Best 16-Inch Chainsaws 2019: 9 Top Picks and Reviews

Chainsaw shopping is tricky. You’re buying a tool that has to stand up to some serious wear and tear, so you need to be confident that you’re buying the best product you can get. If you’ve never bought one before, you may not be sure what features to look for, or what a good price is, either. We’ve put together this list to help you narrow down your search.

PowerOfTool.com have tried to cover the whole price range, and give you plenty of both gas-powered, electric corded, and electric cordless chainsaws. No matter your preference, you should find something here that works for you.

Top 9 Best 16-Inch Chainsaw Reviews

1. WORX WG303.1 Powered Chain Saw

This is an affordable electric chainsaw that packs a lot of power into a small package. It’s well designed and well made, and has enough positive reviews from real users to make anyone comfortable buying this.

The incredibly low price shouldn’t scare you off; if it was a low-quality product we’d be seeing a lot more negative reviews.

Pros

• Electric motor is much lighter than gas motor
• Built-in oiler keeps the chain lubricated
• 14.5 amp motor is just as powerful as gas
• Chain brake for safety
• Auto tension system prevents over-tightening
• 3-year warranty

Cons

• Needs to be plugged into an outlet to work
• Replacement parts unavailable after the warranty is up
• Some users report oil leakage

2. Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw

Greenworks is a well-known name in lawn care. They manufacture all kinds of electric tools, ranging from lawnmowers to this chainsaw. They’ve developed a well-earned reputation for quality. Their products can be expensive, but they tend to be of high quality.

Like all electric chainsaws, this one can sometimes have power problems, but they are rarely serious. If you’re looking for a quality electric chainsaw, it’s hard to look past this one. It is much more expensive than the WORX chainsaw, but it will probably be more powerful and more durable.

Pros

• Brushless motor delivers 30% more torque
• Electronic chain brake for safety
• Only weighs 10.4 pounds
• 40V battery delivers 150 cuts on one charge
• No extension cord needed
• Quiet, low vibration motor
• Powerful motor
• Auto oiler, transparent oil tank

Cons

• Can develop oil leaks
• Auto chain tightening needs regular adjustment
• Expensive

3. Remington RM4216 16-inch Gas Powered Chainsaw

This gas-powered chainsaw is made with professional-grade components, so it’s durable and powerful. It’s a little heavy, but it should last a lifetime and handle all the cutting you throw at it with no trouble. The gas motor will deliver more power than most electric motors, too.

Like most gas-powered chainsaws, it will generate more power than a typical electric chainsaw will, but it does so at the expense of weight and noise. This is much louder than an electric model, and it’s more difficult to carry around all day.

Pros

• 42cc engine delivers a lot of power
• Anti-vibration system and wrapper handles make it comfortable to hold and use
• Automatic oiler
• Heavy-duty case included
• No assembly required
• Affordable price
• low-kickback chain

Cons

• Heavy
• Made in China
• Chain needs frequent sharpening
• Auto-oiler tends to clog

4. DEWALT DCCS670X1 FLEXVOLT

If you own power tools, odds are good that at least one of them is a DeWalt. This is a heavy-duty electric chainsaw with a lot of power, made by a company with a history of making quality tools. It’s not cheap, but sometimes you have to pay for quality.

DeWalt’s chainsaw is unusually light for a gas-powered chainsaw, which is great for those of you who’ll be using this for long jobs. The tool-free chain tensioning is convenient; a lot of times automatic chain tensions systems don’t work as advertised, and regular chain tension systems can be a pain to adjust. This one gives you the best of both worlds

Pros

• Tool-free chain tensioning
• Only weights 12.2 pounds
• 60V motor
• Low maintenance, low noise motor
• Battery included
• Battery is interchangeable with other DeWalt electric tools
• Up to 70 cuts per charge

Cons

• No case available
• Expensive
• Some users report problems with the auto-oiling system

5. Makita UC4051A 16″ Electric Chain Saw

This is a popular electric chainsaw that’s built to stand up to heavy-duty use. Its electric motor is powered by an outlet, not a battery, and it moves the chain at a speed of 2900FPM for fast, efficient cutting.

It won’t be quite as powerful as a gas chainsaw, but it will still get the job done. It’s corded, so you’ll only be able to use it if you have access to an outlet and an extension cord long enough to reach.

For most home users, this isn’t typically a problem. Corded chainsaws have the advantage of never running out of power, so if you’ll only be using them in an environment where you’ll have access to an outlet, they can often be the best choice.

Pros

• Cord-powered design means you won’t have to worry about charging the battery.
• Large oil reservoir with transparent window
• Built-in current limiter prevents burnout
• Tool-less blade and chain adjustment
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee
• 1-year warranty

Cons

• Requires an outlet, so it needs an extension cord and range may be limited
• Auto oiler leaks

6. Zombi ZCS5817

This 58V electric chainsaw comes in both corded and cordless varieties, giving you the option to pick whichever is best for you. Corded chainsaws are great because you never have to worry about charging the battery, but a cordless version means you won’t be tied to an outlet.

Either way, this chainsaw is an excellent choice with a powerful motor and quality materials. It’s surprisingly heavy for an electric chainsaw, though. It isn’t clear why it weights so much more than other electric models.

Pros

• 58V battery or 120V corded options
• Brushless motor
• Chainsaw tool included
• Power similar to a gas-powered chainsaw
• Chain brake and handguard
• 5-year warranty
• Quiet motor

Cons

• Heavy- weighs 16 pounds
• Some users find the motor a bit weak

7. Craftsman CMXGSAMA426S

Much like DeWalt, Craftsman is a well-known and popular brand with a reputation for quality. This gas-powered chainsaw delivers a lot of power and is made from professional grade materials. It’s surprisingly affordable, too.

The advantage of buying from a big name like Craftsman is that replacement parts and/or people who know how to repair it will be easy to find. Although this chainsaw is heavy, the weight is well-balanced and that does off-set the issue some.

Pros

• 42cc 2-cycle gas engine
• low kickback bar, bucking spikes, the inertia-activated chain brake
• Tool-free access to oil filter and spark plug
• Professional-grade chassis
• Well-balanced and comfortable to operate
• 2-year limited warranty

Cons

• Heavy- weighs 24 pounds
• Warranty is limited
• Can develop oil leaks

8. Husqvarna 16 Inch 435e II Gas Chainsaw

Another well-known and highly respected brand, Husqvarna tools are generally very reliable. This chainsaw has a slightly smaller motor than the other two gas-powered chainsaws we’ve listed, but for the average home user, the difference shouldn’t be noticeable.

The smaller motor helps to cut down the weight, and this chainsaw only weighs about 9 pounds. It is by far the lightest chainsaw on this list, so if weight is an important factor for you, this might be your best choice.

Pros

• 40.9cc engine
• Inertia activated chain brake
• Incredibly light- weighs less than all of the electric chainsaws we’ve listed
• Made in Sweden
• Comes with a bar cover
• Replacement parts are easy to find
• x-cut chain is very efficient

Cons

• Like most Husqvarna products, it’s on the higher end of the price range
• Bar and chain oil is not included
• Some minor quality control issues

9. Poulan 967146301

One of the more affordable gas-powered chainsaws out there, the Poulan has a smaller motor than most, too. It won’t be quite as powerful as the others, but if you just want a chainsaw to trim and prune, and not cut down entire trees, this little chainsaw should do just fine.

Pros

• 38cc Engine
• Gas-powered
• Primer bulb for easy starting
• Affordable
• Automatic oiler
• Comes with a case

Cons

• Weighs 16 pounds
• Users report issues with the starter
• Some issues with the chain falling off

Is a 16-inch Chainsaw Big Enough?

That depends on what you’re using it for. A 16-inch chainsaw is powerful enough and big enough for moderate use.

This size of chainsaw is considered a general use chainsaw. It’s suitable for cutting through thick tree branches and logs, and pruning or removing shrubs. If you’re cutting down thick tree trunks or taking on large jobs regularly, you might need a 20-inch chainsaw.

For most people buying a chainsaw for home use, a 16-inch chainsaw is an ideal size.

What is the Best 16-inch Chainsaw?

Ultimately, that’s a matter of personal preference. Do you prefer gas or electric-powered chainsaws? If you like electric, do you want a battery or a power cord?

Every chainsaw we reviewed had some problems. In fact, most of them had similar problems: oil leaks and issues with the chain tension that caused the chain to fall off. None of them, though, seemed to have those problems with every unit. These are simple problems that chainsaws tend to have.

Gas-powered chainsaws tend to be more powerful, and the best electric chainsaws may come close to a gas chainsaw in power, but they probably won’t truly match them. They are quieter, though, and often cheaper to operate. They have fewer maintenance needs, too.

For what it’s worth, the Craftsman and DeWalt chainsaws have the most reviews, and still, have positive ratings. That’s difficult to do, and it’s an indication of quality and performance. The Greenworks saw is one of the better electric chainsaws.

Electric chainsaws are also popular with people interested in reducing their carbon footprint. Since they don’t use gasoline, they don’t produce greenhouse gases.

With electric chainsaws, you have to choose between a power cord and a battery. The advantage of the power cord is that you don’t have to worry about charging the battery, or about the battery lasting long enough to complete the job. The downside is that you’re stuck using a power cord. You can only use the chainsaw if you have access to an outlet.

Most corded chainsaws will work just fine on even a 100ft extension cord, but that’s still a big limiting factor. Battery-powered chainsaws, though, tend to have less power. As the charge in the battery drains the battery starts feeding less power to the motor.

You may find yourself halfway through cutting a branch down when the battery dies, and then you have to wait for the battery to recharge before you can continue. You can prevent this by making sure the battery has a full charge before you start cutting, though.

Gas-powered chainsaws offer more power, but they’re very loud and vibrate a lot, so they can be uncomfortable to use. They last longer on one tank of gas than an electric chainsaw does on one battery, though, and you can use it anywhere because it doesn’t need an outlet.

Really, the best chainsaw is the one that works that you like the best. Any of these nine chainsaws will get the job done. What it comes down to is price and personal preference. Even the ultra-cheap WORX chainsaw is the perfect chainsaw for someone. In fact, we listed nine because we can’t possibly recommend only one- there’s never just one that will be right for everyone.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this has given you enough information to choose the right chainsaw for you. Any of the nine we listed would be a good choice and all of them are highly rated by the people who’ve used them.

Whether you need the cheapest chainsaw you can find, or you’re willing to pay top dollar for quality and reliability, there’s a chainsaw on this list for you. We wouldn’t recommend any of these if we didn’t think they would meet your needs, so rest assured that any one of these nine will get the job done.