Best Chainsaws 2023

There are certain tools that are essential for maintaining a well-kept yard—good lawn mowers and powerful leaf blowers among them. The best chainsaws fall into that same category. These powerful devices allow users to slice through firewood, slash stray branches, fight through brush and much more—all with little effort on their end. And newer models also boast plenty of features to ensure your safety in the process. Our top pick for 2023 is the Dewalt 60 Volt Max Brushless Cordless Chainsaw, which balances impressive power with comfortable handling.

This Dewalt model is our top pick when it comes to the best chainsaws of 2023: It makes quick, ... [+] seamless work of larger trees and dense brush.

That said, safety is of the utmost importance when you’re working with a chainsaw. "Chainsaws are a wonderful tool, but they can be dangerous in the wrong hands," professional landscaper Chris Lambton of HGTV's Going Yard reminds us. "Using a gas-powered chainsaw should be left to the professionals and to an experienced homeowner." If you’re not experienced with these types of power tools, he suggests starting with a battery chainsaw, which "don't kick back as much, making them safer." Keep in mind, too, that proper attire is important. "A huge part of this revolves around safety and wearing the proper protective apparel," adds Marty Grunder of Grunder Landscaping in Miamisburg, Ohio. "Chainsaw protective gear includes protective clothing, chaps, helmet systems, boots, gloves and eyewear." Ahead, find a curated list of the best chainsaws on the market in 2023, each of which will make chopping wood and clearing debris less of a chore.

The Home Depot

This battery-powered Dewalt chainsaw is a good fit for most homeowners, and it includes plenty of safety features you can feel good about. The device is relatively lightweight at just under 12.5 pounds, and it has a 60-volt battery that can deliver impressive power. There's also a chain brake to help protect you against kick back and a wrap-around grip bar to allow you to get a good, sturdy handle on things. The Volt Max includes a 16-inch bar, which offers plenty of room for cutting through trees, firewood and more, and a trigger start makes it simple to get things going and stop quickly.

Amazon

The Ego Power+ has the impressive ability to give you 250 cuts before it needs to be recharged. That should be plenty of juice—more than enough to get through a pile of firewood. Meanwhile, its 16-inch bar length works well for most jobs, while its high-efficiency brushless motor won't make your whole body vibrate as you work. A double guard bar and kickback brake offers good safety protection, and while the chainsaw is 18 pounds—heftier than our top choice—it's still comfortable for most people to wield. Once you’re done, simply place the battery on its charger; it’ll be ready again in 40 minutes.

Lowe's

Gas chainsaws typically deliver more power than their battery-powered counterparts, and the Husqvarna 450 Rancher is no exception. This chainsaw boasts an impressive 3.2 horsepower engine that's specially designed to reduce fumes. In other words, you don't have to stress about getting a face full of smoke each time you start it up. A 20-inch bar length gives you plenty of room to work with, while anti-vibration technology makes the work a little more comfortable for you. There's also a specialized air cleaning system, which weeds out larger dust and dirt particles to preserve the life of your engine. At 13.5 pounds, this chainsaw is surprisingly lightweight for the amount of power it delivers.

Lowe's

The Craftsman S205 is designed to give off intense, targeted power when you need it most over a lengthy 20-inch bar. This machine has Easy Start technology for for quick pull starts, along with a professional grade chassis to help your saw deliver, even in tough and drawn-out cutting situations. A wraparound handle and five-point anti-vibration system are built for your safety and comfort. Bucking spikes help you to really dig in and have control while you cut.

Ace Hardware

Stihl's Farm Boss chainsaw is not messing around. With an impressive 50.2 cc gas engine that runs 20% longer than its predecessors, it's also designed to cut down on fumes and has an air filtration system that weeds out larger particles before they get to your engine. An anti-vibration system helps keep your teeth from rattling as you work, while a side-access tensioner allows you to adjust the chain quickly. A 20-inch bar length gives you plenty of room to slice through pretty much whatever comes your way. Reviewers regularly use words like "workhorse" to describe this machine—basically, it's a beast.

Amazon

If you’ve never owned a chainsaw, experts recommend investing in a battery-operated version: They’re generally somewhat easier to operate and don't have as much of a dangerous kickback. The Greenworks 40-volt is incredibly user-friendly. It has an extra-large hand guard to protect your fingers while you work, along with a body that's just six pounds—the lightest saw on our list. You’ll get up to 65 cuts per change and can tackle trees up to 8 inches thick—plenty of power for most yard work. At $128, this saw is on the less expensive end of what you’ll find out there, letting you get your feet wet before upgrading to a more complicated device.

Different chainsaws are designed to tackle various duties, so it wouldn't be entirely fair to say that just one brand is the "most dependable." That said, certain brands have earned solid reputations over the years, and you can generally feel confident investing in well-known names like Dewalt, Husqvarna, Stihl and Craftmans. If you’re especially concerned about dependability, look at your saw's warranty. Our top choice, the Dewalt 60 Volt Max 16-Inch Brushless Cordless Battery Powered Chainsaw, has a three-year limited warranty, along with a 90-day money back guarantee and one year free of service. Customer service like that should help you feel more confident about buying a saw from a company.

In general, professionals tend to use gas-powered chainsaws. "When it comes to logging, farming, land clearing, tree service and big firewood-cutting jobs, professionals need saws with more power, reliability and features to tackle the toughest jobs," Grunder says. "The choice of professional chain saws varies by industry, which can range from arborists and forestry workers to world-renowned tree-care experts, firefighters, professional landscapers and loggers. In the past, gasoline-powered chain saws were the favorite among professionals; However, battery-powered equipment has been trending upward in the U.S." Still, Lambton says, "Most professionals use gas-powered chainsaws as they provide more power than the battery-powered counterparts."

At a basic level, these two chainsaws are powered differently. A battery chainsaw uses a rechargeable battery to operate; A gas-powered chainsaw runs on gasoline. "The gas chainsaw is more powerful but can be more dangerous than its battery-powered counterpart," Lambton says. "I do like to use battery-powered chainsaws and pole sawa for smaller jobs, as they are easier to start and are safer."

Just don't assume a battery-powered chainsaw won't cut it for bigger jobs. "As a professional landscaper with a $12 million a year business, I have to be able to count on my equipment, and I have been impressed with how far battery has come," Grunder says. "The power and performance of both homeowner and professional chain saws are there. My crews like the convenience of ‘grab and go’ when it comes to battery-powered chains saws. They find them lightweight, incredibly reliable, effective and handy."