7 Best Cordless Chainsaws of 2026
Jake Morrison reviews the best cordless chainsaws of 2026. Compare bar length, battery platform, voltage, and runtime to find the right saw for your yard or job site.
Updated
After 15 years of running job sites and clearing properties before the excavator shows up, I have learned that the chainsaw is the tool I reach for more than any other when something is in the way. A storm drops a tree across the only access road to a build site. A lot line needs clearing before grading starts. A homeowner has deadfall blocking the driveway and the crew can’t get the trailer in. For all of those jobs, a cordless chainsaw has quietly replaced the gas saw in my truck — no fuel mix, no cold-start ritual, no carburetor gumming up between uses, just pull the brake, squeeze the trigger, and cut.
I evaluated seven of the most-reviewed cordless chainsaws available in 2026, focusing on the specs that actually matter when there is wood to move: bar length matched to the job, the battery platform you already own, chain speed in hardwood, and the safety features that keep all ten fingers attached. If you are building out a full cordless outdoor lineup, this saw pairs naturally with the machines in our best cordless leaf blowers roundup, which applies the same contractor-informed, battery-platform-first framework to cleanup gear.
The single biggest shift in this category over the last few years is that the battery platform now drives the buying decision more than the saw itself. If you already own DeWalt 20V/60V, EGO 56V, or Makita 18V LXT tools, a bare-tool saw from the same brand is almost always the right call — no new chargers, no duplicate batteries. If you are starting fresh, a complete kit from EGO, SKIL, or Greenworks gives you a proven system with everything you need to cut on day one.
After researching more than a dozen models and analyzing thousands of verified Amazon reviews, here are the seven best cordless chainsaws for 2026 — one for every use case, from overhead pruning to felling mid-size trees and producing firewood.
How We Chose These Cordless Chainsaws
Every saw in this roundup was evaluated against the same criteria: verified Amazon review scores with sample sizes large enough to be meaningful, confirmed ASIN availability, bar length and voltage matched to real-world cutting jobs, battery platform ecosystem value, and contractor-relevant durability and safety indicators — brushless motor, chain brake type, bucking spikes, and tensioning system. I cross-referenced Amazon Q&A sections, one-star reviews (always the most informative), and competing roundups to surface failure patterns like chain derailment and oiler issues. No saw earned a spot on specs alone — the review record has to back up the number on the box.
EGO POWER+ CS1613 56V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw Kit
EGO POWER+ CS1613 56V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw Kit
by EGO Power+
The best cordless chainsaw for most homeowners — 16-inch bar, gas-class 56V power, tool-free tensioning, and a complete kit make the EGO CS1613 the top all-around choice in 2026.
Pros
- 16-inch bar with a 20 m/s chain speed delivers roughly 40cc gas-equivalent cutting power — fells trees up to 14 inches in diameter and bucks weekend firewood without bogging down in hardwood
- Includes a 4.0 Ah battery and charger rated for up to 220 cuts per charge — a complete kit that handles a full storm-cleanup session before you need to swap
- Tool-free dial chain tensioning and an inertia-activated chain brake mean you adjust tension by hand in seconds and get kickback protection that meets professional safety expectations
- Runs on the EGO 56V platform shared with mowers, trimmers, and blowers — the highest-rated and most-reviewed full-size cordless saw in this roundup at 4.6 stars across 2,195 ratings
Cons
- At 20.9 lbs with the battery installed, it is the heaviest saw here — extended overhead limbing or all-day felling is fatiguing compared to a 12- or 14-inch saw
- Kit price sits at the upper end of the homeowner range — buyers already committed to DeWalt or Makita platforms should price the bare-tool route before switching ecosystems
The EGO CS1613 is the saw I recommend most often to homeowners who want one cordless chainsaw to cover almost everything. The 16-inch bar is the sweet spot for residential work — long enough to fell a 14-inch tree and buck weekend firewood, short enough to stay controllable during limbing. The 56V brushless motor drives the chain at 20 m/s, which in practical terms means it pulls through seasoned hardwood instead of bogging and stalling the way an underpowered saw does. That is roughly 40cc of gas-equivalent cutting power without the fuel mix or the cold-start fight.
What pushes the CS1613 to the top of the field is the combination of a complete kit and the strongest review record in the category. You get a 4.0 Ah battery and charger in the box, rated for up to 220 cuts per charge, which is enough to clear a storm-felled tree off a driveway before you need to swap. The tool-free dial tensioning is the feature I value most in the field — when the chain stretches mid-job, you adjust it by hand in seconds rather than digging a scrench out of your pocket. At 4.6 stars across more than 2,000 ratings, this saw has been run in every climate and consistently earns high marks.
The 56V EGO platform is worth understanding before you commit. EGO builds mowers, string trimmers, blowers, and snow blowers on the same battery, so this saw is an entry point into a system that can replace your entire gas yard lineup over time. The kit is the right starting place because you get the battery and charger, and every subsequent EGO tool bought bare drops meaningfully in cost. The only real knock is weight — at 20.9 lbs with the battery, it is the heaviest saw here, so if your work is mostly overhead pruning, look at a lighter 12- or 14-inch option.
SKIL PWR CORE 40 Brushless 40V 14-Inch Chainsaw Kit
SKIL PWR CORE 40 Brushless 40V 14-Inch Chainsaw Kit (CS4555-10)
by SKIL
The best budget cordless chainsaw — the only complete name-brand kit under about $180, the lightest saw here, and a strong first-saw choice for pruning and light cleanup.
Pros
- Only complete name-brand kit under roughly $180 — includes a 2.5 Ah PWR CORE 40 battery and the Auto PWR Jump charger, so a first-time buyer gets everything needed out of the box
- At 11.5 lbs, it is the lightest kit in this roundup — genuinely comfortable for overhead pruning, limbing, and light storm cleanup where a 20-lb saw becomes a liability
- 14-inch bar with an automatic bar-and-chain oiler and tool-free tensioning covers pruning, limbing, and bucking logs up to about 12 inches without the maintenance overhead of gas
- 40V brushless motor delivers efficient, longer-lasting performance than brushed budget saws at a similar price — a strong first cordless saw for a homeowner
Cons
- 15 m/s chain speed is slower than the 56V and 80V saws here — cutting seasoned hardwood takes noticeably more time and patience
- PWR CORE 40 is a smaller battery ecosystem than EGO, DeWalt, or Makita — fewer companion tools to share batteries with if you expand later
The SKIL PWR CORE 40 is the right saw for a clearly defined buyer: someone who wants a complete, name-brand cordless chainsaw at the lowest realistic entry price and whose work is pruning, limbing, and light storm cleanup rather than serious felling. It is the only complete kit in this roundup under about $180, and it includes the 2.5 Ah battery and the Auto PWR Jump charger, so a first-time buyer is cutting the day it arrives with nothing else to purchase.
At 11.5 lbs, it is the lightest saw in this roundup by a meaningful margin, and that weight advantage is the whole point for the jobs it is built for. Overhead pruning, clearing brush along a fence line, cutting up small deadfall — these are tasks where a 20-lb saw fatigues your arms fast, and the SKIL stays comfortable through a long afternoon. The 14-inch bar handles logs up to about 12 inches, and the automatic oiler plus tool-free tensioning keep maintenance simple for someone newer to chainsaws.
The honest limitation is chain speed. At 15 m/s, the SKIL is slower than the 56V and 80V saws here, and you feel it in seasoned hardwood — cuts that the EGO powers through take more time and patience. That is not a flaw so much as a spec that defines the use case. If you are bucking a lot of oak for firewood, buy up; if you are pruning fruit trees and cleaning up after storms, the SKIL does the job without overspending. If your outdoor projects extend beyond cutting into general property maintenance, our best pressure washers for home use guide covers the same value-first approach applied to cleaning equipment.
Makita XCU03PT1 18V X2 (36V) LXT Brushless 14-Inch Chainsaw Kit
Makita XCU03PT1 18V X2 (36V) LXT Brushless 14-Inch Chainsaw Kit (4 Batteries)
by Makita
The premium pick for Makita LXT users — four 5.0 Ah batteries, all-day runtime, and the highest rating in the roundup make the XCU03PT1 the upgrade choice for serious users.
Pros
- Runs on two 18V LXT batteries in series for 36V output and includes FOUR 5.0 Ah batteries plus a dual-port charger — real all-day runtime for the most demanding cleanup days
- Built on the Makita 18V LXT platform, the most popular professional cordless system in the field — your saw batteries also run your drill, impact driver, and recip saw
- Variable-speed trigger and an electric chain brake deliver responsive, controllable cutting and fast stops — the highest-rated saw in this roundup at 4.7 stars
- 14-inch bar with strong 36V output handles felling, limbing, and bucking up to roughly 12 inches at a near-50cc-class performance level for its size
Cons
- The priciest option here by a wide margin — the four-battery kit is the cost driver, justified only if you value the runtime and the LXT ecosystem
- 14-inch bar despite the premium price means it cannot match the 16- and 18-inch saws on large-log capacity
- Heaviest total kit when you account for two batteries on board, which adds up during extended overhead work
The Makita XCU03PT1 is the upgrade pick, and it earns that spot two ways: it runs on the most popular professional cordless platform in the field, and it ships with enough batteries to actually work all day. The saw uses two 18V LXT batteries in series to produce 36V, and the kit includes four 5.0 Ah packs plus a dual-port charger. For a contractor or serious DIYer, that means you are cutting on one pair while the other pair charges, with no runtime anxiety on a long cleanup day.
The 36V output gives this 14-inch saw near-50cc-class performance for its size — strong enough for felling, limbing, and bucking up to roughly 12 inches. The variable-speed trigger lets you feather into a cut for control, and the electric chain brake stops the chain fast. At 4.7 stars, it is the highest-rated saw in this roundup, which reflects the fact that its primary buyers are tradespeople who depend on the LXT platform every day and hold their tools to a professional standard.
The case for the Makita is entirely about the ecosystem. If you already own Makita 18V LXT drills, impact drivers, and recip saws — and a huge number of professionals do — those same batteries run this saw, and the four-battery kit becomes a runtime investment rather than a sunk cost. If you are not on the LXT platform, this is the priciest option here by a wide margin, and the 14-inch bar caps your large-log capacity below the 16- and 18-inch saws. It is the right call for the Makita-committed buyer and an expensive one for everybody else.
Greenworks 80V 18-Inch Brushless Cordless Chainsaw Kit
Greenworks 80V 18-Inch Brushless Cordless Chainsaw Kit
by Greenworks
The best big-bar value — an 18-inch bar, 80V brushless power, and metal bucking spikes make the Greenworks 80V the runner-up for anyone felling mid-size trees and producing firewood.
Pros
- 18-inch bar — the longest in this roundup at a mid-tier price — fells mid-size trees and bucks firewood logs the 16-inch saws simply cannot reach in one pass
- 80V brushless motor with a 20 m/s chain speed delivers roughly 45cc gas-equivalent power for real firewood production, not just pruning
- Metal bucking spikes bite into the log for controlled, leveraged cuts — a feature usually reserved for higher-end saws — plus a rapid charger that tops the battery in under 30 minutes
- Includes a 2.0 Ah battery and charger, and earns 4.4 stars across more than 2,000 reviews for proven big-bar value
Cons
- The included 2.0 Ah battery is small for an 18-inch saw — buy a 4.0 Ah battery if you plan on heavy firewood cutting or felling sessions
- 80V is a Greenworks-proprietary voltage that does not cross-share with the 40V or 24V Greenworks lines, so it is a standalone ecosystem commitment
The Greenworks 80V is the runner-up and the saw I would point at anyone who needs to fell mid-size trees and produce real firewood without stepping up to gas. The 18-inch bar is the longest in this roundup, and it is paired with a mid-tier price that makes big-bar capability surprisingly affordable. That extra bar length matters: it lets you fell and buck logs in a single pass that the 16-inch saws have to attack from two sides.
The 80V brushless motor drives the chain at 20 m/s for roughly 45cc of gas-equivalent power, which is genuine firewood-production territory rather than light pruning. What surprised me at this price is the metal bucking spikes — they bite into the log and give you a pivot point for controlled, leveraged cuts, a feature usually reserved for higher-end saws. The rapid charger tops the battery in under 30 minutes, and at 4.4 stars across more than 2,000 reviews, the big-bar value here is well-proven.
Two caveats keep it out of the top spot. First, the included 2.0 Ah battery is small for an 18-inch saw — fine for trimming, but if you are producing firewood, buy a 4.0 Ah pack so you are not swapping every few logs. Second, 80V is a Greenworks-proprietary voltage that does not cross-share with the company’s 40V or 24V lines, so this is a standalone ecosystem commitment rather than a battery you will spread across other tools. If felling and firewood are your priorities and the proprietary voltage does not bother you, the Greenworks 80V delivers more bar and more power per dollar than anything else here.
DEWALT 20V MAX 12-Inch Cordless Chainsaw Kit (DCCS621P1)
DEWALT 20V MAX 12-Inch Cordless Chainsaw Kit (DCCS621P1)
by DEWALT
The best compact saw for DeWalt 20V MAX users — nimble, controllable, and ideal for limbing, overhead pruning, and storm cleanup on small trees and jobsite cuts.
Pros
- Compact 12-inch bar and 20V MAX brushless motor make it the most nimble saw here for limbing, overhead pruning, and storm cleanup on small trees
- Runs on the DeWalt 20V MAX platform — the millions of homeowners and contractors already on 20V drills and saws get zero additional battery cost beyond the kit
- Includes a 5.0 Ah battery and charger rated for up to about 100 cuts per charge — enough for a full afternoon of pruning and cleanup on a single battery
- Low-kickback chain and a compact 12.55-lb body make it controllable and safe for DIYers handling overhead and one-handed-assist cuts
Cons
- The 12-inch bar caps log diameter at roughly 8 to 10 inches — not a felling or firewood saw for anything mature
- Newer model with 122 reviews, so the long-term reliability sample is still small compared to the EGO or Greenworks
The DeWalt DCCS621P1 is not a felling saw, and it is not trying to be. It is the most nimble saw in this roundup, built for limbing, overhead pruning, storm cleanup on small trees, and the kind of quick jobsite cuts a framing crew needs — and it runs on the DeWalt 20V MAX platform that millions of homeowners and contractors already own. For anyone with a 20V drill or circular saw in the garage, the battery cost is effectively zero beyond the kit price.
The compact 12-inch bar and 12.55-lb body make this saw genuinely easy to control, which is exactly what you want when you are reaching overhead to drop a limb or working one-handed-assist in tight spaces between branches. The low-kickback chain adds a margin of safety that matters for DIYers who do not run a saw every day. The included 5.0 Ah battery is rated for around 100 cuts per charge, enough for a full afternoon of pruning and cleanup before you need to recharge.
The trade-off is capacity: the 12-inch bar caps log diameter at roughly 8 to 10 inches, so this is the wrong saw for anything mature. It is also a newer model with a smaller review count, so the long-term reliability sample is still building. But for the DeWalt-committed homeowner or contractor who needs a light, controllable saw for limbing and cleanup, the platform compatibility makes it an easy call. If you are stocking a property for storm season, this saw and a generator are the two tools you reach for after the power goes out — our best portable generators guide covers the other half of that kit.
EGO POWER+ CS1610 56V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw (Bare Tool)
EGO POWER+ CS1610 56V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw (Bare Tool)
by EGO Power+
The smart buy for existing EGO 56V owners — gas-class 16-inch performance as a bare tool, with no need to pay for a duplicate battery you already have.
Pros
- Same 16-inch 56V brushless motor as the CS1613 kit, but sold bare — the smart buy for anyone who already owns an EGO 56V battery from a mower, blower, or trimmer
- At 9 lbs for the tool body, it is well-balanced for felling and bucking, with gas-class 16-inch performance and no battery duplication cost
- Tool-free dial chain tensioning lets you adjust by hand in seconds, with no scrench needed in the field
- Inertia-activated chain brake provides professional-grade kickback protection, backed by 4.6 stars across nearly 1,400 reviews
Cons
- Bare tool only — if you must buy a battery, the total cost approaches the CS1613 kit, so this only makes sense if you already own EGO 56V batteries
- Pair it with at least a 2.5 Ah battery, and a 5.0 Ah for heavy felling and bucking, or runtime will disappoint on big jobs
The EGO CS1610 is the smart-money version of my top pick. It is the same 16-inch, 56V brushless saw as the CS1613 kit — same motor, same 20 m/s chain speed, same tool-free dial tensioning and inertia chain brake — but sold as a bare tool. For anyone who already owns an EGO 56V battery from a mower, blower, or trimmer, this is the obvious buy: you get gas-class 16-inch performance without paying again for a battery and charger you already have sitting in your garage.
At 9 lbs for the tool body alone, it is well-balanced and easy to handle for felling and bucking, and it carries the same 4.6-star rating across nearly 1,400 reviews. The tool-free tensioning is the feature I keep coming back to — when the chain stretches during a long cutting session, you snug it up by hand in seconds and keep working, no scrench required. For an EGO household that is already running other tools on the platform, this is the most cost-effective way into a serious 16-inch saw.
The math only works if you already own the battery, though. If you have to buy a 56V pack to run it, the total cost climbs toward the CS1613 kit price, and you would be better off just buying the kit. If you do go bare, pair it with at least a 2.5 Ah battery for general use and a 5.0 Ah for heavy felling and bucking, or runtime will disappoint you on the big jobs.
DEWALT 60V MAX FLEXVOLT 18-Inch Cordless Chainsaw (Bare Tool, DCCS672B)
DEWALT 60V MAX FLEXVOLT 18-Inch Cordless Chainsaw (Bare Tool, DCCS672B)
by DEWALT
The heavy-duty pick for DeWalt FLEXVOLT users — an 18-inch bar and 60V power for felling and firewood, ideal for contractors already in the 20V/60V ecosystem.
Pros
- 18-inch bar on the 60V MAX FLEXVOLT platform with about 2.85 HP peak — built for heavy-duty felling and firewood production, not light pruning
- FLEXVOLT batteries back-and-forth-compatible with the DeWalt 20V MAX lineup, so 60V tools run your 20V tools and vice versa — the most flexible pro ecosystem here
- Brushless motor and a chain brake deliver contractor-grade cutting power and safety in a bare-tool package that keeps the entry price reasonable for platform owners
- Strong choice for serious DIYers and contractors already invested in DeWalt FLEXVOLT who want a long-bar saw without buying a new battery system
Cons
- Bare tool only — budget for a 60V FLEXVOLT battery, which is a meaningful added cost for anyone new to the platform
- Tool-required tensioning means you carry a scrench, and some users report chain-derail issues, so keep tension checked between cuts
- Lowest rating in this roundup at 4.3 stars, largely tied to the chain-tension complaints
The DeWalt DCCS672B is the heavy-duty saw for the contractor or serious DIYer who is already deep in the DeWalt FLEXVOLT ecosystem. The 18-inch bar and the 60V MAX motor — about 2.85 HP at peak — put this in genuine felling and firewood-production territory, well beyond the pruning and limbing duties of the smaller DeWalt 12-inch saw. This is the saw you grab when there is real wood to move and you want to stay on the DeWalt platform to do it.
The platform flexibility is the headline. FLEXVOLT batteries are designed to work both ways across DeWalt’s lineup — a 60V FLEXVOLT pack runs this saw, and it also drops into 20V MAX tools, while your existing 20V batteries can feed lower-draw 60V tools in a pinch. For a contractor running a truck full of DeWalt cordless gear, that cross-compatibility is the whole reason to choose this saw over a higher-CFM competitor on another platform. The brushless motor and chain brake bring the contractor-grade power and safety you expect.
Two things keep this out of a pick slot. It is a bare tool, so you need to budget for a 60V FLEXVOLT battery if you do not already own one, and those packs are not cheap. And it uses tool-required tensioning rather than the tool-free dial on the EGO saws, which means carrying a scrench — and some users report chain-derail issues, so you will want to keep tension checked between cuts. At 4.3 stars, it carries the lowest rating in this roundup, with most of the complaints tracing back to that tensioning system. For a FLEXVOLT owner who keeps the chain dialed in, though, it is a lot of cutting capability for the money.
How to Choose the Best Cordless Chainsaw
Buyer's Guide
I have been speccing outdoor power tools for clients and crews for over 15 years, and a chainsaw is the one tool where buying the wrong size or the wrong battery platform costs you the most. Here are the six factors that actually determine whether a cordless saw earns a permanent spot in your truck or garage.
Battery Platform Compatibility (The Most Important Factor)
Before you compare bar lengths or chain speeds, inventory the cordless batteries you already own. A bare DeWalt 60V FLEXVOLT saw at full price is a bargain if you already run DeWalt 20V/60V tools, because FLEXVOLT batteries are cross-compatible across the whole 20V and 60V lineup. The same logic applies to EGO 56V, where one battery runs your mower, blower, trimmer, and saw, and to Makita 18V LXT, the most populated professional platform in the field. Adding a new battery system means new chargers, incompatible packs, and ongoing overhead. If you are 80 percent DeWalt on the job site, buy the DeWalt saw even if another brand has a slightly longer bar. The best cordless chainsaw is almost always the one that runs on batteries already in your charger.
Bar Length: Match the Bar to the Job
Bar length is the spec people overbuy most. The rule of thumb is simple: bar length should equal the diameter of your largest log plus about 2 inches. A 12-inch bar handles limbing and pruning logs up to 8 to 10 inches. A 14-inch bar covers most homeowner pruning and light bucking up to roughly 12 inches. A 16-inch bar fells trees to 14 inches and bucks weekend firewood, which is the sweet spot for most properties. An 18-inch bar is for mid-size felling and real firewood production. A longer bar than you need adds weight, drains the battery faster, and is harder to control during overhead and one-handed-assist cuts, so size for your actual trees, not the biggest tree you can imagine.
Voltage and Power: The Gas Equivalent You Understand
Voltage, combined with bar length, tells you what the saw can actually do in gas terms. A 40V saw with a 14-inch bar performs around 40cc gas-equivalent — trees to 10 to 12 inches and weekend firewood. A 56V or 80V saw with a 16- to 18-inch bar lands in the 45cc to 55cc-equivalent range, enough for mature trees to 16 inches and genuine firewood production. The DeWalt 60V FLEXVOLT and Greenworks 80V are the closest cordless analogues to a mid-size gas saw here. Higher voltage drives a faster chain and powers a longer bar without bogging in hardwood, but it usually comes with more weight. Buy the lowest voltage that covers your largest realistic job, then add a bigger battery rather than a higher-voltage tool if you need more runtime.
Chain Speed, Brushless Motors, and Runtime
Chain speed, measured in meters per second, is the single best predictor of how a saw feels in hardwood — the 20 m/s EGO and Greenworks saws pull through seasoned oak noticeably faster than the 15 m/s SKIL. A brushless motor, which every saw in this roundup uses, runs cooler under sustained load, lasts longer, and squeezes more cuts from each charge than a brushed motor. Manufacturer cut counts are measured in softwood, so expect fewer cuts in hardwood and fewer still in cold weather. For real felling and firewood work, plan on a 4.0 Ah battery or larger, or a spare on the charger. The fix for runtime anxiety is a second battery on your existing platform, not a more expensive saw.
Safety: Chain Brake, Bucking Spikes, and the Top-Handle Warning
Every saw here has a two-step trigger that prevents accidental starts and an inertia-activated or electric chain brake that stops the chain in a kickback event — confirm both are present on any saw you consider. Metal bucking spikes, like those on the Greenworks 80V, bite into the log and give you a pivot point for controlled, leveraged cuts, which is a real advantage on bigger wood. The one warning I give every homeowner and GC: top-handle saws are for arborists working in trees with proper climbing gear, not for ground work. Buy a rear-handle saw, keep the chain brake engaged between cuts, never cut above shoulder height, and own a set of chaps, a helmet with face protection, gloves, and boots. The gear is cheap relative to a chainsaw injury.
Chain Maintenance: Oiling, Sharpening, and When to Replace
A cordless saw with a sharp, well-oiled chain outcuts a more powerful saw with a dull chain every time. Check the bar oil before every battery swap — the automatic oiler only protects the bar when the reservoir is full, and a dry chain destroys a bar quickly. Sharpen when the saw stops pulling itself into the cut and starts throwing fine dust instead of chips; the thumbnail-across-the-tooth test confirms a dull cutter. Use a round file sized to your chain pitch, held at the manufacturer's angle of about 30 degrees, with equal strokes on every tooth. Replace the chain rather than sharpening once the cutters reach the wear marks, or if you find cracked links or damaged drive teeth. Tool-free dial tensioning, as on the EGO saws, makes mid-job tension checks fast and is worth prioritizing.
Match the saw to your largest realistic job, not your worst-case fantasy. The most common mistake I see is a homeowner buying an 18-inch firewood saw to prune fruit trees. Be honest about the wood you actually cut. If it is limbs and small deadfall, a 12- or 14-inch saw is lighter, cheaper, and easier to control. If you genuinely fell mid-size trees and produce firewood, step up to the 16- or 18-inch saws and accept the weight.
Follow the batteries you already own. I tell clients to buy cordless tools the way they buy a phone ecosystem — switching platforms later is expensive. Before you choose a saw, write down every cordless tool in your garage and what battery it uses. If you are mostly DeWalt, the 20V or 60V DeWalt saw is almost certainly the right call even if another brand has a slightly longer bar. Battery compatibility compounds in value with every tool you add.
Storm season is the real use case. The single most common reason people buy a chainsaw is to clear a tree after a storm, and that is exactly where cordless shines — no stale fuel, no carburetor gumming up between the storms that are months apart. The catch is cold weather: lithium-ion batteries lose 20 to 30 percent of their capacity below 40 degrees, so keep a spare battery warm in your jacket or truck cab and charge everything when a storm is in the forecast. Pair the saw with a generator and you have the core of a storm-readiness kit — our best portable generators roundup covers the power side.
Buy the safety gear with the saw. Chaps, a helmet with face protection, gloves, and steel-toe boots cost a fraction of what a chainsaw injury costs, and I will not let anyone on a site run a saw without them. Buy a rear-handle saw — every saw here is one — and skip top-handle saws entirely unless you are a certified arborist working aloft. Keep the chain brake engaged when you move between cuts, and never cut above shoulder height.
Final Verdict
The EGO POWER+ CS1613 16-Inch Kit is the best cordless chainsaw for most homeowners in 2026. It hits the sweet spot on bar length, delivers gas-class 56V power with a fast 20 m/s chain, includes a 4.0 Ah battery and charger, and carries the strongest verified review record in the category — all with the convenience of tool-free dial tensioning. If you are starting a cordless outdoor lineup or replacing an aging gas saw, the CS1613 is the benchmark, and the bare-tool CS1610 is the smart-money path if you already own EGO 56V batteries.
For budget buyers and light-duty work, the SKIL PWR CORE 40 14-Inch Kit is the practical alternative — the only complete name-brand kit under about $180, the lightest saw in the roundup, and a strong first cordless saw for pruning, limbing, and storm cleanup. It gives up chain speed in hardwood, but for the jobs it is built for, it does the work without overspending.
Platform users should follow the battery: DeWalt households buy the 20V DCCS621P1 for cleanup or the 60V FLEXVOLT DCCS672B for felling, Makita LXT crews buy the four-battery XCU03PT1, and anyone needing a big bar on a budget gets the Greenworks 80V. The best cordless chainsaw is always the one that runs on the batteries already in your charger. For a complete outdoor equipment strategy — saws, blowers, generators, and everything in between — our best cordless leaf blowers guide applies this same battery-first framework to seasonal cleanup gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
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About the Reviewer
Jake Morrison, Licensed General Contractor
B.S. Construction Management, Purdue University
Jake Morrison has spent 14 years in residential construction and home renovation before founding DIYRated in 2026. After helping hundreds of homeowners choose the right tools and materials for their projects, he started writing the product guides he wished existed when he was starting out. Jake tests every major product recommendation in his workshop in Indianapolis and focuses on real-world performance over spec-sheet marketing.