{
  "category": {
    "slug": "chainsaws",
    "name": "Chainsaws",
    "description": "Gas, battery and corded chainsaws for felling, limbing and cutting firewood, including top-handle and compact models; pole saws, hedge trimmers, string trimmers and chainsaw sharpeners are separate."
  },
  "url": "https://stierproducts.com/categories/chainsaws",
  "markdown": "https://stierproducts.com/categories/chainsaws.md",
  "updated": "2026-09-23T03:13:50.917Z",
  "productsRanked": 13,
  "citedSources": 58,
  "citedSourceKinds": {
    "editorial": 31,
    "video": 26,
    "community": 1
  },
  "summary": "On the stierproducts chainsaws board, Echo CS-590 ranks #1 in S tier, ahead of Echo DCS-5000 56V (#2, S tier) and Husqvarna Power Axe 350i (#3, S tier). The board ranks 13 chainsaws from S (best) to F (avoid), last researched 23 Sept 2026, drawing on 58 cited reviews, videos and discussions. Placed in the bottom tiers as ones to avoid: Husqvarna 455 Rancher, Ego Power+ CS1613, Stihl MSA 80, and 1 other.",
  "method": {
    "summary": "Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand.",
    "url": "https://stierproducts.com/methodology"
  },
  "limitations": [
    "We do not test products ourselves. Every placement is consolidated from published reviews, owner reports and community discussion, so a board is only as good as the sources behind it.",
    "LP is points on this category ladder. It is comparable within a category and never across categories.",
    "A board is a snapshot with a research date. Anything released or changed after that date is not in it yet.",
    "Evidence is uneven across this board: products carry between 1 and 13 cited sources. The count for each is in the table above."
  ],
  "dataset": {
    "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.22062813",
    "url": "https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22062813",
    "scope": "every board at once, one dated snapshot per release",
    "excludes": [
      "price",
      "currency",
      "image"
    ]
  },
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
    "terms": "https://stierproducts.com/license",
    "covers": [
      "text",
      "rankings",
      "tiers",
      "lp",
      "verdicts",
      "pros",
      "cons"
    ],
    "excludes": [
      "images"
    ],
    "imageRights": "Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence."
  },
  "tierMeanings": {
    "S": "Exceptional. Finishes top run after run; capped at 3 slots per category.",
    "A": "Excellent. Strongly recommended, beaten only by the very best.",
    "B": "Good. A solid choice with real caveats worth knowing.",
    "C": "Fair. Acceptable in the right situation, outclassed at its price.",
    "D": "Weak. Hard to recommend when better options cost similar money.",
    "F": "Avoid. The evidence points you elsewhere."
  },
  "products": [
    {
      "rank": 1,
      "tier": "S",
      "lp": 1182,
      "name": "Echo CS-590",
      "brand": "Echo",
      "slug": "echo-cs-590",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/echo-cs-590",
      "verdict": "The most proven long-term survivor on the board, with Echo's reliability reputation explicitly confirmed by a 2026 pro review. If you want a gas saw that is still running in year ten, this is it.",
      "pros": [
        "Magnesium crankcase construction on a mid-size saw",
        "Reputation for running a decade or more with basic maintenance",
        "Long consumer warranty",
        "Widely called the best bang-for-buck gas saw on the market",
        "High cutting performance per dollar"
      ],
      "citations": 5,
      "distinctOutlets": 5,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/echo-cs-590.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 2,
      "tier": "S",
      "lp": 993,
      "name": "Echo DCS-5000 56V",
      "brand": "Echo",
      "slug": "echo-dcs-5000-56v",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/echo-dcs-5000-56v",
      "verdict": "Named best overall electric by Reviewed's testing and best value by Popular Mechanics, and Echo's durable hardware philosophy carries into the 56V line.",
      "pros": [
        "Top cutting performance and comfort",
        "Named Best Value among electric chainsaws by Popular Mechanics",
        "Echo's reputation for durable, repairable hardware carries into the 56V line",
        "Best Value among battery chainsaws",
        "Flagship-level cutting performance"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Comes at a premium price",
        "Premium price relative to lesser battery saws",
        "Higher price than comparable models",
        "Premium positioning may limit budget appeal"
      ],
      "citations": 2,
      "distinctOutlets": 2,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/echo-dcs-5000-56v.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 3,
      "tier": "S",
      "lp": 847,
      "name": "Husqvarna Power Axe 350i",
      "brand": "Husqvarna",
      "slug": "husqvarna-power-axe-350i",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/husqvarna-power-axe-350i",
      "verdict": "Wirecutter's best full-size saw and Popular Mechanics' best overall electric, with the battery life and build to own for years, if you accept battery-platform risk.",
      "pros": [
        "Extended battery life",
        "Tool-free chain tensioner",
        "Named best full-size saw and best overall electric by two top outlets independently",
        "Backed by a brand with a strong dealer and parts network",
        "Best-cutting battery saw in current testing"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Expensive",
        "Battery electronics are the long-term risk in this class",
        "Costs flagship money",
        "Premium price point",
        "Higher cost compared to other battery saws"
      ],
      "citations": 13,
      "distinctOutlets": 13,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/husqvarna-power-axe-350i.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 4,
      "tier": "A",
      "lp": 755,
      "name": "Echo CS-3410",
      "brand": "Echo",
      "slug": "echo-cs-3410",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/echo-cs-3410",
      "verdict": "Near-professional cut quality and an 8-pound body at one of the most affordable price points in the test field, the compact value pick.",
      "pros": [
        "High-quality cutting performance",
        "Lightweight at 8 pounds",
        "One of the most affordable chainsaws",
        "Far lighter than anything else in Popular Mechanics' roundup at 8 pounds",
        "Weighs only 8 pounds, far lighter than competitors"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Narrow in capability, best suited to limbing and light firewood"
      ],
      "citations": 3,
      "distinctOutlets": 3,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/echo-cs-3410.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 5,
      "tier": "A",
      "lp": 752,
      "name": "Stihl MS 182 C-BE",
      "brand": "Stihl",
      "slug": "stihl-ms-182-c-be",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/stihl-ms-182-c-be",
      "verdict": "Bob Vila's favorite gas saw of 2026, well-sized and more powerful than its class, backed by the best service network in the category.",
      "pros": [
        "Well-sized for general cutting tasks",
        "Lighter-weight and more powerful than other 16-inch saws",
        "Toolless easy starting",
        "Stihl dealer support is the best in the category for long-term parts and service",
        "Favorite in Bob Vila test"
      ],
      "citations": 2,
      "distinctOutlets": 1,
      "thinlySourced": true,
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/stihl-ms-182-c-be.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 6,
      "tier": "B",
      "lp": 589,
      "name": "DeWalt DCCS670T1",
      "brand": "DeWalt",
      "slug": "dewalt-dccs670t1",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/dewalt-dccs670t1",
      "verdict": "Reviewed's best-tested chainsaw outright, on a mature FlexVolt platform with strong parts availability, though it is now the older of the two DeWalts here.",
      "pros": [
        "Finished first in Reviewed's hands-on testing",
        "FlexVolt platform with strong parts availability",
        "DeWalt's service network supports multi-year ownership",
        "Best-tested chainsaw per Reviewed",
        "Top-tier cutting performance"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "No longer the newest DeWalt on the shelf",
        "Kit packaging inflates entry cost",
        "Sold as a full kit, which pushes it into flagship territory",
        "Long-term record shorter than Echo’s battery models",
        "Chain adjustment system criticized as horrible, with too much plastic and poor design"
      ],
      "citations": 1,
      "distinctOutlets": 1,
      "thinlySourced": true,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 12
      },
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/dewalt-dccs670t1.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 7,
      "tier": "B",
      "lp": 582,
      "name": "Husqvarna 460 Rancher",
      "brand": "Husqvarna",
      "slug": "husqvarna-460-rancher",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/husqvarna-460-rancher",
      "verdict": "Popular Mechanics' 2026 testing earned it a guide spot, and Husqvarna's durability reputation per The Spruce makes it the other gas workhorse worth betting on.",
      "pros": [
        "Proven homeowner-to-farmer platform",
        "Earned a guide spot after fresh 2026 testing",
        "Backed by a brand with an excellent reputation for durability and reliability",
        "Effective on larger trees",
        "Positive review in Popular Mechanics"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Heavy for its class",
        "Not as robust as a pro saw"
      ],
      "citations": 9,
      "distinctOutlets": 8,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/husqvarna-460-rancher.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 8,
      "tier": "B",
      "lp": 557,
      "name": "Stihl MS 391",
      "brand": "Stihl",
      "slug": "stihl-ms-391",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/stihl-ms-391",
      "verdict": "A farm-class Stihl built for years of firewood duty, freshly validated by Popular Mechanics' 2026 testing, with the category's best dealer support behind it.",
      "pros": [
        "Farm-and-ranch class workhorse with a long track record in firewood duty",
        "Backed by Stihl's dealer network, the best support story in the category",
        "Performed well in fresh 2026 testing for bigger trees",
        "Strong cutting performance on big trees",
        "Featured in Popular Mechanics guide"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Premature failure after a few years of seasonal use"
      ],
      "citations": 2,
      "distinctOutlets": 1,
      "thinlySourced": true,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 6
      },
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/stihl-ms-391.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 9,
      "tier": "C",
      "lp": 371,
      "name": "Oregon CS1500",
      "brand": "Oregon",
      "slug": "oregon-cs1500",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/oregon-cs1500",
      "verdict": "A corded saw with almost nothing to fail and heavy-duty capability per Reviewed's testing, ranked here only because its build is budget-grade rather than because it is unreliable.",
      "pros": [
        "Excels in heavy-duty tasks",
        "Self-sharpening",
        "Corded design has almost no failure modes beyond the motor and no battery to die in year five",
        "Simple, cheap workhorse",
        "One of the cheapest credible saws"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Budget-grade build",
        "Limited by cord length",
        "Corded design limits mobility",
        "Corded, so it needs an outlet within reach",
        "Requires a power cord, limiting mobility"
      ],
      "citations": 8,
      "distinctOutlets": 8,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/oregon-cs1500.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 10,
      "tier": "D",
      "lp": 317,
      "name": "Husqvarna 455 Rancher",
      "brand": "Husqvarna",
      "slug": "husqvarna-455-rancher",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/husqvarna-455-rancher",
      "verdict": "The mainstream gas workhorse, riding Husqvarna's excellent durability reputation. Ranked here because its evidence base is brand-level rather than model-verified in this pass.",
      "pros": [
        "Still a default recommendation in community threads"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Old Rancher design that Husqvarna has superseded",
        "Worse power to weight than the Echo CS-590 per community threads"
      ],
      "citations": 7,
      "distinctOutlets": 7,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 1,
        "ofRuns": 2
      },
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/husqvarna-455-rancher.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 11,
      "tier": "D",
      "lp": 302,
      "name": "Ego Power+ CS1613",
      "brand": "Ego",
      "slug": "ego-power-cs1613",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/ego-power-cs1613",
      "verdict": "The most powerful battery saw in The Spruce's current testing, with Ego's unusually long warranty softening the battery-longevity question.",
      "pros": [
        "Named Most Powerful in The Spruce's current battery guide",
        "One of the longest consumer warranties in outdoor power equipment",
        "Current flagship-size saw in the Ego platform",
        "Raw cutting power close to mid-size gas saw",
        "Recommended by Reviewed"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Flagship-tier price",
        "Costs flagship money to get flagship performance",
        "Evidence only at brand level, specific model not directly reviewed",
        "Gives up some polish and runtime efficiency compared to DeWalt picks"
      ],
      "citations": 3,
      "distinctOutlets": 3,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/ego-power-cs1613.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 12,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 195,
      "name": "Stihl MSA 80",
      "brand": "Stihl",
      "slug": "stihl-msa-80",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/stihl-msa-80",
      "verdict": "The most user-friendly and most refined, and the most expensive for what it delivers, the pick that leans hardest on the premium badge.",
      "pros": [
        "Most user-friendly electric chainsaw per Popular Mechanics",
        "Refined battery saw",
        "Positive mention by Pro Tool Reviews",
        "Most User-Friendly battery saw",
        "Compact and simple design"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Most expensive for what it delivers",
        "The Stihl battery ecosystem is the expensive way to buy this level of performance",
        "Stihl platform pricing adds a premium compared to Echo value picks",
        "Limited to light-duty tasks",
        "Smaller cutting envelope than larger picks"
      ],
      "citations": 1,
      "distinctOutlets": 1,
      "thinlySourced": true,
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/stihl-msa-80.webp"
    },
    {
      "rank": 13,
      "tier": "F",
      "lp": 69,
      "name": "Milwaukee M18 18V Chainsaw",
      "brand": "Milwaukee",
      "slug": "milwaukee-m18-18v-chainsaw",
      "url": "https://stierproducts.com/products/milwaukee-m18-18v-chainsaw",
      "verdict": "Cross-shopped on brand strength and a runner-up award, yet long-term owners call it the worst tool Milwaukee ever made, buy the DeWalt DCCS677Z1 instead.",
      "pros": [
        "Best Overall Runner-Up per The Spruce",
        "Runner-up in The Spruce battery guide",
        "Heavily marketed and constantly cross-shopped"
      ],
      "cons": [
        "Owners report it as the worst tool Milwaukee ever made",
        "Outclassed by competing models",
        "Harsh owner feedback on Reddit",
        "Owner community reports the chain staying on and finicky behavior",
        "Requires premium M18 battery pricing for a 16-inch saw"
      ],
      "citations": 2,
      "distinctOutlets": 2,
      "thinlySourced": false,
      "flaggedToAvoid": {
        "runs": 6,
        "ofRuns": 7
      },
      "image": "https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/milwaukee-m18-18v-chainsaw.webp"
    }
  ]
}