40cc vs 60cc Chainsaw: Which One Should You Buy?

The 40cc vs 60cc chainsaw question comes down to the size of the wood you cut most. A 40cc-class saw handles limbing, pruning and cutting small firewood rounds, while a 60cc-class saw keeps its pace when the rounds get big and the work gets long. If most of your wood is modest stove wood, the smaller saw is enough; if you fell and buck big trees, the 60cc earns its keep.

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The quick answer

Buy the 40cc-class saw when your cutting is mostly branches, tops and small rounds for the stove. Buy the 60cc-class saw when you regularly cut large rounds or fell trees, because the extra displacement pulls a longer bar through big wood without bogging down. Either way, match the bar to the wood and wear full protective gear on every cut.

What each size does best

The 40cc class

The 40cc class is the limbing and pruning saw. It is light to carry, easy to maneuver in a brush pile, and plenty for cutting stove wood from small rounds. The Husqvarna 450 Rancher below sits just above this class at 50.2cc per its title, which makes it a good example of the smaller end: enough engine for firewood cutting and yard cleanups without the weight of a big felling saw.

The 60cc class

The 60cc class is the working firewood saw. The three 60cc-class listings here, PINKWAY at 63CC and 3.5hp, JPNTECH at 60cc and 3.5 hp, and TECHMOO at 62CC and 3.4HP, all pair their engines with 18 to 20 inch bars and automatic oilers. That combination suits bucking larger rounds and felling, the jobs where a small saw would struggle. The tradeoff is weight: the JPNTECH lists 17.3 pounds and the TECHMOO 15.5 pounds, so a full day with one is real work.

Match the bar to the wood

Bar length decides what you can cut in one pass. The PINKWAY and JPNTECH listings both state 20 inch bars, the Husqvarna title states 20 inches with a recommended range of 13 to 20 inches in the bullets, and the TECHMOO bullets state an 18-inch bar while its title and spec table say 20 inches. A longer bar reaches through bigger rounds but adds weight and needs more engine behind it, which is exactly why the 60cc saws pair with the longer bars. Check the shipped bar length before you buy, since the TECHMOO listing disagrees with itself on this point.

40cc vs 60cc chainsaw: the four saws, ranked

We scored the four listings by stated engine, build, value, safety features and warranty. Here they are in ranking order, with what each listing actually states.

1. PINKWAY 63CC Chainsaw

The PINKWAY lists a 63CC 2-cycle gasoline engine rated at 3.5hp, a 20 inch steel bar with a low-kickback chain, and up to 8500 rpm. The bullets add an anti-vibration, non-slip handle, an automatic chain oiler, an air cleaning system the maker says cuts fuel consumption by 20 percent, and a safety device against accidental switch-on. The spec table gives a 7.8 kg weight and a 2 Year Manufacturer warranty. Strengths: the biggest stated engine here, a consistent listing, and a stated warranty. Weaknesses: no chain brake is named, and the weight has no pound figure for easy comparison.

2. Husqvarna 450 Rancher

Husqvarna’s title and bullets describe a 50.2cc, 3.2HP X-Torq engine with a 20 inch bar, Smart Start, LowVib anti-vibration, a centrifugal air cleaning system and an inertia-activated chain brake, recommended for 13 to 20 inch bars, with a 2 years manufacturer warranty. The catch: the spec table says 40.9cc, 2.2HP and a 16 inch bar, and lists the weight as both 9.78 and 11.3 pounds. The title and bullets win that argument, but the mismatch costs this saw the top spot.

3. TECHMOO 62CC Chainsaw

The TECHMOO lists a 62CC engine rated at 3.4HP, a fast-stop chain brake, a safety switch against accidental starts, electronic ignition, up to 8500 rpm, an automatic oil supply and a 1-Year Warranty with e-mail support, at 15.5 pounds. The snag: the bullets say an 18-inch bar while the title and spec table say 20 inches, and the listing notes oil can drip from the clutch after use.

4. JPNTECH 60CC Chainsaw

The JPNTECH lists a 60cc engine rated at 3.5 hp with a 20 inch bar and chain, an inertia-activated chain brake, dual throttle switches that must be pressed together to start, an automatic lubricating system and an anti-vibration handle, at 17.3 pounds. The listing states no warranty term, and its chain speed figure is printed as 8500 pm/min, an unclear unit.

Safety gear is not optional

Every saw here is a gas-powered cutting tool, and the listings name chain brakes, low-kickback chains and starter safety devices, not full protection. Wear chainsaw chaps, a helmet with a face screen and hearing protection, gloves and boots on every cut, stay aware of kickback, and never cut alone. See our chainsaw chaps for summer guide if heat keeps you from suiting up. For bigger felling work or anything near structures and power lines, bring in a certified professional rather than figuring it out as you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 40cc chainsaw enough for firewood?

For limbing, pruning and small rounds, yes. The 40cc class is built for exactly that work. When the rounds get large enough to need a 20 inch bar buried in wood, the 60cc class earns its place.

What does the chain brake do?

It stops the chain quickly. The Husqvarna and JPNTECH listings name an inertia-activated chain brake that engages on kickback, and the TECHMOO names a fast-stop chain brake. The PINKWAY instead lists a low-kickback chain and a safety device against accidental switch-on.

Should I trust the title or the spec table when they disagree?

Trust the title and bullets over the spec table. The Husqvarna title and bullets agree on 50.2cc, 3.2HP and a 20 inch bar while its spec table says 40.9cc, 2.2HP and 16 inches, and the TECHMOO bullets say an 18-inch bar while its title says 20 inches. When a listing disagrees with itself, confirm with the seller before ordering.

Do these saws come with a warranty?

Three of the four state one. PINKWAY lists a 2 Year Manufacturer warranty, Husqvarna lists 2 years, and TECHMOO lists a 1-Year Warranty with e-mail support. The JPNTECH listing states no warranty term.

Which of these saws is the most powerful on paper?

The PINKWAY and JPNTECH both claim 3.5hp, the TECHMOO claims 3.4HP, and the Husqvarna claims 3.2HP in its title. Horsepower figures are the makers’ claims; displacement runs 50.2cc to 63CC across the four.

Related guides

Also see our best chainsaw for green wood and chainsaw bar cover guides.