Best Battery Chainsaws

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The short answer

For most homeowners, the EGO Power+ CS1611 is the best battery chainsaw: a 56V, 16-inch saw that Pro Tool Reviews rates as roughly equivalent to a 40cc gas saw, which is plenty for storm cleanup, limbing and firewood-sized logs. If you have a wooded lot and cut bigger trees, step up to a 20-inch saw like the EGO 56V 20-inch or the Milwaukee M18 FUEL dual-battery 20-inch. For pruning and light yard work, a compact 12-inch saw like the DEWALT DCCS620P1 is lighter and easier to control.

Our picks at a glance

Pick	Model	Platform	Bar	Gas equivalent*	Best for	Amazon
Best overall	EGO Power+ CS1611	56V	16″	~40cc	Storm cleanup, firewood, most yards	View
Best for bigger trees	EGO Power+ 56V 20-inch	56V	20″	~55cc	Wooded lots, larger trunks	View
Best for hardwood torque	Milwaukee M18 FUEL 20″ (2827)	M18, dual battery	20″	~70cc	Oak and hardwood, Milwaukee owners	View
Best ergonomics	Makita XCU03PT1	36V (2 x 18V LXT)	14″	—	Makita owners, all-angle cutting	View
Best compact	DEWALT DCCS620P1	20V MAX XR	12″	—	Pruning, limbs, light yard work	View
Best value	Greenworks 40V 16″	40V	16″	—	Budget buyers, occasional cutting	View

*Gas-equivalent ratings are published estimates from Pro Tool Reviews, not manufacturer specs. Use them to compare classes, not as exact figures.

How we picked

We compared manufacturer specifications, owner reviews and published reviews from established tool publications, including Pro Tool Reviews and This Old House. For homeowners, the things that decide whether a battery saw is a joy or a frustration are: bar length relative to the wood you cut, cutting power (gas-equivalent class), weight in hand, runtime per battery, whether you already own batteries on that platform, and practical details like tool-free chain tensioning and reliable oiling.

1. EGO Power+ CS1611 — Best overall

The CS1611 is a 16-inch, 56V brushless saw that typically ships with a 2.5Ah battery and charger. Pro Tool Reviews places it in roughly the 40cc gas class and recommends it for seasonal storm cleanup and general tree maintenance, which is exactly what most homeowners use a chainsaw for. A 16-inch bar handles limbs and logs up to roughly 14 inches comfortably, and the EGO battery also runs the brand’s mowers, blowers and trimmers.

Who it’s for: suburban and rural homeowners who cut a few times a year: downed limbs, small trees, firewood rounds.

Good to know: the included 2.5Ah battery is on the small side for long cutting sessions. If you plan to buck a whole fallen tree, budget for a larger EGO battery or a second pack.

Check the EGO CS1611 price on Amazon

2. EGO Power+ 56V 20-inch — Best for bigger trees

EGO’s 20-inch saw moves into the territory that used to require a mid-size gas saw. Pro Tool Reviews places it around the 55cc class and recommends it for property owners with lots of trees who want near-professional performance without gas. The longer bar lets you take larger trunks in a single pass.

Who it’s for: owners of wooded acreage, people who heat with wood, anyone already invested in EGO’s 56V system.

Good to know: a longer bar and bigger battery mean more weight and more kickback energy. It’s more saw than you need for pruning; pair it with a small pole saw or compact saw if you also trim.

Check EGO 20-inch chainsaw prices on Amazon

3. Milwaukee M18 FUEL 20-inch dual battery (2827) — Best for hardwood torque

Milwaukee’s dual-battery 20-inch saw runs on two M18 packs and is rated by Pro Tool Reviews in roughly the 70cc gas class for torque, with strong performance in hardwood. Its chain speed is notably lower than some competitors, so it feels like it lugs through a cut rather than racing, but it doesn’t bog down easily in dense wood.

Who it’s for: homeowners already on the Milwaukee M18 platform who cut oak, hickory and other hardwoods.

Good to know: it needs two M18 batteries to run, and high-capacity M18 packs are expensive if you’re starting from scratch. Milwaukee also makes a single-battery 16-inch M18 FUEL saw if you don’t need the 20-inch bar.

Check the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 20-inch price on Amazon

4. Makita XCU03PT1 — Best ergonomics

The XCU03PT1 kit combines two 18V LXT batteries for 36V of power and a 14-inch bar. This Old House singled it out for design: it’s easy to maneuver and strong for its size, making it good for cutting branches and shrubs at awkward angles. At about 21.8 pounds (per This Old House’s listing, likely with batteries), it’s heavier than compact saws.

Who it’s for: anyone with a garage full of Makita 18V tools.

Good to know: some owners say the batteries run down faster than they’d like and that the switch placement takes getting used to. Check the weight in person if you’ll be cutting overhead.

Check the Makita XCU03PT1 price on Amazon

5. DEWALT DCCS620P1 — Best compact

This 12-inch, 20V MAX XR saw weighs about 8.8 pounds, has a brushless motor, low-kickback chain and tool-free tensioning, and a published chain speed of about 25.2 feet per second. It’s the saw to grab for pruning, clearing brush and cutting limbs that are too thick for loppers.

Who it’s for: homeowners doing light yard work, and DEWALT 20V owners who want a small saw for the truck or shed.

Good to know: This Old House notes it’s meant for light work rather than heavy projects, and some owners report oil leaks. Store it level and drain or check the bar oil before long storage.

Check the DEWALT DCCS620P1 price on Amazon

6. Greenworks 40V 16-inch — Best value

Greenworks’ 40V 16-inch brushless saw usually comes with a 4.0Ah battery, weighs around 10.4 pounds, and offers automatic oiling and tool-free tensioning. It’s a capable all-rounder for the price and shares batteries with Greenworks’ wide range of 40V yard tools.

Who it’s for: budget-conscious homeowners who cut a few times a year.

Good to know: Greenworks sells several 40V saw variants, so check the bar length, motor type (brushless) and included battery capacity on the specific listing. If you need serious power, Greenworks’ Commercial 82V line goes much bigger, at a much higher price and weight.

Check Greenworks 40V 16-inch prices on Amazon

Also worth knowing: Stihl’s battery saws, such as the 36V MSA 300, are highly regarded but are primarily sold through Stihl dealers rather than Amazon.

Buying checklist: sizing a battery chainsaw

Your typical job	Bar length	Platform class
Pruning, branches under about 6″	10–12″	18–20V compact
Storm cleanup, small trees, firewood	14–16″	36–56V
Felling medium trees, bucking large logs	18–20″	56V or dual-battery 36V/M18
Large hardwood trees, heavy firewood production	20″ and up	Top-tier battery or gas

• Stay on one battery platform if you can. A bare tool is much cheaper than a kit, and batteries are the expensive part.
• Battery capacity (Ah) equals runtime. A 2.5Ah pack is fine for quick jobs; 5Ah or more makes a real difference for firewood.
• Weight matters more than you think. Hold the saw with its battery installed; a 20-inch saw can feel very different after 30 minutes.
• Tool-free tensioning and an oil level window are worth having; under-oiled chains dull and overheat fast.
• Buy a spare chain and learn to sharpen or swap it. A sharp chain does more for cutting speed than extra volts.

Safety basics

• Battery saws are quieter, but they cut just as hard. Wear chainsaw chaps, eye and hearing protection, gloves and a helmet when felling.
• Understand kickback: avoid cutting with the upper tip of the bar.
• Remove the battery before clearing jams, adjusting tension or sharpening.
• Leave large trees near houses or power lines to a certified arborist.

FAQ

Are battery chainsaws as good as gas?

For most homeowner jobs, yes. Modern 56V and dual-battery saws reach roughly 40cc to 70cc gas-equivalent performance according to Pro Tool Reviews. Gas still wins for all-day cutting and the very largest trees.

What size battery chainsaw do I need?

A 16-inch bar suits most homeowners for storm cleanup and firewood. Choose 12 inches for pruning and 18 to 20 inches if you regularly cut larger trees.

How long does a battery chainsaw run on one charge?

It depends on battery capacity, wood hardness and chain sharpness. A small 2.5Ah pack is suited to short jobs, while 5Ah or larger packs support much longer sessions. Having a second battery is the easiest fix.

Do battery chainsaws need bar oil?

Yes. They use bar and chain oil just like gas saws. Check the reservoir before every use and store the saw so oil doesn’t leak.

What is the best battery chainsaw for a homeowner?

The EGO Power+ CS1611 is our top pick for most homeowners because its 16-inch bar and 56V power cover storm cleanup and firewood without the weight of a 20-inch saw.