The 6 Best Cordless Chainsaws for Firewood

Battery-powered chainsaws have come a long way. A few years back I wouldn’t have trusted one to cut a full cord of firewood — the batteries died too fast, the motors bogged down in dense wood, and you’d lose half a day waiting on a charge. That’s not the case anymore.

On my ranch in Montana, I cut firewood every fall to get through the winter. I’ve run gas saws for years, but I keep a cordless on hand for the lighter sessions — bucking up smaller logs, cleaning up branches, cutting close to the house where I don’t want exhaust fumes. A good cordless chainsaw handles that work without complaint.

If you’re a homeowner who needs the best cordless chainsaw for firewood and doesn’t want to deal with mixed gas, carb cleaning, or pull-start frustration, you’re in the right place. I’ve put together this list of the six best options across different budgets and use cases.

One practical tip before we get into it: buy a second battery and keep it on the charger while you work. That single move eliminates the biggest complaint people have about cordless chainsaws. If you’d like to know what else to look for before you cut, check out our guide on how to season firewood properly — because cutting it right is only half the job.

Product	Best For	Bar Length	Voltage	Weight
Zombi ZCS5817	Overall	16 in	58V	~10.8 lbs
BLACK+DECKER 40V Max	Budget 40V	14 in	40V	~10.4 lbs
CRAFTSMAN V20	Beginners	14 in	20V	~8.8 lbs
LiTHELi 40V	Best Value	14 in	40V	~9.5 lbs
Worx WG322 20V	Lightweight	10 in	20V	~5.0 lbs
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX	Small Jobs	10 in	20V	~7.2 lbs

What to Look For in a Cordless Chainsaw for Firewood

Not every cordless chainsaw is built for firewood work. Some are designed for light pruning and trimming. If you’re bucking logs into 16-inch rounds all afternoon, you need something built to sustain that kind of load. Here’s what actually matters.

Voltage and Battery Capacity

Voltage is the single biggest factor in cutting performance. A 40V or 58V saw has noticeably more power and sustained torque than a 20V model — especially once you’re halfway through a dense piece of oak or maple.

That said, 20V saws aren’t useless for firewood. If you’re cutting softer wood — pine, poplar, birch — in diameters under 6 inches, a 20V will handle it. For hardwoods or anything over 6 inches across, I’d step up to 40V minimum.

Battery capacity is measured in amp-hours (Ah). A 4Ah battery will outlast a 2Ah battery by roughly double. If the saw comes with a 2Ah battery, budget for a second 4Ah pack — it’s worth it.

Bar Length

For firewood cutting, a 14- to 16-inch bar covers the vast majority of what you’ll encounter. Most firewood logs run 8 to 14 inches in diameter, so a 14-inch bar handles them cleanly with room to spare.

A 16-inch bar gives you a little more reach and works better on larger rounds without having to reposition. I wouldn’t go shorter than 12 inches for dedicated firewood work — you’ll end up fighting the saw on bigger pieces. If you want a deeper dive on sizing, our guide on how to choose the right chainsaw bar length breaks it down by job type.

Chain Speed and Motor Type

Brushless motors are worth the price premium. They run cooler, last longer, and deliver better chain speed throughout the battery charge — not just at the start. Brushed motors work fine for occasional use but tend to lose power as the battery drains and wear out faster with heavy use.

If you’re cutting more than a half cord per season, pay the extra for a brushless motor. You’ll feel the difference in the middle of a long cutting session when a brushed saw starts to drag.

Weight and Balance

This matters more than most buyers realize. A saw that weighs 12 pounds feels manageable for the first 20 cuts. After 60 cuts, it feels like a boat anchor. Cordless saws generally run lighter than gas equivalents, which is a real advantage for extended firewood sessions.

Look for something under 11 pounds with battery. And pay attention to balance — a front-heavy saw tires your arms out faster than one that sits evenly in your hands.

Safety Features

Every saw on this list has a chain brake, which stops the chain instantly if the saw kicks back. That’s non-negotiable. I also look for low-kickback chain designs, a trigger lockout that prevents accidental starts, and tool-free chain tensioning so you can make adjustments safely without extra tools.

If you’re newer to running a chainsaw, check out our chainsaw safety tips for homeowners before your first session. Good habits from the start matter more than any feature on the saw itself.

The 6 Best Cordless Chainsaws for Firewood

Here’s my current list. I’ve ordered these from strongest overall performer to most specialized, so most homeowners should find their best fit in the first three or four options.

1. Zombi ZCS5817 — Best Overall

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The Zombi ZCS5817 is my top pick for homeowners who want a cordless saw that actually handles real firewood work. The 58V platform puts it closer to gas territory than most battery saws, and the 16-inch Oregon bar is long enough to handle serious rounds without fighting the log.

The 4Ah lithium battery is included, which matters — a lot of budget saws ship with 2Ah packs that barely last through a wheelbarrow of logs. With the 4Ah, I’ve gotten through a solid session of bucking 8- to 10-inch diameter logs before needing a swap.

Chain tensioning is tool-free, the chain brake is responsive, and the whole package feels balanced in hand. The 5-year warranty on the saw body and 2-year on the battery is better coverage than you’ll get from most competitors at this price point. My one knock on it: the brand doesn’t have the retail footprint of BLACK+DECKER or CRAFTSMAN, so finding replacement parts locally can be tricky. Order chains online and keep a spare.

2. BLACK+DECKER 40V Max — Best Budget 40V

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BLACK+DECKER isn’t flashy, but they make tools that hold up, and this 40V model is a solid workhorse for homeowners cutting a modest amount of firewood each season. The 14-inch bar is on the shorter end, but it cuts cleanly through most residential firewood without stalling.

The 40V system has enough power to handle a mix of softwoods and moderate hardwoods. Don’t expect it to chew through a 14-inch diameter oak without some effort, but for typical firewood logs in the 6- to 10-inch range, it does the job reliably.

The tool-free blade and chain change is a nice touch for beginners who aren’t comfortable wrenching on a saw. Battery charges in about an hour with the included charger. If you’re already in the BLACK+DECKER 40V ecosystem, this is an easy add — the battery is interchangeable with their other 40V tools.

3. CRAFTSMAN V20 — Best for Beginners

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If you’ve never run a chainsaw before, the CRAFTSMAN V20 is where I’d point you. It’s light, manageable, and forgiving — and CRAFTSMAN’s reputation for durability means it’ll hold up through learning-curve mistakes that would kill a cheaper saw.

The 14-inch bar and 20V system won’t win any speed contests, but that’s actually a feature for new users. Slower chain speed gives you more reaction time, and the saw’s weight (under 9 lbs with battery) reduces fatigue during shorter sessions. The automatic oiler keeps the bar lubricated without you having to think about it.

For the homeowner who needs to cut a face cord of pine or mixed softwood once or twice a year, the V20 covers it without overpaying for power you won’t use. It’s part of the larger CRAFTSMAN V20 battery system, so if you have a CRAFTSMAN drill or impact driver, your batteries likely work here too. For more beginner-friendly options across different budgets, see our roundup of the best chainsaws for beginners.

4. LiTHELi 40V — Best Value Pick

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LiTHELi isn’t a name most homeowners recognize, but this 40V saw punches well above its price. For the cost, you get a 40V battery system, a 14-inch bar, and a brushless motor — a combination that’s hard to beat without spending significantly more.

The brushless motor is the real selling point here. Most saws at this price ship with brushed motors that wear faster and drag as the battery runs down. The brushless setup in the LiTHELi maintains more consistent power through the charge cycle, which translates to cleaner cuts deeper into a session.

It’s not going to replace a professional-grade saw, and I’d be cautious about pushing it on very large, dense hardwood logs consistently. But for a homeowner cutting a cord or less of mixed wood per season, the LiTHELi 40V is excellent value. Chain tensioning is tool-free, and the automatic oiler works reliably. Just keep the bar and chain clean between uses.

5. Worx WG322 20V — Best Lightweight Option

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The Worx WG322 is the lightest saw on this list at around 5 pounds, and that makes it a completely different kind of tool. You’re not going to cut a full cord of firewood with this — but that’s not what it’s built for.

This is the saw you grab to clean up smaller branches after a storm, cut the ends off a few pieces that are slightly too long, or handle light limbing work around the yard. The 10-inch bar works fast on anything under 5 inches in diameter, and the low weight means you can work overhead or in tight spots without muscle fatigue.

The auto-tension chain system is a standout feature — it keeps the chain at the right tension automatically, which is genuinely useful if you tend to forget (or skip) that maintenance step. For a homeowner with a small lot and occasional light cutting needs, the Worx WG322 earns its spot. Just know its limits going in.

6. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX — Best for Small Jobs

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The BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX is an entry-level saw for homeowners who have a handful of small cuts to make and want something simple, reliable, and inexpensive. It’s not a firewood production machine, but for cutting up a downed branch or trimming the occasional small log, it gets there.

The 10-inch bar handles material up to about 4 inches in diameter with ease. The saw is lightweight and starts instantly — press the button, pull the trigger, you’re cutting. No choke, no priming, no pull cord. For someone who only uses a chainsaw a few times a year, that simplicity has real appeal.

The 20V MAX battery is shared across BLACK+DECKER’s large lineup of tools, so if you already own their drills, sanders, or string trimmers, you may already have a compatible battery on the shelf. Just don’t ask this saw to handle 10-inch diameter hardwood rounds on a regular basis — it’ll bog down and you’ll wear the battery out fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a cordless chainsaw cut firewood as well as a gas chainsaw?

For most homeowners, yes — with some caveats. A 40V or 58V cordless saw handles firewood cutting on logs up to 12 inches in diameter without issue. Where gas saws still win is sustained cutting over hours and performance on very large, dense hardwood. If you’re processing a full cord of oak in a single day, a gas saw is still faster. For most homeowners cutting a face cord or less, a good cordless saw is genuinely capable.

How long does a cordless chainsaw battery last cutting firewood?

Depends on the battery capacity and the wood you’re cutting. A 4Ah battery on a 40V saw typically handles 30 to 45 minutes of active cutting — more on softwood, less on dense hardwood. With a 2Ah battery, cut that roughly in half. The practical fix is a second battery: keep one charging while you run the other, and you won’t have to stop working.

Is 20V enough for cutting firewood, or do I need 40V?

It depends on what you’re cutting. For softwoods — pine, poplar, fir — in diameters under 6 inches, a 20V saw handles it fine. For hardwoods like oak, hickory, or maple, or anything over 6 inches in diameter, I’d go 40V minimum. If you’re not sure what species you’ll be cutting, go 40V and don’t second-guess it.

What size bar do I need for cutting firewood logs?

A 14-inch bar covers most firewood work for a typical homeowner. Most firewood logs run 8 to 12 inches in diameter, and a 14-inch bar handles that with room to spare. A 16-inch bar gives you more capacity for larger rounds and is worth the slight extra weight if you’re dealing with bigger timber. I wouldn’t go shorter than 12 inches if firewood cutting is your primary use.

Can I use any brand’s battery with my cordless chainsaw?

No. Battery systems are brand-specific and not cross-compatible unless a saw is explicitly designed for a third-party platform. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX batteries work across BLACK+DECKER and some DEWALT tools. CRAFTSMAN V20 batteries work within the CRAFTSMAN ecosystem. Always check compatibility before buying a second battery or assuming your existing pack will fit a new saw.

How do I maintain a cordless chainsaw between uses?

Three things matter most. First, keep the bar and chain oiled — most saws have an automatic oiler, but check the reservoir before each use. Second, keep the chain sharp — a dull chain makes the motor work harder and drains the battery faster. Third, store the battery partially charged (not fully drained, not fully charged) if you won’t be using the saw for more than a few weeks. Check the chain tension before every session and clean sawdust out of the bar groove regularly.

Are cordless chainsaws safe for beginners?

They’re generally more beginner-friendly than gas saws — no pull-start, no flooded engine, lower noise, and often lighter weight. That said, a chainsaw is a chainsaw. Every model on this list has a chain brake, which stops the chain immediately if kickback occurs. Use it with personal protective equipment — chaps, gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection — and take the time to learn proper technique before tackling big logs. Our chainsaw safety tips for homeowners is a good starting point.

What’s the difference between brushless and brushed motor chainsaws?

Brushed motors use physical carbon brushes to conduct electricity inside the motor. They work fine but generate more heat, wear out faster, and lose power as the brushes degrade. Brushless motors use magnets and electronics instead — they run cooler, last longer, and maintain more consistent power throughout the battery’s charge. Brushless saws cost more upfront but are worth it if you’re using the saw regularly. For occasional light use, a brushed motor is acceptable.

My Bottom Line

Most homeowners are best served by the Zombi ZCS5817. The 58V platform, 16-inch bar, and included 4Ah battery give you real cutting capability — not just for light trimming, but for actual firewood production. The warranty coverage is better than the competition, and the Oregon bar is quality hardware that’ll last.

If the price or brand name gives you pause, the LiTHELi 40V is my runner-up — brushless motor at a price that’s hard to argue with. And if you’re brand new to chainsaws, start with the CRAFTSMAN V20 and build your confidence before stepping up.

Once you’ve got the wood cut, the next step is letting it dry properly. See our guide on the best firewood to burn to make sure you’re stacking the right species for your stove or fireplace.

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