Chainsaws & Tree Tools
Best Chainsaws and Tree Tools for Cutting and Pruning
7 picks compared
10 min read
ProductPickly is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our picks.
The short answerFor most homeowners the EGO POWER+ 16-Inch 56V Cordless Chainsaw is the best all-round pick, because a 16 inch bar and a brushless motor handle the majority of yard cutting with no fuel, choke or cord, and it ships as a complete kit with battery and charger. For light pruning and deadwood the Seesii 6 inch mini saw is easier to control one handed, while high limbs are better reached with a pole saw such as the 16 foot convertible tool or the CRAFTSMAN V20. When the job is felling trees or cutting firewood, the gas Husqvarna 450 Rancher has the sustained power a battery cannot match, and a set of UNCO felling wedges makes those bigger cuts safer.
?How we pickedWe compare published specifications, safety certifications and thousands of verified owner reviews, and we do not physically test every unit. Read the full process in our review methodology.
EGO POWER+ 16-Inch 56V Cordless Chainsaw (CS1611)
★★★★★ 4.7 / 5 Best overall
This cordless saw pairs a 16 inch bar with a 56V brushless motor, which is enough cutting power for most yard jobs without the fuel, choke and pull cord of a gas engine. It ships with a battery and charger, so it is a complete kit rather than a bare tool, and the quiet start suits homeowners who cut in a neighborhood.
Bar length 16 inPower 56V batteryBattery 2.5Ah plus chargerMotor Brushless cordless
- Full 16 inch bar handles most limbs and small trunks
- Battery and charger are included in the box
- Quiet instant start with no gas or mixing
- One battery limits long felling sessions
- Heavier than a small pruning saw
Best for: Homeowners who want gas-free power for general yard cutting
Seesii 6-Inch Cordless Mini Chainsaw with 2 Batteries
★★★★★ 4.3 / 5 Best mini saw value
This one handed mini saw runs a 6 inch bar and comes with two batteries, so it is aimed at quick pruning, deadwood and small branch cleanup rather than felling. It is light enough to hold at odd angles, which is where a full size saw becomes awkward and tiring.
Bar length 6 inPower BatteryBatteries 2 includedType Handheld mini
- Light and easy to control with one hand
- Two batteries keep light work going
- Simple choice for branches and deadwood
- Short bar cannot handle thick trunks
- Small chain needs frequent tension checks
Best for: Quick pruning and small branch cleanup around the yard
8 and 6 Inch Cordless Pole Saw with 16 Ft Reach
★★★★★ 4.4 / 5 Best for overhead reach
This tool doubles as a pole saw and a detachable mini chainsaw, with an extension pole that stretches to about a 16 foot reach for high limbs. Auto oiling and tool free chain tensioning cut down on the fiddly maintenance that usually comes with reaching saws, and two 4.0Ah batteries stretch the run time.
Reach About 16 ftHeads 8 in and 6 inBattery 2 x 4.0AhOiling Automatic
- Long reach clears high limbs from the ground
- Detaches into a handheld mini saw
- Auto oiling and tool free tensioning save time
- Extended pole gets heavy and tiring overhead
- Not built for felling or thick trunks
Best for: Trimming high branches without a ladder
Husqvarna 450 Rancher 20-Inch Gas Chainsaw
★★★★★ 4.6 / 5 Best for felling
When the job is felling trees, bucking firewood and heavy cleanup, a 50.2cc gas engine on a 20 inch bar has the sustained power a battery pack cannot match for long. The X-Torq engine is built to run cooler on fuel and emissions, and refueling beats swapping batteries during an all day cutting session.
Bar length 20 inEngine 50.2 cc gasPower 3.2 HPType 2-cycle X-Torq
- Strong sustained power for felling and firewood
- Long 20 inch bar reaches bigger trunks
- Quick refuel instead of battery swaps
- Needs fuel mixing and more upkeep
- Louder and heavier than cordless saws
Best for: Felling trees and cutting firewood on acreage
BLACK+DECKER 18-Inch 15-Amp Corded Electric Chainsaw (CS1518)
★★★★★ 4.4 / 5 Best plug-in value
A corded saw trades cord range for steady, never fading power, and this 15 amp motor drives an 18 inch bar for cutting close to the house or shop. The automatic oiler keeps the chain lubricated on its own, which is one less thing to remember on a long cutting afternoon.
Bar length 18 inPower 15 amp cordedOiling AutomaticType Corded electric
- Constant power with no battery to recharge
- Long 18 inch bar for a plug-in saw
- Automatic oiler simplifies upkeep
- Cord limits how far you can roam
- Needs an outlet or heavy extension lead
Best for: Cutting near an outlet without buying batteries
CRAFTSMAN V20 14-Foot Cordless Pole Saw (CMCCSP20M1)
★★★★★ 4.5 / 5 Best dedicated pole saw
This is a purpose built pole saw rather than a convertible tool, offering up to a 14 foot reach and a rated 325 cuts per charge on its 4.0Ah battery. It comes with the battery and charger, and it fits the wider CRAFTSMAN V20 lineup if you already own their tools.
Reach 14 ftPower 20V batteryBattery 4.0Ah plus chargerCuts Up to 325 per charge
- Solid reach for trimming from the ground
- Battery and charger are included
- Shares batteries across the V20 range
- Reach only, not a handheld saw
- Overhead work still tires the arms
Best for: Regular overhead pruning within an existing 20V system
UNCO Tree Felling Wedges 4 Pack (5.5 and 8 Inch)
★★★★★ 4.5 / 5 Best safety accessory
Felling wedges are the low cost accessory that keeps a bar from pinching and helps steer a tree as it falls, and this pack mixes 5.5 and 8 inch sizes for different trunk widths. The spiked faces bite into the cut so a wedge stays put once tapped in, which is a real safety help on medium fells.
Pack 4 wedgesSizes 5.5 in and 8 inGrip Spiked facesUse Felling and bucking
- Stops the bar pinching mid cut
- Helps guide the fall direction
- Cheap insurance against a stuck saw
- An accessory, not a cutting tool
- Needs correct technique to work safely
Best for: Anyone felling medium trees who wants safer, cleaner cuts
The right saw comes down to two questions, how big is the wood and how far away is it. A mini saw or pole saw handles pruning and high limbs, a 14 to 16 inch cordless or corded saw covers most homeowner cutting, and a 20 inch gas saw is what you reach for to fell trees and cut firewood. Our picks below span all of those jobs, plus a set of felling wedges that make bigger cuts safer, so you can match the tool to the tree instead of overbuying.
Full size, mini and pole saws each do a different job
These are not competing versions of the same tool, they are built for different tasks. A full size chainsaw like the EGO CS1611 or the Husqvarna 450 Rancher is what cuts trunks, limbs and firewood, with a bar long enough to pass through real wood in one stroke. A mini saw such as the Seesii 6 inch trades that reach for a light, one handed body that shines at pruning and deadwood where a big saw is clumsy. A pole saw, whether the convertible 16 foot tool or the CRAFTSMAN V20, exists to get a small cutting head up to high branches so you keep both feet on the ground. Pick the category first, then the model.
Bar length and battery versus gas
Bar length sets the ceiling on what you can cut, so choose a bar a couple of inches longer than the thickest wood you expect. Power source sets how you work. Battery saves like the EGO are quiet and start instantly, but a pack drains and needs a spare for long sessions. A corded saw like the BLACK+DECKER holds full power indefinitely as long as you stay near an outlet. Gas, as on the Husqvarna, gives the most sustained cutting force and a ten second refuel, which is why it stays the choice for felling and heavy firewood, at the price of fuel mixing, weight and noise.
Matching the saw to the branch and tree size
Think in three tiers. For branches up to about wrist thick, a mini saw or a pole saw does the job safely and without fatigue. For limbs and small trunks up to roughly a foot across, a 14 to 16 inch cordless or corded saw is the sweet spot for most yards. For felling standing trees or bucking large logs, step up to an 18 to 20 inch gas saw and use felling wedges like the UNCO pack to keep the bar from pinching and to steer the fall. Buying more saw than your trees need just adds weight and cost you will feel every time you lift it.
Safety gear and chain care come first
No saw on this page is safe without preparation. Wear eye and ear protection, gloves and boots for any cut, and add chaps and a face shield when felling. Keep both hands on the saw, stand to the side of the bar rather than behind it, and stay alert to kickback, the sudden upward jerk when the bar tip catches wood. On the maintenance side, a sharp, properly tensioned chain cuts cleaner and safer than a dull one, so file the chain when it starts throwing dust instead of chips, keep the bar oil topped up, and clear sawdust from the bar and intake after each session. Good habits keep both the tool and the person running it in one piece.
Questions people ask
What size chainsaw bar do I actually need?
Match the bar to the wood you cut. A 6 to 10 inch bar suits pruning and small branches, a 14 to 16 inch bar like the EGO CS1611 covers most homeowner limbs and small trunks, and an 18 to 20 inch bar such as the Husqvarna 450 Rancher is for felling and firewood. As a rule the bar should be a couple of inches longer than the widest wood you plan to cut in one pass.
Cordless, corded or gas, which type should I choose?
Cordless saws like the EGO are quiet, low upkeep and fine for general yard work, but a battery runs out. A corded saw such as the BLACK+DECKER CS1518 gives steady power with no recharging as long as you stay near an outlet. Gas saves the day for all day felling and bigger trunks because you refuel in seconds, at the cost of mixing fuel, more noise and more maintenance.
What is a pole saw and when is it worth it?
A pole saw puts a small cutting head on an extension pole so you can trim high branches from the ground instead of climbing a ladder. The convertible 16 foot tool and the CRAFTSMAN V20 both reach well overhead. It is worth it when you have regular high limbs to clear, but it is not built for felling or cutting thick trunks.
Are mini chainsaws powerful enough for real work?
Mini saws like the Seesii 6 inch are built for pruning, deadwood and small branch cleanup, not for felling. Their short bar and light body make one handed work easy and less tiring at awkward angles. If you are cutting anything thicker than a wrist, step up to a full size 14 to 16 inch saw.
Why does the chain need oil, and how often?
Bar and chain oil keeps the moving chain from overheating and wearing out the bar. Saws with an automatic oiler, like the BLACK+DECKER and the pole saw here, feed oil as you cut, so you mainly just keep the reservoir topped up. Check the oil level every time you refuel or swap a battery, and never run a dry chain.
What are felling wedges for?
Felling wedges, such as the UNCO 4 pack, drop into the back of a felling cut to stop the bar from pinching as the tree leans, and they help steer the fall in the direction you want. They are a cheap, low tech safety item that experienced cutters keep in a pocket. They only work with proper felling technique, so learn the notch and hinge first.
What safety gear do I need to run a chainsaw?
At a minimum wear eye and ear protection, gloves, sturdy boots and close fitting clothes, and add chaps and a helmet with a face shield for felling. Keep both hands on the saw, stand to the side of the bar, and be aware of kickback, the sudden upward kick when the bar tip touches wood. Never cut alone at height or above shoulder level with a handheld saw.
How do I keep a chainsaw cutting well over time?
A sharp chain and correct tension do most of the work. If the saw throws fine dust instead of chips, the chain is dull and needs a file or a sharpener. Check that the chain is snug but still pulls freely by hand, keep the bar oil topped up, and clean sawdust from the bar groove and air intake after each use.
The bottom lineSo which one?
The EGO POWER+ CS1611 is the easiest saw to recommend first, since its 16 inch cordless setup covers most homeowner cutting quietly and with little upkeep. From there, choose by the job. Reach for the Seesii mini saw or a pole saw for pruning and high limbs, step up to the gas Husqvarna 450 Rancher for felling and firewood, pick the corded BLACK+DECKER if you would rather stay plugged in than manage batteries, and keep a set of UNCO felling wedges on hand so bigger trees come down safely. Whatever you choose, gear up and respect kickback before the chain ever spins.
