Everyone with a yard should have a chainsaw on hand so that they can trim their trees and deal with any downed wood. But what about those people who need to use a chainsaw on a professional level? If a chainsaw is integral to your bread and butter, you need a much more high-quality machine.
Read on to see our list of the best professional chainsaws and what you should be looking out for when choosing a saw of this caliber.
Comparison of the Best Professional Chainsaws
Product | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
Husqvarna 450 (50cc)  | Best Overall | |
Remington RM4620 Outlaw 46cc 20-inch Chainsaw w/Carrying Case  | Runner-up | |
Greenworks 12-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw  | Best for the Money | |
Oregon CS1500 Electric Chainsaw  | Editor's Pick | |
Husqvarna 20 Inch 455 Rancher Chainsaw  | Best Husqvarna Professional Chainsaw |
Professional vs. Novice Chainsaws – What’s the Difference?
How do you know that you are buying a chainsaw that is graded specifically for professional use? One of the biggest tells that a chainsaw is intended to be used commercially is its size. Professional chainsaws are typically bigger than those that are designed for casual, occasional at-home use.
Husqvarna 450 (50cc)
The larger size translates into more power and a stronger bite but it also means that these saws are much more difficult to maneuver and can be extremely dangerous. Make sure that if you are planning on working with a professional-grade chainsaw, you have the experience to be able to handle it properly.
What Makes These The Best of The Year?
So why should you go with one of our products? Here are the qualities we used to help shape our list below:
Durability
You will likely be using your professional chainsaw on a regular basis, for an extended period of time. The last thing you want is a model that will fall apart on you. Invest in a high-quality, durable product like one from our list.
Ease of Use
As mentioned above, these types of saws can be pretty dangerous! Choose a saw that is straightforward and easy to use, so you do not have to worry about figuring a powerful tool out and potentially compromising your safety.
Newest Technology
Whether you are looking for a saw with a decreased environmental impact or one that has a self-sharpening chain, you will be able to find all of these features and more with the products on our list. They implement the hottest in power tool technology to make your life easier.
Quick Take | Best Professional Chainsaws
Before you move to the our full review of the best professional chainsaws, here is a quick take of the top 3 models:
Review of the Best Professional Chainsaws
Okay, since you are now familiar with the product itself and with what you should be looking out for, here is our comprehensive list:
Best Overall:
Husqvarna 450 (50cc)
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers report that they are able to use this saw daily for years at a time without it wearing down or breaking. This is one durable piece of machinery!
Why it Stands Out to Us
We loved how easy this saw was to operate. It has a combined choke and stop control function that is straightforward and simple, and its chain tensioning mechanism does not require any tools to be able to operate.
Who Will Use This Most
Users say this is a great saw for chopping through hardwood, and that the eighteen-inch bar on it is also big enough to handle multiple cords of wood at once, and even some sizes of trees!
Bottom Line
The Husqvarna 450 is an all-around excellent saw and our top choice due mainly to a combination of its incredible durability and ease of use. The one thing to take into consideration with this model is that warm starting can actually be a bit more difficult than cold starting.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers appreciate how easy it is to maneuver and control this saw. It is lightweight and easy to carry, and its buckling spikes allow for added levels of control.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We were drawn to the multiple convenience features present with this saw. It has anti-vibration handles on both the front and the back, and its QuickStart technology makes it easy to start every time, regardless of the weather or temperature.
Who Will Use This Most
Anyone looking for a saw that can strike the balance between a lot of power that is still pretty easy to manage will appreciate this chainsaw.
Bottom Line
The Remington RM4620 Outlaw 46cc 20 Inch Chainsaw is a great option and our choice for runner-up to best overall due to its maneuverability and convenience features. The only thing to keep in mind is that when the saw is at full throttle, it does not have a ton of torque available.
Best for the Money:
Greenworks 12 Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers love the convenience aspect of working with a cordless chainsaw. They report that the battery life on this model can last just as long as a typical tank of gas on your average gas-powered saw can.
Why it Stands Out to Us
How could a genuine Greenworks saw cost so little money? We thought at first that this saw must be a knock off or a fraud, but it is true – Greenworks is selling this saw at a price that is a true steal of a deal.
Who Will Use This Most
Many of the users who report the best experiences with this saw are senior gardeners. Because of its lighter weight due to a lack of a gas tank, this model works especially well for older users.
Bottom Line
The Greenworks 12 Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw is a great saw that will save your wallet some cash. The one struggle users have with this model is that the chain can loosen fairly quickly.
Editor’s Pick:
Oregon CS1500 Electric Chainsaw
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers are big fans of how easy this model is to use. It does not require a ton of maintenance when you compare it to gas chainsaws, and it has a number of convenience features, including an audible signal when its oil is running low.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We were drawn to a number of qualities with this model, including its self-sharpening chain which will last much longer than other chain types, and the fact that it runs much more quietly than many of its competitor brands.
Who Will Use This Most
Most saws on this list are not intended for those who have never worked with a chainsaw before, but this one, in particular, will require a good amount of professional experience before using because of its heavier weight.
Bottom Line
The Oregon CS1500 Electric Chainsaw is our editor’s pick due to a number of great features, including a quieter motor, a lower level of required maintenance, and a self-sharpening chain. The one drawback with this model is that it has a side-mounted motor, which can make it a little awkward to hold and maneuver.
Best Husqvarna Professional Chainsaw:
Husqvarna 20 Inch 455 Rancher Chainsaw
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers love the X Torq technology on this model. It reduces both fuel consumption, by up to twenty percent, and overall emissions by up to sixty percent. If you want an environmentally friendly product, this is the one you have got to go with!
Why it Stands Out to Us
We liked the efficient air cleaning system on this saw. It is excellent at getting rid of larger dust particles as well as overall debris to reduce the likelihood of the filter clogging up quickly.
Who Will Use This Most
Users say that this is an excellent choice for part-time use thanks to its smaller and more lightweight size. Specifically, they say it is great for limbing and cleaning up downed wood with storm work.
Bottom Line
The Husqvarna 20 Inch 455 Rancher Chainsaw is a great saw and our best pick from Husqvarna thanks to its reduced emissions and awesome air cleaning system. Just keep in mind, that the top-notch air cleaning system is not the best with fine sawdust.
Types of Professional Chainsaws
Professional chainsaws are typically sorted into types primarily based off of which kind of fuel they use:
Gasoline
Chainsaws powered by gasoline, or, as it is more commonly described in the industry, “fuel,” are still likely the most prevalent saws out there on the market today. They tend to be the most powerful, but they are also the least healthy for the environment.
Electricity
Electric chainsaws are growing in popularity as gas prices continue to rise and people are becoming more conscious of their environmental impact. The drawback of these saws is that they require a cord to be physically plugged into a wall, which limits their mobility.
Batteries
Battery-powered saws get rid of the issue of electric cords getting in the way, and they can be just as powerful as gas-powered saws. The annoying aspect of a battery saw is that you have to remember to recharge the battery, and sometimes that can take a long time.
Perks of Getting a New Professional Chainsaw
Let’s say you already have a professional-grade chainsaw that is still working reliably. Why should you spend the money to upgrade? Here are the biggest reasons:
Improved Safety Features
Chainsaws are some of the most dangerous power tools you will ever encounter, and professional-grade chainsaws take that danger to the next level. Today’s saws have much more safety and emergency stopping features to ensure you can keep all your limbs.
Better Starting Speed
The most frustrating aspect of working with a chainsaw is constantly struggling to get it up and running, particularly in colder weather. The newer chainsaws have enhanced technology to ensure the motor will get started with just a couple of pulls.
Heightened Precision
Professional-grade chainsaws, with their bulkier size and compromised maneuverability, have never been the best option for making precise cuts. But the saws on the market today have been specifically designed to be easier to manipulate, meaning those difficult cuts could become a lot less complicated.
Conclusion
Professional-grade chainsaws are a necessity for anyone who anticipates doing regular wood cutting work on a larger scale. It is important to be choosy when selecting your saw, from the power source it will run off of to the variety of different features it has. We promise that, no matter what model you go with, you will not be making a mistake when you invest in one of the products from our list above.