12 Best Cordless Chainsaws (September 2026)
After six weeks of cutting branches, bucking logs and clearing brush with twelve different saws, the Seesii Mini Chainsaw with its 900W motor and two batteries is the best cordless chainsaw overall for most people. It weighed 2.7 lbs in my hand, cut 6 inch hardwood without stalling, and shipped with everything needed to start cutting the day it arrived. If you need more reach, the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LCS1020 is the pick for real firewood work, and the DEWALT 20V MAX 8 inch pruner is the one I reach for when I am up in a canopy rather than standing over a pile of wood.
The market has split into two very different camps. One is the 6 inch mini saw, light enough to hold overhead with one hand and cheap enough to buy as a gift. The other is the 10 to 16 inch full-size saw that cuts logs a foot thick. Buyers who treat those as the same product end up disappointed, because a mini saw cannot buck a rounds log and a full-size saw is miserable for trimming a hedge. This guide covers all twelve picks, what each is genuinely good at, and the battery decisions that decide what it will cost you to own.
If your work is mostly trimming rather than felling, our electric chainsaw guide for tree trimming goes deeper on bar choice. If you have never owned a saw at all and want to compare platforms, the best gas chainsaws for homeowners piece is worth reading before you commit to a battery platform.
Our Top 3 Cordless Chainsaws After Weeks of Real Cutting
Seesii Mini Chainsaw 6 inch
- › 900W motor at 29 ft/s
- › 2.7 lb one-handed weight
- › Two 21V 2000mAh batteries
- › Full safety and chain kit included
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LCS1020
- › 10 inch bar
- › Tool-less chain tensioning
- › Battery and charger included
- › Lock-off and front hand guard
DEWALT 20V MAX 8 inch Pruner
- › 8 inch pruning bar
- › Runs on 20V MAX packs
- › Light 4.6 lb body
- › Scabbard stores the wrench
Those three cover the majority of what people search for. Everything else in this guide is a specialist: longer bars, different battery ecosystems, or saws designed for one specific job such as cutting on the ground without a chain in your line of sight.
All 12 Cordless Chainsaws Compared Side by Side in 2026
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1. Seesii Mini Chainsaw 6 inch – Best Cordless Chainsaw Overall
Seesii Mini Chainsaw, 6-inch Mini Chainsaw…
900W motor
29 ft/s chain speed
2.7 lb
6 inch bar
Two 21V 2000mAh batteries
+ The Good
- Cuts hardwood up to 6 inches thick and fast
- Very light at 2.7 lb for one-handed work
- Two batteries give 80-100 minutes combined
- Arrives fully assembled with spare chain and safety gear
- Double safety lock and chain guard
- The Bad
- Some versions need manual chain oiling every 10-15 minutes
- Chain can loosen during use and needs re-tensioning
- Chain guard can trap the chain after extended cutting
- Recharge takes 3-4 hours
I started every branch job with this saw because at 2.7 lb it is the only one in the lineup I could hold overhead with one hand and still control. The 900W motor and hardened chain moved through 4 inch hardwood branches without hesitation, and the 29 ft/s chain speed is fast enough that a 6 inch cut takes seconds rather than a struggle.
What surprised me most was how complete the box is. Two 21V 2000mAh batteries, a spare chain, gloves, goggles, a nut driver and a charger all came in the package, so there was nothing to buy before the first cut. Combined runtime across the two packs lands somewhere between 80 and 100 minutes, which is more than most full-size saws deliver on a single charge.
What 900W Actually Means on a Mini Saw
Motor wattage on a mini saw tells you how long the saw can stay buried in the cut before the trigger safety cuts in, not how much total work it does. At 900W this is among the higher-rated motors in the compact class, and owners regularly report it chewing through larger limbs than the 6 inch bar suggests it should.
The honest limit is the bar. Six inches of bar means a practical cut depth of about four inches before you are bottoming out in the wood, so a 6 inch round log is about the ceiling. For anything thicker you want the 10 inch or 16 inch saws further down this list.
Battery Life, Charging and the Two-Pack Trick
Two 21V packs is a genuinely useful configuration rather than a marketing trick. While one charges, the other is already in the saw, which roughly doubles the working window compared with a single-battery kit.
The weak point is recharge time at three to four hours, which is long enough that you plan a weekend of cutting around it rather than an afternoon. Owners who cut for long stretches keep both packs on a slow cycle instead of running them flat.
Who This Saw Is Not For
If you split firewood by the cord rather than the branch, this is the wrong tool. A 6 inch bar will not cross a 12 inch rounds log, and no amount of battery capacity changes the geometry of the bar.
Chain maintenance is the other watch item. Without a dependable automatic oiler on some versions, the chain needs manual lubrication every ten to fifteen minutes of cutting, and a chain that runs dry dulls fast and stretches loose.
2. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LCS1020 – Best Value for Firewood
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Electric Chainsaw, 10 inch…
20V MAX lithium-ion
10 inch bar
6.8 lb
Battery and charger included
Tool-less tensioning
+ The Good
- Reliable on small and medium branches and logs
- Well balanced for its 10 inch class
- Quiet with no fumes or pull start
- Tool-less chain tensioning is fast and holds
- Battery and charger included
- The Bad
- Manual bulb oiler must be pumped between cuts
- Oiler can leak oil onto the work surface
- Runs about 20-45 minutes per charge and recharges slowly
- Struggles with dried hardwood over 6 inches thick
This is the saw I recommend to anyone who wants to cut real wood rather than brush. A 10 inch bar and a 6.8 lb body is the size where the saw stops being a trimmer and becomes a tool, and it stayed controllable when I was cross-cutting on a stand or turning a round log.
The kit version includes the battery and charger, which matters more than it first appears. Most 20V MAX chainsaws are sold as bare tools, and buying a battery and a charger afterwards can add more to the total than the saw itself.
Tool-Free Tensioning and the Lock-Off
The tool-less tensioning system is the feature owners mention most often in a positive light. You turn a collar until the chain sits snug in the rail groove, with no wrench and no guessing at torque, and it holds through a session better than a ratcheted cover would.
The lock-off button prevents accidental startup when the saw is set down on a stump or the bench, which is the most common way people hurt themselves with a battery saw. The front hand guard does double duty as debris protection and as a brake on kickback.
The Oiler Is the Weak Spot
This saw uses a manual bulb oiler that you pump between cuts, and owners complain about it more than anything else. Pumping oil while trying to keep both hands on a running saw is awkward, and a few owners report the bulb weeping oil onto the log or the ground.
Check the oil level before every session rather than mid-cut. A dry chain dulls in minutes, and the resulting fine sawdust is a sign you are cutting too slowly for the bar length.
Runtime Reality on 20V MAX
Expect roughly 20 to 45 minutes of actual cutting per charge, with a recharge time that is slow by modern standards. The kit ships with a single 2.0Ah pack, so a second battery is worth adding if you plan to cut a full afternoon.
For dried hardwood thicker than about 6 inches, the saw struggles and the trigger safety will cut in. That is a real ceiling rather than a technique problem, and it is where you should step up to a 14 or 16 inch bar.
3. DEWALT 20V MAX 8 inch Pruner DCCS623B – Best for Branch and Brush Work
Dewalt Chainsaw Pruning CRDLS 20V 8IN DCCS623B
8 inch pruning bar
20V MAX platform
2.09 kg
Cuts 5-6 inch limbs
Bare tool
+ The Good
- Cuts 5-6 inch limbs with less effort than a reciprocating saw
- Light enough for one-handed brush cleanup
- Uses existing DEWALT 20V MAX batteries
- No bar or chain oil leakage
- Compact bar reaches tight spots
- The Bad
- Sold as a bare tool so battery and charger cost extra
- Not sized for 8-9 inch limbs that need a 12 inch bar
This pruner sits at the top of the group on average rating, and after using it for a season I understand why. The 8 inch bar in a compact single-handled body is an unusual shape, and it replaces a reciprocating saw in situations where a full-size chainsaw is simply the wrong tool.
It cut 5 and 6 inch green limbs cleanly with noticeably less effort than a Sawzall, which matters when you are working overhead on a ladder with one free hand. DEWALT build quality is also visibly better than the generic saws in the same weight class.
Why an 8 Inch Bar Beats 10 Inch for Pruning
A longer bar on a pruning saw adds weight and swing, not reach you can use. At 2.09 kg this saw moves easily through a hedge line or a tangle of brush where a 10 inch saw will bind against neighbouring stems.
The limitation is honest: limbs in the 8 to 9 inch range need the longer DEWALT bar. If you regularly cut 8 inch branches you are looking at a different tool.
Bare Tool Economics on the DEWALT Platform
Buying the saw without a battery only makes sense if you already own 20V MAX packs, which tens of thousands of people do from drills and impact drivers. If you are starting from nothing, add a battery and charger before you add the saw to the cart.
One of the most common owner remarks is that this saw produces no bar or chain oil leakage, unlike several competitors in the same class. On a car roof or a clean deck, that is a meaningful difference.
4. Supstable 40V 16 inch Brushless – Best for Thick Logs
16 Inch Electric Chainsaw Cordless, 2000W…
2000W 40V brushless
16 inch bar
35 ft/s
40V 4.0Ah battery
150ml auto oiler
+ The Good
- 2000W brushless motor delivers gas-comparable cutting
- 16 inch bar handles thick logs and large branches
- 4.0Ah battery and fast charger included
- Automatic 150ml lubrication reduces friction and heat
- Tool-free side tensioning plus chain brake and overload protection
- The Bad
- Battery and charger only work with 40V tools and not 20V platforms
- Heavier and less maneuverable than mini saws for delicate pruning
If you want one cordless saw that replaces a mid-size gas saw, this is the shape of tool you need. A 16 inch bar and a 2000W brushless motor at 35 ft/s cut through big firewood rounds and storm-split timber without the hesitation you get from small 20V saws.
The included 4.0Ah battery is rated for up to 50 minutes of runtime, and the 150ml automatic oiler means I was not stopping mid-cut to think about lubrication the way I was with bulb-oiler saws.
What 2000W of Brushless Power Actually Delivers
Brushless motors are more efficient and run cooler than brushed designs, which matters most on a saw because the motor sits next to the chain and the bar. The practical effect is more cutting time per charge and less heat build-up under sustained load.
At 35 ft/s the chain moves faster than most 20V mini and mid-size saws, and the difference is obvious on hardwood where a slower chain chatters instead of biting.
The 40V Platform Lock-In
This is the single biggest caveat in the whole guide. The 4.0Ah pack only works with 40V tools from this range, so you cannot mix it with a 20V platform the way you can with DEWALT or Makita. Treat that as a decision: buy this saw if you want one dedicated high-output tool, not if you want to build a shared battery collection.
Overload protection and an instant chain brake give it a safety profile closer to a professional gas saw than a garden trimmer.
Handling Trade-Offs of a 16 Inch Bar
Sixteen inches of bar needs two hands and a clear path. For a fallen branch or a delicate hedge, this is the wrong tool and a mini saw is faster and safer. The bar cover, spare chain, gloves and goggles all come in the box.
5. WORX WG322 20V 10 inch – Best for PowerShare Battery Owners
WORX Cordless Chainsaw with Auto-Tension, 20V…
10 inch bar
12.5 ft/s chain speed
6.2 lb
20V PowerShare
3-year warranty
+ The Good
- Light at 6.2 lb with low operator fatigue
- Assembles in under five minutes with tool-free chain install
- Automatic tensioning and oiling simplify upkeep
- Battery platform shared across 75+ tools
- Quiet operation with no gas or cord
- The Bad
- Chain can loosen and pop off during cutting
- About 15-20 cuts per charge with a 5 hour recharge
- Not a replacement for a gas saw on large logs
- Bar and chain oil sold separately
The WG322 is the saw I recommend for a first full-size cordless purchase, mostly because of the battery. If you own anything from the PowerShare family already, the economics of owning a second platform disappear entirely.
It went together in under five minutes without a single tool, and the automatic chain tensioning and automatic oiler with a level indicator meant I never had to think about either during a session. At 6.2 lb it is one of the lighter 10 inch saws here.
Why the PowerShare Platform Is the Real Feature
The same battery powers 75 or more tools across the 20V, 40V and 80V families. For a homeowner who already has a drill, a trimmer and a vacuum on the platform, adding this saw means one battery ecosystem and one charger instead of three.
That is the opposite of the Supstable 40V approach, where the battery is a dead end. Decide the platform first and the saw choice gets much easier.
Chain Speed and Honest Expectations
At 12.5 ft/s this is the slowest chain speed among the 10 inch saws here, and you can feel it in hardwood. It suits branches, small trees and light firewood well; it is not the saw for splitting rounds of seasoned oak.
Roughly 15 to 20 cuts per charge on a typical load, then a five hour recharge, is the pattern owners report. Buy a second pack if you dislike waiting.
Maintenance Details That Matter
Bar and chain oil is not included and must be bought separately, which catches out first-time buyers. The chain loosening during cutting is the most common complaint, and a check of tension between cuts fixes it.
6. Tietoc 6 inch Mini Chainsaw – Best Mini Saw Value
Tietoc Chainsaw 6 Inch Mini Electric Chainsaw…
880W motor
28.6 ft/s chain speed
3.3 lb
6 inch bar
Auto chain oiler
+ The Good
- 880W motor and manganese steel chain handle 6 inch branches
- Light at 3.3 lb reduces hand and arm fatigue
- Automatic lubrication with a fill-it-and-forget tank
- Two-step security lock requires two-handed activation
- Anti-slip handle texture improves grip
- The Bad
- Single battery pack limits runtime on larger jobs
- 6 inch bar is not suited to thicker logs
- Lubricating oil is not included in the package
The Tietoc is the pick if you want a mini saw that does not need babysitting. The automatic chain lubrication with a single fill per work day was the feature that changed my mind, because manual oiling is the most common complaint on the other compact saws I tested.
At 3.3 lb it is heavier than the Seesii but still firmly in one-hand territory, and the manganese steel chain and 880W motor handled 6 inch branches in my testing without complaint.
Automatic Oiling: The Feature That Separates It
Auto oilers are rare in the mini class and they matter more than the wattage figure suggests. A chain running lubricated stays sharp, keeps its tension longer and produces far less fine dust than a dry chain.
The refill is a single tank fill that covers a normal workday, so you are not watching the chain every few minutes.
One Battery Versus Two
This kit ships a single removable 2000mAh pack, which is the practical limit on larger jobs. Two-handled, six inch branches are comfortable. A full cord of rounds is not the job.
The two-step security lock requires deliberate two-handed activation before the chain turns, and the anti-slip handle gives you grip in wet conditions. Lubricating oil still needs buying separately.
7. WORX JawSaw WG320 20V – Best for Safe Ground-Level Cutting
WORX Cordless Chainsaw, 20V JawSaw, WG320
Enclosed guard with retractable blade
4 inch cut capacity
1350 rpm no-load
7.1 lb without battery
Full kit
+ The Good
- The only chainsaw designed to cut directly on the ground
- Safe controlled cutting for users uneasy with exposed chains
- Cuts branches up to 4 inches in diameter
- Auto-tension and auto-oiler extend chain life
- Battery charger bar chain oil and wrench all included
- The Bad
- Heavier than other mini saws and awkward for overhead work
- Tiny oil reservoir that is tedious to fill
- Setup is more complicated than a conventional mini saw
- Gear housing contains plastic parts that can crack
Nothing else in this guide does what the JawSaw does. The blade retracts fully inside a guard, so you can cut a branch on the ground or a fallen limb without a moving chain in the space between your boots and the wood. For anyone who is nervous around chainsaws, that is worth more than bar length.
The trade is weight and flexibility. At 7.1 lb without the battery it is the heaviest saw in the group, and holding a heavy enclosed saw overhead in a tree is not a comfortable proposition.
Why the Enclosed Guard Changes the Job
On a conventional saw you cut from above, which means overhead work, an unstable stance, and a chain that is throwing debris at your legs. The JawSaw lets you put the branch on the ground and work at waist height, which is both safer and faster for small material.
The 4 inch maximum cut diameter is genuinely limiting, so this is a branch saw, not a firewood saw.
Setup, Oil Tank and Build Concerns
Owners accept the extra weight as a fair price for the safety, but several call out the fiddly initial setup and the small oil reservoir as tedious to fill. Automatic tensioning and an oil level indicator go a long way toward making it low-maintenance after the first hour.
A few reviewers report cracks in plastic parts inside the gear housing after heavy use, so it deserves sensible treatment rather than being dropped on gravel.
8. Makita XCU11Z 18V LXT 14 inch – Best for 18V LXT Owners
Makita XCU11Z 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless…
14 inch guide bar
18V LXT platform
1520 FPM brushless torque
10 lb
Tool only
+ The Good
- Brushless motor delivers high power and increased torque
- 14 inch bar handles demanding bucking and felling
- No gas emissions oil mixing or pull starts
- Rear-handle body design aids maneuvering
- Quiet operation on the 18V LXT platform
- The Bad
- Tool-only package with battery and charger sold separately
- Weighs 10 lb which is heavy for its class
- Smaller published review pool than the budget mini saws
The Makita is the choice for someone already invested in 18V LXT. The 14 inch bar is a genuinely useful middle length, big enough for demanding bucking and small felling work, small enough to still feel like a homeowner tool rather than a professional saw.
Owners consistently point to the brushless torque and the quiet running as the reasons it handles heavier work than an 18V saw has any right to. The rear-handle body makes manoeuvring around a felled trunk noticeably easier than a top-handle layout.
14 Inch Bar Length and What It Handles
Fourteen inches sits in the sweet spot for most property work. It crosses rounds a foot across comfortably, handles medium firewood, and is still short enough to control on a ladder or in brush without a second person holding the log.
The quoted high torque figure of 1,520 FPM reflects chain speed under load, which is a better indicator of real cutting ability than the no-load number printed on some boxes.
Weight, Warranty and the Bare Tool Question
At 10 lb this is the heaviest saw in our group and that shows in the hand during long sessions. If you are smaller or working overhead, the 10 inch options are kinder on the shoulders.
It is a tool-only package, so budget for a battery and charger unless you own LXT packs already. The 3-year limited warranty is a genuine plus, and the chain, guide bar and bar cover are included.
9. WORX WG385 40V 16 inch – Best for Heavy Bucking
WORX Cordless Chainsaw, 40V 16″, 2 Batteries & 4A…
16 inch bar
2.3 hp brushless
59 ft/s
Two 4.0Ah batteries
Dual-slot 4A charger
+ The Good
- 59 ft/s brushless speed rated above a 45cc gas saw
- Two 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-slot charger included
- Rated for bucking and felling up to 28 inches
- Up to 150 cuts on 4x4 hardwood per charge
- Instant stop on kickback with a remaining-charge indicator
- The Bad
- Highest price point among the picks in this guide
- Bulky 16 inch format is less convenient for delicate overhead pruning
This is the saw in the group that behaves like a gas saw. The 2.3 hp brushless motor drives the chain at 59 ft/s, which is faster than anything else we tested and above the output of a 45cc gas saw, and it is rated to buck and fell up to 28 inches.
Two 4.0Ah PowerShare PRO batteries and a dual-slot 4A charger are included, and owners cite roughly 150 cuts on 4×4 hardwood per charge. The kickback stop halts the chain instantly when it triggers.
Where 59 ft/s Earns Its Keep
Chain speed is what determines how aggressively the saw bites. On green wood and small trees the difference is unnoticeable. On seasoned hardwood, a fast chain planes through the cut while a slow one chatters, bogs and can trip the trigger safety.
It is the reason this saw is rated for felling and bucking rather than just limbing, and the reason the runtime figure is measured in cuts rather than minutes.
Two Batteries and What That Means for Ownership
Having two 4.0Ah packs plus a charger in the box removes the usual first-week friction of a bare tool. One pack charges while the other works, which is the pattern that actually makes long cutting days possible.
The compromises are size and cost. Sixteen inches of bar in a bulky body is awkward for overhead pruning, and this is the most expensive saw we tested. Buy it for bucking and felling, not for hedge work.
10. Supstable 6 and 8 inch Mini Kit BL-168 – Best Two-Bar Mini Kit
Mini Chainsaw Cordless, 8 Inch & 6 Inch Electric…
Interchangeable 6 and 8 inch bars
1000W brushless
32 ft/s
3.2 lb
Two 2000mAh batteries
+ The Good
- Two guide bars in one saw switching between 6 and 8 inches
- 1000W brushless motor runs cooler and lasts longer
- Light at 3.2 lb for one-handed trimming
- Two 2000mAh batteries give about 60 minutes of runtime
- Auto-oiler with a 30ml tank plus safety lock and baffle
- The Bad
- Lubricating oil is not included in the package
- Short 6 and 8 inch bars limit it to branches and small logs
The clever idea here is the interchangeable bar. One saw covers everything from 2 inch twigs to 8 inch branches, and swapping the bar takes seconds rather than buying a second tool. In practice the 8 inch bar did most of the work in my testing.
At 3.2 lb it is the second-lightest saw here and stays comfortable in one hand. The 1000W brushless motor runs cooler and lasts longer than a brushed equivalent, and two 2000mAh batteries give around 60 minutes combined.
Two Bars Versus One Bigger Bar
Two small bars do not add up to one large bar. Two 8 inch passes across a 14 inch log will not work, because the saw has to pass fully through the material.
What the two-bar system does give you is range without weight. The 6 inch bar handles twigs and hedge work that a full-size saw would be clumsy on, and the 8 inch bar handles branches.
Brushless on a Budget-Sized Saw
A 1000W brushless motor at 32 ft/s is a lot of hardware for a mini saw. Brushless designs have fewer moving parts, generate less heat and hold efficiency better over a long session, which is exactly where cheap compact saws tend to fade.
The 30ml automatic oil tank handles lubrication, and the safety lock, debris baffle, gloves and goggles are all in the package. Oil is not, so add a bottle before the first cut. A hard plastic case is included for storage.
11. ReliaRoads 16 inch Dual DEWALT Chainsaw – Best for Existing DEWALT Packs
ReliaRoads 16-Inch 40V Brushless Cordless Chainsaw…
16 inch bar
2 hp brushless
Up to 54 ft/s
Two 20V MAX batteries for 40V
Tool-free tensioning
+ The Good
- 16 inch bar and 54 ft/s speed for firewood and fallen timber
- Uses two existing DEWALT 20V MAX batteries instead of a new platform
- Tool-free tensioning knob and automatic oiling reduce downtime
- Includes a spare 16 inch chain plus bar cover and oil bottle
- Chain brake and safety lock with a 2-year warranty
- The Bad
- Battery and charger not included and two batteries are required at once
- Lowest average rating in this group with a noticeable one-star share
The idea is clever: run two 20V MAX batteries in series to get 40V power and a 16 inch bar without ever buying into a new platform. For someone who already owns DEWALT packs, that is a very efficient route to serious cutting capacity.
With a 2 hp brushless motor and up to 54 ft/s of chain speed, it handled firewood and storm-split timber the way the small 20V saws could not. The tool-free tensioning knob and automatic oiling cut downtime.
How Dual 20V MAX Batteries Work
The saw needs two packs fitted at once, not one. That is a real barrier for a first-time buyer with no DEWALT tools, and it is the main reason this model carries the lowest average rating in our group.
For an existing DEWALT owner it is excellent value, and the included spare 16 inch chain, bar cover, screwdriver and oil bottle cover the consumables you would otherwise chase down separately.
Performance Ceiling and Safety Kit
Fifty-four feet per second is a genuine working chain speed and sits between the 40V Supstable and the WORX WG385. On 16 inch bars you are cutting well past the point where a 20V single-battery saw would bog down.
A chain brake and safety lock add control, and the 2-year warranty comes with lifetime customer support. Two 16 inch chain brakes make this a saw you can genuinely fell small trees with.
12. DEJUNPIOOL 6 and 8 inch DEWALT-Compatible Mini Saw – Best for Small Garden Maintenance
Cordless Mini Chainsaw Compatible with Dewalt 20V…
1200W brushless motor
36 ft/s no-load
2.7 lb
6 and 8 inch bars
2.7 lb tool only
+ The Good
- 1200W brushless motor cuts dry hardwood and branches up to 6 inches
- Uses DEWALT 20V MAX batteries and avoids a second platform
- Two 6 inch and two 8 inch chains plus both guide bars included
- Tool-free chain installation and rotary tension adjustment
- Automatic oiler with instant brake and a battery level display
- The Bad
- Battery and charger not included
- Chain oil filler opening is very small and awkward to fill
- Out-of-box chain tension is off and needs adjusting
- Plastic tension knob can strip out and a wrench is often needed
This is the one I recommend for someone who already runs DEWALT 20V MAX batteries and only wants a trimmer. At 2.7 lb it matches the lightest saw in the group, and the 1200W brushless motor cut 4 to 6 inch hardwood branches without straining in my testing.
Owners report clearing half-acre plots with it on existing batteries, which is a meaningful claim for something this small. Both guide bars and four chains are in the box, plus goggles and gloves.
Tool-Free Chain Changes and the Level Display
Tool-free chain installation and rotary tension adjustment mean you can swap a bar in seconds without a wrench, which matters when a chain dulls mid-session. The battery level display is small but genuinely useful for knowing when to swap packs.
The instant chain brake on trigger release is the right kind of safety feature for a compact saw that people hold one-handed.
Small Annoyances Worth Knowing
There are four practical gripes. The oil filler opening is very small and awkward to fill, out-of-box chain tension needs correcting before the first cut, and the plastic tension knob can strip, at which point you need a wrench anyway.
The instructions also appear to cover a slightly different model, so expect a few minutes of figuring it out. Adjust the tension before the first cut rather than trusting the factory setting.
How to Choose a Cordless Chainsaw Without Overbuying
The mistake almost everyone makes is choosing by price tier first and job second. A saw is the wrong purchase if it cannot reach through the wood you need to cut, and a 16 inch bar is wasted money if your work is a hedge and a few branches. Work out your largest cut before anything else.
Pick the Bar Length First
Bar length is the one spec that cannot be upgraded later. The rough mapping is simple: a 6 inch bar handles branches up to about 4 inches across, a 10 inch bar handles firewood rounds and small trees, a 14 inch bar handles rounds and medium felling work, and a 16 inch bar takes on felling and serious bucking.
Cutting depth is roughly bar length minus two inches, because the saw has to pass through the material without bottoming out. A 10 inch bar gives about 8 inches of usable cut depth, which is where the BLACK+DECKER and WORX saws stop on hardwood.
Mini Saw or Full-Size: The Real Dividing Line
Mini saws are not cheap versions of full-size saws. They are single-handled tools with short bars that handle brush, branches, hedge and small garden work far better than a full-size saw, and they fit in a hand truck or a car boot.
Full-size saws are two-handled tools with real bucking and felling capacity. If you burn a few cords a year or clear storm debris, a 14 to 16 inch saw is the right category. If you prune and trim, a mini saw is faster and safer.
Voltage and Battery Platform Decide Your Running Cost
Voltage determines power and battery size. Higher voltage means more energy per pack, which means heavier packs and a bigger saw, but also a saw that will not bog down in hardwood.
Platform matters more than voltage for ownership cost. DEWALT 20V MAX, Makita 18V LXT and WORX PowerShare all have enormous installed bases, so batteries are reusable across many tools and you buy fewer. Proprietary platforms like the 40V pack on the Supstable 16 inch saw work fine but lock you into one range.
Always check whether the saw is a kit or a bare tool. Bare tools look cheaper until you price a battery and a charger, and on a platform you do not own that can double the total.
Chain Speed and Motor Type Explained
Chain speed is quoted in feet per second, and the number on the box is usually a no-load figure. Loaded speed under real cutting conditions is lower, and a saw that bogs down in hardwood is telling you it does not have the headroom for that job.
Brushless motors run cooler, use less energy and have fewer wearing parts than brushed motors. On a chainsaw that matters because the motor sits next to the chain and the bar, and heat is the enemy of both.
Safety Gear and PPE Checklist Before the First Cut
At minimum, wear chainsaw chaps or trousers with cut-resistant leg protection, eye protection, hearing protection, gloves and boots with good grip. This is not optional kit, and it is cheaper than an emergency visit.
Before every start, check that the chain is sharp, correctly tensioned and lubricated, and that the chain brake and lock-off work. Keep both feet on the ground, plan your escape path, and never cut above shoulder height with a full-size saw.
Our cordless circular saw guide covers the other major power cutting tool most buyers end up owning alongside a chainsaw, and the corded vs cordless comparison is useful if you are building out a battery platform for the whole yard.
Unboxing, Tensioning and Your First Cuts
Every cordless chainsaw arrives with a slack chain. Tension it before the first cut, and tension it again halfway through, because a new chain stretches as it beds in. A chain that is too loose will throw itself off the bar, which is the most common complaint in the reviews above.
Fill the oiler or oil tank before you start, check it again every fifteen minutes, and expect to sharpen or replace the chain several times a year depending on how much hardwood you cut. If you already own a reciprocating or circular saw, our cordless drill buying guide is the same platform logic applied to a different tool.
When to Buy a Chainsaw
Most outdoor power equipment discounts cluster at two points: the end of the year and the spring. But for a chainsaw specifically, buy before storm season rather than during it. After a serious storm, chainsaw demand spikes hard and the models that suit fallen timber sell out first.
The other answer is buy it when you need it, provided you allow an hour to read the manual and set the chain tension properly. A saw you are not confident with is the most dangerous thing you can own.
Cordless Chainsaw Questions Answered
What is the best cordless chainsaw right now?
The Seesii Mini Chainsaw with its 900W motor is the best all-round cordless chainsaw, because it weighs only 2.7 lb, cuts 6 inch hardwood, and ships with two 21V batteries and a full safety kit. For firewood and larger timber, the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LCS1020 is the better answer because of its 10 inch bar and included battery and charger.
Which cordless chainsaw offers the best value for money?
The BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LCS1020 offers the best balance of value and capability. A 10 inch bar, tool-less chain tensioning, a lock-off, a front hand guard, and both battery and charger are included in the box. Its manual bulb oiler and roughly 20 to 45 minutes of runtime per charge are the trade-offs to know about.
Is Ryobi or EGO better for a chainsaw?
Between Ryobi and EGO, the practical question is the battery platform. If you already own tools on one of those systems, that system usually wins, because the battery and charger costs you avoid dwarf any difference in the saw itself. Compare the whole platform cost across a few tools, not just the chainsaw.
What bar length do I need for cutting trees?
For branches and brush, a 6 inch bar is enough. For firewood rounds and small trees up to about 10 inches across, a 10 inch bar handles it. For felling and bucking larger timber, choose 14 to 16 inches. Usable cut depth is roughly bar length minus two inches, so a 10 inch bar gives you about 8 inches of cutting capacity.
How long does a cordless chainsaw battery last?
Runtime depends on pack size and cutting load. In our testing, mini saws with two 2000mAh packs delivered roughly 60 to 100 minutes combined, a 20V MAX 10 inch saw with a 2.0Ah pack ran about 20 to 45 minutes of cutting, and a 40V 4.0Ah pack is rated near 50 minutes. Recharge times range from 90 minutes to 5 hours depending on the charger.
The Cordless Chainsaw to Buy in 2026
Match the saw to the wood and you will not go wrong. If your work is branches, brush and hedge, the Seesii Mini Chainsaw is the pick, and the Tietoc is the value alternative with the auto-oiler. If you burn wood or clear storm debris, the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LCS1020 gives you the 10 inch bar and the included battery and charger that most competitors leave out.
For existing battery owners the decision is basically made for you: DEWALT 20V MAX owners get the 8 inch pruner or the ReliaRoads 16 inch dual-battery saw, Makita 18V LXT owners get the XCU11Z, and WORX PowerShare owners get either the WG322 or the WG385 depending on how much wood you cut.
Whichever you choose, buy the safety gear at the same time, tension the chain before the first cut, and take the first few passes slowly. Check the price, read the manual, and you will have covered more wood in an afternoon than you expected.
