If you’re looking for a chainsaw that’s not outrageously expensive and complex to handle for your home, then you’re at the right place. We’ve compiled a list of five best chainsaw for home use after extensive research on countless products. Amidst our study, we found that homeowner chainsaws are available in a versatile range of features, and so the applications can differ from person to person. Still, we tried to include all kinds of chainsaws for a variety of purposes. The No products found. is our personal favorite because of its unique features and ease of usage.
Contents
Best Chainsaw For Home Use
1. Husqvarna 455 Rancher – Best Husqvarna Chainsaw
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As a homeowner, you need a chainsaw with adequate power to convert wood into the timber. In this case, the Husqvarna 455 Rancher is your best bet. Engineered for power and comfort, this saw can handle anything you throw at it.
The Husqvarna 455 rancher is packed with plenty of features to provide you an effortless experience. Moreover, its fast cutting helps you do a lot of work in less time. Moreover, like other chainsaws of the brand, the 455 Rancher also uses an X-Torque engine.
We were generously impressed with the cutting speed of this tool. It can easily slice through hardwood. However, the fuel tank’s capacity is less, and you need to refill it every 30 minutes. Considering its price range, the Husqvarna 455 Rancher is an excellent chainsaw.
As a reminder, ensure to keep the chain sharp while working. We noticed a degrade in performance when the chain became dull, and it felt like we were using an electric chainsaw. The 455 Rancher is undoubtedly a great chainsaw to have around the yard.
In terms of weight, the Husqvarna 455 Rancher falls on the heavier side of the scale. Due to this, this saw is not food for limning. It is undoubtedly one of the best homeowner chainsaws in the market for felling trees and cutting firewood.
Furthermore, like all Husqvarna tools, the 455 Rancher also provides a significant number of features to make your life easier. Our favorite feature is the centrifugal air cleaning system that keeps sawdust out of your engine.
We also liked the combination of choke and stop system of this saw. It not only allows you to start the engine conveniently and quickly but also reduces the chances of flooding the engine. Therefore, you can always expect a longer engine life.
- Great Power
- Air cleaning system
- Choke/stop system
- Low capacity fuel tank
Bottom Line
All in all, if you feel the need to cut a lot of firewood and fell large trees, we’d say that the Husqvarna 455 Rancher is an excellent choice for you. With a well-constructed body and fast cutting speed, it is undoubtedly the best chainsaw for home use.
2. Remington RM4212 Rebel – Best Gas Powered Chainsaw
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Designed to be a lightweight and powerful chainsaw, the Remington RM4212 Rebel is a highly capable gas chainsaw that can easily handle small and medium jobs such as sculpting and cutting lumber.
It is powered by a 42cc engine that provides sufficient power to cut through a hardwood log easily. Moreover, we had a great time operating it because it doesn’t make much noise, and fuel consumption is low as well.
Talking about its design, our first experience with this gas chainsaw was terrific. We’ve seen several chainsaws that are purposely weighty to provide you the pull that you need to cut through a log. However, the RM4212 Rebel is designed for comfort along with excellent cutting power.
Moreover, we also love the security features of this saw. The Remington RM4212 Rebel comes with an operational lock, and an instant on/off switch to prevent kicking your chainsaw in operation by accident. Additionally, they also provide a chain cover as an extra safety measure.
Another useful feature of this gas chainsaw is its quick-start technology. We were able to start this saw with a single pull and went straight to cutting. Furthermore, the automatic oiler makes sure that the chain is always lubricated.
However, we noticed that the chain becomes dull very quickly as compared to other gas chainsaws. We had to sharpen the saw every time we used it. Although, we believe that this happens only when you exceed the limits of this chainsaw.
So, we can easily conclude that the Remington RM4212 Rebel is not built to manage heavy tasks. However, the price is genuine for someone who’s looking for a chainsaw for doing a few jobs around the house.
- Lightweight and powerful
- Impressive safety features
- Easy to start
- The chain becomes dull quickly
Bottom Line
The value that Remington RM4212 Rebel gas chainsaw offers you is highly debatable. If you’re someone looking for a saw to tackle small and medium jobs around your home, this is it. But if you need something for heavy-duty purposes, Rebel is not the right deal for you.
3. DEWALT Brushless Chainsaw – Best Size Chainsaw For Home Use
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When it comes to DEWALT tools, we set our expectations as high as possible. With every new model, DEWALT offers something unique. The same applies to the DEWALT 20V MAX XR brushless chainsaw. However, the first impression of this saw was not good for us.
The moment we took it in our hands, we noticed that the knobs’ levers felt flimsy. It made us think that it’s not a quality tool. But, as soon as we put the saw in action, all our misconceptions were cleared instantly.
First thing first, we had to fill the chainsaw with chain and bar oil. As it’s a bare tool, we had to purchase the oil separately. At this point, we still felt that the levers are flimsy, but we decided to move on to fill the reservoir and adjust the chain tension.
Fortunately, the chain tension was adjusted accurately out of the box. We barely had to change the tension again while working with this chainsaw. Moreover, the chain tension is tool-less, and you just need to unlock the bar, adjust the locking knob, and turn the knob clockwise.
After the easy setup, we finally moved to take down a tree with this saw. Initially, we cleared out the branches and then moved to the base. DEWALT Brushless chainsaw has a great cutting power with lesser vibrations and emissions.
We also loved the lightweight body of this chainsaw. When we were cutting the branches, we used an elevated platform. Still, the saw was easy to operate and didn’t felt tiring at all. We also had no problems in taking down the upper limbs of the trees.
On average, it took us around 11 seconds to slice through the tree completely. Considering its size and power, the DEWALT Brushless chainsaw is an excellent addition to your inventory for small and medium home jobs.
- Tool-less chain tensioning mechanism
- Easy to setup
- Lightweight design
- Flimsy knobs and levers
Bottom Line
In conclusion, we feel that the DEWALT Brushless chainsaw is a pretty decent tool for a homeowner. If you don’t want to deal with a gas chainsaw and cut trees occasionally, this chainsaw is undoubtedly a perfect match for you.
4. BLACK+DECKER Max Chainsaw – Best Cordless Chainsaw
- Innovative clamping jaws grab and cut in one easy motion for the ultimate in controlled cutting
- Part of 20-volt MAX lithium-ion battery system -- easily swap with other lawn and power tools
- Get up to 150 cuts of 1-1/2-inch branches per charge
With a bar length of 10-inch, the BLACK+DECKER is the smallest cordless chainsaw that we reviewed. Although the short bar length limits its depth of cutting, you’ll never encounter any problem while doing small jobs around your house like cutting fallen branches and pruning.
We tested this cordless chainsaw against bushes and pieces of lumber. Throughout the test, BLACK+DECKER worked flawlessly. Even though the rate of doing things was slower, the final work was highly neat and clean.
We also noticed that it’s the quietest saw out of all the other variants we tested. Moreover, the emissions were comparatively low too. We believe that this chainsaw doesn’t require much maintenance because it’s a cordless electric chainsaw.
We also loved the sliding safety lock and start button mechanism. Unlike other chainsaws, you don’t need to pull the lever multiple times to get the tool started. To start this saw, you need to first turn on the safety lock on the handle to ensure a subtle grip on the saw before it starts.
Along with a steady grip, this saw also includes other safety features such as chain brake and handguards to reduce kickback. Furthermore, the tool-less chain tensioning makes chain adjustments pretty easy.
Also, we noticed that the 4Ah battery provides plenty of runtimes. However, sometimes the oiler doesn’t work correctly. We also found that when you store this saw without cleaning the chain, the oil tends to leak.
- Cleaner cuts
- Great battery backup
- Comfortable grip
- A slow rate of work
Bottom Line
The BLACK+DECKER cordless chainsaw is an excellent tool for limb work, pruning, and cleaning unwanted shrubs in your garden. It’s a decent tool to have in your collection for the time when you feel the need for a chainsaw in your home.
5. POULAN Pro Cycle Gas Chainsaw – Best Homeowner Gas Chainsaw
- 42cc, 2-stroke engine with 18" Bar
- Ideal for medium-duty storm clean-up, cutting firewood, and felling trees
- Includes: Carry Case, Extra Chain, Built-in Scrench, 2-Stroke Oil
The POULAN Pro Cycle is an excellent homeowner gas chainsaw that can handle any job you throw at it. It’s a tool you can rely on while keeping your expenses within the budget. We certainly had a great experience with this saw.
With a robust and reliable 50CC engine displacement, it’s the largest model offered by POULAN. We tested against heavy timber, logs, and firewood, and the performance was unbelievable. With a bar length of 20-inch, it can be used for both residential and commercial purposes.
This gas chainsaw is powered by a patented Oxy-Power 2-stage engine that needs a mixture of oil and gas to work. We loved how this saw consumed so less fuel along with lesser emissions for such extensive work.
As compared to earlier models, we found this saw easier and effortless to start. We tried starting other saws and POULAN pro side by side and found that you need lesser pull force to start it. While other saws took 5-6 pulls, this one started with only a couple of tries.
We also loved its design, where you get a combination tool known as scrench, located right on the handle. It allows you to adjust the tension of your saw and remove the cover for maintenance and cleaning. Having it available to you all times makes it easier for you to make adjustments.
- Powerful engine displacement
- Lesser emissions and noise
- Easy to start
- No guide for adjustments
Bottom Line
Overall, POULAN Pro is one of the best chainsaw for home use. If you were looking for a chainsaw to take down large trees and limbs, you can’t find a better deal than this one. It’s one of the most powerful chainsaws available at such an incredible price.
Buyer’s Guide – How To Choose The Best Chainsaw For Home Use
1. Accessories
In the chainsaw market, there are a plethora of miscellaneous features that can be found. Even though some of those features may be irrelevant to your requirements, others might become a subtle reason to choose a particular chainsaw over the other.
For example, features such as tool-free chain and side-mounted chain tensioning make it easier for you to adjust the chain tension while you work. Additionally, see-through gas and oil tanks are also handy to get excellent transparency in your work.
Moreover, other features like spring-assist starting reduce the pulling force you need to exert to start the tool. Talking about electrical chainsaws, features such as a built-in circuit breaker prevent your motor from burning out.
On the other hand, you can see several advanced features such as ground fault circuit interrupter and heavy-gauge weatherproof extensions on cordless models. They’re the most convenient and also provide you an extended battery life (as extras).
After testing all the products, we found that the No products found. has the most number of accesories.
2. Safety Features
While the chainsaws may seem direct and straightforward, they’re equally dangerous. Thousands of injuries are reported each year due to them. However, some of the best homeowner chainsaws have plenty of safety features such as trigger lock.
This feature stops the cutting action of your saw as soon as you release the trigger. There are also features like anti-kickback chains that minimalize jointing and prevent snags when your chain breaks suddenly while using the saw.
Furthermore, you can also find double-acting chain brakes that keep a safe distance between your hand and cutting area. Your priority should be to focus on the models that have a wide range of safety features. Among all the tools we tested, we found the BLACK+DECKER Max Chainsaw to be the safest of all.
3. Noise
“Stop that noise right now!” – that’s the most frequent and common complaint against chainsaws, and there’s a good reason for it. Even at an average speed, a gas-powered chainsaw can easily exceed 100 decibels. Moreover, electric chainsaws are no exception.
Therefore, if you have neighbors living around you, consider choosing a model that doesn’t make much noise. Apart from your choice, make sure that you always wear your hearing protection before working with these tools. The POULAN Pro Cycle Gas Chainsaw has the quietest operation out of all the tools we tested.
4. Exhaust
Gas-powered chainsaws emit a lot of carbon monoxide and other pollutants in the air. However, electric chainsaws do not release any gas or toxins. Due to this, several states, such as California, have set several environmental regulations to use chainsaws.
Therefore, while buying a chainsaw, enquire about the environmental laws of your area. Also, make sure that you go for a low-emission chainsaw for your well-being. We noticed that the No products found. has the lowest emissions.
5. Fuel Type
The most common types of chainsaws are gas-powered chainsaws. They’re operated with a mixture of fuel and gas, available separately or mixed. Moreover, there are also many lighter, quieter, and lesser powerful electrical models in the market.
Most electrical chainsaws are cordless, which means you need a stable energy source to operate these tools. On the other hand, you can also opt-in for cordless chainsaws that run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Even though electrical tools save you on fuel, they lack the power required to handle heavy-duty jobs. However, they’re great for typical applications and home use.
6. Size/Power
The size of a chainsaw revolves around its bar length. The bar length is the distance from housing to the cutting tip of your chainsaw. In simple terms, bar length can be considered as the cutting area of your chainsaw.
A larger cutting area means you can easily handle large jobs. Bar length can be as small as 5-6 inches and as large as 20 inches. In gas chainsaws, power is also dependent on engine displacement. The large the size of your engine, the more power you can get from your saw. The No products found. is the most powerful chainsaw we tested so far.
FAQs
1. Why does my chainsaw leak bar oil when not in use?
The most common reason for chain oil leakage can be an overfilled reservoir. When your saw is turned on, it can often leak oil when the reservoir is filled excessively. Therefore, make sure you check for it and take out excessive oil from your chainsaw.
Another reason for oil leakage can be an over-oiled guide bar. To prevent this, you need to clean the chain by removing it and wiping it off with a dry cloth. Also, make sure that the fill plug is not sealing, and the chain oiling line doesn’t have any leakage.
2. What should you not do with a chainsaw?
There are a lot of things that you should not do with your chainsaw. Firstly, make sure that you never stand on a log with the chainsaw between your feet. Secondly, never operate a saw while running. Moreover, avoid movements while the chainsaw is cutting. Unless you have a safe and precise working area, never try to fall a tree.
3. Is it OK to use a chainsaw on wet wood?
Yes, it’s completely okay to use your chainsaw on wet wood. The moisture present in the wood will not affect your cutting process. Moreover, it doesn’t experts any additional resistance to your chainsaw, and you won’t require extra efforts to cut it.
However, you’d still have to deal with the sawdust sticking on the chain instead of being blown away with the air filter as it’s wet. Therefore, you may need to manually remove the sawdust while working to ensure that the saw provides you an optimal cutting power.
Bottom Line
The advantage of homeowner chainsaws is that they can be operated easily depending on the user’s experience. Also, you can get a lot of things done around your household using the right chainsaw. However, there are different types of homeowner chainsaws. Some have excellent safety features, and some provide you excellent user experience. Depending on your requirements, you need to choose the right chainsaw. Our list of best chainsaw for home use has different chainsaws, so choose the one that matches your needs.
BLACK+DECKER Max Chainsaw - Editor's Choice
Summary
With a bar length of 10-inch, the BLACK+DECKER is the smallest cordless chainsaw that we reviewed. Although the short bar length limits its depth of cutting, you’ll never encounter any problem while doing small jobs around your house like cutting fallen branches and pruning.
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