Best Budget Electric Chainsaw: What a Low Price Actually Gets You

These three stand out in the product table above for different budgets and needs.

Best overall: the Greenworks 60V 16 in Cordless Electric Chainsaw, around $300, is our first choice from the table.

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Best value: the 12" Electric Chainsaw Cordless, around $96, is the lowest priced of these three.

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Also great: the EGO POWER+ Chain Saw, around $299, is another strong option with a different set of features.

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Two electric chainsaws that look nearly identical on a store shelf can be $80 apart once you look at what's actually inside the housing and wrapped around the bar.

Motor Amps or Voltage Relative to Cost

A corded saw's amp rating and a battery saw's voltage both track closely with price, since a stronger motor simply costs more to build. A jump from 8 amps to 15 amps, or from 20V to 40V, is usually the difference between a saw that struggles past 6 inches of wood and one that cuts through it cleanly.

Chain Steel and Bar Material

The chain and bar are consumable parts, and manufacturers know most buyers don't check their quality before purchase. Budget chains are often made from softer steel that dulls after a few uses, while the bar's nose sprocket on cheaper saws is sometimes plastic instead of metal, which wears out and lets the chain wobble off track. Keeping that chain properly lubricated with the right bar and chain oil also matters more on a budget saw, since there's less margin built in before wear becomes a real problem.

The very cheapest electric chainsaws save money in a couple of specific places, and one of them genuinely matters for safety.

Automatic Oiler vs Manual Oiling

An automatic oiler continuously lubricates the chain and bar while you cut, extending the life of both. Some rock bottom models skip this and expect you to oil the chain manually before each use, which is easy to forget and leads to a chain that overheats and wears out fast.

Chain Brake and Kickback Protection

This is the one corner that isn't just about durability. A chain brake stops the chain almost instantly if the saw kicks back toward you, and a low kickback chain design reduces how violently that kickback happens in the first place. Any electric chainsaw without a chain brake, regardless of price, is worth avoiding.

If you're only cutting small branches, doing light pruning, or breaking down storm debris a few times a year, a corded model in the $50 to $80 range with a chain brake and auto oiler covers that job without wasting money on power you won't use. Stepping up to $80 to $130 buys a noticeably stronger motor and better chain steel, which is worth it if you're occasionally cutting firewood sized rounds rather than just trimming. Anyone who cuts firewood on a regular basis is usually better served by a saw built specifically for that job rather than stretching a budget model past its comfort zone.

Above $130, you're generally paying for battery convenience, brushless motors, or bar lengths beyond what an occasional homeowner user actually needs.

A tool less chain tensioning system is worth a few extra dollars because a loose chain on a budget saw is a common, annoying, and occasionally unsafe problem, and adjusting it with a hand knob beats fumbling with a wrench mid job. A slightly longer bar, going from 10 inches to 12 or 14, is worth it if you'll ever face branches thicker than your wrist, since undersized bars force you to cut at awkward angles.

What usually isn't worth the extra spend at the budget end is a larger battery pack alone, since runtime rarely matters for occasional, short cutting sessions.

Is a cheap electric chainsaw safe to use?

It can be, as long as it includes a chain brake and you follow basic safety practices. Avoid any model, regardless of price, that skips a chain brake entirely.

What's a good price for an electric chainsaw?

For occasional homeowner use, $50 to $80 typically covers a corded model with the safety features that matter. Regular users cutting firewood sized wood should budget $80 to $130.

Do budget electric chainsaws cut as well as expensive ones?

For small branches and light yard work, yes. For thicker wood or sustained cutting sessions, a stronger motor and better chain steel on a mid range saw will noticeably outperform a bargain model.

What should you never skimp on in a budget chainsaw?

The chain brake and kickback protection. These are safety features, not convenience features, and skipping them to save money isn't worth the risk.

Is corded or battery cheaper for a budget electric chainsaw?

Corded is almost always cheaper upfront since you're not paying for a battery and charger. Battery models cost more initially but offer more flexibility if you're already working away from an outlet.

How long does a budget electric chainsaw last?

With an automatic oiler and occasional use, a budget model can reasonably last several seasons. Skipping chain maintenance or using it beyond its intended light duty range shortens that significantly.

Can a budget electric chainsaw cut firewood?

A budget model in the $80 to $130 range can typically handle firewood sized rounds. The cheapest sub-$60 saws are better suited to branches and light pruning rather than sustained firewood cutting.

The best budget electric chainsaw is the one that matches your actual workload while keeping the chain brake and auto oiler intact. Save money on bar length and battery size before you ever consider saving it on safety features.