Five years ago, the idea of a cordless chainsaw cutting through hardwood like a gas saw sounded like wishful thinking. Today, 80V brushless cordless chainsaws deliver the same blade speeds as 40cc gas saws — without the fuel mixing, pull cords, or maintenance. For homeowners who deal with storm cleanup, firewood, or yearly tree maintenance, cordless is now the better buy in nearly every category.
This guide covers the specs that actually matter when picking a cordless chainsaw, the safety features non-negotiable on any model, and the Greenworks 80V 18" chainsaw built for serious residential cutting.
When a Cordless Chainsaw Is the Right Call
A chainsaw isn't a regular-use tool for most homeowners. The question isn't whether to buy one — it's what kind. Cordless makes sense if:
- You cut firewood occasionally. Annual cord or two of firewood, fallen branches, storm cleanup.
- You maintain trees on your property. Limbing, pruning, occasional small tree removal.
- You want a saw you can grab and use instantly. No fuel, no mixing, no pull-starting. Push the button and cut.
- You're already in the 80V battery platform. Tool-only purchases save $200+ if you already own batteries.
- You don't want exhaust fumes in your garage. Gas chainsaws stink the place up. Battery doesn't.
Gas chainsaws still win for full-time loggers, anyone felling large trees daily, or homeowners with significant acreage requiring hours of continuous cutting. For everyone else — and that's most of us — cordless is the better long-term buy.
What "Best" Actually Means for a Cordless Chainsaw
Five specs separate a great cordless chainsaw from a mediocre one:
- Bar length — how big a log you can cut in one pass
- Voltage and motor type — determines blade speed and torque under load
- Chain speed (meters per second) — how fast the chain actually moves
- Safety features — chain brake, kickback reduction, automatic oiler
- Weight and balance — what you can actually handle for 20+ minutes
Match the Bar Length to the Job
Bar length is the most important spec because it dictates what you can cut. As a rule of thumb, your bar should be 2 inches longer than the log diameter you'll typically cut.
| Bar Length | Max Log Diameter (Single Pass) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 10"–12" | Up to ~8" | Pruning, light branches, small limbs |
| 14"–16" | Up to ~12" | Firewood cutting, branch removal, small trees |
| 18" | Up to ~16" | Storm cleanup, medium tree felling, serious firewood |
| 20"+ | Up to ~18"+ | Large tree felling, commercial use |
For most Canadian homeowners with mature trees and occasional firewood needs, an 18" bar is the sweet spot. Smaller bars limit what you can cut. Larger bars get heavier and harder to control without paying off for residential use.
One important note: you can always cut larger logs than your bar length using multiple passes from different angles. It just takes longer. But you can never cut a log cleanly in one pass if it's bigger than your bar.
Voltage and Motor Type
Chainsaw motors face the highest continuous load of any cordless tool — cutting through hardwood is what bogs lesser saws. Tier guide:
- 20V to 40V: Light pruning saws. Will struggle on anything hardwood thicker than a few inches.
- 60V: Mid-range residential chainsaws. Handles softwood firewood and standard limbing.
- 80V: Gas-equivalent power (40cc range). Cuts through hardwood without bogging. The right tier for serious residential use.
Always look for brushless motors. Chainsaws push motors to their thermal limits faster than any other cordless tool. Brushless motors run cooler, deliver more torque per watt, and last 2–3x longer than brushed motors. Every Greenworks 80V chainsaw is brushless.
Safety Features That Aren't Optional
Chainsaws are the most dangerous power tool a homeowner owns. These features are non-negotiable:
- Chain brake (electronic or inertia-activated). Stops the chain almost instantly if kickback occurs. Every quality chainsaw has one.
- Reduced-kickback chain. Modern chain designs reduce the force that throws the saw back toward the operator. Doesn't eliminate kickback but reduces severity.
- Automatic oiler. Keeps the chain and bar lubricated continuously. Without it, you'd have to manually oil every few minutes — or risk a dry chain that overheats and breaks.
- Steel bucking spikes. The metal teeth at the saw's base that grip the wood and give you a pivot point. Makes cutting safer and more controlled.
- Translucent oil tank. Lets you see oil level at a glance. Easy to overlook but important — running a chainsaw with an empty oil reservoir kills the chain in minutes.
Plus: always wear PPE — chaps, safety glasses, hearing protection, and steel-toe boots. A chainsaw injury is among the worst home accidents possible. Don't shortcut on safety gear.
The Best 80V Cordless Chainsaw from Greenworks
For homeowners with serious cutting needs — storm cleanup, firewood, tree maintenance — the Greenworks 80V 18" Brushless Chainsaw (Tool Only) hits every spec that matters:
| Spec | Greenworks 80V 18" Brushless Chainsaw |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 80V brushless |
| Rated motor power | 1.8 kW |
| Bar length | 18" |
| Chain | 3/8" pitch, .050" gauge, 62 drive links |
| Chain speed | 10.5 m/s |
| Chain brake | Electronic |
| Kickback reduction | Yes |
| Oiler | Automatic, 200 mL translucent tank |
| Bucking spikes | Steel |
| Battery | Not included (tool only) |
| Recommended batteries | 80V 2.0Ah or 2.5Ah (for weight balance) |
| Weight (tool only) | 11 lbs |
| Warranty | 4-year tool |
A few details that matter specifically for the chainsaw buyer:
10.5 m/s chain speed. This is in the gas-equivalent range. Chain speed determines how fast you cut and how clean the cut is. Slower chains tear at wood; faster chains slice through it cleanly. 10.5 m/s puts this saw on par with 35–40cc gas chainsaws.
1.8 kW brushless motor. Serious motor power for a cordless saw. 1.8 kW handles hardwood without bogging — meaningful when you're working through frozen Canadian firewood in winter.
Tool-only purchase saves money if you're already in the platform. A kit with battery and charger runs $200+ more. If you already own an 80V mower, blower, or trimmer, you already have batteries — buy the chainsaw tool-only and save.
2.0Ah or 2.5Ah battery recommended specifically. Larger 4.0Ah or 8.0Ah batteries work but the saw is designed around smaller packs for balanced weight and to reduce kickback risk. A heavier battery shifts the saw's center of gravity backward, making it harder to control during cuts.
4-year warranty. Premium residential coverage. Chainsaws take more abuse than most tools — a strong warranty matters.
Chainsaw Technique Basics
The right chainsaw cuts well. The right technique keeps you safe. Three essentials:
- Always cut with the bottom of the bar. Cutting with the top of the bar is what causes kickback. Top-of-bar cutting (called "boring") is a specialist technique — don't use it as a homeowner.
- Keep both hands on the saw at all times. One hand on the rear handle, one hand on the front handle. Never one-handed, never above shoulder height.
- Plan your escape route before you cut a standing tree. Identify two paths away from the falling tree, at 45° angles to opposite sides. Standing trees fall in unpredictable directions; assume they'll come at you.
And: tension the chain when cold, not when hot. Hot metal expands. Tensioning a chain when it's just been used means the chain contracts when it cools, potentially damaging the bar or the chainsaw. Always let the saw cool before adjusting.
FAQ
How long does a cordless chainsaw run per charge?
Runtime is measured in cuts, not minutes — because heavy hardwood drains batteries much faster than softwood. Expect 60–100 cuts per charge on a 2.5Ah battery in mixed wood. Larger batteries roughly proportionally extend that.
Can a cordless chainsaw really replace a gas chainsaw?
For most residential users, yes. The Greenworks 80V 18" delivers chain speed and motor power equivalent to a 35–40cc gas saw — the size most homeowners actually use. Gas still wins for commercial daily use and felling large trees regularly.
What size chainsaw do I need for firewood?
An 18" bar is the sweet spot for residential firewood cutting. Smaller bars (14"–16") work for splitting logs already cut to length but limit what you can fell or buck. 20"+ is overkill for most residential use.
Why does Greenworks recommend smaller batteries for this chainsaw?
Weight balance. The 18" chainsaw is designed around 2.0Ah or 2.5Ah battery weight. Larger 4.0Ah or 8.0Ah batteries shift the saw's center of gravity backward, making it harder to control during cuts and slightly increasing kickback risk. For chainsaws specifically, smaller is better.
Should I buy a tool-only chainsaw or a kit?
If you already own a Greenworks 80V battery — buy tool-only and save $200+. If this is your first 80V purchase, buy a kit version (or a separate battery and charger).
How long does the chain last before needing replacement?
A well-maintained chain lasts 1–3 years of regular homeowner use. Sharpen it every 5–10 hours of cutting with a 5/32" round file. Replace it when teeth wear below 5mm of cutting edge length.
Cut Without Compromise
If you need a serious chainsaw for firewood, storm cleanup, or tree maintenance — and you want gas-equivalent power without the gas — the Greenworks 80V 18" Brushless Chainsaw (Tool Only) is built for that homeowner. 10.5 m/s chain speed, 1.8 kW brushless motor, full safety features, and full integration with the Greenworks 80V battery ecosystem.
Keep reading:
- One Battery System Saves You Money — The Greenworks Ecosystem — Why staying inside one battery platform saves Canadian homeowners hundreds.
- Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V — The Battery Showdown — Battery technology and power delivery compared.
- Greenworks vs Ryobi — A Canadian Buyer's Comparison — Power, price, and ecosystem compared head-to-head.
- Greenworks Lawn Mower Review — Every Model for 2026 — Pair your chainsaw with the right mower in the 80V lineup.