If you manage trees on your property, an electric chainsaw is a must-have tool in your yard care arsenal. Electric chainsaws are far easier to use than their gas-powered cousins—they start up without a hassle, produce no fumes, and require only very simple maintenance. And with recent tech advancements, some models offer similar cutting power to a gas chainsaw, making larger, 20-inch models a viable choice when you need to bring down a mature tree.

While a gas engine still broadly delivers superior power and runtime, the perks of going electric are hard to ignore. For the many homeowners who keep a chainsaw handy for breaking down firewood and pruning branches, an electric chainsaw is often the right choice.

• Best Overall: Husqvarna Power Axe 350i 40V 18-Inch Electric Chainsaw
• Best Value: Echo DCS-5000 56V 18-Inch Electric Chainsaw
• Most User-Friendly: Stihl MSA 80 36V 14-Inch 36V Chainsaw
• Best Heavy-Duty: Ego CS2005 Power+ 56V 20-Inch Electric Chainsaw
• Best Mini Chainsaw: Stihl GTA 26 12-Inch Mini Chainsaw

We selected the best chainsaws after conducting thorough research and an exhaustive evaluation process performed by our in-house Popular Mechanics test team and its trusted team of freelance experts.

I tested all of the chainsaws included in this guide, with the exception of the Stihl MSA 80, which was evaluated by Test Editor Bradley Ford. Each model was used to cut various hardwood logs, including ash, white oak, walnut, and beech logs ranging from 6 to 8 inches in diameter. We proceeded to cut test “cookies” or discs with each chainsaw, recording the amount of time it took for the chainsaw to cut through each log, while noting trigger response when starting up the chainsaw and any stalling or hesitation while cutting. Additionally, we tested some of the chainsaws by taking them into the woods to carve up downed trees and prune limbs.

Finally, we observed how well each chainsaw endured prolonged use. Making repeated cuts causes chainsaws to heat up. If a chainsaw is unable to tolerate that heat buildup, it will trigger an electric chainsaw's shutoff mechanisms to protect the battery and motor from overloading. During testing, we also evaluated how comfortable each chainsaw was to use based on weight, balance, and the amount of vibration in the handle.

Husqvarna may not have been the fastest-cutting electric chainsaw we tested, but it’s at the top of our list because it does just about everything well—it operates smoothly, cuts fast (enough), and is easy to use. With the boost button engaged, it blazed through our cutting tests, slicing through an 8-inch log in about 5 seconds. It also had the fastest windup speed of any electric chainsaw that I personally tested—it was ready to cut as soon as I pulled the trigger. Even with its impressive power, this chainsaw is surprisingly quiet, producing 67 decibels at 60 feet. The Power Axe isn’t particularly light at 14.5 pounds with battery, but it’s well balanced. I had no problem holding it steady even when making cuts at waist-level height.

The Power Axe also comes with a suite of well-designed, user-friendly features. The power button and boost button are located just above the handle so they’re easier to access on the fly. You also have the ability to adjust the chain tension by hand, loosening a dial to release the tension, then rotating a dial to tighten it back up. The whole process takes seconds. There’s also a built-in chain brake to protect from injuries. It’s a well-built, high-performing electric chainsaw that still manages to come in at a reasonable price.

Echo’s DCS-5000 gives you what you want most out of a chainsaw: raw cutting power. It may lack some of the bells and whistles you’ll find on pricier models, such as tool-less chain tensioning and power-saving settings, but its base performance is right up there with the Power Axe 350i. The DCS-5000 cut through 8-inch hardwood in less than 4 seconds. That's saying something considering that the DCS-5000 costs at least $100 less than any other saw that can do the same.

Along with its impressive cutting speed, the Echo is also relatively light at just over 12 pounds. I could feel the difference whenever I had to lift it up above shoulder-height to cut higher limbs, or while crouching down to cut a fallen 8-inch beech tree.

There is a tradeoff with the DCS-5000, though, in that it lacks any kind of quality-of-life-related features. You won’t find tool-less chain tensioning or ECO settings that conserve battery life here. It’s pretty loud, too, producing 76 decibels at 60 feet. And, finally, while I appreciated the lighter weight, I could also feel the vibrations in my arm more than electric chainsaws with more refined builds.

Still, if you don't mind the rougher feel, higher noise level, and lack of a few user-friendly features you’ll find on pricier electric chainsaws, the Echo DCS-5000 offers exceptional value.

The Stihl MSA 80 is an easy-to-use chainsaw that also packs impressive cutting power. Its compact build—the 14-inch saw weighs about 10 pounds—gives it a balanced feel in hand. It features a narrow bar that makes it easier to fit it into the crotches of trees for pruning than other electric chainsaws we tested like the Ego 20-inch chainsaw or Husqvarna Power Axe 350i. Likewise, it comes equipped with a thinner chain that cuts more smoothly through wood, producing less vibration. Lastly, its variable speed trigger allows you to adjust the speed of the blade to suit the job at hand.

There are several user-friendly features worth noting. Chain adjustments are effortless: Simply loosen a knob, turn the adjuster, and tighten the knob. There’s also a lubrication system to keep the chain moving with a minimal amount of bar oil.

Stihl’s chainsaws come at a premium price, and this one is no different. At $500, the MSA 80 is the most expensive electric chainsaw we tested, despite its having a relatively short bar. Even so, it’s an ideal choice for homeowners who are looking for professional-grade build quality and performance out of an electric chainsaw.

The Ego CS-2005 is a testament to how far battery-powered yard machines have come. Put simply, it’s the rare electric chainsaw that offers cutting power that’s comparable to what you'd get out of a gas model. It sliced cookies off of 8-inch-thick hardwood in under 4 seconds, faster than any other electric chainsaw we tested. Importantly, though, it also gives you various settings to dial back all that power when you want to stretch its runtime.

There’s a price for the CS-2005’s cutting power and capacity, though—its weight. While we liked its buttery smooth operation, it weighs an arm-burning 19.3 pounds with a battery. Making cuts on limbs above the head or below the knees were a far more challenging experience than with electric chainsaws we tested that were 4 to 5 pounds lighter. The Ego CS-2005 also lacks a tool-free chain tensioning system. If you don’t mind the extra heft, the Ego CS-2005 is the high-powered electric you’ll want for really big jobs.

The Stihl GTA 26 is a deceptively powerful mini chainsaw. Its 4-inch blade is powered by a 12-volt motor and battery. I used it to prune rounds off a fallen 3-inch-thick ash tree, and it chewed through the wood in less than 5 seconds. I was also able to chew through limbs up to 4 inches in diameter.

It also operates efficiently, with very little vibration, and weighs just three pounds. As a result, it feels almost effortless to operate. Stihl advises using two hands when operating the chainsaw, but I frequently found myself one-handing it to reach taller branches. The GTA 26’s light weight is also beneficial should you choose to purchase the 5-foot extension pole that allows you to convert the chainsaw into a pole saw, albeit one that’s shorter than most.

A few safety features keep the blade far enough away, including a top cover that retracts automatically as you’re making cuts while also serving as a protective barrier shielding you from kickbacks. There’s also a lockout switch to prevent it from accidentally turning on and a guard that extends above the handle to protect your hand.

My one beef with the GTA 26 is that it lacks a chain lubrication system. Instead, it comes with a small bottle of oil that you use to lubricate the chain, which Stihl says you should do prior to each use and in between battery changes. It's inconvenient, especially during longer pruning jobs, but doesn’t detract from how easy and fun it is to use.

Milwaukee offers one of the best 18-volt chainsaws we tested. If you already use the brand’s 20-volt cordless tools, it’s a great addition that can help with basic cutting tasks.

Despite its lower-voltage battery, the M18 Fuel’s cutting speed was similar to other electric chainsaws we tested, cutting through an 8-inch log in under 6 seconds. I also liked its metal bucking spikes that help when cutting those thicker logs.

The Milwaukee 16-inch chainsaw has a super-fast windup time, reaching cutting speed instantly after pulling the trigger. That meant no waiting time from start-up to cutting. On the other hand, though, it isn’t particularly light—just over 14 pounds when loaded with a 12.0 Ah battery.

It’s also missing some features we might have expected from a premium brand like Milwaukee. There are no speed control or boost buttons for dialing back the power to save battery life. You also need a tool to loosen two bolts to adjust the chain tension. That can feel tedious when compared to those options with tool-less chain tensioners. Considering its steep price tag, we primarily recommend it for folks who are already invested in Milwaukee’s cordless system.

The Worx Nitro WG385 offers pro-level performance at an affordable price. Unlike most chainsaws, which rely on a single battery, this model splits the load across two 20-volt batteries that sit on either side of the handle. During testing, that led to better balance and great cutting performance.

It didn’t match the times of the top performers like the 20-inch Ego CS2005 or Husqvarna Power Axe 350i, but still cut through an 8-inch log in about 7 seconds. And what it lacks in power, it makes up with a lighter build, weighing 9.3 pounds without batteries. It was easy to maneuver when cutting logs on the ground or reaching high to prune. Between that and its smooth operation, the WG385 feels very comfortable in your hands as you cut.

The WG385 is an especially good option for homeowners who may not be experienced using a chainsaw, thanks to some notable safety features. It’s one of a few electric chainsaws that includes a large built-in chain brake, which protects you from injury due to kickback. It also has an easy and intuitive chain tensioning system: Simply adjust a knob on the side of the chainsaw and it automatically tightens to the optimal chain tension.

The WG385 conveniently uses the same batteries found in Worx’s other yard equipment—handy if you've already bought into the Worx ecosystem of string trimmers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, and lawn mowers. I have a blower and string trimmer that are more than 12 years old that use the same batteries, so adding this chainsaw to the mix made perfect sense.

Even if you don’t have any other Worx tools, though, the WG385 is an affordable option that’s perfect for handling household cutting tasks like cutting up firewood, pruning branches, or even felling a small tree.

Power

The beating heart of an electric chainsaw is its motor, which determines cutting ability. Since the motor is responsible for rotating the chain around the bar, a chainsaw with a longer cutting bar requires a larger motor to power its longer chain.

Mini chainsaws, made for pruning and other small jobs, feature a one-handed design with a very small cutting bar—4 to 8 inches—and a 10- to 20-volt motor. If you need to break down large branches from trees, opt for a smaller full-size chainsaw with a 12- to 14-inch cutting bar, and a 20- to 24-volt motor. For something professional-grade, consider a large chainsaw with 16- to 20-inch cutting bars, which should have a much larger motor. We’ve seen recent models that hit anywhere from 36 to 50 volts.

Among electric chainsaws with comparable bar lengths, those with larger motors will typically have more ripping power, which means they’ll cut through limbs and logs more quickly, allowing you to get the job done faster. Just keep in mind that a more powerful chainsaw is also often a heavier chainsaw.

Runtime

An electric chainsaw’s runtime depends on the voltage of its motor and the capacity of its battery, which is measured in amp-hours (Ah). Broadly speaking, more capacity means more juice, but larger motors draw more power per second, so it’s not uncommon to find large chainsaws with very large batteries getting comparable battery life to their smaller, more efficient counterparts.

Since your chainsaw only uses power when you’re using it to cut, its true runtime comes down to how many cuts it can make on a single charge. The Popular Mechanics test team tests runtime by checking how many times each model cuts through a 6-inch log on a single charge. Depending on battery size and chainsaw power, that number can vary quite a bit—from as low as 50 to as high as 300.

Cutting Bar Length

The “cutting bar” is the business end of the chainsaw—the long, rounded metal guide that the chain spins around to create a blade. The length of the bar, which is measured from the base of the chainsaw's head to the tip of the cutting bar, determines the maximum thickness of the wood that your chainsaw can cut through in a single pass. Generally speaking, your chainsaw can safely cut through limbs with a diameter up to 2 inches less than the length of the bar. For example, a 12-inch chainsaw can cut through a limb up to 10 inches in diameter in a single pass.

For a long time, going electric meant settling for a chainsaw with a shorter bar, but that’s no longer the case. While gas engines offer more power, especially in larger saws, there are electric options with professional-length cutting bars. For instance, a 20-inch electric chainsaw has the power to bring down mature trees.

Need is an important distinction here. We don’t recommend picking the most powerful saw with the longest cutting bar within your budget. A longer bar will give you more cutting capacity, but it’s also heavier and more difficult to handle safely. We recommend buying the tool that’s just big enough for the cutting tasks you’ll perform regularly. If you’re looking to trim small limbs and branches, a pruning saw with a 4- to 8-inch bar such as the Stihl GTA 26 is going to be the best choice. If you’re taking down trees and breaking them down for firewood, you may need something longer.

Weight

It’s incredibly important that you feel comfortable handling the weight of your chainsaw. If it’s too heavy to hold at chest height, then you can’t use it safely.

With electric chainsaws, weight is directly related to the length of the cutting bar. The longer the cutting bar, the heavier the chainsaw. A mini chainsaw with an 8-inch bar will weigh around 5 pounds, while a large 18-inch chainsaw can weigh as much as 15 pounds.

One thing to keep in mind: Many manufacturers list the “bare” weight of their cordless chainsaws without the battery, so when you do add that in, it can mean an extra 1 to 3 pounds to the load.

Safety

Chainsaws are among the most dangerous power tools you can put your hands on: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some 36,000 people end up in the hospital with chainsaw-related injuries each year.

That is why it’s crucial to always take every step you can to ensure the safest possible conditions when using a chainsaw. A good electric chainsaw should have built-in safety features to minimize the possibility of an accident: First, look for a trigger lock, which requires you to maintain pressure on a button near the handle to keep the chain spinning. Most will also have a chain brake at the front of the handle, which disengages the chain if the chainsaw kicks back.