Best Chainsaw for Firewood: 5 Gas Saws for Cutting Cords
Five gas chainsaws for firewood compared by engine size, bar length, weight, chain brake and warranty, from 50 cc saws to a 60 cc farm and ranch model.
By FirewoodGearHQ Editorial
Updated October 5, 2026
Cutting your own firewood means bucking a lot of rounds, often from storm-downed or felled hardwood, and the saw that does it well is a different machine from a light pruning saw. This guide compares five gas chainsaws for firewood by the numbers that matter for that job: engine displacement, bar length, weight, chain brake and warranty, from 50 cc homeowner-plus saws to a 60 cc farm and ranch saw and two big-displacement budget options.
FirewoodGearHQ earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Quick picks
- Best Overall Husqvarna 460 Rancher: 60.3 cc farm and ranch saw with a 24 in bar and a stated 2 year warranty. Check price
- Best 20 in All-Rounder Husqvarna 455 Rancher: 55.5 cc on a 20 in bar with an inertia chain brake and automatic oiler. Check price
- Best Self-Tuning Husqvarna 450X Rancher: 50.2 cc with AutoTune and a reworked easy-start system. Check price
- Best for Big Rounds on a Budget NEO-TEC 68cc: 68 cc with 22 and 24 in bars in the box; not for California. Check price
Compare the picks
| Model | Woodlot Score | Bar | Engine | Weight (listed) | Chain brake | Warranty (stated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husqvarna 460 Rancher | 76 | 24 in | 60.3 cc, 3.6 HP | 13.2 lb | Inertia activated | 2 years |
| Husqvarna 455 Rancher | 67 | 20 in | 55.5 cc | 15.5 lb | Inertia activated | Not stated |
| Husqvarna 450X Rancher | 61 | 20 in | 50.2 cc, 3.4 HP | 14.9 lb | Not described | Not stated |
| NEO-TEC 68cc | 62 | 22 and 24 in | 68 cc, 4.5 HP | 24 lb | Quick-stop | Not stated |
| Baococo 62cc | 58 | 20 and 24 in | 62 cc, 3.5 HP | 16.6 lb | Anti-kickback | Not stated |
Specifications are manufacturer rated, collected 5 October 2026. Weights are as listed and may or may not include the bar and chain. Only one of these listings states a warranty term.
The picks
| Award | Product | Woodlot Score About the HQ ScoreThe Woodlot Score runs from 0 to 100 and weighs rated performance, build, value, safety listing and warranty, using only what the manufacturer and the listing publish. How we pick › | |
|---|---|---|---|
Husqvarna 460 Rancher Gas Powered Chainsaw
|
76/100 | Buy | |
Husqvarna 965030298 455 Rancher 20-Inch 55-1/2cc
|
67/100 | Buy | |
NEW 68CC Gas Powered Chainsaw 22 24 Inch Bars
|
62/100 | Buy | |
Husqvarna 450X Rancher Gas Chainsaw
|
61/100 | Buy | |
62cc 20 & 24 Inch Gas Chainsaw for Tree Cutting
|
58/100 | Buy |
Husqvarna 460 Rancher Gas Powered Chainsaw
A 60.3 cc, 3.6 HP farm and ranch gas chainsaw with a 24 in bar, Smart Start, LowVib and an inertia-activated chain brake.
Pros
- 60.3 cc X-Torq engine, the most displacement among the name brands here
- 24 in bar; listing recommends 13 to 24 in bars
- Inertia-activated chain brake and LowVib dampening
- 2 year manufacturer warranty in the listing table
Cons
- Heaviest-duty saw here, more than a cord-a-year user needs
- Bar and chain oil not mentioned as included
- Long bar takes more care to control
- Premium end of the range
Husqvarna 965030298 455 Rancher 20-Inch 55-1/2cc
A 55.5 cc gas chainsaw with a 20 in bar and chain, inertia-activated chain brake, automatic oiler and side-mounted chain tensioning.
Pros
- 55.5 cc on a 20 in bar, a classic firewood size
- Inertia-activated chain brake
- Automatic oiler and side-mounted tensioner
- Bar cover and premix fuel included
Cons
- Bar and chain oil sold separately
- No warranty term stated on this listing
- 15.5 lb listed weight
- Older listing; a newer 455 Rancher listing also exists
NEW 68CC Gas Powered Chainsaw 22 24 Inch Bars
A 68 cc, 4.5 HP gas chainsaw sold with both 22 in and 24 in bars, a quick-stop chain brake, tool-free tensioning and a starter kit.
Pros
- 68 cc and 4.5 HP, the largest engine here
- Both 22 in and 24 in bars included
- Chain brake, anti-vibration, tool-free tensioner
- Comes with oils, mixing bottle, gloves and tools
Cons
- Not CARB certified; cannot ship to California
- 25:1 fuel mix, unlike the 50:1 most brands use
- 24 lb listed weight
- No warranty term; support contact only
Husqvarna 450X Rancher Gas Chainsaw
A 50.2 cc, 3.4 HP gas chainsaw with a 20 in bar, AutoTune engine adjustment, an improved starting procedure and LowVib dampeners.
Pros
- AutoTune adjusts engine settings automatically
- Brand claims 40% easier starting
- LowVib dampeners
- 20 in chain length
Cons
- Listing comparison table shows another model's 40.9 cc and 16 in figures
- No warranty term stated
- Few ratings so far
- Chain brake not described on this listing
62cc 20 & 24 Inch Gas Chainsaw for Tree Cutting
A 62 cc, 3.5 HP gas chainsaw sold with 20 in and 24 in bars, with an anti-kickback chain brake, tool-free tensioning and an EPA Phase III and CARB compliance claim.
Pros
- Claims EPA Phase III and CARB compliant engine
- Anti-kickback chain brake stated
- Tool-free chain tensioning
- Two bar lengths in the title
Cons
- Very short listing with few details
- No warranty term stated
- Few ratings so far
- An identical listing exists under another brand name
How we scored them
Each saw is scored out of 100 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. | Build | Value | Safety | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Husqvarna 460 Rancher | 76 | 27 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 9 |
| Husqvarna 455 Rancher | 67 | 25 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 0 |
| NEO-TEC 68cc | 62 | 24 | 13 | 17 | 8 | 0 |
| Husqvarna 450X Rancher | 61 | 23 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 0 |
| Baococo 62cc | 58 | 21 | 12 | 17 | 8 | 0 |
Buying guide: choosing a chainsaw for firewood
Bar length: match it to your rounds
For bucking firewood, a bar a few inches longer than the diameter of most of your wood is comfortable. An 18 to 20 in bar covers most firewood in the East and Midwest. A 24 in bar earns its place if you regularly cut big storm-downed trunks, but it is heavier at the tip and takes more care to control. Many owners buy a mid-length bar for daily work and keep a longer one for the occasional giant.
Engine size and saw class
Roughly, 35 to 45 cc saws are homeowner class for limbs and small wood, 45 to 60 cc saws are the farm and ranch class that most people cutting several cords a year end up with, and larger engines are for big timber. More displacement pulls a longer bar and a sharp chain through hardwood without bogging, at the cost of weight and fuel.
Weight and vibration
You will hold the saw for hours. Compare listed weights carefully, since some include the bar and chain and some do not, and look for anti-vibration mounts.
Safety features
Look for a chain brake (inertia-activated is better, because it trips on kickback even if your hand stays on the handle), a chain catcher, a throttle lockout and a low-kickback chain. These reduce risk; they do not replace chaps, a helmet with face screen and hearing protection, and gloves.
Emissions and California
Some budget saws are not CARB certified and cannot ship to California. Check the listing if you live there.
Gas or battery?
If you cut a cord or less of smaller wood near the house, a battery saw is quieter and needs no fuel mixing. See our best battery chainsaws for homeowners. On a budget, see the best chainsaws under $300.
Plan how much wood you need before you start cutting: the firewood cord calculator estimates cords per winter from your home and wood species.
Turn a stack's length, height and depth into full and face cords, and estimate how much wood a winter takes.
Wear cut-resistant chaps, a helmet with face screen and hearing protection, gloves and sturdy boots. Know where the kickback zone is (the upper tip of the bar), keep the chain brake working and the chain sharp, and never cut alone in the woods. Felling trees is hazardous work: hire a professional for large, leaning or storm-damaged trees, especially near buildings or power lines. See OSHA logging safety for chain saw operators. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size chainsaw do I need for firewood?
For most firewood, a 45 to 60 cc gas saw with an 18 to 20 in bar is the sweet spot. Go bigger only if you regularly cut trunks over about 20 in across.
Is a 20 inch chainsaw big enough for firewood?
Yes for most people. A 20 in bar handles the large majority of firewood rounds, and it is easier to control than a 24 in bar.
Is a 24 inch bar too long for a homeowner?
It can be. A long bar adds weight at the tip and makes the kickback zone harder to keep track of. Choose it if you have big wood to cut, and be ready to run a shorter bar most of the time.
Do I need a farm and ranch saw?
If you cut several cords of hardwood a year or clean up after storms, a 50 to 60 cc farm and ranch saw saves time. For a cord or less of smaller wood, a lighter homeowner saw or a battery saw is enough.
Should I hire someone to fell trees?
For large, leaning or storm-damaged trees, especially near buildings or power lines, yes. Felling is the most dangerous part of firewood work, and we do not publish felling instructions.
Related guides
See the chainsaw hub and gas chainsaws, then split what you cut with the best log splitters for home use or the best splitting mauls. Sizing a splitter? Read how many tons of log splitter you need. Our species guides cover hard-cutting woods like hickory and oak.
About the author
The FirewoodGearHQ editorial team researches firewood and wood heating equipment from published specifications, ratings and warranty terms, and scores every pick the same way. We do not run our own product trials.