5 Best Chainsaws for Cutting Firewood, Hardwood and Wet Wood

Chainsaws are used for all sorts of purposes and are perhaps one of the most versatile tools on the market. From cutting firewood to clearing away logs, chainsaws are an understandably popular tool. Everyone needs a good chainsaw, especially if you plan on cutting firewood. Without one, you may likely end up cold this winter. Sadly, there really aren’t that many great chainsaws available on the market. While chainsaws for cutting firewood are quite popular, most of the ones available are mediocre at best.

No one wants to spend their money on a poorly designed saw. To help you make the best buying decision, we’ve put together this complete guide to buying the best chainsaw for cutting firewood. We’ve included everything from chainsaw reviews to a list of important features to consider. With us, you’ll know the truth behind each model before you buy it, allowing you to spend your hard-earned money wisely.

Comparison of our Top 5 Models

Model
Model
Weight
Ratings
More Details
#1. Husqvarna 460 Rancher
Husqvarna 460 Rancher
Editor's Choice


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13 lbs


5.0/5


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#2. DEWALT DCCS620B

DEWALT DCCS620B akita


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9 lbs


4.8/5


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#3. WORX WG304.1
WORX WG304.1
Value for Money


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11 lbs


4.7/5


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#4. BLACK+DECKER LCS1240

BLACK+DECKER LCS1240


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10 lbs


4.2/5


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#5. Sun Joe SWJ698E

Sun Joe SWJ698E


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10 lbs


3.9/5


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5 Best Chainsaws for Cutting Firewood – Reviews 2022


#1 Husqvarna 460 Rancher Chainsaw – Best Overall

Husqvarna 460

When it comes to Husqvarna 460 Rancher it is the best chainsaw for cutting firewood, you can’t get much better than this. It is a well-known gas-powered chainsaw – and for good reason. We liked how easy it is to start/stop this chainsaw with a combined switch in just 1 or 2 pulls.

You won’t get much fatigue as due to having the moderate weight of 13 Lbs it doesn’t vibrate too much hence easy to control and use. This chainsaw for firewood is able to cut 9 pin trees and 3 oaks in quick time. Despite this machine’s high power, it uses surprisingly little fuel.

Even though this gas chainsaw has 2 horsepower but feels far stronger than that due to the stellar design. It features an air injection system that prevents dirt and debris from entering the engine while in use. This increase the overall power and durability of the engine. When we did need to change the air filter, the quick-release feature made it extremely easy.

The trigger is not as sturdy or well-made as we would like. In fact, it appears to be made of cheap plastic. While it didn’t break, there are a couple of reports of it failing. Some users reported that the bar and chain are also somewhat difficult to install, although it’s durable and powerful.

It is a professional-grade gas chainsaw. This saw is not for the homeowner that only trims trees once a year. This is for the serious arborists. If you looking for a chainsaw for firewood with plenty of power and at a good price, we will recommend you buy this one

Pros
  • Adjustable oil pump
  • Powerful & Low vibration
  • Quick Start
  • Comes with a detailed manual
  • Intertia activated chain brake for safety
Cons
  • Slightly Expensive
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#2 DEWALT DCCS620B Firewood Cutting Chainsaw – Runner-Up

DEWALT DCCS620B

When it comes to Husqvarna 460 Rancher it is the best chainsaw for cutting firewood, you can’t get much better than this. It is a well-known gas-powered chainsaw – and for good reason. We liked how easy it is to start/stop this chainsaw with a combined switch in just 1 or 2 pulls.

You won’t get much fatigue as due to having the moderate weight of 13 Lbs it doesn’t vibrate too much hence easy to control and use. This chainsaw for firewood is able to cut 9 pin trees and 3 oaks in quick time. Despite this machine’s high power, it uses surprisingly little fuel.

Even though this gas chainsaw has 2 horsepower but feels far stronger than that due to the stellar design. It features an air injection system that prevents dirt and debris from entering the engine while in use. This increase the overall power and durability of the engine. When we did need to change the air filter, the quick-release feature made it extremely easy.

The trigger is not as sturdy or well-made as we would like. In fact, it appears to be made of cheap plastic. While it didn’t break, there are a couple of reports of it failing. Some users reported that the bar and chain are also somewhat difficult to install, although it’s durable and powerful.

It is a professional-grade gas chainsaw. This saw is not for the homeowner that only trims trees once a year. This is for the serious arborists. If you looking for a chainsaw for firewood with plenty of power and at a good price, we will recommend you buy this one.

Pros
  • High-efficiency brushless motor
  • Tool-free bar tightening knob
  • Easy to use above ground
  • Battery lasts long & Quick Charge
Cons
  • Not as powerful as the Husqvarna Gas Saw
  • Consume chain oil fast
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#3 WORX WG304.1 Firewood Chainsaw – Best For The Money

WORX WG304.1

This is our 2nd pick in the list of best chainsaws for cutting firewood. Dewalt is new in the chainsaw market, but it is hard to tell with this well-designed machine. It just weighs under 9 pounds and is easy to handle for overhead work. The weight makes it incredibly easy to manoeuver it and results in less fatigue for us. This chainsaw makes it very easy to cut branches and chop up firewood. In fact, this saw is probably one of the easiest to manoeuver. If you want the lightest chainsaw for firewood you can get without sacrificing power, this is a great option.

As this is a battery-powered chainsaw so it produces almost negligible noise as compared to a gasoline chainsaw. You can communicate with another person nearby efficiently while using this saw.

The battery used in this chainsaw is compatible with other 20V DEWALT tools & lasts a long time. With a 5Ah battery, you can work for several hours, and still has some power left.

With the 12-inch Oregon Bar and chain on this chainsaw, you cut a small tree of 10” diameter. While you probably aren’t going to be cutting down any huge monsters, this saw is more than enough for your average tree. Well, you can do a $35 upgrade for bar and chain which match the power of Husqvarna 460.

There were a couple of things we found this saw lacking. The oil cap is also very difficult to remove. It is surprisingly flimsy but is also screwed on impossibly tight. This battery-powered chainsaw comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Rubber rear handle
  • Ergonomic front handle
  • Built-in chain brake for added safety
Cons
  • Oil reservoir leaks by design
  • Auto tension feature malfunctions
  • Gears are plastic
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#4 BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 40V Cordless Chainsaw

BLACK+DECKER LCS1240

WORX WG304.1 is a less expensive chainsaw for firewood and provides you full value for money. It can do nearly everything the more expensive chainsaws can, but only costs a fraction of the price. To be honest, we were rather skeptical when we opened up this chainsaw.

Despite its lower price, it is quite powerful. With the help of a 15-amp motor that can produce up to 4 horsepower, the 18″ chain & bar on this chainsaw is able to cut 6 ft diameter oak tree with ease, fast, and without any hassles. You don’t need to sharpen the chain till 3-4 jobs.

This electric chainsaw for firewood is particularly suitable for those who have very little experience with chainsaws or cutting firewood. It has a number of features that make using it a breeze. Firstly, replacing the chain requires absolutely no tools and is quite straightforward. After a quick glance at the user’s manual, we quickly figured out how to change the chain. The auto-tensioning feature is particularly helpful. It prevents the chain from over-tightening or becoming too loose. If you’ve never used a chainsaw before, this feature is seriously useful.

Another thing that we absolutely loved about this chainsaw is that it comes fully assembled. While assembly this chainsaw is quite easy, particularly useful for beginners, this is not the case for all chainsaws. The fact that this saw required no assembly allowed us to jump into cutting faster.

We also liked that this chainsaw included all-metal dogs for added stability. This is a feature that we missed on even more expensive chainsaws, so we are very surprised to find it on this budget option for under $200. The self-lubricating feature on this chainsaw is also helpful. It helps extend the life of your tool, even if by a small amount.

Another feature we fell in love with that this chainsaw is electric. Of course, we were somewhat unsure at first. Electric chainsaws are underpowered when compared to gas chainsaws, so we weren’t exactly sure what to expect. Despite its power source though, this saw is quite powerful and lasts a decent amount of time in between charges. You do not have to worry about purchasing fuel for the saw or mixing oil and gas. Just plug it in and you’re good to go. This saw does require oil for lubrication. However, it has an oil level indicator that is very easy to read.

Of course, because this saw is electric, you must have to be near an electricity source to use it. If you mostly work out in the field for firewood cutting and away from an outlet, this chainsaw just isn’t going to work for you. We also didn’t like how much of this saw was made out of plastic. Even the drive gears are plastic and become stripped out easier than other models.

The oil reservoir is also not well made. Frankly put, it leaks oil out of the bottom when you aren’t using it. At first, we thought this was a malfunction. However, we were then informed by customer service that this glitch was expected and is not covered under warranty. In other words, the saw is designed to leak. They suggested that we drain the oil after each use.

For chopping firewood by your house, this saw will likely be good enough. However, for much more, you might want to consider a different saw.

Pros
  • 12” bar and chain
  • Battery and charger included
  • Automatic Oiling system
Cons
  • Extra batteries are expensive
  • Included battery is weaker than aftermarket varieties
  • Battery takes hours to charge
  • Leaks oil when stored
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#5 Sun Joe SWJ698E Chainsaw

Sun Joe SWJ698E

We had our doubts about this saw from the minute we opened the box. The saw itself is a lot flimsier than we would have liked. It is not made out of very high-quality materials; that much was obvious from the moment we opened the box.

We did find a couple of things we liked about this machine. Firstly, the saw just weight over 7 pounds and is one of the lightest saws we used. Which makes it easy to maneuver and decreased our fatigue. As this is a battery-powered chainsaw which means you can take it to distant places to cut wood.

The 9 Amp motor provides a decent amount of power that should be able to cut most of your firewood. We did not attempt to cut down massive trees with this saw. However, for your firewood cutting needs, this saw should be powerful enough.

The automatic oiling system is worst than BLACK+DECKER LCS1240. The oiler basically continuously dumps tons of oil onto your 12″ bar and chain. The amount of oil it spews out is way more than the saw actually needs. We went through a quart of oil in ten minutes. Although you save money on this saw being the cheap option, you may lose more on the amount of oil you use. This is the main reason this saw ended up in fifth place.

Furthermore, thirty minutes into using the saw, the chain became extremely dull to the point that it wouldn’t cut anything. This is likely because the chain itself is very low quality. Then, the chain decided to slip off the bar and continued slipping off. Even after we had replaced the chain back into the right position, it would slip off within a few seconds of starting the saw.

Because we had not tested the saw enough to our liking, we tried to procure a replacement chain. However, this is a lot easier said than done. Replacement chains for this saw appear to be few and far between. The company doesn’t even have a clear replacement chain available. You definitely get what you pay for with this saw, which isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Pros
  • Built-in safety switch
  • 12″ bar and chain
Cons
  • Chain slips off bar
  • Chain included is very low quality
  • Gushes oil
  • Battery life is sub-par
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How to Choose Chainsaw for Cutting Firewood – Buying Guide

Durability

Durability is important, especially if you’re going to be using your chainsaw for cutting firewood. Any saw you buy should be made out of high-quality materials and built to last. While plastic is not necessarily always a bad thing, it can make saws wear down faster and break easier. The inner workings of the saw should definitely not be made of plastic if you can avoid it. Plastic gears can wear down far faster than you might expect and can easily cause a chainsaw to become unusable. 

While it is possible to replace chains in some cases, no one wants to spend more money than they have to. A cheaply made chain can easily cut a job short after just a few uses. The battery should also be taken into account if you purchase an electric chainsaw. See if the battery lasts long and quickly charges or not.

Ease of Use

No matter whether you’re a veteran or a beginner, a chainsaw shouldn’t be more difficult to use than it needs to be. Preferably, the saw you purchase should have an automatic oiler and a tool-less tension adjuster. These features should work well and be truly easy to use. As we discovered while reviewing our chainsaws, not all tool-less tension adjusters are actually tool-less. The automatic oiler should also appropriately oil the chain and bar, as opposed to just gush oil.

While most chainsaws for cutting firewood do require some sort of assembly, the assembly should be easy and straightforward. A right chainsaw isn’t going to do you much good if you can’t put it together. We’ve encountered our fair share of confusing assembly directions and know the frustration they can cause. Poorly designed assembly instructions can also speak to the company’s customer service quality.

How it Handles

Any right chainsaw is going to be designed with the user in mind. You should not have to wrestle with a saw to get it to do what you want to cut. A poorly designed saw can easily stretch a quick job into hours.

When deciding what saw to purchase, choose one that has an ergonomic handle that will be comfortable to use. A well-designed handle will make the overall saw much easier to control. Typically, chainsaws come with one of two types of handles. Rear handles are the most common type and what we recommend for most homeowners. These handles are also good for cutting firewood.

Weight and How Heavy It Is

Weight can be an important factor while cutting firewood. The more features you shove onto a chainsaw, the heavier it is going to get. Batteries can also add a lot of weight to the saw. However, more weight typically means that you will fatigue faster. The more weight you have to manoeuver, the faster your arms are going to get tired. It is a balancing act of features and battery life versus weight.


FAQ’s

Can you cut wet wood with a chainsaw?

If you live in a rain-affected area or where the winter season is more than summer then you must have a question that keeps coming up “Can you cut wet wood with a chainsaw?” Power tools and water is not a good combination to use except for tool like a tile saw. That’s an exception. But still, there are some power tools that can cut through wet materials with ease.

So the answer to your question is a big yes. Yes, you can cut wet wood using a chainsaw.

Does Cutting Wet Wood Dull a Chainsaw?

Cutting the wet wood with a chainsaw doesn’t make the chain dull. It is the same as using it for any other type of wood. Your chainsaw chain doesn’t get wet with water rather it gets wet from the lubrication oil.

If you are using a chainsaw for a long time you must know that we apply lubrication oil onto the chain to prevent it from overheating which actually helps the bar and chain slide through the wood effortlessly without any friction.

You don’t need to worry about it as wet wood won’t degrade the efficiency of the chainsaw. There is no difference in cutting the wet or dry wood.


Best Chainsaw for Cutting Wet Wood

Selecting the best chainsaw depends on how much and what kind of wood you want to cut. A lightweight chainsaw like the Husqvarna 120i is ideal for random pruning tasks and cutting small branches around your home. A cord-free chainsaw is good for work around your home as a petrol chainsaw has some negatives like more weight, noise, and gas fumes. The ergonomic design and fewer vibrations of this chainsaw make it easy to handle.

Wet wood is not easy to cut hence you need a more powerful saw like Husqvarna 440 E-series II to tackle larger jobs and cut large pieces of wood. Moreover, during the rainy or winter season, this saw is perfect for cutting firewood.

If you are a professional arborist looking for a saw with power for regular use, then a robust saw such as 565 AutoTune is also good.

In the end, if you need a chainsaw just to cut, shape, prune, or lim remove, any lightweight tree care saw is sufficient.

Conclusion

Purchasing a chainsaw for cutting firewood is a big decision. Luckily, you don’t have to make a decision by yourself. Hopefully, our guide gave you all the information you need to make an informed buying decision.

For a great overall saw, Husqvarna 460 Rancher is the best chainsaw for cutting firewood. It doesn’t weigh much, uses little fuel, and is quite durable. It can be used for cutting firewood without a problem.

For a value for money option, the WORX WG304.1 Chainsaw is a suitable option. Despite its low price, it is quite powerful and required no assembly.

Check out our guide on How To Store A Chainsaw

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About the Author David Vieria

David has been a woodworker for most of his life — in his dad’s cabinet shop. After using the tools himself, he decided to share it his woodworking and power tools knowledge with DIYers. Read more about him

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