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Best Chainsaw Under $300 (2026): Gas and Battery Picks That Actually Cut

Under $300 you can get a capable chainsaw for yard work and occasional firewood cutting. Here are the models worth buying -- and which to avoid.

Best Overall · Our #1 Pick
Greenworks CS80L417 80V 18" Cordless Chainsaw

The best budget chainsaw for homeowners who want zero maintenance and instant start. The 80V battery delivers.

Research rank #1Amazon paid link; price & availability change.
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By ToolShed TestedPublished April 19, 2026
Research-BackedSpec CheckedPrice Checked

Current recommendations are research-backed. Each article identifies its evidence, sources, update date, and limitations. No current guide is presented as hands-on tested. As an Amazon Associate, ToolShed Tested earns from qualifying purchases. When you buy through our links we may earn a commission -- at no extra cost to you. Product links and article details last reviewed April 19, 2026. Full disclosure.

Quick Answer

Under $300 you can get a capable chainsaw for yard work and occasional firewood cutting. Here are the models worth buying -- and which to avoid.

  1. #1
    Greenworks CS80L417 80V 18" Cordless ChainsawBest OverallWhy: The best budget chainsaw for homeowners who want zero maintenance and instant start. The 80V battery delivers.Watch for: 80V battery is ecosystem-specific -- does not share with Milwaukee or DeWalt
    Check Price on Amazon
  2. #2
    Husqvarna 120 Mark II 14" Gas ChainsawBest Gas PickWhy: The best entry gas chainsaw if you need unlimited runtime and prefer the simplicity of gas over battery ecosystems.Watch for: 14" bar limits maximum tree diameter
    Check Price on Amazon
  3. #3
    Greenworks 40V 16" Cordless ChainsawBest BudgetWhy: The right buy if you need a chainsaw once or twice a year for light work and don't want to spend pricing.Watch for: 40V less powerful than 80V -- struggles more on green hardwood
    Check Price on Amazon
At-a-Glance Comparison
RankProductBest forBuy if / skip ifPriceCTA
#1
The best budget chainsaw for homeowners who want zero maintenance and instant start. The 80V battery delivers.
Best Overall Under $300
Kit / verify included batteries
Buy if: The best budget chainsaw for homeowners who want zero maintenance and instant start. The 80V battery delivers.
Skip if: 80V battery is ecosystem-specific -- does not share with Milwaukee or DeWalt
$
Check current
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#2
The best entry gas chainsaw if you need unlimited runtime and prefer the simplicity of gas over battery ecosystems.
Best Gas Under $300
Kit / verify included batteries
Buy if: The best entry gas chainsaw if you need unlimited runtime and prefer the simplicity of gas over battery ecosystems.
Skip if: 14" bar limits maximum tree diameter
$
Check current
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#3
The right buy if you need a chainsaw once or twice a year for light work and don't want to spend pricing.
Best Budget Electric
Kit / verify included batteries
Buy if: The right buy if you need a chainsaw once or twice a year for light work and don't want to spend pricing.
Skip if: 40V less powerful than 80V -- struggles more on green hardwood
$
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Under $300, you're not buying a pro-grade saw. You're buying a homeowner saw -- and for most people, that's exactly what the job calls for. Limbing a downed tree after a storm, cutting a few cords of firewood per season, clearing brush along a fence line. These tasks don't need a Stihl MS400. They need a saw that starts reliably, cuts cleanly, and doesn't break down after three uses. The real decision at this price point isn't which brand. It's gas versus battery. That choice matters more than any spec on the box, and it comes down to two things: how often you cut, and how long each session runs. Get that right and any of the three saws below will serve you well.

Gas vs Battery Under $300: The Real Decision

Gas chainsaws under $300 are entry-level models -- think the Husqvarna 120 Mark II or the Echo CS-310. They run on mixed fuel, require occasional spark plug and carburetor maintenance, and take a few pulls to start on a cold day. What they give you in return is unlimited runtime. Refuel in two minutes and keep cutting. Battery chainsaws at this price range from 40V to 80V. The 80V models (like the Greenworks 80V) are close enough to gas performance that most homeowners won't notice the difference on typical yard tasks. They start instantly every time, run quietly, and require almost no maintenance. The trade-off is runtime -- plan on 30 to 45 minutes of heavy cutting per charge on an 80V, less on a 40V. The honest answer: if you cut for more than two hours at a stretch, gas wins. If you cut in short sessions and want something you can grab off the shelf and start without a checklist, battery wins. Most suburban homeowners fall into the second camp.

What to Expect at This Price

Bar lengths at this tier typically run 14 to 18 inches. That's enough to handle most homeowner trees -- a 14" bar cuts through anything up to about 10" diameter, an 18" bar pushes that to around 16" with good technique. Power is adequate for softwood and seasoned hardwood. Green hardwood is harder -- expect slower cuts and more chain drag. That's not a flaw in these saws, it's just physics. A $229 chainsaw and a $600 chainsaw will both slow down in wet oak. What you give up compared to $400+ saws: longer bars, anti-vibration systems that actually work over extended cutting sessions, and higher-grade chain steel that stays sharp longer. For occasional use, none of that matters. For sustained daily cutting, it does.

Who Needs More Than $300

If you cut two or more cords of firewood per year, step up to an Echo CS-590 or a Stihl MS271. Those saws are built for sustained work -- better vibration damping, more powerful engines, chains that hold an edge longer. You'll feel the difference after the first full day of cutting. If you're regularly felling trees over 18" in diameter, you need more bar and more engine than this tier offers. A 14" bar on a big oak trunk is a slow, frustrating experience. Professional use -- landscapers, arborists, anyone cutting daily -- these budget saws are not built for that load cycle. The components aren't rated for it and the cost of repairs will exceed the cost of a proper pro-grade saw within a season or two.

Our Top 3 Picks

Greenworks 80V 18" Cordless Chainsaw -- $299 is the best overall pick. The 80V battery delivers near-gas cutting performance on the tasks homeowners actually face. The 18" Oregon bar handles trees up to 16" diameter. Automatic chain oiler, tool-less tensioning, and instant start make this the easiest saw to own. The main limitation is runtime on dense hardwood and the 80V ecosystem lock-in -- if you already own 40V Greenworks or another brand's platform, factor that in. Husqvarna 120 Mark II 14" Gas Chainsaw -- $229 is the best gas pick. Husqvarna's X-Torq engine runs cleaner and uses less fuel than older designs. Smart Start cuts pull-cord resistance significantly, which matters on cold mornings. The 14" bar is smaller than the Greenworks but still handles the majority of homeowner cutting jobs. If you need unlimited runtime or cut firewood several times a year, this is the better choice over a battery saw. Greenworks 40V 16" Cordless Chainsaw -- $199 is the right call for light-duty buyers. A hundred dollars less than the 80V, it handles softwood and light debris cutting cleanly. The 40V battery platform is shared across other Greenworks 40V tools, which is useful if you already own a 40V mower or trimmer. Don't expect the same performance as the 80V on hardwood or sustained cutting -- this is a light-use saw at a light-use price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 14" chainsaw enough for most homeowners? For most homeowner tasks, yes. A 14" bar cuts through trees up to about 10" in diameter cleanly. Most yard trees, storm-downed limbs, and firewood rounds fall well within that range. Where a 14" bar gets limiting is on larger hardwood trees or multi-cut firewood rounds -- you can make it work with a second pass, but an 18" bar is more efficient. If your yard has mature oaks or maples over 12" in diameter, consider a 16" or 18" bar saw.
How long does a battery chainsaw last on one charge? It depends heavily on the voltage and what you're cutting. An 80V battery chainsaw like the Greenworks 80V delivers 30 to 45 minutes of sustained cutting in dense hardwood, and significantly more in softwood or when cutting intermittently. A 40V saw in the same conditions will run 20 to 30 minutes under load. Both figures drop as the battery ages. For most homeowner sessions -- clearing storm debris, cutting a half-cord of softwood -- one charge is enough. For longer sessions, a spare battery eliminates the wait.
Can I cut firewood with a budget chainsaw? Yes, with realistic expectations. A budget battery or gas chainsaw will cut firewood -- softwood rounds and seasoned hardwood cut cleanly with any of the saws above. Where budget saws struggle is volume and pace. Cutting one to two cords per season in sessions of under an hour is well within their capability. If you're cutting two or more cords regularly, the wear on a budget saw adds up faster than on a purpose-built firewood saw. The Echo CS-590 or Stihl MS271 are better investments at that volume. For occasional firewood cutting, a $229 to $299 saw will hold up fine with basic maintenance.

Our Picks, Reviewed

#1 -- Best Overall

Greenworks CS80L417 80V 18" Cordless Chainsaw

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Best for
Best Overall Under $300
Package
Kit/package: verify included batteries before checkout

The best budget chainsaw for homeowners who want zero maintenance and instant start. The 80V battery delivers.

Key features
  • 80V battery -- near-gas cutting performance
  • 18" Oregon bar and chain
  • Automatic chain oiler with variable flow
  • Tool-less chain tensioning
Pros
  • No fuel mixing, no carburetor, instant start every time
  • 18" bar handles most homeowner trees up to 16" diameter
  • Quiet enough for suburban yards -- significantly lower noise than gas
Cons
  • 80V battery is ecosystem-specific -- does not share with Milwaukee or DeWalt
  • Runtime limited on dense hardwood -- plan for 30-45 min of heavy cutting per charge
  • you're at the price ceiling of this tier

Who it's for: Suburban homeowners who need to limb trees, cut downed branches, and do 2-4 sessions of yard cleanup per year.

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#2 -- Best Gas Pick

Husqvarna 120 Mark II 14" Gas Chainsaw

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Best for
Best Gas Under $300
Package
Kit/package: verify included batteries before checkout

The best entry gas chainsaw if you need unlimited runtime and prefer the simplicity of gas over battery ecosystems.

Key features
  • 38.2cc X-Torq engine -- lower emissions and fuel consumption
  • 14" bar -- good for trees up to 10" diameter
  • Smart Start system reduces pull-cord resistance by 40%
  • Inertia-activated chain brake
Pros
  • Husqvarna reliability at the entry-level price point
  • Smart Start makes pull-cord starting much less frustrating
  • Unlimited runtime -- refuel and keep cutting
Cons
  • 14" bar limits maximum tree diameter
  • Gas: requires fuel mixing, spark plug maintenance, carb cleaning
  • Heavier than comparable battery saws at 8.6 lbs

Who it's for: Homeowners who need occasional all-day cutting capacity or cut firewood regularly enough that battery runtime is a constraint.

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#3 -- Best Budget

Greenworks 40V 16" Cordless Chainsaw

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Best for
Best Budget Electric
Package
Kit/package: verify included batteries before checkout

The right buy if you need a chainsaw once or twice a year for light work and don't want to spend pricing.

Key features
  • 40V battery platform
  • 16" bar and chain
  • Tool-less chain tensioning and bar tightening
  • Automatic oiler
Pros
  • Lowest entry price in the quality battery chainsaw category
  • Tool-less chain tensioning makes adjustments fast and easy
  • 40V Greenworks battery shared with other 40V Greenworks tools
Cons
  • 40V less powerful than 80V -- struggles more on green hardwood
  • Shorter runtime than 80V models
  • Greenworks 40V and 80V batteries do NOT share -- separate ecosystems

Who it's for: Budget buyers who cut softwood and light yard debris no more than a few times per year.

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MethodologyHow we evaluate these tools

This guide is research-backed. It compares exact-model manufacturer sources, current market information, and recurring owner feedback; it does not claim direct physical testing. No paid placements influence our rankings.

  • Model identity (Primary)Exact model, kit contents, voltage platform, and current manufacturer documentation are matched before products are compared.
  • Use-case fit (Primary)Published capacity, controls, dimensions, compatibility, and limitations are evaluated against the jobs and buyers named in the guide.
  • Comparison consistency (Primary)Every option is assessed against the same category-relevant criteria, with unsupported performance assumptions excluded.
  • Warranty and support (Secondary)Current warranty terms, platform support, replacement options, and manufacturer documentation are reviewed for ownership risk.
  • Price and owner signals (Secondary)Current pricing and recurring verified-owner patterns inform value and reliability context without being presented as our own test results.

Read our full evaluation methodology for what each evidence label means.

Frequently Added to Cart

Workshop Essentials & High-Value Add-Ons

Tool buyers and tradespeople routinely bundle these verified, high-durability accessories under $25 to avoid stripped fasteners and workshop downtime.

Driving & FasteningMust-Have

DeWalt Flextorq 35-Pc Impact Ready Bit Set

Hardened steel tips resist cam-out on stubborn screws and impact drivers.

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Drill/Driver BitsHigh Durability

Milwaukee SHOCKWAVE 50-Pc Impact Bit Set

Custom Alloy76 steel engineered to absorb extreme peak torque without snapping.

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Everyday Hand ToolEDC Staple

Klein Tools 11-in-1 Multi-Bit Screwdriver

Replaces 11 screwdrivers and nut drivers in a single compact, heavy-duty handle.

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Safety & Workshop ProtectionSafety Essential

3M Aura N95 Particulate Respirator Mask (20-Pack)

Three-panel flat-fold design seals tight and prevents eyewear fogging during sanding.

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George Perkins
George PerkinsTool Buyer & Reviewer

George Perkins buys and reviews tools for ToolShed Tested. His workshop perspective sits alongside the publication’s model research and buying guides.

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