Best Mini Chainsaw 2025: 8 Worth Buying and 3 to Avoid

When Stihl first launched its 12V Garden Pruner in the US market, it took off like deep-fried Oreos at a Texas county fair. Now, there’s a ton of competition to make the best mini chainsaw, and these tools have carved themselves a serious niche for among Pros and homeowners alike.

I’ve been using these pruning chainsaws since Stihl’s launch back in late 2019. In this roundup, I’ll share the ones we recommend most highly, a few to avoid, and what to look for while you’re shopping.

Best Mini Chainsaws

• Best Overall: Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hatchet 3004
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• Runner Up: ECHO 56V Pruning Saw DHS-3006
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• Best for Homeowners: Ryobi 18V One+ HP Compact Brushless Pruning Chainsaw PSBCW01
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• Best for the Money: Greenworks 24V Gen 2 Pruner Saw CS24L211-00
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Jump to These Sections to Learn More

• More Mini Chainsaws We Recommend
• Mini Chainsaws to Avoid
• What to Look for When You’re Shopping
• Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Best Mini Chainsaw

Highlighted Features

• Metal Bucking Spikes: Bite into the branch for better leverage and control
• Automatic Oiler: No need to manually oil the chain between cuts
• Top Hand Guard: Protects the top of your hand while cutting
• Lanyard Loop: Makes the saw tether-ready for climbing applications

Should You Buy It?

Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel Hatchet is the mini chainsaw that I use most often. Even though it’s heavier than the rest, it has more torque that drives through hardwoods better than most and offers better cutting capacity. As a climbing saw, it’s solid, and you can do the majority of your upper limbing before turning back to your top-handle saw for topping.

Paired with Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel top-handle chainsaw, dual-battery 20-inch chainsaw, and outstanding pole saw, it’s a formidable lineup for professional landscapers and arborists.

Normally, I’d say this is a bit much for most homeowners. However, the kit price has been sitting at $299.99 for a while, and that includes a 6.0Ah High Output battery. That’s a pretty compelling price, and Milwaukee’s OPE lineup includes several options that might tempt a Pro-oriented homeowner onto the M18 battery platform.

If you’re looking for something lighter, Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel Hatchet is another good option.

Best Mini Chainsaw Runner-up

Highlighted Features

• Tool-free Chain Tensioning: Adjust the chain tension without the use of a tool
• Automatic Oiler: No need to manually oil the chain between cuts
• Chain Guard: Protects from accidental cuts across the top of the chain
• Extended Trigger Guard: Protects your fingers while cutting
• Lanyard Loop: Makes the saw tether-ready for climbing applications
• Belt/Harness Hook: Hook the saw onto your belt or harness when you need both hands free

Should You Buy It?

ECHO was ambitious with the design of their pruning saw. Attaching a 56V battery to such a small tool was a challenge. However, the design team pulled it off, and with the system’s 2.5Ah battery, the weight is quite reasonable.

Thanks to that high-voltage battery, the performance of this saw is excellent. The overall design lends itself to professional use, and its combination of a harness hook and tether loop make it very convenient when you’re climbing. Even though the 6-inch capacity is lower than Milwaukee’s, ECHO also has an extremely lightweight top-handle chainsaw, giving arborists a solid one-two punch at height.

Like Milwaukee, ECHO’s price tag might be low enough for some users. Their 56V platform includes tools for specifically targeting residential use, so this mini chainsaw can be a good fit for homeowners who need something between pruners and a chainsaw.

Best Mini Chainsaw for Homeowners

Highlighted Features

• Chain Guard: Protects from accidental cuts across the top of the chain
• Oil-free Design: No need for manual oiling or filling an oil reservoir
• Lower Hand Guard: Protects your trigger hand while cutting

Should You Buy It?

Ryobi has several mini chainsaws in its lineup, including a relatively new model with an integrated 12V battery that may be appealing for those who want a saw that’s purely for pruning. However, it’s the HP Compact Brushless model that I’m most jazzed about.

With its 8-inch bar and high chain speed, it acts as both a pruning saw and a compact chainsaw. For those of you who just want to maintain a handful of trees or cut back mature shrubs, it could be all the chainsaw you need.

If your property management needs are greater, you can get by with this model and add the 18-inch chainsaw or 20-inch chainsaw from the 40V platform to cover everything, even though it puts you on two different platforms. With Ryobi, I don’t mind as much considering their best lawn care products are on the 40V system and all their power tools and excellent lifestyle products are the 18V One+ system.

There’s some potential here for landscaping Pros as well. If you’re looking to add a battery-powered pruning chainsaw to the mix, Ryobi has the larger 8-inch bar and is an affordable addition. However, arborists who cut more frequently or for longer durations will be better off with something like the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hatchet since it has an automatic oiler to keep the chain in good shape during operation.

Best Mini Chainsaw for the Money

Highlighted Features

• Automatic Oiler: No need to manually oil the chain between cuts
• Tool-free Chain Tensioning: Adjust the chain tension without the use of a tool
• Chain Guard: Protects from accidental cuts across the top of the chain
• Extended Trigger Guard: Protects your fingers while cutting

Should You Buy It?

If you haven’t been paying attention to Greenworks’ 24V line, you’re missing out on some absolute bangers when it comes to deals. Let’s start with the saw in question.

Greenworks’ second-generation mini chainsaw has nearly everything homeowners want in an easy-to-use design: automatic oiling, chain-free tensioning, and protective guards. Plus, its cutting speed is high enough to make quick work of its chores.

The price is already compelling at $149.99 for the kit, but if you keep your eyes open, it can be even better. At the time I’m writing this up, you can order it directly from Greenworks for less than $100. There’s not a better mini chainsaw deal I’ve been able to find.

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More Mini Chainsaws We Recommend

DeWalt 20V Max XR Pruning Saw DCCS623

Highlighted Features

• Automatic Oiler: No need to manually oil the chain between cuts
• Tip Guard: Prevents accidental cuts to other branches or nearby material
• Protective Handle Design: Offers additional protection for both hands while cutting

Should You Buy It?

DeWalt didn’t follow the pack with the design of their pruning saw. By shifting the motor below the trigger, both your control hand and supporting hand are on top of the saw and protected by hand guards above them. Practically, it puts more of an angle between your wrist and the bar, making one-hand cuts a little more comfortable.

For Pros invested in DeWalt for their OPE needs, it’s a no-brainer to bring this model into the fold. Its high chain speed and capacity are competitive against the best performers. Most of you will probably want to remove that tip guard, especially when you’re limbing, though.

Because of the price, there’s a lot of appeal for homeowners who want the Pro pedigree that comes with the DeWalt name. With quality options from DIY brands like Ryobi and Skil coming in around $170 – $180 for a kit, it’s not a huge jump to step up to DeWalt. Plus, there are plenty of power tools and lawn care products to give homeowners everything they need on one battery system.

Makita 40V max XGT Pruning Saw GCU07

Highlighted Features

• Tool-free Chain Tensioning: Adjust the chain tension without the use of a tool
• Automatic Oiler: No need to manually oil the chain between cuts
• Chain Guard: Protects from accidental cuts across the top of the chain
• Lower Hand Guard: Protects your trigger hand while cutting

Should You Buy It?

Makita’s 40V max XGT pruning saw fits best with professional users. Its high chain speed offers fast cutting while remaining lightweight despite the higher-voltage battery.

Even though there’s no tether loop, you can still wrap your tether around the handle; it’s just not as convenient or clean as having a dedicated ring.

The price is in line with other high-performance pruning saws, but the lack of a kit option means it’s going to be most attractive to Pros who are already invested in the XGT platform. However, that’s not too hard of a sell considering the system also has top-handle, rear-handle, and pole saw options to bracket your needs.

Skil PWRCore 20 Telescoping Pruning Saw PR0601B-11

Highlighted Features

• Telescoping Handle: Offers a higher reach without the need for a ladder
• Tool-free Chain Tensioning: Adjust the chain tension without the use of a tool
• Belt Hook: Hook the saw onto your belt when you need both hands free

Should You Buy It?

Skil decided to help homeowners reach for new heights with the launch of its mini chainsaw… literally. By incorporating a telescoping handle into the design, the saw can reach a total length of 2.7 feet. Those branches that are just out of reach for other pruners are no problem for Skil. The icing on the cake is that it’s still less than five pounds with the battery, so you’re not taking a huge weight penalty to get the additional reach.

The downside is that you have to manually oil the chain. It only requires a drop every 10 cuts, so you don’t have to stop every cut, but you do have to remember to stay on top of it.

If you’re not interested in the telescoping capability, you can get the same saw with a standard housing for a few dollars less.

Stihl 12V Pruning Saw GTA 26

Highlighted Features

• Tool-free Chain Tensioning: Adjust the chain tension without the use of a tool
• Chain Guard: Protects from accidental cuts across the top of the chain

Should You Buy It?

Stihl’s O.G. mini chainsaw is probably the one that best fits as a true pruning saw. It takes over where hedge trimmers and hand pruners reach their limits while leaving the majority of limbing duties to top-handle and compact chainsaws.

Now that there’s so much competition in this space, Stihl’s manual oiling, smaller capacity, and extremely limited number of tools on their 12V system work against it for professional landscapers. However, it’s lightweight and compact, so if you don’t mind the trade-offs, it is very good at what it does.

I wouldn’t recommend this one for most homeowners. For the same price or less, you can get a pruning chainsaw that’s more versatile and has far more compatible tools that work on the same batteries, giving you more value for your money.

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Mini Chainsaws to Avoid

By nature, we love getting a great deal on the products we buy. But sometimes, what looks like a good price on the surface hides a dirty secret. When it comes to power tools, including mini chainsaws, you almost always get what you pay for.

This is a competitive tool class that’s exploded in the past few years. If you’re looking for a deal, start with a quality brand and look for the right opportunity. Black Friday, spring, and fall seasonal sales are great times to score discounts. If there’s a brand you already like, keep your eyes open for special deals, clearance opportunities as manufacturers roll out updated models, or high-value bundles.

That said, I have some advice on mini chainsaws to avoid. I won’t let my parents buy these products, and I won’t recommend them to you, either.

Amazon and Walmart Marketplace Brands (Seesii, Tietoc, Ceepuy, Saker, etc)

Amazon’s Top 100 Chainsaw list is littered with mini chainsaws of various price ranges and loaded with thousands of “reviews” claiming how great they are. Walmart Marketplace is very similar. I highly recommend avoiding them at all costs.

It’s not just the fake reviews hinting at a lack of integrity when it comes to the marketing of these products, it’s the quality of the product itself. These are cheaply built tools, and I mean that in the literal sense of the word. They’re mass-produced using the cheapest possible components they can get away with to drive a low price point.

Mini chainsaws are compact, but they’re not toys. When a chainsaw fails, it can cause serious injury to you as the user. Cheap electronics are no good, either. There’s a much higher risk of a battery overheating on the charger and catching your house on fire.

When something happens that forces these Amazon-only or Walmart Marketplace brands to stop selling on the platform, many simply inject a different color into the mold, change the brand name, and swap out the sticker package before continuing on. One of the reasons why you can find multiple brands that look identical is because they are.

Both Amazon and Walmart are the Wild West when it comes to no-name brands and can offer no guarantee that what you buy meets safety standards, or even if that seller will be around tomorrow. You worked hard for your money, and you deserve tools manufactured to a higher standard from a brand that will be there for you after the sale.

Temu and Shein Mini-Chainsaws

For all the reasons I just listed, avoid buying from Temu and Shein. I found a mini chainsaw kit on Temu for less than $11 that included multiple batteries. At that price, I wouldn’t even trust the safety glasses to be ANSI-certified.

Moreover, serious concerns have been reported about the working conditions Temu and Shein subject their workers to.

Mini Chainsaws Advertised on Facebook (and Other Social Media Platforms)

If the retailers I already mentioned are bad, Facebook can take it from a mere disappointment to a straight-up scam. When Stihl first launched its pruning chainsaw, they sold out quickly. People were so desperate to get one, that liars and thieves hit Facebook ads hard, promising massive discounts and then only delivering a chain, if you got anything at all.

They hit Google Ads hard as well, making similar promises and drawing people in who were searching Google for where to buy the saw.

Unfortunately, Facebook (and social media in general) has a hard time policing ads on such large platforms. While they have published standards, it’s not enough of a deterrent, and they haven’t developed the technology to quickly remove offenders.

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What to Look for When Buying a Mini Chainsaw

Performance

Performance is number one in my book. If the saw can’t keep up, I’m going to switch to something that can.

The bar size is a good indicator of a saw’s power. Most mini chainsaws have a 6-inch bar, but those that step up to 8 inches have more power to handle the additional chain engagement when you’re cutting larger branches.

You can also look at the chain speed. Once you get around 25 fps, the saw should cut quickly. That number doesn’t tell the whole story, though. If the motor doesn’t have much torque behind it, it will struggle on larger cuts or in hardwoods.

A low chain speed doesn’t mean it’s ineffective, either. My top pick has one of the slowest chain speeds of the group. However, the motor has much higher torque, so I’m able to cut more efficiently through tough branches, and that suits the way I work better.

Runtime

Runtime isn’t a huge concern these days. Most mini chainsaws can make dozens of cuts, even using a compact battery. With a spare battery or two, you can work almost continuously as you cycle them from the charger to the tool.

However, if you don’t have extra batteries, you might want to pay closer attention to runtime. You’ll get more working time if you pick a saw with a brushless motor, and that comes with a higher-capacity battery.

Weight

Most brands don’t have obnoxiously heavy designs for these pruning saws. Most of these saws are under 6 pounds with the battery installed and are easy for most people to use one-handed. However, my top pick is the heaviest of the ones we recommend and weighs over seven pounds with the battery. That’s a price I’m willing to pay for the performance level I want.

Still, lighter tools are easier to use, and you can find quality mini chainsaws that weigh around five pounds on 18V/20V Max system. But if you want to go even lighter, 12V models can be less than four pounds.

Climbing Gear

Not every user needs to climb with their mini chainsaw, but if you’re a professional arborist, it’s a requirement. Our top picks include tether rings to easily connect the saw to your harness. Even if the saw doesn’t have that, you can loop your tether around the handle. It’s not as clean or convenient, but it’ll work.

If you’re a homeowner or landscaper, you might still benefit from a belt hook. It’s often more convenient to have the saw on your hip when you need both hands free than to set it on the ground.

Oiling System

An automatic oiling system is far more convenient than manual oiling. Manual systems require you to stop and apply oil every few cuts, interrupting your workflow and requiring you to keep oil close by.

Automatic oiling isn’t perfect, though, and mini chainsaws suffer from the same leaking issues their big brothers have. The best bet is to empty the oil after you’re finished cutting for the day to eliminate the extra mess.

Chain Tensioning

Chain tensioning has two main schools of thought. For Pros and those who are Pro-minded, having a bar nut to tighten offers a secure connection that won’t budge while you’re working. When you want to adjust the chain tension, you have to grab the scrench, loosen the nut, adjust the tensioner, and re-tighten the nut.

For people who want a more convenient solution, tool-free systems eliminate the need for a scrench when adjusting the chain. A flip-up knob or similar design allows you to tighten or loosen the bar stud connection and is manageable with your bare hands. Because you don’t have the leverage of a wrench, the connection typically isn’t as tight and secure.

Since mini chainsaws aren’t as powerful as full-size models and you’re not leaning into your cuts as hard, this feature primarily boils down to preference. Personally, I prefer to tighten the nut down more, so I tolerate using a scrench.

Bucking Spikes

When you’re pruning limbs, you really don’t need bucking spikes on your saw. However, if you’re using a high-performance mini chainsaw and pivoting the bar into your cuts for limbing, they can be helpful. For the most part, this is a Pro vs homeowner kind of feature—most Pros will reap real benefits from it while most homeowners don’t need to worry about it.

Battery System

The battery system that powers your mini chainsaw is an extremely important consideration. Ideally, you want to have all your tools run on the same batteries to save money over the long haul. As you’re shopping, consider what other lawn care, landscaping, and power tools you might need in the future and make sure the system you’re buying into has them.

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Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers?

That’s not us. We only recommend what we’d use, even if we don’t earn a commission from it. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries since 2008. Our Pro reviewers have real experience in the trades and have the skills to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 150 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We’ll provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers—including objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

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