An amp-rating describes how much power the saw can draw before the internal components will overheat or start breaking down. The power in electric saws is rated by amperages. For general DIY use, the sweet spot for chainsaws is 14 or 16 inches. They’re heavier and less convenient for limbing trees than a smaller saw, though. Larger bars are most helpful for felling trees and cutting firewood. They’re also handy on a campsite for cutting firewood to length (where allowed, of course). They’re useful for trimming limbs and small trees. Small saws are lightweight and easy to use all day.

Bar lengths on electric chainsaws come as small as 10 or 12 inches (sometimes even shorter from niche manufacturers) and as large as 18 inches. The bar, sometimes mistakenly referred to as the blade, is the part of the saw that supports the chain (which actually does the cutting). When it comes to electric chainsaw sizes, the main difference is the length of the bar. if you’ll be cutting firewood rounds in your driveway, a corded saw will do the job.

If you’re felling trees back in the woods, you’ll need a battery-operated saw. Think about the size of your property and how you plan to use the saw. Whether or not to go cord-free is your top priority decision when it comes to an electric chainsaw. But you do want to purchase the right one for your needs-and that means an understanding of your options. You needn’t be a lumberjack to add a chainsaw to your tool kit. Photo: What to Consider Before Buying an Electric Chainsaw

BEST FOR LIGHT DUTY: WORX WG303.1 Electric Chainsaw.

BEST OVERALL: Greenworks 40V 16-inch Chainsaw.

Plus, electric chainsaws require very little maintenance-just an occasional sharpening of the chain and a quick topping off of the bar oil (used to keep the chain cool and cutting efficiently).Īhead, read our top tips for understanding and navigating the options-and don’t miss our roundup of top-favorite picks among the best electric chainsaw options available. The best of these tools let you take a quick and easy approach to the job: Unlike their gas-powered counterparts (generally favored by tree trimming and wood cutting pros for heavy-duty, all-day use), with electric chainsaws, you simply plug the tool in or snap in a battery and you’re ready to go.Įlectric models are also lighter weight and quieter than gas models, yet are often on par with them in terms of capability. When your yard work extends to jobs like cutting up fallen tree limbs or trimming some fence posts to size, nothing comes in quite as handy as an electric chainsaw.

Electric saw