Top 5 Best Cordless Chainsaws for Yard Work of 2026
Picking a cordless chainsaw used to mean trading real cutting power for freedom from gas, oil mixes, and pull starts, but that trade off barely exists anymore. We sorted picks into Best Overall, Best Budget Pick, Best for Big Trees & Heavy-Duty Work, Best Compact / One-Handed Pick, and Best for Makita Tool Owners categories to match specific yards and buyers to the right saw. Our top pick, the EGO, comes closest to feeling like a gas saw while staying easy to live with day to day. Keep reading to see which pick fits your trees, your budget, and the battery system you already own.
| Product | Cutting Power | Runtime | Portability | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Best OverallEGO Power+ CS1610 16-Inch Chainsaw | 8.5 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 8.5 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best Budget PickDeWalt 20V MAX 12-Inch Chainsaw Kit | 5.5 | 6.0 | 8.5 | 8.0 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best for Big Trees & Heavy-Duty WorkMilwaukee M18 Fuel 14-Inch Chainsaw | 9.5 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 8.0 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best Compact / One-Handed PickMilwaukee M12 Fuel Hatchet 6-Inch Pruning Saw | 5.0 | 7.0 | 9.5 | 7.5 | See PriceAmazon |
 Best for Makita Tool OwnersMakita 18V X2 (36V) 16-Inch Chainsaw | 8.0 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 8.0 | See PriceAmazon |
EGO Power+ CS1610 16-Inch Chainsaw
$219.00Price may be outdated. Check the linked site for the latest pricing.
Who is this best for?
This is for homeowners who want a saw that cuts like gas without buying into a big battery ecosystem. If you need serious power for large hardwood, go with the Milwaukee M18 Fuel instead, and if you already run Makita tools, the Makita 18V X2 makes more sense.
Why we love it
The EGO delivers power equivalent to a 40cc gas saw and it shows in how easily it chews through hardwood and branches. What really sets it apart is the battery going from dead to full in about 20 minutes, faster than the charge times owners report for the Makita or the Milwaukee M18 Fuel. The 16 inch bar and tool free chain tensioning make quick work of most yard debris, and owners say it stays well balanced despite the battery weight. It can overheat and shut down under hard, sustained use in hot weather, but for typical yard sessions that rarely comes up.
Should you buy it?
Yes, if you want one saw that handles most yard work without gas maintenance or a big battery investment. Skip it for all day felling of large hardwood, where the Milwaukee M18 Fuel holds up better under sustained heavy use.
DeWalt 20V MAX 12-Inch Chainsaw Kit
$234.99Price may be outdated. Check the linked site for the latest pricing.
Who is this best for?
This is for buyers who only need to clear small branches and light trail debris and want something affordable to toss in the truck. If you're cutting anything thicker on a regular basis, you'll outgrow it fast and should look at the EGO instead.
Why we love it
At under $235 with battery and charger included, it's the cheapest way into a cordless saw and it stays out of the way in a vehicle or shed. The 12 inch bar and brushless motor deliver up to 100 cuts per charge, plenty for trail clearing and small yard cleanup. It shares batteries with the rest of the DeWalt 20V lineup, so anyone with a drill or driver already has a battery ecosystem for it. It's honestly underpowered next to something like the Milwaukee M18 Fuel, and I wouldn't ask it to buck a hardwood log.
Should you buy it?
Yes, if your cutting needs stop at small branches and light trail work and you want low maintenance without spending much. If you need to fell trees or process real firewood, spend more and get the Milwaukee M18 Fuel or the Makita instead.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 14-Inch Chainsaw
$286.00Price may be outdated. Check the linked site for the latest pricing.
Who is this best for?
This is for owners with large properties who need to fell and buck hardwood or run through a truckload of logs in one session. If you just need occasional light trimming, the EGO is lighter and cheaper for that job.
Why we love it
This saw has the torque to fell and buck 50 plus foot trees and still process a full truck bed of logs on one large battery, more sustained cutting capacity than the EGO or the DeWalt 20V can offer. It handles pine and hardwood equally well, and running it feels closer to a gas saw than any other pick here. Sharing batteries with the rest of the M18 Fuel lineup is a real advantage if you already own Milwaukee tools. The battery can overheat and lose charge faster during long, hard sessions, so plan on carrying a spare if you're cutting all day.
Should you buy it?
Yes, if you regularly fell or buck large hardwood and want a saw that won't quit on you. If your work is lighter and occasional, the EGO gets you most of the performance for less money and less weight.
Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hatchet 6-Inch Pruning Saw
$219.00Price may be outdated. Check the linked site for the latest pricing.
Who is this best for?
This is for buyers doing light limbing, pruning, and small tree trimming who want a saw they can run one handed or use up in a tree. If you need to cut anything past six to eight inches, this will frustrate you and you should look at the DeWalt 20V instead.
Why we love it
The Hatchet's short bar and light weight make it the only pick here you can comfortably run one handed or use at height, something none of the full size saws like the Milwaukee M18 Fuel can match. It processes trees under six inches in minutes and stays easy to control in awkward positions. It shares the M12 battery platform with other compact Milwaukee tools, which is handy if you already own them. Some owners find it underpowered for anything beyond small branches, so don't expect it to sub in for a full size saw.
Should you buy it?
Yes, if your work is mostly light limbing and pruning and you want something easy to handle in one hand or at height. If you need to cut larger branches or trees, the DeWalt 20V or the EGO will serve you better.
Makita 18V X2 (36V) 16-Inch Chainsaw
$379.00Price may be outdated. Check the linked site for the latest pricing.
Who is this best for?
This is for buyers already invested in Makita 18V or 40V XGT batteries who want a chainsaw that plugs into their existing kit. If you're starting from scratch with no battery investment, the EGO is the easier buy.
Why we love it
Paired with two 18V batteries or the newer 40V XGT platform, this saw handles felling and bucking trees up to about 12 inches with power comparable to a 32cc gas saw. It runs quiet with none of the starting hassle or fumes of gas, and it shares batteries across the rest of the Makita 18V lineup the way the Milwaukee M18 Fuel does for M18 owners. A single 18V battery is underpowered on its own, so plan on running two 18V batteries or stepping up to 40V XGT for real performance. The chain also needs to stay sharper than a gas equivalent to keep cutting well.
Should you buy it?
Yes, if you already own Makita 18V or 40V XGT batteries and want a saw that plugs right in. If you don't already own Makita batteries, the EGO gets you similar performance without buying into a new battery system.
Honorable Mentions
Stihl MSA60.0 C-B Cordless Chainsaw
Praised for feeling lightweight and comfortable for occasional green care and small jobs, a solid pick if you want Stihl build quality without full time professional use.
See PriceAmazonGreenworks 80V 16-Inch Chainsaw
Owners report it felling multiple trees and bucking cords of firewood on the 80V platform, punching above its weight for heavier seasonal work.
See PriceAmazonDeWalt 60V FLEXVOLT 18-Inch Chainsaw
A genuine step up in power that owners call a real gas saw replacement, worth considering if you want more headroom than the 20V budget pick offers.
See PriceAmazon
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