Best Electric Chainsaw for Cutting Trees: What to Know

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

Best overall: the NovorikX 60V 18" & 16" Electric Chainsaw, around $250, 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 Sihuird 60V 18-Inch Cordless ChainSaw, around $190, is another strong option with a different set of features.

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Pruning overhead branches calls for a lighter saw you can control one handed or overhead without your arms giving out first. A compact, lower weight electric model with a shorter bar handles this well, since maneuverability matters more than raw cutting capacity for most branch work.

Felling a smaller tree is a different demand entirely. You need enough bar length to clear the trunk diameter at the felling cut in a single pass, plus enough sustained power to get through the cut without stalling partway. A heavier duty corded or high voltage battery model generally suits felling work better than the lightest pruning focused saws.

Picking the best electric chainsaw for cutting trees starts with bar length, which should be sized to what you're actually cutting, not the largest tree on the property. For overhead pruning, a 10 to 12 inch bar covers most branch diameters homeowners deal with. For felling small to medium trunks, a 14 to 16 inch bar handles a wider range without needing multiple angled cuts to get through a single trunk.

Live, green wood is wetter and more fibrous than seasoned firewood, and it tends to pinch a bar more easily as internal tension releases mid cut. Sap buildup on the chain and bar is also a bigger issue with green wood, which is why a sharp, well maintained chain matters even more here than it does cutting dry, split firewood. If a saw feels like it's working harder than expected, a dull or sap clogged chain is often the real culprit rather than a lack of power.

Cutting into a live tree carries risks that bucking downed logs doesn't. Branches under tension can spring unpredictably once cut, standing dead limbs overhead can drop without warning, and felling even a small tree means planning a clear escape path before you start. A chain brake and low kickback chain remain essential, but they're only part of the picture. Working with a clear read on where branches and the trunk will fall matters just as much as the saw itself.

What size electric chainsaw is best for cutting small trees?

A 14 to 16 inch bar handles most small to medium trunks in a single felling cut, while a shorter 10 to 12 inch bar is better suited to pruning overhead branches.

Does green wood dull a chainsaw chain faster than firewood?

Sap from green wood builds up on the chain and bar more than it does with dry, seasoned wood, which can slow cutting even when the chain isn't technically dull yet.

Is a corded or battery electric chainsaw better for felling trees?

Corded saws generally sustain power better through a full felling cut, while battery models work fine for occasional pruning where runtime matters less than raw cutting time.

What safety gear matters most when cutting live trees?

Beyond standard chainsaw PPE, planning an escape path before felling and staying aware of branches under tension are the biggest safety factors specific to live tree work.

The best electric chainsaw for cutting trees depends on whether you're pruning overhead or felling a trunk, since those jobs call for different bar lengths and handling. Match the saw to the specific task, keep the chain sharp for green wood, and plan the cut before you start it.