Chainsaws by power source

Gas for all-day work, battery for grab-and-go, corded for the woodpile next to the shop. Start with how you cut, then size the saw to the wood.

Battery

70 saws · $90 to $1,310

Instant start, near-silent, almost no maintenance. The 56 to 80 V saws match small gas saws cut for cut; the runtime budget is the real limit.

lightest: Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hatchet 6" Pruning Saw Kit, 4.1 lb

Gas

67 saws · $199 to $2,680

Two-stroke saws from 30cc homeowner models to 90cc felling iron. Unlimited runtime with a fuel can, and still the answer for all-day firewood and timber.

lightest: Echo CS-2511T, 5.2 lb

Corded Electric

11 saws · $79 to $570

Plug in and cut. The cheapest and lightest way to run a saw near the house or shop, with no fuel, batteries or engine upkeep, on a cord.

lightest: Stihl MSE 170 C-B, 8.4 lb