Twenty dollars over the MS 172 buys 4cc, 0.3 kW and four fewer ounces of powerhead — which is why dealers push buyers up to the MS 182 almost every time. It is the successor to the MS 180 and the smallest Stihl that will cut firewood at a steady rate rather than in bursts: 35.8cc and 1.6 kW on a 3/8" Picco .050" chain, 10.0 lb dry, 11.9 lb with the 16-inch Light 04 bar. Stihl lists two versions on one page: the plain MS 182 at $269.99 and the Easy2Start MS 182 C-BE at $319.99, and the $50 is worth paying if anyone in the household struggles with a recoil. What it is not is a felling saw. The clamshell engine and thin-kerf chain mean 12-inch oak is the honest ceiling, and the oiler is sized for a 16-inch bar, so hanging an 18 on it is asking for a dry chain.

Best for: Homeowners cutting a cord or two a year who want the smallest saw that still pulls a 16-inch bar without complaint.

Specifications

Engine class: 30cc class (by displacement)
Engine: 35.8 cc
Rated power: 1.6 kW
Bar length: 16 in
Single-pass cut: about 14 in (bar minus 2)
Chain: 3/8" Picco pitch / .050" gauge (63 PM3 55)
Weight: 10 lb, powerhead only, without fuel (11.9 lb with the 16" bar and chain)
Power type: Gas
Use case: Homeowner
Warranty: 1-year consumer / 3-month professional (Stihl policy effective Jan 1, 2026)
Model: MS 182

Manufacturer figures except the engine class and single-pass cut, which are derived here. What each spec means

35.8cc for about $270
Replaces the MS 180
Easy2Start C-BE option

What owners like

More power and less weight than the MS 172 for about $20 more — the better buy of the two
10.0 lb dry is light enough for overhead limbing and one-handed-awkward angles (two hands, always)
Easy2Start MS 182 C-BE version available for $50 more, which is the fix for anyone who struggles to pull a recoil
Toolless caps, side-access tensioner, and a dealer network for parts
1.6 kW (2.2 bhp) to ISO 7293 from 35.8cc — respectable for a sub-$300 gas saw

Common complaints

Clamshell construction — Stihl's small saws are not built to be rebuilt
Oiler is matched to the 16" bar; owners who fit longer bars report dry-chain wear
12-inch hardwood is the practical ceiling despite the 16" bar
Warranty for 2026 is 1 year consumer, 3 months if you earn money with it