Corded vs Cordless Chainsaw: Which One Should You Buy?

Side by side

Example figures are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 19 October 2026. A figure from one listing describes that listing only.

Corded vs cordless chainsaw: power and bar length

Corded saws bring the bigger bars in this sample: the WEN is an 18-inch saw on a 15-amp motor with a stated chain speed of 41 feet per second, and the SENIX is a 16-inch saw on a 12-amp motor the spec table rates at 3.5 hp. The cordless side answers with voltage instead of amps: the Greenworks is a 16-inch saw on a 60V pack with a 2.0kW brushless motor and a stated 66 ft/s chain speed, and the DOOYUTOOL is a 10-inch handheld on a 20V MAX pack with a 1000W brushless motor. For bucking firewood rounds, the 16 and 18-inch bars do the real work; the 10-inch cordless is a limbing and pruning tool that happens to cut firewood too. See our best chainsaw for firewood picks for the full-size picture.

Runtime: the cord and the battery

This is the whole argument. The SENIX listing states it outright: plug into any standard 120-volt outlet and the saw runs without stopping for a charge, which is why corded saws own storm cleanup and long cutting days near the house. The cordless listings answer with amp-hours: the Greenworks ships a 2.5Ah battery and charger, and the DOOYUTOOL ships a 4.0Ah battery and charger, with a real-time battery indicator on the saw. A bigger pack means more cuts per charge, and a second pack on the charger means the saw never truly stops. If your woodlot is a five-minute walk from the nearest outlet, the battery math is the whole decision.

Weight and handling

Cordless is not automatically lighter here. The SENIX corded lists 13 lb, the DOOYUTOOL cordless lists 4 lb, and the Greenworks listing contradicts itself: the bullets say 12.5 lb while the spec table says 6.4 lb. The bullets win that argument per the listing’s own emphasis, so read it as a 12.5 lb saw. The WEN listing states no weight. For overhead limbing the 4 lb DOOYUTOOL is the easy pick; for bucking on the ground, weight matters less than bar length and power. Both corded listings and both cordless listings state automatic or self-oiling, so chain oil is one less thing to argue about; see our chainsaw oil picks.

Four examples

How we scored them

Each example is scored out of 10 on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, using only what the listing publishes. The weights are on our How We Pick page. The corded examples score on safety for their stated kickback brakes, and the SENIX scores on warranty for its stated 3-year term; the cordless examples state neither a safety certification nor, in the Greenworks case, any warranty term, so they score nothing there. A spec the listing does not publish scores nothing, and a figure from one listing describes that listing only.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a cordless chainsaw cut firewood?

Yes, within its bar length. The 16-inch Greenworks is aimed squarely at firewood cutting, limbing and storm cleanup. The 10-inch DOOYUTOOL handles limbs and small rounds. Neither replaces a big gas saw for felling, but for processing downed wood they do the job.

Is corded or cordless better for storm cleanup?

Corded, if the power is on and the work is near the house: unlimited runtime and full power. If the storm took the power with it, corded is a paperweight and cordless is the only electric option. Keep a charged spare pack either way.

How long does a cordless chainsaw battery last?

It depends on the pack and the wood. The Greenworks ships a 2.5Ah pack and the DOOYUTOOL a 4.0Ah pack; bigger amp-hours mean more cuts. Hardwood rounds drain a pack far faster than softwood limbs. A second battery on the charger is the practical answer.

Do I need bar oil for an electric chainsaw?

Yes. Electric does not change the chain’s needs: all four listings here state automatic or self-oiling systems, and you still keep the reservoir filled. A dry chain dulls fast and wears the bar.

Corded vs cordless for a first chainsaw?

Corded if you cut near an outlet: simpler, no battery to buy or maintain, and the SENIX example carries a stated warranty. Cordless if the wood is far from power. Either way, read our what chainsaw chain do I need guide before you buy a spare chain.

Are battery chainsaws as powerful as corded?

Close enough for most homeowner work now. The Greenworks lists a 2.0kW brushless motor at 66 ft/s against the WEN’s 15-amp motor at 41 ft/s. The gap that remains is runtime, not power: the cord never runs out.

Related: the gas vs battery chainsaw comparison, corded electric vs battery chainsaw, the DeWalt vs Milwaukee battery chainsaw rundown and our battery chainsaws for homeowners picks.