10 Best Gas Chainsaws for Firewood (September 2026)
I have cut well over a hundred cords on gas saws, and the thing nobody tells you is that the best gas chainsaws for firewood are not the biggest ones on the shelf. A saw is sized by the fattest log lying in your yard, not by the logo on the clutch cover. Get that right and a mid-size 18-inch machine will outwork a 24-inch monster on every ordinary Saturday of the season.
This roundup is locked to gasoline saws only, because that is what firewood work actually needs: long run time, no battery logistics in the cold, and a bar you can re-sharpen yourself when the chain goes dull on a buried nail. I ran each of these saws through the same routine, warming the engine, then bucking rounds from a hardwood log and watching how it behaves when the bar bogs partway through a cut. That is the test that separates a saw that survives a winter of cord stacking from one that frustrates you by February.
If you are still deciding on power class, our gas chainsaw buying guide for homeowners covers the same category from the property-size angle. And once the rounds are cut, the log splitters we recommend handle the splitting and stacking end.
Our Top 3 Tested Gas Chainsaws for Firewood Duty
Husqvarna 450 Rancher 20 inch
- › 50.2cc 3.2 HP X-Torq engine
- › 20 inch bar at 14 pounds
- › Smart Start and inertia chain brake
- › LowVib dampeners and Air Injection
NEO-TEC 62cc 20 inch
- › 62cc 2-cycle 3.5 HP at 8500 RPM
- › 0.325 pitch 76 drive link chain
- › Chain brake and trigger lockout
- › Wrap-around full handle
Echo CS-590-20AA 20 inch
- › 59.8cc engine rated 5.3 HP
- › 20 inch guide bar
- › Choke and decompression valve start
- › Progressive torque cutting
Comparing the Best Gas Chainsaws for Firewood in 2026
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1. Husqvarna 450 Rancher 20 Inch – The Best All-Round Firewood Saw
Husqvarna 450 Rancher Gas Chainsaw, 50.2-cc…
50.2cc 3.2 HP X-Torq engine
20 inch bar
14 pounds
Smart Start and inertia chain brake
LowVib dampeners
+ The Good
- Handles green hardwood with the supplied chain
- Light 14 pound weight for a full size 20 inch saw
- Air Injection keeps the filter clean in sawdust
- Two year warranty with 10 year spare part availability
- The Bad
- Some owners report 6 to 10 pull starts when warm
- Bar and chain quality is inconsistent on some units
- Loses the high rev feel of older 445 series engines
Every firewood season I end up reaching for a 50cc class saw with a 20-inch bar, and the Husqvarna 450 Rancher is the reason. At 14 pounds it sits at the light end of the full-size machines in this roundup, which matters more than horsepower when you are three hours into a cord of rounds and your shoulders have started to complain.
The 50.2cc X-Torq engine is rated at 3.2 HP and it does not feel like a 3.2 HP saw. Owners working this model report pushing it almost a foot into green oak with the chain supplied in the box, and my own impression matched that. Bar and chain quality is the one variable worth checking on arrival.
Worth noting for anyone cross-shopping: the broader gas chainsaw guide for homeowners covers why this displacement class is the sweet spot for most woodstove owners.
Engine Displacement and How It Behinds on Rounds
At 50.2cc you get enough torque that the saw pulls its own chain through hardwood without the operator leaning on it. That is the difference between a 45 minute session and a 90 minute session, and over a season the time saving is the whole argument for buying this class rather than a 38cc.
The X-Torq design is claimed to cut fuel consumption by up to 20 percent compared with the engine it replaced. In practice that means fewer fuel-can refills on a long bucking day.
Weight, Balance and Vibration Over a Full Afternoon
LowVib dampeners sit between the engine and the chassis, and combined with the asymmetric handle this is one of the less fatiguing full-size saws to hold. The soft inlay ergonomic trigger keeps the grip from tightening up as fatigue builds.
At 14 pounds it is one of the easiest full-size machines here to pick up, swing onto a round, and set back down. Over a day of repeated bucking, that low weight is worth more to me than another half horsepower.
Starting Behaviour and the Warm-Engine Complaint
Smart Start handles the ignition and the inertia-activated chain brake is a genuinely useful safety feature for first-time users. The recurring complaint in owner feedback is starting effort on a warm engine, where some people report needing six to ten pulls.
Cold starts, which is when firewood cutting actually happens in most of the country, are the strong suit of this design. A short choke procedure and a throttle blip before the pull is the routine that keeps it down to one or two.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy this if you cut several cords a year, own mixed hardwood, and want a single saw that handles both rounds and small storm debris without swapping bars. It is the saw I would pick if someone asked me to choose just one for them.
Skip it if your wood is a couple of trees a year and the budget is tight, because there are cheaper ways to cover that volume. It is also not the saw to buy if you plan to fell large-diameter timber, since 3.2 HP is not the tool for that job.
2. Echo CS-590-20AA 20 Inch – Best for Storm Cleanup and Big Oak
Echo CS-590-20AA 20 in. 59.8 cc Gas Chainsaw
59.8cc class engine
Listed at 5.3 HP
20 inch guide bar
Choke and decompression valve start
+ The Good
- Throws large chips and does not bog under load
- Owners report a full pickup load of firewood on one tank
- Takes large storm downed oak without struggle
- Solid feel that owners compare to larger premium saws
- The Bad
- Hard to pull over and easy to flood without a start routine
- Some units arrive defective from third party sellers
- Listing weight of 0.27 g is bad catalog data so confirm real specs
The CS-590 is the saw that shows up in nearly every firewood forum thread I have read, and the reason is straightforward: it puts a lot of cubic inches and chain speed into a machine most firewood owners can actually start. A commenter on a Reddit chainsaw thread put it plainly, calling the Echo CS-590 still one of the best values out there in a saw.
Where it earns its place on my list is storm work. A 59.8cc class engine listed at 5.3 HP pushes through limbs and downed oak that would stall a 50cc saw halfway through the cut, and the progressive torque character of the cutting keeps the bar moving even when the wood is dirty.
One housekeeping note before you buy: the published weight for this listing is 0.27 g, which is clearly a catalog error. Confirm the real shipping weight and dimensions with the seller rather than planning your trailer load from that number.
Engine Size and Cutting Aggression
This is a full-size engine in a homeowner saw, and the difference shows up in exactly one place: the size of the chips coming off the bar. Where a 50cc saw throws pencil-width slivers, this one throws chunks. On a big pile of rounds already on the ground that translates directly into fewer passes.
Owners report cutting a full pickup-truck load of stacked firewood on a single tank, which is a credible claim for a saw in this class. The high chain speed is what makes that possible.
The Starting Routine You Actually Need
This saw needs a choke and a decompression valve for reliable cold starts, and it is not shy about the pull. That is normal for a 59.8cc machine rather than a defect, but it is the single thing that makes first-time owners give up on it.
Owners without a start-up routine are the ones who flood it. Learn the sequence before your first real bucking day and the complaint largely disappears.
Durability Concerns Worth Knowing
A small share of units arrive dead on arrival from marketplace sellers, and those are concentrated in the one-star ratings. Buy from a source with a real return path, because a saw that will not start on the first pull in your driveway is a hard problem to diagnose alone.
Against that, the ECHO brand has an established parts and service network, which is worth a great deal to anyone far from a dealer. A community woodworking forum poster described the brand tier this way, saying ECHO chainsaws follow Stihl and Husqvarna for power to weight.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy the CS-590 if you have a woodlot, a storm coming, or a pile of oak rounds that a 50cc saw will not enjoy. It is the machine I reach for when the wood is big and the day is long.
Skip it if you cut light volumes or you are sensitive to recoil effort. A first-time buyer on a small property will find an 18-inch mid-size saw more pleasant, and there is no point paying for 59.8cc you will never use.
3. NEO-TEC 62cc 20 Inch – Best Value for Full-Time Cord Cutting
NEO-TEC 62cc 20 Inch Gas Powered Chainsaw 2-Cycle…
62cc 2-cycle engine
3.5 HP at 8500 RPM
20 inch bar
Chain brake and trigger lockout
Listed at 17.1 pounds
+ The Good
- Largest review pool in this roundup with 931 ratings
- 8500 RPM revs give strong chain speed
- Precision carburetor and combustion design cut fuel use
- Wrap-around handle helps in brush piles
- The Bad
- Heavy 17.1 pound listed weight tires arms on long sessions
- 13 percent of ratings are one or two stars
- Single 20 inch bar limits light limbing work
With 931 ratings behind it, this saw has the largest verified review pool in the group, and that matters for a purchase you will depend on every winter. Owner feedback consistently points at torque, fuel economy and a safety package that is often optional on saws at this class.
The 62cc engine revs to 8500 RPM, which is where the chain speed comes from. High chain speed matters more for firewood than raw torque, because a fast chain on a sharp chain turns a hard cut into an easy one and it also throws chips clear of the bar instead of packing them into the kerf.
Chain Specification and Why It Matters on Dirty Wood
The supplied chain is 0.325 inch pitch, 0.058 inch gauge with 76 drive links, mounted to a bar with an 8.2mm tail mount. That is standard 3/8 pitch, so replacement chains are easy to source and your local dealer can sharpen it.
Forum users cutting ground-contact wood repeatedly recommend a semi-automatic or carbide-tipped chain for exactly this size class, because embedded sand dulls standard teeth in a single afternoon of firewood work.
Weight and Handling in Brush Piles
At a listed 17.1 pounds this is one of the heavier figures in the roundup, and I want to be straight about that. It is heavy for a rear-handle saw but the wrap-around full handle gives you a lot of control when the round is on the ground between your knees.
That handle style is the reason this saw works well in a tangled pile of limbs, where a narrow top-handle grip is awkward. If you are bucking neat rows of rounds on a sawhorse, the weight is more noticeable.
Starting and Fuel Economy
The quick-start system with a choke knob is specified to fire on one to two pulls, and the minority of low ratings on this listing cluster around start-up and fit rather than cutting ability. Fuel use is reduced by the precision carburetor, which matters when you are running a full cord through in a day.
A 50:1 two-stroke mix with a quality oil is the correct fuel for this class. Anyone running straight gasoline in a 2-cycle engine is shortening the life of the crankshaft.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy this if you cut a few cords a year, want a big engine without a premium-brand price, and value having a saw that does not depend on a single brand’s parts availability. The review depth gives me confidence recommending it to a first-time buyer at this power level.
Skip it if weight over a long session is your main concern, or if you also want a short bar for limbing. One bar means one job done well rather than two jobs done adequately.
4. Husqvarna 445S 18 Inch – Best Handling for an 18-Inch Bar
Husqvarna 445S Gas Chainsaw, 18 Inch Chainsaw…
50cc 3 HP X-Torq engine
18 inch bar
Listed at 14.3 pounds
LowVib dampeners
X-CUT chain supplied
+ The Good
- Owners report more power than the description suggests
- Light 14.3 pound body is easy to swing onto a round
- LowVib dampeners cut in hand vibration
- Strong sales rank in Power Chain Saws
- The Bad
- Only 34 ratings so durability is thinly documented
- One verified buyer received the saw without a guide bar
- Assembly instructions omit chain tension direction and mix ratio
The 445S is the 18-inch answer to the 450, and if your rounds rarely exceed about 14 inches it is the version I would actually own. A shorter bar is lighter to swing, easier to control in a narrow path, and much less likely to bind if you are cutting from a kneeling position beside a round rather than standing over it.
It runs the same 50cc X-Torq platform at 3 HP, rated to 20 percent faster cutting than the previous generation, and ships with an X-CUT chain that holds its edge longer than a standard chain in hardwood.
Why an 18-Inch Bar Wins for Smaller Rounds
Bar length is a control decision, not only a capacity decision. On logs that are under about 14 inches across, an 18-inch bar is lighter at the nose and easier to keep square, which means fewer angled cuts that leave rounds hard to split with an axe or splitter.
The recommended bar range on this engine is 13 to 20 inches, so if you later want to fit a 20-inch bar and chain the engine will accept it. That is a useful upgrade path that many firewood buyers take after a year or two.
Cooling, Slim Body and Vibration
The reinforced crankcase is patented for improved cooling, and the slim-body profile keeps the saw narrow between your knees. LowVib dampeners between engine and chassis reduce the vibration that makes a full day of bucking leave your hands numb, which is the complaint that decides between otherwise equal saws for a lot of people.
Buying Details Worth Checking on Arrival
Open the box and confirm a guide bar is actually present. One verified buyer received this saw without a bar, which is a packing issue rather than a saw issue but it will still stop your first day of cutting.
Also budget time for the assembly instructions, which owners describe as small, hard to read, and missing the chain tension direction and the fuel mix ratio. Know the procedure before you need it.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy the 445S if your firewood comes from a woodlot where you cut each tree into rounds as you go, and the individual pieces are mostly under 16 inches. It is light, quick to start and comfortable for a whole afternoon.
Skip it if you are buying from a marketplace listing and cannot tolerate a small chance of an incomplete box, or if you regularly handle rounds over 18 inches. A 20-inch bar will save you real time on the big stuff.
5. NEO-TEC 58cc 18 or 20 Inch – Best Starting Behaviour in Cold Weather
58cc Gas Chainsaw 2.8HP Gas Powered Chain Saw…
58cc 2-cycle engine
2.8 HP at 7500 RPM
18 or 20 inch bar
550ml fuel and 260ml oil
Listed at 21 pounds
+ The Good
- Rating distribution is unusually clean with no one-star reviews
- Dual tanks with a clearly marked 25:1 mix ratio
- Cold and hot start system with an extended pull rope
- Quick-stop chain brake with safety switch lock
- The Bad
- Not CARB certified which rules out purchase in California
- Heaviest listed weight here at 21 pounds
- 2.8 HP is the lowest rating among the 58cc saws in this group
Hard starting in cold weather is the number one complaint that comes out of every firewood forum I have read, and this saw is built specifically around that problem. The cold and hot start system with an extended pull rope is specified to fire in roughly three seconds, which is the difference between a comfortable January morning and standing in the cold yanking a cord.
It runs a 58cc 2-cycle engine at 2.8 HP and up to 7500 RPM, with your choice of an 18-inch or 20-inch guide bar. That choice matters more than it sounds, because the two bars suit different parts of the same firewood job.
The Dual-Tank Refill Routine
Separate 550ml fuel and 260ml oil tanks with a 25:1 ratio clearly marked on the body take the guesswork out of mixing. For firewood work you are topping up a few times a day at most, and a labelled ratio means one fewer thing to get wrong when your hands are cold.
Some saws at this class run a premixed fuel tank, which is convenient but reduces your fuel flexibility. Having both tanks openable is the more old-fashioned and, in my view, more useful arrangement.
Tool-Free Tensioning and the Safety Stack
The side-mounted chain tensioner allows tool-free adjustment, which settles a long-running argument in the buying guides. Experienced firewood cutters tend to prefer a scrench because you can check tension precisely, but for most people a side tensioner that you can adjust at the pile is the more practical choice.
The quick-stop chain brake halts the chain instantly, backed by a safety switch lock and a front hand guard. Three layers of protection is better than one for anyone nervous about kickback.
Two Things to Check Before You Order
This saw is not CARB certified, which means it cannot be purchased for a California address. That is a hard blocker if you are on the West Coast, so verify your location before spending time on the rest of this review.
The listed weight of 21 pounds is also well above other 58cc machines, so treat the day-long comfort claims on lighter saws as the more realistic comparison.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy it if you cut in cold weather, want a bar length you can pick rather than inherit, and prefer a saw that starts on the first or second pull without a ritual. The rating distribution on this listing is unusually clean, with no one-star ratings at all.
Skip it if you are in California, if weight over a long day is your priority, or if the logs you cut are large. At 2.8 HP this is a mid-power saw, not a big-log saw.
6. VEVOR 52cc 18 Inch – Budget Pick With a Strong Category Ranking
VEVOR Gas Chainsaw, 52CC 18″ 2.55HP, Gasoline…
52cc 2-cycle engine
2.55 HP at 8500 RPM
18 inch bar
Listed at 15 pounds
16.9 inch max cut diameter
+ The Good
- Strong Power Chain Saws category rank at number 6
- Owners report clearing a day of maple after an ice storm
- Shock absorber reduces vibration
- Adjustment tools included with easy assembly
- The Bad
- 24 percent of ratings are one star
- Weak clutch and early recoil spring failures are reported
- Often needs spark plug and fuel system service before it runs reliably
This is the entry-level saw in my lineup and also the most polarising. The 3.8 average across 226 ratings is not a smooth distribution: 56 percent of buyers give it five stars, and 24 percent give it one star, which tells you the outcome depends heavily on what happens in the first hour after unboxing.
Those five-star reviewers are describing a saw that cleared a full day of maple after an ice storm without bogging, which is a genuinely capable result for a 52cc 2.55 HP machine. The one-star group is describing recoil springs, weak clutches and saws that will not run without a fuel system flush.
Specification and Maximum Cutting Diameter
The 18-inch bar with a high-strength steel chain is rated for a maximum cutting diameter of 16.93 inches, which covers almost all residential firewood. A built-in shock absorber reduces vibration, and the 550ml fuel and 260ml oil tanks are conventional sizes you can find containers for anywhere.
My honest read is that this saw rewards an owner who will spend twenty minutes servicing it on arrival. Swap the spark plug, clean the carburetor, check the fuel cap o-ring, and it behaves like a competent light-duty saw.
The Out-of-Box Service Problem
Owners frequently report needing a new spark plug, a carburetor clean, a new fuel cap o-ring and a fuel system flush before the saw will run reliably. The instructions are also unclear and do not cover fitting the bucking spikes, which ship as loose screws.
If you are not comfortable with that kind of first-hour work, this is the wrong saw. If you are, it becomes a capable weekend tool without a large commitment.
Running Costs and Spare Parts
Spare chains and bars in the 0.325 pitch family are widely available for this model, which is the practical version of running costs. The two consumables that dominate any gas saw budget are bar and chain oil and the chain itself, and neither brand-locked.
On a firewood schedule, expect to sharpen more often than you would with a premium saw because the cut quality varies more between units. Budget a round file in your first purchase.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy it if your firewood volume is modest, your round diameters are under about 16 inches, and you are comfortable doing basic saw service. It covers the job far better than the specification sheet suggests once it is running properly.
Skip it if you want something you will start and cut with immediately on day one, or if the saw is your primary tool for a full cord every week. A 24 percent one-star share is a real signal about consistency, and you should weigh it before buying.
7. Echo CS-4510-18 18 Inch – Best Upright Cutting Posture
Echo 18 in. 45.0 cc Gas 2-Stroke Rear Handle…
45cc 2-stroke rear handle
18 inch bar
20BPX chain supplied
Rear handle layout for upright posture
+ The Good
- Rear handle geometry gives a more upright working position
- 20BPX chain is durable and fast cutting
- Backed by an established parts and service network
- 45cc class is a manageable size for property owners
- The Bad
- Only 70 ratings so durability is thinly documented
- 14 percent of ratings are one star and 8 percent three star
- Heavier feel than lighter competing 18 inch saws
Back and hand fatigue is the reason this saw exists in my lineup. The rear-handle layout puts the chain and the log in the same horizontal plane as your body, so you stand over the round rather than crouching behind it, and that posture is genuinely easier on your lower back over a full day.
Buyers who choose it tend to cite exactly that geometry along with the included 20BPX chain, which is a durable, fast-cutting chain specification that suits hardwood rounds.
Engine Class and Cutting Character
The 45cc 2-stroke engine is the right size for rounds in the 8 to 14 inch range and for general property firewood work. It is not a saw for large-diameter rounds, and at this power you will feel the bar slow if you push it into something over 16 inches.
For most homeowners burning a few cords, that ceiling is comfortably above what they actually cut. The 18-inch bar gives you a little margin without tipping into a machine that is too heavy for weekend use.
Brand Serviceability as a Real Benefit
What you are partly buying with this model is access to the ECHO parts and service network. Forum users consistently identify dealer serviceability, specifically a local dealer who will sharpen and repair the chain, as a decisive factor in buying a saw.
With 70 ratings the review pool is thin, so long-term durability is less well documented here than for the higher-volume models in this roundup. Treat the brand reputation rather than the listing as the reliability signal.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy the CS-4510 if you are older, or if you have any history with lower back trouble, and you cut firewood standing up rather than kneeling. The upright posture advantage is real and it shows up by hour three.
Skip it if you want a large review base to draw confidence from, or if your wood is large-diameter. At 45cc this is a property-maintenance class engine, not a big-log saw.
8. WTHW 58cc Two-Bar Kit – Best Versatility From One Saw
WTHW 58 cc Gas Chainsaw, 20 in & 18 in…
58cc 2-stroke at 3.5 HP
91 ft/s chain speed
20 inch and 18 inch bars
Two chains supplied
14.5 pounds
+ The Good
- Quick-Switch system swaps a 20 inch and 18 inch bar in seconds
- 91 ft/s chain speed is high for a 58cc engine
- Fuel tank is 30 percent larger than comparable engines
- Centrifugal air filter and automatic oiler protect the engine
- The Bad
- Unknown brand with only 88 ratings so durability is less proven
- 11 percent of ratings are one star
- Two bars and chains must both be stored and kept sharp
- 3.5 HP is modest for very large hardwood rounds
A firewood job is rarely one job. You drop limbs with a longer bar, then cut rounds with a shorter one, then trim brush where neither feels right, and buying a second saw to solve that is how people end up owning two chainsaws and one of them rusty.
The Quick-Switch bar system here solves it inside one machine. A 20-inch felling bar and an 18-inch limbing bar, each with its own chain, swap in seconds, and both chains are included in the box.
Chain Speed as the Firewood Advantage
At 91 feet per second this saw runs its chain faster than most 58cc machines in this roundup, and chain speed is what determines how quickly a sharp chain bites into hardwood. It is a less discussed spec than horsepower but it is the one that shows up in how long a cord takes.
Both chains are standard 0.325 pitch and 0.058 gauge, with 76 drive links on the 20-inch and 72 on the 18-inch, so replacements are widely available and your local shop can sharpen them.
Fuel Capacity and Runtime
The fuel tank is listed as 30 percent larger than comparable 58cc engines, which in practice means fewer refills during a long bucking session. For someone processing several cords a day that is a meaningful saving in breaks taken.
The automatic chain oiler and the pro-grade centrifugal air filter both protect the engine from the sawdust that fills the air when you are cutting dirty wood on the ground, which is the normal condition of firewood work.
Safety Hardware and On-Site Tensioning
The fast-acting inertial chain brake works with a low-kickback chain, and a dual-spring anti-vibration system takes some of the sting out of the handles. Chain tensioning is done on site with an included scrench, which is the tooled approach experienced cutters prefer for precise tension.
The quick-start recoil is specified to fire reliably on the first few pulls even in cold, which is one of the two biggest firewood buying concerns after bar length.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy it if you want one saw that covers felling, bucking and brush work, and you would rather spend that time with your hands on a sharp chain than on a bar swap. The high chain speed rewards a sharp chain.
Skip it if you want a brand with a deep service history and a large review base, or if you plan to leave the saw stored over winter. Eighty-eight ratings is not much evidence about a fifteen-year service life.
9. PROYAMA 68cc 20 and 24 Inch – Best for Oversized Logs
PROYAMA 68CC Gas Powered Chainsaw, 24 Inch 20 Inch…
68cc 2-cycle engine
4.5 HP
20 inch and 24 inch bars included
14.5 pounds
Magnesium alloy chain brake and case
+ The Good
- 68cc and 4.5 HP class handles thick firewood rounds
- Includes both 20 inch and 24 inch guide bars
- Magnesium alloy brake and case resist deformation
- Anti-vibration system reduces fatigue on long sessions
- The Bad
- 3.9 average with 18 percent of ratings at one star
- Bulky 41 inch package length is less maneuverable than shorter saws
- Durability and finishing concerns appear often in reviews
Almost every firewood buyer eventually meets a round too fat for a 20-inch bar, and this is the saw in the roundup that comes prepared for it. Both a 20-inch and a 24-inch guide bar are included, so the day you hit a genuinely oversized round you have the tool rather than an order.
At 68cc and 4.5 HP it is one of the larger engines here, and the magnesium alloy chain brake and clutch case are a real material upgrade over the plastic cases used on many saws at this class.
When a 24-Inch Bar Is the Right Call
A 24-inch bar lets you cut a round in a single pass instead of walking around the far side and working out the cut by feel, and it is the right tool for storm-downed timber and large hardwood sections.
It is also 4.5 inches longer than a 20-inch bar, which means more swing, more weight at the nose and more chance of contacting the ground. A community woodworking forum user made exactly this point when noting that a 24-inch bar is plenty fine for most people cutting a full cord, not excessive, but not required either.
Weight and Maneuverability
At 14.5 pounds the saw itself is manageable, but the 41-inch package length tells you this is a large machine to get in and out of a vehicle. Plan your transport and storage before you buy, especially if the saw lives in a shed rather than a garage.
The advanced anti-vibration system with an ergonomic handle is aimed at the same fatigue problem every large-displacement saw has, and it does help over long sessions.
Where the 3.9 Rating Comes From
The 3.9 average across 680 ratings sits below every other saw here, and 18 percent of ratings sit at one star. Reviewers credit cutting power and bar options; the complaints cluster around durability and finishing quality on the units themselves.
This is a high-output machine, so I would treat it as a serious tool rather than a lifetime one, and I would keep the fuel stabilised between seasons.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy it if you already know you will hit logs over 20 inches, want the second bar included rather than ordered separately, and are comfortable judging the finish quality of the unit yourself before the season starts.
Skip it if you are buying a first saw for light firewood, or if storage and transport space is tight. A 20-inch mid-size saw covers the same work for most people with less bulk.
10. IVOVI 63cc 20 and 18 Inch – Light Dual-Bar Setup with a Provisional Rating
IVOVI 63CC Gas Chainsaw with 20-Inch and 18-Inch…
63cc 2-cycle engine
3.7 HP at 8500 RPM
20 inch and 18 inch bars
14 pounds
0.26 L automatic oiler
+ The Good
- Rated 5.0 stars across its 16 ratings
- 3.7 HP and 85 ft/s chain speed cuts thick rounds steadily
- 14 pound weight is light for a dual-bar 20 and 18 inch saw
- Shock-absorbing handles help on long cleanup jobs
- The Bad
- Very small review base of 16 ratings all from this year
- Most written reviews describe a different cordless mini chainsaw
- Only one reviewer describes the actual gas saw in operation
I want to be straight with you about this listing rather than repeat its headline number. The rating shows a perfect 5.0 stars, but it comes from 16 ratings, and the written review bodies overwhelmingly describe a battery-powered mini chainsaw with dual batteries, a 900W motor and a 12-inch bar rather than this 63cc gas saw.
So the star figure is a marketing artefact more than a performance signal. What the specifications describe is a genuinely sensible machine: a 63cc 2-cycle engine at 3.7 HP and 8500 RPM, both a 20-inch and an 18-inch bar with matching chains, and a 14-pound body.
Engine and Chain Specification
The 3.7 HP at 8500 RPM with 85 feet per second chain speed is a competitive combination for firewood, sitting in the range where a sharp chain makes hardwood rounds feel quick. The 0.26 litre automatic oiler handles bar and chain lubrication during use.
Both chains are 0.325 pitch and 0.058 gauge, 76 drive links on the 20-inch and 72 on the 18-inch, which are common sizes that any sharpening shop will handle.
Weight and Handling
At 14 pounds with shock-absorbing handles this is one of the lighter dual-bar setups here, and the bar choice covers both bucking wide rounds and limbing in tighter spaces.
Since only one reviewer describes the actual gas saw in operation, and that reviewer notes the plastic covers feel brittle, I would treat the build quality as unverified. Inspect the covers and clutch housing carefully during the return window.
Who Should Buy and Who Should Skip It
Buy it if you want both an 18-inch and a 20-inch bar in one package at a light weight, and you are comfortable evaluating a saw yourself in the first week rather than relying on a review history.
Skip it if you want a proven durability record, because sixteen ratings that mostly describe a different product do not give you one. For a saw you plan to keep for a decade, a model with hundreds of real reviews is the safer bet.
How to Choose a Gas Chainsaw for Firewood
The single most useful thing I can tell you is that bar length and engine size are decided by two separate questions, and people constantly answer both with the same number. Size the bar to your fattest log. Size the engine to how many hours a week you will spend in the woods.
Choose by the Largest Log You Cut, Not the Smallest
A saw should be roughly twice the diameter of the round you want to cut in one pass, which means an 18-inch bar for logs up to about 16 inches across and a 20-inch bar up to about 18 inches. Sizing for your smallest wood wastes money on power you will never use and gives you a heavier saw to swing.
Forum firewood cutters converge on the same answer. A commenter in a chainsaw discussion thread described a 24-inch bar as plenty fine for most people cutting a full cord, which tells you where the practical ceiling sits for residential work.
Engine Displacement Explained Without the Marketing
Engine displacement in cubic centimeters is a proxy for the amount of air and fuel the engine can move, and for firewood it maps almost directly to how long you will be standing in the yard.
Around 38 to 40cc suits occasional weekend cutting of softwood and light hardwood. The 45 to 55cc range is where most woodstove owners should look. Above 60cc you are buying capacity for big logs and professional volume, and the weight comes with it. As one arborist forum poster put it, the 70 to 85cc range is perfect for an all-around saw for someone cutting serious volume.
Weight, Balance and Vibration Over a Full Afternoon
Two to three pounds of difference is repeatedly said to decide whether a saw stays comfortable over a full afternoon, and I agree. Weight also determines whether you will cut standing up or crouching, and the saws with rear handles let you stand over the round.
Vibration matters as much as weight. Saw dampeners between the engine and the chassis, branded differently by each manufacturer, are what keep your hands from going numb during a long session. If you already have sensitivity in your hands and wrists, treat this as a deciding spec rather than a nice-to-have.
Chain Tensioning, Automatic Oiling and the Scrench
Chain tension loosens as the chain heats up, so a saw that needs frequent re-tensioning mid-session is a saw that will stop you. Tool-free side tensioners are the most convenient for cutting at the pile, and a scrench-based system gives finer control that experienced cutters prefer.
The combined wrench and screwdriver tool for a scrench system is the piece of equipment most beginners do not own, which is the practical argument for a tool-free tensioner. On lubrication, an automatic chain oiler is not optional on a modern gas saw. Too much bar oil smokes and gums the kerf, and too little dulls the chain in minutes, so set the oiler for the conditions you cut in and check the level before each session.
Starting Systems and the Fuel Mix Habit
If a saw is hard to start, it is almost always one of four things: an old fuel mix, a clogged air filter, a stale spark plug, or the choke being set wrong. Learn the sequence and hard starting stops being a personality trait of the saw.
Use a quality two-stroke oil at a 50:1 ratio unless your saw’s manual specifies otherwise, run fresh stabilizer in any fuel you will leave standing, and never run straight gasoline in a 2-cycle engine. Fuel that sits untreated over winter is the most common cause of a saw that will not start in spring.
Husqvarna vs ECHO: Which Brand Suits Your Firewood
Which brand of gas chainsaw is considered the most reliable? In practice, reliability is decided by the dealer network and the parts availability more than by measured performance, and that is where the two large brands differ most for a firewood cutter.
Is ECHO just as good as STIHL? For firewood work, an ECHO saw such as the CS-590 in this roundup is genuinely competitive with anything at the same engine size, and the community view that Stihl leads on power to weight, then Husqvarna, then ECHO is about general handling rather than firewood throughput. Forums also surface Dolmar and Makita as respected alternatives worth considering if your local dealer stocks them. Pick the brand with the closest dealer who will sharpen your chain, because that service will matter to you more than the badge.
Chainsaw Safety Gear and Kickback Basics
Chainsaw safety is not optional discussion, and forum users with years of experience are the loudest about it. One Canadian woodworking forum poster framed the risk plainly, noting that chainsaws are very dangerous and that fuel mixtures, bar oil, chain tightening and the occasional slip of a chain are all part of working with one.
The minimum kit is cut-resistant chaps, eye protection, hearing protection above 85 decibels, gloves, and sturdy boots. A helmet is worth adding if you are felling or working near anything that can fall. That gear is inexpensive compared with the saw and it is the only thing standing between a mistake and an emergency room visit.
Understand the kickback zone, which is the upper quarter of the bar tip, and never let that part of the bar touch wood. A chain brake is a mechanical backstop, not a substitute for geometry. Stand with the saw slightly to one side of the cut line, keep both hands on the saw, and never cut with the tip pointed at your body. A felling notch cut into the round is not optional when the log is standing.
Once the rounds are cut, get them off the ground and stored properly rather than leaving a tarp pile to go damp. Our firewood rack and cover guide covers storage, and the processors for small operations guide covers mechanising larger volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chainsaw is best for cutting firewood?
A 50cc to 55cc gas chainsaw with an 18 or 20 inch guide bar is the best general answer for cutting firewood. That class covers rounds up to about 16 to 18 inches in diameter on a single pass, keeps the saw light enough for a full afternoon, and has enough torque that a sharp chain does most of the work.
What is a good size chainsaw for cutting firewood?
Size a chainsaw for firewood by the diameter of the round, not the height of the tree. An 18 inch bar suits logs up to about 16 inches across, a 20 inch bar up to about 18 inches, and a 24 inch bar is only needed for storm downed or oversized timber. Pair the bar with 45 to 55cc of engine displacement for several cords per year.
Which brand of gas chainsaw is considered the most reliable?
Husqvarna, STIHL and ECHO all build reliable gas saws, and for most firewood buyers reliability comes down to the local dealer network rather than measured performance. Community consensus generally rates Stihl highest for power to weight, Husqvarna next, and ECHO slightly behind, though an ECHO in the right engine class performs well on firewood. Choose the brand your nearest dealer will service.
Is Echo just as good as STIHL?
For firewood work, an ECHO saw in the right engine class is genuinely competitive with a comparable STIHL. ECHO models such as the CS-590 cut as much wood per hour as premium rivals, and the brand is recognised for long service life. The practical difference is recoil effort and dealer reach rather than cutting ability, so buy the brand your nearest dealer supports.
Why is my chainsaw difficult to start?
Four things cause almost every hard-starting chainsaw: an old fuel mix, a clogged air filter, a stale spark plug, and a choke set wrong. Drain last season’s fuel or add stabilizer to any fuel you store, check the air filter, fit a fresh spark plug, and learn the choke sequence. If the engine floods, let it sit for a few minutes and pull with the choke fully open.
What safety gear do I need for a gas chainsaw?
You need cut-resistant chaps, safety glasses, hearing protection above 85 decibels, gloves and sturdy safety boots, plus a helmet when felling or working near falling limbs. Learn where the kickback zone sits on the bar tip and never let it contact wood, keep both hands on the saw, and stand to one side of the cut line rather than behind the log.
Final Verdict: Which Gas Chainsaw You Should Buy
If you want one answer, take the Husqvarna 450 Rancher. At 50.2cc with a 20-inch bar and a 14-pound weight, it handles the widest range of round diameters comfortably, and it is the pick we would put in anyone’s hands without a second question.
If your wood is big and the hours are long, go with the ECHO CS-590-20AA for storm work and large oak. If you want maximum engine size per pound spent, the NEO-TEC 62cc gives you a 20-inch bar and a large review base without the premium-brand mark-up. For lighter volume and a lighter saw, the Husqvarna 445S 18-inch and the ECHO CS-4510-18 cover it, with the ECHO offering the more upright posture. Dual-bar setups suit anyone who does limbs and rounds in one session, and the VEVOR 52cc is the entry point if you service it in the first hour.
Whatever you choose among the best gas chainsaws for firewood, buy chaps with it, keep a round file in the truck, and stabilise the fuel you leave standing. Those three habits matter more to how long the saw lasts 2026 and beyond.
