The short answer: the EGO POWER+ CS1613 is the best cordless chainsaw under 300 dollars for most homeowners, because a 16-inch brushless saw that EGO rates as equivalent to a 40cc gas saw, with a battery and charger in the box, still lands below the price ceiling we set for this list. If you already own batteries from a particular platform, the platform decides your answer, and we have two picks for DeWalt 20V MAX owners and a WORX option that shares one battery family across three voltage classes.
I have spent the last few months putting cordless saws through branch work, bucking rounds and storm-debris cleanups, and comparing what each one actually cut rather than what the box claims. Everything in this list is a cordless saw with a real serviceable parts ecosystem, a real chain and bar, and enough review history to tell you where it fails. That filter removed a lot of saws that sit at the same price.
One honest reality check before the picks. A cordless saw in this price band is a homeowner-class tool. Experienced users on forestry forums put the best battery saws at roughly the level of a homeowner gas saw, with a few minutes of genuine cutting and then a much longer wait on the charger. That is fine for a cord or two of firewood, a season of limb work, and clearing storm debris. It is not fine if you are felling mature trees every weekend.
One more pricing nuance. Under 300 dollars usually means the current street price, not the list price. Several kits in this category list at 299 and change hands well below that during regular sales, so treat the ceiling as a shopping target rather than a manufacturer number. Every price in this article moves, so use the check buttons rather than any figure you remember from reading.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Cordless Chainsaw Picks for Homeowners (October 2026)
EGO CS1613 16 inch 56V
- 40cc gas equivalent brushless motor
- Up to 130 cuts on 4x4 per charge
- Tool-free dial chain tensioning
- IPX4 weather resistant
BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 10 inch
- 20V MAX battery and charger included
- Tool-less chain tensioning
- 10 inch bar for limbs and small logs
- Quiet operation
DEWALT DCCS621B 12 inch
- 12 inch bar cuts 8-10 inch wood
- Runs on batteries you already own
- Sealed oil cap on revised model
- Bar and chain sheath included
The EGO takes the top slot on the strength of cutting speed and the deepest review history among the 16-inch class saws in this list. The BLACK+DECKER wins on value and on the sheer weight of owner feedback behind it, and it is the saw most people end up buying first. The DEWALT tool-only model makes sense for exactly one buyer, and that is someone with a garage full of 20V MAX packs already charging by the door.
Best Cordless Chainsaws Under $300 in 2026
Every saw below sits under the 300 dollar ceiling with a battery in the kit, except the DEWALT DCCS621B, which is a bare tool. Kit contents matter more than any other spec at this budget, so we call that out in the table rather than hiding it.
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| EGO POWER+ CS1613 16 inch 56V Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 DEWALT DCCS623L1 8 inch Pruning Saw |
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| BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 10 inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
 WORX WG322 10 inch Auto-Tension |
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Check Latest Price |
 WORX WG385 16 inch Two-Battery Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 Greenworks CS40B210 12 inch 40V |
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 BLACK+DECKER BCCS320C1 6 inch Kit |
|
Check Latest Price |
| DEWALT DCCS621B 12 inch Tool Only |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. EGO POWER+ CS1613 16 inch 56V Kit – Best Cordless Chainsaw Under 300 Dollars Overall
EGO POWER+ Chain Saw, 16” Battery Powered Chainsaw, Electric Cordless, Includes 56V 4.0Ah Battery and Charger – CS1613
16 inch bar
56V 4.0Ah battery and charger included
20.9 lb tool weight
3/8 inch pitch 0.043 gauge chain
Pros
- Brushless motor rated equivalent to a 40cc gas saw
- Chain speeds up to 20 meters per second
- Tool-free dial tensioning
- IPX4 weather resistant
- Low profile dial for cutting flush to the ground
Cons
- 20.9 lb is heavy for overhead and ladder work
- Best results still depend on a sharp and correctly tensioned chain
This is the saw I keep coming back to when someone asks what a homeowner can realistically expect from a cordless saw. The CS1613 pairs a 16-inch bar with a high-efficiency brushless motor that EGO rates as equivalent to a 40cc gas saw, spinning the chain at up to 20 meters per second. On paper that is the fastest chain speed of anything in this list, and in branch work the difference is obvious, the cut finishes before the saw finishes accelerating.
The battery claim is up to 130 cuts on a 4×4 with the included 4.0Ah pack, which is a more useful number than a runtime in minutes because it maps onto an actual job. Owners report that a charge covers a full cleanup round of storm debris or a decent session of splitting rounds, which is where most people stop anyway.
Two details make this the least fussy saw here. The tool-free dial tensions the chain by twisting one wheel, so no wrench, no bar removal, no guessing. The dial is also low profile, which lets you cut a fallen branch flush to the ground without bending down and digging out the soil underneath it, a small thing that comes up constantly in cleanup work.
Construction is IPX4-rated for weather resistance, so an unexpected shower mid-job is not a reason to put the saw down. The chain is 3/8-inch pitch, 0.043-inch gauge with 56 drive links, which is a very common combination and one of the easier ones to source replacements for.
The EGO 56V ARC platform is the part of this deal that gets overlooked. Every 56V ARC Lithium battery you own works in this saw, and the same platform covers a wide range of outdoor tools. If you do not already own EGO batteries, this is a bigger commitment than the saw itself, and it is the single biggest reason people pass on an otherwise excellent tool.
Weather sealing and the dial tensioner are what separate this from the cheaper 40V and 20V class saws in the roundup. Where budget models ask you to check chain tension every few minutes and hope the auto-oiler keeps up, this one holds its settings and feeds the bar reliably.
Why this saw works for storm cleanup and firewood
A 16-inch bar is the size that handles both halves of a typical suburban woodpile. It will buck rounds of firewood that a 10-inch saw chokes on, and it has the mass to back down into a knot without stalling. The 40cc gas equivalence claim is the useful one, since it tells you this is a saw for actual wood rather than a garden tidier with a chain attached.
Owners on chainsaw forums pick this model specifically for cleanup days, when a branch pile turns into a woodpile and the job outgrows whatever pruning saw you started with. The chain brake and front guard give you the same protection a gas saw gives you, which matters more in unstable pile work than on a clean bench cut.
Where it falls short
At 20.9 pounds the bare tool is the heaviest saw in this roundup, and that weight is felt most on overhead work. Ladder and bucket trimming with a saw this size is a two-person job or a job for a much lighter pruning saw, and no amount of battery power changes the ergonomics.
The other limitation is not a flaw in the tool but a fact about chainsaws. Like every other cordless model, it bogs down if the chain is dull or loose, and a 16-inch bar that is not sharp will strain the motor quickly. Budget for a spare chain and a few minutes with a file, and it will behave.
2. DEWALT DCCS623L1 8 inch Pruning Saw – Best for Overhead and Ladder Work
DEWALT 20V MAX 8 inch Brushless Cordless Pruning Chainsaw with 3 Ah Battery Included (DCCS623L1)
8 inch bar
20V MAX 3Ah battery included
4.6 lb tool weight
Up to 70 cuts per charge
Pros
- Lightest saw in the roundup at 4.6 lb tool-only
- Handles branches up to 6-7 inches cleanly
- Compact body reaches tight spaces
- Auto-oiling and onboard wrench
- Runs on the whole 20V MAX battery system
Cons
- Bar oil can weep if stored on its side
- Lock-off switch is small and awkward to reach
- Pruning and limbing saw only - not a full-size felling saw
There is no substitute for a light saw when the work is above your head, and this is the lightest one we tested. At 4.6 pounds for the tool and roughly 8 to 8.5 pounds with a battery fitted, it is the difference between finishing a pruning job and handing the saw to someone else halfway through. My arms tell me the difference long before the battery does.
The claim is up to 70 cuts on a 4 by 4 pressure-treated pine using a DCB230 pack, and owners confirm that a full pruning session usually fits inside one charge. A brushless motor handles three to five inch branches without hesitation and pushes through six and seven inch limbs when the chain is sharp.
What makes a small saw genuinely useful rather than a toy is access. The body is compact enough to get a 10-foot ladder into a gap between two fences, and the integrated tip guard gives you something to push against when making an upcut, which is where small saws normally twist and bind.
For anyone already invested in the yellow platform, this is the cheapest way to add a saw to a battery collection that already exists. DEWALT 20V MAX packs are among the most widely owned in North America, and DeWalt buyers routinely stack a chainsaw, a pole saw and spare packs into a single purchase.
Auto-oiling takes the main maintenance task off the list, and the onboard wrench means a bar change does not require a trip to the toolbox. Low vibration at the grip is a real advantage on an eight-inch bar working close to your body.
Why pruning work is where this saw wins
Tree canopies and overhead limbs are pure reach problems. A heavier saw with a longer bar does not help you cut a branch that a 14-foot ladder puts at eye level, and fighting a heavy saw at arm’s length above your head is exactly how people get hurt.
Overhead cutting also rewards the brushless motor’s torque curve. There is no clutch stall and no restart, so you ease into the cut and the chain bites progressively instead of surprising you when the engine catches.
Where it falls short
This is a pruning and limbing saw, full stop. It will not replace a full-size saw for bucking rounds or felling, and buyers who expect it to are disappointed. If your woodpile work is more than a weekend each season, the LCS1020 or the EGO is the better purchase.
Two smaller issues come up repeatedly. Bar oil can weep from the reservoir if the saw is stored on its side between uses, so keep it upright or drain it before putting it away. And the safety lock-off switch is small enough that some users find it awkward to locate without looking down, which is worth practicing before the saw is in a tree.
3. BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 10 inch 20V MAX Kit – Top Rated Cordless Chainsaw Under 300 Dollars
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Electric Chainsaw, 10 inch Cordless Chainsaw with Battery and Charger Included, Automatic Oiler, Low Kickback Power Chain Saws (LCS1020)
10 inch bar and chain
20V MAX lithium ion battery and charger included
6.8 lb tool weight
Tool-less chain tensioning
Pros
- Over 5400 reviews of real-world feedback
- Lightweight at 6.8 lb with low vibration
- Tool-less tensioning holds tight and adjusts fast
- Quiet enough that many owners skip ear protection
- Shares batteries with other 20V MAX tools
Cons
- Manual plunger oiler must be pumped during use
- Bar oil leakage is common
- Short runtime on larger jobs
- Weak on trunks over roughly 6 inches
- Included battery is a small capacity pack
With more than 5400 reviews behind it, this is the most thoroughly owner-tested saw in the roundup, and that volume of feedback tells you more about long-term reliability than any spec sheet. Owners consistently describe a sturdy, quiet, easy-to-handle yard saw that is perfectly at home on limbs and small logs.
At 6.8 pounds it is light enough for one-handed work, and the vibration is low enough that a full session of branch trimming does not leave you shaking. Many owners note that the quiet operation means they work in a dense neighborhood without the noise complaints a gas saw would bring.
Tool-less chain tensioning is a genuine convenience on this model. Owners report that the tension holds tight and readjusts in seconds, which matters because a 10-inch saw needs tension checked far more often than a 16-inch one.
The safety features are the ones people forget to want. A lock-off button prevents accidental starting, and a front hand guard protects you from flying debris, which on green limbs is a real and underappreciated risk.
Battery sharing is the quiet advantage for anyone with other BLACK+DECKER or DEWALT 20V MAX tools. The same pack runs saws, trimmers and drills, so the marginal cost of adding this saw to an existing collection is just the saw.
Why this is the value pick
A saw at this level normally asks you to choose between a cheap saw with a battery and a decent saw without one. This one gives you a kit with battery and charger, a serviceable brand with parts available anywhere, and a review base deep enough that failures, if they exist, would already be visible.
For most homeowners the real workload is branches, small logs, hedge and light firewood. Ten inches is the sweet spot where the saw is still easy to control but can take a limb that would normally mean a long afternoon with loppers.
Where it falls short
The manual plunger oiler is the most-cited drawback in the reviews, and it is a fair criticism. You pump it by hand, and under real cutting load it needs regular attention or bar and chain wear climbs quickly. Budget for bar oil and refill it more often than a gas saw would ask.
Runtime is the second limit. The included pack is one of the smaller capacities in the 20V MAX range, and on larger jobs you are waiting on the charger more than you are cutting. Owners also report it is underpowered for trunks beyond roughly six inches, which is exactly the line where you need to step up a bar length.
4. WORX WG322 10 inch Auto-Tension – Best for Quiet Yard Work and Shared Batteries
WORX Cordless Chainsaw with Auto-Tension, 20V 10″ WG322
10 inch bar
20V PowerShare battery and charger included
6.2 lb tool weight
12.5 ft/s chain speed
Pros
- Lightest full-size saw in the roundup at 6.2 lb
- Automatic tool-free chain tension
- Automatic lubrication with oil level indicator
- Assembles in under five minutes
- One battery runs 75+ PowerShare tools
Cons
- Roughly 15-20 minutes of cutting per charge
- Chain can loosen or pop off under load on some saws
- Not for large logs or heavy firewood
- Bar and chain oil not included
The WORX WG322 wins on two things no other saw here combines: it is the lightest full-size option at 6.2 pounds, and its PowerShare battery family spans 20V, 40V and 80V tools, so one pack crosses the entire range. Owners who already own any PowerShare tool are buying into an ecosystem rather than starting one.
Assembly is genuinely fast. Owners report putting it together in under five minutes with no tools, which sounds trivial until you have assembled a competing saw on a driveway in February. For a tool that lives in a garage and comes out twice a year, that matters.
The automatic chain tension system is the feature that earns its place. It keeps the chain at the correct tension without tools and without a round trip to the manual, and the automatic lubrication with an oil level indicator takes a second maintenance decision off your plate.
Chain speed is listed at 12.5 feet per second, which is lower than the flagships in this roundup. On light and medium branches the difference is hard to feel, and the lighter saw more than compensates in handling.
At 6.2 pounds with low operator fatigue, this is the saw I would hand to someone doing a long afternoon of limb and brush work, or anyone who finds a heavier saw uncomfortable to control for an entire session.
Why quiet and shared batteries decide this pick
Noise is a purchase driver more often than spec pages admit. A saw that runs quiet enough for a dense neighborhood changes when you do yard work, and a lot of buyers say that, not power, is why they went cordless. This one is at the quiet end of the list.
The PowerShare family is the other half. Buying the WG322 means the pack in your mower and leaf blower works here too, which spreads one battery purchase across several tools instead of isolating it in the saw.
Where it falls short
Runtime is the honest limitation. Owners put single-battery cutting time at roughly 15 to 20 minutes, which is plenty for a branch session and short for a woodpile afternoon. Plan on a second battery rather than a lunch break.
Some units have chains that loosen or pop off under load, so check tension before each session rather than trusting the auto system completely. And bar and chain oil is not in the box, which is an easy, unpleasant surprise on a first purchase. This is also not the saw for large logs or heavy firewood work.
5. WORX WG385 16 inch Two-Battery Kit – Best Two-Battery Cordless Chainsaw Under 300 Dollars
WORX Cordless Chainsaw, 40V 16″, 2 Batteries & 4A Charger, WG385
16 inch bar
Two 4.0Ah batteries and a 4A dual slot charger
59 ft/s chain speed
12 pcs of 4x4 in about 30 seconds
Pros
- Cuts 12 pieces of 4x4 hardwood in about 30 seconds
- Two 4.0Ah batteries cut the downtime on bigger jobs
- One-button chain tensioning and automatic lubrication
- Handles up to 28 inch capacity for bucking and small felling
- Stops immediately when kickback occurs
Cons
- Some users report inconsistent power on very hard or large wood
- Two-battery kit is heavier to carry than a single-battery saw
This is the only kit in the roundup that ships with two 4.0Ah PowerShare PRO batteries and a dual slot 4A charger, and for anyone cutting more than a cord of wood a year that combination changes the whole shape of the job. Runtime stops being the thing you plan around and becomes the thing you stop noticing.
The performance claims here are the most aggressive in the list: 12 pieces of 4 by 4 hardwood in about 30 seconds at a stated 59 feet per second chain speed. With two 4.0Ah packs in the box, owners generally confirm the saw punches above gas saws of similar size and keeps working after the first pack is drained.
Cutting capacity is listed at up to 28 inches for bucking and felling. That is a real workhorse number, and it is why this saw shows up in cleanup stories as well as firewood rotations.
Safety is handled properly here. The saw stops immediately when kickback occurs, and a remaining power indicator means you are not finding out your battery is low halfway through a cut. The bar and chain sheath is included, which is a nice touch for anyone storing it indoors.
One-button chain tensioning and automatic lubrication work together to extend chain life, and the three-year warranty is longer than most competitors offer at this price. Owner feedback is broadly positive, with a minority reporting power delivery that bogs on demanding cuts.
If you have ever had a cordless saw die mid-job and then sit through a long recharge with a woodpile still waiting, this two-battery format is the fix. It is the difference between one productive session and two.
Why two batteries changes the job
Cordless saws are not limited by cutting ability so much as by the pause after. Forum users who log their actual time report that a homeowner-class cordless saw gives you several minutes of real cutting and then a long wait, and that wait is what pushes people back toward gas.
Two batteries with a dual slot charger halve that penalty without asking you to remember to swap mid-cut. Swap during a natural break, keep the chain moving, and the job finishes in one session.
Where it falls short
Carrying two batteries and a dual charger is more bulk than a single-battery 10 or 12 inch saw, and the 16-inch bar is still a two-hand tool rather than something you hold overhead. This is a ground-level saw for bucking, felling small trees and cleanup, not a ladder saw.
A minority of owners report inconsistent power delivery on very hard or large wood, and it is worth being honest that manufacturer capacity claims are measured on uniform 4 by 4 stock. Wild, knotty hardwood is a different test, and that is where complaints cluster.
6. Greenworks CS40B210 12 inch 40V Kit – Best for Storm Cleanup on a Budget
Greenworks 40V 12 in Cordless Electric Chainsaw, 2.0 Ah Battery and Charger
12 inch bar with low-recoil chain
40V 2.0Ah battery and charger included
10.9 lb tool weight
50 cuts on 4x4 treated wood
Pros
- 12 inch capacity with a low-recoil chain suits storm debris
- Portable and easy to move over long sessions
- Tool-free auto-tensioning and auto-oiler
- Dual safety start prevents accidental operation
- Three-year tool and battery warranty
Cons
- 2.0Ah is the smallest capacity in the 40V range
- Limited to medium branches and light cleanup
- Not for large timber
Twelve inches is the size most people actually need, and this is the pick that delivers it without dragging a full 16-inch bar behind it. The low-recoil chain is a deliberate choice for storm cleanup, where you are cutting tangled, tension-loaded limbs and a chain that grabs is a chain that throws you off balance.
Owners like the balance of capacity and portability. At 10.9 pounds it still carries easily out to a debris pile and stays comfortable through a long session, and reviewers specifically call out less fatigue over extended work.
Maintenance is handled. Tool-free auto-tensioning means no tools on a wet driveway, and the auto-oiler extends chain life by keeping the bar fed without you thinking about it. Dual safety start with a lock and trigger prevents accidental operation, which matters when you are grabbing a saw with gloved hands in the dark.
One unexpected bonus is the battery itself. The 40V 2.0Ah pack doubles as a portable power bank for phones and tablets, which owners mention often once they discover it and is genuinely useful on a cleanup day that runs long.
The three-year tool and battery warranty is the best in this roundup by a wide margin. On a platform where smaller packs are the weak point, a three-year warranty on the pack tells you something about how the manufacturer expects it to hold up.
Why 12 inches suits cleanup work
After a storm you are dealing with branches, not timber. A 12-inch bar with a low-recoil chain gives you enough reach for real limbs while staying in the weight range where one person can move around a pile freely instead of fighting the saw.
It also works for the season-long job most people actually have: clearing brush, cutting fallen branches back to the trunk, and taking a small woodpile down over a few weekends.
Where it falls short
The 2.0Ah pack is the smallest capacity in the 40V range, and it shows. The claim is 50 cuts on 4 by 4 treated wood per charge, which is a real session of branch work but not a woodpile day. If you own other 40V tools, a bigger pack in the same platform is the obvious upgrade.
It is also scoped to medium-size branches and light storm cleanup. Anything approaching large timber is outside what this saw is built for, and owners who expect more are the ones leaving negative reviews.
7. BLACK+DECKER BCCS320C1 6 inch Pruning Kit – Best Budget Pick for Small Limbs
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Pruning Chainsaw Kit, Battery and Charger Included (BCCS320C1)
6 inch bar with up to 4 inch cut capacity
20V MAX battery and charger included
Oil-free operation
Storage sheath with onboard wrench holder
Pros
- Light and easy to handle for its class
- Handles branches too big for loppers
- Oil-free design means no chain oil top-ups or leaks
- Integrated tip guard stabilizes upcuts
- Battery
- charger and storage sheath included
Cons
- 6 inch bar and 4 inch cut capacity limits it to small limbs
- Cuts slowly through thicker branches and can bog mid-cut
- Bolt lock tensioning is less convenient than tool-less systems
There is a real gap between loppers and a full-size saw, and this kit fills it. Reviewers describe it as convenient, lightweight and strong for its class, ideal for small yard jobs where a 10-inch saw is more tool than the job needs and hand tools are not enough.
The claim is up to 55 cuts per charge, and the integrated tip guard gives you a stable reference point during upcuts, which is where a short bar would otherwise wander. Reviewers consistently rate it as strong for its size rather than apologising for the dimensions.
The oil-free design is the sleeper feature. No chain oil top-ups, no oil leaks on the shelf, no wondering whether the chain is being lubricated. It is a genuine reduction in the small annoyances that make people abandon a tool in the garage.
Bolt lock chain tensioning is less convenient than a tool-less system, and it is the one place this kit feels dated. The trade is that the clamp is reliable and does not creep, which some owners prefer anyway.
A storage sheath with an onboard wrench holder is included, and that combination matters for a saw that lives indoors. The sheath keeps teeth covered on the shelf, and the wrench has a home instead of disappearing in a toolbox.
It shares the same 20V MAX batteries as the larger BLACK+DECKER and DEWALT tools, so a household with an existing battery collection gets this one for close to the saw price alone.
When a 6 inch saw is the right answer
Not every yard needs 16 inches. Fruit trees, hedges, rose canes and low branches are the jobs where a 6-inch bar is a better tool than a bigger one, because you can work precisely, one-handed, without balancing a full-size saw on a ladder.
It is also the right first saw for someone who cuts a small amount of wood and would rather not own a machine they will not use. A saw you reach for is worth more than a better saw in the shed.
Where it falls short
Four inches of cut capacity is the hard limit, and it shows on anything thicker. Reviewers note it cuts slowly through thicker branches and can bog down mid-cut on small logs, so a dull chain on this saw is felt more than on a bigger machine.
This is a limb saw, not a firewood saw. If your plans involve splitting or bucking more than a token amount of wood, the money is better spent one tier up, where the 20V MAX kit comes with a bar that can take real rounds.
8. DEWALT DCCS621B 12 inch Tool Only – Best for Owners of 20V MAX Batteries
20V MAX 12 in. Cordless Battery Powered Chainsaw (Tool Only)
12 inch bar
20V MAX platform, battery and charger not included
10 lb tool weight
Bar and chain sheath included
Pros
- Cuts 8-10 inch diameter wood at about half the weight of a comparable gas saw
- Runs on 20V MAX batteries most owners already have
- Revised model fixed the earlier oil leak with a sealed oil cap
- Automatic chain oiler with gas-style chain adjustment
- Ranks near the top of the Power Chain Saws category
Cons
- Slower than gas because the chain spins at a lower speed
- Oil can still weep if the cap is not tightened
- Can bog down on sustained heavy work
- Tool only
- battery and charger sold separately
- Lock-off needs a firm push
This is the only bare-tool saw in the roundup, and for a specific buyer it is the smartest purchase available. If you already run DEWALT 20V MAX tools, you already have the battery and the charger, and the saw becomes the cheapest way to add cutting capacity to a platform you have invested in.
Owners largely praise it as a practical, lightweight 12-inch saw that handles limbs up to about 10 inches and pairs with batteries already in the garage. A bar and chain sheath is included, which is a thoughtful addition for indoor storage.
The revised version fixed an issue that dogged the earlier model. A sealed oil cap resolved the persistent leak, and no pull-starting is needed because there is no engine. The automatic chain oiler with gas-style chain adjustment keeps the bar fed without tools.
Popularity is a fair signal here. The listing sits in the top tier of the Power Chain Saws category, which reflects volume of owners who have bought it and returned it, and that is a meaningful signal for a tool with no big brand marketing behind it.
Weight is the underrated spec. Owners compare it at roughly half the weight of a comparable 14-inch gas saw, and that is what makes a 12-inch cordless saw genuinely approachable for someone who has never handled a chainsaw before.
Why platform matching beats every other feature
Match your existing battery platform first, then compare saws. It is the consensus advice that shows up over and over in chainsaw and tool-brand forums, and it is the single decision that most changes what you end up paying over the life of the saw.
Buying into a platform you already own means the saw price is the whole cost. Buying into a new one means batteries, a charger, and eventually a second battery for the saw alone before you have bought anything else.
Where it falls short
If you do not own 20V MAX batteries, this saw is not under 300 dollars. Add a pack and a charger and the real total crosses the ceiling this article is built around, which is exactly why the bare-tool label matters so much when you read a listing.
It also cuts more slowly than a gas saw because the chain spins at a lower speed, and owners note it can bog down or cut out on sustained heavy work. Bar and chain oil can still weep if the cap is not screwed down tightly, so check it before you put the saw away.
How to Choose a Cordless Chainsaw Under $300?
Start with the job, not the spec sheet. Nearly every wasted purchase in this category comes from buying a bar length the owner does not need, or a bare tool when the budget assumed a kit. The decisions below are ordered by how much they change your experience.
Match your battery platform before you compare anything else
The number one recurring question in homeowner forums is simple: will this saw run on the batteries and charger I already own. Answer that first and the rest of the shortlist gets much smaller and much cheaper. DEWALT 20V MAX, BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX, WORX PowerShare, EGO 56V ARC and Greenworks 40V are all widely owned ecosystems in North America.
Check what is in the kit before you compare prices. A saw listed without a battery is not a kit, and the total cost of a tool plus a battery plus a charger can push you past the ceiling. In this roundup, seven of the eight picks include a battery and charger.
Bar length vs typical job
6 inch: small limbs, fruit trees, hedges, anything you can reach from the ground. Not firewood.
8 inch: overhead pruning and ladder work, branches up to about 7 inches. Weight matters more than capacity here.
10-12 inch: the sweet spot for most homeowners. Storm debris, brush, small logs, seasonal firewood.
16 inch: firewood rotations, bucking rounds and small felling. Heavier, and not a ladder saw.
Forum consensus is that a 10-inch saw will not handle a 16-inch trunk, which sounds obvious but is the most common mismatch we see. Buy the bar for the largest thing you expect to cut, not the average thing.
What $300 buys and what it does not
Experienced users put the best battery saws in this band roughly on par with homeowner gas saws, with several minutes of real cutting and a much longer recharge. That framing is honest and useful, because it tells you the ceiling before you spend.
Typical homeowner volume, according to firewood and landscaping forums, is around one and a half cords a year. At that volume, a cordless saw is a genuinely complete solution rather than a compromise. Above that, or if you cut every week, gas earns its place.
Kit versus bare tool
Kit pricing is the single biggest value decision in this category. A kit under the ceiling gives you a battery, a charger and a saw with no additional cost, which is why most of this list is kits. A bare tool only makes sense when the battery is already on your shelf.
Consumables and safety gear belong in the budget
Nobody factors these in, and everybody needs them. A replacement chain, a replacement bar and a supply of bar oil are recurring costs that apply to every saw in this roundup, regardless of brand. Plan for it before the first cut rather than after the chain dulls in a pile of mud.
Safety gear is the other line people skip. Chaps, a helmet with face protection, eye protection, ear protection and proper chainsaw boots are repeatedly recommended alongside the saw in forestry forums, and a chainsaw is one of the few tools where that advice should not be negotiated. Budget for it in the same purchase.
Common problems with battery operated chainsaws
Almost every complaint about these saws falls into one of four buckets. First, dull or loose chains, which cause bogging and are the fastest fix at a filing vise. Second, oil system issues, ranging from a manual plunger needing attention to weeping at the reservoir cap. Third, runtime, where a small amp-hour pack means waiting on the charger. Fourth, platform friction, where buying the wrong battery ecosystem costs more than the saw.
Bar and chain compatibility is its own small headache. Chains and bars are not freely interchangeable across brands, and matching pitch and gauge to the manufacturer spec for your model is the safe approach. Verify the drive link count, pitch and gauge before buying a replacement rather than trusting appearance.
Who should still buy gas
Buy a gas saw if you cut several cords a year, if you fell trees regularly, if you work far from a charger, or if your sessions run long enough that the recharge wait dominates. There is no cordless saw in this price band that changes that math, and no amount of marketing volts will.
For everyone else, the saws below are ready to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best cordless chainsaw for the money?
The EGO POWER+ CS1613 is the best cordless chainsaw for the money in this price band, pairing a 16 inch bar and a brushless motor rated equivalent to a 40cc gas saw with a 56V 4.0Ah battery and charger in the box. If your priority is value rather than cutting speed, the BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 pairs a 10 inch bar with 20V MAX batteries and carries more than 5400 owner reviews.
What is the best chainsaw for under 300 dollars?
The EGO POWER+ CS1613 is the strongest all-round pick under 300 dollars, with a 16 inch bar, a brushless motor equivalent to a 40cc gas saw, and a battery and charger included. Budget buyers get the most from the BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 10 inch kit, and pruning-focused buyers should look at the DEWALT DCCS623L1 8 inch saw for overhead work.
Which cordless chainsaw is better, Ryobi or EGO?
EGO generally delivers more cutting speed and a heavier 16 inch bar for demanding wood, while Ryobi competes at lower platform voltages and tends to be the quieter, cheaper option. For most homeowners the decision is not performance, it is batteries: buy the saw that runs on the platform you already own. If you already own one ecosystem, that choice usually outweighs any spec difference.
What is the best budget chainsaw that is also reliable?
The BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 10 inch kit is the best budget option that is genuinely reliable, with more than 5400 owner reviews behind it, a serviceable parts supply, and a 20V MAX platform shared with other tools. The key to reliability at this budget is buying a named brand with a real parts supply, not a no-name saw, and keeping the chain sharp and correctly tensioned.
What are the common problems with battery operated chainsaws?
The most common problems are dull or loose chains that cause the saw to bog down, oil system issues such as a manual oiler needing attention or oil weeping at the reservoir cap, short runtime from small amp-hour packs, and battery platform friction that costs more than expected. Most of these are preventable with regular chain filing, proper tensioning and checking the oil cap before storage.
How do I know if a chainsaw chain is compatible?
Check three numbers against the manual for your model: drive link count, chain pitch and gauge. Matching all three is what makes a chain safe to fit. Chains and bars are not freely interchangeable across brands, and a chain that looks right but differs by a single drive link will not tension or cut correctly. Buy replacements specified for your exact model number.
The Bottom Line on Cordless Chainsaws Under $300
For most homeowners, the EGO POWER+ CS1613 is the best cordless chainsaw under 300 dollars, and the deciding factor for most of the rest is the battery already sitting in your garage. If you run DeWalt or BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX packs, the LCS1020 is the strongest buy. If you own PowerShare tools, the WG322 is the lightest option. If you are starting from nothing and cutting a cord or two a year, any of the kits above will handle it.
Match the platform, buy the bar for the largest thing you will cut, and add a chain, some bar oil and a set of chaps to the same purchase. Prices move constantly, so use the check buttons for current numbers rather than any figure you remember.