Best 16 inch Chainsaws In [year]: Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

Activities like pruning and cutting firebreaks can be highly exhaustive. However, when you have the right chainsaw, it becomes a cakewalk. After evaluating 20 different 16 Inch chainsaw models for 84 hours and consulting 7 different experts, we found that No products found. beats all other best 16 inch chainsaws. It has much better power, performance, and stability. We have also written a buyer’s guide to help you pick the right 16 Inch chainsaw ( see 18 inch ones too ) in the market.

Best 16 inch Chainsaws

1. Husqvarna Gas Chainsaw – Best For Money

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Husqvarna 435e is an all-around saw but not a commercial line or XP grade product. We went out to the woods to put it to action. After cutting eight trees, we found it to be a really remarkable saw. From the weight on the saw to its balance, everything makes it the best 16 inch chainsaw in the market.

The X torque motor is what amazed us the most. It is a very quiet and EPA rated motor that provides you a subtle cutting power. We certainly got a good amount of firewood using this saw. It comes with a 16 Inch bar, a 3/8 chain, and adjuster screws to tweak the chain.

Moreover, the system also allows it to work with lower fuel consumption. We also loved its air injection system. It removes dust and debris even before it reaches the air filter. We had to replace the filter because it collected a lot of dust. The quick-release cover made it easier to replace the filter.

Talking about the vibration levels, we found the front handle to be more stable than the rear handle. Moreover, the ergonomics of handles are simply amazing. We found the handle to be very comfortable. On the right side, there’s a little rubber over-mold but the rest of it is plastic.

Even though we’ve seen a lot of 16 inch chainsaws with excessive over-mold on the handles, we believe that Husqvarna’s comfort and grip is way better. That’s because people will anyways wear gloves while working.

The inertia-activity chain break is a great safety feature of this saw. This means you can use the saw for heavy-duty operations. However, we’d still suggest you not to use the saw recklessly because there’s no way better than a careful operation to protect the saw.

There are a lot of additional features in this saw such as air purge that provides it an easy start and stops interface. Moreover, we also liked some other features such as combines choke, visible fuel level, and cylinder cover.

Bottom Line

All in all, Husqvarna’s ergonomics, price, and power make it the best 16 inch chainsaw. Although there are other gas saws with greater power, this one provides a better value for quality and power when it comes to professional work.

2. Makita Electric Chainsaw – Best Electric Chainsaw

Makita never fails to impress users with their exceptionally high-quality tools and this chainsaw is no different. Whether it is the rubber grip, cross-cutting chain, or the lightweight body, the excellent build quality makes it stand out from the competition.

It features a 14.5-amp motor and provides a no-load chain speed of 1900 FPM. We tested it against 2/6-inch wood and this saw cut through it within a couple of seconds. We also found that it works even better with a 100-foot 12-gauge cord.

We noticed that the intake vent of the chainsaw is positioned at the back of the handle. It’s something we don’t see usually in 16 Inch chainsaws. After researching it, we found that it prevents debris build-up in the intake vent of the chainsaw.

Talking about the cutting capacity, it’s not the best we’ve seen so far. It can simply get the job done for you. However, if you use it for occasional purposes such as renovation jobs, it can deliver more than you expect. After all, a 16 Inch spike bar paired with a 14.5-amp motor can easily cut through 14- or 16 Inches thick limbs.

We also liked the current limiter overload system by Makita. Due to this, the risk of burning out your motor while it’s still in the wood is significantly reduced. There’s also a cooling system that pairs with the current limiter and prevents the saw from overheating.

This simply means you can use the Makita 16 inch chainsaw for heavy-duty and long tasks. However, we don’t recommend you push the chainsaw to its limits. It’s great to know that even if you do so, you’ve got yourself covered. 

The thing we liked the most is the auto oiling feature of this saw. It allows you to use interchangeable brushes and customize the way you want your chainsaw to be lubricated. They’ve also included a chain tensioning system for easier maintenance.

Bottom Line

Overall, the reasons to buy the Makita electric chainsaw are endless at such a price range. With loads of essential features, par level functionality, and amazing build quality, it’s also one of the best 16 inch chainsaws for the money.

3. Greenworks G-MAX Chainsaw – Best Cordless Chainsaw

The idea of going cordless with such professional tools might sound a bit overwhelming to you. We were also on the same side of the track. However, after considering a couple of things, our entire perception changed for cordless chainsaws.

The 16 inch chainsaw by Greenworks is a highly convenient tool for jobs that require an elevated platform such as stairs. When you’re twenty feet up in the air, it’s better to have a start and stop button than a pull start trigger.

The tool has great power in the 4.0 Ah 40V G-MAX battery. However, we noticed that some woods cut slower and harder than others. Talking about the runtime, it’s entirely dependent on the cutting speed and load of the saw.

This means if you cut through a material of large diameter, you’ll have a lesser runtime and vice-versa. However, for most of the materials we tested, the tool seems to have a decent runtime for a variety of purposes. 

The thing we liked the most about this 16 inch chainsaw is that it uses a brushless motor. In simple terms, this saw will not lose its efficiency due to the collision of commutator and brushes. Moreover, brushless motors don’t heat as much as normal motors.

Due to this, the vibrations were minimal too. Furthermore, as the motor doesn’t have brushes, it provides you a greater work-life and doesn’t require any maintenance over the lifetime of the saw. In context with a chainsaw, it’s a great deal because we’ve never seen it in any other chainsaw except DEWALT.

Like any other saw, the Greenworks 16 inch chainsaw also includes various security features such as handguard, chain brake, and a quick-release trigger. Moreover, there’s also an automatic power-off feature by which the saw automatically turns off when not in use.

Bottom Line

In a nutshell, the Greenworks chainsaw certainly impressed us with its unique features and great quality. The fact that every inch of its 16 inch blade is usable makes it a great match for people looking to get small jobs done quickly.

4. DEWALT XR Chainsaw – Best Brushless Chainsaw

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We were very curious to put the professional-grade Li-ion powered chainsaw by DEWALT into action. However, the first impression of this saw was not really great. The knobs felt flimsy and when we picked up the saw, it didn’t feel like we were holding a quality tool.

However, we must admit that the handles are vert stable and easy to hold. Moreover, the chain tensioning mechanism feels subtle and well-constructed. Even though the bar sheath is difficult to slide, at least it stays in place.

Within a few hours, we charged the tool and made it ready to use. There’s an LED indicator on the battery that provides three-level battery status. Moreover, there’s an indicator on the bar oil reservoir as well. It ensures that your saw is running on an optimal value of oil for smooth operation.

We were pleased with the little setup that DEWALT required to begin working. All we had to do was fill the oil reservoir, attach the battery, tension the chain, and be ready for action. Like any other battery-powered chainsaw, it didn’t require any mixing gases.

We found the chain tensioning mechanism to be similar to that of gas-powered chainsaws. It works pretty well – all you need to do is loosen the dial, modify the tension, and tighten until you hear a clicking sound on the saw.

We personally love the silent operation of this saw. In comparison to other saws, it’s very quiet and allows you to hear things in your surroundings. This comes handy when you need to hear the pop and crack of trees before they fall.

Talking about the user experience, we had a great time with the DEWALT 16 inch chainsaw. It features a safety switch that you need to turn off before pulling the throttle trigger. Moreover, it’s placed in a way to not become an obstacle in your work.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, the DEWALT battery-powered chainsaw is much stronger than other Li-ion powered saws. Moreover, with silent operation and easy start-up feature, and no gas motor emissions, it’s great for a highly focused session.

5. WORX Powered Chainsaw – Best Under Budget

We’ve reviewed WORX products earlier and they certainly don’t disappoint. The finishing of the saw was much better than what we expected. There are no noticeable mold marks and the surfaces feel very smooth to touch.

We loved the handles and guards of the saw. Along with being highly functional, they’re also extremely comfortable to hold and prevent arm fatigue. The battery compartment is installed under the rear handle that keeps it out of the way when cutting wood.

We also liked how easy it is to fill bar and chain oil with the well-placed oil filler. There’s also a knob to adjust the tightness of the chain cover and the bar. It also works as a chain tensioning mechanism. Unlike other 16 inch table saws, WORX doesn’t have a locking ring and tension ring separately. 

Initially, we thought that the saw can automatically loosen or tighten a change without any manual efforts. However, after experimenting with it, we found that you need to turn the dial when the chain stretches over time and loosens up.

Talking about additional features, the saw has an automatic bar and chain oiler. However, that’s not a big deal because most of the battery-operated chainsaws provide it. What makes it special is the fact that the oiler is working properly.

Among the other WORX tools, we noticed that the 20V batteries used are the same. This means you can interchange the batteries between different WORX tools. According to WORX, it’s a system known as the WORX power share.

Therefore, if you own any other battery-powered tool from WORX, you don’t have to worry about the battery for your next purchase. Talking about the battery, we completely drained it and charged it. The battery took five hours for a full charge.

Bottom Line

There are a lot of praiseworthy things about the WORX cordless chainsaw. Even with a 20V Li-ion battery, it provides plenty of power. Moreover, with its clean cuts, comfortable grip, and ergonomic design, it can be used by anyone regardless of experience.

Buying Guide – How To Choose The Best 16 Inch Chainsaws

If you want to choose the best 16 inch chainsaws for your requirements, you need to consider a few things that’ll help you make a good purchase decision. While most of the 16 inch saws are comparable in terms of size and power, your own preference becomes the deal-breaker. 

1. Reduced Kickback Chain

A lesser aggressive cutting profile and guard links prevent the chain from cutting excessively large and kickback. Most of the saws have a narrow tip to reduce the cutting area that’s responsible for excessive cutting and kickback.

2. Chain Brake

With this feature, you can stop the chain instantly by pushing the front hand guard-forward. Sometimes, the chain stops automatically if it kicks back. No products found. has an inertia active chain break that works really great.

3. Chain Catcher

It’s a metal extension found right below the guide bar. It helps to prevent a suddenly broken chain from flying back to you. Almost all chainsaw models have this feature preinstalled. This feature comes handy when the chain is very lousy or the tensioning doesn’t work.

4. Trigger Lockout

It is a separate palm switch that must be pressed before the user can engage with the throttle trigger. Among all the 16 Inch saws we tested, the No products found. has a great trigger lockout feature.

5. Case

A case or a cover comes handy to prevent any accidental cuts when you carry the saw or store it. Moreover, it also helps in containing the oil leaking from the chain. If you don’t get a case with your chainsaw, you can find one separately.

6. Automatic Chain Oiler

This feature allows you to keep cutting without the need to stop and put oil to the cutting bar. It’s a necessary feature because it provides you the ability to hold the chainsaw with both hands. Moreover, it also prevents the saw from overheating and premature wearing. The WORX Powered Chainsaw has a really well-placed chain oiler.

7. Bucking Spikes

These are sharp spikes found near the base of the bar. They cut through the logs, act as a fulcrum, and allow you to position the chain and bar downwards when cutting logs on a log stand. Generally, most of the saws are equipped with these spikes.

8. Tool-Free Chain Adjuster

It is a hand-operated mechanism that’s used to conveniently lock and unlock the chain bar. It also allows you to move the chain bar in and out to adjust the chain tension without using any screwdriver or wrench. With this feature, you can make proper adjustments quickly and easily to improve the safety of your saw. Out of all the tools we tested, the WORX Powered Chainsaw has a great deal that allows you to adjust chain tension without using any tools. 

9. Vibration Control

Chainsaws use metal springs and rubber bushings in between the engine bar and handle to minimize vibrations. If you don’t have a proper vibration control, you may face fatigue and discomfort while using your saw. Among the variety of saws tested, the Greenworks G-MAX Chainsaw has the best vibration control mechanism.

The Takeaway

With the rundown of the best 16 inch chainsaws, we aim to help you find the right type of chainsaw. In addition to it, we’ve also provided you additional information on how to choose the right 16 inches saw for your requirements. Now, it’s your call to decide which saw to buy.