Best Gas Chainsaw Reviews

A chainsaw is one of the most useful power tools for yard work. The best gas chainsaws can cut through wood rapidly and safely in many different situations. For example, you can use one to deal with logs and firewood, clear branches away from power lines so they don’t cause problems in the winter, trim trees and hedges so they keep the right shape, or slice up a bush that you want to remove.

It takes tasks that would be doable, but extremely slow with an axe, saw, or clippers and turns them into a few seconds of work. It’s one of those tools that you might not use very often but is invaluable when you need it. In this article, we feature the best gas chainsaw reviews.

There are many different types of chainsaws that suit different needs. For example, powerful ones with long guide bars can be used for logging, easily cutting through logs and bigger branches, while specialist small ones can be mounted on a pole to reach high places.

From a user perspective, the power source is one of the biggest characteristics. There are three main types.

The first is the gas chainsaw. These models work just like gas-powered lawn mowers. You need to fill the tank with gas and then start it. Older models have a pull start mechanism, while some newer ones have an electric starter that you can turn on with a button.

The second type is the electric chainsaw. These use a cord to plug them into an outlet.

The last type is the cordless or battery-powered chainsaw. As the name indicates, these have an electric motor, but it runs on rechargeable batteries rather than a cord.

All three of these types have pros and cons. The gas chainsaw has no cords to worry about and loading it up is fast and easy. However, you do have to keep gas on hand, make sure you follow manufacturers instructions when choosing the oil and gas mix, and deal with the starter.

Corded chainsaws tend to be the cheapest of them all. They can’t go that far from an outlet and sometimes the cable will get snagged on something or wrapped around an object. 

Cordless chainsaws do not have this problem, but the battery takes much longer to charge than it takes to refill the gas tank on the gas powered chainsaws.

Which Kind of Chainsaw is the Best?

The truth is that none of the three is perfect for everything because they serve different needs. The bigger your yard is, the less useful the corded models will be.

The battery powered models on the hand are easy to carry to the very far end of the yard, but the more often you need to use them, the worse the battery chainsaws will be because they can drain the batteries and may take a long to charge them.

Gas chainsaws are the most demanding of them all when it comes to operation, maintenance and care. For example, sharpening the chain or replacing the whole chain with an aftermarket or branded version, there are a lot of chores that need to be done. It’s like servicing your car: needs oil and gas (or getting the fuel pre-mixed), regular servicing, and cleaning.

In this post, we will focus on reviewing the best gas chainsaws for homeowners on the market.

These reviews will hopefully help you learn which models are best for you and what kind of value is currently available.

How to Choose the Best Gas Chainsaw?

If you want to read more about the factors to consider when buying a chainsaw, head over to our Ultimate Chainsaw Buying Guide for 2022. In this guide, we walk you through the main chainsaw types, the importance of the guide bar length, budget and maintenance considerations.

We also list the most important features that manufacturers usually list under different names and we explain them all.

If you are in a hurry, just jump to the 5 Minute Quick Guide for choosing the best chainsaw for your needs. 

Even if you do not buy a chainsaw from this list, you should learn about how to get a fair price for various features and what kind of characteristics meet your needs the best.

We’ll talk about power, fuel consumption, and ease of use among other things to shed light on how the best gas chainsaw can stand out from the pack.

Best Gas Chainsaw Reviews

Best Chainsaw for the Money – Remington RM4214 Rebel Gas Chainsaw

Key Facts

The Remington RM4214 Rebel weighs 16 pounds. With a bar length of 14 inches, it is on the small side for chainsaws. This makes it more maneuverable for small spaces or tough angles. The engine is 42cc and has 2 cycles. 

Purpose

The 4214 is built to be a suburban chainsaw. It won’t get through the biggest of logs, but for trimming hedges or cutting down small trees, it will do an efficient and fast job.

It has a number of appealing ease of use features, like Quick Start and a vibration reduction system. Vibration reduction is important for keeping it steady, especially because it is small and it can’t negate engine vibrations with its own mass.

16 pounds is too heavy for one-handed use for a prolonged period of time and it is too large to use on a pole, but the 4214 can handle just about any small-yard task.

It also does well with fuel efficiency and comes with an automatic chain oiler to keep your chain in top shape.

Remington offers other, very similar models in the Rebel and Outlaw range, with long bars and the same or bigger engine:

• Remington RM4216 Rebel 42cc 16-inch Gas Chainsaw
• Remington RM4218 Rebel 42cc 18-inch Gas Chainsaw
• Remington RM4618 Outlaw 46cc 18-inch Gas Chainsaw

Go check them out in case you need more power and a longer bar for those hefty logs.

Feedback

The Remington RM4214 is quite popular online with excellent reviews from previous buyers.

It has a significant amount of power despite its small size, making it a common choice for people with small or medium-sized logs. It has not been around long enough to properly test its durability, but several people express confidence about the 2-year warranty.

A few users have reported mechanical problems. It is a good idea to read the manual to learn how to set it up before you run it for the first time just to make sure you know what to do and what to expect (source). 

The Best Heavy Duty Husqvarna Gas Chainsaw – 240

Key Facts

The Husqvarna 240 has a blade length of 16 inches, a chain with 3/8-inch pitch, and 050-inch gauge. It features a 2-horsepower engine with a max RPM of 9000. It weighs about ten pounds.

While still on the small side, the 240 is a step up in terms of both size and power. That expands the number of tasks it can do, although it won’t be able to reach around internally as easily if you are working within a tree or close to the trunk.

The Husqvarna is lighter than the Remington model but doesn’t have the same convenience features. The extra two inches of length can make a big difference, especially with thicker wood.

Purpose

The 240 is a little more heavy duty in its goal. This is still a small chainsaw so it works best in a small yard or suburban environment, but it can handle frequent use as well as heavier wood. That does mean that it will go through gas a little faster.

The light unloaded weight provides you with plenty of ability to reach up, over, or across obstacles to get at what you need to cut. 

Feedback

The 240 is popular online, but it has a few mechanical issues that you should be aware of. For example, some people have had trouble getting it to start because the stop switch is very sensitive.

Others experienced a small leakage of the bar oil. These are comparatively minor issues for a chainsaw. On top of that, the 240 has smooth handling and a comfortable grip. This is ideal for going around the outside of the yard doing trims and touch-ups, for example.

Overall it has positive reviews from many different people who use it for anything from 6 to 12 inches thick of wood and with frequent use. 

Best Gas Powered Chainsaw by Ease of Use – Husqvarna 440E X-Torq

Key Facts

The 440E is slightly up the power and size scale from the 240. Both come from Husqvarna, a well-known name in power tools. The 440E can reach a max length of 18 inches.

Its engine size is 40.9CC. Despite the bigger engine and longer blade it still weighs in under 10 pounds, so it is not too hard to use.

The chain tension is completely tool-free.

The Husqvarna 440E also has a quick-release mechanism for the air filter so that replacement or cleaning is as easy as possible. The crankshaft is forged and made of three separate parts.

Purpose

The 440E fits into a slightly different niche from what we have seen so far. The more powerful engine and longer blade length set it apart as a tool for larger branches or logs.

It is possible to cut up logs that are 18 inches or more in diameter. The blade will also have less trouble with harder woods, uneven angles, or other problems.

All of this comes with a very minor loss of versatility if you choose to mount a longer cutting edge. The 440E is firmly in the medium category. 

Feedback

The 440E has a lot of fans online. Its most popular trait is the way in which it brings a lot of power and cutting edge to the table while remaining easy to use, especially when it comes to weight.

Many reviewers note the importance of following the instructions because starting it up, particularly the first use will go much smoother if you go by the steps included in the manual.

The convenience features take some extra mechanisms to operate but from the user perspective, they work smoothly. The overall impression of the 440E is positive.

Best Gas Chainsaw with the Largest Cutting Edge – Poulan Pro 967061501 Gas Powered Chain Saw

Key Facts

The Poulan Pro 967061501, or just the Poulan, is yet another step up in size and power. The cutting edge is the largest so far at 20 inches long.

It comes with its own carrying case and has a wealth of extra features.

These include a low-emissions engine with high fuel efficiency, a starter mechanism that is easy to activate, a protected fuel bulb, and a choke/stop pull control that makes it harder to flood the engine by mistake.

All of these extra features are just for convenience and ease of use. It is the bigger saw that sets this model apart.

Purpose

The 20-inch threshold is what starts to separate out the big chainsaws from small and medium ones. The Poulan is for the heavy-duty wood that smaller saws cannot reach through.

In fact, 20 inches is probably towards the upper limit of what an ordinary consumer would need. Anything above that is the realm of a professional tool.

Just about any tree or log that you can find in your yard should be appropriately sized for the Poulan. For its size, it doesn’t use that much gas and it isn’t that loud, although you do need to make sure you have a good amount of oil on hand.

Feedback

Many buyers were surprised at the low weight of the Poulan relative to the power of the engine. The construction of the chainsaw is highly efficient.

A few people needed replacements due to shipping damage, but that was a smooth process. On top of that, the Poulan was fairly easy to start according to online reviewers, which has been an issue with some of the other models on this list.

Best Gas Chainsaw for Home Use – Husqvarna Chainsaw – 455 Rancher 2-Stroke Gas

Key Facts

Husqvarna makes the third appearance on this list for our last chainsaw. The 455 Rancher is their entry into the large end of the market.

It actually shares many features and attributes with the Poulan, including the size. That includes an efficient engine, an easy starter with reduced flooding risk, CARB compliance, and low emissions.

The 455 adds on a centrifugal air filtration system that has less wear and tear and does not need as much replacement as a traditional basic filter. The size of the engine is 55.5cc with a power output of 3.49 hp.

Purpose

Again, a 20-inch gas chainsaw is at the top end of what would be useful for a home consumer. These are large enough to slice up trees and thick logs, even occasional falling and bucking.

The 455 is a little too long for some tasks like trimming small branches at a sharp angle and with precision, so it might be a good idea to get a small chainsaw as well for those tasks, or replace the bar with an 18-inch one. 

Check out this video to see what it is capable of: 

Feedback

Users of the 455 were happy with their purchase and that group included professionals as well as consumers.

It can cut large trees and keep cutting them for an extended period of time without getting snagged or stuck, so it can perform in forests or lots. The engine is low-vibration and low-recoil, so it is easy to carry and use.

The higher weight might rule it out for some users, but just about everyone who bought it had positive feedback about its power, consistency, and overall performance.

Alternatives

Best Professional Gas Chainsaw – New HUSQVARNA 460 Rancher Gas Powered XTorq Chainsaw

Still in doubt? Read our Ultimate Chainsaw Buying Guide!

Conclusion

If you have any trees, shrubs, or bushes on your property, then you will almost certainly need a chainsaw sooner or later.

Here, we’ve reviewed what we see as the best gas chainsaws on the market today. Keep in mind that the best gas chainsaw for you depends on what you need to cut and your yard’s size and orientation.

That said, our pick for the best performance gas chainsaw is the Husqvarna 455 Rancher, which is robust, powerful, and durable.

In terms of the best value for buyers on a budget, we prefer the Remington RM4214. It is a small model, but it has an appealing vibration reduction housing, good fuel efficiency, automatic oiling, and consistent cutting power. All in all, the Remington certainly qualifies for one of the best gas powered saws under $200 prize!

Don’t forget that there are two kinds of electric chainsaws as well. Our rundown of the best cordless chainsaws and the best corded electric chainsaws will go over what makes those styles so appealing as well as discuss some good options if you are thinking of buying one. 

Whichever type of chainsaw you are choosing, always make safety a priority. It is advised to use chainsaw chaps and other gear at all times during operation.

Remember, even if you do not decide to buy one of the many chainsaws on this list, you can still learn a lot from checking out their designs, feature sets, and prices. On top of that, you should check out the reviews because they often have information about durability and production issues, if any. 

Once you have the best gas chainsaw, you’ll see just how much time and effort it can save you. Under the right conditions, small models are just as good as large ones because the key measure is not just how much wood they can slice, but how much work they save you from doing.

Gas chainsaws free you from the issues of battery charging or dangling cords, enabling you to cut anywhere and without having to wait for the engine to be ready.

Plus, modern versions are more efficient on gas and produce lower emissions than older ones, so the problem of pollution is significantly reduced.

That may or may not matter to you specifically, but many states either have or will soon have regulations in place governing emissions from power tools, so it is good to be prepared.

It is very important to keep your chainsaw safe and protected, not just from the elements but from pets, children, or anyone else who can cause or cause harm. Go and check our recent article about the best chainsaw cases.

In case you have to work with tons of wood, depending on your physical skills, it might be practical to get a log splitter as well.