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    Best Chainsaws of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

    More than 50 gas and electric models appear in our current ratings. Here are the top performers, which balance speed with easy handling and safety.

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    Chainsaws from left: Stihl MS182 C-BE, ECHO CS-4010-18, Husqvarna 130, Senix CSX6-M, Milwaukee 2826-21T, Kobalt (Lowe's) KCS280B-06, Husqvarna Power Axe 225i, EGO CS2005, Ryobi RY40HPCW01K, DeWALT DCCS677Z1
    In one part of Consumer Reports' chainsaw testing, technicians evaluate how easily a chainsaw can cut through a 10-inch-thick oak beam.
    Photo: Scott Meadows/Consumer Reports

    If you live in a rural or heavily wooded area, a chainsaw can be a must-have item. That’s especially true in places that are often impacted by heavy storms.

    These tools are mechanically simple—essentially an engine or a motor, a handle, and an oblong metal piece called a bar that guides the cutting chain. Yet a good chainsaw does what no other tool can: It lets you efficiently clear fallen branches and trees, prune low tree limbs, and prep firewood.

    More on Chainsaws and Storm Prep

    To learn more about which kind of chainsaw might be right for you, see our chainsaw buying guide. CR members can also browse our comprehensive chainsaw ratings. We divide chainsaws into several categories: traditional and light-duty gas-powered, battery-operated, and corded electric.

    There, you can sort through more than 50 models according to type, budget, and other criteria that matter most to you. The chainsaws include popular brand names like Echo, Ego, and Stihl.

    Below, we highlight some of the best chainsaws from our tests.

    In this article Arrow link

    Best Large Gas Chainsaws

    Traditional gasoline chainsaws work best for people who tackle heavy work, such as cutting large quantities of firewood for winter heating. With big engines, plus a cutting bar and chain typically between 16 and 20 inches long, the best of these chainsaws cut through many larger limbs in a single pass. (The same can now be said for the very best battery-powered chainsaws; see below.) Got hours of work ahead of you? With a gas-powered chainsaw, you simply need to top off the fuel tank to keep it running.

    Best Light-Duty Gas Chainsaws

    Light-duty gas chainsaws typically max out with a 16-inch cutting bar and generally pack a little less power. They’re helpful for homeowners in the suburbs (as opposed to more thickly wooded rural areas) who want to clear fallen limbs in their yard, and maybe do a bit of wood cutting for an outdoor fire pit. Cutting larger limbs and trees is doable, but it may take a lot longer. To keep these chainsaws going, simply top them off with gas.

    Best Battery-Powered Chainsaws

    Battery-powered electric chainsaws have vastly improved in recent years. “The best models now cut as well as many of the gasoline-powered saws we’ve tested,” says Matt Schimmenti, the Consumer Reports test engineer in charge of chainsaws. "Generally, the better battery-powered ones are as good as the 18- and 20-inch bar gas-powered models." In fact, our top-rated battery models score higher overall than the best gas chainsaws. 

    Best Corded Electric Chainsaws

    You’ll find just a handful of corded electric chainsaws in the marketplace, and we’re no longer testing many of these models. Battery-powered chainsaws are now much more appealing: They offer plenty of power and convenience, they are more portable than corded models, and they don’t risk having you accidentally cut the power cord. If you are shopping for a corded model, you’ll find that they cut as quickly and effectively as smaller gas models.

    How We Picked the Best Chainsaws

    The best chainsaw for you depends on the size of your yard and what you need to cut. That’s why we organize our ratings by chainsaw categories: gas, battery, and corded electric. Nevertheless, we believe that all shoppers should expect the following from any type of chainsaw:

    • Capable cutting. We expect these machines to cut thick pieces of wood quickly and efficiently.
    • Safety. Chainsaws should include adequate fail-safe features to prevent accidents.
    • Seamless handling. The chainsaw’s weight and size shouldn’t get in the way of a user’s ability to manipulate it.
    • Ease of use. A chainsaw should be designed so that users can operate and maintain it with ease.

    How CR Tests Chainsaws

    CR’s engineers have established a number of processes for evaluating chainsaws.

    Our testers measure how long it takes for each saw to work its way through 10-inch-thick oak beams. We use oak because it’s one of the hardest woods most users will encounter on their property, and it makes for a particularly demanding test that reveals differences among models. Chainsaws that cut fastest earn the highest ratings for cutting speed.

    To assess safety, we check for any kickback during cutting, confirm that there’s a working chain brake, and consider whether a model’s exhaust parts, like the muffler, get hot, which can pose a burn hazard. We also evaluate how protected the cutting chain is from accidental contact during storage.

    To evaluate how well a chainsaw handles, our engineers consider how easy it is to make horizontal and vertical cuts. We also use a sound meter to measure noise levels, and a judgment to gauge vibration and comfort. Intense vibration can impede a user’s ability to make cuts efficiently.

    To determine an ease-of-use score, our engineers inspect a range of features, including how simple the tool is to start, adjust, and maintain.

    For each chainsaw’s final Overall Score, we incorporate ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, which are awarded on a brand (not model) level. These ratings reflect what thousands of CR members tell us in periodic surveys about their experiences with chainsaws they’ve purchased. Specifically, they report whether their chainsaws ever broke or stopped working properly during their first five years of ownership. Members also tell us how likely they are to recommend their chainsaw model to a friend or family member.


    James K. Willcox

    James K. Willcox leads Consumer Reports’ coverage of TVs, streaming media services and devices, broadband internet service, and the digital divide. He's also a homeowner covering several home improvement categories, including power washers and decking. A veteran journalist, Willcox has written for Business Week, Cargo, Maxim, Men’s Journal, Popular Science, Rolling Stone, Sound & Vision, and others. At home, he’s often bent over his workbench building guitars or cranking out music on his 7.2-channel home theater sound system.

    Paul Hope

    Paul Hope is a Home & DIY Editor at Consumer Reports and a trained chef. He covers ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens, as well as grills, drills, outdoor power tools, decking, and wood stains. Before joining CR in 2016, he tested kitchen products at Good Housekeeping and covered tools and remodeling for This Old House magazine. You’ll typically find him in his old fixer-upper, engrossed in a DIY project or trying out a new recipe.