The Best Chainsaws in Australia for 2026

Do you actually need a petrol chainsaw for a suburban block?

When you buy your first home, a chainsaw usually lands on the shopping list the first time a storm drops a branch across the driveway, or the first winter you decide to cut your own firewood. The instinct is to reach for a big petrol saw, because that is what the hire shop and the acreage crowd use. For most Australian first-home buyers, that instinct is wrong. A petrol saw needs fuel mixing, regular starting, and more maintenance than a suburban block ever justifies, and it is heavier and louder than anything you want to swing one-handed off a ladder.

The pool of chainsaws you can actually buy on Amazon Australia today tells the same story. The saws with thousands of happy owner reviews are cordless: compact battery pruning saws from Bosch and Metabo, and a tier of lightweight mini chainsaws that clip onto DeWalt, Makita or Milwaukee batteries you may already own. Petrol saws exist in the catalogue, but the strongest sellers are electric. This guide follows the data rather than the folklore.

One thing before the picks, stated plainly and only once: a chainsaw is the most dangerous tool most homeowners will ever own. Wear cut-resistant chaps, gloves, safety glasses and ear protection, keep two hands on the saw, and understand how the chain brake works before you pull the trigger. None of the saws below change that.

The short answer: which chainsaw should you buy?

If you want one recommendation and you are not already invested in a cordless tool brand, buy the Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7. It ships with a battery and charger, weighs about 1.3 kg, and has the longest track record of any saw here with more than 3,000 owner ratings at 4.5 stars. It is the saw most first-home buyers should own.

If your block has real trees and you expect to cut firewood or clear fallen limbs, step up to the Metabo MS 36-18 LTX BL 40, a 400 mm (16 inch) cordless saw with a proper chain brake. If you want to spend as little as possible, the KIESBOHR CSE002 is the cheapest of our three headline picks at $126.24, and it is especially smart if you already own Makita 18V batteries. If you are on DeWalt or Milwaukee instead, there is a mini saw below built for each of those platforms too, which saves you the biggest hidden cost in cordless tools.

How do our six picks compare at a glance?

Every saw in the table is in stock on Amazon Australia, priced in Australian dollars, and carries a genuine star rating from verified owners. Bar length is the single most useful number: it caps the diameter of wood you can cut in one pass, so a 150 mm bar is a pruning tool while a 400 mm bar takes on logs.

How we chose these chainsaws

NestPath does not run saws through logs in a workshop, and we do not pretend to. We are an editorial team that studies the Australian market so a first-home buyer does not have to. Our job is to filter a noisy catalogue down to the handful of saws worth your money, and to be honest about the trade-offs.

Every pick had to clear the same bar. It must be genuinely available on Amazon Australia right now, not a listing that ships from overseas in six weeks. It must carry a real star rating from at least a handful of verified buyers, and we favoured saws with hundreds of reviews over shiny newcomers with three. The price had to be sane for the category, so we dropped the reseller listings priced at two or three times the going rate. And we recorded the specs that matter, bar length, weight, battery platform and safety features, straight from each product listing rather than from a brochure.

We deliberately weighted the list toward cordless saws, because that is where the demand and the satisfied owners are in Australia. We also spread the picks across the big battery brands, because the single smartest way to save money on a cordless chainsaw is to buy one that runs on batteries you already have.

The best cordless chainsaw for bigger jobs: Metabo MS 36-18 LTX BL 40

If you have gum trees, a wood heater, or the kind of block where a storm means a morning of cleanup, the Metabo MS 36-18 is the saw here with the muscle to match. It runs a full 400 mm (16 inch) bar, the same length you find on mid-range petrol saws, and it is the most expensive pick in this guide at $379.00 for a reason: it is a real chainsaw, not a pruning tool with delusions.

Power comes from Metabo's cordless platform. The 36-18 uses two 18V batteries to deliver 36V of output through a brushless motor rated at 1800 watts, which is why it can pull a 16 inch chain through hardwood without bogging down. At 3.2 kg for the bare tool it is heavier than the mini saws below, but that weight buys you stability in a cut. Crucially, it has the two safety features the little saws often skip: a chain brake that stops the chain in a kickback event, and dedicated kickback protection. For a saw you will use on larger, heavier timber, those are not optional extras.

It carries a 4.4 star rating across 55 reviews, modest numbers next to the Bosch, but the owners who buy it tend to be people who know what a 16 inch saw is for. Toolless chain tensioning means you can retension in the field without hunting for a scrench.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The catch is in the listing name: this is a skin, sold without batteries or a charger. If you do not already own Metabo 18V packs, budget for two batteries and a charger on top of the $379.00, which pushes the real cost well past the Bosch. That maths only works if you are buying into, or already run, the Metabo platform. It is also overkill for someone who just wants to tidy a few shrubs, and the extra weight is real if you are working overhead.

The best chainsaw for most first-home buyers: Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7

This is the saw we would put in most first garages. The Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 is a compact cordless pruning saw that arrives ready to work, with a 2.5Ah battery and charger in the box, and it has the deepest well of owner trust in this guide: more than 3,000 ratings at a steady 4.5 stars, the most-reviewed saw here by a wide margin.

It is built around convenience. At about 1.3 kg without the battery and 1.65 kg with it, you can hold it one-handed to trim branches over your head, something you would never attempt with a petrol saw. The 150 mm (6 inch) bar and brushless motor push the chain at 6.95 m/s, and Bosch quotes a cutting diameter of about 13 cm, which covers the overwhelming majority of suburban jobs: pruning, cutting fallen branches to length, and bucking small logs for the fire. The toolless SDS system lets you mount and tension the chain without any tools, and because it is on Bosch's Home and Garden 18V platform, the battery also runs their drills, blowers and hedge trimmers. Australian owners repeatedly describe it as light, quiet and more capable than it looks, with one calling it perfect for jobs up to a 20 cm trunk.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The short bar is the whole story here: this is a pruning saw, not a felling saw, and if you push it into thick hardwood it slows and can stall. A couple of owners note the bar can work loose over time and needs a quick retension, which is normal for a saw in this class. If your ambitions run to firewood or dropping trees, size up to the Metabo. For everyone else, the Bosch is the sensible answer.

The best budget chainsaw: KIESBOHR CSE002

If you want a capable saw for the least money, the KIESBOHR CSE002 is the cheapest of our three headline picks and has the lowest sticker price in the entire guide at $126.24. It is that cheap because you supply the battery: it clips straight onto Makita 18V LXT packs, one of the most common batteries in Australian sheds, so if you own a Makita drill you are most of the way there already.

It is tiny and light, a 15 cm bar on a 1.1 kg body just 7 cm slim, which makes it easy to slip between branches in a hedge or a fruit tree. The brushless motor spins the chain at about 10 m/s, and owners who run Makita's larger 5Ah packs report a long run per charge. It handles branches up to about 15 cm in diameter, has an automatic chain oiler with a viewing window, and adjusts tension without tools. It shares the joint highest rating in this guide at 4.6 stars across 340 reviews, and the reviews that stand out are from people who bought it precisely because they already had the batteries.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

There is no chain brake or kickback guard, so it relies on the motor simply stalling when it binds, which means you must respect it and keep two hands on it. It is Makita-battery specific and will not fit Makita's older G-series packs, and of course there is no battery in the box. The supplied manual is translated and thin, and like every mini here it gets through bar oil quickly. Within its lane, though, it is hard to beat on value.

The best budget saw for DeWalt owners: DEJUNPIOOL 6+8 inch mini

If your shed runs on DeWalt rather than Makita, the DEJUNPIOOL 6+8 inch mini is your equivalent bargain at $134.58. It is a two-in-one design: the kit includes both a 6 inch and an 8 inch bar with spare chains, so you can run the short bar for delicate pruning and swap to the long one for cutting logs to firewood length.

It weighs just 1.23 kg and runs a brushless motor, which is unusual at this price and means quieter running and a longer service life than the cheap brushed minis. The clever part is the battery: it takes DeWalt 20V packs (the DCB200 series), so if you already own a DeWalt drill or driver, this saw costs you nothing in batteries. It has an automatic oiler, a battery-level display, toolless chain tensioning, and a genuinely useful bundle of goggles, gloves and spare chains in the box. At 4.6 stars across 571 reviews it is, alongside the KIESBOHR, one of the joint highest-rated saws in this guide.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The list price does not include a battery or charger, so factor that in if you are not already on the DeWalt platform. As a mini saw it is happiest on branches up to about 15 cm and will skip on very thin twigs, which it does not like. It is a from-the-factory generic rather than a heritage brand, so treat it as a capable light-duty tool rather than an heirloom, and keep an eye on the oil tank, which these small saws drink through quickly.

The best pick for Milwaukee M18 owners: DEMIMA 2-in-1 mini

Tradies and keen DIYers who have gone all in on Milwaukee's M18 system have fewer chainsaw options than the Makita crowd, which is what makes the DEMIMA 2-in-1 mini worth knowing about. At $152.82 it clips onto the M18 batteries already in your kit (the 48-11 series) and turns them into a compact saw.

Like the DEJUNPIOOL, it ships with both a 6 inch and an 8 inch bar and chain, so one tool covers fine pruning and cutting small logs. The 800 watt brushless motor drives the chain at 26 ft/s, and owners in firewood country report cutting hundreds of over-length logs on a single chain before it needs sharpening. It is very light in the hand, has an automatic oiler, toolless tensioning, and even includes a waist cord so you can secure it while working up a ladder. At 4.4 stars across 270 reviews it has a solid, established track record for a mini saw.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is battery-free in the box, so it only makes financial sense if you already run Milwaukee M18. It has a low-voltage cut-out that shuts the saw down below 14.4V, which protects the battery but can feel abrupt. As with all of these compact saws, it is a light-duty pruning and bucking tool, not something for felling, and a minority of owners have had durability complaints, so register the two-year warranty. For an M18 household, it is the obvious choice.

The best all-in-one starter kit: TOPEX 20V cordless chainsaw

If you are not on any tool brand's battery platform and you do not want the Bosch, the TOPEX 20V TX221 is the other saw here that comes complete. For $173.00 you get the saw, a 20V 4.0Ah battery and a fast charger, so there is nothing else to buy before you start cutting.

It is the longest-barred cordless saw in this guide after the Metabo, with a 250 mm (10 inch) bar, which gives it more reach into a cut than the 6 inch minis. The brushless motor runs the 3/8 inch chain at 10 m/s, there is an automatic oiler with a generous 90 ml tank and a viewing window, and at 2.16 kg without the battery it stays manageable. Several Australian owners describe it as a little workhorse that punches above its toy-like looks, and one specifically praises the fact that it has a chain brake, which not every budget saw includes.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

This is the lowest-rated saw in the guide at 3.9 stars, and with only 16 reviews it has the thinnest track record, so buy it with clear eyes. The most useful criticism from owners is that the bar and chain appear to be a non-standard size, so replacement chains can be hard to source, plan to buy TOPEX's own spares. A single battery also means downtime while it charges. It earns its place as a genuinely complete kit at a fair price, but it is a convenience buy rather than a quality benchmark.

What should you look for in a chainsaw?

Once you have decided between petrol and battery (and for a first home, the answer is almost always battery), four things separate a saw you will love from one you will resent.

Bar length is the headline number. It sets the maximum diameter of wood you can cut in one pass, so match it to your actual jobs. A 150 mm (6 inch) bar like the Bosch or KIESBOHR is a pruning tool for branches up to about 13 to 15 cm. A 250 mm (10 inch) bar like the TOPEX handles small logs. A 400 mm (16 inch) bar like the Metabo is where you start talking about firewood and small felling. Bigger is not better if you only prune, because length adds weight and eats battery.

Battery platform is the hidden cost. A skin-only saw looks cheap until you add two batteries and a charger. If you already own DeWalt, Makita or Milwaukee tools, buy a saw that uses those packs and you skip that cost entirely. If you own nothing, a kit that includes a battery, like the Bosch or the TOPEX, is usually the better total-cost choice.

Weight decides how long you can work and how safely. Anything around 1 to 1.7 kg, like the minis and the Bosch, can be used one-handed for overhead trimming. A 3 kg-plus saw like the Metabo is a two-handed, feet-planted tool. Be honest about which jobs you are really doing.

Safety features are where cheap saws cut corners. A chain brake, which stops the chain instantly in a kickback, and a front hand guard are the two that matter most. The Metabo and TOPEX have a chain brake; several minis rely on the motor stalling instead. That is survivable on a tiny saw but it is a real difference, and it is worth paying for on anything with a longer bar.

How do you look after a chainsaw?

A cordless saw asks far less of you than a petrol one, but the chain and bar still need attention or the saw becomes dangerous and slow. The good news is that the whole routine takes minutes.

Keep the chain oiled. Every saw in this guide has an automatic oiler fed from a small reservoir, so the main job is simply topping up the bar and chain oil before each session and keeping an eye on the level. These compact saws in particular get through oil quickly, and a dry chain overheats, stretches and can jam, so check it often. Use proper chainsaw bar oil, not engine oil or a substitute.

Keep the chain tensioned. A correctly tensioned chain sits snug against the underside of the bar with no sag but still pulls freely by hand. Every saw here uses toolless tensioning, so it is a ten-second check. Chains loosen as they warm up, which is normal, so retension when you stop rather than forcing a hot chain.

Keep the chain sharp. A blunt chain throws fine powder instead of chips and forces you to push, which is exactly when accidents happen. A round file and guide, or an inexpensive sharpening jig, restores the edge in a few minutes. For battery saws, store the tool with the battery removed and the chain guard on, somewhere dry, and your saw will start every spring without complaint.

What accessories do you need with a chainsaw?

The saw is only part of the kit, and the safety gear is not optional. A first-home buyer setting up from scratch should budget for the following alongside the saw itself.

• Cut-resistant chainsaw chaps or trousers, the single most important piece of protection you can wear.
• A forestry helmet with a mesh visor and ear muffs to guard your face and hearing in one unit.
• Cut-resistant gloves for grip and hand protection.
• Chainsaw bar and chain oil, since the automatic oiler is useless with an empty reservoir.
• A round file and sharpening guide to keep the chain cutting cleanly.
• A spare chain in your saw's size so a nicked chain never ends the job.
• A second battery for your platform if you chose a skin-only saw, to double your working time.

What about Stihl, Husqvarna and petrol saws?

Ask any professional arborist or firewood cutter what to buy and you will hear two names: Stihl and Husqvarna. They are the real thing, and if you are clearing acreage every weekend, a petrol Stihl MS 251 or a Husqvarna Rancher is a better tool than anything in this guide. We have left them out for one honest reason: they are not sold with a reliable buy-box price on Amazon Australia, so we cannot stand behind a price or a rating for them the way we can for our picks. Buy those through a Stihl or Husqvarna dealer who will set the saw up and back it locally.

Budget petrol saws are a different story. Brands like Baumr-AG and Giantz sell 45cc to 62cc petrol saws on Amazon at tempting prices, and they can cut well when they run. But their ratings sit lower, in the high 3s, and the recurring complaints are the ones that matter on a petrol saw: hard starting, chains that come loose, and short lifespans. For a first-home buyer who will use a saw a few times a year, a fiddly petrol engine that has sat unused for months is exactly the wrong tool. A cordless saw starts every time with the pull of a trigger, and that reliability is worth more than raw cc on a suburban block. If you genuinely need petrol power, spend the money on a name brand from a dealer rather than gambling on the cheapest engine online.

Chainsaw FAQs

Are battery chainsaws powerful enough for firewood?

For a suburban household, yes. A cordless saw with a longer bar, like the 400 mm Metabo MS 36-18 or the 250 mm TOPEX, will buck small to medium logs to firewood length without trouble. The compact 150 mm saws like the Bosch and KIESBOHR are better suited to pruning and branches up to about 13 to 15 cm. If you are processing cords of large hardwood every winter, petrol still wins, but for topping up a wood heater, battery is plenty.

What size chainsaw bar do I need?

Match the bar to the wood. A 150 mm (6 inch) bar, as on the Bosch EasyChain or KIESBOHR CSE002, handles pruning and branches up to about 13 to 15 cm. A 250 mm (10 inch) bar like the TOPEX suits small logs. A 400 mm (16 inch) bar like the Metabo is for firewood and light felling. Choose the shortest bar that covers your real jobs, because extra length only adds weight and drains the battery faster.

Do I need a licence to use a chainsaw in Australia?

No, there is no licence to buy or use a chainsaw on your own property as a homeowner. Licensing and formal training apply to commercial and workplace operators. That said, the lack of a licence does not make the saw safe: wear chaps, gloves, eye and ear protection, keep two hands on the tool, and learn how the chain brake works before your first cut.

Is a petrol or battery chainsaw better for a first home?

For almost every first-home buyer, battery. Cordless saws like the Bosch EasyChain start instantly, need no fuel mixing, weigh far less, and can be picked up months later and used straightaway. Petrol saws offer more sustained power for heavy acreage work but demand more maintenance and reward regular use. Unless you are clearing land often, a cordless saw is the more practical and reliable choice.

How often should I sharpen the chain?

Sharpen whenever the saw starts throwing fine powder instead of chips, or when you have to push it into the cut rather than letting it pull itself through. In practice that might be after several sessions of clean cutting, sooner if you hit dirt or a hidden nail. A round file and guide takes a few minutes, and keeping a spare chain means you can swap and keep working while you sharpen the dull one later.

What else do you need for the garage and garden?

A chainsaw is one tool in a first-home kit. If you are fitting out the garage and taming the yard, these NestPath guides pair naturally with it.

• The best hedge trimmers in Australia for shaping what the chainsaw is too big to touch.
• The best leaf blowers in Australia for clearing the mess after a cutting session.
• The best lawn mowers in Australia to round out your outdoor power tools.
• The best cordless drills in Australia, often the anchor of the battery platform your saw shares.
• The best work gloves in Australia for everyday jobs around the block.
• The best loppers in Australia for the pruning cuts too small to warrant a saw.
• Garage storage ideas to keep the saw, oil and safety gear organised and out of reach of kids.

About the author

Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first-home-buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first-home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au