Best Electric Chainsaws of 2022
We put nearly 50 corded electric and battery-powered chainsaws through rigorous speed, handling, and safety tests. Here's what came out on top.
An electric chainsaw being tested on an oak beam at CR's Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters.
By Paul Hope
If you live in a heavily wooded area or prep your own firewood, a chainsaw is essential. Even on a more modest suburban lot, they can be a helpful tool to prune trees or cut up the occasional fallen limb.
For years, electric chainsaws couldn’t hold their own against gas models. That’s changed, particularly for battery-powered electric chainsaws, which are generally more powerful than corded models. In our most recent tests, the top-ranking battery-powered saw made an astonishing 152 cuts through a 10-inch oak beam on a single charge. And it’s not the only electric chainsaw to kill it in recent years.
Of the 49 electric chainsaws in CR’s chainsaw ratings (of which 42 are battery-powered and seven are corded), a majority landed a rating of Good or better for cutting speed. And a number of the battery-powered models actually earn the top rating of Excellent in that test. That’s crucial because cutting speed is where electrics really lagged behind gas models in the past.
“In the early days, electric saws were pretty underpowered,” says Misha Kollontai, CR’s test engineer in charge of chainsaws. “Now our tests show that the best electrics, particularly those that use batteries rather than a power cord, can go head-to-head with gas models.”
Most newer models come equipped with a longer cutting bar, a piece that resembles a blade. That means they can tackle bigger trees or fallen limbs. Five years ago, most electric models came equipped with a 12-inch bar, but now many feature a 16- or 18-inch, just as a gas saw would.
That said, there are a few limitations to electrics. Corded models need an outdoor outlet and a long extension cord, and it’s hard to find an outdoor-rated heavy-gauge extension cord that’s longer than 100 feet. So that’s about as far from your house as you can reach with your saw.
Battery-powered chainsaws solve this problem, but they run only 30 to 40 minutes before the batteries need to be recharged (which usually takes an hour). But you can also buy a second battery to ensure you can cut continuously.
How Consumer Reports Tests Chainsaws
To evaluate electric chainsaws, we consider how well they cut, how safe they are to operate, how well they handle, and how easy they are to maintain and operate.
We put them through the same arduous tests as we would heavy-duty gas chainsaws to evaluate cutting speed. Using 10-inch-thick oak beams, we time how long it takes for each saw to work its way through the wood. (Oak is among the hardest woods most users will encounter on their property.) We also assess how each saw handles, considering its weight and how easy it is to make horizontal and vertical cuts, and check for any vibration.
For ease of use, we look at a number of factors, including how simple it is to start, adjust, and maintain. To assess safety features, we check for any kickback during the course of cutting and assess whether a model’s exhaust parts, like the muffler, get hot, a possible burn hazard.
We also incorporate ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, which reflect what thousands of CR members tell us about their experiences with their chainsaws. Specifically, we ask whether their chainsaws ever broke or stopped working properly in the first five years of ownership. We also calculate the percentage of members who say they’re extremely likely to recommend their chainsaw to a friend or family member.
Battery-powered saws tend to be slightly more reliable than their corded counterparts. A majority of battery-saw brands earn a rating of Very Good or Excellent for predicted reliability, while the corded brands earn ratings of either Good or Very Good.
We test electric chainsaws from some of the biggest brands in the category, including DeWalt, Ego, Ryobi, and Stihl. For information on choosing the right tool for your needs, check out our chainsaw buying guide. CR members can also read on for ratings and reviews of the best electric chainsaws from our tests. For more electric chainsaw options (as well as gas saws) see our comprehensive chainsaw ratings.
Best Battery-Powered Electric Chainsaws
Best Corded Electric Chainsaws
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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.
