Chainsaws Reviews

Chainsaws can make quick work of cutting firewood, cleaning up fallen limbs and trees, cutting framing timbers or carving wood. Gas chainsaws continue to take the lion's share of the market, but as recent reviews demonstrate, electric chainsaws keep winning converts. They're quieter, easier to start, use and maintain, and pollute less. Cordless chainsaws are available too, but reviews recommend them primarily for cutting smaller branches.

Thanks to the voluntary adoption of safety features, newer chainsaws are much less liable to kick back against the user. Consumer-level chainsaws now come with anti-kickback chains, and nearly all incorporate additional features designed to minimize the risk of cuts and burns. The best chainsaws also make maintenance easier, with see-through oil tanks and tool-free chain adjustment. Features don't necessarily predict actual performance, however, so we give the most weight to chainsaw reviews based on objective comparison tests.

Of the four best comparison reviews based on objective testing, only Consumer Reports tests both gas and electric chainsaws. Reviews at both Tools of the Trade and the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse (NPC) provide the most detailed test results, including decibel noise levels, but compare only electric chainsaws. In its 2004 review, Popular Mechanics compares only gas saws at the high end of consumer-level power.

For easy starting, several Husqvarna chainsaws get high marks in professional reviews. However, reviewers also find them hard to maintain. The same models get relatively low average ratings from owners reviewing them at Amazon.com, with quite a few accounts of quality control and reliability problems. Tests at Popular Mechanics find the 45cc Husqvarna 345 (*est. $345) easy to start but hard to maintain in the field since you need a screwdriver to remove the top cover (in case the filter gets clogged). Another comparison review also criticizes two other Husqvarna saws for difficult maintenance. "Huskies" have some devoted fans, but as with most brands of chainsaws, owners recommend buying from a local dealer who provides warranty service.  ... Continued

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

Reviews pick several Stihl and Husqvarna models as the best gas chainsaws. Among electric chainsaws, two models get the most recommendations. The Poulan Pro 400E CRBB is essentially identical to the Craftsman 34118, but the Craftsman offers tool-free chain adjustment. Reviews say the Husqvarna 316 cuts faster than the Craftsman saw, however.