Best Battery Powered Chainsaws

Last Update: May, 2023

Traditionally, chainsaws only came in gas-powered or corded electric models. When battery chainsaws first came onto the market, they were a far cry from the convenient, efficient models that we have today. 

A cordless chainsaw can be a game-changer for your maintenance tasks. If you're looking into getting a battery chainsaw, you've got a lot of choices. Don’t feel overwhelmed, because we've done the footwork for you. Here is our comprehensive guide to let you know everything you need to know about battery chainsaws, safely using them, and the 5 best models on the market.

More About The Black + Decker LCS1240

The Black + Decker saw is made to minimize hassle and lessen the time spent making adjustments. The chain tensioning adjustment is totally tool-free, so you can you can make quick adjustments without breaking out your tool bag (and it's easy to do, even with your chainsaw gloves on, which is another nice time saver).

Powered by a solid 40 volts, with a 12-inch bar and chain, you can get through plenty of thick tree limbs without any issue.  It's the perfect lightweight saw for when you've got to get through a lot of yard work and pruning.

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More About The GreenWorks 16-Inch Chainsaw

This Greenworks saw gives you high torque and high efficiency, all with a quality motor and impressive 16-inch saw blade. It uses a brushless motor, which means you're getting more power (in fact, it delivers up to 30% more torque than other motors), consistent performance, and a long lifetime with this saw.

Safety is always the most important thing, and Greenworks gets that. This chainsaw stands apart from the others in its braking; not only does it have a chain brake, but the brake is electronic. This means that kickback will be limited, providing you with a more secure use from the start.

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More About The DeWalt DCCS620P1

This 12” saw runs at 20 volts and an impressive 5AH, so you have all the power you need for your backyard projects. Another important point of this saw is how quiet it is compared to what we usually expect from chainsaws, even battery-powered ones.

Since it has quite an impressive battery stamina, you can expect a long battery life while working. Efficient and ergonomic, you can get through your projects without stopping because of low power or uncomfortable vibration. The Oregon Bar is even designed to provide low-kickback functioning whether you're doing a construction job or pruning back some trees at your home.

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More About The Black + Decker LCS1020

Just as we’ve come to expect from Black + Decker products, this battery chainsaw is a hard-working, super durable, high-functioning tool. First, you'll notice how easy to maneuver it is when using. This saw reduces the tension and fatigue that so many chainsaws may end up giving you after a few hours of work.

The tough battery holds up through long jobs. You’ll be even more impressed when you see the quick charge time (it only takes 5 hours to produce a full charge). This battery chainsaw is certainly sturdy, but it remains well balanced despite not carrying much weight.

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More About The DeWalt DCCS670X1

For all our chainsaw picks, this DeWalt battery-powered chainsaw has the longest bar of all your options, at 16 inches. The bar is an Oregon Bar, designed to lower instances of kickback, which gives you extra peace of mind. Also, it includes a chain brake that further protects you from kickback. Here’s another winning feature of this chainsaw:

It provides an impressive (and in this case, list topping) 60 volts of power.

You’ll find it performs perfectly whether you work professionally or do handyman projects around the house.

Types of Batteries

Just like any other battery-operated tool, battery chainsaws come with some different types of battery options. There are three main types of batteries you’ll find, and they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Listed below are the types of batteries as well as their makeup, advantages, and disadvantages.

Lithium Ion

Also known as Li-ion, these batteries are the newest kinds of batteries being used to drive high-powered tools and appliances. It doesn't significantly add weight to what it powers, yet it's powerful thanks to a high energy density. These batteries are also better at managing and maintaining their charge.

How? Well, they don't have the typical “memory” issue that many other rechargeable batteries do That is, when the battery is plugged in to charge after it hasn't been completely used up and thus has a ‘memory' of the smaller charge amount, which reduces the overall charge capacity. Li-ion batteries also can hold a partial charge better than others, so you can use them even if they've been holding a partial charge for a while.

While Lithium Ion batteries are great, unfortunately, they don't live forever. They only have so much time and charging cycles before they need be replaced. When it comes time to replace them, they're also more expensive than most other battery types.

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Nickel Cadmium

Nickel Cadmium or NiCad batteries were the first truly rechargeable battery that could be used for high powered devices, like chainsaws and other power tools. While they have been relied on for quite some time and tend to do well when stored for longer periods, there’s a reason they’re less common today.

The issues that drove down the use of Nickel Cadmium batteries mainly are to do with their power. First, they typically don’t deliver as much power as other more modern batteries. To make matters worse, they also have an issue where occasionally they will discharge themselves.

This means that if you haven’t used the battery for a while, it’ll discharge itself, which means that you’ll have to recharge it before you can use it again, wasting a great deal of electricity over time. Lastly, they aren’t very environmentally friendly. They contain toxic and nonrecyclable materials, so it presents a problem with their disposal.

Nickel Metal Hydride

Nickel Metal Hydride, or NiMH, batteries are very, very similar to Nickel Cadmium batteries, but with some key improvements. First off, they’re more environmentally friendly and therefore easier to dispose of. Next, they are packing about twice the energy density of NiCd batteries, without adding extra bulk and weight to the battery.

While NiMH batteries have significant improvements over NiCd, they still have some of the same drawbacks. They still tend to discharge on a daily basis without regular use and have issues with the ‘memory' and partial charge problems as with Nickel Cadmium batteries. They also lose performance efficiency in the more extreme temperatures.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Battery Chainsaw

While we’ve gathered the top battery chainsaws on the market, to really determine which chainsaw is best for you, you’ll need to consider a few things. Here are the factors you can use to decide whether a chainsaw is the right fit for you:

Ease of Use

Generally, battery-powered chainsaws are much easier to use than corded or gasoline-powered models. However, you should still check it out before you buy. Make sure it's easy to start and work. Next, you'll also want to look at how easy it is to maintain. With battery chainsaws, this mostly consists of how easy it is to handle (in terms of bulk, ergonomics, etc.) and how easy it is to change and charge the battery.

Safety Features

Pretty much any chainsaw you buy is going to have one or more safety features included. What that safety feature actually is will vary by model. With battery powered chainsaws, there are a couple of features that stand out above the rest; An Electronic Protection System (EPS) and a chain brake.

The chain brake will stop the saw in any instance of a kickback, and the EPS will automatically shut down the chainsaw if you've overloaded or overheated it.

Sound and Vibration

Chainsaws are, by nature, rather noisy tools. So, a quieter model is especially desirable. Likewise, chainsaws tend to offer pretty high levels of vibration that can cause a lot of strain on your body over time. The less vibration the saw creates, the better.

Power and Battery

For higher cutting capacity, higher power is better. A standard battery powered chainsaw might have up to 36 volts or so of power. Higher end models can go much higher, above 60 volts in some cases. So, make sure you look at the power you're getting and make sure it'll get through your work with any issues.

Next, when you're getting a battery-powered chainsaw, the battery function is going to be one of your biggest deciding factors. In fact, you'll need to look at a few factors regarding the battery by itself. First, how long does the battery take to charge? Between two otherwise equal models, you need to decide if you'd pay extra for shorter charge time.

Depending on what kind of projects you plan to use your battery chainsaw for, and how long you expect the work to last, the battery run time should be the main concern for you. If a battery chainsaw only runs for an hour, but your work to regularly takes several hours, you'll be recharging and waiting a great deal.

Naturally, that's definitely not a workable solution. To avoid this, make sure you check how long the battery can run for, and see if you can switch out battery packs to increase your potential work time.

Lastly, look at the expected lifetime of the battery. That isn’t the same thing as the working time. Batteries last for different amounts of time before you need to purchase another, much like an expiration date. It’s a good idea to look at how frequently you’ll need to replace the battery, and how much the replacements will cost you.

Safety Tips When Using a Battery Chainsaw?

Like any other power tool, you’ll need to practice caution and proper safety measures to avoid serious injuries. In the case of battery chainsaws, your most important safety measure is making sure you have and are wearing your proper safety gear.

Protect Your Eyes

When you’re working with any kind of saw, you’re going to have dust, debris, and wood chips and splinters that come flying out of whatever you’re working on. That’s why you need to wear protective eye gear (such as safety goggles or glasses).

Wear Proper Gloves

Battery chainsaws offer you a lot more range of movement, but that doesn't mean slipping and losing grip doesn't happen. Always wear gloves designed to be used with chainsaws. Not only will they help to protect your hands in the case of any flying debris or blade slips, but they'll also help you maintain your grip.

Wear Chainsaw Chaps

Chainsaw chaps are thick chaps that go over your regular pants. They’ll help protect your lower body, which is especially important when you’re using a cordless battery chainsaw. Look for a pair at least five layers thick for the best protection.

Protect Your Ears

It’s important to remember how loud chainsaws are, even you purchase a fairly quiet model. Always make sure to wear protective ear muffs to avoid hearing damage and loss.

Conclusion

We’ve found the best battery chainsaws out there, and selected them for their performance, quality, durability, and overall value. A battery chainsaw can be a huge improvement to your work, so long as you choose a model that fits your needs (and always practice proper safety precautions).

You can use the featured battery chainsaws in our reviews to find your perfect fit. Or take note of the criteria we’ve laid out in our guide to make sure the chainsaw model you've got your eye on will truly perform and serve you well.