But how does this machine compare to the others when it comes to price? The Ryobi sits somewhere in the middle. Yes, you could buy yourself a more powerful petrol chainsaw for less, but you’d end up with a much heavier and more cumbersome machine. Plus, with its powerful motor and fast cutting speed, this one will do just about anything that a similar-sized petrol chainsaw will do – it really does function so well. To get to the bottom of the best cordless chainsaw, I tested a variety of chainsaws, both from the most renowned and lesser-known manufacturers. I assessed each chainsaw on its assembly ease, design, performance, power, ease of use, safety, and value for money. Here is how I tested:

Table notes: Results from corded, petrol and cordless chainsaws combined. Test scores correct as of November 2022. The customer score is based on a survey of chainsaw owners combining how satisfied they are with a brand and whether they would recommend it to a friend. Now for the only downside to this chainsaw – its price. It was the most expensive battery powered chainsaw that I tested, and it was even more expensive than all of the petrol chainsaws that I also tested, and that’s not accounting for the batteries and the dual charger. That said, it’s still a machine that I would highly recommend buying, simply because of how durable it feels and how well it performs. The fact that its performance is equivalent to that of many petrol chainsaws, yet it’s so much easier to use, makes it, in my opinion, well worth the higher cost. From our experience, we found that the best cordless chainsaw will generally weigh under 5 kg . These are powerful yet manageable and make it possible to maintain control. Nevertheless, you could also choose a chainsaw closer to 3 kg if you want something particularly light .

Makita is famed for being one of the best power tool brands around and, after testing many of their cordless tools, I can see why. So, while I had high hopes for their DUC353Z Twin 18V Cordless Chainsaw, I was also a little doubtful about whether or not it would be up to the task that I had in mind for it – helping me to slice up the several mature trees that Storm Arwen had scattered around my farm. There is an adjustment button, which is very useful for tool-free tensioning as well as changing the chain. With its automatic lubrication, you can be certain that there will be enough lubrication for your sawing task. The oil tank has a capacity of 140 ml, and you can easily view the oil level to know the right time to top it up. Hence, servicing the machine is a stroll in the park. They’re very lightweight when compared to petrol chainsaws – this not only makes them easier to move around to different parts of your garden, but also gives you more manoeuvrability if you need to take your chainsaw up a ladder or a tree Our product experience surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best chainsaw you should buy. I was happy with how long the battery lasted – I was able to use it on and off for just over two hours (it would probably be closer to an hour if it was continously running) before the battery level dropped down to one bar. Speaking of which, the way in which this chainsaw has been designed means that you can clearly see the amount of life left in your battery while you’re using the chainsaw, which always makes things more convenient!

Even those who have never heard of WESCO before would take a second look at the WESCO 36V Cordless Chainsaw. At first glance, it certainly appears impressive, so I had high hopes for its ability to help me tidy up the branches that Storm Arwen had scattered around my farm. Out of the cordless chainsaws that I tested, this one was the clear winner when it came to assembly, simply because it didn’t require any at all. The machine was already fully set up – just add oil, charge the batteries, and you’re good to go! The first thing that stood out to me about this 18V chainsaw was its 30cm Oregon bar and chain – a sign of top quality. It has also been designed with a brushless motor, which makes any machine significantly more efficient. Other than that, the rest of its design features were pretty standard, but there were definitely no flaws either.

There are a few design elements to this battery powered chainsaw that immediately stand out. Firstly, its size – with a 20cm bar and a very compact body, it’s the smallest of the six cordless chainsaws that I reviewed. Next up, the metal protective cap over the tip of the chainsaw. It’s there to reduce vibration, give you a cleaner cut when pruning trees, and prevent you from cutting with the nose of the chainsaw. Why? Because that requires expertise, whereas this chainsaw is designed for beginners.