The 6 Best Chainsaws Under $200

Most budget chainsaws I’ve picked up over the years fell into one of two categories: surprisingly capable, or a complete waste of a Saturday afternoon. The difference usually isn’t the price — it’s knowing which ones are worth your money before you pull the trigger.

I run a ranch in Montana. I cut firewood every fall, clear downed timber after storms, and trim limbs more times a year than I care to count. I don’t always need my professional-grade saw for that work. Sometimes a lighter, cheaper tool gets the job done just fine — and keeps the expensive equipment in reserve for the heavy stuff.

Under $200 is a real budget tier. You can absolutely get a chainsaw here that handles firewood, storm cleanup, and basic yard work. You just need to know what to look for and what to skip. I’ve put together this list of the six best options so you don’t have to guess.

If you’re shopping for something with more power or a bigger bar, check out our guide to the best chainsaws for homeowners — it covers the full range from light-duty to serious cutting machines.

Product	Best For	Bar Length	Power Type
COOCHEER 20″ 58CC	Best gas pick	20″	Gas
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX	Best for light yard cleanup	10″	20V Battery
BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX	Best battery power at this budget	12″	40V Battery
Worx WG322 20V	Best compact cordless	10″	20V Battery
CRAFTSMAN V20	Best for brand ecosystem value	12″	20V Battery
LiTHELi 40V	Best lesser-known pick	14″	40V Battery

What to Look For in a Chainsaw Under $200

Before you scroll straight to the reviews, spend two minutes here. This section will save you from buying the wrong saw for your situation — which is the most common mistake I see first-time buyers make.

Bar Length and What Jobs It Handles

Bar length is the single most important spec for matching a saw to a task. A longer bar can cut bigger diameter wood, but it also means more weight and harder handling for a beginner.

• 10″: Light limbing, pruning branches, cutting small logs under 8″ diameter. Good for suburban yard work.
• 12″: A step up — handles most yard cleanup tasks, small firewood rounds, and downed branches up to about 10″ across.
• 14″: Solid all-rounder for homeowners. Cuts most firewood efficiently and handles medium-diameter trees.
• 16″ and up: More serious cutting. A 20″ gas saw like the COOCHEER in this list can handle logs up to 36″ diameter in two passes.

For a deeper breakdown of how bar length affects what you can cut, read our chainsaw bar length guide — it covers everything from limbing to felling.

Gas vs. Battery at This Price Point

Both work. The choice depends more on how you use a chainsaw than which technology is better.

Gas chainsaws under $200 give you real cutting power — the COOCHEER in this roundup runs a 58cc engine, which is more than enough for firewood and moderate tree work. The tradeoff is maintenance: you’re mixing fuel, cleaning air filters, and dealing with a carb if the saw sits all winter. Gas also means more noise and more vibration.

Battery chainsaws are quieter, require almost zero maintenance, and start every time you squeeze the trigger. At this budget, 20V saws handle light work well. 40V saws step it up and can manage small firewood rounds without much trouble. The limitation is run time — most batteries last 30–45 minutes of cutting before they need a recharge.

If you want to explore more cordless options beyond this list, our roundup of the best electric chainsaws covers a wider range of battery-powered saws.

What You’re Giving Up Under $200

I want to be straight with you here. These are good saws for the money, but there are real tradeoffs at this price point.

• Auto-oiler quality: Budget saws often have basic bar oilers that can clog or underperform. Check the oil more frequently than you think you need to.
• Chain life: The chains that come on budget saws dull faster than aftermarket chains. Plan on sharpening or replacing sooner. Knowing how to sharpen a chainsaw chain yourself will save you real money over time.
• Run time on battery saws: A single 20V battery won’t get you through a full afternoon of cutting. Buy a spare battery if you’re doing sustained work.
• Build quality: Plastic housings, lighter gauge components, and simpler safety mechanisms are common. These saws aren’t built for daily professional use.

None of that makes them bad purchases — it just means you go in with the right expectations.

The 6 Best Chainsaws Under $200

Here’s my breakdown of each saw, based on specs, user feedback, and what I know about how these tools perform in real yard and ranch conditions.

1. COOCHEER 20″ 58CC — Best Gas Chainsaw Under $200

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If you need actual cutting power under $200, this is your saw. The COOCHEER runs a 58cc two-stroke engine with a 20″ bar — that combination puts it in a different league from the battery-powered options on this list.

In practical terms, a 20″ bar lets you cut an 18″ log in a single pass. You can work through a full cord of firewood with this thing. It’s not a Stihl, but it moves wood. Users consistently note low vibration for a gas saw at this price, and the easy-start system reduces the typical pull-start frustration that kills the mood on cold mornings.

The fuel-efficient 2-stroke motor reportedly cuts fuel consumption by around 20% compared to older designs in this class. That matters when you’re running it for a few hours on a fall weekend.

The main downside is what you’d expect from any budget gas saw: chain and bar quality are adequate but not impressive. Keep the bar oiled, and plan on running a better chain after the first season if you’re cutting frequently.

2. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX — Best for Light Yard Cleanup

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This is the entry-level pick — and that’s not a knock. If your job list includes trimming branches, clearing brush, and cutting up small downed limbs after a storm, the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX is a solid, low-fuss option.

The 10″ bar keeps it light and maneuverable. I’ve used comparable tools for overhead limbing and tight-space work where a bigger saw would be awkward. The 20V lithium-ion battery system means it starts instantly, runs quietly, and doesn’t require any fuel maintenance between uses.

Don’t expect it to power through 12″ logs. That’s not what it’s built for. But for suburban homeowners who need a chainsaw occasionally — not a primary cutting tool — this covers the basics well. BLACK+DECKER’s 20V battery platform also means you may already own compatible batteries from other tools in their lineup.

3. BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX — Best Battery Power at This Budget

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Step up to 40V and the BLACK+DECKER gets meaningfully more capable. This version runs a 12″ bar and delivers noticeably more torque than the 20V model — you can feel the difference when the chain hits hardwood.

For homeowners who want a battery saw that can actually cut small firewood rounds and handle medium-diameter limbs, this is where I’d point them. The 40V platform gives you enough power for most suburban tasks without the noise, fumes, or maintenance of a gas saw.

The 12″ bar is the sweet spot for many homeowners — long enough to be genuinely useful, short enough to stay manageable. Battery run time is the expected limitation. Budget for a second battery if you’re planning more than an hour of work at a stretch.

4. Worx WG322 20V — Best Compact Cordless

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Worx built the WG322 around portability, and it shows. This is the lightest saw on the list — under 6 pounds — and the 10″ bar makes it genuinely handheld-friendly for pruning and light limbing work.

What sets it apart from the BLACK+DECKER 20V is the auto-tension chain system. No tools required to adjust chain tension, which is a real quality-of-life feature if you’re new to chainsaws and haven’t dealt with chain maintenance before. It takes one variable off your plate.

Worx also uses their PowerShare 20V battery platform, so if you’re already running Worx tools around the yard, this drops right into your existing battery stock. For homeowners who want a small, grab-and-go chainsaw for quick jobs, the WG322 is one of the more thoughtfully designed options under $200.

5. CRAFTSMAN V20 — Best for Brand Ecosystem Value

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CRAFTSMAN has been in American garages for generations, and their V20 cordless chainsaw carries that same practical, no-nonsense approach into the battery tool era. The 12″ bar gives you solid cutting range for yard work, and the V20 platform is one of the most widely used battery ecosystems in the DIY market.

If you already own CRAFTSMAN V20 tools — a drill, a circular saw, a leaf blower — this chainsaw uses the same battery. That’s real value when you’re building out a tool collection on a budget. No need to buy into another battery system.

The saw itself performs well for its class. It handles limbing, cutting small firewood rounds, and storm cleanup without complaint. Chain oiling is automatic, and the low-kickback chain adds a layer of safety for homeowners who aren’t cutting regularly.

6. LiTHELi 40V — Best Lesser-Known Pick

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LiTHELi isn’t a name most homeowners recognize, but this 40V cordless chainsaw punches above its class in terms of cutting performance. The 14″ bar is the longest of any battery saw on this list, and paired with a 40V motor, it handles tasks that would stall a smaller cordless saw.

For homeowners who want battery convenience but need more bar than the 10–12″ options offer, the LiTHELi fills a real gap. It can cut through 12″ diameter logs cleanly, which puts it firmly in firewood-capable territory for lighter cutting days.

The auto-oiling system and tool-free chain tensioning are both solid for a saw at this price. My one caution: buy through a seller with good return support. Lesser-known brands sometimes have inconsistent quality control, and reading recent reviews before purchasing is worth the extra few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a chainsaw under $200 handle firewood cutting?

Yes — with the right saw. The COOCHEER gas chainsaw on this list runs a 58cc engine with a 20″ bar, which is more than adequate for cutting firewood. The LiTHELi 40V and BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX can also handle smaller firewood rounds. The 20V battery saws are better suited to yard cleanup than sustained firewood splitting sessions.

What’s better at this price — gas or battery powered?

Depends on how you’ll use it. Gas gives you more raw power and longer run time, but requires fuel mixing and regular maintenance. Battery saws start instantly, run quietly, and need almost no maintenance — but run time is limited and power drops off with larger diameter cuts. For occasional yard work and light cutting, battery is convenient. For firewood and heavier work, gas wins at this budget.

How long does a battery chainsaw last on a single charge?

Most budget battery chainsaws deliver 30–45 minutes of active cutting on a full charge. Light pruning work can stretch that further; cutting through dense hardwood will shorten it. If you’re planning more than an hour of cutting, buy a second battery for your platform. It’s the single best upgrade you can make for any cordless chainsaw.

What bar length do I need for cutting firewood vs. trimming limbs?

For firewood, you want at least 14″ — ideally 16″ or more if you’re cutting larger rounds. A 10–12″ bar is plenty for limbing, pruning branches, and general yard cleanup. The COOCHEER’s 20″ bar is overkill for limbing but ideal if firewood is your main task. Match the bar to the job you actually do most often.

Are budget chainsaws safe for beginners?

They can be, but chainsaw safety doesn’t come from the saw — it comes from how you use it. Look for low-kickback chains and chain brakes on any saw you buy. Beyond that, wear proper chainsaw safety gear every single time: chaps, gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection for gas saws. A budget chainsaw used correctly is far safer than an expensive one used carelessly.

Do any of these come with a battery included?

It varies by listing and bundle. The COOCHEER is gas-powered, so no battery applies. For the cordless options, check the current Amazon listing carefully — some come with battery and charger included, others are tool-only. Battery-included bundles cost more upfront but are usually better value than buying separately.

How often should I sharpen or replace the chain on a budget saw?

The chains on budget saws dull faster than premium aftermarket chains. As a general rule, sharpen after every few hours of cutting or whenever you notice the saw pushing instead of pulling through wood. Learning to sharpen your own chain is a skill worth developing — it takes about 10 minutes once you know what you’re doing. A sharp chain also puts less strain on the motor and extends the life of the saw.

What’s the difference between 20V and 40V battery chainsaws?

Voltage roughly corresponds to cutting power and torque. A 40V saw cuts through harder and larger-diameter wood more easily than a 20V saw. The 40V options on this list — the BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX and LiTHELi 40V — handle tasks that would bog down a 20V motor. The tradeoff is that 40V batteries are heavier and cost more to replace. For light yard cleanup, 20V is fine. For anything involving actual firewood or medium trees, 40V is worth the upgrade.

My Top Pick for Most Homeowners

If you’re buying your first chainsaw and plan to use it for a mix of yard cleanup, occasional firewood, and storm damage cleanup, the COOCHEER 20″ gas chainsaw is the pick I keep coming back to. The bar length and engine size give you real cutting capability that battery saws at this price simply can’t match.

If you’re set on battery and mostly doing light work around a suburban yard, the BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX is where I’d spend my money — more power than the 20V models, solid brand support, and enough bar to actually be useful.

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