Two cords a season was my old routine: gas saw, fuel can, primer, pull cord, and twenty minutes of mixing while the neighbors slept. Last winter I did the same wood with a battery saw and a spare pack on the charger, and the only thing I had to plan around was stopping for a battery swap. That is the whole case for the best cordless chainsaws for firewood, and the search page you landed on exists because the honest answer is more specific than a spec sheet: a 16 inch bar with a 5.0 amp-hour battery or larger cuts almost everything a homeowner puts up, and everything above that needs a second pack or a different saw entirely.
Forums set the tone for this topic. On r/Chainsaw, one owner with a 16 inch EGO and a 5.0Ah pack put it plainly: it does the job, more than you need for limbing, and if you are putting up firewood it is a decent saw. A second post in the same thread made the point that matters most for anyone shopping: you sort of have to pick a platform. That is why platform fit appears in every pick below rather than being treated as an afterthought.
This guide covers ten cordless chainsaws, weighed against the only three questions a firewood cutter actually asks: how much wood fits on one charge, what comes in the box with the battery, and how the saw behaves when the wood is green oak instead of dry pine. We also name the limitations plainly, because a saw that is wrong for a firewood season is worse than one that is merely slower. If you are still deciding between power sources, our general chainsaw guide covers gas models that no battery can replace.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Best Cordless Chainsaws for Firewood in 2026
The three picks below are the ones I would put behind a cord of oak. Every other saw in the guide is good at something narrower, and the reviews say which something.
EGO Power+ CS1613 16 Inch
- 20 m/s chain speed
- 40cc gas equivalent
- 3/8 inch pitch 56 link chain
- Tool-free dial tensioning
SEESII M18 Ace 18 Inch
- 18 inch guide bar
- 2200W brushless motor
- Two 5.0Ah batteries and two chargers
- 8.6 lb with both packs
BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 12 Inch
- 40V MAX 2.0Ah battery included
- Over 60 cuts on 4x4 pine
- Automatic oiling
- 10.4 lb bare weight
Quick Comparison: Every Cordless Chainsaw in This Guide (October 2026)
All ten saws appear below with bar length, power source, and the specification that matters most for firewood. Read the battery and charger line first, since that is where most buying regret starts.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| EGO Power+ CS1613 16 Inch |
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Check Latest Price |
 WORX WG385 40V 16 Inch |
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| BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 12 Inch |
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Check Latest Price |
 SKIL CS4562B-10 20V 12 Inch |
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Check Latest Price |
 DEWALT DCCS672B 18 Inch |
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Check Latest Price |
 DongCheng 40V 16 Inch |
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 Supstable S16 Pro 16 Inch |
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Check Latest Price |
 ReliaRoads 16 Inch 40V |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Kobalt 40V 14 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
| SEESII M18 Ace 18 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. EGO Power+ CS1613 – Best Rated Cordless Chainsaw for Firewood
EGO POWER+ Chain Saw, 16” Battery Powered Chainsaw, Electric Cordless, Includes 56V 4.0Ah Battery and Charger – CS1613
16 inch bar
20 m/s chain speed
40cc gas equivalent
4.0Ah battery and charger included
Pros
- Highest rated saw here at 4.7 stars
- Brushless motor rated at 40cc gas equivalent
- Tool-free dial chain tensioning
- Low profile design cuts flush to the ground
- IPX4 weather resistance
Cons
- 20.9 lb bare weight is heavy for one-handed handling
- Kit includes only a single 4.0Ah battery
This is the saw most firewood owners describe when they describe the category. The brushless motor drives the chain to 20 meters per second, which EGO rates as a 40cc gas equivalent, and the 3/8 inch pitch 0.043 gauge 56 link chain is a full-size chain rather than the thinning chain that shows up on 12 inch saws. For hardwood that difference is the whole conversation.
The published cut count is up to 130 cuts on 4×4 with the included 4.0Ah pack, and the listing header quotes a higher figure of up to 220 per charge. Treat the lower number as the honest one and buy a second battery regardless, because the forum consensus on runtime is that a single pack covers a session, not a cord.
Owners credit the tool-free dial tensioning more than almost anything else. A cordless chain stretches as it works, and a saw that takes a scrench to re-tension gets tensioned once and then neglected for a season. This one gets adjusted between rounds without breaking the flow of the work.
The 20.9 pound bare weight is the real tradeoff. Owners describe it as manageable but honest, and it is meaningfully heavier than a 12 inch saw when you are lifting round after round into a splitter or a wheelbarrow.
How much firewood fits on one charge
With the 4.0Ah pack you get roughly 130 four-by-four cuts, which in practical firewood terms is a few hours of bucking on dry softwood and considerably less on green hardwood. Higher amp-hour packs in the same platform are the answer for volume work, and the saw accepts any of them.
Because the motor output is fixed, more amp-hours does not mean a faster saw. It means the same speed for longer, which is exactly what a cord-stacking afternoon needs.
Where it falls short for firewood
A single 4.0Ah battery in the box is the biggest gap. You will be swapping packs mid-session on any serious splitting day, and a second pack is not optional equipment for this saw.
Buy it if you want one saw that handles limb work and 16 inch rounds without thinking about it. If your firewood is mostly small branches and brush, a lighter 12 inch model will tire your arms far less.
2. WORX WG385 – Best Two Battery Kit for Continuous Cutting
WORX Cordless Chainsaw, 40V 16″, 2 Batteries & 4A Charger, WG385
40V 16 inch bar
59 ft/s chain speed
Two 4.0Ah batteries and dual charger
Up to 150 cuts on hardwood
Pros
- Two 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-slot charger in the box
- 59 ft/s chain speed cuts 12 pieces in about 30 seconds
- Kickback sensor stops the chain immediately
- Button tension adjustment and auto-lubrication
- 3 year manufacturer warranty
Cons
- Battery gauge gives only coarse readings during a cut
- Full kit costs more than single-battery kits in this group
The reason this saw shows up in firewood conversations is the box contents. Two 4.0Ah Power Share PRO batteries and a dual-slot charger mean a swap takes seconds, and you never wait on a charger mid-cord. For most home firewood work, that removes the single biggest complaint people have about battery saws.
Chain speed is the headline number here at 59 feet per second, with a brushless motor rated above 45cc gas. The published claim is up to 150 cuts on 4 inch hardwood per charge, and the stated capacity covers bucking and felling of logs up to 28 inches.
Two safety details matter more than they sound. The kickback sensor stops the chain immediately rather than relying on a hand guard alone, and the one-button tension adjustment means a chain that has stretched is not a trip to the shed.
The bar and chain sheath in the kit is a small touch that matters more than it looks. A firewood saw lives in a truck, and a scabbard stops a sharp chain from finding your tarp every time you open the tailgate.
Is one battery enough for a cord of firewood
One charge is quoted at up to 150 cuts on 4 inch hardwood, and the second battery in the box is what turns that into a full session. Owners treat the pair as one working capacity rather than a spare.
The coarse battery gauge during a cut is the reported weak point. Check the charge before you start a round, not halfway through it.
Where it falls short for firewood
The listed weight field on this listing reads 0.27 g, which is obviously a data error and tells you nothing useful about handling. Judge the balance instead from the fact that most owners describe it as heavier than a 12 inch saw but comfortable for a full session.
Two-battery kits cost more up front than a bare saw plus one pack. If you are converting a single-battery saw later, the math is close; starting from nothing, the kit is the cleaner buy.
3. BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 – Best Starter Cordless Chainsaw
BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX Electric Chainsaw Cordless, 12 Inch Battery Chainsaw, Battery and Charger Included, Longer Runtime, Lightweight Rechargeable (LCS1240)
40V MAX platform
12 inch bar
10.4 lb bare weight
2.0Ah battery and charger included
Pros
- Most reviewed saw in this group at 2857 reviews
- Quiet instant start with no fuel mixing
- Light at 10.4 lb for long sessions
- Full wrap handle works in multiple orientations
- Automatic oiling and tool-less tensioning
Cons
- Consumes bar oil quickly and the reservoir can leak
- Included charger takes roughly 5 hours for a 2.0Ah pack
- Replacement 40V MAX batteries are costly
More than two thousand owners have used this one, and the pattern in the reviews is consistent: it is a genuinely capable first chainsaw for limbs, brush, and downed wood rather than a token entry-level tool. The lithium ion pack holds its charge for up to eighteen months, which matters if you cut seasonally.
The published figure is over 60 cuts on 4×4 pine per charge with the 2.0Ah pack. That is a session of small rounds, not a cord, and the 2.0Ah capacity is the reason most owners who outgrow this saw jump two steps rather than one.
Owners consistently single out the full wrap-around handle, which lets you cut from above, the side, or the ground without regripping. On firewood that means less awkward wrist position on rounds stacked at different heights in the pile.
The automatic oiling system and tool-less chain tensioning cover the two maintenance tasks that cause most early returns on cheap saws. Both are handled without tools.
Is a 12 inch bar enough for firewood
It handles rounds up to roughly 12 inches of diameter, which covers a lot of typical split and small whole wood. Firewood stacked from storm cleanup or a small tree is exactly this saw’s strength.
For rounds larger than that you are reorienting the log constantly or walking away. If your wood comes from bigger trees, look at a 16 inch bar instead.
Where it falls short for firewood
Bar oil consumption is the complaint that appears most often, and some owners report the reservoir leaking before, during, or after a session. If oil runs out mid-round, the chain gets hot and dull fast, so this is not a cosmetic issue.
The included charger is the slow one. Owners upgrading to the faster 40V charger report a meaningful change in how the saw feels across a weekend.
4. SKIL CS4562B-10 – Best Lightweight Saw for Limb Work and Small Rounds
SKIL PWR CORE 20 Brushless 20V 12” Handheld Lightweight Chainsaw Kit with Tool-free Chain Tension & Auto Lubrication, Includes 4.0Ah Battery and Charger-CS4562B-10
20V 12 inch bar
9.9 lb bare weight
Brushless motor
4.0Ah battery and charger included
Pros
- Lightest bare weight here at 9.9 lb
- Anti-kickback brake cuts power on kickback
- Tool-less dial tensioning with automatic lubrication
- 5 year limited warranty with registration
- Cell cooling extends runtime and doubles battery life
Cons
- 12 inch bar limits it to small branches and light firewood
- Only one 4.0Ah battery is included
This is the saw to buy if most of your firewood is limbs. At 9.9 pounds bare, it is the easiest saw here to hold for a full afternoon of brush work, and the anti-kickback brake is a real mechanical stop rather than a trigger release.
One specification stands out for volume work: the pack cells are wrapped in cooling material, which the manufacturer credits with 25 percent longer run time and double the battery cycle life. Battery longevity matters a lot more for a winter-season tool than for a one-off purchase.
The side dial tensioner and auto-lubrication are both handled without tools, and the storage hook and bracket in the box mean the saw lives on a wall rather than in a corner gathering oil. Five years of registered warranty coverage is the longest here.
Owners rate the tool-free design as low maintenance, which matters when the saw is used in cold weather by gloved hands.
Can it handle real firewood rounds
It cuts light firewood and small branches comfortably, up to about the 12 inch limit its bar sets. Dry pine and cedar go through quickly with no complaint from owners.
Harder species at larger diameters are where the 12 inch bar becomes the constraint rather than the motor. This is a limbing saw that will not embarrass you on a small pile.
Where it falls short for firewood
One 4.0Ah battery comes in the box, so a second pack is a must if you plan to cut more than a session. A spare pack is also the cheapest insurance against the flat-looking gauge readings owners report on this platform.
If your rounds regularly exceed 12 inches, this bar is the wrong length and no amount of battery capacity fixes that.
5. DEWALT DCCS672B – Best Bare Tool Saw for 60V MAX Owners
DEWALT 60V MAX Cordless Chainsaw, 18 in., Tool Only (DCCS672B)
18 inch bar
2.85 hp listed output
60V MAX platform
Bare tool, no battery or charger
Pros
- Strong quiet torque through 14 to 22 inch hardwood and softwood
- Very light and balanced for an 18 inch saw
- No loud idling between cuts
- Sharp chain out of the box
- Runs on widely available 60V MAX packs
Cons
- Chain tensioner can loosen or break and needs frequent adjustment
- Bare tool with no battery or charger included
- Open sprocket design lets the chain slip off
If you already own 60V MAX packs, this 18 inch bar is the obvious pick and the price of the tool reflects that. Owners describe torque that powers through 14 to 22 inch material with little vibration and no loud idling when you pause between cuts, which is the quiet you notice most in a subdivision.
Be clear-eyed about the packaging. This is a bare tool, so battery and charger are not included, and the listing data for weight reads 1.5 pounds, which is a data error rather than a real figure for an 18 inch saw.
Chain management is the dominant complaint in the reviews and it is worth reading closely before you buy. Owners report the tensioner loosening or breaking during use, and the open design around the chain sprocket letting the chain slip off and under the sprocket while delimbing. A new chain may also need a pre-stretch break-in before it will stay put.
The other recurring note is heat. Owners report the battery overheating under sustained cutting, which shortens runtime and makes this a poor choice for continuous cord loads even though it has the longest bar in the group.
Should you buy the bare tool
Only if you already have 60V MAX batteries, because a 60V charger and a 7.5Ah pack will cost more than most of the complete kits in this guide. Starting from zero, this is the most expensive way to own an 18 inch cordless saw.
Starting with packs already on the shelf, it is among the cheapest, and the platform is one of the most widely owned battery families.
Where it falls short for firewood
Chain tensioning demands attention. If you are the type who sets the tension once in the fall and forgets it, this saw will punish that habit with a slipped or thrown chain mid-round.
The heat behavior under sustained load is the disqualifier for high volume. It is a great saw for a cord on a Saturday and a wrong one for four cords in a day.
6. DongCheng 40V 16 Inch – Best Budget Two Battery Package
DongCheng 40V 16-Inch Brushless Cordless Chainsaw with 2×4.0Ah Batteries – Gas-Like Power for Tree Felling, Storm Cleanup & Firewood, Tool-Free Tensioning, Auto Oiler, Chain Brake
16 inch bar
14 m/s chain speed
Two 4.0Ah batteries
Up to 120 cuts on 4x4
Pros
- Two 4.0Ah batteries included for a 40V system
- Inertia chain brake stops the chain in under 0.1 seconds
- Batteries cross-compatible with the wider 20V and 40V lineup
- Tool-free external tensioning knob and auto-oiler
- Up to 120 cuts through 4x4 per charge
Cons
- Less established brand with thinner long-term parts support
- Both batteries should be fully charged before first use
What you get here is a 16 inch bar and two 4.0Ah packs at a price point that undercuts most 40V kits from established brands. For someone cutting a couple of cords a season without an existing battery platform, the arithmetic is hard to argue with.
Two safety details are specified precisely: an inertia chain brake that stops the chain in under 0.1 seconds on kickback, plus a lock-out switch. That combination is closer to what a professional saw offers than most budget packages manage.
The published performance figure is up to 120 cuts through 4×4 lumber per charge from a 550 watt brushless motor running a 14 meter per second chain. Owners describe the power delivery as fade-free across that charge, which is the difference between a pack that lasts and a pack that fades at the end.
Batteries run across the broader 20V and 40V tool lineup, so a future tool purchase in the same family does not need a new charger.
How much wood per charge
Up to 120 cuts on 4×4 per pack, with two packs in the box. That combination covers a working session of bucking without a charger wait, which is where most budget packages fall short with a single small battery.
Owners who follow the setup advice report consistent power. Fully charging both batteries before first use is the difference between two balanced packs and one that finishes early.
Where it falls short for firewood
Brand longevity is the honest concern. Parts availability and resale value are thinner than an established platform, and that matters if you expect to keep this saw for a decade of seasons.
It is also worth confirming the chain and bar sizes you will need in two years, since a smaller brand is less likely to stock a replacement in the size you want.
7. Supstable S16 Pro – Best All-In-One Kit With Spare Chain Included
16 Inch Electric Chainsaw Cordless, 2000W Brushless Chainsaw, 4.0Ah Battery & Fast Charger, 40V Electric Chain Saws, Instant Brake, Tool-Free Chain Tension, Auto Oiling for Tree Trimming, Wood Cutting
16 inch bar
2000W brushless motor
35 ft/s chain speed
Up to 50 minutes runtime
Pros
- Highest review volume in this group at 4968 ratings
- 35 ft/s chain speed rated near a 42cc gas saw
- Up to 50 minutes runtime with the included 4.0Ah pack
- Spare chain
- bar cover
- gloves and goggles all included
- 150ml automatic oil reservoir and tool-free tensioning
Cons
- 40V only platform that cannot share 20V packs
- Generic brand with limited long-term service history
The kit contents are the story here. You get the saw, a 4.0Ah battery, a fast charger, a spare 16 inch chain, a guide bar cover, a chain oil bottle, a screwdriver, work gloves, and safety goggles, which is a complete firewood setup rather than a bare saw.
Performance claims are specific: a 2000W brushless motor running the chain at 35 feet per second, rated as comparable to a 42cc gas chainsaw, with up to 50 minutes of runtime from the included pack. The 150ml oil reservoir is generous for the job.
Safety coverage is triple: chain brake, safety lock, and overload protection. Owners point out that the spare chain alone removes one of the most common reasons a saw sits unusable, since a stretched chain needs replacing rather than adjusting.
The rank this listing holds in power chain saws is backed by thousands of ratings, so the owner experience here is well documented rather than anecdotal.
Is one battery enough for a cord
Fifty minutes of runtime is a full working session rather than a whole cord, so plan on a second pack for a heavy day. The 35 ft/s chain speed means you get more done per minute than a slower saw with the same battery.
Before you buy anything else in this class, confirm your battery ecosystem. This platform is 40V only and will not accept 20V packs.
Where it falls short for firewood
Long-term support is the open question. Owners are happy, but a brand with a short parts history is a risk if you need a sprocket, brake band, or bar in five years.
Keep a spare bar and chain in the shed, and top off the oil reservoir before every session. Oil supply is what separates a full day of cutting from a break halfway through.
8. ReliaRoads 16 Inch – Best Saw for DEWALT 20V MAX Owners
ReliaRoads 16-Inch 40V Brushless Cordless Chainsaw for DeWalt 20V MAX
16 inch bar
54 ft/s chain speed
Runs two 20V MAX batteries
2 hp brushless motor
Pros
- Uses batteries you may already own
- 54 ft/s chain speed from a 2 hp brushless motor
- Two 16 inch chains plus bar cover
- screwdriver and oil bottle included
- Tool-free tensioning with automatic oiling and chain brake
- 2 year warranty
Cons
- Requires two 20V MAX batteries and cannot run on a single pack
- Batteries and charger not included
- Highest one-star share in this group at 9 percent
This saw is built around a platform decision rather than a spec decision. It runs two DEWALT 20V MAX batteries at once to create a 40V system, so if 20V MAX is the family already in your garage, this is the only 16 inch saw here that needs no new battery purchase at all.
Performance is respectable for the setup: 54 feet per second chain speed from a 2 hp brushless motor, tool-free tensioning, automatic oiling, a chain brake, and a safety lock. Two 16 inch chains come in the box along with a bar cover, screwdriver, and oil bottle.
The two-battery series configuration is the thing to understand before buying. It is not a saw that runs on one pack and lasts longer on two, it is a saw that needs two packs present to run at all, and 4.0Ah to 8.0Ah packs are recommended.
Owners who already had MAX packs rate the outcome as an easy way to add a 16 inch saw to a toolshed that was otherwise stuck with 12 inch options.
Is it worth it without the platform
Without existing 20V MAX packs, you are buying two batteries and a charger, which erases the value advantage entirely. With them, the saw-plus-chains package is one of the cheapest routes to a 16 inch bar here.
The 9 percent one-star share in the reviews is the highest in this group, so read those before committing, particularly on the two-battery requirement.
Where it falls short for firewood
A single-pack limitation is real for anyone whose spare battery is in another tool. There is no way to run this saw on one battery, so you need two charged packs every time.
The 2 year warranty is shorter than the coverage on some kits in this guide, which is worth factoring in for a tool bought for a long firewood habit.
9. Kobalt 40V 14 Inch – Best Quiet Saw for Small Rounds
Kobalt 40-Volt 40v Lithium Ion Bare Tool 14-in Cordless Electric Brushless Chainsaw (Battery and Charger Not Included)
14 inch low-kickback bar
1.2 hp brushless motor
11.1 lb bare weight
Bare tool, no battery or charger
Pros
- Shares batteries with other Kobalt 40V yard tools
- Quiet with less vibration than a gas saw
- Automatic oiler and a bar grease point
- Does not consume bar oil quickly
- Low-kickback 14 inch bar and chain
Cons
- Battery and charger not included
- Weak chain tension dial with one report of failure on first use
- 14 inch bar is short for larger rounds
Owners with Kobalt 40V yard tools already are the most enthusiastic group here, and it is easy to see why. The saw shares packs with the rest of the 40V range, so adding a chainsaw costs one tool rather than a new battery platform.
At 1.2 hp with a brushless motor and a low-kickback 14 inch bar and chain, this is a trimming and small-round saw rather than a volume firewood saw. Owners report cutting rounds to roughly 6 inches of diameter comfortably.
Two things stand out positively. Owners specifically say it does not consume bar oil quickly, which is the opposite of the most common complaint in this category, and the automatic oiler plus a bar grease point keep the chain running smoothly.
Quietness and low vibration are the other repeated positives, and several owners describe feeling safer on it than on a gas saw for brush work near the house.
Is a 14 inch bar useful for firewood
It is useful for small rounds, brush, and small trees, and that is genuinely most of a typical home firewood pile. It is not the right bar for 12 to 16 inch rounds, and owners cut their own ceiling at about 6 inch diameter.
If you are already in the 40V ecosystem, the incremental cost is the saw only, which is the cheapest way into firewood cutting in this guide.
Where it falls short for firewood
The chain tension dial is reported as weak, with one owner describing a failure on first use. A dial that will not hold tension is a genuine safety problem on a saw that cuts wood under load.
Warranty service routing through the seller is a practical headache worth checking before you buy, especially if you plan to keep the saw for years.
10. SEESII M18 Ace – Best 18 Inch Bar With Two Large Batteries
SEESII 40V Electric Chainsaw Cordless 18-Inch with 2 x 5.0Ah Batteries
18 inch guide bar
2200W brushless motor
30 ft/s chain speed
8.6 lb with both batteries
Pros
- Largest review base here at 16632 ratings and 4.5 stars
- 18 inch bar gives deeper reach than 14 and 16 inch saws
- Only 8.6 lb with both batteries installed
- Two 5.0Ah batteries and two fast chargers plus a spare chain
- Automatic 80ml oiling and tool-less tension knob
Cons
- Bearing down can bind or break the chain
- Batteries charge slowly at roughly 3 to 4 hours per pack
- Initial chain installation takes practice
By volume of owner feedback this is the best-documented saw in the guide, with over sixteen thousand ratings and a top rank in the power chain saw category. The combination that makes it interesting for firewood is an 18 inch bar, two 5.0Ah packs, and two chargers in the box.
An 18 inch bar reaches deeper than the 14 and 16 inch saws that dominate this list, and at 8.6 pounds with both batteries installed it is one of the lightest long-bar options available. A 2200W brushless motor runs the chain at 30 feet per second.
There is a technique lesson buried in the reviews, and it is the most useful thing in this section. Owners report that bearing down on the chain can bind or break it, and that the saw rewards a light touch with frequent tension checks. Forcing the saw slows it further and is what causes the problem.
That is consistent with what firewood owners describe elsewhere: a saw that bogs on a knot or green oak gets worse the harder you lean on it. Let the chain do the work.
How much firewood per charge
The published figure is up to 200 cuts on 4 inch softwood logs per charge, and you get two 5.0Ah packs plus two chargers. On softwood that is the most productive package in the guide.
Hardwood is the differentiator between good and great for this saw. The 18 inch reach reduces how often you have to reposition a large round, which is where the extra bar length actually pays off.
Where it falls short for firewood
Charge time is the practical limit, at roughly three to four hours per pack. Two chargers help, but a long session still needs planning around the wall outlet.
Some owners top up the bar oil manually every 10 to 15 minutes. Check the 80ml reservoir before each round rather than trusting the auto-oiler alone, and expect a learning curve on the first chain change.
How We Evaluated These Cordless Chainsaws
Every saw here was judged on the same five criteria, chosen because they decide whether a saw survives a firewood season rather than a product page.
First, published cut counts per charge, taken from the manufacturer specification rather than estimated. A saw claiming 200 cuts on 4 inch softwood is doing more per pack than one claiming 60 on 4×4 pine, and that difference dominates a cord-stacking afternoon.
Second, what is actually in the box. Battery and charger contents caused more buyer regret in owner forums than any performance complaint, so a bare tool is penalized even when the saw itself is strong.
Third, bar length against round diameter, because a saw that cannot reach the diameter of your wood fails at the only task you bought it for.
Fourth, recurring failure modes in reviews: chain tensioning, oil consumption, chain brakes, and battery heat under load. These are where the difference between a four star and a four and a half star saw shows up.
Fifth, platform fit. If you already own packs, that outweighs a better saw on a different platform, and the buyer who ignores it is the one who regrets the purchase.
What Size Cordless Chainsaw Do I Need for Firewood?
Match the bar length to the diameter of your rounds. A 12 inch bar handles rounds up to about 12 inches, a 14 inch bar reaches roughly 14 inches, a 16 inch bar reaches about 16 inches, and an 18 inch bar reaches about 18 inches of diameter.
Most home firewood cutting is done with a 14 to 16 inch bar. That range covers split rounds, small whole logs, and downed tree sections from a typical property cleanup, and it is the size most owners in chainsaw forums describe as the sensible default for a season’s wood.
The practical rule is simpler than the numbers: your bar should be at least as long as the diameter of the round you want to cut in one pass. Anything shorter means reorienting the log, which on a firewood pile is where time disappears.
Under 12 inches you are limbing and trimming rather than bucking, and above 18 inches you are pushing into territory where battery runtime and handling weight start fighting each other. A 20 inch cordless saw exists, but the weight and the shorter runtime make it a specialist tool rather than a home firewood pick.
For buyers who want more detail on this sizing logic and how it changes with hard or soft wood, our battery-powered chainsaw guide for firewood goes deeper on volume and bar choice together.
Cordless vs Gas for Firewood: An Honest Comparison
Cordless wins for the homeowner cutting up to about four cords a year, and gas still wins above that. The dividing line is not power, it is how long you are willing to stop and wait for a battery.
What cordless genuinely removes is the friction. No fuel mixing in the cold, no pull cord on a wet morning, no carburetor service, and no exhaust, which means you can cut in a garage or a shed with the door closed without a carbon monoxide alarm going off. Quiet operation is a real quality of life gain in a neighborhood.
The honest limitation is runtime and heat under sustained load. A gas saw runs until the tank is empty. A cordless saw runs until the pack is done, and if the pack is small, or the wood is green oak, or the bar is 18 inches, that comes sooner than you planned for.
Gas saws also stay cooler under load and hold a cut through the hardest knots without complaint. On a four cord weekend in green hardwood, that difference is not subtle.
Our position after looking at ten battery saws is that cordless is the right default for a homeowner and the wrong default for anyone cutting serious volume. We cover the gas side properly in our best chainsaws guide.
Battery Platform, Amp-Hours and the Real Cost of Ownership
Amp-hours determine runtime, not voltage. Two 5.0Ah packs hold more than one 4.0Ah pack, and the voltage number mostly tells you which charger and which ecosystem you are locked into. For firewood, buy at least 5.0Ah if the platform offers it.
The question that decides most purchases is not spec-related at all: do you already own the batteries? Owners describe the platform decision as unavoidable, and they describe it as the one they would make again. Converting a saw to a platform you already have is almost always the cheapest route to a second saw.
Where no packs exist yet, the complete kit is the comparison that matters. Several kits in this guide include two batteries and a charger, which is genuinely cheaper than a bare tool plus batteries bought later, and the difference is usually not small.
Count the tools in the ecosystem before committing. A platform with eight tools you would eventually buy is cheaper over five years than the best saw on a platform you would only ever use for a chainsaw.
Two cold-weather notes. Lithium ion packs deliver less usable power when cold, so warm the battery indoors before a winter session rather than pulling it from a cold truck. And keep a second pack on the charger overnight during firewood season rather than charging the morning you need it.
Our broader cordless chainsaw roundup covers the platforms themselves in more depth if you are choosing a family first.
Which Is Better, Ryobi or EGO?
This roundup tested an EGO and no Ryobi, so the honest answer comes from owner consensus rather than our own head-to-head. EGO wins on the evidence available: the saw leads this guide on rating, its 16 inch bar with a 3/8 inch pitch chain is well suited to hardwood, and its published cut count is the highest for a single included pack.
Ryobi is the common alternative because its 40V HP platform is widely owned and because owners with those packs rate the saws highly. The decision between them is usually a decision about which batteries are already in your garage rather than about the saw itself.
If you own 40V HP packs, use them. If you own nothing and want the highest rated 16 inch firewood saw in this guide, the EGO is the pick.
Common Problems With Battery Chainsaws and How to Avoid Them
Six problems account for nearly every complaint in the reviews. Each one has a fix, and none of them require a different saw.
One, the chain loosens during use. This is the most common complaint, especially early in a chain’s life. Check tension after the first three cuts and again halfway through a session, using a tool-free tensioner where the saw has one.
Two, bar oil runs out mid-round. Owners report fast consumption and opaque reservoir windows that make checking a guess. Top off the reservoir before every session, not during one, and treat a hot dull chain as an oil problem first.
Three, the battery gauge misleads. Packs that read as nearly flat after two bars are a reported pattern, which is why most owners buy a spare pack as insurance rather than as an upgrade.
Four, the battery and charger are not included. This is the single most common regret in buying forums, and it hits bare tools hardest. Add the cost of a pack and a charger to the tool price before deciding which saw is cheaper.
Five, the chain binds when you bear down on it. Owners report binding and even broken chains from pressing instead of letting the chain work, and the fix is technique rather than a new saw: light pressure, steady feed, and frequent tension checks.
Six, the saw bogs on hardwood. Forcing a saw that is already bogged slows it further and generates heat. Let the chain cut at its own pace, and if a knot stops it, stop the motor before you try to power through.
Chain Tension, Sharpening and Bar Oil
A new chain stretches during break-in. Cut with it for the first three rounds, then re-tension before you go back to work, and repeat the check halfway through the first session. Skipping this step is why new chains jump off sprockets in the first week of ownership.
Sharpen based on output, not calendar. A chain that leaves the same sawdust as it did last week is still sharp. When it starts producing fine dust instead of chips, sharpen it, and carry a spare so a dull chain never ends a session.
Bar oil is a consumable, not an afterthought. A dry chain gets hot, dull, and dangerous, and it shortens the life of both the chain and the bar rails. Check the reservoir at the start of every session and refill before the level is at the bottom.
Keep a spare bar and chain matched to your bar length in the shed. A saw you cannot use because the chain is stretched, and a replacement is not in the truck, is a saw that stays in the truck.
Store saws upright or on their side with the chain clear of the ground, and do not leave a saw on its side with the oil port down for weeks. Oil migration into the motor is an expensive failure mode and it is avoidable.
When a Gas Saw Is Still the Better Buy
Buy gas if you cut more than roughly eight cords a year, fell trees larger than your bar can reach, or work in green hardwood every weekend of the season. Those are the cases where runtime, sustained output, and repairability all point the same direction.
Gas also wins for anyone splitting and bucking for extended periods in one session, because a saw that stops for a battery swap mid-round costs more time than the fuel ever cost. A weekend cutter with no battery platform and no patience for chargers will be happier with a mid-size gas saw.
Dealer support is worth weighing too, and it favors gas in some regions. Buyers who value service networks and long parts availability often stay with a gas brand for exactly that reason, and that is a reasonable way to decide.
For the gas side of the comparison, our general chainsaw guide covers the full picture, and our Echo chainsaw guide covers one of the long-standing gas families.
Frequently Asked Questions
What chainsaw is best for cutting firewood?
For most homeowners, a 16 inch cordless chainsaw with a 5.0 amp-hour battery or larger is the best cordless chainsaw for firewood. It covers rounds up to about 16 inches of diameter, which handles most split and small whole wood, and a second pack removes the runtime problem entirely. A 12 inch saw suits branches and small rounds; an 18 inch bar reaches deeper into larger rounds.
Which cordless chainsaw is best rated?
Among the ten saws we evaluated, the EGO Power+ CS1613 is the best rated at 4.7 stars across 977 reviews, with 83 percent five-star ratings. The SEESII M18 Ace leads on review volume at more than 16,000 ratings and 4.5 stars, and the BLACK+DECKER LCS1240 has the largest established owner base among the 12 inch models at 2,857 reviews. Ratings reflect owner satisfaction, not cutting volume, so bar length still decides fit.
What is a good size chainsaw for cutting firewood?
A 14 to 16 inch bar is the right size for home firewood. A 12 inch bar handles rounds up to about 12 inches of diameter, a 14 inch bar reaches about 14 inches, a 16 inch bar reaches about 16 inches, and an 18 inch bar reaches about 18 inches. The rule is simple: your bar should be at least as long as the diameter of the round you want to cut in one pass.
Are cordless chainsaws worth it?
Yes for most homeowners, with one honest qualifier. Cordless saws start instantly, need no fuel mixing, produce no exhaust, and run quietly enough for suburban lots. The limitation is runtime and heat under sustained load on hardwood. If you cut up to about four cords a year, the convenience wins. If you cut more than eight cords or fell large trees, a gas saw is still the better buy.
What are the common problems with battery operated chainsaws?
Six problems account for most complaints: the chain loosening during use, bar oil running out mid-round, battery gauges that read inaccurately, batteries and chargers not being included with the tool, chains that bind when you bear down on the saw, and bogging on hard or green wood. The first four are solved by a maintenance routine and by reading what is in the box. The last two are technique, not equipment.
What is the best battery operated chainsaw on the market today?
It depends on your platform and bar length needs. The EGO Power+ CS1613 is the highest rated 16 inch option in our testing at 4.7 stars, the SEESII M18 Ace leads on value and reach with an 18 inch bar and two 5.0Ah packs, and the WORX WG385 is the cleanest continuous-work package with two batteries and a dual charger. If you already own 20V MAX or 60V MAX packs, the matching saw is usually the cheapest correct answer.
Conclusion
The best cordless chainsaws for firewood are not decided by brand loyalty, they are decided by bar length and the batteries you already own. Our pick for most people is the EGO Power+ CS1613, a 16 inch bar with the highest rating in this guide and a published cut count that keeps a cord moving; buy a second pack with it.
If you want more reach, the SEESII M18 Ace gives you an 18 inch bar and two 5.0Ah batteries in the box. If you already have 20V MAX or 60V MAX packs, pick the matching saw in the list and skip the battery cost entirely.
Whichever you choose, check the box contents, keep a spare chain and a second pack, and check the bar oil before every session. That is what makes a cordless saw the right tool for a winter season instead of a novelty.