Best Chainsaw under 200

 

Welcome to our Buyers guide to Chainsaws that cost less than $200

We have picked our top ten affordable models and we are sure that you will find at least one that will suit your needs.

The chainsaws we have picked are all from quality brand names that get great customer feedback. These are power tools designed for backyard use and this reflects in the price and their functionality. If you are looking for something for commercial or heavy duty usage then you will need to pay more than 200 bucks!

 

This is a fairly long and detailed analysis of the best inexpensive chainsaws and we spent many hours researching them but if you want to save yourself a lot of reading we have listed some of our top picks below

Best Chainsaw under 200

Buying Tips

There are Three types of Chainsaw you are likely to Buy;

• Gas Powered
• Corded Electric
• Cordless Battery Powered

All have their pros and cons and we will discuss that briefly before reviewing the best chainsaws that we have found for under $200.

Gas Powered Chainsaws

PROS
– Much More Powerful than electric chainsaws
– You are not reliant on Electricity during power outages
– Can Be used for longer periods of time than battery powered
– If maintained well will have a longer life span than electric chainsaws
– More room for manoeuvre compared to a corded electric model

CONS
– Heavy – you need to be fairly strong to use a gas powered chainsaw
– Noisy, make sure you wear ear protection
– Require more maintenance

Corded Electric

PROS
– More powerful than cordless battery powered chainsaws
– Lightweight
– Easy to use
– Usually cheaper than cordless

CONS
– Restricted in distance that you can travel, might have to use multiple extension cables
– The cord can easily get tangled or snagged when in use.

Cordless Battery Powered

PROS
– Light Weight Option
– Easiest to use and can use anywhere once charged
– Less noise

CONS
– May need to recharge the battery during use
– More expensive than corded
– Not suitable for Heavy Usage

Other things to look out for

Safety is paramount, it’s pretty obvious that a chainsaw if misused can be an extremely dangerous piece of equipment.

Make sure that you follow proper safety procedures when using one and if you haven’t used a chainsaw before check out the video below which is a good primer for chainsaw safety.

 

Best Inexpensive Chainsaw Reviews

We have separated out top rated chainsaws into three categories Gas, Electric and Cordless, you can click on the menu to skip to the section you are interested in, if you have already decided which type of chainsaw is the best fit for you.

Best Gas chainsaw under 200

TIMBERPRO 62cc 20″ Petrol Chainsaw

 

This gas powered chainsaw is easy to assemble [around 10-15 minutes] by following the instructions in the manual. Reviews online describe it as easy to use and great value for the price. Most were impressed by the delivery time, excellent customer service and the two year warranty that TIMBERPRO provide.

This would be a great starter gas powered chainsaw for those who want a budget friendly saw that will cut trees and logs rather than just cut back branches.

This is  certainly a good buy for such a high powered chainsaw. Its not perfect though as it can be a little thirsty on fuel and the quality of the chainsaw is not as good as others with similar specs such as Husqvarna but you are likely to pay double the price.

The TimberPro CS-6150 also comes with an extra chain, case and tools for maintenance.

We read a few hundred reviews from users online who commented on this particular chainsaw

examples included;

Excellent value for money. Bought this to start stocking up for winters ahead, for my wood burner. 1st day out, did two hours solid cutting. I have stocked up to last me till the end of January.

And…..

I recently bought this as I needed a larger saw and didn’t want to spend a fortune It was very easy to put together it’s very well-balanced and cuts fantastic.

We think this would be a good buy for someone who needs a more robust chainsaw for jobs like cutting down trees or cutting logs. This model does ship from the UK so do be aware of the shipping costs which make it a bit more expensive than the other brands we are reviewing here.

Poulan Pro 967061501 50cc  Gas Powered Chain Saw

 

Poulan Pro are actually a subsidiary of  Husqvarna so basically what you are getting is a powerful Husqvarna chainsaw at a budget price. With its 50cc engine and a 20 inch blade, you are getting a lot of  chainsaw for your money. This is a nice medium duty power tool that would be more than adequate for most home owners who need to fell or cut up trees from time to time.

This model does come with very mixed reviews, the main concern being that it is a little temperamental to start up. Many users were impressed though and reported it starting up on the 2nd or 3rd pull. They also really liked the Anti-Vibration Handle.

We think one reason why some users are having issues with this model is perhaps because they haven’t read the user manual properly. We liked this guys review here at Amazon that explained in detail why he liked the Poulan Pro 967061501 and why he thinks others are having issues

Read the Review Here

Because of its mixed reviews we are neutral on this chainsaw.

Homdox Gas Powered Chainsaw

 

While most of the brands we have reviewed here are know to us we hadn’t heard of Homdox before. They are a Home products brand that have a range of household items including power tools.

While we were unsure of the brand what we did like about this chainsaw was that had some very positive reviews and was at a great price for a gas chainsaw. You can choose from between 3 motor sizes 52cc, 58cc and 62cc, all are budget friendly.

This would be perfect for medium sized or large jobs, for instance storm cleanup, cutting logs or felling trees.

It also comes with a spare chain and a tool bag.

As we mentioned the majority of reviews for this chainsaw were positive and even though its not a name brand and likely to be Chinese made it was commented the quality was excellent for the price. It was mentioned that it does lack torque so for instance a job like cutting logs could take longer than if you were using a high end chainsaw.

There is a nice video review here and you can actually see it in action and the reviewer talks about its pros and cons

Homdox Gas Powered Chainsaw Video Review

So they are our 3 gas powered chainsaw picks for under 200. If you are doing a lot of heavy tree felling or log cutting it might be worth spending a bit more but for medium use they should be more than adequate. Just make sure that you fully read the instruction manuals and take your safety seriously.

Best Electric Chainsaw Under 200

Zombi ZCS12017 16-Inch 120-Volt 13-Amp Corded Electric Chainsaw

 

If you are in the market for a cordless chainsaw then this would be a good starting point. This would be a perfect first chainsaw as it comes assembled on delivery ready to get to work. Make sure that you pick up some bar and chain oil at the same time as you purchase as it doesn’t come included.

This electric corded chainsaw has plenty going for it. It comes with a 16 inch auto lubricating Oregon Bar and chain. Oregon are a respected brand so you know you are in good hands and easily buy replacement chains when needed.

A great feature for this Zombi chainsaw was the included tool-less chain tensioner which is a real time saver. It makes use of an external wheel to set the tension and another wheel to lock. You don’t have to remove the chain cover or use other tools.

All in all this is a really nice looking chainsaw with plenty of features, if you really are on a budget and want a chainsaw for light use around the backyard or garden this would be a good choice. This one is affordable and low maintenance.

WORX WG304.1 18-Inch 15.0 Amp Electric Chainsaw

 

Worx have two very popular electric chainsaws in their range of power tools. The WG303.1  and the one we are going to review here. The WG304.1 is a bit more expensive but has a longer bar and more powerful motor.

This is an ideal electric chainsaw for those who just want to press a trigger and start cutting.

It comes ready assembled out of the box and all you need to do is add the chain oil. There is a small bottle included but its not really enough so we suggest buying an additional large bottle if you purchase this chainsaw. One of the few negatives that was commented on by users was that it does seem to go through oil fairly fast, so maybe grab a couple of bottles to be on the safe side.

This is a lightweight,easy to use chainsaw with some nice safety features included. We were especially impressed with the built in oiler which lubricates the chain and bar constantly with zero fuss.

But the real deal breaker for this electric chainsaw is the tool free chain replacement and automatic chain tightening system which is superbly designed.

The pros certainly outweigh the cons with this Worx chainsaw. The only real downside seems to be the amount of chain/bar oil it guzzles and of course that you are limited to the length of your extension cord. Reviewers described it as Exceeding their expectations for an electric chainsaw.

This would be  perfect for any homeowner with a large backyard and plenty of trees to deal who doesn’t want the weight or maintenance of a gas powered version.

Oregon CS1500 Self-Sharpening Electric Chain Saw

 

If you are in the market for a USA made chainsaw, backed up by excellent customer service then look no further than the Oregon CS1500. Most chainsaw users know of Oregon for their quality chains but might not realise that they also make chainsaws.

Being USA made this chainsaw is a little pricier than some of the other brands that are made in China.

Obviously the main selling point for the CS1500 is the self sharpening feature, which is unique to Oregon. Just like the WORX model it also includes a Tool-free chain tensioning system.

Once again this is much easier to use and maintain than a gas model and  with less noise. It is a bit on the heavy side for an electric chainsaw but still lighter than a gas one.

It should be fine for most light to medium backyard jobs with its 18 inch bar and 15 amp motor.

Users describe it as Definitely worth the money and we tend to agree. Some of the negative reviews were about the chain coming off the bar but we believe this is probably due to not setting the blade tension correctly. We always suggest reading the user manual before starting out newbie or not.

Final Words on Corded Electric Chainsaws

For those with small backyards or live in built up areas with neighbors who are likely to complain about noise, going cordless can be a wise option.

You will certainly need either a long extension cable or a generator if you need to use your chainsaw away from a power outlet.

The Extension cable we recommend is the Wire & Cable 100 Feet lighted extension cord. Its heavy duty, double insulated and comes in a nice bright yellow color so it’s highly visible.

For those who prefer a light weight chainsaw that is easy to start and maintain as well as being budget friendly then going electric should be certainly considered.

Best Cordless Chainsaws under 200

If you want to cut wood anywhere and don’t want the mess or maintenance of a gas chainsaw then take a look at some cordless battery powered models. These are designed for light use and you won’t be able to be out all day cutting wood on one battery charge. Cordless chainsaws that come with batteries and are under 200 are hard to find but we have reviewed a few below.

BLACK+DECKER LCS1240  Lithium Ion Chainsaw

Black & Decker are the Kings of low cost quality battery powered power tools and this one is a best seller on Amazon.

Most backyards are not going to require the regular use of a heavy gas powered chainsaw and for occasional use the LCS1240 should be just fine.

Though it is a popular model for all ages it gets a lot of good reviews from seniors who just need to trim some branches or handle small jobs that take an hour or so. In fact we read one review from a 74 year old woman on Amazon who was putting this saw to good use.

Others reported that it was a good second chainsaw. They used their heavy duty gas powered models for the tough, long jobs but if they just wanted to cut a little firewood or chop back some branches it was easier to use the Black & Decker, just push a button and start chopping.

Of course another advantage of buying this Black & Decker cordless power tool is that the battery is also compatible with the trimmer and blower.

The LCS1240 comes with the 40v Lithium battery and battery charger included as well as a high quality Oregon bar and chain.

Two excellent features of this particular model are that it includes tool free chain tensioning and and an automatic oiling set up that constantly lubricates chain and bar.

There were few complaints online except a few mentioned it does use up a lot of chain oil. On another point, the chain oil is not included so make sure you buy some with your chainsaw.

For the price this is a great value power tool and if you already have  other Black & Decker tools compatible with this one then it’s an ideal addition and also gives you a 2nd battery.

 

Greenworks 12-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw

 

If you are a regular home owner who requires a chainsaw for backyard cleanups from time to time then this would be a good match.

Like Black & Decker this one comes with a battery that is compatible with other Greenworks 40V power tools such as the GreenWorks 21332 string trimmer. The battery life will depend on what you are cutting but users say that they have got some good use out of it before running low.

Once again this chainsaw was popular with ladies, seniors and a great point from one ‘burly gas powered chainsaw guy’ who commented that using a battery chainsaw stopped him from procrastinating as he could just flip a switch and get to work against all the hassle of getting his gas powered one working.

This is a lightweight, easy to use chainsaw that has the added features of a super efficient brush-less motor, as well as a quality Oregon bar and chain included.

There are plenty of reviews online regarding this chainsaw but we always like to see real reviewers actually using their tools. Here’ s a good video review below showing the Greenworks cordless chainsaw in action

REAL CUSTOMER VIDEO REVIEW OF THE GREENWORKS CHAINSAW

There didn’t seem to many issues with this model except Some reported chain oil leaking but this seems to be an issue with many brands, see this article here

Conclusion

Thanks for staying with us to the end, we realise this has been a long read but if you are investing in the Best Chainsaw under 200 for your needs then you will want to have all the relevant information. Please make sure that you read the manual first before using any of the chainsaws we have reviewed and use common sense if you are new to working with chainsaws or not.