Chainsaws & Pole Pruners
Chainsaws for firewood, felling and storm clear-ups, and pole pruners for overhead branches you'd otherwise need a ladder for. Petrol and battery models from Stihl, Echo, EGO, Honda, Toro, Mountfield and Cobra, with chainsaws from about £110 to over £1,800 and pole pruners from about £180.
The right saw depends on what you're cutting, how often, and whether you want petrol or battery. Our guide below takes them in that order. You can also browse petrol chainsaws, battery chainsaws or pole pruners on their own.
Chainsaw and pole pruner buying guideBar length, petrol or battery, top-handle saws, pole pruners, safety and FAQs
1. What will you be cutting?
Bar length is the number in most chainsaw titles. As a rule of thumb, choose a bar a few centimetres longer than the thickest wood you'll cut regularly. A longer bar needs a bigger engine or battery to drive it, and it's heavier and harder to control, so don't go longer than you need.
- Pruning and small branches (25 to 30cm bar): light, easy-handling saws such as the Stihl MS 162 or MSA 60 C-B, the Echo CS-310ES or CS-2511WES, or the Echo DCS-310 battery saw.
- Firewood and small trees (35 to 40cm): the all-round size for most homes and smallholdings, such as the Stihl MS 182 or MS 231, the Echo CS-3510ES or the EGO CS1410E and CS1610E.
- Bigger timber and regular felling (45cm and up): bigger saws such as the Stihl MS 271, MS 291 and MS 391, the Echo CS-501SX and CS-621SX, or the EGO CS1800E and CSX5000. The Stihl MS 462, MS 500i, MS 661 and MS 881 are for forestry and the largest trees.
2. Petrol or battery?
- Petrol: the most power for big timber and long days, refuelled in a minute. Every petrol saw here runs on two-stroke mix. The trade-off is noise, fumes, starting and servicing. The Mountfield MC 3720 is the lowest-priced petrol saw; Stihl and Echo cover everything from homeowner to forestry machines.
- Battery: quiet, no fumes and instant starting, which suits garden work, near houses, and occasional use where a petrol saw would sit unused for months. Stihl's battery range splits into AK for home gardens (MSA 60, 70 and 80) and AP for heavier and professional use (MSA 160 upwards). EGO's 56V saws share batteries with EGO's mowers and trimmers. Echo, Honda, Toro and Cobra also make battery saws. The trade-off is runtime on big jobs, so a spare battery helps.
3. Top-handle saws
Saws with the handle on top, such as the Stihl MS 151 TC-E, MS 194 T, MS 201 TC-M and MSA 220 TC-O, or the EGO CSX3000 and CS1200E, are built for arborists working in trees. They're intended for trained, competent users only. For cutting on the ground, choose a rear-handle saw.
4. Pole pruners
A pole pruner puts a small chainsaw on the end of a pole, so you can cut high branches from the ground instead of from a ladder.
- Battery: the Stihl HTA range, from the light HTA 30 and HTA 50 to the telescopic HTA 86 and professional HTA 135 and 150; the EGO Pro X telescopic pole (PPSX2500 kit), which also takes a hedge trimmer head; and the Mountfield MPP 50 Li and Toro 60V pole saw.
- Petrol: the Stihl HT 105 and HT 135, for professionals working away from a charger.
| Your job | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Garden pruning and the odd branch | Battery saw with a 25 to 30cm bar, such as the Stihl MSA 60 C-B or Echo DCS-310 |
| Firewood for the house | 35 to 40cm petrol or battery, such as the Stihl MS 231 or EGO CS1610E |
| Smallholdings and regular felling | 45cm petrol, such as the Stihl MS 271 or Echo CS-501SX |
| Branches out of reach | Pole pruner, such as the Stihl HTA 50 or EGO PPSX2500 |
| Professional tree work | Top-handle saw, for trained users only |
Working safely
Always wear chainsaw protective clothing: trousers or chaps, boots and gloves with cut protection, and a helmet with a visor and ear defenders. Keep the chain sharp and correctly tensioned, keep people and pets well clear, and never use a chainsaw above shoulder height or from a ladder. Never use a pole pruner near overhead power lines. If you use a chainsaw for work, you'll need to be trained and competent to use it.
Why buy your chainsaw from us
We're a family-run, authorised dealer at Island Road, Westbere, near Canterbury, for Stihl, Echo, EGO and Honda among others. We'll help you match the saw to the job, every machine is checked before it leaves, and our workshop services and repairs chainsaws after the sale. We deliver UK-wide. Call 01227 711100 for advice.
Frequently asked questions
What size chainsaw do I need?
For pruning, a 25 to 30cm bar. For firewood and small trees, 35 to 40cm. For bigger timber, 45cm and up. Choose a bar a little longer than the wood you'll cut most often.
Are battery chainsaws any good?
Yes, for garden work, pruning and firewood they're quieter, lighter to live with and start instantly. For all-day felling and big timber, petrol still has the edge.
Do I need a licence to use a chainsaw?
Not for use in your own garden, though training is always worthwhile. If you use a chainsaw for work, you must be trained and competent, and most employers and clients will ask for a recognised certificate.
What does "tool only" mean?
The saw comes without a battery or charger. Choose it if you already own that brand's batteries.
Do you service chainsaws?
Yes. Our workshop services and repairs most major makes. Call our service team on 01227 711100.
Do you sharpen chainsaw chains?
We don't usually offer chain sharpening, but we sell files so you can keep the chain sharp yourself, and we can supply a brand new chain for most saws. Call 01227 711100 with your saw's model and bar length.
