a viable replacement and you should be good to go for another session.

Although its 12-inch bar length is average, the LCS1240 model can still cut through large tree trunks in short bursts. Don’t worry about getting your hands severed, the electric chainsaw now has enhanced safety features: the Front-Hand Guard and Lock-Off Button.

The Front-Hand Guard, located near the handlebar, gives the user protection against possible debris. As for the Lock-off Button, it is designed to prevent accidental powering-up instances. Combining them offers the user security of the highest degree.

The low-kickback bar and chain can help steer the user to greater maneuverability, and help avoid jagged or serrated cuts during tedious work. The product is specially engineered to perfection, and gets you streamlined cuts smoother than your local butchers’.

Its chain-tensioning system should help you get out of sticky situations, as it allows adjustment without the use of tools. This simply makes cutting operations seamless and hassle-free.

As the name suggests, the Oregon CS1500 is indeed a self-sharpening corded electric chainsaw. The chainsaw itself is already pre-assembled; you can skip the ceremony of assembling it like LEGO bricks.

The Oregon brand is no stranger to hardware fanatics; it abides by industry standards thus one can make sure that the products are not of subpar builds. The Oregon CS1500 is a testimony of raw power – the 15.0 Amp motor ensures that those tree limbs are cut to perfection with ease. The 18-in guide bar comes with a built-in Lubri-Tec Automatic Oiling System; this feature ensures the bar and chain configuration stays intact and lasts for several years. The automatic oiling system keeps rust from forming by applying an appropriate amount of oil to the saw chain. The process is automatic in nature; it keeps the lubricant flowing as long as it detects dry areas around the chain.

This chainsaw for sale works as hard as the wielder, and for that reason, stands to take care of itself. The PowerSharp feature is exclusive on this device, making it one of the best-selling chainsaws in the market. It slashes downtime for the user by allowing it to sharpen the chain well within 5 seconds. Neat, right?

Another reason to add this to your cart is its Tool-less tensioning system. No need to scour the land for tools; simply turn the red knob to make tension adjustments on the chain. Think of it as selecting the proper gear for a bike – it’ll come off smoothly.

The corded electric chainsaw is worth the buck; just ask any homeowner and surely Oregon will be one of their recommendations.

Worx WG304.2 18-in Electric Chainsaw made the list due to a number of features in its arsenal. The product takes pride in its 15.0 Amp motor – the sheer value lends the user unrivaled power, allowing the chainsaw to smoothly cut through the thickest of trees. Its impressive 18-in bar length is long enough to cover clearing operations in a day, should the user be adept in the field. Also, the fully-wrapped rubberized handlebar provides the user both lasting comfort and full control over the chainsaw - perfect for attaining clean vertical or horizontal cuts.

To keep it ahead of the competition, Worx integrated two proprietary self-modulation systems on the WG304 model.

The first one is Auto-Tension; this system is designed to prevent over-tightening of the rugged chain, letting you increase the saw’s longevity. The second system, Auto-Lubrication, is for oil sustenance to keep the chain well-oiled and run efficiently.

The electric chainsaw for sale is equipped with a metal spike bumper - specifically designed to prevent kickbacks. Additionally, the saw has a sensitive chain brake for an instant stoppage. Trust us, you don’t want to have succulent limbs flying all over the yard.

Another reason to patronize the product is its price. The brand developed the WG304.2 chainsaw with customers in mind; the price starts off cheap ($59.25 for the 14.0 Amp variant) despite being one of the quality builds in the market. Keeping the product budget-friendly is ultimately one of the key reasons why customers love this model.

Any chainsaw superfan would know of this brand – Craftsman is technically one of the best-selling companies in the world. Be it electric or gas-powered, Craftsman saws are indeed sophisticated enough to be worthy of a sale. It’s already 2022, but its Craftsman S165 42cc Full Crank 2-Cycle Gas chainsaw (released back in 2020) is still dancing in the spotlight. This is one of the top rated gas chainsaws for sale in 2022.

Craftsman brand is best known for its high-powered saws; it is only right for the S165 to grace this feature. The 2-cycle engine affords the chainsaw utmost power yet has lesser vibration. The built-in 16-inch bar coupled with its low-kickback chain slices through the thickest of logs in quick succession.

Although gas-operated chainsaws are typically heavy, the Craftsman S165 bends the norm as it is lighter than most of its counterparts – the chainsaw only weighs around 15.2lbs. The polymer chassis build provides a reliable performance despite prolonged usage, making it one of the best chainsaws to wield for cutting chores. The chainsaw is also ergonomically designed, leading to greater maneuverability and optimum comfort. To add, the handlebar (with which the main hand should be on) is fully wrapped in an aluminum cushion, making it easier for the wielder to have a steady hand during operation.

As for tradition, the chainsaw uses EasyStart technology for swifter pull starts, greatly cutting wasted time intended for outdoor operations.

Also, Craftsman S165 utilizes an adjustable Auto-Chain Oiler for continuous cutting activities. While the feature is already embedded in previous designs, the S165 has it with an easy view allowing the user to manually adjust proper oil flow on the chain. It’s very helpful for maintaining the device’s effectiveness in the long run.

The Sun Joe SWJ599E Tree Limb Master Electric Chainsaw is easily one of the best saws of 2022. A handheld versatile product per se, the 14-inch master electric chainsaw is ideal both for trimming and pruning tree limbs and branches and ultimately does not need gas to operate. Novices can never go wrong with this product as it is easy to start with a click of a button. Easy to maintain too, as the chainsaw is electrically powered, thus no fine-tuning is needed.

The lightweight chainsaw (weighing just over 7.7lbs) can easily clean up the yard due to its great maneuverability. Also, its 9-Amp motor makes quick work of cutting down thick branches and untrimmed bushes.

The Sun Joe SWJ599E chainsaw has a built-in safety switch to prevent accidental starting - perfect for both green customers and veterans who decide to start the legwork drunk.

The best feature of the handheld electric chainsaw is the Auto-Oiler – a system with a window designed to gauge current oil level. Whenever the chainsaw runs low on oil, the Auto-Oiler detects it and applies a decent amount of oil to quickly retain its effectiveness and continue flawless cutting.

As the only product in the list with a mind-blowing, explosive YouTube short, the Poulan Pro PR4218 2-Cycle Gas Chainsaw rests its case as one of the best chainsaws for sale in 2022.

The gas-operated chainsaw just wouldn’t let itself lag behind competitors; an exclusive Amazon offer sees the base product coming along with a carrying case, an extra chain, a built-in scrench, and a 2-stroke oil – a ridiculous one considering the entire slate is selling for only $219.02. To top it all off, the chainsaw offers a 2-year item warranty. Pretty sweet for consumers who hunger more for less.

The 42cc chainsaw is perfect for consumers who live in areas where storms correlatedly frequent (Florida and Texas). Its 18’’ bar and chain are ideal for clearing up storm debris, cutting up firewood, and felling trees within the local vicinity. You may want to further clean up the yard as doing the chores now requires 40% lesser effort thanks to the saw’s Effortless Pull Starting feature.

The stylish chainsaw uses the OxyPower engine technology – the overall operation of the saw lowers exhaust emissions by a staggering 60%. Lowering the emission drastically not only reduces fuel consumption but also gives it more power. Who wouldn’t say no to that?

Of course, we can't finish the list without a Husqvarna product joining the fray. The century-old Swedish brand also has chainsaws in its arsenal, with the 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw becoming a popular kid in the block for 2022.

The Husqvarna 18-Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw is an all-around saw for any sophisticated role; jobs that may require longer bars (up to 18 inches) to reach maximum capacity should find the saw a perfect fit. The two-cycle, 18-Inch gas chainsaw is equipped with a guide bar and chain, as all saws should have.

The 3.6 HP saw boasts quite a number of features to impress potential consumers:
a) X-Torq engine to keep fuel consumption at bay,
b) Smart Start technology for an easier start-up
c) A trademark LowVib system to minimize vibration levels for a more relaxed operation,
d) Air Injection system to keep the air filter from contamination of larger dust and debris, and
e) Flip-Up caps for easy re-oiling and refueling of the saw.

The gas-operated chainsaw employs a “scrench” feature – this screwdriver-and-wrench combo helps the user to make fine-tuning adjustments on both the chain and bar. Pretty cool, right? Equipping the chainsaw requires a good amount of exertion though; the saw alone already weighs 12.8 lbs.

Users might be surprised by its only drawback; the ala carte saw is priced at $1095 (18in - .050in. Gauge). The bar and chain oil are sold separately – even Leatherface might find this a complete bummer, I must say.

The Husqvarna 460 Ranches Gas chainsaw has yet to have more palettes at the moment, as all available units are orange in color.