Best Cordless Chainsaw 2026: 5 Battery Saws Compared

WriterPickly Editorial

Updated 2026-10-05

SourcedLast reviewed 2026-10-05

A cordless chainsaw starts with a trigger, makes no fumes and is quiet enough to use on a Sunday morning. The limits are bar length and battery. Match both to the wood you cut and a battery saw handles most yard work.

Quick answer

The SKIL CS4555-10 is the cordless chainsaw to buy if you own no batteries: a 14-inch bar, a brushless motor, and a 40V 4.0Ah battery and charger in the box for $199. The BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 costs the same with a 12-inch bar and weighs 11.1 pounds. If you already own a battery platform, buy within it: the DEWALT DCCS620B is the light 12-inch saw at 9 pounds with battery, the Makita XCU07Z is a 14-inch saw on two 18V packs, and the Milwaukee 2727-20 is the 16-inch saw for firewood and storm cleanup.

Check price: SKIL PWR CORE 40 Brushless 40V 14-Inch Chainsaw Kit (CS4555-10) →

📋

We did not run our own testing on these chainsaws. A fair comparison needs timed cuts through matched logs and battery run-down counts, and we have neither the logs nor the saws. What we did instead: took bar length, weight, chain speed and cuts-per-charge claims from each manufacturer's product page, checked US prices on October 4, 2026, and read owner reviews in volume. We kept only specific complaints that repeat, such as oil leaking in storage, chains that loosen and batteries that cut out under load.

★ Best Pick

SKIL PWR CORE 40 Brushless 40V 14-Inch Chainsaw Kit (CS4555-10)

$199Reference price

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🏆 Best overall: The CS4555-10 is a complete kit for $199: a 14-inch saw with a brushless motor, a 40V 4.0Ah battery and a charger. SKIL lists chain speeds up to 14.8 meters per second, an automatic oiler, tool-free chain tensioning with a side dial and a kickback brake.

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1★ Best Pick🏆 Best overallSKIL PWR CORE 40 Brushless 40V 14-Inch Chainsaw Kit (CS4555-10)

Kit with 40V 4.0Ah battery and charger. The -10 suffix marks the kit.

The CS4555-10 is a complete kit for $199: a 14-inch saw with a brushless motor, a 40V 4.0Ah battery and a charger. SKIL lists chain speeds up to 14.8 meters per second, an automatic oiler, tool-free chain tensioning with a side dial and a kickback brake. SKIL compares its power to a 30cc gas saw, a claim we could not check. SKIL's 40V platform has fewer other tools than the big contractor brands.

Pros

✓Battery and charger included
✓14-inch bar, brushless motor
✓Tool-free chain tension

Cons

✗Smaller 40V tool range
✗Gas-equivalent claim not verified by us

SKIL PWR CORE 40 Brushless 40V 14-Inch Chainsaw Kit (CS4555-10)

$199Reference price

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2💪 Best for firewoodMilwaukee M18 FUEL 16-Inch Chainsaw (2727-20, Tool Only)

The -20 suffix is the bare tool. Milwaukee also sells kits with a high-output battery.

The 2727-20 has a 16-inch bar, the longest here. Milwaukee states that it cuts faster than gas and delivers up to 150 cuts per charge, and that its brushless motor holds speed under heavy load. It is built for landscape and utility crews. It was listed at $329 bare, and it needs one of Milwaukee's large high-output M18 batteries to perform as described, which adds considerably to the cost.

Pros

✓16-inch bar
✓Up to 150 cuts per charge stated
✓Built for professional use

Cons

✗$329 without battery
✗Needs a large M18 battery

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16-Inch Chainsaw (2727-20, Tool Only)

$329Reference price

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3🪶 Lightest pickDEWALT 20V MAX XR Compact 12-Inch Cordless Chainsaw (DCCS620B, Tool Only)

The B suffix is the bare tool; DCCS620P1 is the kit with a 5Ah battery.

The DCCS620B is a compact 12-inch saw that DEWALT lists at 9 pounds with battery. It has a brushless motor and a low-kickback bar and chain, and DEWALT states up to 90 cuts in 4x4 pressure-treated wood with a 5Ah battery. It runs on the common 20V MAX batteries. It is sold bare, a 12-inch bar limits log size, and we could not confirm a current price.

Pros

✓9 pounds with battery
✓Runs on 20V MAX batteries
✓Low-kickback bar and chain

Cons

✗12-inch bar
✗Price not confirmed

DEWALT 20V MAX XR Compact 12-Inch Cordless Chainsaw (DCCS620B, Tool Only)

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4⚙️ For Makita ownersMakita 36V (18V X2) LXT Brushless 14-Inch Chain Saw (XCU07Z, Tool Only)

The Z suffix is the bare tool. Two 18V LXT batteries are required.

The XCU07Z is a 14-inch rear-handle saw that runs on two 18V LXT batteries for 36V. Makita lists a chain speed of 3,940 feet per minute and a weight of 11.2 pounds with batteries. It suits people who already own several LXT packs. It is sold bare and needs two batteries at once, and we could not confirm a current price.

Pros

✓Uses existing 18V LXT batteries
✓3,940 FPM chain speed
✓14-inch bar

Cons

✗Needs two batteries at once
✗Price not confirmed

Makita 36V (18V X2) LXT Brushless 14-Inch Chain Saw (XCU07Z, Tool Only)

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5💰 Light-duty kitBLACK+DECKER 40V MAX Cordless Chainsaw, 12-Inch (LCS1240)

Includes a 40V MAX 2.0Ah battery and charger.

The LCS1240 is a 12-inch saw with a 40V MAX 2.0Ah battery and charger for $199. BLACK+DECKER lists a weight of 11.1 pounds, tool-free chain tensioning, automatic oiling and a wrap-around handle, and states over 60 cuts in 4x4 pine per charge. It suits pruning and occasional cleanup. The 2.0Ah battery is half the capacity of the SKIL kit's at the same price.

Pros

✓Battery and charger included
✓Tool-free chain tension
✓Wrap-around handle

Cons

✗2.0Ah battery is small
✗12-inch bar at the SKIL's price

BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX Cordless Chainsaw, 12-Inch (LCS1240)

$199Reference price

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Bar length decides what you can cut

A chainsaw cuts wood up to about two inches less than its bar length in a single pass. A 12-inch bar handles limbs and trunks to about 10 inches. A 16-inch bar handles about 14 inches. Cutting from both sides doubles that, but it is slower and harder to do safely.

Longer is not automatically better. A long bar is heavier, drains the battery faster and is more tiring to hold at arm's length when pruning. For limbing and cleanup, 12 inches is easier to control. For firewood and felling small trees, 14 to 16 inches saves time.

The table shows each maker's figures and the price we saw on October 4, 2026.

Model	Bar	Battery system	Price seen
DEWALT DCCS620B	12 in	20V MAX, tool only	Not confirmed
Milwaukee 2727-20	16 in	M18, tool only	$329
Makita XCU07Z	14 in	2 x 18V LXT, tool only	Not confirmed
SKIL CS4555-10	14 in	40V, 4.0Ah kit	$199
BLACK+DECKER LCS1240	12 in	40V MAX, 2.0Ah kit	$199

We could not confirm a current price for the DEWALT or the Makita from a listing we could read, so the table leaves them blank.

Batteries, voltage and cuts per charge

Three of these saws are sold bare. That price makes sense only if you own the brand's batteries and charger. Large batteries for these platforms cost a significant share of the saw's price, so a bare tool is rarely the cheap route for a first purchase.

Voltage numbers do not compare cleanly across brands. Makita's 36V saw uses two 18V batteries at once. What matters more is watt-hours: volts multiplied by amp-hours. A 40V 4.0Ah pack holds 160 watt-hours, twice the 80 watt-hours of a 40V 2.0Ah pack.

Cuts-per-charge claims use different wood and different batteries. DEWALT states up to 90 cuts in 4x4 pressure-treated lumber with a 5Ah battery. BLACK+DECKER states over 60 cuts in 4x4 pine on its 2.0Ah pack. Milwaukee states up to 150 cuts per charge. These are not comparable to each other; treat them as rough guides.

Chain oil, tension and safety

Every saw here needs bar and chain oil, even though none needs fuel. An automatic oiler feeds the chain while it runs. Check the reservoir each time you swap a battery, and expect some oil to seep out in storage. Store the saw on a tray or cardboard.

A new chain stretches during its first few cuts and needs retightening. The SKIL and BLACK+DECKER adjust with a dial and no tools. A loose chain can come off the bar; a chain that is too tight wears the bar and drains the battery.

A battery saw is quieter than a gas saw, and it cuts skin just as fast. Wear eye protection, gloves, sturdy boots and chainsaw chaps. Keep both hands on the saw, do not cut above shoulder height, and never cut with the tip of the bar, which is where kickback starts.

How these picks were chosen

We chose cordless chainsaws widely sold online in the US, covering 12 to 16-inch bars and both kits and bare tools. Makita lists the older XCU03Z as discontinued, so this guide uses the XCU07Z, a 14-inch saw on the same two-battery system. Pole saws and mini pruning saws are different tools and are not covered.

Recommendations are editorial. No brand paid for placement, and the links on this page are affiliate links that may earn Pickly a commission at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

Are cordless chainsaws powerful enough for firewood?▼

For moderate amounts, yes. A 14 to 16-inch battery saw cuts logs up to about a foot thick. For several cords a year or large hardwood rounds, a gas saw or a larger battery system is still the practical choice.

How long does a battery last in a chainsaw?▼

It depends on wood thickness and battery size. Makers quote 60 to 150 cuts per charge under their own conditions. In practice, plan on one battery covering a light pruning session and keep a second for bigger jobs.

Do battery chainsaws need oil?▼

Yes. They need bar and chain oil in the reservoir, the same as a gas saw. They do not need fuel, mixed oil, spark plugs or air filters.

What size bar do I need?▼

Twelve inches for pruning and limbs up to about 10 inches. Fourteen inches for general yard work and small trees. Sixteen inches for firewood and storm cleanup.

Can I use any battery from the same brand?▼

Within the same voltage platform, generally yes, but small batteries give short run time and may cut out under load. Makers recommend their larger packs for chainsaws. The Makita XCU07Z needs two 18V batteries installed together.

Is a cordless chainsaw safer than a gas one?▼

It is quieter, lighter and stops when you release the trigger, which helps. The chain is just as dangerous. Kickback happens with battery saws too, so protective gear and two-handed grip still apply.

How often does the chain need sharpening?▼

When the saw makes fine dust instead of chips, or you have to push to make it cut. Touching soil or a rock dulls a chain at once. A dull chain also drains the battery noticeably faster.