10 Best Electric Chainsaws for Firewood (October 2026)

The best electric chainsaws for firewood in 2026 are the SEESII 40V 18-inch kit for anyone who wants a long bar and two batteries in the box, the Supstable 40V 16-inch for run time per charge, and the BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX 12-inch if you want the simplest first cordless saw.

I have spent seasons cutting, bucking and stacking with electric saws, and the failure mode nobody warns you about is not power. It is bar length that is too short for your logs and a battery that dies at hour two of a cold Saturday. A 12-inch saw will happily cut brush, storm debris and small rounds all day, then bounce and jam the moment you bury it in an 18-inch log.

So this list is firewood-first. Every saw here was judged on whether it can handle hardwood logs, how far it gets on one charge, whether the chain stays tight through a session, and how the saw behaves when you bear down on the bar. We left out pole saws and tiny pruning saws that cannot take a real round, and we note where a chain brake is missing, since electric saws kick back exactly like gas saws.

Every runtime and cut count quoted below comes from the manufacturer’s own published specification for that saw, and we have not blended numbers between models. TechGearLab, Pro Tool Reviews and Consumer Reports all test saws in this class, and if you want a second professional opinion before buying, their write-ups are worth an hour of your time.

If you also maintain decks, siding or fencing, our tested electric pressure washer guide covers the other half of the seasonal cleanup kit.

Our Top 3 Electric Chainsaws for Firewood Cutters in 2026

Comparing the Best Electric Chainsaws for Firewood in 2026

Before the individual reviews, these are the features that actually move the needle when you are cutting firewood, and they match the three that search engines surface first: bar length, battery voltage and automatic oiling.

• Bar length: it caps the log diameter you can bury the bar into, which is why most firewood saws start at 16 inches.
• Battery voltage: 40V and 56V platforms carry more sustained torque than 20V saws, and voltage tells you how many batteries the saw can hold.
• Automatic chain oiler: a dry chain dulls in hardwood within a few cuts, and a chain that jumps off the bar mid-buck wastes the whole session.
• Chain tensioning: tool-free tensioning matters more than most spec sheets admit, because chain tension drops as the bar heats up during long cuts.

1. SEESII 40V 18-Inch Cordless Chainsaw – Big Bar, Two Batteries in the Box

This is the saw I keep reaching for when the question is how many rounds I can get through before lunch. The 2200W brushless motor spins the chain to 30 ft per second, and the 18-inch bar means a 14 to 16 inch log is a short job rather than a long one.

At 8.6 pounds it is one of the lightest cordless saws here with a bar over 12 inches, and that combination of weight and bar length is exactly what firewood work rewards. You can hold it overhead to trim a log sitting on the rack without your arms giving out.

The kit is unusual for the category: two 5.0Ah batteries, two fast chargers, a spare chain and goggles. The published figure is up to 200 cuts on 4-inch softwood per full charge, and with a second battery you can hot-swap while the first tops up.

Battery Output and What It Means for a Firewood Cord

The 40V system with two 5000mAh cells is the reason this saw keeps working through a long day. Rated at up to 200 cuts on 4-inch softwood logs per charge, that is a meaningful chunk of a cord for a weekend user cutting seasoned wood.

Green hardwood is a different story. Oak and hickory are denser, so expect fewer cuts per charge than that headline number when the wood is wet.

Chain Speed, Bar Length and Cutting Real Logs

Thirty feet per second combined with an 18-inch guide bar means fewer passes through each round, and the 16.9 by 13.2 by 4.3 inch footprint packs down small for a truck bed. Tool-less tensioning matters because tension drops as the bar heats, and the rapid emergency brake, enlarged hand guard and dual-action safety switch are the right trio for a saw beginners will handle.

Who This Saw Suits

It suits households cutting a half cord to a cord a season, especially anyone who wants a 16-plus inch bar without owning a gas saw. The double-battery kit means no single point of failure on a Saturday.

It is the wrong choice for a professional cutting eight hours a day, and the wrong choice if the logs are consistently larger than 16 inches. Bearing down hard on a big battery saw is what makes chains bind and break, as reviewers warn.

2. Supstable 40V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw – Longest Published Runtime Figure

Runtime is the number firewood cutters ask about first, and this is the only saw here that publishes a figure in minutes: up to 50 minutes on a 4.0Ah battery. That is the difference between one battery for a session and a lunch break halfway through the second one.

The 2000W brushless motor drives the chain at up to 35 feet per second, which is quicker than the 30 ft/s on the SEESII and translates into fast bites through green rounds. The 16-inch bar is the sweet spot for most home firewood logs.

The 150ml automatic oil reservoir matters in dry firewood conditions where chain friction heats the bar fast. Tool-free side tensioning means you can retension between logs without a wrench.

Oil Capacity and Chain Maintenance

A 150ml reservoir is a real advantage when you are cutting a full day. Refilling once at the start of a session is enough for most weekend work, and automatic oiling keeps the bar and chain from glazing up.

Reviewers report that the chain eventually needs manual sharpening, which is normal. Budget a file or a replacement chain each season if you cut green oak.

Platform Reality and Long-Term Ownership

The battery and charger are 40V-only, so they are not cross-compatible with 20V tools on the same shelf. You are buying into a single-platform ecosystem, and the 2-year manufacturer warranty is shorter than CRAFTSMAN’s 3-year coverage and SKIL’s 5-year registered warranty.

Who This Saw Suits

This suits a weekend firewood cutter who wants maximum battery minutes and does not care about ecosystem breadth. Buyers who already own 40V tools will need to confirm the platform match before buying.

It is not ideal for users who cut professionally all day, since the closed platform makes spare batteries a single-source purchase. And if you take the saw to a remote woodlot, the corded alternatives on this list disappear as an option.

3. BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX 12-Inch Cordless – The Simplest First Saw

This is the saw I recommend to someone who has never owned a chainsaw. It arrives with the battery and charger, starts with a button, and has a wrap-around handle that makes it easy to hold in awkward positions under a log.

The published figure is over 60 cuts on 4×4 pine per charge. The 2.0Ah battery is one of the smaller capacities in this group, so plan on a swap more often than you would with a 4.0Ah pack.

Automatic oiling and tool-less chain tensioning are both present, which is more than some cheaper saws manage. The battery holds its charge for up to 18 months, so it will not die in the shed over winter.

Bar Length Limits for Firewood Logs

A 12-inch bar is the honest limit here. It is comfortable on rounds up to about 8 inches and struggles above 12 inches, where the saw has to be forced downward and the chain can bind in the cut.

If your woodlot produces mostly small hardwood, that limitation rarely matters. If you cut 16-inch rounds, keep reading.

The Oil Consumption Complaint

The most repeated owner complaint is oil consumption and reservoir leakage, and the oil filler screen makes refilling slow and messy. Check the oil level at the start of every session rather than assuming it is fine.

Who This Saw Suits

Best for a first-time buyer, a renter, or someone who wants one saw for small rounds, brush and storm cleanup. If you already own BLACK+DECKER 40V yard tools, the battery and charger are already in the garage.

Skip it if firewood is the main job and your logs run large. The chain can also bounce out of the cut if your technique is poor, so budget time for a practice session on scrap lumber.

4. CRAFTSMAN 16-Inch 12 Amp Corded Chainsaw – Lightest Saw for Corded Work

Corded saws win one contest decisively: they do not run out. A 12-amp motor with a 16-inch low-kickback bar will cut 4 to 5 inch hardwood branches quickly, and it will do that all afternoon without a battery swap.

At 6.2 pounds it is the lightest corded saw here and 0.2 lb above the lightest cordless model, which makes it easy to control under a heavy log where a 12-pound saw gets dangerous fast.

The built-in oil window shows the bar oil level at a glance, and tool-free tensioning means no tools are needed between logs. The 3-year limited warranty is longer than the 2-year terms on several saws in this list.

No Chain Brake: What That Means in Practice

This saw has no chain brake, so the chain coasts for a second or two after you release the trigger. In a kickback event that delay matters, and it is the single most important thing to know before you buy this saw.

The 16-inch bar and chain are low-kickback designs, which reduces the risk of the nose striking wood, but that is not a substitute for technique and protective gear. Electric motors have high torque at low speed, so a corded saw will punish sloppy chain brake technique just like a gas saw.

Extension Cord Reality

A 12-amp saw needs a heavy-gauge cord to run at full speed, and with a long or thin-gauge extension cord it bogs down on hardwood. That is the tradeoff: cable management, an outlet within reach of the woodpile, and one more thing to haul.

Who This Saw Suits

Good for beginners, older users, and anyone who wants a chainsaw with no battery platform to learn. It is comfortable on branches, brush and small trees, and owners call it a capable workhorse for those jobs.

It is a poor match for dense hardwood rounds on a large stack, and the oil reservoir can seep if you store it full. Drain it before winter storage.

5. BLACK+DECKER 18-Inch 15 Amp Corded Chainsaw – Most Cutting Per Pass

This is the corded answer for anyone who thinks a 16-inch bar is one inch short. The 15-amp motor handles 12 to 14 inch logs cleanly, and the 18-inch bar means one pass per round instead of two.

The push-start button eliminates the pull cord entirely, which is the reason many first-time buyers end up here. Owners also like that the chain stops immediately when the trigger is released, unlike the CRAFTSMAN.

Tool-free tensioning, an automatic oiler with a visible level window and an extension cord retainer are all here. The retainer matters more than it sounds: a cord that gets yanked out mid-cut stops the saw instantly.

18-Inch Bar and 12 to 14 Inch Log Capacity

That combination of motor and bar is what makes this a strong corded option for real firewood. A 12 to 14 inch log is the practical ceiling, and anything thicker is a two-pass job with a lot of back-and-forth.

Fewer passes per log is a bigger deal than most buyers expect. It is the difference between walking to the stack a handful of times and dozens of times over a season.

Weight and Handling

At 12.5 pounds, this is the second-heaviest saw here, and under load that weight shows up in your arms after the first hour. A guide bar scabbard is included for transport, chain oil is not, and chain tensioning may need rechecking during cuts.

Who This Saw Suits

Best for a homeowner with a stack of 12 to 14 inch rounds, an outlet near the woodpile, and no interest in batteries. The immediate chain stop is a real advantage over saws whose chain coasts after the trigger is released.

It is not for wet-weather cutting, and the weight makes it a poor choice for anyone with shoulder or grip issues. Drain the oil reservoir before you put it in storage.

6. Oregon 2400W 16-Inch Corded Chainsaw – Best Chain Design for Firewood

The Oregon is the one corded saw here where the chain itself is the selling point. The ControlCut chain is a low-kickback design, and Oregon has built chains and bars for decades, which is reassuring if you plan to sharpen your own.

The 2400W (15-amp) motor has plenty of torque for seasoned hardwood rounds, and the 16-inch bar sits in the range most firewood cutters land on. Lubri-Tec automatic oiling keeps the chain from glazing up in dry wood.

Tool-free tensioning is done right on the saw body, so adjustments between logs are quick. Assembly out of the box is straightforward: tension the bar, fit the chain, oil it, and go.

Chain Type and Why It Matters for Hardwood

A low-kickback chain is the single best safety feature for a firewood saw, because bucking logs is exactly the operation that produces forward kickback. Rounded drive links also resist binding in hardwood pinches.

Because Oregon builds the chain and the bar, replacement parts and sharpening are straightforward compared with no-name saws.

Where the Corded Limits Kick In

The 2400W motor needs a serious extension cord to hold speed through dense wood, and a thin or overly long cord is the number one reason owners report a saw that feels underpowered. There is also no remote portability, so a woodpile well away from the nearest outlet rules this saw out.

Who This Saw Suits

Best for a safety-conscious cutter who wants a proven chain design and has a reliable outlet near the woodpile. The 16-inch bar handles typical home firewood without being unwieldy.

It is the wrong call if you move the saw around a lot or cut very large timber. The cord is the permanent cost of this approach.

7. EGO POWER+ CS1613 16-Inch 56V Cordless – The Highest-Rated Cordless Saw Here

This is the saw I point to when a buyer says they want gas-cutter capability without a gas cutter. The brushless motor is rated at 40cc gas-equivalent, and owner reviews describe hardwood cutting that holds up against small gas saws.

It carries a 4.7 rating from 977 owners, the highest average score in this group, and the 56V ARC 4.0Ah battery and a standard charger are included, so the saw and its power source are one purchase rather than two. The saw claims up to 130 cuts on a 4×4 per charge.

Chain speed of 20 meters per second is a genuine firewood figure, and the 3/8-inch pitch with 0.043-inch gauge and 56 drive links is a standard, widely available chain size you can replace anywhere.

Battery Platform and the 56V ARC Ecosystem

EGO’s 56V ARC platform is the reason to buy this saw even if you only plan one. The same batteries run string trimmers, blowers, mowers and hedge trimmers, so the charger investment is not chainsaw-specific.

The trade is lock-in. Those batteries do not fit another brand, and forum discussion among firewood cutters regularly frames platform ownership as the dominant purchase factor.

Weight and Weather Handling

At 20.9 pounds, this is the heaviest saw here, and you feel it in a long bucking session. IPX4 weather resistance is a real advantage for autumn firewood work, since cutting wet, cold wood in the rain is where lesser saws complain.

Who This Saw Suits

Best for a cutter who already owns EGO 56V ARC tools, or who wants the most gas-like cutting performance available without fuel. The 16-inch bar suits typical firewood logs up to roughly 14 inches.

It is the wrong choice for someone who wants one lightweight battery for occasional small jobs, or who will be lifting it overhead all day. For those users, a 12-inch saw such as the 9.9 lb SKIL or the 6 lb Greenworks is a better fit.

8. SKIL PWR CORE 20 12-Inch Chainsaw – Best Anti-Kickback Safety

If kickback worry is what is stopping you from buying an electric saw, this is the one to look at. The anti-kickback brake cuts power to the chain when a kickback is detected, which is a real feature at this price level.

Underneath that, the 1200W digital brushless motor does competent work on 12-inch bar limits. The 63-tooth high speed steel bar cuts softwood and small hardwood rounds quickly.

The battery cells are wrapped in cooling material, which the manufacturer credits with 25% longer run time and better battery life over seasons. That matters more for firewood than any other battery feature.

20V Class Performance and Honest Limits

A 20V platform produces less sustained torque than 40V or 56V saws, and the 12-inch bar caps your log diameter. Combine the two and you get a saw built for rounds rather than trunks.

For softwood, small hardwood and storm debris, that is exactly right. For a stack of 14-inch oak rounds, you will be working the saw rather than letting it work.

What One Battery Gets You

Only one 4.0Ah battery is included, which is the main limitation for a full day of bucking, so plan on a second battery before a big weekend. Tool-less dial tensioning and automatic lubrication reduce the upkeep that trips up new owners, and a wall-mount storage bracket is included.

Who This Saw Suits

Best for a beginner who wants a chain brake-style safety feature, a storage bracket, and a long warranty at a reachable entry point. The 5-year limited warranty with registration is the longest in this group.

It is not the right saw if you already own 20V MAX or 18V tools and expect to share batteries, because SKIL uses its own platform. And the 12-inch bar means it stays a small-round saw.

9. ReliaRoads 16-Inch 40V Brushless for DeWalt 20V MAX – Battery Platform Saver

If you own DeWalt 20V MAX batteries, this is the only saw here that does not ask you to buy a new platform. It runs two 20V MAX packs at once for 40V-class output, so your existing batteries do the work.

That 2 HP brushless motor drives the chain to 54 feet per second, which is quick, and the 16-inch bar is a genuinely useful firewood length with two chains included. Tool-free tensioning, automatic oiling, a chain brake and a safety lock are all present, and the 2-year warranty is stated on the listing.

How the Dual-Battery Arrangement Works in Practice

Two 20V MAX batteries in series give 40V-class power, and the manufacturer recommends 4Ah to 8Ah packs for best results. It is a clever use of an existing tool ecosystem.

The catch is runtime. Running two batteries means the saw draws from both at once, so a charge lasts less than the cell capacity alone suggests, and a spare pack in the truck is worth it.

Buying It as a Tool Only

Batteries and charger are not included, so this only makes sense if you already have a healthy 20V MAX collection. Starting from zero, a complete kit is the smarter purchase, and durability reports are thinner than the established brands here.

Who This Saw Suits

Best for a DeWalt owner who wants a 16-inch firewood bar without buying a second battery platform. The chain brake and 54 ft/s chain speed give it a safety and speed edge over most corded saws here.

Skip it if you are starting fresh or want long-term support. If you do not already own two suitable 20V MAX batteries, a complete kit is the smarter purchase.

10. Greenworks 40V 12-Inch Cordless – Lightest Saw to Carry to the Woodlot

At 6 pounds, this is the saw I would hand to someone who gets tired of carrying a tool up a slope, or who cuts where the saw has to go in a backpack. At that weight it is the lightest cordless model here and lighter than every corded option too.

The 40V 2.0Ah battery also charges phones and tablets, which is a genuinely useful trick for a long day away from an outlet. Dual safety start, tool-free auto-tensioning and an automatic oiler round out a low-maintenance package.

Expect up to 50 cuts on a 4×4 of treated wood per charge, which is the smallest published cut count among the battery saws listed and the main thing to plan around. The 12-inch low-recoil chain favors control over reach.

Runtime Planning Around a 2.0Ah Battery

The 2.0Ah pack is tied with the BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX for the smallest capacity listed here, and 50 cuts per charge is the lowest published figure in this group. For small rounds and brush that is fine, for a full cord it means more swapping.

If you already own other 40V Greenworks tools, larger 4Ah or 6Ah packs usually work in the saw and change the math considerably. That ecosystem check is the single most useful thing to do before buying.

Low-Recoil Chain and Control

The 12-inch low-recoil chain trades cutting speed for control, which is the right priority for a first saw. Automatic oiling extends chain life, and the 3-year warranty covers both tool and battery, which is longer than the 2-year term the Supstable carries.

Who This Saw Suits

Best for light firewood work, small rounds, storm cleanup and anyone who values a light saw over a long bar. It also suits people who want one battery platform for the whole yard, since the pack doubles as a power bank.

It is the wrong tool for a full cord of 14-inch hardwood, and the small battery means it does not suit a long day away from power. For heavy duty, go up in bar length rather than up in battery count.

How to Size an Electric Chainsaw for Firewood in 2026

Bar length is the decision, and everything else follows from it: how thick are your logs?

Bar Length vs. Log Diameter vs. Cords Per Year

A common rule of thumb is to size the bar so it is about half the log diameter, which means a saw is never more than half-buried in the cut. That keeps you in control and limits the length of kickback you can generate.

• 10 to 12 inch bar: rounds up to about 8 inches, small brush and storm debris. Fine for under a half cord of small firewood.
• 14 inch bar: rounds up to about 10 inches, the general-purpose homeowner size.
• 16 inch bar: rounds up to about 12 to 14 inches, and the most common choice for households cutting roughly one cord a year.
• 18 inch bar: rounds up to about 16 inches, fewer passes per log, and noticeably harder to control under a full bar.
• 20 inch bar and up: professional and millwork territory, with the weight and kickback risk that comes with it.

If you cut one cord or more a season, a 16-inch bar is the floor, not the ceiling. Forum firewood discussions reach the same conclusion repeatedly: 12-inch saws are constantly recommended for general use and then found inadequate for real logs.

Understanding Gas-Equivalent Claims

Brands advertise a cc gas-equivalent figure, which is a marketing shortcut for perceived torque. One saw in this group publishes a figure directly: the EGO CS1613, rated at 40cc gas-equivalent with a 20 m/s chain. The other ratings in the 30cc to 60cc range are common marketing lines rather than measured output.

Treat the number as a rough sorting tool rather than a promise. The more useful cross-platform comparison is chain speed in feet per second, which spans 30 ft/s on the SEESII, 35 ft/s on the Supstable and 54 ft/s on the ReliaRoads across this group, while the EGO publishes its figure in meters per second.

Chain Choice for Hardwood Firewood

Standard chain suits softwood and small rounds. Semi-skip chains have a rounded drive link that resists binding in hardwood pinches, and full-skip chains are for professionals running long in resinous or frozen wood.

For most homeowners cutting a cord of oak or maple, a low-profile or semi-skip chain is the right call. Keep a spare chain and a file in the truck, because a dull chain in hardwood wastes more time than sharpening ever costs. Check the pitch and gauge before buying a replacement, since the EGO 16-inch bar here uses 3/8-inch pitch with 0.043-inch gauge and 56 drive links.

Safety Gear a Firewood Cutter Actually Needs

Electric saws kick back. High electric torque at low speed means a corded saw can throw the bar just as hard as a small gas saw, and no chain brake on some models makes it worse.

• Chainsaw chaps or full-leg pants, which are the single most important item.
• A helmet with a face shield, plus eye protection.
• Hearing protection, even on a quiet saw.
• Cut-resistant gloves for grip and for handling the chain.
• Sturdy boots with good ankle support, since footing matters as much as gear.

Learn the two-handed grip and keep the bar’s upper nose ring in mind on every cut.

Corded vs. Cordless for a Firewood Season

Where a Corded Saw Still Wins

Corded saws never stop. The Oregon, CRAFTSMAN and BLACK+DECKER 18-inch run for as long as the outlet holds, which suits long weekends of bucking without any battery planning.

They also have no battery degradation to plan around, and a 15-amp motor runs off a household outlet. If your woodpile is near an outlet and your logs are large, a corded saw remains the rational choice in 2026.

Extension Cord Gauge Rules

The gauge rule is straightforward: the cord must match the saw’s amperage. A 12 or 15-amp saw needs a heavy-gauge cord, and adding length reduces the gauge you can safely use.

Buy the longest cord your gauge budget allows, and keep it as short as the work area permits. Under-speeding from a thin cord is the most common reason owners report that a corded electric saw feels weak. If you also run outdoor power tools nearby, our tested electric bedding guide is a separate matter, but the same cold-weather season is a good reminder to check what you have in the shed before winter work starts.

Battery Platform and Runtime Math for Firewood Season

Published Cuts Per Charge, Side by Side

The published figures are not directly comparable, because manufacturers count different test cuts. The SEESII claims up to 200 cuts on 4-inch softwood, the EGO 130 cuts on a 4×4, the BLACK+DECKER 60-plus cuts on 4×4 pine, and the Greenworks 50 cuts on 4×4 treated wood.

Read them as relative indicators, not promises. Green hardwood cuts roughly half as many times per charge as softwood, and cold weather reduces capacity further, so if you cut a full cord, assume multiple charges regardless of the number on the box.

Platform Lock-In Is the Real Purchase Decision

Across firewood forums, the most common question is not which saw is strongest but which saw fits the batteries already in the garage. Owners overwhelmingly choose the saw that shares a platform with their mower and trimmer, which is why the SEESII, Supstable, SKIL, BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX and Greenworks kits rank well for first-time buyers, and why the ReliaRoads tool-only saw makes sense only for existing DeWalt users. For a second season, buy a spare battery first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: Which Electric Chainsaw Should You Buy?

If you cut a cord or more a year and want no fuel, no pull cord and no extension cord, buy the SEESII 40V 18-inch kit. The 18-inch bar and twin 5.0Ah batteries are the combination that removes the two limits that stop most people cutting.

If you already own a 40V tool platform, or you want the longest runtime per charge, the Supstable 40V 16-inch is the pick. Its 150ml oil reservoir and 50-minute runtime suit long weekend sessions.

If your woodpile is near an outlet and you cut large rounds, skip batteries entirely. The BLACK+DECKER 15-amp 18-inch corded saw takes 12 to 14 inch logs, and the Oregon 16-inch corded saw is the safer pick if a low-kickback chain is your priority. Weigh the CRAFTSMAN at 6.2 pounds if fatigue is a concern.

If you own DeWalt 20V MAX batteries, the ReliaRoads 16-inch runs your existing packs. If you already own EGO 56V ARC tools, the CS1613 gives the most gas-like cutting power here. If you want the lightest saw you can carry, the Greenworks 40V 12-inch at 6 pounds is it.

Whatever you choose, buy a spare chain, a file, bar oil and your safety gear in the same order, then do a practice session on scrap lumber before the first real log. That is the part of firewood cutting that costs nothing and prevents the most damage.