Best Chainsaw: Eight Electric and Battery Models Compared

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If you want the best chainsaw for yard limbs, storm cleanup or firewood without a gas engine, start with the power source. This guide covers electric chainsaws only: one corded model and seven battery models, three of them pole-mounted chain saws. For most buyers the deciding factor is whether they already own a battery that matches one of the picks, or whether an outlet is close enough to the work. We compare each pick from its listing title, bullets and specification fields, and we use chainsaw safety pages from university extension services to explain kickback and protective gear.

Quick answer

• Corded: The CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 is the only corded pick. Its listing gives a 12-amp motor and a 16-inch bar, and it needs no battery.
• You own a DeWalt 20V MAX battery: Four picks list DeWalt compatibility: the DEJUNPIOOL mini chainsaw, the ReliaRoads 16-inch saw, the worksky pole saw and the Ecarke pole saw for DeWalt. None of them include a battery.
• You want a battery and charger in the box: The CRAFTSMAN CMCCS610D1 is the only battery pick whose listing includes both. It has a 10-inch bar and a V20 2.0Ah battery.
• You need reach without a ladder: The two Ecarke pole saws list up to 16 feet of total reach, based on a 6-foot user.

Electric chainsaws: start with the power source

Corded and battery saws solve different problems, and the listings show the trade-off. The corded CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 needs no battery, which removes one purchase, but its listing does not give a cord length, so you will need to measure the reach from your outlet yourself. The seven battery models need no outlet near the work, but six of them ship without a battery or charger. Only the CRAFTSMAN CMCCS610D1 includes both.

Pick	Battery platform named in the listing	Battery and charger in the box
DEJUNPIOOL mini chainsaw	DeWalt 20V compatible	No
CRAFTSMAN CMCCS610D1	V20	Yes, a 2.0Ah battery and a charger
ReliaRoads 16-inch	Two DeWalt 20V MAX batteries	No
BLACK+DECKER LCS1020B	20V MAX lithium-ion	No
Ecarke pole saw, DeWalt	DeWalt 20V compatible	No, tool only
worksky pole saw	DeWalt 20V compatible	No
Ecarke pole saw, Milwaukee	Milwaukee 18V compatible	No, tool only

The ReliaRoads listing describes a 40V system because it runs two 20V MAX batteries together, and 20 + 20 = 40 volts. It also says that two 4 to 8Ah batteries give the best performance. That is a larger battery purchase than a single pack, so check it before you assume a battery you own will do the job.

Battery model numbers matter more than the maker’s name. The DEJUNPIOOL listing names DeWalt models such as DCB200, DCB201, DCB203 and DCB240, and adds “and more.” The Milwaukee-compatible pole saw lists its Milwaukee 18V model numbers, such as 48-11-1815 and 48-11-1820. Compare your battery’s model number with the list in the listing before you buy, because a list that ends in “and more” is not a full list.

None of the eight listings gives a run time. A battery’s amp-hour figure, where a listing states one, does not tell you how long a given saw will run. The only way to compare run time across these picks would be a figure the listings do not supply, so this guide does not estimate one.

Bar length and cut capacity

The bar is the first specification to check when you match a saw to the wood you cut. The table lists what each listing states.

Pick	Bar length (listing)	Cut capacity stated
CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 (corded)	16 inches	Not stated
ReliaRoads (battery)	16 inches	Not stated
CRAFTSMAN CMCCS610D1 (battery)	10 inches	Up to 8 inches thick
BLACK+DECKER LCS1020B (battery)	10 inches	8 inches
DEJUNPIOOL mini chainsaw (battery)	6-inch and 8-inch chains, with a bar for each	Not stated
Ecarke pole saw, DeWalt	8 inches	Not stated
worksky pole saw	8 inches	Not stated
Ecarke pole saw, Milwaukee	8 inches	Not stated

The two 10-inch saws list the same cut capacity of 8 inches. Divided by bar length, that is 8 ÷ 10 = 0.8, or 80 percent of the bar. The CRAFTSMAN listing gives the figure as cuts “up to 8 inch thick,” and the BLACK+DECKER listing gives an “8″ Cut capacity.” The other six picks state no cut capacity, so we do not compare them on that point and we do not estimate it.

The 16-inch bars of the corded CRAFTSMAN and the ReliaRoads are twice as long as the 8-inch bars on the pole saws (16 ÷ 8 = 2). The listings do not say how bar length changes weight or balance, so this guide does not convert bar length into a weight figure.

Weight and reach

Weight is the figure that decides how long you can hold a saw overhead or carry it across a yard. The listed weights are below. The ReliaRoads listing gives its weight in kilograms, so we converted it.

Pick	Listed weight	Note from the listing
DEJUNPIOOL mini chainsaw	2.7 lb	Tool only
CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 (corded)	6.2 lb	Corded, no battery
worksky pole saw	6.5 lb	Battery not included
Ecarke pole saw, DeWalt	6.8 lb	Tool only
Ecarke pole saw, Milwaukee	6.8 lb	Tool only
BLACK+DECKER LCS1020B	7.6 lb	Battery and charger not included
CRAFTSMAN CMCCS610D1	7.9 lb	Kit includes battery and charger; the listing does not say whether the weight includes them
ReliaRoads 16-inch	4.77 kg, about 10.5 lb	Batteries not included

The ReliaRoads conversion is 4.77 × 2.2046 = 10.5 pounds. That is about 38 percent heavier than the BLACK+DECKER’s 7.6 pounds, because (10.5 − 7.6) ÷ 7.6 = 0.38. It is about 3.9 times the DEJUNPIOOL’s 2.7 pounds, because 10.5 ÷ 2.7 = 3.9. The DEJUNPIOOL figure is for the tool alone, as its bullet states.

The Ecarke pole saws give total reach as the pole length plus the height of the user. A pole that extends to 10 feet, used by a 6-foot person, gives 6 + 10 = 16 feet, which is the figure both Ecarke listings state. The listings base the figure on a 6-foot user, so a shorter person should expect less reach.

The worksky title gives a maximum reach of 14.2 feet, while its bullet gives a 7.8-foot telescopic pole. The gap between the two is 14.2 − 7.8 = 6.4 feet. The listing does not say what makes up that gap, so confirm the reach figure before you buy.

Power and speed: the figures we did not compare

The power fields do not use one unit. The DEJUNPIOOL horsepower field reads 1200 watts, the CRAFTSMAN CMCCS610D1 reads 1.5 KW, the corded CRAFTSMAN and the BLACK+DECKER each read 3.5 hp, and the ReliaRoads reads 2 hp. That is three different units under one label, so this guide does not rank the saws on power.

Chain speed is listed for six saws in the set: 36 feet per second no-load on the DEJUNPIOOL, 54 feet per second on the ReliaRoads, 26 feet per second on both Ecarke pole saws, and 20 feet per second on the worksky. The corded CRAFTSMAN gives 44 with no unit. The listings do not state the conditions behind these figures, so 54 is 1.5 times 36 on paper, but that is not a like-for-like comparison. We leave the figures as the listings give them.

Kickback and safety: what the extension pages say

Kickback is the reason a chainsaw guide needs a safety section. We opened five university extension and program pages that could be read: University of Illinois Extension, Cornell Small Farms Program, Mississippi State University Extension, Ohio State University Extension and Purdue Extension. All five mention fuel or an engine, so they were written with gas-powered saws in mind. None of them describes kickback on a battery or corded saw. The points below come from those pages. Where a point comes from a listing instead, we say so.

What kickback is

Cornell says kickback happens when the top front tip of the bar hits an object, and the saw kicks back, often toward the operator. Mississippi State describes the same mechanism: the tip of the bar contacts an object while the chain is moving, and the energy is redirected back and up. Purdue adds that a chain that is misfiled or loose is likely to kick back, so chain condition is part of the same problem.

Safety devices reduce kickback but do not prevent it

Illinois says to be prepared for kickback and to use saws that reduce kickback danger, such as chain brakes, low kickback chains and guide bars. Cornell is more direct: those devices will reduce kickback but will not prevent it. Treat each device as one layer of protection, not a guarantee.

Chain brakes get the most attention in these pages. Mississippi State says most new chainsaws have an inertial chain brake, which engages when the saw is pushed back at a certain speed. Cornell tells the owner to make sure the brake functions and stops the chain, and warns that wear, oil, dirt or sawdust in the brake parts can greatly reduce its stopping power. Illinois gives a carrying rule: engage the chain brake whenever the saw is carried more than 50 feet or across hazardous terrain.

Ohio State says not to disable safety features such as anti-kickback bars and bar-tip shields. Two listings name features of this kind. The ReliaRoads listing names a chain brake and a safety lock. The worksky listing names a safety lock that prevents accidental starts. The CRAFTSMAN corded listing names a 16-inch low kickback bar and chain, and the DEJUNPIOOL listing says the saw starts only when a safety lock and a switch lock are pressed together. The extension pages we opened do not rate any of these features, so check them on the saw you buy.

Keep the bar tip and nose clear

Cornell says to watch the guide bar nose and not let it touch logs, branches or the ground while the saw is running. Mississippi State gives the same rule for obstructions: do not let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch, rock or other obstruction while you operate the saw. Ohio State adds that cutting with the tip of the saw is unsafe because contact with the bar end can make the saw kick back unexpectedly and strike the operator. Ohio State also says to avoid chain contact with the ground or with hard objects such as rocks, metal fencing or nails.

Footing, grip and chain condition

Cornell advises firm footing before you start to saw, and standing to the side of the cutting path. It also says to hold the saw securely with both hands and to keep the chain sharpened to specifications, with depth gauges set to the manufacturer’s settings. Purdue’s point that a misfiled or loose chain is likely to kick back fits with Cornell’s advice on sharpness and correct chain tension.

Protective gear

Ohio State lists a full-face shield or safety goggles with side shields against flying chips and sawdust, hearing protection, high-top boots, and lightweight leather gloves against cuts, splinters and abrasion. Mississippi State says earplugs or earmuffs protect hearing, notes that a chainsaw produces about 110 decibels, and says gloves protect the hands and give a better grip. Illinois says PPE must be inspected before each work shift to ensure it is serviceable, and that the listed PPE must be used when hazards make it necessary.

Three picks list goggles and gloves in the box: the DEJUNPIOOL and both Ecarke pole saws. The listings say so. The pages we opened do not say that any of those items meets a standard, so this guide does not claim one.

What the pages do not cover

• None of the pages covers kickback on a battery or corded saw, or on a pole-mounted saw.
• Illinois says “Do not cut directly overhead,” but that page is written for tree felling and logging. We do not apply it to pole saws, because no page we opened covers pole use.
• Cornell’s article is dated July 2, 2018, and the Ohio State sheet was originally posted on May 16, 2019. Check for newer editions before relying on them for a purchase decision.

Pole chainsaws: three picks with a different job

Three picks are pole-mounted chain saws: the Ecarke pole saw for DeWalt, the Ecarke pole saw for Milwaukee and the worksky pole saw. Each has a chain and a guide bar, so it meets the chain-drive rule used in this guide, but the job is different from a handheld saw. The pole adds reach, and the reach figures are the main reason to choose one of these over a handheld model.

Pole saws are a separate category from pole hedge trimmers. If you want to compare pole saws directly, our existing comparisons cover them: Seesii vs Autubin pole saws and DocSmart vs AVADA pole saws. If your job is trimming shrubs rather than cutting wood, see best cordless hedge trimmer with extension pole for that task.

The pages we opened do not cover pole-saw use near overhead work or power lines, so this guide does not give a clearance rule for either.

Picks at a glance

Each card gives a reason drawn from that listing, a skip-if case and at least one limitation. Read the card for the saw you are considering, then check its battery and bar against your job.

How we chose

We started from the ten product records in the research list for this keyword. We read each record’s title and specification fields for the saw type and power source. We kept eight. We dropped the Gisam 6-in-1 kit, which bundles a pole saw, an 8-inch chainsaw head, a 16-inch electric hedge trimmer and grass shears, because its main function is a multi-tool kit and not a chainsaw. We dropped the TWRSHE 21V charger, which is an accessory and not a saw. Gas-powered saws are outside this guide.

The eight picks follow four criteria:

• The listing names a chain-driven saw, handheld or on a pole.
• The saw is corded or battery powered.
• The set covers six brands, bar lengths from 6 to 16 inches, one corded saw and seven battery models across four battery platforms.
• The listing gives enough detail to describe the saw on its own specifications.

We did not use marketplace ranking figures. The picks are not ordered by quality.

What we could not verify

• Cutting performance in wood. The listings state features and figures, and the pages we opened do not compare saws.
• Run time. None of the eight listings states one.
• Power and chain speed across brands. The figures use different units and do not state their conditions.
• The cord length of the corded CRAFTSMAN saw, which its listing does not give.
• The worksky reach gap between its title and its pole length.
• Cut capacity for six of the eight picks. Only the two 10-inch saws state one.
• Warranty terms. The listings state a 3-year limited warranty for the corded CRAFTSMAN, a 2-year warranty for the ReliaRoads, a 2-year limited warranty for the BLACK+DECKER, and a 2-year limited replacement commitment for the Ecarke Milwaukee pole saw. The pages we opened do not cover warranties.
• Whether the fuel and engine advice on the extension pages applies to battery or corded saws. The pages were written with gas-powered saws in mind.
• Electrical safety for corded and battery tools. The pages we opened do not cover it, so follow the manual for the cord, plug and charger.

FAQ

Is a battery chainsaw as strong as a corded one?

The listings do not allow a fair comparison. The corded CRAFTSMAN lists 3.5 hp and a 12-amp motor, the BLACK+DECKER lists 3.5 hp, and the ReliaRoads lists 2 hp. The CRAFTSMAN CMCCS610D1 uses kilowatts and the DEJUNPIOOL uses watts, both in the horsepower field. Compare the bar length you need and the battery you own, rather than the power label.

Do I need a chain brake?

The pages we opened treat a chain brake as one of the kickback-reducing features. Cornell says to make sure it works and stops the chain, and warns that wear or debris can reduce its stopping power. Illinois says to engage it when you carry the saw more than 50 feet.

What is kickback?

Cornell also calls it one of the most common ways chainsaw injuries occur.

Can I use a battery I already own?

Only if the listing names your battery platform. Four picks list DeWalt 20V batteries and one lists Milwaukee 18V. Two list their own platform: the BLACK+DECKER lists 20V MAX and the CRAFTSMAN CMCCS610D1 lists V20. The DEJUNPIOOL listing says the battery and charger are not included, and the ReliaRoads needs two batteries. Check the battery model number against the listing before you buy.

Do pole chainsaws follow the same safety points?

The pages we opened describe handheld cutting and tree felling, not pole saws. Read the manual that comes with a pole saw for its own instructions, and do not assume a handheld rule covers a pole.

Do I need protective gear for a short job?

The Illinois page ties protective gear to hazards, not to the length of the job. It says the listed PPE must be used when hazards make it necessary, and that PPE must be inspected before each work shift.

Bottom line

Start with the power source and the battery you already own. If you have an outlet near the work and no battery, the corded CRAFTSMAN is the only pick that needs no battery at all. If you own one of the listed battery platforms, match the platform first, then compare bar lengths against the cuts you need, using the cut capacity the listing gives. Before you buy any of them, check the chain brake and safety features in the listing, because the safety pages say these devices reduce kickback but do not prevent it.

Sources

• University of Illinois Extension, “Cutting Safety” (Firewood series), opened 2026-10-20: https://extension.illinois.edu/firewood/cutting-safety
• Cornell Small Farms Program, “Chainsaw Safety, Part 4: Reducing the Risk of Chainsaw Kickback” (page dated July 2, 2018), opened 2026-10-20: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2018/07/chainsaw-safety-part-4-reducing-the-risk-of-chainsaw-kickback-just-say-no-to-kickback/
• Mississippi State University Extension, Publication 2250, “Chain Saw Safety: Tree Felling”, opened 2026-10-20: https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/P2250_web.pdf
• Ohio State University Extension, “Chain Saw Safety” (Ohioline fact sheet, originally posted May 16, 2019), opened 2026-10-20: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-59172
• Purdue Extension, S-78 “Chain Saw Safety”, opened 2026-10-20: https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/S/S-78.html