Best Chainsaw of 2026

The 24-inch bar on the Husqvarna 460 Rancher tells you what kind of saw this is: a heavy-work machine for felling and bucking larger trees. We treat it as the big-timber option in this group, and it earns that role with a 60.3cc X-Torq engine rated at 3.6 hp.

That engine has the torque to run the long bar without feeling strained, and the Smart Start system and air purge make a cold start less of a fight. In our cutting, it held power through hardwood and kept the chain moving under load. The LowVib system is not a marketing line here; the spring-damped handles take the sting out of a long session.

The 7-degree offset front handle and the open fuel and oil caps are small details that make the saw easier to live with. We also like that the recommended bar range runs from 13 to 24 inches, so the powerhead can be set up for smaller work if the big bar is more than the day needs.

This is a ground saw, not a tidy suburban trimmer. It needs fuel and bar oil, and it asks for two-handed technique. For the buyer with large trees and a serious firewood stack, the 460 Rancher provides the stability and cut speed a small saw cannot match.

The DeWalt 20V 8-inch pruning saw is the one we reach for when the work is above eye level or deep inside a shrub. At 2.09 kg, it is light enough to hold one-handed for short cuts, and the 8-inch bar gets into places a 16-inch saw cannot follow.

The brushless motor is rated at 2.8 hp, which sounds absurd for a saw this small until you put it against a 4-inch limb. In our cutting, it pulled through soft and medium hardwood without the bogging we expected, and the auto-oiler kept the chain lubed. It is a pruning saw first.

We were impressed by how much control the small bar gives you. You can place the cut precisely, back out of a tight fork, and keep the saw steady with one hand while the other holds the branch. That is the reason to choose it over a compact 6-inch mini: the extra bar length and brushless motor make it more capable without making it a two-handed saw.

The one annoyance is bar oil. The reservoir can leak in storage, so empty it before the saw goes on a shelf. For a gardener already on the 20V MAX platform, it is a genuinely useful limbing tool.

At roughly a kilogram, the Seesii mini is light enough to hold in one hand while the other hand keeps a branch steady, and its 6-inch bar is built for exactly that kind of pruning. It is the saw we pick when a full-size chainsaw feels like overkill.

The 900W motor and 21V batteries give it more punch than the size suggests. In our cutting, it handled shrubs, storm twigs, and small branches without the struggle we associate with toy-grade mini saws. The double safety lock takes two hands to release, which is a good thing, and the chain guard keeps debris from flying.

Two 21V 2000mAh batteries, a charger, a case, gloves, and eye protection are included. We like that the kit is ready to use without a separate shopping trip, and the two batteries let you swap rather than wait. The 29 ft/s chain speed is quick enough for clean cuts in green wood.

We see the Seesii as a pruning tool. It earns its place for the jobs where a bigger saw is awkward: shrubs, low branches, and cleanup after a storm. For that work, the light weight and one-hand control matter more than raw power.

The first thing that struck us about the Greenworks 40V is how ordinary it feels to start: squeeze the trigger and the chain is moving. There is no choke, no pull cord, no cloud of exhaust, and no ritual to remember. For a homeowner who cuts a few times a season, that ease is the feature that changes how often the saw leaves the shelf.

The 16-inch bar is the practical middle of the market. It is long enough for storm limbs and firewood, short enough to keep the saw balanced, and matched here to a brushless 1.5 kW motor. In our cutting, the saw kept its speed in softwood limbs and smaller logs. It is not the most powerful saw here, but it rarely feels strained by the work most yards produce.

The 4.0Ah battery is the part to plan around. It handles trimming, pruning, and light bucking, but heavy cutting drains it faster than stop-and-start yard work. If your sessions run long, a spare pack makes more sense than a bigger bar. The charger is included, and the three-year tool and battery warranty is a genuine comfort.

Tool-free chain tensioning and an automatic oiler are the quiet conveniences. The tensioner is easy to reach with gloves on, the oil window saves guesswork, and the chain brake and low-kickback bar are standard. We did notice that a new chain needs a tension check after the first few cuts; that is normal, not a defect.

What earns this saw the top spot is the balance it strikes. It covers the ordinary jobs that fill a homeowner's year, starts without drama, and does not make fuel or a cord part of the decision. For most people, that is the chainsaw they need.

The Craftsman 16-inch is a corded electric saw, and the cord is the whole story: it gives you constant power without a battery, but it also tells you where you can work. We think that is a fair trade for a yard with an outlet within reach and a pile of limbs to clear.

The 12-amp motor has enough grunt for medium branches and small trunks, and the 16-inch low-kickback bar gives it a useful reach. At 6.2 pounds it is light enough to carry around the yard, and the auto-oiling system and oil window take some of the fuss out of upkeep. The tool-free tensioner is easy to use with gloves on.

We liked the simple, old-school feel of the thing: no battery platform to buy into, no fuel to mix, no pull cord to fight. It is quiet enough to use in a suburban yard without annoying the neighbors, and it starts with a switch. The cord does demand a little planning, and a long extension cord needs the right gauge.

For a homeowner who cuts within reach of an outlet, this is the practical corded choice. It will not replace a gas saw for big timber, but it makes short work of the trimming and cleanup that most yards actually produce.

The Tietoc mini is the lowest-cost way into a cordless chainsaw in this group, and the first thing we noticed is that the low price does not mean a bare-bones kit. It arrives with a battery, charger, and case, which is more than some pricier minis include.

The 880W motor and 6-inch bar are built for garden pruning, and the automatic oiler is a genuine surprise at this end of the market. In our cutting, it went through soft branches and shrubs cleanly, and the 3.3-pound body was easy to move around tight planting beds.

The controls are simple enough for a first-time chainsaw user, and the safety lock requires a deliberate two-button press. We also like the 28.6 ft/s chain speed, which gives it a quicker feel than the price suggests. The battery recharges without a long wait.

We recommend it as a first mini saw or a gift for someone who wants to try the format without committing much. It is happiest with light pruning and garden cleanup. For that buyer, it is a lot of tool for the money.

A 20-inch bar and a 62cc engine usually signal a serious gas saw, so the SUPMIXTOOLS stands out at the value end of this group. It is not a plastic toy with a long bar bolted on: the engine is a full 62cc two-stroke rated at 4.2 hp, and the bar is a low-kickback 20-inch unit.

In our cutting, the saw pulled hard enough to keep the chain moving through medium hardwood and had the torque to clear a decent log without stalling. The exhaust note is loud, but the work gets done. We also appreciated that it started without a lengthy warm-up ritual.

The reason we rank it as the value gas pick is the balance of capability and simplicity. You get a bigger bar and a proper engine, plus a safety switch and quick-stop chain brake, without paying for a pro-grade badge. It is a saw for someone comfortable mixing fuel, checking bar oil, and keeping a chain sharp.

The saw rewards careful assembly more than brute force, and it is happiest with fresh fuel and a properly tensioned chain. For a woodpile that has outgrown a 16-inch electric saw, this is a lot of gas capability in a straightforward package.

Two guide bars, 18 and 22 inches, plus a three-point spring anti-vibration system make the PROYAMA look like a lot of gas saw for the money. The 62cc two-stroke engine is rated at 3.5 hp, and the package includes both bars, a carry bag, ear defenders, and a face shield.

We think the two-bar setup is genuinely useful. The 22-inch bar gives you reach for felling and bucking larger logs, while the 18-inch bar makes the same powerhead feel more manageable for limbing and smaller firewood. The spring anti-vibration system is the detail that won us over: it takes the buzz out of a long session in a way a rigid handle does not.

The saw started easily in our hands and settled into a steady idle, and the transparent fuel tank makes it easy to see when you are running low. The 14-pound body is heavy enough to remind you it is a gas saw, but the balance is reasonable for ground work. It is a conventional two-stroke, so fresh mix and bar oil are part of ownership.

For a buyer who wants one gas powerhead to cover both felling and limbing, the PROYAMA is a flexible alternative. It is not as refined as the Husqvarna, but the two bars and anti-vibration package give it a practical edge for mixed woodwork.