Best Pole Saws — Buyer’s Guide, Review, and Comparison

How To Choose the Best Pole Saws

No two users, nor their projects, are the same. It’s therefore crucial that you have a pole saw that meets your demands and those of your jobs.

Here are a few factors to consider when looking for your perfect machine:

The Polesaw Format

As discussed above, you need to decide between the gas, electric, or battery-powered models. If you’re looking for raw power, go with gas-powered. In case you need convenience, choose battery-powered. Electric pole saws are somewhere in the middle between these two types, and they usually offer the best ratio between features, price, and ease of use.

Pole Length

Pay special attention to the length of the pole, ensure it’s long enough for you to reach the places you’re planning to cut. Also, pay attention to the mechanism that’s used for the pole adjusting — avoid cheap clips and aim for retractable shafts.

Additionally, bear in mind that the longer your shaft, the harder your mighty head is to control. The further the chainsaw is from the pivot (i.e. you), the greater the effort — leading to the increased risk of arm and grip fatigue. That’s simple physics.

Bar Length

The length of the bar determines the diameter of the pole saw cut — in real terms, the maximum thickness of a branch the tool can cut with one pass. So, always ensure your chosen machine has the capacity to tackle your tree size.

Most commonly, bars range from around six to ten inches. The reason they don’t come with larger bars is practicality — there’s simply no way a normal human has the strength to wield a hefty 18-inch chainsaw on the end of a long stick.

Budget

The prices vary between types — typically, gas is the most expensive, followed by cordless, and then corded. Furthermore, models made by well-respected brands cost significantly more than the less well-known manufacturers. 

However, there’s a trade-off between price and format. There’s little point saving money by purchasing a corded pole saw — only to discover it lacks the grunt to address your hardcore projects. Buy the tool for the job.

Auto-Oiling

The best pole saws boast auto-oiling — a system that ensures the bar and chain are constantly lubricated. This prevents snagging, corrosion, and overheating — and reduces the likelihood of kickback.

Admittedly, some extreme budget-focused units require manual oiling, but it’s a false economy — saving you money, but costing you a ridiculous amount of downtime. You will literally have to stop cutting every minute or so to re-lubricate your equipment. As Kimberly ‘Sweet Brown’ Wilkins so rightly said, ain’t nobody got time for that.

Your Strength

Something that most people choose to ignore. You need the physical brawn to hold your tool, often having to maneuver it above your head. The heftier your pole saw, the quicker fatigue will set in.

In most circumstances, gasoline pole saws are the heaviest — as you’re wielding a fuel tank and a two-stroke engine. Then come the battery-driven machines, with their heavy lithium-ion cells. And unsurprisingly, electric corded units are the lightest.

Lightweight, boasting straightforward operation, and delivering impressive brawn — the WORX WG309 could be the best corded pole saw currently on the market.

It features a grunty eight-amp motor — delivering more than enough power to cut through branches, bushes, and timber in your backyard. What’s more, the unit boasts an automatic oil pump, meaning there is no reason to worry about maintenance. 

This pole saw incorporates an auto-tensioning system — designed to prolong the life of the machine’s chain. Its lengthy eight-foot pole can be detached without the use of additional tools, while the bar is a generous 10 inches with a low-kickback tip. 

Weighing in at just 10 pounds, it’s unlikely to cause any fatigue or exhaustion during intense use. The oil tank capacity is 120ml, which is more or less a standard nowadays.

What separates this model from most of the others is the lack of noise. Now, it isn’t a silent machine by any means, but it’s significantly quieter than its competitors.

Featuring Remington’s trademarked QuickStart technology — offering immediate, trouble-free activation in all temperatures — the RM2599 could be the easiest-to-operate gasoline pole saw available.

Gas-powered machines are the way to go if you’re looking for immense power and high efficiency. This model features a 25cc motor which has plenty of brawn to tackle demanding projects. 

The eight-inch bar features a low-kickback tip and allows you to cut through branches with ease. The pole is seven feet long, meaning you can reach up to 12 feet. Furthermore, its automatic oiler is designed to apply oil constantly and keep the chain properly lubricated at all times.

One of the best things about this unit is the fact that the motor can be used with other attachments, turning into a blower, edger, trimmer, and more — although additional purchases are necessary. 

With a generous length, lightweight construction, and impressively powered lithium-ion cells — in my opinion, the 20672 from GreenWorks is the ultimate cordless pole saw.

It boasts a three-piece aluminum pole that can be extended up to eight feet. If you include your own height, you should be able to reach branches approximately 13 to 14 feet high. 

The things that make this particular model worth checking out are the decreased noise and lack of weight. While not a silent machine, the level of noise is surprisingly low considering it’s a battery-powered unit. Also, it weighs only about eight pounds — making it unlikely to induce fatigue.

A tool-less chain tensioning mechanism means you don’t need to worry about using additional or proprietary tools for performance adjustment. What’s more, this machine incorporates an automatic oiling system. And knocking out impressive grunt from its 40-volt battery — it can attack dense timbers and hardwoods.

Offering ease of operation combined with an affordable price point — in my eyes, the 10-foot reach LPP120 from DIY maestros Black+Decker is perhaps the ultimate machine for pole saw novices.

This 20-volt pruning saw can cut up to 100 one-inch branches on a single charge with its eight-inch chain bar. Admittedly, it might struggle with wide-diameter wood, but for general pruning, lopping, and trimming applications — it’s ideal.

The Li-ion battery has a reassuringly reliable lifespan — able to retain its charge up to five times longer than similar batteries. The weight of this unit is 6.3 pounds — one of the lightest I have covered in my reviews — significantly reducing fatigue. This is thanks to its fiberglass pole construction.

This machine arrives with everything the beginner needs. Not only does the pole saw package include a battery and charger — but it also comes with a blade guard to permit safe storage. And, as the unit can break down into three pieces when not in use, it’s convenient for users lacking garage or workshop space.

Offering a user-adjustable head — unusual in the pole saw market — the SWJ803E from Sun Joe is ideal for gardeners and landscapers tackling difficult and stubborn high-level branches.

Movable through thirty degrees, it permits you to adjust the head to meet the wood — without you having to maneuver yourself into awkward positions to address the timber. Furthermore, with a generous 8.8-foot extending pole, it offers a reach of up to 15 feet.

Driven by 8.0 amps of pure corded brawn and featuring a mighty 10-inch bar, this pole saw can tackle thick and wide branches and tree arms. And, boasting a reliable auto-oiling system, it ensures you can crack on with your project without lubrication downtime.

At 7.9 pounds, it’s surprisingly lightweight for a complex and large-headed machine, ideal for keeping fatigue to a minimum. What’s more, arriving complete with hex key, manual, and protective chain sheath — it allows you to commence your trimming jobs immediately after unboxing.

Delivering impressive grunt, effortless start-up, and a generous fuel tank — in my opinion, the TB25PS from Troy-Built is the best-performing gas-powered pole saw.

Capable of slicing through branches up to four inches in diameter with its eight-inch low-kickback head, this pole saw excels for both serious gardeners and trade landscapers. And, with its seven-foot extending pole, offers sufficient reach for most arboreal projects.

At the heart of the TB25PS is a two-cycle 25cc gas motor — fed by a substantial ten-ounce fuel tank. What’s more, boasting a trademarked Prime, Flip and Go system, it permits effortless start-up — even for newbies to the gas chainsaw world.

Admittedly, weighing in at 14 pounds, it’s heavy — although not surprising considering the powerful motor. That said, its efficient auto-oiling tech prevents unnecessary downtime. And, as a bonus, the saw can be transformed into a cutter, edger, and lawn trimmer — if you purchase additional attachments.

Arriving with a massive 12-foot bar (including its three-foot extension), the PR28PS from Poulan Pro offers unmatched high-level cutting — ideal if your outdoor projects involve addressing more mature trees.

Gasoline-powered, it incorporates a beefy 28cc motor that drives its eight-inch bar head. And knocking out 7000 Nm (Newton-meters) of torque, it slices effortlessly through dense wood.

Focusing on ease of operation and control — challenging with its 14.2-pound weight and lengthy shaft — this machine incorporates a large, substantially-padded handle, and a shoulder strap. Both features reduce fatigue and permit improved maneuverability.

A genuine pro-grade pole saw, the PR28PS arrives with a two-year warranty. And, with its Pro-Link system, it allows you to utilize the included attachment to transform the machine into a trimmer — while separately purchased accessories can turn the pole saw into an edger, hedge-cutter, and brush cutter.