Which Is The Best Electric Chainsaw | Updated Guide & Lists

That’s alright, everyone’s a beginner at some point and chainsaws are no different. Luckily for you, there are plenty of resources online that will help you learn all you need to know before going out and buying your first electric chainsaw and you just happened to land on one of them.

This guide is aimed to those just dipping their toes in the chainsaw world in order to prepare you for buying the best electric chainsaw out there for you.

Let’s get started!

I. Know The Chainsaw

The first thing you need to know is the chainsaw itself: What does it do? How does it work? What can it do for me? These questions might seem redundant but, believe me, you want a clear understanding of how a chainsaw works before you even think about getting one.

1. So how does it work?

Simply put, a chainsaw is the combination of a chain and a saw.
The chain wraps around the metal surface of the chain saw, also known as the metal guide bar. This chain has many sharp teeth all over its surface, which are the saw part.
The chain spins around thanks to a small motor and this circling motion at high speeds and this cutting motion is precisely what chainsaws are known for.

Simple, right?

2. How many types of chainsaw are there?

There are three main types of electric chainsaws out there:

Standard: As its name implies, this is the kind of chainsaw you see more often. It has handles on the front and the back of the housing and a simple metal guide bar.
Pole Saw: This rather funny looking chainsaw has a very small saw attached to a long pole. These aren’t known for their power as much as they’re known for their reach, as they’re designed for those hard to reach places, such as tall branches.
Lopper Chainsaw: Also known as the alligator chainsaw, this tool features ‘jaws’ that surround the saw. This offers extra protection to the wielder and, in some cases, additional grip on the material you’re cutting.
The extra protection, goes without being said, is a blessing for those working in reducing spaces or those handling a chainsaw for the very first time.

II. Know Yourself

Now that you know what kinds of electric chainsaws are there you need determine your needs, which can be done by answering the next questions to the best of your ability:

1. What kind of wood do I plan on cutting?
2. How thick is the wood?
3. Do I have any experience with chainsaws?
4. How much room to maneuver do I have?

Answering those questions is just the first step to determining what kind of chainsaw works best for you. The second step is choosing the right length for you.

1. Does Size Matters?

Of course it does!

The longer the cutting bar the bigger the logs you can cut so if you want to cut through really thick trees you’ll have to get a big saw.

If you’re thinking about getting the biggest chainsaw out there hold on a second.

Remember that the bigger the tool the harder it will be to handle it so you don’t want to get a chainsaw that’s too big for your needs.

How can you determine your needs? By keeping this in mind!

Light Duty 8-16 inch	These are good for trimming branches or cutting them. They’re also good for cutting small softwood trees
Medium Duty 16-18 inch	These are good for trimming branches and cutting small trees. They can also be used for cutting medium sized trees but you should always measure beforehand
Heavy Duty 18-20 inch	These work the best when they’re cutting medium trees, though they’ll get smaller jobs done just the same. They can also work for cutting large trees but you should always measure.
Professional 20-24 inch	These should only be used to cut large trees and hard woods. They will cut smaller trees and soft woods just fine but once you consider their size and their power you’ll realize they’re overkill at first, a danger at worst.

2. Features, Features, Features!

Electric chainsaws offer various features that should also be considered when looking for the perfect chainsaw for a job.

Some of the most popular features offered nowadays are:

Automatic Oilers: Which help lubricate the chain while in use, which will keep the chainsaw working smoothly for longer.
Anti-kickback Bars: Which reduce the risk of unexpected kickback, which can lead to accidents.
Anti-vibration Qualities: Which will make the saw more comfortable to handle and your cuts more precise.

These are just some of the features modern chainsaw offer. You’ll find plenty more so make sure you read these features carefully to know exactly what you’re buying.

Now that you know what to look for in an electric chainsaw, it’s time to analyze what’s out there which is why we’ve taken the liberty of going through tons of electric chainsaw to determine what’s the best the tool market has to offer.

We now present you the…

III. Top 5 Electric Chainsaws in the Market

1. BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 40-volt Cordless Chainsaw, 12-Inch

BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 40-volt Cordless Chainsaw, 12-Inch

BLACK & DECKER LCS1240 Cordless Chainsaw - Via Amazon.com

The Black+Decker is an excellent option for those looking for an electric chainsaw for light cutting around their properties. It can handle trees up to 11 inch in diameter which, for the Average Joe, is more than enough.

This is a very quiet saw, which makes it a great choice for suburban lifestyle. However, it’s not as powerful as its corded counterpart.

The best thing about this particular chainsaw, the automatic chain oiling, is also the worst as this baby goes through chain oil at a ridiculous rate making this feature useful, yes, but also incredibly wasteful.

- Light and portable; Easy to use.
- Has an automatic chain oiling feature.
- Powerful for an electric chainsaw.

- It is the best chainsaw for milling.
- The battery will last for a while without unexpectedly dying on you.
- This chainsaw drinks up chain oil like its life depends on it.
- This is a small chainsaw meant only to handle small cutting jobs around the yard, such as trilling and removing branches.
- It takes a good while to charge fully. We’re talking over 3 hours of constant charging.
All in all, is a solid option for those looking for a small, easy-to-use chainsaw to use in their own backyard, be it to perform light storm cleaning or just to remove some pesky branches.

2. WORX WG303.1 16-Inch Chain Saw, 3.5 HP 14.5 Amp

WORX WG303.1 16-Inch Chain Saw, 3.5 HP 14.5 Amp

WORX Electric Chainsaw - Via Amazon.com

If you’re looking for something powerful but aren’t willing to commit to the kind of maintenance that comes with a gas chainsaw then the WORX WG303 is for you.
With a 16” inch length, this corded electric chainsaw is perfect for those looking to combine power, size and convenience with low maintenance and affordability.

This chainsaw is easy to use, more powerful than any cordless electric chainsaw and it even comes with a safety shutoff that’s perfect for a tool this size.

- Easy and comfortable to use
- Light and well balanced
- Has automatic oiling features
- More powerful than a cordless chainsaw
- Comes with a safety shutoff
- This is a corded chainsaw so you’re going to have to mind the cord to avoid any accidents.
- The chain oil leaks when not in use.
- The safety shut off goes crazy and activates at random times.

In My Opinion, if you’re looking for a powerful electric chainsaw perfect for storm cleaning and cutting down medium trees and if you don’t mind dragging a cord around everywhere you go.

3. Remington RM1425 Limb N Trim 8 Amp 14- Inch Electric Chainsaw

Remington RM1425 Limb N Trim 8 Amp 14- Inch Electric Chainsaws

Remington RM 1425 Chainsaw from Amazon.com

If you’re looking for something that can help you do small cutting jobs around your backyard, then this is a good option for you.

The is perfect for the suburban owner who’s looking to trim and remove unruly branches from their prized trees.

It’s easy to use and handle, very light and quiet, which makes it the perfect tool for those living in a quiet street. However, it’s not very powerful so it won’t be able to do any heavy duty jobs.

This chainsaw doesn’t have a vibration reduction function and it takes to take longer cutting through wood than other models so it can be very tiring to use.

- Looks great
- It has a low-kickback so accidents are reduced
- Easy to care for, as it only needs occasional sharpening.
- Quiet and smoke free
- Can only handle small tree limbs and saplings
- Leaks oil chain
- The bar needs to be adjusted before every use
- Tiring to use

If you’re looking for a quiet, smoke free chainsaw that won’t disturb your neighbors then this is it. The Remington RM1425 isn’t powerful at all but if you’re worrying about the noise, chances are the uses you’ll give this chainsaw revolve around yard work and some DIY projects.

4. Sun Joe SWJ800E 8-Inch 6.5-Amp Electric Pole Saw

Sun Joe SWJ800E 8-Inch 6.5-Amp Electric Pole Saw

Sun Joe SWJ800E Via Amazon.com

Let’s not fool ourselves. When you’re buying a pole chainsaw you’re buying it to be able to trim hard to reach tree limbs.

What are hard to reach tree limbs? Branches. This chainsaw is meant to trim branches.

Because of this, the Sun Joe SWJ800E can only cut branches up to 7 inches thick but it makes up for the relative lack of power by giving you almost 15 ft of overhead reach, making it an excellent tool for those looking to do some serious yard work.

The downside of such length is that it’s a little hard to wield, particularly when stretched fully, but since this is a cordless machine you at least have the ability to move around as needed.

- Adjustable length
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to operate
- Great reach
- Drips chain oil no matter how you store it
- Hard to maneuver, particularly when stretched to its max capacity.
- Not particularly powerful.

In My Opinion Consider "the Sun Joe SWJ800E" if you’re looking for a chainsaw that will help you reach and cut through high branches and if you already own another chainsaw for other kinds of jobs.

5. GreenWorks 20312 G-MAX 40V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw

GreenWorks 20312 G-MAX 40V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw

GreenWorks 20312 G-MAX Via Amazon.com

Last, but not least, comes the "GreenWorks 20312" which is also the most expensive product in this list.

This powerhouse works as well as a corded chainsaw and almost as well as a gas powered chainsaw, which makes it one of the best choices if you’re planning on cutting down trees.

Sure, it will still take some work and time but this is amongst the most powerful of electric chainsaws and, as such, it will get the job done much faster than other models.

Another good characteristic of this chainsaw is the battery life, as it can last for hours and it charges quickly, making it a good option for out of the city excursions.

- Very powerful
- Long battery life
- Charges quickly
- Surprisingly quiet
- Somewhat heavy
- Leaks oil when stored
- Expensive

Consider the "GreenWorks 20312" if you’re a little more serious about cutting wood and if you’re looking for a powerful and reliable electric chainsaw that will help you with more than just trimming branches.
We’ve come to the end of this tutorial

IV. Conclusion

We hope you’ve found it useful and informative and that the information provided here will help you find the right electric chainsaw for you.

Please leave a comment letting us know what you think of this list and don’t forget to share this article if you found it useful.

Thanks for reading!

Which Is The Best Electric Chainsaw | Ultimate Lists Of Best Chainsaw – Updated Guide