Quick Answer: Best Gas Chainsaw
How We Decided
14 products considered- 600+ reviews analysed, 22 research hours spent, 15+ info. sources referred
Chainsaws aren’t just for professional lumberjacks. Landscapers, regular homeowners, and DIYers are also in need of a good gas chainsaw for their own projects and repairs.
But how do you know what chainsaw is the right one for you? How will you know if you want a saw with features like an automatic chain oiler or anti-vibration technology?
What specs will benefit you, and which can you afford to do without? This informative article will hopefully help you identify your needs.
This article will go over different types of gas chainsaws, what sets them apart from other kinds of chainsaws, chainsaw specs to look out for and what kind of buyer you are.
You’ll then be able to take a close look at ten gas chainsaws that are available on the market and the pros and cons of each.
Comparison Table: Top Gas Chainsaws Today
Here is a quick comparison table of best chain saw available today along with key specs to make a decision –
| Product | Min. Bar Length | Max. Bar Length | Engine Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Husqvarna 455 20" Best Overall | 20" | 24" | 80 cc | Check Price |
Husqvarna 24" 460 RancherRunner Up | 13" | 24" | 80 cc | Check Price |
Husqvarna 450 18" | 18" | 20" | 60 cc | Check Price |
Remington RM4216 | 16" | 16" | 50 cc | Check Price |
Tanaka TCS33EDTP/14 | 12" | 14" | 40 cc | Check Price |
XtremepowerUS 22" | 16" | 22" | 70 cc | Check Price |
Poulan Pro 20" | 20" | 20" | 60 cc | Check Price |
Poulan Pro PP5020AV | 18" | 20" | 60 cc | Check Price |
Echo 12" Bar Gas Saw | 12" | 16" | 50 cc | Check Price |
Blue Max 8901 | 14" | 20" | 60 cc | Check Price |
Reviews of the Best Gas Chainsaw
These are ten gas saws that are available on Amazon. Though they’re all great saws in their own way, each saw has its own strengths and weaknesses and may work well for one user but not at all for another.
Hopefully, by the time you’re done reading these reviews, you’ll have seen one or two saws that will do what you specifically need it to do.
Husqvarna 455 20” Review
Key specs:
- 24” max bar length
- Automatic chain oiler
- Easy to make chain adjustments.
Husqvarna Group is a manufacturer of outdoor power products and provides products to countries around the globe.
They specialize in chainsaw, trimmer, robotic and ride-on lawn mower production, and are the leading producer of cutting equipment for the construction field.
This saw is great for landscapers and homeowners alike. With an automatic chain oiler and a quick-release air filter, this saw is easy to maintain for the less-than-seasoned contractors.
Likewise, these additional features would make life easier for landscapers who perhaps have back-to-back jobs to worry about.
These features minimize maintenance, and allow landscapers to get lots of work done without stopping what they’re doing to fix up their saw.
- Automatic chain oiler
- Easy-to-clean air filter
- Reduces emissions
- Lowers fuel consumption
- Side-mounted chain tensioning system
- Can’t double warranty
- Smaller bar length range
This is a strong saw that’s good for both landscapers and regular homeowners. The extra features make it a great introductory gas saw for non-professionals
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
Husqvarna 24” 460 Rancher Gas Review
Key specs:
- 24” max bar length
- Low fuel consumption
- Reduced exhaust emission levels
This chainsaw is excellent for those who will be working long jobs. Because the saw is built specifically to start easily and consume fuel at lower levels, it’s great for longer projects.
It has lots of extra features such as an engine that starts easily with little effort on the user’s part.
The additional features of an adjustable oil pump and an air cleaning system to keep the air filter cleaner also make this a great, long-lasting tool for landscapers.
- Easy-start engine
- Air cleaning system
- Large bar length range
- Controllable oil flow
- Can’t increase warranty duration
- Built more with professional landscapers in mind
The nice features that ensure a long life for the saw make it a perfect tool for those who run a landscaping business or handle lots of sawing jobs.
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
Husqvarna 450 18″ Review
Key specs:
- 20” max bar length
- Reduces harmful exhaust emissions
- Can double warranty duration
An ideal saw for professional and non-professional landscapers alike, this saw has a shorter bar length and made with Average Joe landowners.
Yet like the previously 24-inch Husqvarna saw, this saw also has extra features such as a Smart Start technology to make the saw easier to turn on, an air cleaning system and a possibility to extended the user warranty.
As an added bonus, it’s also possible to double the consumer warranty from 2 to 4 years by simply buying Husqvarna’s fuel and registering the saw online.
- Easy-start engine
- Vibration dampening
- Reduces emissions
- Lowers fuel consumption
- Can double warranty duration
- Lower maximum bar length
This saw is perfect for, as the product description specifies, “landowners and others who cut regularly”. However, it has plenty of nice specs, and there’s no reason why a professional contractor wouldn’t get good use out of this saw as well.
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
Remington RM4216 Review
Key specs:
- 16” max bar length
- Low kickback
- Anti-vibration technology
Remington is a Wisconsin-based yard and power tool company that’s been in business since the early 1920s.
They’ve been creating and improving their tools for near a century now, and strive to provide the best yard and lawn care products.
Being a low kickback saw makes this saw safer for DIYers, landowners and other laymen who may not be experienced with gas saws.
The anti-vibration system also makes it a good tool for all, as it will reduce stress on the user’s wrists.
The fact that it’s designed to allow easy access to the saw’s filter and spark plugs make it easy to maintain. This saw was definitely built with homeowners in mind.
- Easy-to-start engine
- Automatic chain oiler
- Easy access to filter and spark plug
- Built with the homeowner in mind
- No bar length range
- Lacks emission and fuel consumption reduction
- Limited warranty
- Can’t extend warranty
Because it lacks extra features such as emission reduction and fuel consumption reduction, this saw perhaps isn’t the best one for professional contractors.
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
Tanaka TCS33EDTP/14 Review
Key specs:
- 14” max bar length
- Automatic oiler
- Easy-start engine
Tanaka Power Equipment is a company that specializes in producing tools for property managers, utility professionals and landscapers.
Their parent company, Hitachi Power Group, is a global manufacturer of products and services ranging from appliance production to financial services to construction machinery.
This tool is another one that would work well for landscapers and homeowners. The saw is easy to start up and warm up with the use of a half-throttle choke with a purge primer bulb.
This saw also has a variety of warranties depending on whether or not the consumer owns a business, rents, or has it for personal use.
- Reduces fuel consumption
- Sprocket nose bar for easier control
- Side-mounted chain tensioning system
- Warranty variety
- Small bar length range
With a great warranty variety and plenty of extra features that make the saw easy to use, this saw would work well for any consumer.
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
XtremepowerUS 22″ Review
Key specs:
- 22” max bar length
- 2 stroke engine
- Automatic chain oiler
XtremepowerUs is a California-based company that produces power tools, pool equipment and garden maintenance equipment.
In addition to hardware, hey also manufacture miscellaneous items such as bouncy houses, snow blowers, and meat cutting saws.
This saw is great for professionals as well as for homeowners and those who will be using their saw occasionally. The saw is built with yard maintenance in mind with its easy-start engine, anti-kickback and anti-vibration technology.
However, with extra features such as a solid air-intake system, quick-release air filter, and durable chainsaw, this saw would work excellently for other tasks such as cutting firewood and DIY projects.
- Easy-to-start engine
- Easy-to-clean air filter
- Wide bar length range
- Air-intake system
- Anti-vibration technology
- Anti-kickback technology
- Can’t go shorter than a 16” bar
- Can’t increase warranty
Ideal for landscapers, DIYers, and homeowners, this saw has plenty of features that make professionals will get used out of, and make projects around the house easier for non-professionals.
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
Poulan Pro 20” Review
Key specs:
- 20” max bar length
- Choke/stop technology
Poulan Pro is a producer of outdoor tools such as chainsaws, snow blowers, lawn mowers, and hedge trimmers. They are an innovative company constantly creating new products for their customers.
The choke/stop control makes the saw easier to start and reduces the risk of engine flooding. The combi tool in the rear handle also helps makes maintenance easier.
An easy-to-start engine, emission reduction and fuel consumption reduction also make the saw a great tool for many uses and users. 
- Easy-to-start engine
- Reduces emissions
- Lowers fuel consumption
- Combi tool
- Can’t increase warranty
- Small bar length range
Another strong gas saw that will work well with customers with any needs, this saw comes with many extra features to make it easy to use and easy to maintain.
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
Poulan Pro PP5020AV Review
Key specs:
- 20” max bar length
- DuraLife engine
- Automatic chain oiler
This saw, while it would work well for many at-home and DIY projects, would probably be best for professional landscapers and independent contractors.
The fact that it has an easy-to-start engine also makes it good for landscapers and users of any experience level.
The long-lasting engine and automatic chain oiler make this a great tool for landscapers who may need to work on longer jobs, and the strong air filter system extends the life of and preserves the air filter system.
- Easy-to-start engine
- A strong air filter system
- Long engine life
- Can’t increase warranty
- Small bar length range
Though DIYers and homeowners will get good use out of this saw, landscapers would probably get more of a saw like this.
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
Echo 12” Bar Gas Saw Review
Key specs:
- 16” max bar length
- Relatively large bar range
Echo-USA is a company that specializes in handheld outdoor equipment. They produce maintenance products such as leaf blowers, axes, circular saws, and augers.
They are a subsidiary of Yamabiko Corporation, a power tool company with products available worldwide.
The limited bar length range makes this a better saw for the Average Joe who won’t be using their saw every day or uses their saw for smaller, less complicated projects.
Professional contractors who want a smaller saw for different projects might also get some use out of this saw, however it may lack extra features such as an easy-to-start engine or long engine life.
- Can support 14” bars
- Can support 16” bars
- Good for smaller projects
- Can’t increase warranty
- Can’t support larger bars
This tool would probably be best for homeowners and others who are doing smaller projects.
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
Blue Max 8901 Review
Key specs:
- 20” max bar length
- Extra chain teeth
- Low-range kickback brake
Blue Max is a subsidiary of NATI – North American Tool Industries – and specializes in tools such as log splitters, generators, shaft engines and trimmers.
The extra chain teeth on the saw reduce cutting time by up to 30%. The automatic oiler, quick-start ignition system, and low-range kickback brake make it a good saw for not just landowners, but for DIYers and landscapers.
However, because of the lack of features such as emission reduction, fuel consumption reduction, and a quick-release air filter, professional landscapers might not be able to use this saw for all the projects that they have in mind.
- Quick-start ignition system
- Automatic oiler
- Cutting time can be reduced by up to 30%
- Moderate range of guide bars
- Limited warranty
- Lacks quick-release air filter
- Lacks emission and fuel consumption reduction systems
Check Reviews & Price on Amazon
Buying Guide for Best Gas Chainsaw
When it comes to a powerful tool such as a chainsaw, it’s important to have all the information. If you’re familiar with what a gas chainsaw is but aren’t sure what specs you might want or need on your saw, it’s best to read up and figure out what your needs are.
What is Gas Chainsaw?
ExplainThatStuff explains it eloquently: a chainsaw is a tool that uses sawblades to cut trees, logs, and other wooden structures. Instead of using a long, slim, single blade – such as in the case of handsaws – chainsaws use a chain, which has sawblades constructed right into the chain.
This makes it possible to get more work done in a shorter amount of time than a handsaw or axe would allow. Chainsaws also convert cut wood to sawdust, instead of leaving large chunks of wood as an axe does.
As the name implies, a gas chainsaw also uses fuel to power itself. This sets it apart from electric chainsaws which use cords or batteries to provide power.
How do Gas Chainsaws work?
The chain is attached to what’s called the “guide bar”, and is kept from flying off the bar because of sprockets attached to the guide bar.
When you power up a gas chainsaw, the chain is rotated due by the gas-powered engine that moves a piston.
The piston, in turn, pushes a rod that’s attached to a piece called a crankshaft, and the crankshaft rotates gears that are attached to the sprockets.
Benefits of a Gas Chainsaw Versus an Electric saw
Chainsaws Direct notes that if you have a solid supply of gas, a gas chainsaw will last much longer than an electric cordless saw. This is perfect for long jobs that can’t be interrupted by waiting for a battery to recharge.
Gas chainsaws are also cordless, meaning that they don’t need to be used next to a power supply, and tripping over a cord while working is a non-issue.
A third major difference between gas chainsaws and cordless and corded saws is the strength. Gas chainsaws simply have more cutting ability than its electric counterparts.
Gas chainsaws are recommended for all different kinds of uses, ranging from home and yard to professional landscaping to ranch maintenance. They can cut trees and branches of all sizes, which is great for independent contractors.
Benefits of a Gas Chainsaw versus a Handsaw or Axe
For most log- and tree-chopping jobs, a chainsaw is definitely the better choice. Handsaws are best for indoor work, while chainsaws are better for outdoor work.
Chainsaws are used to cut firewood, maintain properties and landscape. Handsaws are, as PopularMechanics points out, better for smaller repairs and cuts such as rafters, stair stringers, door jambs, and rigid foam insulation.
Some jobs require thinner blades, and that’s the best time to use a hand saw.
A benefit to chainsaws compared to axes is that they often leave less of a mess. As stated above, ExplainThatStuff makes it clear that chainsaws produce sawdust instead of wood chunks.
This makes cleanup easier, especially since many chainsaws have special features to collect the sawdust to be disposed of after the project is finished.
Chainsaws also work faster, as ExplainThatStuff further notes. When it comes to emergency tree removal, cutting down dying trees or other jobs that require speed, a chainsaw is a way to go.
Those who remove trees for the safety of the general public need to move fast, and axes nor handsaws give the same speed that chainsaws can achieve.
Unlike handsaws, gas chainsaws also have different guide bar lengths. This allows the user to adjust their saw to fit the job that needs getting done and isn’t limited to the length that their saw had upon purchase.
What kinds of Gas Chainsaws are there?
Though there are no gas chainsaw sub-categories, there are different specs that set gas chainsaws apart from each other.
These specs will determine whether a chainsaw is good for those who need a chainsaw for their work, those who occasionally use chainsaws, and those that rarely use chainsaws.
Some Specs and Terms to look out for:
- Bar length – this is the length of the guide bar and determines how far out your saw reaches.
Low fuel consumption – the saw is built to consume fuel at lower levels, preserving the fuel and allowing the user to work longer without stopping to refuel. - Reduced exhaust emission – the saw it built to put out less exhaust, which keeps the air clean and reduces pollution.
- Easy-start engine – the engine can start with little effort on the user’s part, compared to more difficult pull-string saws.
- Automatic oiler – the saw has a feature that allows the chain to oil itself.
How Do I Know What Chainsaw is Right for Me?
Now that you know what kinds of chainsaws are out there, you should decide what chainsaw you need. The best way to determine this is to figure out what kind of customer you are.
A seasoned landscaper or someone looking to start a landscaping business will need a different saw than a DIYer, and a DIY will need a different saw than your average landowner.
I’m a landscaper…
Landscapers who will be doing all sorts of cuts and doing many different kinds of projects would need a more specialized chainsaw that has more specs.
Automatic oiling reduced fuel consumption, and reduced exhaust emission will make it easier to carry out longer jobs with minimal air pollution.
I’m constantly cutting firewood/a DIYer…
If you use your chainsaw frequently for maintaining yours and your friends’ homes, or you need it for DIY projects, then you’ll want a job with lower kickback.
If you’re a somewhat inexperienced user using a chainsaw semi-regularly for your projects, you’ll want to have as many safety features on your saw as possible.
If you’re regularly using your chainsaw to cut firewood, then you’re likely using your saw a bit more and will prioritize bar length more than anything.
A saw with a range of different guide bars available will allow you to cut wood of varying sizes.
I just need a chainsaw for the tree in my yard…
If you just need a chainsaw for occasional house maintenance, then a saw with an easy-start engine will make life easier for you.
Just like with DIYers, reduced kickback would also be a useful spec. A saw with a huge bar probably isn’t the best for you, especially if you only have a yard or property maintenance in mind.
Final Words
It is important to select the right gas chainsaw for your work. There are so many great models available and thus you need to select wisely.
Here is the list of our top picks again for you. Check out the reviews, specs, pricing and offers on Amazon –
- Husqvarna 455 20″ – Best Overall
- Husqvarna 24″ 460 Rancher – Runner Up
- Husqvarna 450 18″
- Remington RM4216
- Tanaka TCS33EDTP/14
- XtremepowerUS 22″
- Poulan Pro 20″
- Poulan Pro PP5020AV
- Echo 12″ Bar Gas Saw
- Blue Max 8901
Last update on 2020-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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