Best cordless chainsaws

Serious landscapers know that the best cordless chainsaws can make big jobs go a lot faster. Here are our favorite picks.

Cutting felled tree with chainsaw
(Image credit: HansLinde of Pixabay)

Landscaping and gardening can be exhausting work, especially if you're working with large yards or farms. A chainsaw is one of the best tools for reducing the time and energy spent on landscaping projects. Suddenly, pruning and cutting branches are jobs that require minutes instead of hours! We've put together a list of the best cordless chainsaws for landscaping and gardening. 

Best value

BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX cordless chainsaw

(Image credit: BLACK+DECKER Inc.)

BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX cordless chainsaw

Most affordable kit

Not only does the Black+Decker LCS1020 kit come with a rechargeable battery and a charger, but it is also the most affordable set on our list. 

Pros:

  • Great low price
  • Kit comes with a battery, charger, and blade cover
  • Compact, lightweight design

Cons:

  • Blade is only 10 inches

This little chainsaw is small but mighty, with a 10-inch blade that's plenty big enough for most everyday landscaping jobs. Since it is compact and lightweight, the Black+Decker LCS1020 works for both big pruning jobs as well as cutting small trees and firewood. The kit comes with a battery, a charger, and a blade cover. The best part? You won't find a better price for a cordless chainsaw kit of this size. 

Best for trimming trees

DEWALT 20V MAX XR pole saw

(Image credit: Amazon)

DEWALT 20V MAX XR pole saw

For long jobs

Trimming trees can be a downright dangerous job unless you have a handy pole saw like this one. 

Pros:

  • 15-foot reach
  • Up to 96 cuts per charge
  • Brushless motor

Cons:

  • Battery and charger not included

Trimming trees will be so easy with this selection. This pole saw provides up to 15-feet of reach, so you can trim high branches without climbing trees or ladders. It will add new levels of convenience and safety to the tree-trimming process. Keep in mind that the battery and charger will need to be purchased separately. 

Best maneuverability

DEWALT 20V MAX XR chainsaw kit

(Image credit: DEWALT)

DEWALT 20V MAX XR chainsaw kit

Lightweight and effective

Because of its ultra-lightweight design and multiple handles, this chainsaw is easy to maneuver during tough cutting jobs.

Pros:

  • Multiple handles
  • Lightweight design
  • Battery and charger included

Cons:

  • Battery is not as durable as other brands

If you're cutting logs and trees, you'll need a chainsaw that you can hold safely and securely to cut different branch sizes. Since this one has multiple handles and grip options, it can be twisted and turned as needed to fit into tight spots. Since the chainsaw's also lightweight, the tool won't cause as much fatigue as bigger, heavier models. Finally, this kit comes with both a battery and charger for added convenience.  

Best power for the price

EGO Power+ CS1804 18-Inch 56-Volt Cordless Chain Saw

(Image credit: EGO Power+)

EGO Power+ CS1804 18-Inch 56-Volt Cordless chainsaw

Undeniable powerhouse

The EGO Power+ chainsaw is bigger and more powerful than most other models on this list, with an 18-inch blade and a 56-volt motor.

Pros:

  • Up to 300 cuts per charge
  • 11,000 RPMs
  • 18-inch saw blade

Cons:

  • It's heavy

This 18-inch chainsaw comes with a big motor and a big battery for long, more powerful performance. It offers 300 cuts per charge, almost double that of comparable models. The brushless motor cuts at 11,000 RPMs, powerful enough to cut through large tree trunks, and the longer saw blade is big enough to take on large jobs. This saw is heavier than most, but the increased performance will make jobs go faster. 

Old reliable

Milwaukee 2727-20 M18 FUEL 16-inch chainsaw

(Image credit: Milwaukee Tool)

Milwaukee 2727-20 M18 FUEL 16-inch chainsaw

Trustworthy brand

With a company that's almost 100 years old, you can trust that all of the kinks are worked out. 

Pros:

  • Trusted brand and service
  • Compatible with any M18 battery

Cons:

  • Battery and charger not included

It's comforting to know that your purchase is backed by a solid company like Milwaukee. And quality is what you'll get. The saw provides up to 150 cuts per charge, but the battery is not included. The performance will depend on which battery you pair with it since the battery and charger are sold separately. 

Best battery

Echo chainsaw

(Image credit: Amazon)

Echo chainsaw

Big charge

With a hefty 58-volt, 4.0 Ah lithium-ion battery included, you can count on the Echo chainsaw to keep running for hours. 

Pros:

  • Large 58-volt battery and charger included
  • Runs for hours at a time
  • Provides enough power to fell most trees

Cons:

  • It's heavy

The Echo is a good-sized 16-inch chainsaw with an extra-large 58-volt battery that packs plenty of cutting time and power. This chainsaw is powerful enough to cut through medium or even large tree trunks. Since it includes both the battery and charger, you won't need to purchase any other accessories to get started. This model has various safety features, such as an inertia chain brake. 

The big one

Husqvarna 450R 450 Rancher gas chainsaw

(Image credit: Amazon)

Husqvarna 450R 450 Rancher gas chainsaw

Essential for large jobs

Although most of the chainsaws on this list are battery-powered, gas chainsaws are also cordless. For really big jobs, you may want to consider a more powerful gas chainsaw. 

Pros:

  • 20-inch bar length
  • Powerful gas-powered engine
  • Longer runtime

Cons:

  • It's expensive

For truly big jobs, like felling and cutting large trees, you'll need a big chainsaw. Since this one has a gas engine, it's cordless but more powerful than electric models. The 50cc engine can handle most jobs, and the runtime is longer than a battery-operated model. Although this version does reduce emissions, gas-powered chainsaws will still produce some fumes during operation. 

Best for pruning

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hatchet 6-inch pruning saw kit

(Image credit: Milwaukee Tool)

Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hatchet 6-inch pruning saw kit

Just for the shrubs

You don't need a big bulky chainsaw if you're just doing some pruning around the yard. For that, a small saw will be just the thing. 

Pros:

  • Small, lightweight design
  • 6-inch saw blade is perfect for pruning
  • Battery and charger included

Cons:

  • Won't work for cutting larger branches

For pruning shrubs and trees, you'll need a small, lightweight chainsaw that's easy to maneuver. This one comes with several handles for dexterity, and since it weighs less than 5 pounds, it won't cause fatigue. The kit includes a battery and charger, so you can just power it up and start pruning. 

Bottom line

Once you have one of the best cordless chainsaws for your yard and landscaping work, you'll wonder why you didn't buy one sooner. We recommend the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX cordless chainsaw since it offers more bang for your buck. This kit comes with a battery and charger alongside the chainsaw, all for one low price. 

If you need something larger and more powerful, the Husqvarna 450R 450 Rancher gas chainsaw has a huge 20-inch blade and a big gas-powered engine. This is the ideal pick for larger tree and log cutting. Consider the size of your grounds along with the type of work you're doing, and choose accordingly. 

Why trust us?

At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Jaclyn is a content writer at Future. She has a flair for creating (written works, design, photos; you name it!) on her devices. When she’s not churning out new things, Jaclyn loves exploring the world, playing with her kids, and good old-fashioned baking.