Best Cordless Chainsaw Reviews | Top 9 Battery Powered Saws 2019

There are many different types of chainsaws: electric, gas, etc. Today, I am going to examine cordless chainsaws in particular.

This type of chainsaw is sometimes also called a battery-powered electric chainsaw. They use battery power to run the chain, which means no gas or fumes as you use the machine.

Gas-powered chainsaws are still much more common than cordless electric chainsaws, so you may not be as familiar with the best cordless chainsaws available to you.

That is why PowerOfTool.com has included my nine picks for the top cordless chainsaw of 2019 and provided all of the information you need to pick out a great cordless chainsaw for yourself.

Read on to find out more

Top 9 Best Cordless Chainsaws 2019

1. Dewalt DCCS620P1 Cordless Chainsaw Kit

Dewalt is a relative newcomer to the chainsaw market, but that hasn’t stopped them from making an extremely high-quality cordless chainsaw. The DCCS620P1 comes with a high-efficiency motor and 12-inch Oregon bar and chain.

Using this cordless chainsaw is extremely easy because of the tool-free chain tensioning system and bar tightening knob. Anyone can use it.

No, seriously, anyone can use this cordless chainsaw! At only 8.8 lbs., it is compact and lightweight. But its small size doesn’t stop the DCCS620P1 from cutting 25.2 feet per second.

Finally, the DCCS620P1 uses a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that creates one of the best and most powerful cordless chainsaws around.

Pros

• Brushless, high-efficiency motor
• Lightweight, 8.8 lbs
• Chain speed=25.2 feet/second
• Low kickback, 12-in. bar

Cons

• Bar and chain need to be upgraded to compete with professional saws
• No sight lines
• No felling dogs

2. Dewalt DCCS670X1 Cordless Chainsaw Kit

If you want a larger and more powerful cordless chainsaw from Dewalt, the DCCS670X1 is the product for you.

Like the DCCS620P1 it has a lithium-ion battery and brushless engine. However, this cordless chainsaw comes with a 16-inch bar and 60V – not 20V – motor.

You will enjoy the quarter-turn oil cap, which facilitates easy oil changes. The ergonomic design of this chainsaw makes it fit well and comfortably in your hands.

This Dewalt product also has tool-free tensioning and a bar tightening knob for easy maintenance. For the combination of power and ease of use, you can’t beat this cordless chainsaw by Dewalt.

Pros

• 16-inch, low kickback Oregon bar
• Auto-oiling feature
• Chain brake ensures kickback protection
• Ergonomic and comfortable design

Cons

• A heavier chainsaw, at 12.2 lbs
• Uses a retaining bolt not a drilled shaft with castellated nut/cotter key

3. Greenworks 16-inch Cordless Chainsaw

Greenworks prides themselves on their eco-friendly products. Their 16-inch Cordless Chainsaw comes with a 4.0AH (amp-hour) battery.

It also has a brushless motor, which gives you a longer run time and more power than on other cordless chainsaws.

In fact, this motor has 30% more torque than other cordless chainsaws, and 70% less vibration.

The most interesting thing about the Greenworks cordless chainsaw is that it is compatible with the company’s other products. You can use it with other Greenworks G-MAX 40V Li-Ion system tools.

Pros

• Compatible with Greenwork G-MAX 40V Li-Ion system
•  The motor provides 30% more torque and 70% less vibration
• Safety features include chain brake and low kickback chain
• Extremely easy to use
• The battery doesn’t have much self-discharge

Cons

• 4 AH battery is good, but not at a professional level
• Tends to leak bar oil

4. Black + Decker LCS1020 Chainsaw

Black + Decker is no stranger to home tools. Their LCS1020 chainsaw illustrates what has made the company so popular with DIYers the country over.

This cordless chainsaw comes with a 20V lithium-ion battery and 10-inch Oregon chain and bar. A 10-inch bar is not very big, but it will be large enough for small and occasional jobs, like pruning.

Black + Decker includes features that make the LCS1020 chainsaw easy and comfortable to use.

There is the wrap-around bale handle to keep your grip secure. Plus, the tool-free blade tensioning system makes adjustments easy. And, the 7.2 lb. weight makes this one of the lightest cordless chainsaws available.

Pros

• Wrap-around bale handle
• Weighs only 7.2 lbs
• Improved oiling system and tool-free adjustments
• 10-inch Oregon bar and chain are small, but have a low kickback for smooth cuts

Cons

• The chain can ruin the housing.
• Oiler system has presented problems in the past

5. Ego Power+ CS1403 Chainsaw

Ego Power+ is not as well-known a chainsaw brand as Black + Decker or Dewalt. However, the company can make a very good cordless chainsaw.

Their small CS1403 chainsaw only has 2.5 AH, but it can get small jobs done well. The bar on this cordless chainsaw is 14 inches. And Ego Power+ claims that you will get 100 cuts per single charge of the battery.

The construction of the CS1403 is weather-resistant, which makes it easier to use it no matter the weather. And safety features such as the chain kickback brake will keep you secure as you use this product.

Pros

• Weather-resistant
• 14-inch bar and chain
• 100 cuts per charge
• Multiple safety features like the chain kick back brake

Cons

• Only a 2.5 AH battery
• Chain oiler prone to malfunctions

6. Makita XCU03PT1 Cordless Chainsaw Kit

Makita is known for their electric tools, both corded and cordless. Their cordless chainsaw, XCU03PT1, is an 18V lithium-ion battery-powered product.

It has a 5.0AH, which is almost professional level. The saw bar and chain are on the smaller side, 14 inches, but they will still cut anything a homeowner needs to cut.

Makita has designed their XCU03PT1 to be efficient. It has a brushless motor, which provides the power of a 32cc gas chainsaw without the emissions.

The tool-less chain adjustment is easy to use. And, the built-in lock-off lever is a great safety feature that stops the chain from engaging accidentally. 

Pros

• Built-in lock-off lever safety feature
• Brushless motor that provides the same power as a 32cc gas chainsaw
• Automatic shut-off feature for extended battery life
• 0-3 variable speed trigger and high chain speed (940 fpm)

Cons

• Very heavy for a cordless chainsaw, 21.2 lbs
• Very short battery life

7. Zombi ZCS5817 Cordless Chainsaw

Zombi is another relatively unknown chainsaw manufacturer but their ZCS5817 cordless chainsaw can compete with products from much better-known brands.

It has a 58V and 4AH battery. The bar and chain are 16 inches and from Oregon for quality. The low-kickback bar and chain, chain brake, and handguard are just some of the great safety features of the ZCS5817.

Zombi not only makes a high-powered cordless chainsaw, but they also protect your purchase. They provide a 5-year tool warranty and 2-year battery warranty on this cordless chainsaw.

This warranty package is one of the best around. So, not only will the Zombi cordless chainsaw work well, but it is also guaranteed to last you a long time.

Pros

• Lots of power with a 58V and 4 AH battery
• 16-inch Oregon bar and chain
• Lots of extras including chain brake, hand guard, and auto oiling
• 2-year tool warranty, and 2-year battery warranty

Cons

• A flaw in the battery compartment
• A heavy chainsaw at 16 lbs

8. Worx WG322 Cordless Chainsaw

Worx’s WG322 cordless chainsaw is a high-quality and easy to use product. It comes with a 20V battery, and includes a charger with your purchase.

Like the Greenworks cordless chainsaw, the WG322 can share batteries across all of Worx’s 20V power-share platforms. So, you benefit from having multiple Worx products.

The chainsaw itself comes with an automatic, tool-free chain tensioning system.

And there is automatic chain lubrication with an oil lever indicator. Essentially, Worx has done everything possible to make using the WG322 easy for everyone.

Pros

• Lots of automatic features, including chain tensioning system and chain lubrication
• Compact and lightweight
• The battery indicator lets you know how much battery life is left
• Can share batteries and chargers across all Worx 20V products

Cons

• Cutting speed is too slow for medium to large jobs
• Chain prone to coming off the bar

9. Oregon CS3000-A6 Cordless Chainsaw Kit

Oregon is known for their high-quality bars and chains, so why not their cordless chainsaws as well? The CS3000-A6 Cordless Chainsaw Kit has a 4AH and 40V lithium-ion battery.

The power and 16-inch bar and chain provide a lot of cutting ability. Oregon’s use of a lithium-ion battery means that the power will be constant, without fading, and that a charge will hold without use for a month.

Run time on the CS3000-A6 is 400 cuts on 2-3-inch branches on a single battery charge. But the cordless chainsaw itself is only 12 lbs. with the battery. For a lightweight yet powerful cordless chainsaw, the CS3000-A6 can’t be beaten.

Pros

• Only 12 lbs
• Powerful with a 40V 4 AH battery
• Instant start system
• Brushless motor is energy efficient

Cons

• Built-in sharpener only works with a specific Oregon chain
• Tends to bind on large cutting jobs

What is the Best Battery Chainsaw?

There is no real “best” battery chainsaw. Instead, you need to pick a product that will work “best” for your home and cutting requirements.

That being said, the best battery chainsaws will have a few features that set them apart from the competition. I discuss the specific features to watch out for in the “how to choose” section below.

Overall, the best battery-powered chainsaws are going to be light and easy to use. They are not going to beat gas chainsaws in terms of cutting speed and power, so do not expect to use them for big cutting jobs. However, they are perfect for medium or small-sized jobs.

Additionally, all the best cordless chainsaws are going to be convenient to use. They should have a long battery life and easy-start options. This makes the best products perfect for the homeowner or novice chainsaw owner because of their simplicity and ease of use.

Yet, the top way to tell if you are going to like a particular cordless chainsaw is to try it out for yourself.

Gas vs Battery Chainsaw

All the chainsaws I discuss in this article are cordless, and so are battery-powered. But gas chainsaws remain the most common type of chainsaw, especially for larger jobs.

So you may be wondering about the real difference between battery and gas chainsaws—besides the way they make power, of course.

Here are a few of the major differences between gas and battery chainsaws when they are compared head to head. 

• Battery-powered cordless chainsaws will be lighter than gas chainsaws. They typically weigh between 5-15 lbs., while gas chainsaws often weight between 10-20 lbs.
• Battery-powered cordless chainsaws are much quieter than gas chainsaws. The NPC measured the decibel (dBA) level of gas chainsaws and found that they ranged from 106-117 dBA. You should use ear protection for any sound that measures over 85 dBA and continues for a significant period of time. Therefore, gas chainsaws make a significant amount of noise that requires ear protection to prevent damaging your ears. On the other hand, the NPC measured cordless battery-powered chainsaws at 50-100 dBA. You may still need ear protection with battery-powered chainsaws; however, they are clearly much quieter than gas chainsaws.
• With the reduction of noise and weight comes a decrease in power. Battery-powered chainsaws will not have the same power capacity or cutting speed as gas chainsaws. Some battery chainsaws do come close; but, in general, a gas-powered chainsaw will cut from 55-60 MPH (miles per hour) while a battery-powered chainsaw will back between 70 cuts an hour on a 3-amp battery or 150 cuts an hour on a 4-amp battery (different measurement). While these measurements are different, they show that the battery-powered saws cut much slower than gas saws. One of the reasons for this lack of speed is the smaller amount of power. 

You may also want to read: Gas vs Electric Chainsaws (&Battery): Which One Is Better for You?

Corded vs Cordless Chainsaw

Let’s do another head to head: cordless vs. corded chainsaws. Obviously, there is one main difference between corded and cordless chainsaw, the presence of an electrical cord. But the differences do not stop there.

• Cordless chainsaws have much greater mobility than electric chainsaws because of their lack of power cord. As long as the battery is charged, you can take cordless chainsaws anywhere. Your use of corded chainsaws is limited to the length of the cord between you and the nearest electrical outlet.
• Cordless chainsaws also often have more power than corded models. This is because corded chainsaws make their power using amps. U.S. electrical outlets are limited to 15 amps, which is the most power that corded chainsaws will ever be able to make. On the other hand, cordless chainsaws are only limited by their lithium-ion battery, which typically produces more power than an electrical outlet.
• Corded chainsaws are typically lighter because the addition of the battery in cordless models adds weight.

How to Choose Cordless Chainsaw

Consider the following factors as you look for your next cordless chainsaw.

Types

There are three different types of cordless chainsaw. They are categorized depending on their rechargeable batteries.

Nickel-cadmium: This is the oldest type of battery. It came into service in 1898 and has lasted so long in chainsaws for a reason. Nickel-cadmium batteries work well in the cold and have a long battery life.

Nickel Metal HyDride: Nickel Metal HyDride batteries rate right in the middle between Nickel-cadmium and Lithium-ion. They have more energy density than Nickel-cadmium batteries, but they produce more self-discharge (4% per day) than Lithium-ion.

Lithium-ion: The newest type of battery technology. Lithium-ion batteries provide the most power of all battery types and do not need to be discharged regularly. As a final bonus, lithium-ion batteries hold their charge the longest of any chainsaw battery.

Price

Price is a very important factor, since most people are not made of money. The price of a cordless chainsaw will depend on a number of features, including size and manufacturer.

However, most cordless chainsaws will cost you $100-$300. The larger the bar, or the better the engine, the more you will find the price on the high side of that range. 

Power

Like price, power output in a cordless chainsaw can vary widely. Battery-powered chainsaw power is measured in amp-hours. Your cordless chainsaw should have an amp-hour rating of higher than 6.

But you will find professional-grade cordless chainsaws with AH (amp-hours) of 7-5-9 AH, which is about the best that you can get.

Battery

The battery on a cordless chainsaw is an important factor in its power. It is the battery that will be rated for a specific amp-hour. Some cordless chainsaw batteries are capable of producing many more amps per hour than other models.

But there are other features that you should look for in your cordless-chainsaw battery. Most important are runtime and voltage. Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are the best battery option for your cordless chainsaw.

The higher the voltage on these batteries, the more powerful the chainsaw. You should also purchase a model that will give you as many cuts as possible before you need to recharge.

The number of cuts on a given AH battery can range from 25-100 depending on the chainsaw.

Bar Length

Bar length will not vary as wildly as some of the other features on cordless chainsaws because this type of chainsaw tends to be on the small side.

You do not find the big bars of professional or farm/ranch chainsaws in a cordless model. Instead, the bar length on most cordless chainsaws will be in the homeowner range, or 8-16-inches.

Weight

Cordless chainsaws tend to weigh much less than their gas counterpoints. It is not unusual to find cordless chainsaws that weigh between 5 and 20 lbs.

However, cordless chainsaws are not the lightest option, that distinction falls to corded chainsaws. The battery in a cordless chainsaw is what adds the most weight. So, the bigger the battery—and most often if it’s a lithium-ion battery—the heavier the chainsaw.

Warranty

As you probably know, warranties are important because they protect your purchase. Warranties are not standardized, and can vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer.

You shouldn’t consider a cordless chainsaw with a warranty of less than two years. However, you will find products with warranties up to five or ten years. Two to four years is standard with most cordless chainsaw manufacturers.

How to Use a Cordless Chainsaw

You use a cordless, battery-powered chainsaw similarly to how you would use gas or electric chainsaws. Below we’ve listed a few differences when using a cordless chainsaw.

• When first picking up a cordless chainsaw, you need to ensure that its battery is charged and ready to go. Some types of batteries are prone to self-discharge—losing battery charge as the chainsaw sits. You don’t want to reach for a chainsaw only to find the battery is dead.
• Check the oil reservoir window—if your cordless chainsaw has one—to ensure that the oil level is correct.
• Check the chain and bar for any damage. If you need to adjust the chain, your cordless chainsaw should come with a tool-free chain adjustment system.
• Put on your safety gear, turn on the chainsaw and get to cutting.

How to Maintain Battery Chainsaws

Like all chainsaws, your battery-powered chainsaw needs to be maintained to keep cutting effectively. The following steps are broken into things to check with every use and steps to take once in a while.

• Every use:  Check to make sure that the safety features and trigger are working correctly. The chain should be sharpened and the sprockets checked for wear. Maintain the starter and battery.
• Once in a while: Look over the anti-vibration mechanism, bar, plugs, and starter for damage and wear. Lubricate the clutch and wipe off the cooling fins.