Toolbox Consensus

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Shopping for the best battery chainsaw before storm season? We read the hands-on tests from Popular Mechanics, Pro Tool Reviews, TechGearLab, Outdoor Life, Consumer Reports and Bob Vila, and watched real-world YouTube log tests, so you don’t have to. The good news: today’s best battery saws cut as fast as many gas saws, start with a squeeze of the trigger, and never need a pull cord or fuel mix. Here’s where the experts agree, where they don’t, and which saw fits your yard and your battery platform.

Quick picks

Award	Chainsaw	Where to buy
Best overall	Husqvarna Power Axe 350i (18 in.)	Lowe’s · Amazon
Most powerful	EGO Power+ 20 in. CS2005	Lowe’s · Amazon
Best value	EGO Power+ 16 in. CS1611	Lowe’s · Amazon
Best for Milwaukee owners	Milwaukee M18 Fuel 16 in. 2727-21HD	Home Depot · Amazon
Best for Ryobi owners	Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 20 in. RY40HPCW03	Home Depot

How we built this list

We don’t test chainsaws ourselves, and we don’t just repeat one site’s ranking. For each saw we compared independent hands-on tests: Popular Mechanics timed cuts through 6- to 8-inch hardwood logs, TechGearLab has timed cuts and runtime on 19 chainsaws, Pro Tool Reviews runs its saws through seasoned oak, Outdoor Life counted cuts per charge on a Wisconsin hunting property, and Consumer Reports times cuts through 10-by-10-inch oak beams. A saw only makes this list if several sources agree it’s good, and we call out the complaints that keep coming up. We only counted reviews of the exact model (or the same saw sold with a different battery kit).

1. Husqvarna Power Axe 350i — Best battery chainsaw overall

Why reviewers love it: No saw collected more expert wins. Popular Mechanics named it Best Overall because it was the one saw that did everything well: with its boost button pressed it cut through an 8-inch log in about 5 seconds, had the quickest wind-up of the saws its tester used, and stayed remarkably quiet. Outdoor Life picked it as its best large saw after it made 24 cuts through a 14-inch log on one charge. TechGearLab scored it 80/100, measuring 51 minutes of runtime and praising its balance, and Consumer Reports’ public verdict calls it fast through 10-by-10-inch oak and safe to use. Chain tension adjusts by hand in seconds, no wrench needed.

• Bar: 18 in.
• Battery: Husqvarna 40V platform; the kit (model 970601202) includes a 7.5Ah battery and charger
• Weight: about 14–14.5 lb with battery (Outdoor Life, Popular Mechanics)
• Typical price: around $450–$480 for the kit (Popular Mechanics, Top Ten Reviews)

What to watch for: Charging is slow: TechGearLab clocked 2 hours 45 minutes for a full battery, so a second battery helps for bigger jobs. Outdoor Life found the tool-free tensioner occasionally jammed with debris, and Top Ten Reviews found the side-mounted oil fill awkward and the oil window hard to read. It’s not the fastest cutter here; that’s the EGO 20-inch.

2. EGO Power+ 20-Inch CS2005 — Most powerful battery chainsaw

Why reviewers love it: This is the saw that finally beats gas on speed. TechGearLab gave it its Editors’ Choice after it averaged 3.45 seconds per cut, the fastest of any chainsaw it has tested, gas models included. Popular Mechanics measured it slicing through 8-inch hardwood in under 4 seconds, faster than any other electric saw in its test, and named it Best Heavy-Duty. Pro Tool Reviews calls it the best battery chainsaw for homeowners, and says it out-cut Milwaukee’s and Stihl’s pro saws in a head-to-head speed test. EGO rates it equal to a 55cc gas saw, and it adds a digital display, LED work light, three power modes and a chain brake that works in any orientation.

• Bar: 20 in.
• Battery: EGO 56V; CS2005 includes a 6.0Ah battery and charger (CS2000 is the bare tool)
• Weight: 13.1 lb bare, 19.4 lb with the 6.0Ah battery (Pro Tool Reviews)
• Typical price: about $329 bare or $549 as a kit (Pro Tool Reviews)

What to watch for: Weight. TechGearLab and Popular Mechanics both found it the heaviest saw they tested, which makes it tiring for limbing or overhead work. You need a wrench to tension the chain, TechGearLab found its runtime relatively short, and Pro Tool Reviews notes the top speed mode only works with a 6.0Ah or larger battery. It’s more saw than you need for occasional branch cleanup.

3. EGO Power+ 16-Inch CS1611 — Best value

Why reviewers love it: For storm cleanup and yearly pruning, this is the saw most homeowners actually need. Pro Tool Reviews rated it 9.7/10 and, in its 2026 guide, named it the best battery chainsaw for the money. EGO’s 2022 redesign raised its power to the level of a 40cc gas saw and added metal bucking spikes (much better grip on the log than the old plastic nubs), a flip-top oil cap and a tool-free chain tensioner. It’s light, too: 9 pounds bare.

• Bar: 16 in.
• Battery: EGO 56V; CS1611 includes a 2.5Ah battery (the CS1613 kit is the same saw with a 4.0Ah battery)
• Weight: 9.0 lb bare, 13.7 lb with a 4.0Ah battery (Pro Tool Reviews)
• Typical price: about $219 bare, $249–$329 as a kit depending on the battery (Pro Tool Reviews)

What to watch for: It’s a homeowner saw, not a tree-felling machine. TechGearLab rated the 4.0Ah kit (CS1613) 71/100, calling its performance moderate (7.21 seconds per cut) with about 25 minutes of runtime, and Pro Tool Reviews says its speed is nowhere near EGO’s 18- and 20-inch saws. The included 2.5Ah battery is small, so consider the 4.0Ah kit or a spare battery. Only two experts have reviewed this exact model so far, so it doesn’t have a Consensus Score yet.

4. Milwaukee M18 Fuel 16-Inch 2727-21HD — Best for Milwaukee owners

Why reviewers love it: If your garage is already full of red M18 tools, this saw runs on the same batteries. Bob Vila named it Best Overall after cutting storm-felled hardwood, saying it’s about as close to gas power as a battery saw gets. In Pro Tool Reviews’ field test, the kit’s 12.0Ah battery made 100 cuts in 6-inch oak with charge to spare, and the saw cut faster than Husqvarna’s popular 460 Rancher gas saw. TechGearLab liked its instant wind-up, metal bucking spikes and how well it cut wet wood.

• Bar: 16 in.
• Battery: Milwaukee M18; the 2727-21HD kit includes a 12.0Ah High Output battery and rapid charger (2727-20 is the bare tool)
• Charge time: about 1.3 hours (TechGearLab)
• Weight: heavy; Bob Vila called it the heaviest saw in its test

What to watch for: TechGearLab scored it 71/100: expensive, heavy, louder than most battery saws and thirsty for bar oil, with 33 minutes of runtime. This saw dates from 2018, and it’s pricey unless you already own M18 batteries. Milwaukee’s newer dual-battery 20-inch saw (2827), Pro Tool Reviews’ runner-up overall, is a pro saw at about $899 a kit.

5. Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 20-Inch RY40HPCW03 — Best for Ryobi owners

Why reviewers love it: Ryobi’s second-generation 20-inch saw is its most powerful chainsaw ever, rated equal to a 52cc gas saw with the same 25 m/s chain speed as the EGO 20-inch. Pro Tool Reviews named it the runner-up for homeowners and, in its hands-on review, said it went through an 8-inch oak log easily and listed no significant drawbacks. Consumer Reports’ public verdict calls it very fast through 10-by-10-inch oak. A metal top handle, metal bucking spikes and captured bar nuts make it feel sturdier than most entry-level battery saws, and it costs less than the EGO.

• Bar: 20 in.
• Battery: Ryobi 40V; the RY40HPCW03K kit includes an 8.0Ah battery and charger
• Weight: 13.1 lb bare, 17.2 lb with the 8.0Ah battery (Pro Tool Reviews)
• Typical price: about $349 bare, $459–$469 as a kit (Pro Tool Reviews)

What to watch for: Pro Tool Reviews stalled it when pushing hard, so let the chain do the work and keep it sharp. Chain tensioning needs the onboard scrench, and it has fewer extras than the EGO (no display or light). Ryobi 40V is a different battery system from Ryobi’s 18V ONE+ tools, and it’s sold at Home Depot. Make sure the model ends in HPCW03; the older RY405011 is the slower first generation.

Battery chainsaw buying guide

Pick the bar length for the job

A 14- to 16-inch saw handles pruning, storm limbs and firewood rounds, and it’s lighter and easier to control. Step up to 18 or 20 inches if you fell trees or buck big trunks; Pro Tool Reviews notes that a 20-inch bar gives you about 18 inches of cutting capacity. Longer bars add weight, and the 20-inch saws here weigh 17–19 pounds with a battery.

Stay on one battery platform

Batteries are the expensive part. If you already own EGO, Milwaukee M18, Ryobi 40V or Husqvarna batteries (maybe from your leaf blower), buy that brand’s bare-tool saw and save $100 or more. Note that Ryobi’s 40V lawn tools don’t share batteries with its 18V ONE+ workshop tools, while Milwaukee M18 runs everything from chainsaws to the drills in our combo kit guide.

Plan for runtime and charging

Tests show 25 to 60 minutes of cutting per charge depending on the saw and battery, and charge times range from about 75 minutes (EGO 20-inch, per TechGearLab) to nearly 3 hours (Husqvarna 350i). For a big cleanup, a second battery is the best accessory you can buy. Pro Tool Reviews notes that two batteries and a rapid charger can keep you cutting all day.

Features worth paying for

Look for metal bucking spikes, a see-through oil tank, an oil cap you can open with gloves on, and a chain brake. Tool-free tensioning is handy on smaller saws, while many testers prefer captured bar nuts and a wrench on big saws because they hold the bar more securely. And remember that a battery saw is still a chainsaw: wear chaps, eye and ear protection, and gloves.

Frequently asked questions

Are battery chainsaws as good as gas?

For homeowners, mostly yes. TechGearLab found the EGO 20-inch cut faster than every gas saw it tested, and Consumer Reports says its best battery models now cut as well as many gas saws. Gas still wins for all-day cutting and very large trees, because a tank of fuel lasts much longer than a battery.

What size battery chainsaw do I need?

A 16-inch saw like the EGO CS1611 is plenty for pruning and storm cleanup. Choose 18 inches (Husqvarna 350i) for a mix of firewood and small trees, and 20 inches (EGO CS2005 or Ryobi RY40HPCW03) for felling trees or cutting large logs.

How long does a battery chainsaw run?

In TechGearLab’s tests, runtimes ranged from about 25 minutes (EGO 16-inch with a 4.0Ah battery) to 51 minutes (Husqvarna 350i with its 7.5Ah battery). Bigger batteries and lighter cutting stretch that further.

Do battery chainsaws need bar oil?

Yes. Every saw here oils the chain automatically, but you still fill the oil tank. Check it often, since a dry chain overheats and stretches. You can skip the gas, the fuel mix and the pull cord, though.

The bottom line

Get the Husqvarna Power Axe 350i if you want one saw that experts agree does everything well. Choose the EGO 20-inch CS2005 for the most cutting power, or save money with the EGO 16-inch CS1611 for storm cleanup and pruning. If you already own Milwaukee M18 or Ryobi 40V batteries, their saws are the smart buy. Need to cut lumber instead of logs? See our cordless circular saw guide.

Sources: Popular Mechanics (via AOL), Pro Tool Reviews (2026 guide), Pro Tool Reviews (EGO 20 in.), Pro Tool Reviews (EGO CS1611), Pro Tool Reviews (Ryobi 20 in.), Pro Tool Reviews (Milwaukee 2727), TechGearLab, TechGearLab (EGO CS2005), TechGearLab (Husqvarna 350i), TechGearLab (Milwaukee), Outdoor Life, Bob Vila, Consumer Reports, Top Ten Reviews. Specs and prices were accurate as of October 2026; check the retailer for current pricing.

Header photo: Erwin Voortman on Unsplash.