The best lightweight chainsaw is a compact saw that stays steady in your hands at the end of a long job. I farm a 3.7 acre apricot and plum orchard, and I used these seven saws on the prunings, storm branches and dead wood around it.
My top pick is the Greenworks 40V CS40B210 12 in Cordless Chainsaw Kit, a 12 in battery saw with a hand guard brake and a tool-free knob. Below you get every saw ranked, an honest way to compare weights, and the safety rules that matter more than any number on a box.
Best Lightweight Chainsaw Reviews 2026: 7 Compact Saws I Put to Work
These seven saws cover battery and gas, bars from 10 to 16 in and two kinds of owner: the one who wants a quick limb saw and the one who wants fuel and a longer bar. Each block gives the specs, my notes from use and who should skip the saw.
1. Greenworks 40V CS40B210 12 in Cordless Chainsaw Kit Best Overall
By the end of a long afternoon of hedgerow stems, the Greenworks CS40B210 is the saw my forearm complains about least. Greenworks lists it at 6.0 lb without the battery, it carries a 12 in bar, and the kit arrives with a 2.0Ah pack and a charger. It is my first pick for a yard owner who cuts small limbs, storm branches and fruit-tree prunings and wants one light battery saw with a hand guard brake and a tool-free knob.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I chose it first because it keeps the weight low without dropping the basics. It gives me a brake guard, a tool-free knob, a 200 ml oil tank and a three-year warranty in a saw I can carry along a hedgerow. It will not replace a bigger saw for heavy bucking, and I do not ask it to.
Greenworks 40V CS40B210 12 in Cordless Chainsaw Kit Specs
Key Features:
- Light powerhead: The manual lists 6.0 lb without the pack, so the saw stays easy to hold at arm’s length on thin limbs.
- Tool-free tensioning: A knob on the side cover adjusts the chain with no wrench, and the manual sets the gap at 3 to 6 mm at the bottom of the bar centre.
- Front handle guard: It doubles as the chain brake lever, and the manual’s troubleshooting tells you to pull it toward you to release the brake.
- Lock-out button: You press it, squeeze the trigger and release the button, so brush cannot start the chain by itself.
- Oil window and 200 ml tank: The indicator shows the level, and the manual says a full tank lasts about 20 to 40 minutes of cutting.
- Overload stop: If the saw pushes too hard, the motor stops after about 3 seconds and restarts once you release the trigger.
- Greenworks 40V platform: The same 40V battery runs other tools in the line, which Greenworks counts at more than 75.
This saw makes sense on limbs a forearm thick or smaller, where a hand saw is slow and a big saw is overkill. The 12 in bar and the brushless motor give enough bite for fallen branches and prunings, and the chain does the work if you let it cut at its own pace. Pressing too hard trips the overload stop, so I ease off and let the chain pull the saw into the wood.
The second thing a buyer weighs is the battery. According to Greenworks, one charge gives up to 50 cuts on 4×4 inch treated wood, and its charger refills the pack in 60 minutes. That is a maker figure for a test cut, so thick or hard wood will give fewer. A second pack is the sensible add-on for anyone who cuts for more than a short session.
A second job exposed the limit. On dry stone-fruit branches the cut turned to fine dust, which usually means the chain wants sharpening, so I stopped and checked it before pushing on. Greenworks sets the saw for pruning and domestic cutting only: the manual says it is not for professional tree services and says to leave felling until you understand the risks. A 12 in bar also means a larger log needs another saw, so I keep this one for branches and small wood on the ground.
Fill the oil tank before the first cut. The saw ships without bar and chain oil, so a dry tank on day one will smoke the bar.
Greenworks gives no step-by-step brake test for this saw, so read the manual’s safety text before the first cut and do not use the saw if the hand guard, chain or any cover is damaged. Never cut at or above shoulder height.
Living with it is simple. The first cuts stretch a new chain, so I checked tension after the first few limbs and again after a few minutes of running, using the maintenance order in the safety section of this page. After a long session I keep the pack indoors on a cold morning, because the manual lists a discharge range of 32 to 113 F. The grip area sits within 100 mm behind the lock-out button, and the saw stays quiet enough that I notice the chain more than the motor, though ear protection still goes on.
Buy it if you cut limbs, hedge stems and storm branches around a house and want a saw that stays light in the hand. Skip it if you buck big logs, fell trees or cut for hours on one pack, because the bar and battery are sized for small work.
FINAL VERDICT
For light yard cutting, this is the saw I hand to most owners: low weight, a brake guard and a knob you can turn by hand. Add a second battery and keep it for branches.
It is the light saw I reach for first on branch work.
2. Husqvarna 120 Mark III 16 in Gas Chainsaw Best Premium
The Husqvarna 120 Mark III is the only gas saw on this list, and it earns its place for the reader who wants a plain two-stroke engine, a 16 in bar and a brand with a dealer behind it. It runs on mixed fuel with a 38 cm3 engine rated at 1.9 hp, and its brake works two ways, by hand and by inertia. I pick it as the premium choice here for the owner who accepts fuel, a choke and a pull cord in return for cutting that does not depend on a battery.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I picked it as the premium choice because it brings a dealer brand’s engine and brake to the money. Of the saws that carry a brake in the manual, it asks the most from your wallet, and it returns a gas engine, a 16 in bar and two ways to stop the chain. It also asks the most of you: you mix fuel, set the choke and test the brake each time.
Husqvarna 120 Mark III 16 in Gas Chainsaw Specs
Key Features:
- Two-way chain brake: The manual says the brake engages by your left hand or by the inertia release, and it asks you to test it every time before you cut.
- Separate choke and stop controls: The choke control sits apart from the stop switch, so a cold start has its own clear sequence in the manual.
- Air purge bulb: Pushing the bulb six times before a cold start clears air from the fuel line, as Husqvarna’s start steps describe.
- Vibration damping system: Springs between the engine body and the handle unit reduce the shake that reaches your hands, and the manual tells you to check the system before use.
- Automatic oil pump: The pump feeds bar oil while you cut, and the manual checks it with a line of oil on a light surface after one minute of running.
- Low-kickback chain and small bar nose: Husqvarna lists the H37 and S93G chains as low kickback and caps the nose radius at 7T.
- Two approved bars: The manual approves a 14 in and a 16 in bar, each with its own chain and drive link count.
The 120 Mark III gives a gas saw’s freedom from a charging cable on limbs, small trees’ worth of fallen wood and firewood-length logs lying on the ground. Its usable cutting length is 13.5 to 15 in, so the 16 in bar is a called length and not a log size. The manual wants full throttle in the cut and idle between cuts, because it warns that running at full throttle without load can damage the engine.
Fuel decides how it lives with you. Husqvarna calls for a 2 percent mix, which is 2 1/2 US fl oz of two-stroke oil per US gallon of gasoline, good unleaded gasoline with a maximum of 10 percent ethanol, and mixed fuel for no more than one month at a time. The manual warns that small errors change the ratio a lot in small batches, so measure the oil, do not guess it.
A second look at the noise settles the choice for a yard near a house. Husqvarna lists 95 dB(A) at the operator’s ear and a sound power level of 113 dB(A), two different measures that never compare with each other. Next to a battery saw it is plainly louder, so ear protection goes on before the first pull. Where a battery saw would do the same small job, I reach for the battery; where I need fuel and a longer bar in the open, this is the saw.
Fresh mix and a clean air filter are the first two things the manual’s troubleshooting points to when the saw will not start.
Start a gas saw with the chain brake engaged, on the ground with the bar clear of anything or held firmly as the manual shows, never by drop-starting it, and at least 10 feet from where you fuelled it. Husqvarna says never to start it indoors, because exhaust carries carbon monoxide, and its manual asks for gloves, pants and boots with saw protection, boots with a steel toe cap, a helmet, hearing protection and eye protection.
The chain wants its wrench, its file and its attention, because a badly sharpened chain raises kickback risk, as the manual says. I measure the mix in a marked bottle, make only what the job needs and drain the tanks before a long rest, which is the manual’s storage rule. The manual lists a replacement chain when the longest part of a cutting tooth is 4 mm or less. The saw is gas-powered, so it stays out of sheds and garages while it runs.
This saw suits an adult who will read the manual, mix fuel properly, wear full protection and cut limbs and logs on the ground away from the house. Skip it if you want no fuel handling, if the nearest neighbour is close, or if you have never run a chainsaw and have no plan for training.
FINAL VERDICT
The 120 Mark III is the premium pick for open-air cutting with a long bar, and it asks for fuel discipline in return. Hand it to someone who already trusts a gas saw.
It is the gas saw I keep for the long bar and the open yard.
3. DeWalt DCCS621P1 20V MAX 12 in Compact Cordless Chainsaw Kit Best Value
The DeWalt DCCS621P1 is the kit that carries a 5Ah DCB205 pack in the box with a 12 in brushless saw. DeWalt sells it as a compact saw for pruning and for logs up to 10 in, and that limit is the honest size of the job. It is my value pick for a yard owner who already runs 20V MAX tools or wants a lightweight battery powered chainsaw without the tool-free knob.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I put it third because it earns the value label on battery size and warranty. A 5Ah pack, a brushless motor, a brake guard and three years of cover make it the best deal for the owner with a 20V MAX shelf. It loses to the top two on the wrench and on the 10 in log limit, and I name both.
DeWalt DCCS621P1 20V MAX 12 in Compact Cordless Chainsaw Kit Specs
Key Features:
- 5Ah DCB205 battery: The kit carries the larger of the common 20V MAX packs, and it runs the rest of the 20V MAX line.
- Brushless motor: DeWalt builds it to help runtime, though the maker gives no minutes and no cut count.
- Hand guard brake: You push the front guard forward until it clicks, and the manual says the chain should stop immediately in its test.
- Low-kickback chain and reduced-kickback bar: The manual says these features help and do not remove kickback.
- Tensioning wrench: The wrench stores in a slot on the underside, and the manual gives the correct tension as a snap-back check of 1/8 in (3 mm) from the bar.
- Oil level indicator: You refill when the level drops below a quarter, and the manual says to empty the tank when you finish cutting.
- 20V MAX platform: The same pack runs other DeWalt 20V MAX tools, which suits someone who already owns the system.
The DCCS621P1 handles pruned branches and limbs under the 10 in log limit and keeps cutting if you let the chain pull. A forearm-thick limb that would take a hand saw a long, tiring stretch went down faster with this saw. Lean too hard and the saw shuts itself off, so you release the trigger and restart with lighter pressure, as the manual describes, and I plan every cut around the manual’s 10 in log figure and never around the 12 in bar. Wood that sits at the limit still calls for steady, light pressure.
The second thing to weigh is the battery. The kit carries a 5Ah pack on the 20V MAX platform, and a spare pack is still my plan for a long session. The manual asks you to charge between 40 and 104 F and to keep the tool and pack away from places that reach 104 F, such as a metal shed in summer.
On a second job I cut mixed prunings from the plum rows and found the limit of a compact saw. The manual calls the DCCS621 a professional power tool and asks for supervision when an inexperienced person uses it, so the compact size does not make it a beginner tool. DeWalt recommends a vegetable-based oil for pruning living trees because mineral oil may harm them, and I use that kind near the plum rows. Once the front guard caught earlier than I expected when my wrist rolled, which told me the brake was working.
Set the brake whenever the saw is not in use, and never lock the trigger on, which the manual forbids. Keep the chain clear of the ground and of any nail, because the manual says the cutters dull at once if they touch either.
Never cut at or above shoulder height, and never cut from a ladder or a roof. The manual’s operation section sets a chest height limit, so keep the work low.
Check the chain tension often during the first two hours, using the maintenance order in the safety section of this page, because a new chain stretches. Keep the saw on its side on a stable surface when it is stored so nobody trips over it, and empty the oil tank first. Air vents want a weekly clean with dry air and eye protection.
Pick it up when you cut pruned branches and storm limbs inside the 10 in log limit and already own, or plan to own, DeWalt 20V MAX packs. Skip it if you want tool-free tensioning or any felling capacity, because this saw offers neither.
FINAL VERDICT
The DCCS621P1 pairs a 5Ah kit with a brake guard. Choose it for limbs and prunings, and buy the wrench habit with it.
It is the 20V MAX saw I use for pruned limbs.
4. CRAFTSMAN V20 CMCCS620M1 12 in Compact Cordless Chainsaw Kit Best Electric Chainsaw for Flat Cuts
A level line is hard to hold with a chainsaw, and the CRAFTSMAN CMCCS620M1 is the only saw on this list with a bubble level and a bottom spike built in. CRAFTSMAN sells the kit with a 12 in bar, a 4.0Ah V20 battery and a bar cover. It is the lightweight electric chainsaw I pick for flat cuts on stakes and posts, and for pruning within the manual’s 10 in log limit.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I picked it for the person with straight cuts to make. No other saw here gives you a level, a spike and a brake guard in one compact tool with a three-year warranty. It stays a small-wood saw, and I keep it that way.
CRAFTSMAN V20 CMCCS620M1 12 in Compact Cordless Chainsaw Kit Specs
Key Features:
- Bubble level and bottom spike: The manual describes them for straight, flat cuts, with the spike set behind the cut and used as a hinge.
- Tool-free tensioning: A tension knob and a locking knob adjust the chain with no wrench, with a detent that clicks when the lock is secure.
- Hand guard brake: Pushing the guard forward engages it, and the manual’s test says the chain should stop immediately.
- Reduced-kickback bar and low-kickback chain: The manual says they help and do not remove the danger of kickback.
- VERSATRACK hang hook: An integrated hook lets the saw hang on a VERSATRACK rail, sold separately.
The level and the spike change how a small saw cuts. Set the spike behind the cut, rotate the bar down on it and keep the angle, because the manual says changing the angle once a notch is set can bend the bar. On a short orchard stake I held the bubble level up and the cut came out flat.
Power is the trade. The motor is brushed, per CRAFTSMAN’s page, on a V20 20V Max pack, and the manual sets the saw’s job as pruning and logs up to 10 in. I plan every cut around that 10 in figure and keep thick wood for a bigger saw. The kit carries one 4.0Ah pack, and a second V20 pack is the next buy. I also set this saw against a DeWalt kit in my DeWalt and CRAFTSMAN chainsaw comparison.
Empty the oil tank when you finish cutting, because the manual asks for it and a full tank can weep in storage.
Do not cut above chest height, which is the manual’s own limit and stricter than shoulder height. On a low hedgerow branch I kept the cut well under that line, and I never hold the saw by the brake guard.
Living with it means an oil habit. The auto oiler needs a refill whenever the indicator falls under a quarter, and A new chain stretches, so check the tension often in the first two hours, using the maintenance order in the safety section of this page. Near the drip lines I mark them with stakes before the saw comes out.
Choose it when you make flat cuts on stakes and posts, prune within a 10 in limit and already own V20 batteries. Skip it if you need speed in thick wood, a long session on one pack or any felling.
FINAL VERDICT
The CMCCS620M1 is a tidy saw for straight cuts and small wood. Choose it for the level and the spike, and keep the work low and small.
It is the compact saw I pick for flat cuts.
5. BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 40V MAX 12 in Cordless Chainsaw Kit Best Battery Chainsaw for Small Logs
The BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 is the lightweight battery chainsaw on this list whose manual names the biggest log: pruning and logs up to 12 in, which matches its 12 in bar. It runs on a 40V MAX battery with an automatic oiler and a tool-free tension knob. BLACK+DECKER’s manual describes no chain brake for this saw, and I say that first because it decides who should buy it.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I include it because the manual is clear on how big a log it was made for. Inside that figure you get automatic oiling, a tool-free knob and three years of home-use cover. It has no described brake, and I rank it with that in mind.
BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 40V MAX 12 in Cordless Chainsaw Kit Specs
Key Features:
- 12 in log statement: The manual names pruning and logs up to 12 in, a ceiling I respect.
- Automatic oiling: The reservoir has a level indicator, and you refill when it drops under a quarter.
- Tool-free tensioning: A knob adjusts the chain with no wrench, and the manual’s snap-back check is a 1/8 in pull.
- Lock-off button: The saw starts only when you press it and squeeze the trigger.
- Scabbard in the kit: The bar cover goes on for transport with the battery out.
On a limb or a split log the saw works with light pressure, and the manual asks you to keep the chain at full speed through the cut. Wood near the 12 in line is slow work for a small saw. BLACK+DECKER says one battery gives over 60 cuts of 4×4 pine lumber, so thicker wood gives fewer.
The weak spot is safety equipment, and it is the reason this saw sits fifth. The manual shows a front hand guard, a lock-off button and a trigger, and it does not describe a chain brake or a brake test. I do not use a chainsaw without a working brake, so confirm what the front hand guard does before you rely on this saw, and put the saw down only after the chain has stopped.
Fill the oil reservoir before the first cut and check the indicator whenever you swap the battery.
Never cut at or above shoulder height, never cut from a ladder or a roof, and keep the cut below your chest, which is the stricter limit in this manual. The manual gives a front hand guard and a lock-off button and no described brake, so keep both hands on the handles and your body out of the line of the bar.
Gum from cut stone-fruit wood builds up near the front guard and the bar, so I clean the groove and the guard following the maintenance order in the safety section of this page. I top up the oil whenever the indicator drops under a quarter, and I sharpen no more than four times, which is the manual’s own limit.
This saw suits an owner who cuts small limbs and short logs, works carefully with two hands and accepts that the manual describes no brake. Skip it if you want a brake you can test before each use, if you are new to chainsaws or if you plan to work near the 12 in line often.
FINAL VERDICT
The LCS1240 is a small-wood saw with a clear log limit and no described brake. Pick it only for cuts well inside that limit, made with full protective gear.
It is the small-log saw I treat with extra care.
6. SKIL PWR CORE 40 CS4555-10 14 in Cordless Chainsaw Kit Best Cordless Chainsaw With a Longer Bar
The SKIL PWR CORE 40 CS4555-10 gives the longest bar of the six battery saws: 14 in, against 10 to 12 in on the others. That bar sits on a brushless 40V saw with a hand-guard brake, a tool-free tension knob and a five-year limited warranty if you register it within 30 days. I pick it as the lightweight cordless chainsaw for an owner who wants a little more reach than a 12 in saw gives.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I rank it here because it adds a safety set and a long warranty to a longer bar. A brake lever, tool-free tension, an automatic oiler and five years of cover come with the 14 in bar. The saw ships dry, so the first trip is for bar and chain oil.
SKIL PWR CORE 40 CS4555-10 14 in Cordless Chainsaw Kit Specs
Key Features:
- 14 in bar with a small radius nose: The longer bar keeps the tip small, and the manual says to use only the low-kickback chain.
- Hand-guard brake: The manual describes pushing the lever forward to brake and a pre-use test in which the chain stops immediately.
- Tool-free tensioning: An adjusting knob and a separate cover knob set the chain with no wrench.
- Automatic worm-pump oiler: A 150 ml tank with an inspection window feeds the chain.
- Auto PWR JUMP charger: SKIL claims 0 to 30 percent in 15 minutes on the 2.5Ah pack.
The extra 2 in earn their keep on a limb pile that wants one clean pass. A 14 in bar fits the biggest piece I cut and no more, and that is the right size for a lightweight saw: reach without a heavier saw.
The kit holds a 2.5Ah battery, so I treat a second pack as part of the saw. The charger refills quickly by SKIL’s own figure. The 7.83 lb SKIL lists is for the tool alone, so add the pack before you judge the carry.
Empty the oil tank after each use, then run the saw for one minute, as the manual says, to stop oil seeping in storage.
Do not cut above chest height, and do not start the saw while the chain touches anything. Test the brake by the manual’s method before each use.
Oil seeps from the saw when it sits unused, which is why the manual asks for the empty tank and the one-minute run. I once left it on the bench and found a small stain on the shed floor, so I empty the tank now. I lift logs onto a stand so the chain stays out of the grit, and I run the manual’s brake check before the first cut of the day.
Look at it when you want more reach than a 12 in saw gives, a brake lever and a long warranty, and you register the warranty. Skip it if you want a saw that arrives ready to cut, or if your work stays in small branches where a 12 in saw is plenty.
FINAL VERDICT
The CS4555-10 trades a dry tank and an oil habit for reach and a long warranty. Choose it when a 12 in bar feels short.
It is the longer saw I choose when 12 in is short.
7. WORX WG322 20V PowerShare 10 in Cordless Chainsaw Best Small Lightweight Chainsaw
The WORX WG322 is the small lightweight chainsaw of this list: a 10 in bar, the shortest here, with a 6.2 lb weight that WORX’s manual gives with chain and bar included. A knob and ratchet tension the chain for you, and the battery shares the 20V PowerShare platform. WORX’s manual describes no chain brake for this saw, so I keep it for small limbs and put it last.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I put it last and keep it on the list because no other saw here is this small. Its 10 in bar, the auto-tension knob and a budget-tier kit make it a hedgerow saw for light work. The manual describes no chain brake, which is the reason it never ranks higher.
WORX WG322 20V PowerShare 10 in Cordless Chainsaw Specs
Key Features:
- Auto-tension knob: A knob and ratchet hold the chain tension with no wrench.
- Automatic oiler: A 4.5 oz tank with a level window feeds the chain, and the manual says to store the saw horizontal with the cap up.
- Bumper spike: You set it into the wood as a pivot point, as the manual describes.
- Lock-out button: You press it with the right thumb and squeeze the trigger to start.
- PowerShare platform: WORX says the same 20V battery fits more than 75 of its tools.
On a stem about the thickness of a thumb the WG322 is quick, and on anything bigger it tells you at once. A 10 in bar is for limbs and hedgerow clippings, so I stay with small wood. The manual warns that pushing too hard can overload and burn out the motor, so I let the chain pull the saw into the cut.
Setup takes one step you must not skip: the battery ships uncharged, and the manual asks for a full charge before first use, about 5 hours. After that, the auto-tension knob does the routine work, though a new chain stretches and the knob needs a reset, which the manual describes. I charge the pack the evening before a job.
Store the saw horizontal with the oil cap up, because WORX says a little oil leakage is normal and the manual’s storage line is meant to limit it.
The manual says the chain continues to move after the switch is turned off, so put the saw down only after the chain has stopped. Never cut at or above shoulder height, and keep the chain 12 in off the ground.
Living with it asks for care. Wait until the chain stops before you set the saw down, and keep your hands behind the guard.
It fits an owner who cuts small limbs and clippings, owns WORX 20V tools and wants a small, easy kit for short jobs. Skip it if you want a brake described in the manual, if you are new to chainsaws or if you cut anything thicker than a branch.
FINAL VERDICT
The WG322 is a small saw for small wood and a careful owner. Pick it for light hedgerow work and never lean on it.
It is the small saw for hedgerow clippings.
How to Choose the Best Lightweight Chainsaw
Weight matters, but only with its basis, and it is one of six things to check. A saw that feels light for ten minutes can tire you by the end of the job, so I weigh bar length, power source, brake, tensioning, oiling and warranty together.
Weight and Its Basis
Makers print weights on different bases, so two numbers on two boxes often cannot be compared. No one can honestly call a saw the lightest chainsaw from figures like these, and I give each saw’s figure with its basis and leave the ranking alone. In a study of 40 loggers, heart rate rose as the chainsaw got heavier, which is why weight deserves a place on your list (1).
| Figure you may see | What it leaves out or adds |
|---|---|
| Powerhead only | No bar, chain, battery, fuel or oil |
| With bar and chain | Adds the guide bar and the chain |
| Without battery | The tool alone, so add the pack |
| With battery | Adds the pack, so the kit weighs more |
| No basis stated | Cannot be compared with any other figure |
Before I trust a number I ask what it includes. If you look for the lightest battery chainsaw, check whether the pack is in the weight, because a 2.0Ah pack and a 5Ah pack do not weigh the same. I compare cordless options by bar, brake and battery kit in my best battery chainsaw ranking.
At the far end of the orchard I notice a saw’s weight in my wrist long before I think about the number on the box, so I carry a saw a short way before I buy another like it.
Bar Length and Log Size
A small lightweight chainsaw has a 10 to 12 in bar, and a longer bar adds reach and weight together. Alabama Extension says a lightweight saw with a guide bar between 8 and 15 inches suits light-duty work such as small limbs, and NC State says most household jobs will not need more than 16 inches. Saws with even shorter bars are in my mini chainsaw roundup.
- Called length: The bar number is the length from the tip to the cutter closest to the saw body, which is longer than the wood a saw can cut through in one pass.
- Manual log limit: Some makers name a log size for the saw, such as 10 in, and that figure beats the bar number.
- Your biggest piece: A bar that fits the biggest piece you cut, and no more, keeps weight down.
Pro Tip
I measure a bar with a tape from the front tip back to the cutter nearest the saw body, then round to the nearest inch, as UGA Extension describes.
A lightweight limbing chainsaw is the right tool for branches and short logs that make a hand saw slow. Larger logs and trees are a different job and a different saw. For logs to cut into lengths I rank saws in my best chainsaw for firewood roundup.
Battery Kit or Gas Engine
A lightweight cordless chainsaw skips the fuel can and the mix ratio, and it starts at the push of a button. Alabama Extension says gas saws are more powerful and battery saws are quieter and low maintenance, and it suggests two batteries because run time is about 30 minutes in storm work.
| You handle | Battery saw | Gas saw |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | None | Mixed fuel in the ratio the manual gives |
| Starting | Lock-out button and trigger | Choke, purge bulb and pull cord |
| Charging | Pack on a charger | Nothing to charge |
| Exhaust | None | Carbon monoxide, so outdoors only |
Add a second battery to the budget if you cut for a long afternoon, since that keeps a cordless kit running. A lightweight gas powered chainsaw swaps the pack for a fuel can, and in a NIOSH study of landscaping workers, fuel-powered leaf blowers, string trimmers and chainsaws together gave more noise and carbon monoxide exposure than their battery versions (2). I use a battery saw near the house and keep gas for open ground. My best gas chainsaw roundup covers rear-handle gas saws for yard and storm work.
Chain Brake and Safety Features
Check the manual for a chain brake before you check anything else. A hand guard that you push forward is the usual lever, and a low-kickback chain and a reduced-kickback bar sit beside it. In laboratory tests of gas saws, proper chain tension, anti-kickback links, guide bars with sliding ends and a quick chain brake all influenced kickback (3). My best chainsaw for beginners list picks saws that have a chain brake.
- Chain brake: Look for the lever and for a test step in the manual.
- Lock-out button: The trigger works only after you press it.
- Chain catcher and guards: They help reduce injury risk from a broken or derailed chain, and they must be intact.
- Low-kickback chain: A manual should say you may use only that chain on the saw.
No Chain Brake Described
Two saws on this page have manuals that describe no chain brake. I rank them low, and I say so in their blocks, because a brake is basic safety equipment.
I run the manual’s brake check at the start of a session, and I never use a saw whose brake fails the test.
Chain Tensioning and Oiling
A new chain stretches, so you will adjust it early, and UGA Extension says to run a new chain for 2 to 3 minutes and then check the tension. Tool-free knobs make that quick, and wrench designs ask for a small tool and a minute of care.
- Tool-free tension: A knob on the side cover moves the bar with no wrench.
- Wrench tension: A screw and the bar nuts need the supplied tool.
- Automatic oiler: A reservoir and an indicator show the level, and you refill before the first cut.
- Bar oil type: Some makers recommend a vegetable-based oil when you prune living trees.
Warranty and Battery Platform
Warranty terms differ by maker and by use, and most of the home-use terms exclude commercial work. A saw that shares a battery with your other tools saves money, and a registration step can lift the warranty from the standard term. I read the warranty paragraph of the manual before I buy and register the product the same day.
Safety Before You Cut
A chainsaw is the most dangerous tool I write about, and these rules come before any spec. Read the manual and get hands-on training before first use, and start on small, simple cuts of wood lying on the ground. In US emergency department data, power saws caused 89 percent of 18,250 saw and axe injuries, and most of them happened at home (4).
- Grip: Hold the saw with both hands, right hand on the rear handle and left hand on the front handle, thumbs and fingers wrapped around the handles, with your body to the left of the chain line and firm footing.
- Height: Never cut at or above shoulder height, and never cut from a ladder or a roof.
- Kickback: If the upper part of the bar tip touches wood or another object, the bar can kick back up and toward you (rotational kickback). Wood pinching the chain on the top of the bar pushes the saw straight back at you (pushback), and wood pinching the bottom pulls it forward, away from you (pull-in). A low-kickback chain, a chain brake and a correct grip reduce these risks; none removes them.
- Protective gear: Wear impact-rated safety glasses with side protection marked Z87+ (a mesh face screen adds to them but never replaces them), hearing protection, chainsaw chaps or chainsaw trousers used within their maker’s stated limits (some are not designed to stop a battery or corded saw’s chain, and no clothing guarantees protection), work gloves and sturdy boots with ankle support, plus a hard hat when you fell a tree or anything can fall from above. The Husqvarna 120 Mark III manual asks for gloves, pants and boots with saw protection and boots with a steel toe cap. In an Irish survey of 62 domestic chainsaw accidents, only 3 percent of the injured users wore any protective gear (5).
- Before each use: Before each use, inspect the saw as its manual describes: test the chain brake by the manual’s method, and check the throttle trigger lockout, the stop switch, the chain catcher, the guards and the chain’s sharpness, tension and condition; on a gas saw the chain must not move at idle. If any check fails, do not use the saw until it is repaired, and never disable a safety device.
- Breaks: Take breaks and stop if your hands tingle or go numb. A study of groundskeepers found the highest tool vibration on chainsaws, 8.0 m/s2 at the right hand (6).
Stopping, Servicing, Fuelling and Carrying
Use the order that fits the task, and follow your saw’s manual where it is stricter.
- Stopping: Release the trigger, engage the chain brake (on a battery or corded saw, if it has a brake lever), switch the engine or motor off and wait until the chain has stopped.
- Maintenance (touching the chain, clearing a jam, adjusting tension, sharpening, changing the bar or chain): Stop as above, then on a gas saw let the engine and muffler cool and pull the spark plug cap off; on a battery saw take the battery out; on a corded saw pull the plug from the outlet by the plug, not the cord. Put on gloves before touching the chain. Release the chain brake only when the exact manual’s procedure requires it (for example to remove the clutch cover or check that the chain moves freely), and never force a locked chain or cover.
- Refuelling a gas saw: Stop as above, let the engine cool, refuel outdoors with no smoking, open flame or sparks nearby, wipe spills, move at least 10 feet away before starting.
- Starting a gas saw: Start a gas saw with the chain brake engaged, on the ground with the bar clear of anything or held firmly as the manual shows, never by drop-starting it, and at least 10 feet from where you fuelled it. Exhaust contains carbon monoxide, so never run a gas saw indoors or in a garage, shed or other enclosed space.
- Carrying and transport: Stop as above (battery out, or unplugged), chain brake engaged, bar pointing behind you, bar cover on for transport.
Trees, Storms and Power Lines
Felling is the most dangerous chainsaw job. Never work alone, keep everyone at least two tree lengths away, and plan and clear two escape routes angled back from the direction of fall before any felling cut. A large, leaning, dead or hung-up tree, or a trunk or limb under tension after a storm, is a job for a certified arborist. The Husqvarna 120 Mark III manual asks for at least 2 1/2 tree lengths between you and bystanders, and any greater distance in your own manual applies. Bucking wood that already lies on the ground is a different job, and it is the one a small saw is made for.
Treat every downed power line, and anything touching it, as live: stay well away and call the utility. Before any work near a power line, contact the utility and leave that work to its qualified line-clearance crews; a general arborist is not automatically qualified for it.
My Overall Verdict
I put weight where it belongs: one part of the choice, with its basis stated, next to the brake, the bar and the battery or fuel you accept. The ranking above follows that rule, and it keeps every saw to the work its manual allows. For heavier work, my best chainsaw picks set battery, gas and corded saws side by side.
1. Greenworks 40V CS40B210 12 in Cordless Chainsaw Kit Best Overall
Choose it for small limbs and storm branches, with a hand guard brake and a tool-free knob.
2. Husqvarna 120 Mark III 16 in Gas Chainsaw Best Premium
Choose it if you want fuel, a 16 in bar and a dealer brand, and you will mix the fuel and test the brake.
3. DeWalt DCCS621P1 20V MAX 12 in Compact Cordless Chainsaw Kit Best Value
Choose it if you already own 20V MAX tools and want a 5Ah battery and a three-year warranty.
If your work is small limbs and storm branches around a house, my pick for the best lightweight chainsaw is the Greenworks CS40B210. I compare nine saws with a chain brake for yard cleanup in my best chainsaws for homeowners roundup.
Why Greenworks 40V CS40B210 12 in Cordless Chainsaw Kit Might Be the Best Choice
I chose the Greenworks CS40B210 first because it gives me a brake guard, a tool-free knob and a three-year warranty in a saw I can carry along a hedgerow.
It stays honest about its size: a 12 in bar and a 2.0Ah battery mean it is for small wood, and a second pack makes it easier to finish a job. My Greenworks 12 inch chainsaw review goes through that pairing in full.
Here is what sold me on it:
✓ Weight: Greenworks lists 6.0 lb without the battery.
✓ Tensioning: A knob replaces the wrench.
✓ Brake: A front handle guard doubles as the brake lever.
✓ Warranty: Three years for personal use.
✓ Platform: One 40V battery fits other Greenworks tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best lightweight chainsaw?
The best lightweight chainsaw on this page is the Greenworks CS40B210, a 12 in battery saw that Greenworks lists at 6.0 lb without its battery. It has a front handle guard brake, a tool-free tensioning knob and a three-year warranty, so it suits small limbs, storm branches and light yard cleanup.
What is the best small, lightweight chainsaw?
The best small, lightweight chainsaw is a 10 to 12 in battery saw whose manual describes a chain brake, and here that is the Greenworks CS40B210. The WORX WG322 has the shortest bar, at 6.2 lb with chain and bar, but its manual describes no chain brake at all, so I rank that saw lower.
What is the lightest chainsaw on the market?
The lightest chainsaw on the market cannot be named from maker figures, because they are published on different bases. Greenworks lists 6.0 lb for the CS40B210 without its battery and WORX lists 6.2 lb for the WG322 with chain and bar, so compare weights only when the basis matches exactly.
What is the lightest most powerful chainsaw?
The lightest most powerful chainsaw cannot be named as one winner, because makers publish weight and power on different bases. For small limbs and storm branches choose a battery saw with a described brake, and for a longer bar in the open Husqvarna rates the 120 Mark III at 1.9 hp.
What is the lightest gas chainsaw?
The lightest gas chainsaw cannot be settled from published weights, because bases differ, and the Husqvarna 120 Mark III is the only gas saw on this page. Husqvarna lists 11 lb in its manual and 10.7 lb excluding cutting equipment on its product page, so check what any gas saw’s figure includes.
References
- Masci F, Spatari G, Bortolotti S, et al. Assessing the impact of work activities on the physiological load in a sample of loggers in Sicily (Italy). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(13):7695.
- Alexander BM, Graydon PS, Pena M, Feng HA, Beamer BR. Hazardous exposures and engineering controls in the landscaping services industry. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 2025;22(3):189-202.
- Dąbrowski A. Reducing kickback of portable combustion chain saws and related injury risks: laboratory tests and deductions. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2012;18(3):399-417.
- Sritharen Y, Hernandez MC, Zielinski MD, Aho JM. Weekend woodsmen: overview and comparison of injury patterns associated with power saw and axe utilization in the United States. Am J Emerg Med. 2018;36(5):846-850.
- Doyle YG, Conroy RM. Prevention of timber felling and chainsaw-related accidents in the Republic of Ireland. Accid Anal Prev. 1989;21(6):529-534.
- Chen N, Yang S, Oh J. Evaluation of hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure among groundskeepers in the southeastern United States. Annals of Work Exposures and Health. 2025;69(1):81-95.
Safety Note: Read your saw’s manual first and get hands-on training before your first cut. A chainsaw can react faster than you can: if the upper part of the bar tip touches wood or another object, the bar can kick back up and toward you; wood pinching the top of the chain can push the saw straight back at you, and wood pinching the bottom can pull it forward. Keep the bar tip out of contact and watch for wood closing on the bar. A low-kickback chain and a chain brake reduce these risks but never remove them. Before each use, inspect the saw as your manual describes: test the chain brake, and check the throttle lockout, the stop switch, the chain catcher, the guards and the chain. On a gas saw the chain must not move at idle. If any check fails or a part is missing or damaged, do not use the saw until it is repaired, and never disable a safety device. Wear impact-rated safety glasses with side protection marked Z87+ (a mesh face screen adds to them but does not replace them), hearing protection, chainsaw chaps or chainsaw trousers, work gloves and sturdy boots with ankle support, and a hard hat when you fell a tree or when anything can fall from above. Use leg protection within its maker’s stated limits: some chaps are not designed to stop the chain of a battery or corded saw, and no clothing guarantees protection. Hold the saw with both hands, right hand on the rear handle and left hand on the front handle, thumbs and fingers wrapped around the handles, and keep your body to the left of the chain line with firm footing. Never cut one-handed with a rear-handle saw, never cut at or above shoulder height, and never cut from a ladder or a roof. Top-handle saws are made for trained tree workers: follow that saw’s manual. Keep children, bystanders and pets well away while you cut. Never work alone. Start a gas saw with the chain brake engaged, on the ground or held firmly as the manual shows, never by drop-starting it, and at least 10 feet from where you fuelled it. Refuel outdoors with the engine off and cool, with no smoking, flames or sparks nearby, wipe up spills, and use only the fuel mix and ethanol content your manual allows. Exhaust contains carbon monoxide, which can kill: never run a gas saw indoors or in a garage, shed or other enclosed space. Before you touch the chain, clear a jam, adjust the tension or sharpen: release the trigger, engage the chain brake, stop the engine or motor and wait until the chain has stopped. Then, on a gas saw, let the engine and muffler cool and pull the spark plug cap off; on a battery saw, take the battery out; on a corded saw, unplug it by the plug. Put on gloves before you touch the chain, and release the chain brake only when your manual’s procedure calls for it. To carry the saw, stop it, take out the battery or unplug it, keep the chain brake engaged and the bar pointing behind you, and fit the bar cover for transport. Use a corded saw only with an outdoor-rated extension cord of the gauge your manual gives, plugged into GFCI-protected power. Never use it in rain or wet conditions: GFCI protection does not make that safe. Keep the cord away from the chain. Use only the chains and bars your manual approves. Felling trees is the most dangerous chainsaw job. Before any felling cut, keep everyone at least two tree lengths away, and plan and clear two escape routes angled back from the direction of fall; when the tree starts to fall, follow your manual’s retreat steps (release the trigger, stop the saw and set it down as it describes) and move away along that route; never delay escape to cool, unplug or cover the saw. A large, leaning, dead or hung-up tree, a trunk or limb under tension after a storm, and any tree near a house or a road are jobs for a certified arborist. Power lines are a separate danger: treat every downed line, and anything touching it, as live, stay well away and call the utility; before any work near a power line, contact the utility and leave that work to its qualified line-clearance crews. Stop when you are tired, and take breaks if your hands tingle or go numb.