The 6 Best Cordless Chainsaws Under $200

If you’re a homeowner who just needs a chainsaw for occasional yard work — trimming branches, cleaning up storm debris, or cutting a few logs for a backyard fire — you don’t need to spend $400 on a gas-powered saw. A cordless chainsaw under $200 will handle most of what you’re going to throw at it.

I’ve used battery-powered saws on my Montana property for years. They’re quieter, easier to start, and honestly a lot less hassle to maintain than gas. For light to moderate work, they get the job done. The key is knowing which ones are worth your money and which ones will leave you frustrated after the first cut.

If you’re still weighing whether battery power is right for you, check out my breakdown of the best chainsaws for homeowners — it covers gas, electric, and cordless options side by side. But if you’ve already decided on cordless and want to stay under $200, read on.

Here are the six best cordless chainsaws under $200 for homeowners right now.

Product	Best For	Voltage	Bar Length	Battery Included?
Greenworks 40V	Best Overall	40V	16″	Kit available
Greenworks G-MAX 40V	Best Battery Ecosystem	40V	16″	Kit available
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX	Best Budget Pick	20V	10″	Yes
BLACK+DECKER 40V Max	Best Step-Up from 20V	40V	12″	Kit available
Worx WG322 20V	Best Lightweight Option	20V	10″	Yes
LiTHELi 40V	Best Value Unknown Brand	40V	14″	Yes

What to Look for in a Cordless Chainsaw Under $200

Before you click “add to cart,” there are a few things that matter a lot more than brand name at this price point. Here’s what actually separates a good budget cordless saw from a frustrating one.

Voltage: 20V vs. 40V

Voltage tells you how much power the battery delivers. A 20V saw works fine for light pruning — branches under 4 inches, small limbs, that kind of thing. A 40V saw gives you noticeably more torque and chain speed, which matters when you’re cutting through a 6–8 inch log or working for more than 20 minutes at a stretch.

For most homeowners doing basic yard cleanup, a 20V will get you through. But if you expect to do any real cutting — storm damage, small tree removal, cutting firewood — spend the extra $30–$50 and get a 40V. You’ll be glad you did.

Bar Length

A 10-inch bar handles branches and small-diameter wood. A 12-inch bar gets you into small logs and thicker limbs. A 14–16 inch bar is where you can start cutting actual trees and larger rounds.

Under $200, you’ll mostly be looking at 10–16 inch bars. My honest advice: don’t obsess over getting the longest bar possible. A 10-inch bar on a powerful 40V motor will outperform a 16-inch bar on an underpowered 20V motor every single time.

Battery Included or Bare Tool?

This is where the “under $200” category gets tricky. Some chainsaws in this price range are sold as bare tools — meaning no battery, no charger. If you don’t already own a compatible battery platform, you could end up spending another $60–$100 just to get the thing running.

Always check whether the listing says “kit” (battery + charger included) or “bare tool” before you assume the listed price is your total cost. I’ll flag this for each product below.

Weight and Balance

Most cordless chainsaws in this range weigh between 7 and 12 pounds with the battery. That might not sound like much, but when you’re reaching overhead to trim a branch or working for 45 minutes straight, a top-heavy or poorly balanced saw gets exhausting fast.

Lighter doesn’t always mean better either — a saw that’s too light can feel unstable in hardwood. Look for something in the 8–10 pound range with a comfortable rear handle and a front guard that sits naturally in your grip.

The 6 Best Cordless Chainsaws Under $200

I’ve tested or had hands-on time with all six of these saws. Here’s what I actually think of each one.

1. Greenworks 40V Cordless Chainsaw — Best Overall

The Greenworks 40V is my top pick for most homeowners, and it’s not particularly close. The 40V motor gives you real cutting power — enough to work through 8-inch logs without the saw bogging down. The 16-inch bar means you’re not constantly repositioning for larger cuts. And Greenworks as a brand has been around long enough that you can trust their build quality at this price point.

The automatic oiler works well, which matters more than people realize. A dry chain wears out fast and cuts poorly. With this saw, you don’t have to think about it — it keeps the bar lubricated throughout the cut.

If you’re new to chainsaws and want to learn how to keep the chain in good shape over time, my guide on how to sharpen a chainsaw chain walks you through the whole process step by step.

2. Greenworks G-MAX 40V Cordless Chainsaw — Best for Battery Ecosystem Users

If you already own other Greenworks G-MAX tools — a leaf blower, string trimmer, or lawn mower — the G-MAX 40V chainsaw makes a lot of sense. All G-MAX tools share the same battery platform, so your existing battery and charger work right out of the box. That saves you $50–$80 instantly.

Performance-wise, this saw punches well above its price range. The G-MAX battery system delivers consistent power throughout the discharge cycle — you don’t get that frustrating fade in cutting power as the battery drains down. Charge time on the 2Ah battery is around 60 minutes, and the 4Ah takes about two hours.

The on-board battery indicator is a nice touch. You’re not guessing whether you have enough charge to finish a job.

3. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Chainsaw — Best Budget Entry-Level

If your budget is tight and your tasks are light, the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX is a solid starting point. This is a pruning saw more than a logging saw — the 10-inch bar is purpose-built for small branches and shrub trimming. Don’t try to drop a 10-inch tree with it. But for what it’s designed to do, it works reliably.

The big selling point here is that most kits include the battery and charger, bringing the real cost of entry down. BLACK+DECKER’s 20V battery platform also works with a huge range of their other tools, which is useful if you’re building out a tool collection on a budget.

It’s light — around 7 pounds — which makes overhead work and one-handed trimming genuinely comfortable. For a first-time chainsaw owner who just needs to clean up light brush, this is a fine place to start.

4. BLACK+DECKER 40V Max Cordless Chainsaw — Best Step-Up from 20V

This is what you get when you want BLACK+DECKER reliability but need more power than the 20V delivers. The 40V Max bumps up the motor output significantly and comes with a 12-inch bar — not huge, but enough for most homeowner cutting tasks including cutting logs up to 10 inches in diameter.

The chain tensioning system on this model is tool-free, which sounds like a small thing until you’re mid-job and need to tighten the chain without hunting for a wrench. BUILD quality is what you’d expect from BLACK+DECKER — not flashy, but dependable. I’ve seen these saws used season after season with basic maintenance and they hold up.

If you already own a BLACK+DECKER 40V battery from another tool, check whether it’s compatible before buying a kit — you might be able to save money going with the bare tool version.

5. Worx WG322 20V Cordless Chainsaw — Best Lightweight Option

The Worx WG322 is the one I’d hand to someone who’s never used a chainsaw before. At around 5.3 pounds without the battery, it’s genuinely light — light enough that balance and control aren’t an issue even for smaller users. The 10-inch bar is what it is at 20V, but Worx has done a good job extracting real cutting performance from this form factor.

What sets the WG322 apart from other lightweight 20V saws is the ergonomics. The wrap-around handle and front hand guard are well-positioned, and the whole saw just feels intentional in your hand rather than like a toy. Worx tools have gotten better over the years — this isn’t the flimsy budget brand they used to be.

It comes with a 2.0Ah battery and charger included, so the sticker price is your actual total price. For a beginner doing yard maintenance on a tight budget, this is a strong choice.

6. LiTHELi 40V Cordless Chainsaw — Best Value from a Lesser-Known Brand

LiTHELi isn’t a name most homeowners know, but they’ve been making a quiet case for themselves in the cordless outdoor power tool space. The 40V chainsaw they offer typically comes with a 14-inch bar, a battery, and a charger at a price that undercuts the Greenworks models by a noticeable margin.

I’ll be honest — I’d take a Greenworks over this if the price difference is small. But if the LiTHELi is meaningfully cheaper on the day you’re shopping, it’s a legitimate buy. The motor delivers real 40V performance, the auto-oiler works, and the build is adequate for homeowner use. The chain can be a little aggressive right out of the box, so I’d check the tension before your first cut and make sure you’re running the right chain for what you’re cutting. Speaking of which, my roundup of the best chainsaw chains is worth a look if you end up wanting to swap the stock chain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cordless chainsaws powerful enough for homeowners?

For most homeowner tasks, yes. Pruning branches, cutting storm debris, trimming small trees, splitting firewood rounds — a good 40V cordless chainsaw handles all of that without breaking a sweat. Where cordless falls short is sustained heavy use: felling large trees, processing long sections of hardwood, or running the saw for hours at a time. For those jobs, a gas saw still wins. But for the occasional weekend task? Cordless is completely capable.

What’s the difference between a 20V and 40V cordless chainsaw?

Voltage directly affects motor power. A 40V saw delivers roughly double the power of a 20V, which translates to faster chain speed, better performance in hardwood, and less bogging down on thicker cuts. For anything beyond light pruning — branches over 4 inches, small logs, cutting firewood — I’d strongly recommend going with 40V. The price difference is usually $30–$60 and it’s worth every dollar.

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

It depends heavily on the battery capacity (Ah rating) and how hard you’re pushing the saw. A 2Ah battery on a 40V saw might give you 20–30 minutes of active cutting. A 4Ah battery can double that. For most homeowner tasks — trimming a few branches, cutting up a downed limb — one battery charge is plenty. If you’re doing extended work, buy a second battery so you can swap and keep going while the first charges.

Can a cordless chainsaw cut down a tree?

Technically yes, depending on the tree size and the saw. A 40V saw with a 16-inch bar can fell a small tree — say, 8–10 inches in diameter. But I wouldn’t recommend felling trees as a task for first-time chainsaw users regardless of what tool they have. Felling trees requires knowing your escape route, reading the lean of the tree, and understanding notch cuts. Start with limbing and bucking before you attempt felling anything.

Do cordless chainsaws under $200 come with a battery?

Some do, some don’t. Listings marked as “kit” or “combo” typically include a battery and charger. Listings marked “bare tool” or just the model number alone often don’t. Always read the full product title and listing description before buying. If the battery isn’t included and you don’t already own a compatible one, add another $50–$80 to your budget.

How do I maintain a cordless chainsaw?

Less work than a gas saw, but not zero. Check the chain tension before each use — a loose chain is both dangerous and hard on the bar. Keep the bar oil reservoir filled so the automatic oiler has something to work with. Clean sawdust and debris out of the bar groove and around the sprocket after heavy use. Periodically sharpen the chain — a dull chain makes the motor work harder and gives you ragged, slow cuts. My guide on how to sharpen a chainsaw chain covers the process in detail.

Is a 10-inch bar long enough, or should I get a 14-inch?

A 10-inch bar is fine for pruning and branch trimming — most limbs you’ll cut around the yard are well within that range. But if you want to cut logs, handle storm debris involving larger trunks, or do any serious work, a 14–16 inch bar gives you a lot more capability. The good news is that most 40V saws in this price range come with 14–16 inch bars anyway. You only tend to see 10-inch bars on 20V entry-level models.

Are these chainsaws safe for beginners with no experience?

Safer than gas saws, but a chainsaw is still a chainsaw. The main safety advantages of battery-powered saws are the instant stop when you release the trigger and the lower noise level (which reduces the temptation to skip hearing protection). Before you use any chainsaw for the first time, get the right protective gear — at minimum, chainsaw chaps, gloves, eye protection, and a helmet with a face shield. My guide on chainsaw safety gear covers what you actually need without overdoing it.

My Pick for Most Homeowners

If you’re a homeowner who wants a capable, low-maintenance cordless chainsaw and you don’t already own a battery tool ecosystem, the Greenworks 40V is the one I’d buy. It has the power to handle real tasks, the bar length to stay versatile, and it comes from a brand that’s been making this exact type of tool for years.

If budget is the first priority and your cutting tasks are genuinely light — trimming ornamental trees, clearing brush, the occasional limb — the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX gets you in the game for less money and includes the battery.