Ego 18 Inch Chainsaw vs Stihl: Which One Should You Buy?

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Ego 18 Inch Chainsaw vs Stihl: The Quick Answer

Choose the EGO 18 inch if you cut near home, want no fuel to mix, and like the listing’s promise of up to 220 cuts on a 4×4 per charge with the included 4.0Ah battery. Choose a Stihl gas saw if you cut far from power or run long sessions, and you are set up for fuel, bar oil and engine care. Either way, match the bar to the wood: an 18 inch bar suits firewood rounds rather than big trunks.

What the EGO 18 Inch Listing States

The listing for the EGO Power+ CS1803 describes an 18 inch battery chainsaw on the 56V ARC Lithium platform, with a 4.0Ah battery and standard charger included. The maker claims power equivalent to a 45cc gas chainsaw, with up to 11,000 RPM, up to 220 cuts on a 4×4 per charge, and a 3/8 inch pitch, 0.050 inch gauge chain with 69 drive links. Listed weight is 22.2 pounds, listed power is 3.5 horsepower, and the saw has an LED work light, tool-free chain tensioning and IPX4 rated weather resistance.

For reference, the same brand’s 16 inch CS1610 listing claims a 40cc gas equivalent, chain speeds up to 20 m/s, up to 130 cuts on a 4×4 with a recommended 2.5Ah battery (sold separately), and a 3/8 inch pitch, 0.043 inch gauge chain with 56 drive links, at 9 pounds and 2.3 horsepower. The step from 16 to 18 inches brings a longer bar, a heavier saw and more cuts per charge on the larger battery.

Battery vs Gas: How to Think About It

Battery saws trade fuel for batteries. You charge instead of mixing fuel, the saw starts with a pull of the trigger, and there is no exhaust in your face while you cut. The limit is the battery: when it runs down, you wait for a recharge or swap in a spare, and cold weather shortens run time. For an afternoon of bucking rounds near the house, that trade is easy to live with.

Gas saws trade quiet for stamina. A tank refill takes a short break and you are cutting again, which matters on long cutting days away from power. The price is fuel mixing, more noise, more vibration and regular engine care: air filter, spark plug and fuel system. If your woodlot is a drive from the nearest outlet, that stamina is hard to beat.

Weight is worth a look on the listing before you buy. The EGO 18 inch lists 22.2 pounds, against 9 pounds for the 16 inch model from the same brand. A heavier saw tires your arms faster, especially overhead or at arm’s length, so handle the weight class honestly against the wood you cut.

Chain and Bar: What Fits an 18 Inch Saw

An 18 inch bar takes an 18 inch chain, and the chain must match the bar’s pitch, gauge and drive link count. The EGO 18 inch listing states a 3/8 inch pitch, 0.050 inch gauge and 69 drive links. Buy the chain by those figures, not by bar length alone, or it will not seat on the bar.

Keep the chain sharp no matter the brand. A dull chain makes dust instead of chips and tempts you to push, which is when kickback gets dangerous. Learn chain file sizes, compare chain gauges, and keep the best chainsaw sharpener in the kit.

Upkeep: Battery vs Gas

A battery saw still needs a sharp chain and bar oil like any chainsaw; the battery only replaces the engine. See chainsaw oil for battery chainsaws for what to run. Store batteries charged and dry, and keep a spare on the charger during big cutting days.

A gas saw adds fuel mixing, an air filter to clean, a spark plug to check and fuel to stabilize before storage. Both types need the chain tension checked and the bar groove kept clean. Upkeep is simpler on battery, but neither saw is maintenance free.

Safety Gear Before the First Cut

Chainsaws demand full protective gear every time: chainsaw chaps, a helmet with face screen and hearing protection, gloves and boots. Kickback is the main hazard, so keep a firm grip, watch the bar tip and never cut alone. Leave tree felling to certified pros. See the chainsaws hub for more cutting guides.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size chain do I need for an 18 inch EGO chainsaw?

The EGO 18 inch listing states a 3/8 inch pitch, 0.050 inch gauge chain with 69 drive links. Match all of those figures when you buy a replacement chain. Bar length alone is not enough, since the wrong pitch or gauge will not fit.

How long is an 18 inch chainsaw chain?

The chain is sized to the bar: an 18 inch bar takes a chain made for 18 inches, with the right pitch, gauge and drive link count. For the EGO 18 inch that means 69 drive links at 3/8 inch pitch. Count the drive links on your old chain if the listing is no longer handy.

How long is an 18 inch chainsaw bar?

18 inches, measured as the cutting length the maker lists. The EGO listing gives chain length as 18 inches. Bar length sets the size of wood the saw handles comfortably; it is not the length of the whole saw.

How much is an 18 inch chainsaw chain?

Chain prices move with the market, so check the current listing. What sets the price is the length, pitch and gauge: an 18 inch, 3/8 inch pitch, 0.050 inch gauge chain with 69 drive links. Buying the wrong size costs more than buying right once.

Can a battery chainsaw cut firewood all day?

It depends on the wood and the batteries. The EGO 18 inch listing promises up to 220 cuts on a 4×4 per charge with the 4.0Ah battery; real cutting through hardwood rounds will land below a maker figure. Carry a spare battery and keep the chain sharp. For cutting far from an outlet all day, a gas saw refuels faster than batteries recharge.

EGO vs Stihl: which brand is better?

Neither brand wins on paper alone. The EGO 18 inch listing gives concrete figures: 56V, 4.0Ah, 45cc gas equivalent and up to 11,000 RPM. No Stihl listing figures are given here, so compare a specific Stihl model’s listed bar length, engine size and weight against those before you decide. Also see battery chainsaw DeWalt vs Milwaukee for another brand comparison.

Related guides

Start with the chainsaws hub and the chainsaw types guide, then see the best chainsaw for firewood if you are choosing a saw. Keep the chain sharp with the best chainsaw sharpener and learn chain file sizes.