3/8 vs .325 Chainsaw Chain: Which One Should You Buy?
A head-to-head of 3/8-inch and .325-inch pitch chainsaw chains: four full-chisel examples, what separates the two sides, and how to match pitch, gauge and drive links to your bar.
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Top picks at a glance
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- 1
BYANE 18-Inch Carbide Chainsaw Chain .325" Pitch .063" Gauge9.7/10View on Amazon - 2
3 Pack 20 Inch Chainsaw Chain .325" Pitch .050" Gauge 789.7/10View on Amazon - 3
Husqvarna X-Cut SP33G 20 Inch Chainsaw Chain9.6/10View on Amazon - 4
STIHL 26RS 81 Rapid Super Chainsaw Chain 20" Bar .325 pitchView on Amazon - 5
Oregon Chainsaw ChainView on Amazon - 6
Husqvarna X- Cut C83S 24 inch Chainsaw ChainView on Amazon - 7
8TEN Chainsaw Chain Bulk Reel Full Chisel 25 Foot .050 GaugeView on Amazon - 8
8TEN Chainsaw Chain Bulk Reel Full Chisel 100 Foot .050 GaugeView on Amazon - 9
KAKEI 36 Inch Chainsaw Ripping Chain 3/8" Pitch .063" GaugeView on Amazon
Verdict on 3/8 vs .325 chainsaw chain: you do not choose pitch the way you choose a brand; your bar and saw dictate it. If your setup takes 3/8-inch pitch, the KAKEI examples here cover 20- and 24-inch bars at .050 gauge; if it takes .325-inch, the examples cover 18- and 20-inch bars at .050 or .063 gauge. Match pitch, gauge, length and drive links to your bar using the owner’s manual or the bar stamp.
Fall is when the woodpile gets honest: the rounds you cut in spring are seasoned, the saw needs a fresh chain, and the old one is past filing. The 3/8 vs .325 chainsaw chain question comes up every time someone buys a replacement without checking the bar first. Pitch, gauge, length and drive links must all match, and this comparison walks through both sides with four full-chisel examples.
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KAKEI 24 Inch Chainsaw Chain 3/8" Pitch .050"
A 3-pack of 24-inch, 3/8-inch pitch full-chisel chains with 84 drive links, listed for Husqvarna 460 and Stihl MS460 and MS500 class saws.
Pros
- 3/8 in pitch, .050 in gauge, 84 drive links, 24 in
- Full chisel cutters, chrome-plated per the listing
- Hardened and quenched rivets; protective oil included
- 3-pack; fitment list covers Husqvarna and Stihl saws
Cons
- Kickback warning: needs experience and training
- No warranty stated
- No safety certification stated
- 24 in length only; check your bar
KAKEI Chainsaw Chain 20 Inch .325" Pitch .050"
A 3-pack of 20-inch, .325-inch pitch full-chisel chains with 81 drive links, listed for Stihl MS271, MS291 and MS261.
Pros
- .325 in pitch, .050 in gauge, 81 drive links, 20 in
- Full chisel; hardened rivets and chrome-plated cutters
- Lists Stihl MS271, MS291 and MS261 fitment with gauge note
- 3-pack with protective oil
Cons
- Kickback warning: needs experience and training
- No warranty stated
- No safety certification stated
- Check gauge: 2022 and older MS271 may use .063 in bars
KAKEI 20 Inch Chainsaw Chain 3/8" Pitch .050"
A 3-pack of 20-inch, 3/8-inch pitch full-chisel chains with 70 drive links, listed for Echo CS-590, Poulan and McCulloch saws.
Pros
- 3/8 in pitch, .050 in gauge, 70 drive links, 20 in
- Full chisel; hardened rivets and chrome-plated cutters
- Fitment list covers Echo, Poulan and McCulloch saws
- 3-pack with protective oil
Cons
- Kickback warning: needs experience and training
- No warranty stated
- No safety certification stated
- 70 drive links suit 20 in bars only
4 Pack 18 Inch Chainsaw Chain .325" Pitch .063''
A 4-pack of 18-inch, .325-inch pitch full-chisel chains with 68 drive links and .063-inch gauge for listed Stihl saws.
Pros
- .325 in pitch, .063 in gauge, 68 drive links, 18 in
- 4-pack; heat-treated chain with hard chrome layer
- Hardened rivets; lists Stihl 025 through MS251 fitment
- Gauge note for 2022 and newer MS250 bars
Cons
- Kickback warning: needs experience and training
- No warranty stated
- No safety certification stated
- Title says 4-pack but spec table unit count says 1
More options to compare
STIHL 26RS 81 Rapid Super Chainsaw Chain 20" Bar .325 pitchCheck price on Amazon
Oregon Chainsaw ChainCheck price on Amazon
Husqvarna X- Cut C83S 24 inch Chainsaw ChainCheck price on Amazon
8TEN Chainsaw Chain Bulk Reel Full Chisel 25 Foot .050 GaugeCheck price on Amazon
8TEN Chainsaw Chain Bulk Reel Full Chisel 100 Foot .050 GaugeCheck price on Amazon
KAKEI 36 Inch Chainsaw Ripping Chain 3/8" Pitch .063" GaugeCheck price on Amazon
Side by side
| Chain | Woodlot Score | Pitch | Gauge | Drive Links | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kakei 24 in 3/8 | 9.6/10 | 3/8 in | .050 in | 84 | 3-pack |
| Kakei 20 in .325 | 9.6/10 | .325 in | .050 in | 81 | 3-pack |
| Kakei 20 in 3/8 | 9.6/10 | 3/8 in | .050 in | 70 | 3-pack |
| Funkywoo 18 in .325 | 9.6/10 | .325 in | .063 in | 68 | 4-pack |
Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 19 October 2026. The spec tables list pitch as 0.38 inches on the 3/8 side and 0.33 inches on the .325 side.
3/8 vs .325 chainsaw chain: what pitch means
Pitch is the first of the four numbers every KAKEI listing says to match: pitch, gauge, length and drive link number, found in the owner’s manual or stamped on the guide bar. The two 3/8-inch examples here are the KAKEI 24-inch with 84 drive links and the KAKEI 20-inch with 70 drive links, both at .050 gauge. The two .325-inch examples are the KAKEI 20-inch with 81 drive links at .050 gauge and the FUNKYWOO 18-inch with 68 drive links at .063 gauge. A 3/8-inch chain does not fit a .325-inch bar, and the listings give no workaround: buy the pitch your bar takes.
Gauge: .050 vs .063, independent of pitch
Gauge is the thickness of the drive link that rides in the bar groove, and it is independent of pitch: three of these chains are .050 gauge across both pitches, while the FUNKYWOO .325 is .063 gauge. The listings warn that gauge changed by model year on some Stihl saws: the KAKEI .325 listing notes that 2022 and older MS271 saws may have .063-inch gauge bars, and the FUNKYWOO listing notes that 2022 and newer MS250 saws may have .050-inch gauge bars. Both tell you to verify the bar before ordering. Gauge mismatch means the chain either will not seat or will wobble in the groove, so verify the groove measurement rather than going by the saw model.
Drive links and bar length
Drive link count must match the bar: 84 links on the KAKEI 24-inch 3/8, 70 on the KAKEI 20-inch 3/8, 81 on the KAKEI 20-inch .325, and 68 on the FUNKYWOO 18-inch .325. Note that two 20-inch chains here take different link counts, 70 and 81, because pitch changes the count: the same bar length needs more links in the smaller pitch. Never assume the link count from the bar length alone; read the stamp.
Full chisel and the kickback warning
All four chains are full chisel, the square-cornered cutter profile, and all four carry the maker’s kickback warning: the chain may kick back and cause serious injury, and the listings say not to use it without experience and specialized training in handling kickback. The KAKEI listings describe German steel with hardened and quenched rivets and Japanese chrome-plated cutters; the FUNKYWOO describes a heat-treated chain with an industrial hard chrome outer layer and hardened rivets. Treat those as the makers’ material claims. The KAKEI chains ship with protective oil against corrosion.
Four examples
How we scored them
Each example is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, using only what the listing publishes. The weights are on our How We Pick page.
| Product | Woodlot Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kakei 24 in 3/8 | 9.6 | 29 | 21 | 21 | n/a | 0 |
| Kakei 20 in .325 | 9.6 | 29 | 21 | 20 | n/a | 0 |
| Kakei 20 in 3/8 | 9.6 | 28 | 21 | 20 | n/a | 0 |
| Funkywoo 18 in .325 | 9.6 | 28 | 20 | 20 | n/a | 0 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Safety counts only for powered gear or where the listing states safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.
Wear eye protection and gloves for cutting, splitting and handling, follow every tool's manual, install stoves to code, and have the chimney inspected and cleaned every year. See EPA Burn Wise and NFPA heating safety. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
Chainsaw work demands full protective gear: chaps, a helmet with face screen and hearing protection, gloves and boots. All four chains carry the maker’s kickback warning and call for experience and specialized training. Never cut alone.
Around the Woodpile
- Match all four numbers. Pitch, gauge, length and drive links must match your bar: check the owner’s manual or the bar’s stamp, as the KAKEI listings direct.
- Watch the gauge on Stihl saws. The listings flag model-year gauge changes on the MS271 and MS250: verify whether your bar is .050 or .063 before ordering.
- Store chains oiled. The KAKEI chains ship with protective oil against corrosion; keep spare chains oiled and off damp surfaces.
- Respect the kickback warning. Every listing here warns the chain can kick back and asks for experience and specialized training; a fresh chain is sharper, not safer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a 3/8-inch chain on a .325-inch bar?
No. Pitch must match the bar and sprocket, and the listings give no workaround: check the owner’s manual or the bar stamp for the pitch, gauge, length and drive link count, then buy exactly that.
What gauge chainsaw chain do I need?
Whatever your bar’s groove takes. Three examples here are .050 gauge and one, the FUNKYWOO .325, is .063 gauge. The listings warn that some Stihl models changed gauge by model year, so verify the bar rather than going by the saw model alone.
How do I know how many drive links I need?
Read the bar stamp or the owner’s manual. The examples here run 84 links on a 24-inch 3/8 chain, 70 and 81 links on two different 20-inch chains, and 68 links on an 18-inch .325 chain, so length alone does not determine the count.
Are these full chisel chains?
Yes, all four are listed as full chisel. All four also carry the maker’s kickback warning and call for experience and specialized training in handling kickback.
Will the KAKEI .325 chain fit my Stihl MS271?
The listing names the MS271, MS291 and MS261 with post-2023 .050-inch gauge bars, and warns that 2022 and older MS271 saws may have .063-inch gauge bars. Check your bar’s gauge first.
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