How To Choose the Best Battery-Powered Chainsaw – Buyer’s Guide

To purchase the best-suiting chainsaw for your needs, you have to pay attention to several factors. Once you know what to look for, it will be much easier to find the right product. 

When picking your ideal chainsaw, consider the following:

Power

The first thing you should check out is the overall power output — to ensure it has the brawn to cope with your project demands.

Cordless units usually feature 20 or 40-volt batteries — although, voltage isn’t always the sole indicator of power. While generally speaking, higher-volt machines deliver more grunt, it also depends on the internal gearing, and quality and efficiency of the motor.

Check the manufacturer’s declaration regarding the maximum cutting capabilities — I wouldn’t recommend getting anything that offers less than 60 cuts on one charge.

Also, make sure the charger and cell are included. While it may seem like common sense, many manufacturers don’t include these items and sell them separately. And, if possible, buy a spare battery — while one is charging, you can use the other.

Motor

The best battery chainsaw will feature a brushless, not brushed, motor.

Brushless motors use a system of electro and permanent magnets to rotate — whereas brushed motors utilize steel brushes that touch the rotating commutator.

As such, brushless powerhouses are more efficient — as energy isn’t wasted through the friction and heat loss created by contact. For cordless machines this is crucial, as your chainsaw only has a limited supply of energy from the cell — any wasted amps mean less running time.For a more in-depth explanation, check out my Brushed vs. Brushless Motor Face Off.

Vibrations

The amount of vibration is directly related to the amount of fatigue you’ll feel after use. Wearing protective gloves can reduce the overall intensity, but it’s not a permanent solution.

Search for chainsaws with brushless motors, as they tend to deliver fewer oscillations. Furthermore, a cushioned or rubber-coated hand grip can absorb vibrations — providing a more pleasant user experience.

Bar Length

The length of the bar — the flat metal protrusion that the chain spins around — determines what diameter of timber the cordless chainsaw can cut in a single pass.

So, if your jobs entail slicing through wide wood — go for a machine with a long bar. Conversely, if you’re using your chainsaw for chopping and lopping modestly-sized branches and twigs — you only need a small bar unit.For more detailed info on the size of chainsaws and how to pick the perfect tool, take a look at my What Size Chainsaw Should I Buy? discussion.

Safety Equipment

While cordless chainsaws incorporate numerous safety features — such as low vibration, anti-kickback, and handgrip protectors — this isn’t sufficient to completely defend your well-being.

I strongly advise you to buy all the necessary protective equipment as well as your saw — assuming you don’t already have some in your garage. At the very least, get your hands on protective gloves, eye protection, and earplugs — and, of course, wear them at all times while using a chainsaw!

Straightforward to operate, at an affordable price point, and designed with user safety in mind — the LCS1240 from Black+Decker is the ideal cordless chainsaw for the novice user.

This 40V machine offers everything you’ll ever need for occasional cutting, pruning, and trimming. While not the most powerful unit on the market, it definitely packs quite a bit of grunt under the hood — capable of more than sixty 4×4 pine lumber cuts with one battery charge. And, the recharge cycle usually takes between 40 minutes to an hour. 

The hand grips are well-designed and coated with a layer of rubber for improved comfort and reduced vibration. The tool-free chain tensioning is a neat inclusion — allowing you to adjust the machine on the go without having to use any additional tools. 

This unit also features an auto oiling system, meaning you don’t have to worry about lubrication — all you have to do is check the oil levels at frequent intervals through the in-built gauge window.

Boasting a highly efficient brushless motor, the Oregon CS300-A6 provides impressive running times from a single charge — perfect if you’re tackling time lengthy projects.

High power and fast cutting are the two biggest advantages of this particular model. Its 40V battery and brushless motor offer up to 40 percent more power than its predecessor. The chain bar is 16 inches long — meaning you can count on good torque and power transfer. 

This cordless chainsaw is approximately four times quieter than any gas-powered chainsaw on the market — useful if you have neighbors who like to complain. No warm-up is required, it starts instantly, and doesn’t emit any fumes. And, thanks to the patented PowerSharp system — you can sharpen the chain in a few seconds. 

The unit weighs about 12 pounds, which is relatively lightweight — staving off fatigue and exhaustion. Furthermore, it arrives complete with a power cell and charger — and boasts auto-oiling and tool-free chain tensioning.

With its generously padded overmold grip and lightweight construction (for a 40V machine), I consider the 20262 from Greenworks to deliver the pinnacle of comfort — perfect if you’re planning on long, time-heavy jobs.

When it comes to ease of use and excellent control, the Greenworks 20262 model excels. It features a 40V G-max battery that offers around 75 cuts on a single charge (4×4 wood). This model will cut through thinner branches without breaking a sweat, but don’t expect it to perform miraculously with thick trees — get a gas machine instead.

The design is creditable, but the battery slot is somewhat cumbersome. It doesn’t affect the ergonomics or performance — but it’s a noticeable difference compared to other machines.

Its battery is impressive, with a recharge cycle that takes only an hour or two, and it’s ready for another 70 to 75 cuts. The best option for reducing the downtime is to get a spare battery and use it while the other is recharging.

The machine is easy to use, and requires little maintenance. Easy-start technology comes in handy — allowing you to crack on with your jobs immediately.

This chainsaw is the definition of an all-around heavy-duty tool — a cordless machine you should consider if you’re tackling dense, thick timbers and trees.

It boasts a substantial 16-inch bar to tackle wide-diameter woods, and incorporates robust metal bucking spikes to grip onto the most stubborn of timbers. Furthermore, its mighty DigiPro brushless motor offers up to a hundred cuts on a single battery charge. 

This cordless chainsaw features a comfortable hand grip coated with a soft layer of rubber. The cushioning aspect is well-designed, and you can rest assured that there won’t be any intense vibrations transferred to your hands — a model with the lowest amount of vibrations in this category. 

For user safety, the chain brake and low kickback safeguard your well-being. The biggest advantage battery-wise is the fact that it’s compatible with more than 25 other models issued by GreenWorks. What’s more, this model is comparatively lightweight — reducing fatigue and exhaustion.

Delivering pure grunt, durable construction, and remarkable reliability — the DCCS620P1 is a battery-driven chainsaw that might appeal to the trade pro.

It features a high-efficiency brushless motor that offers up to 30 percent more power than other types. The unit also requires little maintenance as it doesn’t utilize gas, spark plugs, or carburetors.

The tool-less chain tensioning mechanism means you don’t need any tools to adjust this machine. The 20V battery guarantees 5.0 mAh — delivering around 90 cuts from a single charge.

Admittedly, its 12-inch bar isn’t going to tackle large trees — but for pruning, slicing, lopping, and firewood chopping, it’s more than sufficient. And, weighing little more than nine pounds, it isn’t going to induce hand or arm fatigue on longer jobs.

For safety, this battery chainsaw has a low-kickback design and boasts a chain brake — stopping the chain immediately should kickback occur.

Featuring a modestly-sized 10-inch bar, the Black+Decker LCS1020 offers compactness, portability, and tight-location access.

Lightweight — weighing under seven pounds — it’s ideal for longer projects or users challenged in the strength department. Furthermore, with a low-kickback design, it promotes reassuring safety for the novice operative.

It arrives complete with a 20V lithium-ion cell and charger — meaning no additional purchases are necessary. The tool-free chain tensioning system permits rapid adjustment without hunting for hex keys or spanners — while its auto-oiling tech ensures the bar and chain remain adequately lubricated.

Reassuringly, this cordless chainsaw includes a full blade guard. This not only protects the cutting edge from damage when not in use, but also prevents inquisitive fingers from injuring themselves — useful if you have younger children.

The wraparound handle is sufficiently cushioned to provide vibration reduction, and an incorporated hand protector defends against stray timber shards and splinters. Perhaps the only downside is that it features an inefficient brushed motor — but that’s to be expected on what is essentially a non-pro machine.