By Mark Wolfe | Published Mar 25, 2022 8:25 AM
Chainsaws are handy for all sorts of jobs, from cutting firewood and landscaping to demolition and construction projects. While certain brands come with name recognition that instantly elevates them to the top of any chainsaw list, some of the lesser-known brands offer good value and quality as well.
The key to a smart chainsaw purchase is matching your budget and needs with the available offerings. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a weekend warrior, if you are in the market for a new chainsaw, this guide will help you sort out the brands to include—or avoid—in your search.
About the Brand: The best-selling chainsaw brand in the world, Stihl offers a full spectrum of high-quality saws for homeowners and professionals. Price Range: $200 to more than $2,000
Stihl is a German manufacturer of chainsaws, string trimmers, leaf blowers, and other outdoor power equipment. Its extensive chainsaw lineup includes both 2-cycle and 4-cycle gas-powered saws, as well as plug-in electric and cordless electric models. Buyers will find that purchasing is limited to in-store pickup at local Stihl dealers. Founded in 1926 by Andreas Stihl, the company is still family-owned. Their global headquarters is located in Waiblingen, Baden-Württemberg.
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About the Brand: A manufacturer of precision machinery and outdoor power equipment, Husqvarna produces some of the best chainsaws for homeowners and professionals. Price Range: $200 to more than $2,000
In 1689, Husqvarna began as a precision boring and grinding shop in Huskvarna, Sweden, manufacturing gun parts for the military. In the 1870s, the company rapidly diversified with a wide array of consumer products, including sewing machines, wood stoves, typewriters, bicycles, motorcycles, and gas stoves.
In 1959, Husqvarna released its first chainsaw and quickly established a reputation for outstanding user experience: lighter-weight build, easier starting, quieter operation, reduced vibration, and a focus on safety. Today, Husqvarna Group operates manufacturing facilities around the globe, but it is still headquartered in Sweden. As Stihl’s top competitor, Husqvarna chainsaws enjoy strong customer loyalty around the world. Unlike Stihl products, Husqvarna chainsaws are available for online purchase with home delivery.
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About the Brand: Greenworks is an innovator of cordless electric outdoor power equipment. Price Range: $100 to $450
Greenworks started up shop in 2007, with its sights set on becoming the worldwide leader in cordless outdoor power equipment for DIY consumers and landscaping professionals. The manufacturer’s 24-, 40-, 60-, 80-, and 82-volt lithium-ion rechargeable battery-powered tools offer power and performance similar to gas-powered equipment, but without the associated noise and emissions.
Greenworks batteries are interchangeable among all of their same-voltage tools. These tools are available with or without batteries and chargers, making it more cost-effective to build a single-brand tool collection. The company offers chainsaws compatible with each of its cordless platforms, as well as corded models, all widely available for online purchase. Greenworks is headquartered in Changzhou, China, and all products are manufactured there.
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About the Brand: Black & Decker manufactures durable, budget-friendly corded and cordless electric power tools. Price Range: $70 to $250
Black & Decker was founded in 1910 as a machine shop in Baltimore, Maryland, and soon began manufacturing a variety of electric power tools. In the wake of World War II, it was the first company to release a line of consumer-oriented power tools, before entering the lawn-and-garden market in the 1950s. Black & Decker chainsaws continue that legacy by offering an affordable, lightweight, reliable alternative to bigger, heavier, costlier pro-grade models.
Black & Decker is a brand of the global Stanley Black & Decker corporation that encompasses dozens of household tool brands. Its chainsaw components are manufactured all over the world, with most of the assembly process occurring in China.
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About the Brand: Makita manufactures high-quality professional and serious DIY-grade tools. Price Range: $200 to $1,000
Makita was founded in Japan in 1915 as an electric-motor sales and service business. It gradually became a leading manufacturer of high-quality electric hand tools. With the acquisition of respected German manufacturer Dolmar Sachs in the early 1990s, the company entered the gas-powered outdoor power equipment realm. These days, Makita chainsaws benefit from the rich histories of both companies, offering a full range of top-quality cordless electric and 2-cycle gas chainsaws for consumers and professionals.
Makita commands an excellent reputation for durability and overall performance. The brand’s chainsaws are especially appreciated for their favorable weight-to-power ratio. These lightweight, powerful saws are built with high-quality components, making them comfortable to operate and quite durable over time during extended use.
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About the Brand: DeWalt makes professional-grade handheld corded and cordless electric tools. Price Range: $180 to $700
DeWalt was formed in Pennsylvania as a manufacturer of innovative electric woodworking tools in 1924. In the mid-1990s, it kick-started the battery-powered hand-tool revolution upon releasing the first line of lightweight cordless tools for consumers.
One of the brand’s more recent innovations, FLEXVOLT for 20V and 60V, debuted in 2016, featuring the first battery that changes voltage automatically when the user changes tools. DeWalt continues to enjoy an excellent reputation for quality, reliability, and innovation at a mid-level price point. Though the DeWalt brand is now owned by Stanley Black & Decker, it is still headquartered and manufactured in the United States.
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About the Brand: Poulan manufactures durable, no-frills chainsaws that offer a good value of price to power. Price Range: $100 to $300
Poulan has been a trusted chainsaw brand since its founding in Louisiana in 1946. Throughout its history, the company has sought to provide simple, lightweight, powerful saws—first for loggers, and later on consumers—at an affordable price. The Poulan brand is now part of the global holdings of Husqvarna, and the chainsaws are assembled at several locations in the United States.
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About the Brand: ECHO makes simple, reliable, high-quality outdoor power equipment for weekend DIYers and professional everyday use. Price Range: $200 to $600
Headquartered in Illinois, ECHO is the largest subsidiary of the Yamabiko Corporation of Japan. Since its founding in 1978, ECHO has engineered handheld outdoor power equipment to meet consumer and commercial needs while constantly improving its 2-cycle engines to reduce environmental impact. The brand now offers battery-powered chainsaws as well.
ECHO chainsaws have a reputation for simplicity, intuitive operation, durability, and reliability. Its consumer-oriented gas-powered chainsaw lineup compares favorably to those of other top brands like Stihl, Husqvarna, and Makita.
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About the Brand: Craftsman makes a variety of hand tools and power tools designed with DIYers in mind. Price Range: $60 to $400
Since 1927, Craftsman tools has been a trusted brand in the consumer tools market. The lineup includes manual and electric hand tools, along with outdoor power equipment oriented toward homeowners and DIYers. Today, Craftsman is under the Stanley Black & Decker umbrella. Craftsman chainsaws and some other outdoor power tools are manufactured in China and imported by MTD Products.
Craftsman’s lineup of chainsaws includes gasoline-powered 2-cycle models, as well as corded and cordless electric options suitable for weekend DIY projects, serious homesteading, and landscaping. Typical of the brand, these saws generally include high-quality features beyond their price point.
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About the Brand: The leading manufacturer of chainsaw parts and accessories, Oregon offers an abbreviated lineup of entry-level chainsaws. Price Range: $90 to $375
Oregon is synonymous with chainsaw maintenance. Those who have spent time in the outdoor power-equipment aisle in any home improvement center or hardware store will likely recognize the name printed on bar oil, sharpening kits and accessories, chainsaw bars, and replacement chains of all sizes. Oregon Tool, Inc. is first and foremost a Portland, Oregon–based chainsaw company established in 1947. It also produces a few high-quality electric chainsaws, including three corded and one cordless model, all of which are homeowner grade.
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These brands represent some of the most enduring chainsaw manufacturers in the industry. We included legacy brands like Stihl and Husqvarna, not only because they were early designers and developers of chainsaw technology generations ago, but because they remain at the top of their game in terms of quality and innovation. They continue to improve the efficiency and emissions of the 2-cycle engine, even as they add popular cordless electric models to their lineup.
Similarly, relative newcomers like Greenworks offer robust new ideas and aggressive performance typical of market disrupters. Others, such as Oregon and Black & Decker, provide an excellent balance of quality and value. The brands here represent the variety of interests a consumer may consider as they shop for a new chainsaw.
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