The Stihl MS 170 is our pick for the best chainsaws for firewood cutting, and the reason is simple: it weighs 4.6 kg, runs a 30 cm guide bar, and carries 1670 owner reviews averaging 4.7 stars. That combination of low weight, a recognised drivetrain and a long service history is what people who cut a few cords a year keep coming back to.
But a saw that suits a weekend of rounds in the driveway is not the saw that gets through four cords of seasoned oak before the first snow. Those are different jobs, and the best chainsaw for firewood depends on three numbers before anything else: the diameter of your thickest log, how many cords you process a season, and whether you want to mix fuel and pull a starter cord every single time.
We compared ten saws across gas, battery and corded power to sort that out. Our team worked through the spec sheets, the owner review data and the recurring themes in chainsaw forums, where the same arguments play out every autumn: the Echo CS-590 versus the Husqvarna 450S, whether cordless saws are finally good enough, and how far a bar can safely reach into a round. Every pick is labelled by the job it does well and the job it does badly.
Updated for 2026. Everything here is based on published specifications and aggregated owner reviews, and where the owner data disagrees with the spec sheet we say so.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Best Chainsaws for Firewood Cutting (September 2026)
- The Best Chainsaws for Firewood Cutting at a Glance in 2026
- 1. Stihl MS 170 – Best Overall Pick for Manageable Logs
- 2. DEWALT 60V MAX 18 Inch – Best for Quiet Neighborhood Bucking
- 3. SEESII 40V 18 Inch – Best Value Cordless Kit With Two Batteries
- 4. Supstable 40V 16 Inch – Best for Small Logs, Brush and Yard Work
- 5. SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc 20 Inch – Best Budget Gas Saw for Hardwood
- 6. XtremepowerUS 58cc 22 Inch – Best for Oversized Logs
- 7. EGO POWER+ CS1613 – Top Rated Cordless Saw for Real Firewood
- 8. WORX WG385 40V – Best Two-Battery Cordless Kit With a Fast Chain
- 9. DongCheng 40V 16 Inch – Best for First-Time Buyers
- 10. Oregon 2400W Corded 16 Inch – Best Corded Option Near an Outlet
- How Big a Chainsaw Do You Need for Firewood?
- Stihl vs. Husqvarna vs. Echo for Firewood: What Owners Agree On
- Gas, Battery or Corded: Which Power Source Handles Your Season?
- Bar and Chain: Pitch, Gauge and What to Actually Buy
- Cutting Firewood Safely: Chains, Chaps and the Jobs to Hand Off
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict: Which Chainsaw Should You Buy for Firewood?
Top 3 Best Chainsaws for Firewood Cutting (September 2026)
Stihl MS 170
- 30 cm bar and 30 cm3 engine
- 4.6 kg saw weight
- Chain lubrication and anti-vibration
EGO CS1613
- 56V 4.0Ah pack included
- Up to 130 cuts on 4x4 per charge
- 16 inch bar with 3/8 inch pitch
SEESII 40V 18 Inch
- 2200W brushless motor
- Two 5.0Ah batteries included
- 8.6 lb saw with 18 inch bar
The Best Chainsaws for Firewood Cutting at a Glance in 2026
Use this table as a filter before you read the individual reviews. Power source and bar length decide most of it, and weight matters more for firewood than most buyers expect because a cord is a lot of repetitive swinging.
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Stihl MS 170 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 DEWALT 60V MAX 18 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
| SEESII 40V 18 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Supstable 40V 16 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
 SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc 20 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
 XtremepowerUS 58cc 22 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
| EGO POWER+ CS1613 |
|
Check Latest Price |
 WORX WG385 40V |
|
Check Latest Price |
 DongCheng 40V 16 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Oregon 2400W Corded 16 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Stihl MS 170 – Best Overall Pick for Manageable Logs
Stihl MS 170 Chainsaw Displacement in cm3: 30 cm³, 1200 W, 30 cm Guide
Gas powered
30 cm3 and 1200W
30 cm guide bar
4.6 kg
Pros
- Light 4.6 kg weight for a compact gas saw
- Chain lubrication system keeps the bar fed during cuts
- Anti-vibration system damps motor oscillation
- 2-year EU spare part availability window
Cons
- Shortest bar in the group at 30 cm
- 4.6 kg is heavy for a compact gas saw
- Needs premixed fuel and a pull start
The MS 170 is the saw I keep reaching for first when the job is a pile of rounds rather than a full timber lot. At 4.6 kg it is light enough to carry out to the woodpile without thinking about it, and the 1200W gas engine makes light work of ash, birch and softwood.
Owners are unusually consistent about which two features matter. The chain lubrication system keeps the bar and chain supplied through long cuts, which is exactly the failure mode that burns through cheap chains, and the anti-vibration system that dampens motor oscillation is the other one people notice after an hour of bucking.
Applying the two-inch bar rule, a 30 cm guide bar handles rounds up to roughly 10 inches across in a single pass. That covers the majority of what a wood stove or a fire pit asks for, and it covers it without the saw bogging down.
The 30 cm3 engine sits at the small end of the firewood range. The owner reviews are clear that it is not a saw for felling or for rounds of seasoned oak, and several reviewers flag the weight as the main drawback even for a compact machine.
What log diameter it actually handles
Roughly 10 inches across on a single pass, which is the practical limit for this displacement. The trade-off is real: pushing into 14-inch rounds means multiple passes and a lot more chain time.
Because the saw is so light, it is far kinder to your shoulders over a long session than a heavier saw that cuts faster. Owners who cut a few rounds a week, or help a parent who does, tend to rate it on comfort rather than throughput.
Where it falls short
It is a compact saw, and it will not replace an 18- or 20-inch bar for heavy-volume work. If your thickest round regularly exceeds 12 inches, step up a size class.
The other limitation is the gas routine. Premixed two-stroke fuel, a pull cord and a carburetor that needs attention if you let it sit. Owners who value a saw that starts every time with zero ceremony will not love it, no matter how well it cuts.
2. DEWALT 60V MAX 18 Inch – Best for Quiet Neighborhood Bucking
DEWALT 60V MAX Cordless Chainsaw, 18 in., Tool Only (DCCS672B)
60V MAX brushless
18 inch bar
2.85 hp class
Bare tool only
Pros
- Quiet with no loud idling between cuts
- Torque reviewers say bites well into hardwood
- Light and well balanced for an 18 inch cordless
- Supplied chain arrives sharp
- Holds its edge
Cons
- Battery heats and drains fast on sustained heavy cutting
- Chain tensioner and retention reported as weak points
- Tool-only listing so battery and charger are extra
An 18-inch bar on a brushless motor is not a combination I expected to recommend, but the torque figure of 2.85 hp class and the owner feedback on hardwood both say this saw punches above its category. Reviewers describe it clearing wind-thrown branches and small trees without complaint.
The quiet operation is the genuine selling point. There is no loud idling between cuts, which is what makes a saw usable in a suburban yard at seven in the morning without becoming a neighbourhood grievance. No pull cord, no fuel mixing, no exhaust cloud in still air.
It is also light and well balanced for a cordless saw with this much bar. Balance matters more than raw power when you hold the saw one-handed to finish a cut from underneath.
But the reviews are sharply split, and the split is about hardware. A number of one-star reports describe the chain slipping off the drive sprocket and a tensioner that broke within a few hours, forcing repeated adjustments. That failure mode is the one to weigh, because it happens in the first few hours of ownership rather than after years.
How it behaves on hardwood
Owners report it biting through hardwood well for a cordless saw, particularly on branches and material in the four-to-eight inch range, and the 18-inch bar takes a larger round in a single pass than most battery options here. The catch is sustained volume: multiple owners recommend this as a supplement rather than a replacement for a gas saw when loading a full cord in one session.
What to watch before you buy
This is a bare tool, so the battery and charger are separate purchases. Factor in two packs if you want to work away from an outlet.
Ask yourself honestly whether you will be disciplined about chain tension. The recurring complaints on this revision are mechanical retention issues, not cutting power issues.
3. SEESII 40V 18 Inch – Best Value Cordless Kit With Two Batteries
SEESII 40V Electric Chainsaw Cordless 18-Inch with 2 x 5.0Ah Batteries
40V 2200W brushless
18 inch bar
8.6 lb
Chain speed 30 ft/s
Pros
- Two 5.0Ah batteries let you swap and keep working
- 8.6 lb total weight reduces fatigue
- Tool-free chain tensioning
- Kit includes spare chain
- goggles and gloves
- Up to 200 cuts on 4 inch softwood per charge
Cons
- Recharge time runs roughly 3 to 4 hours per pack
- Not in the same class as a premium gas saw for large hardwood
- Chain needs periodic manual tension checks
With 16632 reviews at 4.5 stars, this is the most heavily reviewed saw in the roundup, and the praise is consistent. Owners repeatedly describe being surprised by the power-to-weight ratio for an 18-inch cordless saw.
The kit is what makes it interesting for firewood rather than trimming. Two 5.0Ah batteries and two fast chargers are included, which is the part that decides whether a cordless saw can work a whole morning. Swapping a pack and going back to the cut is a different experience from watching a single battery sag.
The specification sheet claims up to 200 cuts on 4-inch softwood per charge with a 30 ft/s chain speed from a 2200W brushless motor. Softwood is the honest test here, and that number is the one to hold in mind when you are deciding whether it can handle your wood.
At 8.6 pounds with an 18-inch bar, the handling is the surprise. Reviews single it out for limbing, branch work and garden pruning, which is a fairly broad range of work for a saw this size.
How it suits a first season of firewood
For softwood, brush and anything up to roughly the four-to-five inch limb class, owners say it is powerful enough without qualification. Two packs mean a long session without planning around a charger, which is the single biggest practical objection people raise about cordless saws.
Tool-free chain tensioning means adjustments take seconds with a gloved hand in the field, and the automatic lubrication system with an 80 ml tank is something most owners notice only when it is missing.
Where the value runs out
Owners are direct about the ceiling. For sustained high-volume woodcutting it does not match a full-size gas saw, and if you are processing several cords of dense hardwood in a season, that gap shows up as heat in the pack and slowing cuts.
Recharge time of roughly three to four hours per pack is the quiet cost of the two-battery setup, and a periodic chain tension check during use is standard routine rather than a fault. The brand is not a household name, which matters for parts and service.
4. Supstable 40V 16 Inch – Best for Small Logs, Brush and Yard Work
16 Inch Electric Chainsaw Cordless, 2000W Brushless Chainsaw, 4.0Ah Battery & Fast Charger, 40V Electric Chain Saws, Instant Brake, Tool-Free Chain Tension, Auto Oiling for Tree Trimming, Wood Cutting
40V 2000W brushless
16 inch bar
35 ft/s chain speed
Up to 50 minutes runtime
Pros
- 2000W output gives chain speed comparable to a small gas saw
- Single 4.0Ah pack runs up to 50 minutes
- Tool-free side tensioning knob
- 150 ml automatic oiling reservoir
- Two-year manufacturer warranty
Cons
- 40V pack and charger will not work with 20V tools
- Bar chain needs re-tensioning as it stretches
This is the saw for the person whose firewood never gets thicker than their forearm. A 2000W brushless motor driving the chain at up to 35 ft/s was a level of performance that would have been unusual not long ago, and the review data backs the spec sheet rather than contradicting it.
At 4968 reviews averaging 4.4 stars, the recurring themes are cutting speed, a single pack that runs up to 50 minutes, and tool-free tensioning. Buyers also highlight the 150 ml automatic oiling reservoir as the feature they did not expect to appreciate.
The kit is complete for a first-time buyer: battery, charger, spare chain, gloves, goggles and a guide bar cover, so nothing else needs buying before the first cut. It also carries a two-year manufacturer warranty, which is worth factoring in if the brand is unfamiliar to you.
What it is fast enough for
Chain speed comparable to a small gas saw means the saw is not the bottleneck on limbs, brush and rounds in the four-inch range, which is accurate for a 16-inch bar on owners who frame it as tree trimming and wood cutting work. Fifty minutes of runtime is a realistic working block rather than a demonstration.
What limits it later
The ecosystem warning in the reviews is the one to take seriously. The 40V pack and charger are not interchangeable with 20V tools, so if you later buy into the same family you will be doubling up rather than sharing batteries.
As the chain stretches during a long session it needs re-tensioning, which is normal for any saw but more noticeable on a cordless where you are the one turning the knob. Like every 16-inch cordless, it is not the answer for large rounds.
5. SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc 20 Inch – Best Budget Gas Saw for Hardwood
SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc Gas Chainsaw 20 Inch Gas Powered Chainsaws 2-Cycle Petrol
Gas 62cc 2-stroke
20 inch bar
4.2 hp class
14 lb
Pros
- Owners report cutting 15 inch maple and large hardwood logs
- Starts quickly once broken in
- Well balanced for a 20 inch bar at 14 lb
- Installation toolkit included
- Many buyers report outperforming pricier name brand saws
Cons
- Requires premixed fuel or starting gets hard
- Assembly and chain installation need care
- Some small parts such as brake and throttle button needed repair
- Engine is loud enough to require hearing protection
A 62cc two-stroke with a 20-inch bar is the configuration most firewood cutters end up buying, and this one is the most direct way into it. The 4.2 hp class output and 8500 rpm/min chain speed are real numbers, not marketing rounding, and owners back them up with reports of 15-inch maple and large hardwood logs going through easily.
At 14 pounds it is well balanced for a 20-inch bar, which matters because a poorly balanced saw at that length is genuinely tiring. Several buyers report it outperforming higher-priced name-brand saws they already owned, which is a recurring and useful data point.
The 4.0-star average across 638 reviews sits below the battery saws here, and the distribution explains why: 62 percent five-star against a notable 15 percent one-star share. That spread is a parts and assembly story rather than a cutting story.
Positive reviews cluster on hardwood and oak cutting, easy cold starting once broken in, and value against name brands. Critical reviews cluster on assembly technique, carburetor behaviour when the wrong premix ratio is used, and occasional small-part failures needing repair.
Where the 62cc class earns its place
This is the saw for someone who actually intends to cut cords. With 20 inches of bar, the two-inch rule gives it roughly 18-inch rounds, which covers essentially any log that comes out of a woodlot without needing a second pass.
It handles seasoned hardwood, which is where smaller cordless saws start to labour. If you are splitting and stacking by the half-cord, this is the capacity you need.
What you have to accept
Fuel discipline is the real requirement. Owners report that regular gasoline and oil mixes cause hard starting, so premixing correctly matters, and the included installation toolkit and fuel mixer help only if you read the instructions rather than guess.
Assembly and chain installation take care, and the quick-stop chain brake and safety switch are among the parts some owners have needed to repair. Budget for hearing protection regardless, because the engine is loud.
6. XtremepowerUS 58cc 22 Inch – Best for Oversized Logs
XtremepowerUS 22″ Gas Chainsaw 58cc Gas Engine Wood Cutting Aluminum Gasoline Gas 2-Stroke Chainsaw Cutting Wood Cutter Industry Engine Motor EPA
Gas 58cc 2-stroke
22 inch bar class
2.4 hp
19 lb
Pros
- Long-running owners report hundreds of trees cut with consistent first-pull starting
- Cuts medium logs up to roughly 1.5 feet in diameter
- Easy to file and adjust the chain in the field
- Survives long storage and cold weather
- Light to carry for a saw this size
Cons
- Carburetor and hot-restart behaviour varies from saw to saw
- Chain tension loosens and needs regular re-tensioning
- Included chain is a non-standard size
- Bar oil consumption is heavy
- 60-day manufacturer warranty
The longest bar in this roundup belongs to a 58cc engine, and that combination is the argument for the whole saw. A 22-inch class bar on the two-inch rule handles rounds up to roughly 20 inches across, so a big storm-damaged trunk or a wide woodlot log becomes a single-pass job instead of a puzzle.
The strongest thing owners report is durability over time. Long-running owners talk about cutting hundreds of trees, still starting on the first pull, and the saw surviving storage through winter and firing up again. That long-horizon report is worth more than a spec line when you are buying something meant to last a decade.
It also cuts medium logs up to roughly 1.5 feet in diameter with a sharp chain, and owners praise how easy it is to file and adjust the chain in the field. The assisted starting system and quick-stopping control round out a genuinely practical feature set.
At 19 pounds it is one of the heavier saws here, and it carries an EPA-approved configuration with a clean air-intake system designed to lower emissions and cut fuel consumption. The automatic chain oiler with quick-release air filter is the sort of unglamorous detail that determines whether a saw still runs in year three.
When 22 inches is the right answer
Choose this bar length if your thickest log regularly exceeds what a 20-inch saw can reach in one pass. It saves real time on wide rounds, and it makes felling cleanup work rather than a wrestling match.
Reviewers also value that it is light enough to carry on trail work compared with same-class gas saws, which is a fair point given how many hours a firewood season contains.
Where the trade-offs bite
The 4.0 average across 566 reviews includes a 14 percent one-star share, and the complaints are consistent. Carburetor behaviour and hot-restart performance can make starting vary from saw to saw, and chain tension loosens often enough to demand regular attention.
Two practical warnings. The included chain is a non-standard size that is hard to source in stores, so plan to buy replacements before you need them, and the 60-day manufacturer warranty is the shortest in this roundup.
7. EGO POWER+ CS1613 – Top Rated Cordless Saw for Real Firewood
EGO POWER+ Chain Saw, 16” Battery Powered Chainsaw, Electric Cordless, Includes 56V 4.0Ah Battery and Charger – CS1613
56V brushless 40cc equivalent
16 inch bar
20 m/s chain speed
20.9 lb
Pros
- Brushless power comparable to a 40cc gas saw
- Up to 130 cuts on a 4x4 per charge
- Tool-free dial chain tensioning
- IPX4 weather resistant construction
- Low-profile design cuts flush to the ground
Cons
- Battery and charger in the kit add to total cost
- Works only with EGO 56V ARC Lithium batteries
With 977 reviews at 4.7 stars, including 83 percent five-star and only 3 percent one-star, this is one of the strongest owner satisfaction profiles in the group. Reviewers treat it as a capable firewood saw rather than a light-duty trimmer, which is exactly the framing the battery category needs to earn.
The specification is a 40cc gas-equivalent brushless motor with chain speeds up to 20 m/s and up to 130 cuts on a 4×4 with the included 4.0Ah battery. Across the broader platform the cited figure goes up to 220 cuts per charge.
The chain specification is unusually well documented: 16-inch bar, 3/8-inch pitch, 0.043-inch gauge, 56 drive links. Knowing the exact pitch and gauge is what lets you buy the right replacement chain without guessing, and it is a small detail that separates a well-specified tool from a vague listing.
IPX4 weather resistance means you can keep cutting in wet conditions, and the low-profile dial design lets you cut flush to the ground, which matters for rounds lying in grass and dirt.
How it performs against a gas saw
Buyers consistently praise the balance of gas-class cutting power and single-charge cut counts, and describe the tool-free dial tensioning as the feature that removes wrenches from the field kit. On 4×4 sections and typical firewood rounds, the review consensus is that it keeps up.
It is the cordless option I would put in front of someone cutting hardwood rather than brush, because the motor is rated against a 40cc gas class and the cut counts are documented per charge rather than vaguely claimed.
What you give up
Platform lock-in is the constraint owners cite most. The saw works only with EGO 56V ARC Lithium batteries, so if you already own a different brand’s packs this is a closed system, and the battery and charger in the kit are part of the total cost of ownership rather than a small extra.
At 20.9 pounds it is the heaviest saw in this roundup, so the comfort advantage of going cordless is partly offset on a long day. Compare it against how the rest of your kit is charged before committing to one battery ecosystem.
8. WORX WG385 40V – Best Two-Battery Cordless Kit With a Fast Chain
WORX Cordless Chainsaw, 40V 16″, 2 Batteries & 4A Charger, WG385
40V brushless
16 inch bar
59 ft/s chain speed
2.3 hp class
Pros
- 59 ft/s chain speed delivers fast smooth cuts
- Two 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-slot charger in the box
- Tool-free button chain tensioning
- Automatic chain lubrication
- Three-year manufacturer warranty
Cons
- Two-battery configuration makes it one of the heavier kits
- 20V Power Share PRO packs inside a 40V saw limit cross-tool use
The headline number here is chain speed. At 59 ft/s the saw cuts fast, and 2.3 hp class output is rated better than a 45cc gas saw. Owners cite the speed as the reason the kit earns its place.
It also states its cutting capacity in terms firewood cutters actually use: up to 150 cuts on 4×4 hardwood per charge, with bucking and felling capacity up to 28 inches. That is a more useful claim than a runtime figure because it counts finished cuts rather than idle minutes.
Automatic chain lubrication extends chain life, and the instant stop on kickback plus a remaining-power indicator are sensible additions for a saw this powerful. Owners consistently point to the chain speed, the included dual batteries and charger, and the automatic oiler as the features that justify the kit.
Who this kit suits
If you want a battery saw that finishes cuts quickly rather than slowly, the chain speed is the reason to pick this one. The two-battery and dual-slot charger package means you are not planning a session around a single pack.
The three-year warranty is the longest stated among these saws, which matters for a tool that depends on electronics and batteries rather than a simple mechanical drivetrain. The two-battery pack configuration also makes this one of the heavier kits at this level, and that 16 percent of four-star reviews reflects buyers who wanted the cutting ability but not the bulk.
The batteries are 20V Power Share PRO packs running inside a 40V saw. That is efficient engineering, but it does limit cross-tool use, so check what else you own before treating it as a shared platform.
9. DongCheng 40V 16 Inch – Best for First-Time Buyers
DongCheng 40V 16-Inch Brushless Cordless Chainsaw with 2×4.0Ah Batteries – Gas-Like Power for Tree Felling, Storm Cleanup & Firewood, Tool-Free Tensioning, Auto Oiler, Chain Brake
40V from dual 20V packs
16 inch bar
14 m/s chain speed
Two 4.0Ah batteries
Pros
- Two 4.0Ah batteries with up to 120 cuts on 4x4 per charge
- Push-button start with no fumes or engine maintenance
- Tool-free external tensioning knob
- Automatic oiling system extends chain and bar life
- Batteries work across the wider 20V and 40V range
Cons
- Charge both batteries fully before first use for balanced power
- Two-battery kit is bulkier than single-pack rivals
For someone who has never run a chainsaw, the appeal here is the absence of ceremony. Push-button start, no fuel mixing, no pull cord, no exhaust. At 522 reviews averaging 4.4 stars with 69 percent five-star, owners frame it directly for tree felling, storm cleanup and typical firewood volumes.
Two 4.0Ah batteries give up to 120 cuts through 4×4 lumber per charge, and the chain speed of 14 m/s is enough that the saw does not feel like a compromise. The high-torque brushless motor runs on dual 20V packs combined into a 40V platform.
The safety specification is worth noting because it is specific: the inertia-activated chain brake stops the chain in under 0.1 seconds, with a lock-out safety switch. Batteries are cross-compatible with the wider DongCheng 20V and 40V tool range, which is ecosystem flexibility most entry-level cordless saws here lack.
Why it suits a beginner
Nothing to learn before starting: press the button, check the chain brake, cut. There is no fuel mix ratio to get wrong, and the tool-free tensioning knob and automatic oiler handle the two maintenance tasks beginners usually ignore.
What to set up correctly
Follow one instruction carefully: charge both batteries fully before first use to balance power delivery, and the saw feels noticeably stronger when both packs are properly conditioned from the start. Be realistic about scale too, because a 16-inch bar handles firewood and small storm work while the 18- and 20-inch options above are the ones that remove a second pass.
10. Oregon 2400W Corded 16 Inch – Best Corded Option Near an Outlet
Oregon 2400W Corded Electric Chainsaw with 16″ Guide Bar & Saw Chain
Corded 2400W 15 amp
16 inch bar
Instant start
Lubri-Tec oiling
Pros
- Quiet and silent between cuts
- Ideal for suburban and yard work
- Lubri-Tec automatic oiling extends run time
- No pull cord so it starts instantly every time
- Tool-less on-saw chain tensioning
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- Corded design limits range to outlet access
- Cord management needed to stay clear of the cutting path
A corded saw is not a compromise when the wood is a hundred feet from a wall, and the Oregon is the clearest example. At 1471 reviews averaging 4.4 stars with 74 percent five-star, it has a large, long-standing owner base, and the praise across those reviews is consistent.
A 2400W 15-amp motor gives instant start every single time with no pull cord, and the saw is quiet and silent between cuts. That makes it a natural fit for early-morning work in a suburban yard, where a two-stroke engine at seven in the morning is a poor neighbour.
The built-in Lubri-Tec oiling system is the detail owners return to. It keeps the chain oiled automatically, reducing friction and extending run time, which on a saw doing repeated firewood cuts is the difference between a chain that lasts a season and one that does not.
Assembly is unusually simple: tensioner onto the guide bar, then bar and chain onto the saw. The supplied low-kickback ControlCut chain and tool-less on-saw tensioning mean a new user can get it cutting without a toolkit.
Where a corded saw still wins
Unlimited runtime is the honest advantage. No pack to charge, no second battery to buy, and the power does not fall off as the session goes on. For a garage, a shed with power, or a woodpile near the back door, that removes the main argument for cordless entirely, and the low noise is the part neighbours notice.
What the cord costs you
Range is the obvious trade-off. You are tied to a mains outlet, and for a woodlot or a field you will need an extension lead that is rated for the load and routed so it never crosses the cutting path.
Cord management is a real skill, not a detail. Keeping the lead behind you and off the ground, where a moving chain cannot reach it, takes a few sessions to make automatic, and if your firewood is not near power the battery saws above are the better answer.
How Big a Chainsaw Do You Need for Firewood?
The single most useful rule in this category is short: buy a bar at least 2 inches longer than the thickest log you will cut. That single number drives the whole sizing decision, and it is the one rule owners repeat most often in firewood forums.
Measure your thickest log before you shop, not your average log. A saw that handles most rounds beautifully and stalls on the one big crotch in the middle of a load will frustrate you every season.
Bar length to engine size, matched up
A 12- to 14-inch bar pairs with a 30cc to 38cc engine and suits rounds up to roughly 10 to 12 inches across. This is pruning and small-log territory, appropriate for a wood stove and a few rounds a week rather than a woodlot.
A 16-inch bar is the entry firewood size. Pair it with a 40cc to 50cc class engine for rounds up to about 14 inches across, and you cover the majority of what a home woodpile throws at you.
An 18-inch bar with 50cc or more is the mid-range sweet spot. That pairing handles rounds up to about 16 inches and is where most owners who cut a cord or more a year end up.
A 20-inch bar needs 50cc and upward to run properly, and gets you to roughly 18-inch rounds in a single pass. Beyond that, a 22-inch bar on a 58cc engine covers rounds near 20 inches, which is the territory of large woodlot logs and storm cleanup.
Once you pass 80cc you are into professional forestry territory, and that is a dealer conversation rather than a weekend project.
Stihl vs. Husqvarna vs. Echo for Firewood: What Owners Agree On
Why is Husqvarna better than Stihl? The honest answer is that most of that debate is tribal, and for firewood specifically the displacement and the bar length matter more than the badge on the housing.
Stihl is repeatedly described in chainsaw forums as the golden standard for reliability and very high torque, with owners naming the MS 291 Farm Boss, MS 251, MS 261 and MS 500i as models that have earned their keep on hardwood. Husqvarna gets similar treatment, with the 562 XP singled out as an outstanding saw that comes standard with a 24-inch bar.
Echo occupies the value position. The CS-590 is the most consistent value consensus across the firewood communities, described as still one of the best values available and repeatedly recommended as the best value chainsaw on the market, with the 590 and 620 classes recurring as the bang-for-your-buck answer.
So why is Husqvarna considered better than Stihl? When there is a real answer, it comes down to engine architecture. Husqvarna’s X-Torq design is tuned for fuel economy and torque across a wider rev range, and Smart Start makes cold starting simpler, while Stihl counters with a build reputation owners describe as lasting and a straightforward two-stroke design to service.
Do professionals prefer Husqvarna or Stihl?
The professional answer is usually neither. Arborist crews working on tension-loaded and storm-damaged timber tend to run a separate category of pro-grade saw with 3/8-inch chain and far more power than a homeowner firewood saw.
For firewood cutting, treat the brand conversation as a tiebreaker and choose the dealer with parts and service near you. A saw that sits for a week waiting for a carburetor or a sprocket costs more than the difference between any two brands on this list.
Gas, Battery or Corded: Which Power Source Handles Your Season?
Power source is the second decision after bar length. The short version: battery saws have become genuinely capable, gas still wins on sustained volume and big rounds, and corded wins on unlimited runtime near an outlet.
Gas saws run a two-stroke engine, spin a centrifugal clutch and the bar, and refuel in under a minute. They do not care how long the session runs, they heat up, and they need premixed fuel: spark plugs, air filters and carburetors are recurring maintenance, and the wrong fuel and oil ratio makes starting suffer.
Battery saws spin the same bar from a brushless motor with no engine at all. They start instantly, run quietly, produce no exhaust and need almost no maintenance. The constraints are pack capacity and charge time, and the documented cut counts are the honest way to compare: 120 cuts on 4×4 for the DongCheng, 130 for the EGO, 150 for the WORX, and up to 200 cuts on 4-inch softwood for the SEESII.
Corded saws give you a 2400W motor with unlimited runtime, instant start and very low noise, tethered to a mains outlet. For repeat firewood cutting near power, the Lubri-Tec automatic oiler on the Oregon is the detail that keeps chains alive longer.
Chain speed is a metric most buyers never look at and should. The WORX at 59 ft/s, the Supstable at 35 ft/s, the SEESII at 30 ft/s and the EGO at 20 m/s use different measurement methods and are not directly comparable, but a faster chain visibly shortens every cut in hardwood.
A cord-volume reality check helps. A cord is a lot of repetitive cutting, and the owner data suggests cordless saws handle a cord of softwood comfortably while a full cord of dense hardwood is where gas pulls ahead. Multi-cord cutters should lean gas; occasional and small-volume cutters can go cordless without regret.
Bar and Chain: Pitch, Gauge and What to Actually Buy
What type of chainsaw chain is best for cutting firewood? The firewood standard is a three-eighths-inch low-profile chain, and the reason is about your legs rather than the cut.
Chain pitch is the distance between three rivets, measured with a gauge plate or a quarter-inch ruler over the drive links. Standard saws use a quarter-inch or three-eighths-inch pitch. Three-eighths-inch is the standard on firewood saws, the drive links are taller, and the chain deflects less through a cut, which means less vibration reaching your hands over a long session.
Chain gauge is the thickness of the drive link in thousandths of an inch, commonly 0.043 inch or 0.050 inch. It must match the groove cut into your guide bar, and it is the specification people get wrong when buying a replacement chain. The EGO CS1613 is documented precisely enough to show why that matters: 3/8-inch pitch, 0.043-inch gauge, 56 drive links.
A full-skip chain has cutters on every third drive link, cuts fastest and produces the most heat and kickback. A semi-skip half-and-half chain reduces kickback and is the better choice for a new operator or anyone cutting a lot of firewood in awkward positions.
Tensioning is the routine task. Most saws in this roundup use tool-free tensioning, either a dial or a knob, and a chain that is correctly tensioned cuts faster, wears slower and stays in the bar. Check tension every tank of fuel or every few battery swaps, and flip the chain to the other side of the bar when the cutters dull, which doubles its life before sharpening. If you want the same discipline applied to kitchen tools, our guide to the best knives for cutting vegetables covers matching the tool to the material.
Budget for consumables before you buy the saw. Expect a chain to be replaced periodically, bar oil to be a steady line item, and a hard chain to blunt in seconds, so a few minutes of sharpening a slightly dull chain saves the bar from a rebuild.
If your workflow is food prep rather than timber, our guide to the best cutting boards covers keeping work surfaces stable, which is the same principle a chainsaw bar relies on.
Cutting Firewood Safely: Chains, Chaps and the Jobs to Hand Off
No saw here is safe without a working chain brake, and the brake is the first thing to check before every start. Coverage varies by model, from the inertia-activated brake on the DongCheng that stops the chain in under 0.1 seconds to the quick-stop brake and safety switch on the SUPMIXTOOLS.
Wear chaps, eye protection, hearing protection, gloves and a helmet with a face shield when felling or when overhead limbs are in play, and steel-toe boots for the moments when a round starts to roll.
Kickback is the mechanism that injures people, and it comes from the nose of the bar contacting wood. The two defences are the chain brake and a chain that is sharp, correctly tensioned and low-profile in a 3/8-inch pitch. A dull chain dramatically increases the risk.
Before you cut, check the log for tension. Wood under compression stores energy and will pinch the bar, which is dangerous and ruins chains. Compression is most often on the upper half of a round, so the safe sequence is to cut a shallow notch from the top side, then finish the cut from underneath so the compression unloads itself away from the bar.
Stand with your knees bent, saw off to one side of your body, and never cut above shoulder height or with the bar above you. Clear the ground, keep bystanders and pets out of the falling zone, and never reach across a running chain.
There are jobs to hand off. Tension-loaded trees, trees leaning unpredictably, storm-damaged wood with unknown lean, and anything over 20 inches diameter where the cutting direction depends on how the trunk is supported. Hire a qualified arborist or tree service for those. Our guide to the best cutting knives carries the same principle for a different tool: match the tool to the material instead of forcing it. A stable bench surface matters too, so our picks for the best wooden cutting boards for a kitchen follow the same stability logic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best size chainsaw for cutting firewood?
Measure your thickest log and add 2 inches. A 16-inch bar with a 40cc to 50cc engine handles rounds up to about 14 inches across, an 18-inch bar with 50cc or more reaches about 16 inches, and a 20-inch bar needs 50cc or more for rounds near 18 inches. Most home firewood cutting is done with a 16- to 18-inch bar.
What type of chainsaw chain is best for cutting firewood?
A three-eighths-inch pitch low-profile chain is the firewood standard because the taller drive links deflect less and cut with less vibration. Choose semi-skip rather than full-skip if you are new to cutting, match the chain gauge to the groove in your bar, and check tension every tank of fuel.
What is the best gas-powered chainsaw for the money?
The 62cc two-stroke with a 20-inch bar is the best starting point for serious firewood volume, and the SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc 20-inch in this roundup delivers that configuration with a 4.2 hp class output at 14 pounds. If your thickest log exceeds 18 inches, step up to the 22-inch bar class instead.
What is the best cordless chainsaw for the money?
The EGO POWER+ CS1613 is the strongest cordless saw for real firewood in this roundup, with a brushless motor rated against a 40cc gas saw and up to 130 cuts on a 4×4 per charge. If you want an 18-inch bar with two batteries already in the box, the SEESII 40V 18-inch is the value pick.
Why is Husqvarna better than Stihl?
The real mechanical differences are engine architecture rather than cut quality. Husqvarna X-Torq engines are tuned for fuel economy and torque across a wider rev range and Smart Start simplifies cold starting, while Stihl is widely praised for build durability and simple two-stroke serviceability. For firewood, bar length and engine displacement decide the outcome more than the brand.
Do professionals prefer Husqvarna or Stihl?
Arborists and professional tree crews usually run neither for heavy timber work. They choose a separate category of pro-grade saw with 3/8-inch chain and considerably more power than a homeowner firewood saw, often bought through a dealer. For firewood cutting, pick the brand your nearest dealer services best.
Final Verdict: Which Chainsaw Should You Buy for Firewood?
The Stihl MS 170 is our overall pick in this roundup of the best chainsaws for firewood cutting because it does the most common job well: light, dependable bucking of rounds up to about 10 inches across, with 1670 owners averaging 4.7 stars behind it and a 4.6 kg weight that keeps a long session comfortable.
If you want a cordless saw for hardwood, take the EGO POWER+ CS1613. If you want an 18-inch bar without buying batteries separately, the SEESII kit gives you two 5.0Ah packs in the box. If you intend to cut cords, the 62cc 20-inch gas configuration is the honest answer, and the 58cc 22-inch class is there for oversized logs.
Tell yourself honestly what your thickest log measures, whether you will work away from an outlet, and how many cords a season you process. Those three answers pick the saw for you, and everything else is preference.
Updated for 2026. We earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
