The best cordless chainsaws for firewood are the SEESII 40V 18-Inch, the Supstable 40V 16-Inch, and the EGO Power+ CS1613, because between them they cover every log diameter a homeowner actually cuts and they include the batteries and chargers you need on day one. The SEESII wins overall on power-to-weight, the Supstable wins on included kit, and the EGO wins on measured cut count per charge. I have worked through the spec sheets, the owner reviews, and the firewood forums to rank all ten below.
Firewood is the rare outdoor job where a battery saw genuinely makes sense. You start instantly, there is no pull cord to yank with cold hands, no fuel to mix, and no exhaust cloud hanging over a pile of rounds in a suburban backyard. The saws on this list match the cutting power of roughly 30cc to 45cc gas saws, which covers everything from pruning rounds to bucking 16-inch hardwood splits.
What separates a good firewood saw from a bad one is not the voltage printed on the box. It is bar length relative to the diameter of your wood, the number of cuts you get from a full pack, and whether the chain brake and tensioning system survive a season of abuse. Those are the criteria I applied across all ten saws here.
For the wider cordless tool ecosystem, I keep a running list of the best cordless tools worth taking anywhere, and the same platform-thinking applies to chainsaws: the platform you own usually matters more than the saw itself.
How We Evaluated Ten Cordless Chainsaws
Every saw in this roundup is a genuine battery-powered chainsaw with a brushless motor, so the differences live in the details. I read the full specification blocks rather than the marketing headlines, then cross-checked them against owner review patterns to see whether the claims held up in the field.
The five criteria that decided my ranking:
Bar length against real log diameter. A 12-inch bar is a limbing saw. A 16-inch bar is the sweet spot for most firewood. An 18-inch or 20-inch bar earns its keep only if you routinely cut rounds above 14 inches.
Measured cut count per charge. Where a manufacturer publishes a 4×4 cut count or a runtime figure, that number drove the ranking. Where no figure exists, I noted the battery capacity and treated the claim as unverified.
Weight in the hand. Listed weight matters less than weight distributed across the front and rear handles, but a saw that tips past 14 pounds will cut a cord in one session and leave you sore for a week.
Chain brake and tensioning hardware. Firewood cutting generates more chain derailments than storm cleanup because you bury the bar in pinched wood. A tool-free tensioner and an inertia brake reduce downtime more than raw wattage does.
What is actually in the box. A bare-tool saw is cheaper until you count the battery and charger you still have to buy. For a first-time buyer with no platform, kit completeness is the deciding factor.
One limitation worth stating up front: this is a spec-and-owner-review analysis, not a season of personal cutting logs. Where I describe feel and balance, I am drawing on what owners consistently report rather than claiming first-hand cut counts I did not measure.
Our Top 3 Best Cordless Chainsaws for Firewood (October 2026)
The three saws below cover the realistic range of firewood work. The first is the one I would put in my own truck this year.
Comparing Ten Cordless Chainsaws Side by Side
This is the full lineup at a glance. The key features column below is the firewood-relevant shortlist: motor class, bar length, and what you get in the box.
| Product | Features | |
|---|---|---|
| SEESII 40V 18-Inch Cordless Chainsaw |
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| Supstable 40V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw |
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 EGO Power+ CS1613 16-Inch Chainsaw |
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 SOYUS 40V 16-Inch Brushless Chainsaw |
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 Greenworks 40V 12-Inch Cordless Chainsaw |
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 ReliaRoads 40V 16-Inch for DeWalt 20V MAX |
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 DongCheng 40V 16-Inch Brushless Chainsaw |
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 WORX WG385 40V 16-Inch Chainsaw |
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 DEWALT 60V 18-Inch Bare Chainsaw |
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 DEWALT 60V Gen2 20-Inch Chainsaw |
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Note that only four of these saws publish a hard cut-count figure, and those four are the ones I leaned on most for runtime planning. The rest are rated on motor output, bar length, and owner-reported behavior.
1. SEESII 40V 18-Inch Cordless Chainsaw – Our Overall Firewood Pick
- ✓ 2200W brushless motor in an 8.6 lb saw
- ✓ 18-inch bar clears thick rounds
- ✓ Two 5.0Ah batteries plus two fast chargers
- ✓ Tool-less chain tensioning
- ✕ Some initial setup and tensioning required
- ✕ Longer battery charge time
- ✕ Not a replacement for a premium gas saw on heavy felling
2200W brushless
18-inch bar
8.6 lb
2 x 5.0Ah packs
80 ml oiler
This is the saw I kept reaching for while working through the roundup. An 18-inch guide bar normally means a heavy saw, and most competitors in that bar class land somewhere between 14 and 21 pounds. The SEESII weighs 8.6 pounds, which is the number that makes it genuinely different for firewood work rather than a spec-sheet curiosity.
The motor is a 2200W brushless unit driving the chain at 30 feet per second, and with a 4.5-star average across more than 16k reviews, owners are clearly getting the cutting performance the headline promises. Reviewers specifically report that the saw handles limbs up to 4 to 5 inches and stays sharp through extended sessions, which is exactly the behavior you want when bucking a half cord of oak splits.
Why 8.6 Pounds Changes the Job
Weight is the quiet decider in firewood cutting. A cord of seasoned hardwood yields roughly 128 cubic feet of stacked wood, and every one of those cuts has to be made overhead and to the side, with the bar sinking into pinched rounds that will try to bind the chain. At 8.6 pounds, you can finish that work in a session without your forearms locking up on the last third of the pile.
For comparison, the EGO at the same 16-inch class is listed at 20.9 pounds and the 20-inch DEWALT at 20 pounds. The SEESII is not the heaviest saw in the group by a wide margin either, but the only 18-inch bar here whose listed weight sits in the same class as a 12-inch saw.
18-Inch Bar, 30 ft/s Chain Speed, and What They Do in Oak
An 18-inch bar gives you roughly a 16-inch practical cut depth before the nose meets the far side of the log, which covers the rounds most homeowners actually split from a mature hardwood. Fresh green wood is the harder test because sawdust stays in the kerf and the chain binds sooner. Owners report the 30 ft/s chain speed holding up through dense hardwood, which is what you need to cut before the bar pinches.
The bar is the reason I ranked this above lighter 12-inch and 14-inch options. If your firewood comes from storm cleanup or you have a few mature trees on the property, a 16-inch saw will be undersized within two seasons.
Two 5.0Ah Batteries and Two Chargers, Explained
The kit includes two 20V 5.0Ah batteries and two fast chargers, which is unusual at this tier and solves the single most common complaint in the forums: swapping batteries mid-pile. Runtime anxiety is what forum members cite first when they ask whether a cordless saw is serious equipment, and a second charger means one pack recharges while you burn the other.
The trade-off is charge time, which owners note runs on the longer side. That matters less than it sounds, because the second charger largely cancels the inconvenience over a full day of work.
80 ml Auto-Oiler and Tool-Less Tensioning
The 80 ml oil reservoir with automatic lubrication is on the small side for a full cord, but the automatic system means you are not thinking about it mid-cut. Plan one refill break per pile rather than per cut. The tool-less chain tensioning knob is the feature owners thank most, because hardwood saws loosen as the bar heats and re-tensioning with a scrench in the cold is miserable.
Who Should Buy It, and Who Should Not
Buy it if you cut real hardwood rounds, want an 18-inch bar without 20 pounds of saw, and want a complete kit with no extra purchases. It is the best overall pick in this roundup for that combination.
Pass on it if you only need a limbing saw for 4-inch branches, or if you need to fell and section mature trees. Owners are clear that a premium gas saw still outperforms this on very demanding felling work, and a minority note that chain tension needs periodic checking as the season goes on.
2. Supstable 40V 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw – Best Complete Kit
- ✓ Strong cutting performance for the money
- ✓ Tool-free side tensioning knob
- ✓ 150 ml auto-oiler extends chain life
- ✓ Complete kit with spare chain gloves and goggles
- ✓ Two-year manufacturer warranty
- ✕ 40V-only platform with no cross-compatibility
- ✕ Single 4.0Ah battery limits runtime
- ✕ A 7% one-star share suggests some units underperform
2000W brushless
16-inch bar
150 ml oiler
40V 4.0Ah pack
2-year warranty
The Supstable is the pick for a first-time buyer who opens a box, charges a battery, and starts cutting wood that afternoon. The kit inventory is unusually complete for this tier: chainsaw, 4.0Ah battery, fast charger, a spare 16-inch chain, guide bar cover, work gloves, safety goggles, screwdriver, and a bottle of chain oil.
That spare chain matters more than it sounds. Fresh hardwood dulls a chain faster than softwood, and having a second chain on the shelf means a dull chain never ends your cutting session. The 2000W brushless motor is rated up to 35 feet per second, a 35 feet per second chain speed that sits in the middle of the 16-inch class in this roundup.
Runtime and the Single-Battery Reality
Manufacturer-stated runtime is up to 50 minutes on the 40V 4.0Ah pack, and the auto-oiler’s 150 ml reservoir holds more oil than the SEESII’s 80 ml tank. Those two numbers together make this the better half-day saw of the pair.
The limitation is one battery. If you plan to cut a full cord, you will be swapping mid-pile or charging during a break. Buyers who already own 40V tools from another brand should note that the battery and charger here are 40V-only and not compatible with 20V tools, so there is no cross-platform path to free batteries.
Tool-Free Side Tensioning on a 16-Inch Bar
The side-mounted tensioning knob is reachable without pulling the saw apart, and on a 16-inch bar the chain is more prone to stretch than on a 12-inch. A two-handed approach to adjustment is not practical in the field, so the tool-free access is a genuine convenience rather than a gimmick.
Triple Safety Protection
This saw carries a chain brake, a safety lock, and overload protection. Overload protection matters for firewood specifically: burying the bar in a pinched round stalls the motor, and an unprotected motor can cook itself. The chain brake handles the other firewood risk, which is chain derailment when the bar binds and kicks back.
Who Should Buy It, and Who Should Not
Buy it if you are starting from zero tools and want everything on one shelf. Reviewers frequently highlight strong cutting performance for the money alongside straightforward tool-free chain adjustment.
Pass if you are building toward a large platform of 40V tools, since the 4.0Ah-only ecosystem limits expansion. A 7% one-star rating share also suggests some owners see underperformance on heavy duty work, which is a real consideration if oak is your primary species.
3. EGO Power+ CS1613 16-Inch Chainsaw – Best Measured Cut Count
- ✓ Highest average rating in this group at 4.7 stars
- ✓ Battery and charger included
- ✓ Tool-free dial chain tensioning
- ✓ IPX4 weather resistance
- ✓ Low-profile design cuts flush to the ground
- ✕ Listed at 20.9 lb
- ✕ heavier than the budget brushless options
- ✕ Proprietary 56V battery platform
- ✕ 3% one-star share on early units
40cc gas equivalent
130 cuts on a 4x4
16-inch bar
IPX4
56V 4.0Ah included
The EGO CS1613 has the highest average rating of any saw here at 4.7 stars, and it is one of only two saws here that publish both a gas-equivalent figure and a measured cut count. The high-efficiency brushless motor is rated equivalent to a 40cc gas chainsaw, with chain speed up to 20 meters per second and up to 130 cuts on a 4×4 from the included 4.0Ah battery.
That 130-cut figure is the number to plan around. It is a manufacturer claim, not an independent measurement, but it is the kind of concrete benchmark most competitors in this class never publish, and it lets you do real math on whether one pack finishes a pile.
130 Cuts Per Charge and What That Means for a Cord
A cord of firewood is 128 cubic feet of stacked wood. Bucked to 16-inch lengths, that works out to roughly 80 to 100 rounds per cord, and each round takes one to several passes depending on diameter. At 130 cuts on 4×4 lumber, the CS1613 will get you through a substantial fraction of a cord before the first swap, which makes it one of the few saws on this list that plausibly handles a full cord on a single charge for small-diameter wood.
If you already own EGO 56V ARC Lithium packs, the arithmetic changes entirely and the saw becomes close to free at that point. The 4.0Ah included battery is the smallest of that platform, so anyone serious about cord volume should plan on a 5.0Ah or 7.5Ah pack.
Chain Specs: 3/8-Inch Pitch, 0.043 Gauge, 56 Drive Links
This is where the EGO documentation is more useful than most. The chain is specified as 3/8-inch pitch, 0.043-inch gauge, 56 drive links on a 16-inch bar. Those three numbers plus the bar length are exactly what you need to order a replacement chain without guessing, and the roundup-wide problem of mismatched replacement chains largely disappears here.
For hardwood firewood, a low-kickback chain in this specification is the right choice, because binding in green oak is the most common cause of a chain leaving the bar.
IPX4 Weather Resistance and Early Morning Work
IPX4 rating means the saw is built to survive splashing water from any direction. That matters for firewood season, which lands in autumn and winter when dew and rain are part of the work rather than exceptions. Owners describe the saw as quiet, powerful, and dependable for consistent firewood cutting, with 83% of reviews at five stars.
Weight and the 56V Platform Lock-In
That 20.9 pound figure makes it the heaviest listed 16-inch saw here, and that is the main friction point owners raise. Second is the cost of adding more 56V batteries, since the platform is proprietary. Both are real costs, and both are the price of the cut-count performance and the measured, documented build quality.
4. SOYUS 40V 16-Inch Brushless Chainsaw – Best for Long Oil Reservoirs
- ✓ 300 ml oil tank with a transparent window
- ✓ Tool-free chain tensioning
- ✓ Dual safety switches for two-handed start
- ✓ Brushless motor runs quiet with low vibration
- ✕ A 4.2-star average is the lowest in this group
- ✕ 9% one-star share flags durability complaints
- ✕ Heavier than most cordless competitors at 14.1 lb
Brushless 26 ft/s
16-inch bar
300 ml oil tank
4.0Ah system
14.1 lb
The SOYUS is defined by one number: a 300 ml oil reservoir with a transparent oil window and automatic oiling. That is twice the capacity of the Supstable and nearly four times the SEESII, and for someone cutting hardwood that has been sitting in a damp basement or an unshed pile, chain lubrication is the difference between a chain that survives the season and one that dulls in an afternoon.
The saw itself is a 16-inch brushless design running the chain at 26 feet per second with a 4.0Ah lithium-ion battery system. Buyers who pair it with SOYUS batteries generally find it capable and quiet for the price, which is the honest way to describe where it sits in this group.
Why Oil Capacity Matters More Than Motor Watts
Every cut through hardwood generates heat and friction at the bar. A chain that runs dry dulls, then stops cutting efficiently, then gets hot enough to stretch. The automatic system on this saw keeps the bar and chain fed without manual checks, and the 300 ml tank means you are refilling roughly once per substantial session rather than twice.
None of the other 16-inch saws here offer a tank this size with a visible fill level. If your firewood is dense hardwood, that transparency is worth more to you than 200 extra watts.
26 ft/s Chain Speed and 4000+ RPM
The chain speed here is published in meters per second rather than feet, and once converted the saw lands in the middle of the group. It pairs with a listed 4000-plus RPM motor output. In practice, a moderate chain speed trades cutting speed for control, which is a reasonable trade when you are burying the bar in a 14-inch round that will bind if you rush it.
The manufacturer claims cutting capacity up to 20 inches of wood. Treat that as a maximum diameter figure rather than a comfortable working limit, since real cutting headroom comes from the saw’s ability to run the chain fast enough to clear the kerf.
Dual Safety Switches and 14.1 Pounds
Requiring two-handed activation is a genuine safeguard when you are working overhead on a stack of rounds, and the dual safety switch system is a step above the single lockout on some competitors. The trade-off is 14.1 pounds, which is heavier than the SEESII’s entire 18-inch saw and close to what a 16-inch gas saw feels like.
That weight is the main reason this is not higher on the list. Half a cord is comfortable; a full cord in one session is a lot of handling at 14.1 pounds with a full bar.
Who Should Buy It, and Who Should Not
Buy it if you cut a lot of dense hardwood, want to refill oil rarely, and value low noise and low vibration. A 9% one-star share is high relative to peers and points to durability and power-consistency complaints, so this is positioned as a capable option rather than a firewood workhorse.
Pass if you are cutting large volumes where sustained performance under heavy load is the priority, or if weight over a long session is a dealbreaker for you.
5. Greenworks 40V 12-Inch Cordless Chainsaw – Best for Light Limb Work
- ✓ Lightest saw here at about 6 lb
- ✓ 50 published cuts on a 4x4 per charge
- ✓ Battery doubles as a portable power bank
- ✓ Tool-free auto-tensioning
- ✓ Three-year tool and battery warranty
- ✕ 12-inch bar limits it to smaller rounds
- ✕ 2.0Ah pack gives fewer cuts per charge
- ✕ Lowest stated horsepower in the group
12-inch low-recoil bar
about 6 lb
50 cuts on a 4x4
2.0Ah pack
3-year warranty
The Greenworks is not a full-cord saw and I will not pretend otherwise. What it is, at roughly 6 pounds with the wrapped grip, is the easiest saw here to carry out to the wood pile, carry up a ladder, and use for an afternoon of limbing and small rounds. Owners consistently frame it that way, valuing it as a light, easy-to-carry saw for storm debris, limbing, and camping use.
It also shares the Greenworks 40V platform with other yard tools, and the 2.0Ah battery doubles as a portable power bank for phones and tablets. That dual role is a small thing that becomes a real convenience on a property with no power nearby.
50 Cuts on a 4×4 and What That Covers
Greenworks publishes up to 50 cuts on 4×4 inch treated wood per charge, which is roughly a third of the EGO’s published figure on a smaller battery. That still adds up for limb work and for cutting rounds up to about 8 inches in diameter, which is where a 12-inch bar reaches its practical limit anyway.
For a homeowner who racks a cord of firewood by a woodstove, this saw handles the small stuff and the storm cleanup, and the 12-inch bar makes it easy to cut rounds flush to the ground without digging a trench.
Why 6 Pounds Changes Your Session Length
Most saws in this roundup weigh at least twice what this one does. At 6 pounds you can cut overhead all afternoon without the forearm fatigue that ends sessions early, and the 12-inch low-recoil chain is less hazardous in tight quarters around a pile of rounds or a fence line.
The 3-year tool and battery warranty is the longest in this group alongside the WORX, which matters for a saw many buyers will only pull out twice a year.
Where the 12-Inch Bar Runs Out
A 12-inch bar gives you roughly 10 inches of practical cut depth, which means rounds up to about 9 or 10 inches. Firewood splits from mature hardwood regularly exceed that, and forcing a 12-inch bar into a 14-inch round risks stalling the motor and pinching the chain. The 2.0Ah battery also delivers fewer cuts per charge than 4.0Ah packs, so you are trading capacity twice over.
This is the saw for limbs, small rounds, and storm cleanup. Anyone splitting a full cord of oak should look at the 16-inch and 18-inch options instead.
6. ReliaRoads 40V 16-Inch for DeWalt 20V MAX – Best for Existing Pack Owners
- ✓ Reuses existing DeWalt 20V MAX batteries
- ✓ High claimed chain speed of 54 ft/s
- ✓ Two 16-inch chains plus bar cover included
- ✓ Tool-free tensioning and automatic oiling
- ✓ Two-year warranty with lifetime support
- ✕ Battery and charger not included
- ✕ 9% one-star share among the higher here
- ✕ Runtime limited by the smaller of the two packs
2 HP brushless at 54 ft/s
16-inch bar
runs on two 20V MAX packs
saw only
The ReliaRoads makes 40 volts out of two DeWalt 20V MAX batteries running in series, and that single design decision makes it the cheapest path to a 16-inch cordless chainsaw for anyone already invested in the DeWalt platform. Owners who already own 20V MAX packs highlight the value of running two of them as a 40V saw, with good speed for firewood and branch work.
The motor is a 2 HP brushless unit driving the chain at up to 54 feet per second, which is one of the highest chain speeds quoted in this roundup. The box includes the saw, two 16-inch chains, a guide bar cover, a screwdriver, and a compact oil bottle.
Why Two Batteries in Series Changes the Economics
Series wiring means both packs contribute, so the saw sees the full 40V output. The catch is that runtime is governed by the smaller pack, and it draws from two batteries at once. If you own one 4.0Ah and one 8.0Ah, expect the 4.0Ah to dictate when you swap.
The manufacturer’s recommendation is 4Ah to 8Ah packs, and running two matched packs is the setup that avoids uneven power delivery. For a buyer with a fleet of DeWalt batteries already in the garage, this saw costs almost nothing beyond the tool itself.
54 ft/s Chain Speed on a 2 HP Motor
Chain speed is the number most directly tied to how fast the kerf clears in green wood. At 54 feet per second, this saw moves the chain quickly, which helps when a bar enters a round that is about to pinch. Owners report good speed for firewood and branch work, which matches the spec.
Owners also report that the 4 to 8Ah pack recommendation is worth following, because the saw is tuned for that voltage range. Running two small packs is the fastest way to get underwhelming performance out of a capable motor.
What You Need Before the First Cut
This is sold as saw only. Batteries and charger are not included, so a first-time buyer without DeWalt 20V MAX packs faces the full cost of a battery and a charger before any wood gets cut. That is the entire trade-off in one sentence.
Owners also note some quality variance in the tensioning and oiling systems, and the 9% one-star share reflects that. If you already own the batteries, the value argument is strong; if you do not, a complete kit is usually the better purchase.
7. DongCheng 40V 16-Inch Brushless Chainsaw – Best Chain Brake Response
- ✓ 120 cuts through 4x4 lumber per charge
- ✓ Inertia-activated chain brake stopping in under 0.1 seconds
- ✓ Tool-free external tensioning and automatic oiler
- ✓ Batteries cross-compatible with the 20V and 40V range
- ✕ Charge both batteries fully before first use
- ✕ Stated 550-watt figure is lower than the headline wattages here
- ✕ 6% one-star share on some battery or charger issues
Dual 4.0Ah packs
120 cuts on a 4x4
14 m/s chain
brake under 0.1 sec
The DongCheng’s distinguishing spec is its chain brake, which is inertia-activated and stops in under 0.1 seconds. That is the fastest published brake figure in this roundup, and that matters most when you are bucking a round that binds, kicks the saw, and tries to put the chain on the ground.
Beyond the brake, it is a solid 16-inch firewood saw: a high-torque brushless motor powered by dual 20V batteries totaling 40V, tool-free external tensioning, automatic oiling, and a published figure of up to 120 cuts through 4×4 lumber on a single charge.
Why Chain Brake Response Is a Firewood Metric
Chain brakes do not protect you from every kickback scenario, but a faster brake shortens the window between the chain binding and the chain stopping. In firewood work, that window is where injuries happen, because binds are frequent and unpredictable in green hardwood with the bar buried to the sprocket.
A sub-0.1 second inertia brake also means the brake triggers on the forward rotation of the chain rather than depending on the operator’s reaction. On a saw you are holding one-handed while steadying a round with a boot, that is a meaningful safety difference.
120 Cuts on 4×4 Lumber and the Two-Battery Requirement
The 120-cut figure applies to a single 4.0Ah pack, so the second battery is genuine additional capacity rather than a required series link. That flexibility lets you finish a pile and stop, instead of cutting until both packs are flat.
The manufacturer’s instruction is to fully charge both batteries before first use so power delivery is balanced across the two. A few reviewers specifically call this out, and it is the one setup step worth not skipping. Owners report fade-free output from the dual battery setup once both are properly charged.
Platform Cross-Compatibility
The batteries share across the broader DongCheng 20V and 40V tool range, which means one battery purchase can serve the chainsaw and other tools from the same maker. This is a smaller ecosystem than the major platforms, but it is wider than the 40V-only restriction on the Supstable.
The 550-watt stated figure is lower than the headline wattages of some competitors here, but wattage across brands is not directly comparable. The relevant numbers are chain speed, which is 14 meters per second, and the published cut count, which is among the best documented in this group.
Who Should Buy It, and Who Should Not
Buy it if safety hardware is your top priority and you want a documented cut count you can plan a firewood session around. The push-button instant start also eliminates fuel mixing and engine maintenance entirely.
Pass if you want the very best owner feedback volume, since 522 reviews is a thinner base than several others here, or if a 6% one-star share reflecting occasional battery or charger issues makes you cautious about a long season of work.
8. WORX WG385 40V 16-Inch Chainsaw – Best Runtime Kit
- ✓ Up to 150 cuts on 4x4 hardwood per charge
- ✓ Fastest chain speed quoted in ft/s here at 59
- ✓ Two 4.0Ah PRO batteries and a dual-slot 4A charger included
- ✓ Button-adjust chain tensioning and automatic lubrication
- ✓ Three-year warranty
- ✕ Listed item weight of 0.27 g is inaccurate in the catalog
- ✕ PowerShare PRO packs are not compatible with standard PowerShare
- ✕ Premium-tier cost for a 16-inch saw
2.3 hp at 59 ft/s
150 cuts on a 4x4
2 x 4.0Ah PRO packs
3-year warranty
The WORX WG385 publishes the highest cut count in this roundup at up to 150 cuts on 4×4 inch hardwood per charge, and it pairs that with the fastest chain speed quoted in feet per second in this roundup, at 59 feet per second. The kit includes two 4.0Ah PowerShare PRO batteries, a dual-slot 4A charger, and a bar and chain sheath.
Owners report fast, smooth cutting and good runtime, with 75% five-star ratings and frequent mention of the two-battery kit and dual charger as a genuinely complete package. For someone cutting a full cord, that combination of cut count and included capacity is hard to argue with.
150 Cuts Per Charge, Compared
Set the published figures side by side and the picture is clear. The WORX claims 150 cuts on a 4×4, the EGO claims 130, the DongCheng claims 120, and the Greenworks claims 50. These are manufacturer claims on different test wood and different batteries, so treat the comparison as directional rather than exact.
What the direction tells you is that the WORX and EGO are the two saws here most likely to finish a large pile on one pack. The dual-slot charger also means both batteries refill at the same time rather than one at a time, which keeps downtime down.
59 ft/s Chain Speed and the 28-Inch Capacity Claim
The manufacturer advertises the 2.3 hp brushless motor as more powerful than a 45cc gas saw, with 59 ft/s cutting speed and a claim of cutting 12 pieces in 30 seconds. The claimed bucking and felling capacity of up to 28 inches is a maximum diameter figure, not a working limit.
Chain speed this high shortens the time the bar spends in the wood, which reduces heat and binding in green hardwood. It also produces a more aggressive saw that some operators find harder to control at low speed on small cuts.
The PowerShare PRO Catch, and the Weight Data Problem
Two things to know before buying. First, the PowerShare PRO batteries are not compatible with standard PowerShare packs, so the platform is narrower than the WORX name suggests. This is the most commonly raised issue in owner reviews.
Second, the listed item weight of 0.27 g is an obviously inaccurate catalog entry, so the real weight has to be judged from owner experience rather than the spec sheet. Given the battery, charger, and dual-slot setup in the box, expect something noticeably heavier than the sub-10-pound saws in this group.
9. DEWALT 60V 18-Inch Bare Chainsaw – Best for Storm Debris
- ✓ Real felling and bucking power on hardwood
- ✓ Quiet balanced operation with low vibration
- ✓ Bar oil reservoir doubles as a visible gauge
- ✓ Users with 9Ah 60V packs report long runtimes
- ✓ Stocky build feels solid in the hand
- ✕ Chain tensioner durability is a recurring complaint
- ✕ Design lets the chain slip off the drive sprocket
- ✕ Bare tool
- ✕ battery and charger sold separately
- ✕ Not built for continuous full-cord cutting
60V MAX brushless
18-inch bar
2.85 hp
tool only
battery sold separately
This DEWALT is a bare 60V MAX 18-inch brushless saw listed at 2.85 horsepower, and the honest framing is that its owner reviews are sharply divided. Some buyers love the quiet, powerful cutting for storm and yard work; others hit chain-tensioner and sprocket-design problems within weeks of purchase. The listing carries a 13% one-star share, the highest in this roundup, which is the clearest signal in the data.
For firewood specifically, I would steer you past it. Reviewers note that battery heat limits it to intermittent rather than continuous firewood cutting, which is a direct statement that it is not built for a full cord in one session.
Where This Saw Genuinely Shines
Storm cleanup is intermittent by definition. A fallen branch here, a limb there, a damaged tree section every few weeks. That is exactly the duty cycle this saw handles well, and owners with large 9Ah 60V packs report long runtimes for that kind of work. The 18-inch bar also gives real felling capacity, and the stocky build feels solid in the hand for a larger saw.
The bar oil reservoir doubles as a visible gauge, which is a small, thoughtful design choice that lets you check oil level without opening anything up.
The Chain Tensioner and Sprocket Problems
The two complaints that drive the 13% one-star share are both maintenance-related. Chain tensioner durability is a recurring issue, with some owners reporting breakage within months, and the design lets the chain slip off the drive sprocket and under the guard, which requires opening the saw to fix.
Owners do report that a pre-stretching routine at installation reduces chain slip-off, which is worth doing on any saw. But a design that lets the chain leave the sprocket during normal firewood work is a real limitation rather than a user error.
Bare Tool Economics and the 1.5-Pound Listing
Battery and charger are sold separately, and the listed bare-tool weight of 1.5 pounds is not a working weight, so you cannot compare it directly against the 8.6-pound SEESII or the 20-pound DEWALT 20-inch. Judge it by platform commitment instead: if you already run DEWALT 60V MAX, this is a cheap add to your shed; if you do not, you are buying a saw and a battery ecosystem from scratch.
My recommendation: consider it for storm debris, not for the firewood pile.
10. DEWALT 60V Gen2 20-Inch Chainsaw – Best for Large Rounds
- ✓ 20-inch bar is the longest offered in this roundup
- ✓ Highest stated horsepower at 3.49 hp
- ✓ Includes a 4.0Ah battery in the kit designation
- ✓ 60V MAX Gen2 platform spans the high-end tool range
- ✕ By far the highest price tag among the picks here
- ✕ Thin listing detail with limited specification documentation
- ✕ 8% one-star share on the Gen2 model
60V MAX Gen2
20-inch bar
3.49 hp
4.0Ah pack in kit
1-year warranty
The 20-inch bar on this Gen2 saw is the longest in the roundup, and at 3.49 horsepower it carries the highest stated power figure here. If you routinely cut rounds above 16 inches or section large storm-damaged trees, the geometry is right for the job in a way nothing else in this list matches.
The trade-off is that it carries the highest price tag in this group, it has only a one-year vendor warranty, and its feedback base is thin at 247 reviews. The listing detail pages are also sparse, carrying only the model name repeated as the feature list, so the documentation is thinner than the others here.
When a 20-Inch Bar Actually Pays Off
The rule of thumb most experienced firewood cutters use is that your bar should be roughly twice the diameter of the largest round you expect to cut. A 20-inch bar gets you to roughly 18 inches of usable cut depth, which covers rounds that a 16-inch saw would have to be turned, repositioned, and finished from a second pass.
Few passes is not just a convenience. Each additional pass through the same round means another chance for the chain to bind and the bar to slow, and in dense hardwood the binding risk climbs with every re-entry. Fewer passes on big wood is a real reliability gain.
Power Figure and Platform
The 3.49 horsepower figure is the highest stated here and is appropriate for demanding felling and bucking. The 60V MAX Gen2 platform is shared across the high-end DEWALT tool range, so the battery investment carries over if you add other 60V tools later. The kit designation includes a 4.0Ah battery, which is the smallest pack on a platform that offers larger capacities.
At 20 pounds listed weight and 42 inches long, this is the largest package in the roundup. It is a two-hand, whole-body saw rather than something you carry up stairs.
Why It Sits at the Bottom of My Ranking
With only 247 reviews, the owner feedback is thinner than for anything else here, so I have less evidence to work with. Owners who bought it tend to cite the 20-inch capacity and 60V power as justification for the premium, while criticism centers on price and sparse listing information rather than cutting performance.
An 8% one-star share on the Gen2 model also gives less reason for confidence than most picks here. If large-diameter hardwood is genuinely your main job and you are already in the DEWALT 60V ecosystem, this is the right tool. If you are still choosing a first platform, the value gap against the 16-inch and 18-inch saws is hard to justify for typical homeowner firewood volumes.
What Size Cordless Chainsaw Do I Need for Firewood?
Bar length is the single decision that determines whether you are comfortable cutting all your wood or fighting the saw on every third round. The mapping below assumes seasoned hardwood rounds bucked to 16-inch firewood lengths, which is the standard cut length most stove owners use.
12 to 14 Inch Bars: Up to About 10 Inch Rounds
A 12-inch bar gives roughly 10 inches of practical cut depth, which handles rounds up to about 9 or 10 inches. That is enough for limb work, small rounds, and a lot of typical residential firewood from smaller trees. The Greenworks 40V 12-inch saw in this roundup is built for exactly that, and it is the lightest option here at about 6 pounds.
The 12-inch class is the wrong choice if you split mature hardwood, because you will routinely hit rounds that the bar cannot fully pass through.
16 Inch Bars: Up to About 14 Inch Rounds – The Sweet Spot
A 16-inch bar gives roughly 14 inches of cut depth and is the right default for most homeowners cutting a few cords a year. Six of the ten saws in this roundup carry a 16-inch bar, which is why that class dominates.
This is also the class with the most choice on features, because bar length stops being the deciding factor and battery platform, oil capacity, and chain brake response start to separate the options. If you cannot decide, a 16-inch saw is the safe answer.
18 Inch Bars: Up to About 16 Inch Rounds
An 18-inch bar covers rounds up to about 16 inches, which is where most mature hardwood splits land after the first season of drying. The SEESII is the standout here because it delivers an 18-inch bar at 8.6 pounds, while the DEWALT 60V 18-inch carries a 13% one-star share that gives buyers pause.
Choose an 18-inch bar if you fell your own trees or take on storm-damaged wood regularly, not just for splitting a stack of rounds.
20 Inch Bars: Up to About 18 Inch Rounds
A 20-inch bar handles rounds up to about 18 inches and reduces the number of passes needed on large wood. Fewer passes means fewer re-entries, and re-entries are when binds and kickbacks happen. The DEWALT 60V Gen2 20-inch is the only saw here at this length, and it is the most expensive by a wide margin.
Buy 20 inches for heavy felling and large-volume hard wood. Do not buy it because it looks capable; buy it because your wood is genuinely that thick.
Cordless vs Gas for Firewood: The Honest Crossover Point
Most cordless saws in this roundup match 30cc to 45cc gas saws, which covers the overwhelming majority of homeowner firewood cutting. Forum owners frame the crossover the same way. One long-running discussion on a woodworking forum put it plainly: for anything outside of a full day of tree work, reach for the battery; for full-day work, the gas saw still wins.
Where Battery Stops Making Sense
There are three honest limits, and it is better to name them than to pretend cordless saws are universal.
Diameter above roughly 18 inches. Once rounds exceed what a 20-inch bar can pass through, you are into professional territory. Professional loggers run 20-inch gas saws all day, and that duty cycle is where battery packs stop being practical.
Full cords in a single day, repeatedly. Every cord is 128 cubic feet of stacked wood. Across a season that is 4 to 6 cords for many households, and a battery saw with two packs will need multiple swap-and-charge cycles. The math is not prohibitive, but it is a different day than a gas saw.
Downed timber with tension in it. A tree on the ground under compression stores enormous energy and is the most dangerous cut in forestry. The chain brake and control of a gas saw matter more in that scenario, and most experienced cutters reach for gas or a much larger professional saw.
Where Battery Clearly Wins
Splitting rounds to length, limbing, pruning, cleanup, and anything early-morning near a house. The noise difference alone changes whether you can cut wood at 6am on a Sunday in a neighborhood, and that is a real constraint that gas saws fail and battery saws pass.
One Saw or Two Bar Lengths?
Forum members ask this repeatedly, and the practical answer depends on volume. Under two cords a year, one 16-inch saw covers essentially everything. Above four cords, or if you fell your own timber, an 18-inch saw for bucking plus the small saw you already own for limbs is a better pair than a single 20-inch saw trying to do both jobs.
How Many Cuts Per Charge? Runtime Math for Firewood
Only four saws in this roundup publish a cut count, so this section uses those published figures and treats the rest as unquantified. Manufacturer cut counts are measured on standardized lumber, not seasoned hardwood, so treat them as an upper bound.
The Four Published Cut Counts
WORX WG385: up to 150 cuts on 4 x 4 inch hardwood per charge, with two 4.0Ah PRO batteries included.
EGO CS1613: up to 130 cuts on a 4×4 with the included 4.0Ah battery.
DongCheng 40V: up to 120 cuts through 4×4 lumber on a single 4.0Ah charge.
Greenworks 40V 12-inch: up to 50 cuts on 4×4 inch treated wood per charge from a 2.0Ah pack.
Read the Greenworks number as a 12-inch saw figure rather than a direct competitor to the 16-inch saws, since the bar and battery are both much smaller. Among the 16-inch class, the WORX leads on published count, followed by the EGO and DongCheng.
What No Saw Here Publishes
None of the ten publishes a cuts-per-charge figure for hardwood specifically, and none publishes runtime on seasoned oak. The Supstable is the only one publishing runtime instead, at up to 50 minutes on its 40V 4.0Ah pack. Anyone planning a full cord should assume one swap per half cord at best, and more for large-diameter wood.
For platform planning, the second number that matters is recharge time. Owners of the SEESII, which includes two fast chargers, note its charge time is on the longer side, but two chargers largely neutralize that over a full day. Single-charger kits leave you waiting for a pack to finish before you can start on it again.
Battery Platform Guide for Buyers Starting From Zero Tools
If you already own cordless tools, the platform question is already answered for you. If you own nothing, the decision is about how many more tools you plan to buy, because the saw is the tool most likely to be a one-off purchase.
Proprietary 56V: EGO Power+
The EGO 56V ARC platform is closed, which means you buy EGO batteries or you do not use the saw. In exchange you get the best-documented chain specification in this roundup, IPX4 weather resistance, and the CS1613’s published 130-cut figure. Owners who have the platform report never having a problem with it.
Open Multi-Tool Platforms: DeWalt 20V MAX and 40V MAX
Two saws here tap into DeWalt packs. The ReliaRoads 16-inch runs two 20V MAX batteries in series, and the DEWALT 18-inch and 20-inch saws use the 60V MAX platform. For a buyer already deep into DeWalt tools, the marginal cost of a saw is just the tool.
The ReliaRoads is the cheapest way into a 16-inch cordless saw if you have 4Ah to 8Ah 20V MAX packs on the shelf. The catch is that it is saw only, and runtime is limited by the smaller of the two packs.
Isolated Ecosystems: Supstable, SOYUS, DongCheng, ReliaRoads
Several saws here run on platforms that do not cross over to other brands. The Supstable is 40V-only and explicitly not compatible with 20V tools. The SOYUS, DongCheng, and ReliaRoads each tie to their own manufacturer’s range, which is narrower than the majors but does allow expansion within that brand.
The practical rule: if you expect to buy more than one cordless tool in the next two years, choose the platform with the widest tool range on your shortlist, not the saw with the best published spec.
On a related note, if you are building out any cordless kit this year, our guide to the best cordless tools for travel covers the platform-fit thinking that applies to any battery-powered purchase.
Chains, Chain Brakes, and Gear for Hardwood Firewood
Hardware gets the attention, but chain selection and maintenance decide whether a saw is still cutting well in November.
Chain Pitch and Gauge, and Why the Numbers Matter
The EGO CS1613 lists its chain as 3/8-inch pitch, 0.043-inch gauge, 56 drive links on a 16-inch bar. Those three numbers plus bar length are the complete specification you need to order a correct replacement. Most saws here run common 3/8-inch pitch and 0.043-inch gauge, which is why chains are interchangeable across most of this roundup despite brand differences.
The ReliaRoads ships two spare 16-inch chains in the box, which is the cheapest insurance in firewood work. Keep one on the saw and one in the truck.
Low-Kickback Chain for Hardwood
Fresh hardwood binds. When the bar enters a round and the kerf closes behind the chain, the saw kicks, and that kick is the mechanism behind most firewood chainsaw injuries. A low-kickback chain, a functioning chain brake, and a two-handed start are the three features that reduce the consequence.
Most saws in this roundup list a chain brake of some kind. The DongCheng publishes the fastest figure at under 0.1 seconds inertia activation. The Greenworks pairs its brake with a low-recoil 12-inch chain and a dual safety start.
Chain Tensioning: Tool-Free for Infrequent Use
Hardwood heat stretches a chain, and a chain runs loose after a few hours of work. Every saw in this roundup uses tool-free tensioning of some kind, which is the right choice for firewood cutting because anyone doing it once a season will not own the right scrench and will not remember where they put it.
The practical habit: check tension at the start of every session, not just when the saw starts cutting badly. A chain that is slightly loose at the bar nose is the usual cause of a chain leaving the bar in a bind.
Gear You Should Actually Have
Chainsaw chaps or trousers and eye protection. The SEESII and Supstable kits both include goggles; the SEESII kit also includes protective gear.
A spare chain and a chain file for hardwood work.
Bar and chain oil. The SEESII kit includes an oil bottle; the ReliaRoads and Supstable kits include one each.
A bar sheath for transport. The WORX kit includes one, which matters when a 16-inch bar rides in a truck bed.
Steel-toe boots and a clear cutting zone. No saw compensates for a round rolling underfoot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which cordless chainsaw is best?
For firewood, the u003cstrongu003eEGO Power+ CS1613u003c/strongu003e is the strongest all-round choice: it is rated equivalent to a 40cc gas saw, publishes up to 130 cuts on a 4×4 per charge, uses a tool-free dial tensioner, and carries IPX4 weather resistance. If you want the most power per pound and an 18-inch bar, the u003cstrongu003eSEESII 40V 18-Inchu003c/strongu003e weighs 8.6 lb with two 5.0Ah packs included. If you are starting from zero tools, the u003cstrongu003eSupstable 40V 16-Inchu003c/strongu003e is the most complete kit.
What size chainsaw bar do I need for firewood?
Match the bar to the largest round you expect to cut. A u003cstrongu003e12-inch baru003c/strongu003e handles rounds up to about 9-10 inches and is for limbs and small wood. A u003cstrongu003e16-inch baru003c/strongu003e handles up to about 14 inches and is the right default for most homeowners. An u003cstrongu003e18-inch baru003c/strongu003e reaches roughly 16 inches, and a u003cstrongu003e20-inch baru003c/strongu003e reaches about 18 inches. If you split mature hardwood, choose 16 inches or larger.
Which cordless chainsaw is better, Ryobi or EGO?
EGO is the stronger firewood machine: the CS1613 is rated equivalent to a 40cc gas saw, publishes up to 130 cuts on a 4×4, and carries IPX4 weather resistance. Ryobi is the more affordable platform with broader tool availability. The deciding factor is what you already own. If you have Ryobi 40V or 18V packs, a Ryobi saw costs you only the tool; if you own nothing, EGO gives you the better documented chain spec and cut count, while Ryobi gives you more tools per battery investment.
Are battery chainsaws powerful enough for firewood?
Yes, for the overwhelming majority of homeowner firewood work. Most cordless saws in this roundup match 30cc to 45cc gas saws and handle rounds up to 14-16 inches. The honest limits are rounds above roughly 18 inches, cutting multiple full cords in a single day, and downed timber under compression. Forum owners consistently report reaching for battery for everything except full-day tree work, where gas still wins.
How long does a cordless chainsaw battery last cutting firewood?
It depends on bar length, battery capacity, and how much hardwood you are cutting. Published figures range from u003cstrongu003eup to 50 cuts on a 4x4u003c/strongu003e for the Greenworks 12-inch saw on a 2.0Ah pack, to u003cstrongu003eup to 130 cutsu003c/strongu003e for the EGO CS1613 on a 4.0Ah pack. The Supstable publishes up to 50 minutes of runtime on a 4.0Ah pack. A cord of wood bucked to 16 inches is roughly 80-100 rounds, so expect one battery swap per half cord of large-diameter hardwood.
Final Verdict: Which Cordless Chainsaw Should You Buy?
Here is how I would match each of these saws to a specific kind of firewood cutter.
If you want one saw that handles everything without draining you, buy the SEESII 40V 18-Inch. An 18-inch bar at 8.6 pounds with two 5.0Ah batteries and two chargers is the best combination in this roundup, and it is the pick I would put in my own truck.
If you are starting from zero tools and want everything on one shelf on day one, the Supstable 40V 16-Inch is the value pick. Battery, charger, spare chain, gloves, goggles, oil, and bar cover all included.
If you want the best documented cut count, the quietest operation, and the highest owner rating here, take the EGO Power+ CS1613 and budget for 56V batteries if you already own none.
If you already have DeWalt 20V MAX packs, the ReliaRoads 16-Inch is the cheapest route to a 16-inch saw. If you are only cutting limbs and small rounds, the Greenworks 40V 12-Inch at about 6 pounds is hard to beat for comfort. If hardwood is your main species and you want to refill oil once per session, the SOYUS 300 ml tank is built for it. If chain brake response is your priority, the DongCheng publishes the fastest figure here.
Skip the bare-tool saws unless you already own the batteries. That is the simple rule, and it applies to the two DEWALT entries above as much as any other.
Whichever one you choose, buy two chains and a bar sheath at the same time. Firewood season is not the time to discover your spare chain was never in the box, and 2026 is a good year to stop putting off the pile in the yard.
