If you are a homeowner who is only planning to use their chainsaw for occasional odd jobs, like pruning trees, cleaning up after a storm, or chopping wood for your backyard firepit, a cordless, relatively inexpensive chainsaw may be just what you need.
For someone who has no need to stock up a woodpile to heat their home for the winter, an inexpensive chainsaw is a good bet as it will meet most of your needs without putting a dent in your wallet.
When you only have small, occasional woodcutting jobs to do, it makes sense to use a cordless chainsaw because it is quieter and easier to use.
Cordless chainsaws typically require less maintenance than traditional gas-powered chainsaws.
The 6 Best Cordless Chainsaw Under $200
1. Greenworks 40V
2. Greenworks G-MAX 40V
3. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX
4. BLACK+DECKER 40V Max
5. Worx WG322 20V
6. LiTHELi 40V
Top Choice
The innovative GMAX 40V Lithium-Ion Battery delivers high performance and efficiency among all GreenWorks GMAX tools. A quick charge time of 60 minutes for a 2 AH battery and 120 minutes for a 4 AH battery.
When considering a cordless chainsaw purchase, we usually find people share some common concerns:
- How long will the battery last?
- How long does it take for the battery to charge?
- Will the battery provide enough power for the task I have in mind?
Greenworks 40V Lithium Ion Battery Charger
To address these common concerns, Greenworks has developed an on-board battery life indicator to show you just how much juice you have left in your battery.
The average user says this battery will last for about an hour of constant use, but much longer for intermittent use.
The 2.0Ah battery included with this machine is charged within 60 minutes using the Greenworks 40V Lithium Ion Battery Charger.
This 2.0Ah battery and compatible charger are included with the purchase of the chainsaw.
- High Performance G-MAX 40V Lithium-Ion Battery Charger for low cost operation
- Energy Star Rated for eco-friendly households
- Quick battery charge time, 60 minutes for 2 AH Battery and 120 minutes for 4 AH Battery
Greenworks G-MAX 40V Lithium battery
Since this machine is battery-powered, there is only one speed for the chain. Some confuse this with weak power.
That’s not the case, it’s just that chain speed cannot be adjusted like it can with gas-powered chainsaws.
The Greenworks Tools 40V 12” Cordless Chainsaw uses the G-MAX 40V Lithium battery series. They have batteries available in either 2.0Ah or 4.0Ah.
If you are planning to use this chainsaw for bigger jobs, you may want to buy the larger battery .
The larger battery takes 2 hours to charge, instead of one hour like the 2.0Ah battery.
- 40V LITHIUM-ION BATTERY – 4.0Ah battery provides 50% more capacity than the standard 2.0Ah battery pack. No memory and virtually no self-discharge for maximum productivity and less downtime
- COMPATIBLE WITH 60 plus TOOLS – Compatible with all Greenworks 40V products
- LED FUEL GAUGE – Integrated 4 LED fuel gauge provides immediate feedback on state of charge
One of the perks to using the Greenworks G-MAX chainsaw is that the battery is compatible with several other Greenworks G-Max tools, including lawn mowers, snow shovels, string trimmers, blowers, cultivators, pole saws, hedge trimmers, and more.
Users report that the oil tank holds enough oil to last as long as the 2Ah battery, which is convenient.
This chainsaw is really lightweight, so it is ideal for smaller, aging, or delicate folks.
Things we love about the Greenworks Tools 40V 12” Cordless Chainsaw:
- Battery power reduces noise
- Battery power reduces vibration
- Automatic oiler for bar and chain
- See-through oil tank
- Wrap around handle allows for use in multiple positions
- Battery is compatible with other Greenworks G-MAX tools
- 12” bar is perfect for occasional home use, small jobs
- It’s less than $200 for the entire kit – chainsaw, battery, and charger
- Weighs only 6 pounds
- Toolless chain tensioning
- Electric start
- Lightweight and maneuverable for small spaces
- Battery life indicator
- Perfect for beginners
- No gasoline or fuel emissions
- Low maintenance
- Four-year manufacturer warranty
- Highly rated by hundreds of customers
Things we wish it had:
- More safety features, does not have a chain brake
- Slower than a gas-powered chainsaw
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Chainsaw
Another great chainsaw on the market is the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Chainsaw, 10-Inch (LCS1020.
Some features that are great on this chainsaw are:
- It includes a 20 Volt MAX lithium battery.
- Has a long battery life
- Battery stays charged up to 5 times longer
- 10 inches premium Oregon low kickback bar & chain
- Tool free blade tension system for quick adjustments
- Wrap around handle allows for use in multiple positions
- Weight is below 8 pounds
- It’s total package – chainsaw, battery, and charger
- Low maintenance
- Highly rated by hundreds of customers
- Has outstanding reviews
- Tool free blade tension system for improved ease of use & quick adjustments
- Lightweight design for ease of maneuverability & reduced fatigue
- Improved oiling system with clear window to gauge oil level
If you aren’t convinced about this chainsaw yet, here are some more product information:
The dimensions for this chainsaw are: 16.7 x 8.8 x 9.6 inches with a weight of 7.2 pounds. It is manufactured by Black & Decker Outdoor. When purchasing this chainsaw, 1 Lithium ion battery is required as well as included with purchase.
Customer Reviews indicate that this chainsaw has excellent battery life, maneuverability as well as being light weight. It is perfect for both men and women wanting to get the job done!
BLACK+DECKER 40V Max Cordless Chainsaw
If the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Chainsaw, 10-Inch (LCS1020) is to small for your wants and needs, another great option that is right around $200 is the BLACK+DECKER 40V Max Cordless Chainsaw, 12-Inch (LCS1240).
It has many of the same features as the 10-inch version but some differences as well.
Some product information includes:
- It includes a 40 Volts MAX Lithium Ion Battery
- Longer overall life
- 12 inches premium bar and chain
- Has an automatic oiling system
- Suitable for pruning branches and cutting fallen limbs
- Tool free chain tensioning for quick and easy chain adjustment.
- On a single charge, the battery can provide over 60 4x4 pine lumber cuts on average.
- Wrap around handle allows for use in multiple positions
- Low maintenance
- Has fantastic reviews
- Highly rated product
- 12-INCH CORDLESS ELECTRIC CHAINSAW - 40V MAX battery-powered chainsaw with extended runtime
- SMOOTH, FAST CUTS - OREGON low-kickback bar and chain for easy and efficient cutting
- TOOL-FREE CHAIN TENSIONING - Quickly and easily adjust chain tension
More product information includes:
The dimensions for this chainsaw are: 28.6 x 8.8 x 9.6 inches with a weight of 10.4 pounds. It is manufactured by Black & Decker Outdoor. When purchasing this chainsaw, 1 Lithium ion battery is required as well as included with purchase.
Some differences between the 20V 10-inch model vs. the 40V 12-inch model include:
- 12-inch has a 40-volt chain speed is 5 m/s, whereas the 20-volt chain speed is only 3.5 m/s.
- 12-inch weights 10.4 pounds vs. 10-inch weights 7.2 pounds
- They are both battery-powered
- Dimensions: 12-inch are 28.6 x 8.8 x 9.6 inches VS. 10-inch 16.7 x 8.8 x 9.6 inches
Both of these chainsaws are great for beginners.
Worx WG322 20V Cordless Chainsaw with Auto-Tension
Product Details include:
- 20V Power Share chainsaw
- Cordless
- Fast and powerful
- No gas and no cord makes its easier to handle
- Has an automatic tool free chain tension system
- Has an automatic chain lubrication system
- Has an oil level indicator
- Weighs only 6.2 lbs
- A light saw for both men and women to use.
- Uses powerful enough batteries for a chainsaw
- Has a long lasting battery life
- Low maintenance
- [FAST, CLEAN CUTS] This cordless 20V PowerShare chain saw is as fast and powerful as anything in its class. And with no gas and no cord, there’s much less muss and fuss
- [AUTO-CHAIN TENSION] The automatic, tool-free chain tension system ensures you’ll always have the correct tension for the job at hand
This product is rated highly among its customers. Many positives that are mentioned with this product include:
- Easy to use
- Light Weight
- Value for your money
- Maneuverability
- Battery Life
- Does not make much noise
More product information includes:
The dimensions for this chainsaw are25 x 7.5 x 9.5 inches with a weight of 6.19 pounds. It is manufactured by WORX. When purchasing this chainsaw, keep in mind that both the battery and charger are included.
CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Chainsaw
The CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Chainsaw, 12-Inch (CMCCS620M1) is another great chainsaw that will cost a customer 142.08 US dollars to purchase. This is another great chainsaw coming in below the 200 dollar mark!
There are many different items that you can buy on top of the chainsaw such as: a blower, extra 4ah battery, a cordless drill, a hedge trimmer, and even a string trimmer.
The features include:
- V20 cordless system
- Bubble level that will allow any worker to cut precisely
- Auto oiling
- Long runtime
- Compact design
- Includes battery and charger
- Replacement parts are available for purchase
- Has great safety features as well as battery life
- Low Maintenance
- There is an option for 2 or 3 year warranty on this product
- 90 day money back guarantee
- Highly rated among its customers
- Part of the V20 cordless system
- Part of the versa-track wall organization system. Chain Pitch-3/8 inch
Product Information:
The dimensions for this chainsaw are 26.94 x 9.03 x 10.88 inches with a weight of 14.11 pounds. Keep in mind this is one of the heavier chainsaws we have reviewed in this article. It is manufactured by CRAFTSMAN. When purchasing this chainsaw both the battery and charger are included.
LiTHELi 40V Cordless Chainsaw 14 inches
One last chainsaw we will be reviewing is the LiTHELi 40V Cordless Chainsaw 14 inches with Brushless Motor, 2.5AH Battery and Charger.
This chainsaw has many great features that include:
- Entire kit includes – chainsaw, battery, and charger
- Easy to use
- Low vibration when using
- Chainsaw is equipped with two automatic systems
- Easy chain adjustment with no extra tools needed
- Can tighten the chain instantly
- Automatic oiler
- Instructions included in order to prevent injury
- Dual break system
- Very safe chainsaw
- Battery powered
- Includes a switch safety lock and brake that can stop the machine within 3 seconds.
- Weights 11.7lbs
- Two-handle and wood-toothed design
- All LiTHELi 40V cordless products can be used with all LiTHELi 40V lithium-ion battery packs.
- 90 day money back guarantee
- 3 year batter and charger warranty
- 5 year tool warranty
- Comes with 1 cordless chain saw, 1 40V 2.5Ah battery, 1 charger and 1 manual
- [BRUSHLESS MOTOR] Conversion efficiency ≥ 85%, ensuring longer motor life for cordless chainsaw
Further Product Information:
The dimensions for this chainsaw are 31.3 x 11 x 4.9 inches with a weight of 11.7 pounds. It is manufactured by LiTHELi. When purchasing this chainsaw both the battery and charger are included. Has outstanding reviews from its customers.
Conclusion
As you can see, this Greenworks Tools 40V 12” Cordless Chainsaw is ideal for the average homeowner who is only planning to use their saw occasionally or for moderate-sized projects.