Chainsaw Ratings: Expert and User Reviews Ratings

Our AssessmentConsumerReports.org tests a large number of chainsaws in its ongoing testing program. The latest ratings chart includes a total of 26 gas and electric chainsaws from 10 major brands, rated and ranked based on objective tests of cutting speed, safety, ease of use and ease of maintenance. The ratings chart also specifies whether or not the chainsaw has any of 11 desirable features. However, editors don't rate chainsaws for sound level or even specify it in decibels. Some models have been discontinued since these ratings were published.

Our AssessmentTo test seven gas chainsaws with engine sizes from 35 cc to 38 cc, a Popular Mechanics team "spent three days pruning an ancient orchard, felling trees and crosscutting them into logs." Each of the seven chainsaws is given a rating of up to 5 stars (none has less than 3). The top three are the Husqvarna 240 e-series, Stihl MS 210 C-BE (now MS 211 C-BE) and Echo CS-370. A short write-up lists the pros and cons of each model tested, and the review is followed by comments posted by chainsaw owners. There is also a chart comparing the noise levels of the seven chainsaws, though the ratings do not take noise level into account. The Echo CS-370 and the Solo 636, which placed fourth in the ratings, are the quietest. However, because even the Echo is rated at 99 decibels, the editors recommend that users wear noise-reducing earmuffs.

Our AssessmentIn this single-product review Roy Berendsohn writes that he borrowed a Stihl MS 230 C-BE to use for a volunteer landscaping job and found that it "can easily withstand that momentary brush with the ground or handle dirty tree roots (a job so awful that I normally use a reciprocating saw and a bimetal blade)." He describes other features that he says make this an ideal landscaper saw, and gives it a positive review overall.

Our AssessmentJohn Diggers reviews the electric Worx WG303, writing that "I used it to chop up a 14-inch-diameter ash tree, and the saw didn't stall or hiccup once." He notes that the Worx WG303 has many of the features found on most high-quality chainsaws, as well as one unique to Worx chainsaws: a patented automatic chain-tensioning system. Diggers also praises the WG303's low price (*Est. $99). All in all, he gives it a very positive review.

Our AssessmentAmazon.com publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of the chainsaws sold here, listing the average rating and the number of reviews right on the list of models. Several gas and electric models have enough ratings and reviews to provide a good first-person perspective on them, based on their use over time.

Our AssessmentLowes.com publishes owner ratings and reviews of the gas and electric chainsaws sold here. The only electric model with enough ratings to make them meaningful is the Worx WG303, which gets very high ratings. Husqvarna gas chainsaws, including the 455 Rancher, get significantly higher ratings than Poulan models. Lowes.com uses its own model numbers for two Husqvarna saws, but doesn't give the corresponding Husqvarna model numbers. It appears, though, that the current models to which they most closely correspond are the 445 and the 435.

Our AssessmentThis useful review provides a good overview of which electric chainsaws are best suited to different uses and budget requirements. In addition, electric chainsaws are rated and ranked based on the results of tests conducted by a team that included a professional logger and an acoustical expert. In the end, the review recommends the Husqvarna 316E and Makita UC 4000 as "exceptional cut quality saws" that are also quiet. We'd rate this review higher if it were more recent.

Our AssessmentThis single-product review rates the 18-volt Black & Decker cordless chainsaw based on testing, recommending it for pruning branches no larger than 7 inches in diameter. Reviewer Diana Forbes gives this chainsaw high marks for ease of use and value. Although it requires manual oiling, its 6.2-pound weight makes it easy to maneuver, she notes.

Our AssessmentIn this older review, Mike McClintock, a columnist for The Washington Post, recommends four chainsaws ranging in cutting power from entry-level to pro. The descriptions are detailed, making this review a good buyer's guide, and we'd rank it higher if it were newer and made it clear that competing models were tested.

Our AssessmentConsumerGuide.com provides single-product reviews and ratings of nine chainsaws, with four recommended as Best Buys. The reviews are out of date, however; of the models named Best Buys, only the Husqvarna 455 Rancher has not been discontinued since the review was written. Though ratings seem to be based on actual testing, the testing methods aren't documented.

Our AssessmentThis discussion thread has been going on for about five years now; contributors to this forum share firsthand experiences with consumer and pro models of chainsaws. Stihl, Echo and Husqvarna chainsaws seem to get the most recommendations. This is a good forum for asking detailed questions, not only about the best chainsaw for your needs, but about problems and repair issues. It's also searchable, so you can look for discussions about a particular model.