Chainsaws and Pole Saws: A Buying Guide

On this page (10 sections)

1. Which chainsaw power source fits your work?
2. What chainsaw bar length should you choose?
3. Which chainsaw fits common yard and wood jobs?
4. How do gas, corded, and battery chainsaws compare?
5. What kind of oil does a chainsaw need?
6. What gas do chainsaws use?
7. How do chain pitch and gauge affect fit?
8. What safety gear and upkeep should you plan for?
9. Should you buy a chainsaw without a chain?
10. Which chainsaw should you choose?

Choose a chainsaw by what you cut, where you work, and how much saw you can control. Gas models suit work away from outlets, corded saws need a safe path for an extension cord, and battery saws give you cordless mobility with runtime limits.

For small pruning and occasional cleanup, a compact saw may be enough. Larger logs and repeated cutting call for a saw and bar suited to that work, plus the skill and protective gear to use it safely.

This guide covers gas, corded electric, battery, and pole saws, along with bar size, chain fit, fuel, oil, upkeep, and safety. The chainsaw and pole saw topic guide is the home for these related buying and use topics.

Which chainsaw power source fits your work?

Choose gas for remote work and longer cutting sessions, corded electric for work near an outlet, and battery for cordless convenience. The right choice depends on access to power, expected cutting time, noise tolerance, and maintenance.

A corded saw avoids battery charging and gas preparation, but the cord needs constant attention. Keep it behind you and away from the bar, branches, water, and other hazards.

Battery saws can be easier to move around without a cord or fuel can. Check whether the tool includes a battery and charger, and consider how much cutting you can finish before a recharge.

Gas saws can work where there is no outlet, but they bring fuel and engine maintenance. For a closer power-source comparison, read whether a gas chainsaw is better than an electric one.

What chainsaw bar length should you choose?

Pick a bar length that matches the wood you cut and is approved for your saw. A longer bar can reach farther through wide wood, but it also changes the saw's balance and can make control harder.

Bar length is not a measure of how much wood you should cut in one pass. The saw, chain, wood condition, cutting position, and your training all affect what is safe.

A 12-inch bar can suit pruning and smaller wood when the saw supports that work. A 16-inch bar offers more reach for broader tasks, but should not be treated as a reason to cut beyond your ability.

For measuring one, see how to measure a chainsaw bar.

Don't fit a longer bar just because it seems more versatile. Check the manual for the compatible bar range and match the chain to the saw's specifications.

Compare compact options in our best 12-inch chainsaws guide and best 16-inch chainsaws guide. For longer bars, see best 20-inch chainsaws.

Which chainsaw fits common yard and wood jobs?

Match the saw to the job you do most often, then choose enough capacity for occasional larger tasks without buying more saw than you can handle. A saw for firewood has different priorities from one used for pruning or tree work.

For lawn edges and grass trimming, compare string trimmers and edgers as a different tool category.

Pruning and small branches

A small saw can be easier to handle for light pruning and cleanup. Use a handheld model only for cutting within a stable stance and the limits in its manual.

For compact gas models, compare our best small gas chainsaw picks. For short branches and pruning tasks, see best mini chainsaws for pruning.

Firewood

For firewood, think about the diameter and amount of wood you cut, how often you work, and whether you have a stable setup for bucking logs. A longer bar may reduce repositioning on wider logs, but control and safe technique still come first.

Our best chainsaws for firewood guide focuses on that use. Once you have a suitable saw, follow the steps in how to cut firewood with a chainsaw.

Tree cutting

Felling or cutting large limbs can carry serious risks from falling wood, kickback, and changing tension in a tree. If you lack training or cannot control the fall zone, hire a qualified tree professional.

For saw comparisons by this task, see best gas chainsaws for cutting trees and best chainsaws for tree cutting. A saw intended for in-tree work is a specialized choice; see best in-tree chainsaws, and use such equipment only with proper training.

Trimming high branches

A pole saw lets you reach branches while standing on the ground, but it does not remove the hazards of overhead work. Compare corded electric pole saws if you want a powered pole-saw option.

To compare tools for this job, see pole saw vs pole pruner.

Check for power lines, unstable limbs, people, and property in the drop zone before cutting.

Compare best pole saws for tree trimming if this is your main job. Don't use a pole saw from a ladder or reach it into a dangerous position.

How do gas, corded, and battery chainsaws compare?

Gas saws work without an outlet, corded saws need a power connection, and battery saws need charged batteries. Consider noise, fumes, storage, runtime, and maintenance along with cutting capacity.

Gas models need fuel and engine care, and many use two-cycle fuel mixtures. For one brand-focused comparison, see best Husqvarna gas chainsaws, Craftsman gas chainsaw reviews, and Echo vs Stihl chainsaws.

Some Husqvarna gas saws include AutoTune, an engine adjustment system. Learn what it does in our Husqvarna AutoTune guide.

A corded saw is tied to the outlet and cord route. The CRAFTSMAN Electric Chainsaw has a 16-inch low-kickback bar and chain, a 12-amp motor, automatic oiling, and tool-free chain tensioning.

A battery saw can move more freely around a yard, but job size depends on battery capacity, charge, and the saw. The SEESII 12-Inch Electric Chainsaw Cordless includes two 4.0Ah batteries and automatic oiling.

For a larger cordless bar, the SEESII 40V Eectric Chainsaw Cordless 16 Inch includes two batteries and a charger, plus a 16-inch guide bar and automatic chain oiling.

See best cordless chainsaws with a battery and charger to compare ready-to-use kits. The VEVOR Gas Powered Chainsaw 25.4CC 2-Cycle has a 12-inch bar and a 25.4cc engine.

What kind of oil does a chainsaw need?

Use bar and chain oil in the chain oil reservoir, and use the engine's specified fuel mix in a two-cycle gas saw. These are separate systems with different jobs.

The bar oil lubricates the chain as it moves around the guide bar. Check the oil level before work and refill it as the manual directs.

For gas saws, follow the manual's fuel grade and oil-to-gas ratio exactly. Do not assume all engines use the same blend, and never pour bar oil into the fuel tank.

Electric saws still need chain lubrication. For the EGO, see how to oil an EGO chainsaw.

Corded or battery power removes engine fuel, not the need to oil the bar and chain.

Our best chainsaw bar and chain oils guide compares oil options. For refill timing, see how often to oil a chainsaw chain.

What gas do chainsaws use?

Many gas chainsaws use gasoline mixed with two-cycle engine oil, but the required fuel and ratio vary by model. Read the manual before mixing or fueling.

Use a clean, approved fuel container and label any mixed fuel clearly. Store fuel away from heat and follow local rules for handling and disposal.

A four-cycle engine, if used by a particular model, has different fuel and oil requirements. Don't apply a two-cycle mix to it unless the manual calls for that fuel.

How do chain pitch and gauge affect fit?

Pitch and gauge must match the saw, bar, and chain. A chain that looks close can still be incompatible or unsafe.

Pitch describes the chain's size class, while gauge describes the thickness of the drive links that sit in the bar groove. The bar and chain also need the correct drive-link count.

Read the saw or bar markings and verify the exact combination in the manual. Our chainsaw chain pitch and gauge guide explains how to identify these measurements.

When replacing a damaged or worn bar, match its length and specifications to the saw. Compare best replacement chainsaw guide bars before choosing a replacement.

What safety gear and upkeep should you plan for?

Wear protective equipment and follow the saw manual every time you cut. At minimum, plan for eye and hearing protection, gloves, sturdy footwear, and leg protection designed for chainsaw work.

Chaps can add a layer of protection for your legs, but they do not make unsafe cutting safe. Read how to choose chaps for an electric chainsaw for factors to compare.

Before each session, inspect the chain, bar, chain brake, handles, fasteners, and oil supply. Stop if a safety part is damaged or the chain is loose, dull, or not lubricating.

Keep the chain sharp with the correct file or tool for its chain size. Our best chainsaw sharpening kits and chainsaw tools and accessories guides cover useful maintenance equipment.

Store the saw with its cover on, away from children, and according to the manual. Battery models also need their batteries stored and charged as the maker directs.

Should you buy a chainsaw without a chain?

A saw sold without a chain may work for a buyer who already has a compatible chain, but most people should confirm the full setup before buying. The bar, chain, pitch, gauge, and drive-link count must all match.

A missing chain can mean extra cost and a delay before the saw is usable. Check the included components and make sure the replacement chain is available in the correct specification.

Our guide to buying a chainsaw with no chain explains what to verify before choosing one.

Which chainsaw should you choose?

Choose a compact gas saw if you need a small bar and work away from an outlet. Choose a corded electric saw for nearby tasks with a safe cord route, or a battery saw when moving freely matters more than unlimited runtime.

For repeated firewood cutting or larger wood, match bar length and saw capacity to the job you can safely handle. Choose a pole saw for reachable branch trimming from the ground, and hire a trained professional for risky tree work.

Start with your main task, confirm that the chain and bar fit the saw, and read its manual for fuel, oil, and safety instructions. Use this chainsaw guide to follow the best gas chainsaws for cutting trees when that is the work you need to do.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of oil do you use in a chainsaw?

Use bar and chain oil in the saw's chain-oil tank, following the manual for the model and conditions. Gas chainsaws also need the correct engine oil mixed with fuel if their engine is a two-cycle design.

These oils do different jobs, so don't substitute one for the other.

What kind of oil do you use for an electric chainsaw?

Most electric chainsaws still need bar and chain oil to lubricate the moving chain. Electric power removes the need for engine oil and fuel, but it does not remove chain lubrication.

Check the manual for the correct oil and refill guidance for your saw.

What size chainsaw bar do I need?

Choose a bar that suits the wood you cut and the saw's approved range. A longer bar can reach through wider wood, but it adds length and can be harder to control.

Match the bar, chain pitch, gauge, and drive-link count to the saw.

What type of gas do chainsaws use?

Many gas chainsaws have two-cycle engines that use gasoline mixed with the specified two-cycle engine oil. The required ratio and fuel grade depend on the model, so follow its manual and use a clean, approved fuel container.

Never guess the mix or put straight gasoline in a two-cycle saw.

Can you use a pole saw as a chainsaw?

A pole saw is made to cut branches from ground level, while a handheld chainsaw is designed for work within its intended reach and stance. A pole saw's extended shaft changes balance and control, so use it only for the overhead branch tasks its manual allows.