The Best Cordless Chainsaws For Garden And Firewood Jobs
Battery saws that handle pruning and log cutting without a cable or a pull cord to fight with.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best cordless chainsaw is the Ryobi OCS1830 ONE+ Brushless Chainsaw. It runs on the same 18V batteries as Ryobi's drills and garden tools, so ONE+ owners get a brushless saw with a 30 cm Oregon bar without buying another battery. If you're new to chainsaws, go for the BLACK+DECKER Battery Chainsaw, whose slower chain and low kickback design are far more forgiving.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Ryobi OCS1830 ONE+ Brushless Chainsaw
Best Overall
Ryobi OCS1830 ONE+ Brushless ChainsawRyobi ONE+ owners tackling pruning, logs and general garden cutting
- Check price of Makita DUC353Z Cordless Chainsaw
Best Performance
Makita DUC353Z Cordless ChainsawRegular cutting of thicker trunks and large firewood loads
- Check price of BLACK+DECKER Battery Chainsaw
Best For Beginners
BLACK+DECKER Battery ChainsawNervous first-time users and quieter cutting near neighbours
- Check price of Bosch UniversalChain Cordless Chainsaw
Best Lightweight
Bosch UniversalChain Cordless ChainsawLight pruning and small logs for occasional users
- Check price of Dewalt DCM565N XR Brushless Chainsaw
Best All-Rounder
Dewalt DCM565N XR Brushless ChainsawDEWALT XR owners wanting a light saw for fencing and lopping
- Check price of Einhell GE-LC 18 Li Cordless Chainsaw
Start with the batteries already in your shed. A bare saw on the Ryobi, Makita or DEWALT platform you own costs far less than buying into a new one, and a spare battery keeps you going through a long firewood session. Bar length comes next, as 25 cm is pruning territory and 30 cm takes on most garden trees and logs.
Cheaper saws save money with short bars and slow chains, while twin-battery power adds weight you'll feel by the end of a long job. Our six run from light pruners to brushless saws for thick trunks.
How We Tested These Cordless Chainsaws
We've cut a lot of wood over the years, from trees and branches to sleepers and logs for the burner. Battery saws have become our favourite type because there's next to no engine maintenance and nothing to trip over.
The photo on the left shows a compact Makita top-handle saw, not the DUC353Z, cutting into a trunk with a stepladder alongside, and with no cable trailing behind there's nothing to snag or come up short. On the right is a DEWALT 20V XR brushless saw on a felled conifer, where it cut through the thick trunk without struggling. That's a 20V model sold outside the UK, so it isn't the 18V DCM565N reviewed below.
Each saw was judged on the same points:
- Cutting performance: chain speed, bar length and the power for thicker wood
- Run time: battery size and the brand's figures per charge
- Weight and grip: how comfortable it is to hold and control
- Safety: chain brakes, kickback protection and trigger design
- Maintenance: oiling and chain tensioning
- Kit, warranty and value: whether batteries come in the box and what the guarantee covers
When a brand brings out an improved model, we try to swap it into our kit and update this list.
The Best Cordless Chainsaws We Recommend
The Ryobi, Makita and DEWALT are sold as bare tools, while the Bosch and Einhell come as complete kits. Check what's in the box before ordering.
Best Overall
Ryobi OCS1830 ONE+ Brushless Chainsaw
Best for: Ryobi ONE+ owners tackling pruning, logs and general garden cutting
Check Price On AmazonThe Ryobi OCS1830 brings a brushless motor to Ryobi's ONE+ range, so it runs on the same 18V batteries as the drills, strimmers and hedge trimmers many of us already own. That makes it good value, as you can buy the saw as a bare tool and use the batteries you have.
It drives a 30 cm Oregon bar and chain at 10 m/s, which suits branches, small trees and firewood. Chain tensioning needs no tools, the oiling is automatic and a mechanical chain brake protects you if the saw kicks back. The rear handle has a soft overmould for comfort, and Ryobi quotes 3.6 kg with the battery fitted. Register it and Ryobi gives a three-year warranty.
What we like
- Brushless motor on the ONE+ 18V battery system
- 30 cm Oregon bar and chain
- Chain speed of 10 m/s
- Tool-free chain tensioning
- Automatic oiling and mechanical chain brake
- 3.6 kg with battery according to Ryobi
- Three-year warranty when registered
What to know
- Battery and charger cost extra if you don't own Ryobi tools
Our verdict
Value is the Ryobi's big strength, as the bare saw slots straight onto batteries you already own, and Ryobi's three-year warranty on registration is generous. It's the saw we'd point most homeowners towards for pruning, logs and general garden cutting. If thick trunks are a regular job, the twin-battery Makita DUC353Z has twice the chain speed.
Best Performance
Makita DUC353Z Cordless Chainsaw
Best for: Regular cutting of thicker trunks and large firewood loads
Check Price On AmazonThe Makita DUC353Z is a twin-battery saw like the one on the lawn in our testing photos, though we can't read the model on that one. It runs off two 18V batteries at once to power a 36V brushless motor. That's how it reaches a chain speed of 20 m/s, double the Ryobi's, and in our testing a twin-battery Makita handled the tougher cutting jobs with ease.
Variable speed control lets you ease into a cut, and there's both an electric chain brake and a kickback brake. A window shows the oil level so you don't run the chain dry, the tensioning lever has been improved and the soft grip is comfortable. The second battery adds weight, and you'll need two batteries and a charger if you don't already own Makita LXT tools.
What we like
- Two 18V batteries power a 36V brushless motor
- Fast 20 m/s chain speed
- Very capable on difficult cutting jobs in our testing
- Electric chain brake and kickback brake
- Oil level window
- Variable speed control
What to know
- The most expensive saw in our roundup
- Needs two batteries and a charger, sold separately
- Heavier than single-battery saws
Our verdict
Regular firewood cutting and thick trunks are what this saw is built for, and a twin-battery Makita made light work of the tougher cuts in our testing. It's the most expensive option here and needs two batteries, so it makes most sense for anyone already on Makita LXT. Occasional users will get on better with a lighter single-battery saw like the Ryobi OCS1830.
Best For Beginners
BLACK+DECKER Battery Chainsaw
Best for: Nervous first-time users and quieter cutting near neighbours
Check Price On AmazonThe BLACK+DECKER saw uses a 36V battery and a slower chain, which makes it more forgiving if you've never used a chainsaw before. A low kickback chain adds to that, and the non-slip handle gives you a secure grip.
BLACK+DECKER rates it at 92.8 dB, so it's a quieter choice for small gardens close to neighbours. The brand says a charge lasts up to 45 minutes, or up to 560 cuts, and recharges in 90 minutes. It has a 30 cm cutting capacity and automatic oiling, and weighs 3.8 kg. The price of all that forgiveness is power, as it has less of it than any other saw here.
What we like
- Slower, more forgiving chain for beginners
- Low kickback chain
- 92.8 dB according to BLACK+DECKER
- Up to 560 cuts per charge according to the brand
- 30 cm cut capacity with automatic oiling
- Non-slip handle
What to know
- Slower chain and less power than the other saws here
- Heavier than the Bosch at 3.8 kg
Our verdict
First-time users get the most from this saw, as the slower chain and low kickback design take some of the fear out of cutting, and the low noise rating suits small gardens close to neighbours. Once you're confident and want more speed, the Ryobi OCS1830 is the natural step up.
Best Lightweight
Bosch UniversalChain Cordless Chainsaw
Best for: Light pruning and small logs for occasional users
Check Price On AmazonThe Bosch UniversalChain is one of the lightest saws in this list at 3.0 kg with the battery fitted, which makes a real difference when you're reaching up to prune branches. It arrives as a complete kit with the battery, charger, chain oil, cover and guide bar, so there's nothing else to buy.
Chain speed is 4.5 m/s, slower than most here, so it's best for small branches and thin logs. Tensioning and adjustment are tool-free, the battery charges in an hour and a tip protector steadies the saw against the wood.
What we like
- Light at 3.0 kg with the battery
- Complete kit with battery, charger and oil
- One-hour charge time
- Tool-free tensioning
- Tip protector helps keep the saw steady
What to know
- Slow 4.5 m/s chain speed
- Not built for heavy-duty cutting
Our verdict
For someone with no battery tools who prunes a few times a year, the Bosch is an easy recommendation. Everything comes in the box, the battery charges in an hour and the low weight makes overhead pruning less tiring. Thick logs are beyond it, so look to the Ryobi or Makita for those.
Best All-Rounder
Dewalt DCM565N XR Brushless Chainsaw
Best for: DEWALT XR owners wanting a light saw for fencing and lopping
Check Price On AmazonDEWALT saws feature in our testing photos, a 20V XR model on a felled conifer and a 30 cm saw lined up with four 18V XR batteries. The DCM565N runs on DEWALT's 18V XR platform with a brushless motor and weighs 3.6 kg.
Its chain speed is 7.68 m/s, and the variable speed trigger lets you start a cut gently. Single-handed activation makes it quick to get going, and oiling is automatic. It's a good fit for fencing jobs, lopping branches and cutting logs to length, and in our testing a DEWALT XR saw cut through large trunks with ease. It's relatively expensive, and you'll need DEWALT batteries if you don't already have them.
What we like
- Brushless motor on the 18V XR platform
- Cut through large trunks with ease in our testing
- Variable speed trigger
- 3.6 kg in weight
- Single-handed activation
- Automatic oiling
What to know
- Relatively expensive next to the alternatives
- Battery and charger sold separately
Our verdict
DEWALT XR owners have an obvious choice here. The saw starts with one hand and weighs 3.6 kg, and a DEWALT XR saw got through big trunks comfortably in our testing. That covers fencing, lopping and logging around most homes. Without DEWALT batteries already, the cost of buying into the platform is hard to justify.
Best Budget
Einhell GE-LC 18 Li Cordless Chainsaw
Best for: Small gardens and light trimming on a tight budget
Check Price On AmazonThe Einhell GE-LC 18 is one of the cheapest cordless chainsaws worth buying, and it comes with a 3.0 Ah battery and charger, so it's ready to go out of the box. It has a 25 cm bar, and the chain runs at 4.3 m/s, which suits light cutting such as small branches and shrubs.
A mechanical brake stops the chain quickly, the chain tensions without tools and oiling is automatic. LED lights on the battery show the charge level, and the handle is comfortable for short jobs. It's not built for big trunks or a winter's worth of firewood.
What we like
- Comes with a 3.0 Ah battery and charger
- Mechanical chain brake
- Tool-free chain tensioning
- Automatic chain lubrication
- Battery charge indicator lights
What to know
- Short 25 cm bar and slow chain speed
- Not suited to heavy-duty cutting
Our verdict
A saw and battery for as little outlay as possible is what the Einhell offers, and for trimming shrubs and small branches in a compact garden it's enough. The short bar and slow chain rule out proper firewood cutting. For that, the Ryobi OCS1830 is worth the extra.
Choosing A Cordless Chainsaw
A cordless chainsaw is the right choice for most gardens, but the models vary a lot in power, weight and running costs. Here's what matters when you're picking one.
Battery Platform And Run Time
The battery is the biggest cost and the biggest limit. If you already own drills or garden tools from Ryobi, Makita or DEWALT, buying the bare saw on the same platform saves a lot. A battery with a higher Ah rating gives longer run time, and a second battery means you can keep cutting while one charges. Petrol still suits professionals cutting all day, but for homeowners a spare battery covers most jobs.
Bar Length And Chain Speed
Bar length decides how thick a log you can cut in one pass. A 25 cm bar suits pruning and small branches, while 30 cm handles most garden trees and firewood. Chain speed affects how fast it cuts, so the 20 m/s Makita gets through thick wood much quicker than a 4.5 m/s Bosch.
Weight And Handling
A lighter saw is safer and less tiring, especially when cutting at shoulder height. Twin-battery saws are heavier but more powerful. Hold the saw at both handles before buying if you can, and think about how long you'll be using it in one go.
Safety Features
Look for a chain brake that stops the chain if the saw kicks back, a low kickback chain and a two-step trigger that stops accidental starts. Wear chainsaw gloves, eye and ear protection, sturdy boots and ideally chainsaw trousers. Never cut above shoulder height or from an unstable ladder. For tall hedges and high branches, a long reach hedge trimmer is a safer tool for the job.
Maintenance
Keep the chain sharp and tensioned and the oil topped up, as a blunt or dry chain cuts slowly and wears the motor. When the saw starts throwing fine dust instead of chips, the chain needs sharpening. Tool-free tensioning makes this quicker. Clean sawdust out of the bar groove after each use, and store batteries indoors over winter. A cold shed shortens battery life, and a saw put away with oil and resin on the chain is a pain to get going again in spring.
Cordless Chainsaw Questions We Get Asked
Are cordless chainsaws as good as petrol?
For most home and garden jobs, cordless chainsaws are as good as petrol and much easier to live with. Brushless models like the Makita DUC353Z cut quickly through thick wood, start at the press of a trigger and need no fuel mixing. Petrol still wins for all-day felling and very large trees, where battery run time becomes a limit.
What size cordless chainsaw do I need?
A cordless chainsaw with a 30 cm bar suits most gardens, handling branches, small trees and logs for the burner. A 25 cm bar is enough for pruning shrubs and thin branches. As a rule, choose a bar a few centimetres longer than the thickest wood you'll cut regularly, without going bigger than you can comfortably control.
How long does a cordless chainsaw battery last?
Cordless chainsaw battery life depends on the battery's Ah rating, the thickness of the wood and the saw's motor. BLACK+DECKER quotes up to 45 minutes or 560 cuts per charge for its 36V saw. Brushless motors get more from each charge. Buying a second battery is the simplest way to keep cutting through bigger jobs.
Can you cut a tree stump with a cordless chainsaw?
You can cut a tree stump down close to the ground with a cordless chainsaw, but keep the chain well clear of soil and stones, which blunt it instantly. Removing the roots needs digging, a stump grinder or a tree stump killer. Our guide on how to remove a tree stump covers each method.
Is the Makita DUC353Z worth paying more for than the Ryobi OCS1830?
The Makita DUC353Z is worth it only if you cut thick trunks or large firewood loads regularly. It runs a 20 m/s chain from two 18V batteries, double the Ryobi's 10 m/s, and handled the tougher jobs in our testing. It's the most expensive saw in the roundup and needs two batteries, so the Ryobi is better for general garden work.
Which cordless chainsaw is best for a first-time user?
The BLACK+DECKER Battery Chainsaw is the one for a nervous first-timer, because it has a slower chain and a low kickback chain. BLACK+DECKER rates it at 92.8 dB, so it's also a quieter choice near neighbours. The trade-off is less power than the other saws, and the Ryobi OCS1830 is the natural step up once you're confident.
Can the Bosch UniversalChain cut firewood?
The Bosch UniversalChain copes with small logs and thin branches but not proper firewood cutting. Its chain speed is 4.5 m/s, slower than most saws here, and thick trunks are beyond what it's designed for. At 3.0 kg with the battery fitted it's ideal for occasional pruning. For regular log cutting choose the Ryobi OCS1830 or Makita DUC353Z.
Do these chainsaws come with a battery and charger?
Only the Bosch UniversalChain and Einhell GE-LC 18 Li come as complete kits with a battery and charger. The Ryobi OCS1830, Makita DUC353Z and Dewalt DCM565N are sold as bare tools, so you need batteries from the same platform. The Makita needs two 18V batteries and a charger if you don't already own Makita LXT tools.
Our Top Cordless Chainsaw Picks
The Ryobi OCS1830 is the cordless chainsaw we'd recommend to most homeowners, with a brushless motor, a 30 cm Oregon bar and the backing of Ryobi's huge ONE+ battery range. For thicker trunks and regular firewood cutting, the twin-battery Makita DUC353Z is the more powerful alternative.
Once the cutting's done, a garden shredder deals with the brash, and a cordless hedge trimmer on the same battery platform keeps the rest of the garden tidy.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.