Best Electric Chainsaws (2026): Cordless & Corded

Electric chainsaws have come a long way: today’s cordless models match the bite of a 40-50cc gas saw, while corded units deliver relentless power with zero charging. Whether you’re felling a leaning birch, bucking firewood, or just pruning fruit trees, there’s now an electric saw that fits the job. Below are seven real models we’d actually buy in 2026, chosen for power, cut quality, safety features, and value.

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The 7 best electric chainsaws of 2026

EGO Power+ CS1804 — best for overall performance

The EGO Power+ CS1804 is the cordless saw we point most homeowners toward, and it has held that spot for several years running. Its high-efficiency brushless motor spins the chain at roughly 11,000 RPM and delivers cutting performance comparable to a 45cc gas chainsaw, which is more than enough to fell small trees, limb large branches, and process a winter’s worth of firewood. The 18-inch bar handles trunks up to around 16 inches in a single pass, and with the recommended 5.0Ah ARC Lithium battery EGO claims up to 300 cuts through a 4×4 on a charge.

What sets the CS1804 apart is the refinement: tool-free chain tensioning, an LED work light over the bar, a translucent oil tank, and a chain brake that engages crisply. At roughly 14.5 pounds operating weight it isn’t featherlight, but the balance is excellent and vibration is low. If you want one battery saw that simply works for the broadest range of yard and woodlot tasks, this is it. It also shares batteries with EGO’s huge lineup of mowers, blowers, and trimmers, which makes the system increasingly economical the more you buy in.

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Greenworks 40V 16" Brushless — best for cordless / battery

If you want true cordless freedom without paying flagship money, the Greenworks 40V 16-inch brushless chainsaw is the sweet spot. Its brushless motor produces up to 30% more torque than the older brushed model and runs with up to 70% less vibration, so it cuts cleanly through medium hardwood limbs and small trunks. Greenworks rates it at up to roughly 150 cuts of 4×4 lumber on a fully charged 4.0Ah battery, which covers a big afternoon of cleanup before you need to swap or recharge.

It comes loaded with the features that matter day to day: tool-less chain tensioning, an automatic bar-and-chain oiler, bumper spikes, a chain catcher, and an electronic chain brake to guard against kickback. Push-button start means no gas, no fumes, no pull cord. The 40V battery powers more than 75 other Greenworks tools, and the platform carries a 3-year tool and battery warranty. For the typical suburban yard, this is the cordless saw that delivers the most capability per dollar.

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Oregon CS1500 — best for corded power

For people who never want to think about charging, the Oregon CS1500 is the corded saw to beat. A 15-amp motor drives an 18-inch bar with power that genuinely rivals a small gas saw, yet it stays plugged-in steady all day without a single battery swap. The headline feature is Oregon’s PowerSharp self-sharpening system: pull a lever for three to five seconds and the chain is honed back to a clean edge, on the saw, without ever removing it. For anyone who has fought a dull chain mid-job, that alone justifies the saw.

The rest of the package is just as sensible. Tool-less tensioning lets you snug the chain by hand-tightening a side ring, and an automatic oiler keeps the bar lubricated to prevent premature wear. There’s no gas to mix, no fumes, and noise stays low. The trade-off is obvious: you’re tethered to an outlet and an extension cord, so the CS1500 is best for work close to the house. Within that radius, it’s hard to find a more capable or lower-maintenance electric saw.

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Worx WG304.2 — best for budget buyers

The Worx WG304.2 proves you don’t need to spend big to get a capable saw. This corded model pairs a 15-amp motor with an 18-inch bar, giving it surprising reach and bite for the price. It’s the saw for the homeowner who has occasional storm cleanup, a few trees to limb, and no interest in a battery ecosystem. Auto-tensioning takes the guesswork out of chain setup, and the automatic oiler keeps things running smoothly without constant fiddling.

Worx also built in sensible safety touches, including a chain brake and a low-kickback chain, plus a rubberized grip that cuts vibration on longer sessions. It isn’t as refined as the Oregon and the plastic body feels less rugged, but for light-to-moderate work at a fraction of the cost of a premium battery saw, the value is genuinely hard to argue with. Keep a quality outdoor extension cord on hand and it’ll handle most weekend tasks without complaint.

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Greenworks Pro 80V 18" — best for big jobs

When the work scales up to felling, large-limb work, and heavy firewood production, the Greenworks Pro 80V steps in. Its 80V brushless powertrain delivers the cutting muscle of roughly a 50cc gas engine with a 4.0Ah battery, putting it firmly in the territory where cordless saws used to fear to tread. Steel bucking spikes and a metal wrap-around handle give it a pro feel, and it claims up to about 200 cuts of 4×4 lumber on a 4.0Ah charge — enough to chew through a serious cleanup before swapping.

It runs quietly for its class (around 85 dB, quiet enough to talk over) and keeps a translucent oil tank so you can monitor lubrication at a glance. The 80V platform is the most powerful Greenworks consumer line, and for owners of larger properties, rural lots, or anyone who tackles oak, maple, and hickory regularly, this is the saw that won’t bog down. Buy a spare battery if you plan marathon sessions; high-torque cutting drains packs faster than light limbing does.

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Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V 6" — best mini / pruning saw

Not every cut calls for a full-size saw. For pruning, vine work, deadwooding, and clearing storm debris, the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V brushless 6-inch compact pruning chainsaw is a joy to use one-handed. Its brushless motor punches above its size, and the slightly longer 6-inch bar means it can handle limbs in the 5-to-6-inch diameter range that smaller mini saws stall on. It’s light, quick to deploy, and far safer and faster than wrestling a bow saw up a ladder.

The real draw is the ecosystem. If you already own Ryobi ONE+ tools, the battery you have will run this saw, so the bare-tool price is genuinely small. It also sells as a kit with battery and charger for newcomers. It’s not meant to fell trees, and you’ll want hearing and eye protection plus cut-resistant gloves, but as a grab-and-go pruning tool it earns its keep every time the seasons turn. Pair it with our guide on when to prune trees for the best results.

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Craftsman CMECS600 — best for value

The Craftsman CMECS600 is the saw we recommend when someone wants the most usable performance for the least money. At just over 6 pounds it’s among the lightest full-size electrics, and its 12-amp motor swings a 16-inch bar with enough authority to take down small trees, limb medium branches, and cut firewood rounds. For the price, that combination of light weight and real cutting capacity is tough to match.

Being corded, it never runs out of charge, and it skips the cost of a battery system entirely. You get an automatic oiler, tool-free chain tensioning, and a chain brake for safety. It won’t win any power contests against an 80V or a 15-amp 18-inch saw, but for the homeowner with a modest yard who simply wants a dependable, affordable saw that’s ready whenever the cord is plugged in, the CMECS600 delivers outstanding bang for the buck.

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How to choose an electric chainsaw

Battery vs corded vs gas

The three power types each suit a different owner. Battery (cordless) saws give you total freedom to roam the property and have closed most of the power gap, with 56V and 80V models now rivaling 45-50cc gas saws. The catch is runtime and the upfront cost of batteries — if you’ll cut for hours, budget for a spare pack. Corded electric saws never run out of power, weigh less because they carry no battery, and cost the least to buy, but you’re tethered to an outlet and an extension cord, which limits range to work near the house. Gas still wins for remote, all-day, heavy felling far from power, but it brings noise, fumes, fuel mixing, and more maintenance. For the vast majority of homeowners, an electric saw is now the smarter, cleaner, quieter choice.

Bar length and cutting capacity

Bar length determines the largest log you can cut cleanly: a saw cuts roughly its bar length minus a couple of inches in one pass. A 6-inch bar is for pruning and small limbs; 14-16 inches handles most homeowner tasks like limbing and firewood; 18 inches and up is for felling and large trunks. Resist the urge to buy more bar than you need — longer bars are heavier, harder to control, and pull more power, which drains batteries faster. Match the bar to your actual trees, not your ambitions.

Chain tension and safety

A properly tensioned chain should sit snug against the bar with the drive links still seated in the groove; too loose and it can derail, too tight and it overheats and wears. Tool-free tensioning, found on most saws here, makes this a quick hand adjustment. Just as important is safety gear and features: always run a saw with a working chain brake, use a low-kickback chain, and wear eye and hearing protection, cut-resistant gloves, and sturdy boots. Keep both hands on the saw, never cut above shoulder height, and be alert to kickback at the bar’s upper tip. Beginners should let a brake-equipped saw and a guarded tip do some of the work for them.

Maintenance

Electric saws are far lower-maintenance than gas, but they aren’t zero-effort. Keep the automatic oiler reservoir topped up so the bar and chain stay lubricated — running dry destroys both. Keep the chain sharp; a dull chain produces fine dust instead of chips and strains the motor (Oregon’s PowerSharp system makes this trivial). Clean sawdust from the bar groove and sprocket after use, check tension before each session, and store the saw clean and dry. For a wider checklist on caring for your gear, see our guides to essential garden tools and how to store garden tools.

Frequently asked questions

Are electric chainsaws powerful enough to cut down trees?

Yes, within reason. Modern 56V and 80V cordless saws cut like 45-50cc gas saws and can fell small-to-medium trees and process firewood easily. A corded 15-amp 18-inch saw is equally capable near the house. For repeated large-diameter felling far from power, gas still has an edge, but most homeowners never reach that point.

Cordless or corded — which should I buy?

Choose cordless if you need to move freely around a large property and don’t mind buying a battery (or a spare for long sessions). Choose corded if your work stays near an outlet and you want the lowest price, the lightest saw, and unlimited runtime. Corded saws also avoid battery replacement costs down the road.

What size chainsaw do I need?

Match the bar to your trees. A 6-inch saw is for pruning, 14-16 inches covers most limbing and firewood, and 18 inches or more is for felling and large trunks. A saw cuts roughly its bar length in one pass, so size to the biggest log you’ll realistically handle rather than buying the longest bar available.

How do I keep an electric chainsaw chain sharp?

Sharpen whenever the saw starts throwing dust instead of clean chips. You can use a round file and guide, a bench or 12V sharpener, or pick a saw like the Oregon CS1500 with a built-in PowerSharp system that hones the chain in seconds. A sharp chain cuts faster, safer, and with far less strain on the motor and battery.

Do electric chainsaws need bar and chain oil?

Yes. Just like gas saws, electric chainsaws use bar-and-chain oil to lubricate the moving chain and prevent premature wear. Most models here have an automatic oiler with a reservoir you simply keep filled. Never run the saw dry — check the oil level before each session, especially on saws with a translucent tank.