Stihl MSE 170 C-B vs Stihl MSE 210 C-B

Stihl / Corded Electric

Stihl MSE 170 C-B

40cc class (by bar)

~$560

See it at Stihl

Stihl / Corded Electric

Stihl MSE 210 C-B

40cc class (by bar)

~$570

See it at Stihl

The Stihl MSE 170 C-B costs about $10 less; the Stihl MSE 210 C-B swings a longer bar (16 in); the Stihl MSE 170 C-B is lighter at 8.4 lb on the same basis.

SpecStihl MSE 170 C-BStihl MSE 210 C-B
Approx. price~$560with 14" bar and chain~$570with 16" bar and chain
Engine class40cc classplaced by shipped bar length40cc classplaced by shipped bar length
Power typeCorded ElectricCorded Electric
Use caseHomeownerFarm & Ranch
Rated power1.7 kW—
Voltage120 V120 V
Bar length14 in16 in
Single-pass cutabout 12 inabout 14 in
Bar range12-16 in12-16 in
Chain3/8" Picco pitch / .050" gauge (PM3)3/8" Picco pitch / .050" gauge (63 PM3)
Weight8.4 lbpowerhead only, without cord, bar or chain9.4 lbpowerhead only, without cord, bar or chain
Warranty2-year consumer and professional (Stihl corded electric MSE products, policy effective Jan 1, 2026)2-year consumer and professional (Stihl corded electric MSE products, policy effective Jan 1, 2026)

Tinted cells mark the better figure on that row alone: more engine, longer bar, lighter, cheaper. A lighter weight is only a win on the same basis.

What owners like and complain about

Stihl MSE 170 C-B

  • Unlimited runtime — no pack to swap and no fade at the end of a long processing session
  • Brushless DC motor: no fuel mixing, no carburetor, no exhaust, almost nothing to service
  • 8.4 lb powerhead with no battery hanging off it, so it is light in the hands all day
  • Quick Chain Adjuster tensions without tools; the oil cap opens by hand
  • 2-year warranty for consumer AND professional use — Stihl's gas saws now get 1 year and 3 months
  • Stihl specifically recommends leg protection with corded saws: constant high torque means chaps may not stop the sprocket
  • About $560 — more than a 45cc MS 251 Wood Boss that goes anywhere
  • Tethered to an extension cord, and a long cord on a 13.1 A load means voltage drop
  • 12-16" bars only; it is not a felling saw
  • Narrow market means thin dealer stock — bar-length options are often backordered

Stihl MSE 210 C-B

  • 15.0 A gives it the torque to stay in a 14-inch round where the 13.1 A MSE 170 drags
  • Quickstop Plus coast-down brake halts the chain within a second of releasing the rear handle
  • No exhaust, so it can be used indoors for carpentry and milling
  • Unlimited runtime and nothing to winterize, drain or re-mix
  • 2-year warranty covering professional use as well as consumer
  • Leg protection is specifically recommended — constant motor torque means chaps may not stop the chain
  • Nearly $570 and still limited to a 16" bar
  • 9.4 lb powerhead makes it the heaviest of Stihl's small saws for the cutting it does
  • A cord on a 15 A load wants heavy gauge and a short run, which limits working radius
Stihl MSE 170 C-B in fullStihl MSE 210 C-B in fullMore matchups