Best Electric Chainsaws 2020: When it comes to backyard maintenance or cutting firewood, you can’t get a better tool than a chainsaw. An electric chainsaw is the most powerful tool with which to saw through the wood at a single effortless stroke. In this article, we’ve reviewed the 5 best electric chainsaws on the market.
Introduction: Whenever most people think of chainsaws, they immediately think of those loud rumbling 2-stroke machines they might have seen in slasher films. They look like incredibly powerful machines that can saw through trees and are probably too risky to be used by regular non-professional homeowners and novices.
To a certain extent, that is correct. Gas Chainsaws should only be handled by professionals and after intensive training. These chainsaws are expensive, generate a hell of a noise, require a lot of strength to wield, and can be used for felling large trees.
However, there is another form of chainsaw out there — electric chainsaws. These work based on a motor or connected to a power outlet, and they can be used by anyone at all, as long as you take safety precautions.
Most electric chainsaws are meant to be used for simple household work like cutting logs for firewood, clearing the yard, or pruning the bushes. However, electric chainsaws have become increasingly powerful in recent years, and you can even find some that can saw through large trees.
If you’re on the lookout for an electric chainsaw, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ve reviewed the 5 best electric chainsaws on the market. In order to compile this list, we’ve personally vetted dozens of the best electric chainsaws out there, and this is our definitive list.
Best Electric Chainsaws 2020— Our Top Picks
1. Worx WG303.1 Electric Chainsaw
Worx WG303.1 is the best corded electric chainsaw in the market. Like most electric chainsaws, it’s perfect for sawing through firewood or pruning the yard. However, it comes with an 18” bar and is powered by a 15 Amp motor which means it can also be used to fell some of the moderately sized trees in the backyard. Furthermore, the chain speed is an efficient 12M/s.
In terms of features, this electric chainsaw is quite well endowed. It has the following impressive features:
- Tool-Free Auto-Tensioning Tool: With this feature, you can tension the chainsaw by simply turning a knob on the side of the chainsaw.
- Low Kickback Bar: This feature is used to minimize the possibility of kickbacks.
- Chain Brake: This feature ensures that the chainsaw stops as soon as you pull your finger from the trigger. As such, even if there’s kickback, this is likely to mitigate the risks or damage.
- Auto-Oiler: This feature keeps the chain lubricated so you don’t have to do so manually. A transparent window is available from which you can check the level of the oil.
As you can probably tell from the features, this chainsaw prioritizes safety above all else. It comes fully-assembled as well and you get a 3-year warranty with it.
- Powerful by electric chainsaw standards.
- Reasonable.
- Great safety features.
- Customers complain that the oil leaks sometimes.
2. Greenworks 20312 Electric Chainsaw
Greenworks 20312 is the best cordless electric chainsaw in the market. It’s mostly used for light tasks like breaking branches, clearing the yard, cutting firewood, etc, because it only has a 16-inch bar powered by a 12 Amp motor.
This chainsaw has an internal 40V lithium-ion battery which can keep it running for 100 cuts of a 4” x 4” piece of wood. However, this Greenworks chainsaw produces an extra torque which enables it to cut through wood quickly and efficiently.
One of the best aspects of this chainsaw is that it produces 70% less vibrations than other similarly powerful chainsaws. As such, you can use it for a longer time without any arm fatigue.
Some of the best features associated with this chainsaw are:
- Tool-Free Tensioning Tool: The knob for automatically tensioning the chainsaw is available on the side of the body.
- Chain Brake: The moment you leave the trigger, it will stop working. As such, if the chainsaw is in the grips of a kickback, this feature could very well save your life.
- Minimal vibration produced.
- Extremely safe.
- Lightweight.
- High torque.
- Doesn’t have an auto-oiler so you have to manually lubricate the chain.
- Takes a while to start up.
3. BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 Electric Chainsaw
BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 is one of the most lightweight and reasonably priced cordless electric chainsaws in the market. It comes with a 10” bar powered by a 20V 2.0aH Lithium-Ion battery. Due to the small bar length, it can be used for pruning bushes and light yard maintenance. However, you can’t use it for cutting trees, even the smaller ones.
In terms of safety, this chainsaw is ideal because the chain and bar are designed by Oregon, a company known for producing chains with minimal kickback. It has the following impressive features:
- Tool-Less Auto-Tensioning for easily tightening the chain with the twist of a knob.
- And the auto-oiling system to easily keep the chain lubricated. You can check the level of the oil from a transparent window.
- Extremely lightweight.
- Auto-oiling.
- Easy to handle.
- Cheap.
- Not very powerful.
- No chain brake.
4. Makita UC4051A Electric Chainsaw
Makita UC4051A is a powerful electric corded chainsaw with a 16-inch bar that’s powered by a 14.5 Amp motor.
It can be used to perform both light and medium strength tasks like felling trees or chopping firewood. In terms of chain speed, it can go up to 2900 RPM. However, it doesn’t go all the way up immediately. After starting the chainsaw, it gradually increases in speed so as to be safe and avoid kickbacks.
This chainsaw has all the necessary safety features, including a rubberized handle, an auto-oiler, and a tool-free chain-tensioning tool.
- Powerful enough to cut small trees.
- Minimizes vibrations with rubber handles.
- No chain brake.
- The maximum chain speed is still quite low compared to others.
- Only a 1-month warranty.
5. Oregon 570995 CS1500 Electric Chainsaw
Oregon 570995 CS1500 is one of the most unique corded electric chainsaws in this list because of one specific feature. This Oregon chainsaw has a self-sharpening feature with which you can sharpen the chainsaw with the press of a single button in a few seconds. This will save you a lot of money in replacement chains or chainsaw sharpeners.
It comes with an 18” bar that’s powered by a 15 Amp motor. As such, it’s also one of the most powerful chainsaws in this list and can even be used to saw through large trees. The only reason it comes so low in this list is that it lacks several crucial safety features like rubberized handles to minimize vibrations, a chain brake to minimize kickback, etc.
- Extremely powerful.
- Sharpens automatically.
- Lack of safety features that are necessary for such a powerful device.
- Customers complain that the chain comes undone often, regardless of tension.
Electric Chainsaw Buyer’s Guide
In this part of the article, we’ll give you a holistic understanding of electric chainsaws, how to use them, and how to go about selecting the right one.
Types of Electric Chainsaws
There are two types of electric chainsaws available on the market — Corded Chainsaws, and Cordless/Battery-Powered Chainsaws.
Corded Chainsaws
As the name suggests, these electric chainsaws come with a cord that needs to be connected to a power source. The cord is usually quite long and can easily go across a moderately-sized room.
The clear advantage of a corded chainsaw is that it can run continuously as opposed to a battery-powered chainsaw which could soon run out of battery. These are also more powerful and can complete a task faster.
However, a corded chainsaw comes with its fair share of drawbacks as well. Since they are tethered to a power outlet, they can only be used within a shed or in one’s own yard. Even in that case, you might have to extend a long cord past a room or yard. This can be dangerous because an unknowing passerby might trip on the cord and lead to an accident. As such, when using a corded chainsaw, it’s crucial to be careful and put up a warning sign.
If you want to circumvent the issue of the extended cord, you can get yourself a portable generator so you can use the chainsaw even out in the woods or far from power outlets.
Cordless/Battery-Powered Chainsaws
These chainsaws run on the power generated by a battery as opposed to being plugged in. As such, they’re extremely portable and convenient because you can carry them anywhere for your tasks. Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about anyone tripping on the power cord.
However, cordless chainsaws also come with an obvious drawback. The battery often runs out of power fairly quickly and you need to recharge it over and over again. Furthermore, in most cases, it takes 1-2 hours at least for a chainsaw to be fully charged.
Battery-Powered chainsaws are also weaker and can’t be used for big tasks like felling trees.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Electric Chainsaws
Electric Chainsaws come with a number of advantages and disadvantages in relation to their gas-powered alternatives. The following are some of their prime advantages and disadvantages so you can decide whether you really want an electric chainsaw or if you should go for a gas-powered one instead.
Advantages
- Compact Size: Electric Chainsaws are ideal for homeowners and novice users because they’re smaller in size and more lightweight. As such, they can easily be handled without having to use rugged strength. They are also far more portable.
- Ideal for Home Use: These chainsaws are perfect for performing tasks related to home and yard maintenance like cutting logs for firewood, pruning trees, etc. In fact, for these small tasks, electric chainsaws are better than gas-powered chainsaws because you can aim better and maintain a steady hand.
- Quiet: Gas-Powered chainsaws make a lot of noise. As opposed to that, electric chainsaws produce minimal noise, making them ideal for use in homes or crowded neighborhoods because you don’t disturb anyone else.
- Eco-Friendly: Electric chainsaws don’t produce fumes and there are no exhausts involved. As such, it’s eco-friendly and better for the health as opposed to gas-powered chainsaws which produce noxious fumes.
- Easy Upkeep: You don’t have to mix oils and electric chainsaws don’t break down quite as often. Maintaining an electric chainsaw is far easier than their gas-powered counterparts.
- Cost-Effective: Electric chainsaws are cheaper than gas-powered chainsaws and you don’t have to spend money on fuel either. As such, it’s cheaper both in the short and long run.
Disadvantages
- Extension Cord: In the case of a corded electric chainsaw, you are limited by the length of the cord. As such, you can only use it indoors or take it to the yard by connecting to a long extension cord. This is really dangerous as someone might trip on the cord.
- Weaker: Electric chainsaws aren’t as powerful as gas-powered chainsaws. This is especially true if you opt for the cordless chainsaw. As such, you can’t use them for heavy lumbering or felling of trees.
Safety Measures
Electric chainsaws are relatively easier and safer to use. However, these are still power instruments and if you’re not careful, they can be potentially fatal. As such, always take the following safety precautions when using a chainsaw.
Tensioning the Chainsaw
The chain on the chainsaw eventually starts coming undone after repeated usage. If you leave this unchecked, it might lead to a grave accident as the chain snaps off or gets stuck.
To avoid that, you need to keep checking the tightness. If necessary, you can tension the chain by turning it clockwise with the help of the tension screw.
Avoiding Different types of Kickback
One of the most dangerous aspects of using a chainsaw is the kickback. Sometimes, the rotation of the chainsaw might get thrown back towards you. If you’re not careful, it could hit you on the head.
There are a number of different types of kickbacks, and you need to follow these tips to avoid them:
- Rotational Kickback: When the tip of the chainsaw touches a protruding object, the saw has a kickback and comes back towards you. This is the most fatal kind of kickback. To avoid it, make sure the chainsaw never touches a protruding object and that you’re standing to the left of the chainsaw.
- Linear Kickback: If the chainsaw gets hooked on the side of the wood you’re sawing through, it might come jerking back at you. To avoid, stand on the left of the chainsaw.
- Pull-In Kickback: Sometimes, when your chainsaw hits a protruding object like a branch or a piece of nail, it doesn’t come flying at you but instead gets hurled across from you. In this case, it could potentially harm an innocent bystander. To avoid this, make sure your chainsaw is well tensioned at all times and that there are no bystanders in close vicinity.
Some people falsely believe that wearing chaps would protect them from kickbacks. However, that is not true. An electric chainsaw has an extremely high torque. As such, it would slice right through the chaps.
Avoiding an Electric Shock
One of the most common hazards associated with using an electric (corded) chainsaw is an electric shock. To avoid this, make sure that your immediate vicinity is completely dry and that the power outlet has been inspected. You should also read the owner’s manual for all information regarding recommended power outlets.
Correct Posture
It’s extremely important to use the correct posture when handling a chainsaw. Follow these tips:
- Hold the chainsaw in both hands.
- The left hand should hold the front handle, elbows locked out. And the right hand should hold the rear handle, arms bent at an angle.
- You should spread your feet wide to stabilize yourself.
- You should be standing slightly to the left of the chainsaw to avoid getting struck by the kickback, as mentioned earlier.
Safety Gear
Be sure to keep your body entirely covered when using a chainsaw. It’s recommended that you wear safety goggles, thick gloves, chaps, hearing muffs, boots, full-sleeve coat, hard hat, and trousers. This will prevent you from getting splinters or catching pieces of wood in your eye.
Factors to Consider when Buying an Electric Chainsaw
The following are the primary factors to consider when you’re buying a chainsaw.
Type
As already mentioned, electric chainsaws can be corded or cordless. We’ve explained their pros and cons in the previous section. Based on that, you should figure out which is more suited to your needs.
If you only need to use the chainsaw in your yard or shed, and if you own a generator, a corded electric chainsaw would be better suited. However, if you need to use the chainsaw out in the woods, you’ll be better off with a battery-powered chainsaw.
Performance
The performance and power of a chainsaw are generally measured by its cutting speed and ampere. Cutting Speed is the amount of time it takes for a chainsaw to cut through a 10-inch beam of wood. And Ampere is the power available in the chainsaw. As such, you should aim for lower cutting speed and a higher ampere.
Ease
You should make sure that the chainsaw is easy to handle and maintain. In terms of handling, it should start immediately with a single pull. Furthermore, if it weighs less, that would contribute to easier handling.
In terms of maintenance, make sure that it’s easy to check the level of the lubricating oil and easier still to change it. Furthermore, a chainsaw with a tool-free guide bar chain replacement will be better in the long run.
Safety Features
As mentioned earlier, chainsaws can be potentially dangerous. As such, you shouldn’t skip out on any safety features, even if it raises the overall price of the electric chainsaw.
The chainsaw should have an anti-vibration feature so your arms don’t get tired, the handlebars should be made of rubber to prevent vibration shocks, and it should come with an automatic chain break so there’s no kickback.
Cost
Finally, aim to get as many of the aforementioned features in your stated budget as possible.
I hope this article has provided you with all the information you need regarding electric chainsaws. In our Buyer’s Guide section, we tried to offer a detailed holistic understanding of what an electric chainsaw is, how it works, its advantages and disadvantages, how to use them safely, and factors to consider when buying an electric chainsaw.
You can use the Buyer’s Guide as a blueprint with which to read our selection of the 5 best electric chainsaws in the market. Not all of them will be right for you because different people have different requirements. However, after reading the review, you’ll have a strong understanding about which would be ideally suited for your purposes.
If you have any other questions about electric chainsaws, feel free to mention them down in the comments section.
