Low Profile vs Standard Chainsaw Chain: Which One Should You Buy?

Low profile vs standard chainsaw chain: side by side

Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 20 October 2026. Figures from one listing describe that listing only.

What low profile means on these listings

Both low profile examples state 3/8 inch low profile pitch and .050 inch gauge. The SawWorks is a 20 inch chain with 69 drive links and semi-chisel cutters, and the Morocca is a 16 inch chain with 57 drive links, sold as a 2-pack. The listings call both chains low profile; what they state clearly is the fit check: the SawWorks listing tells you to check your owner’s manual or the guide bar side stamp for pitch, gauge, length and drive link number before buying. If those four do not match your bar, the chain does not fit, whatever brand is on the box.

The SawWorks listing also states kickback performance: it met the kickback performance requirements of ANSI B175.1-2012 and the low kickback requirements of CSA Standard Z62.3. That is a stated rating for that chain, not a claim about low profile chains in general. The Morocca listing states no kickback rating, so the guide does not credit it one. The maker lists Japanese chrome-plated cutters and German steel on the SawWorks, with hardened rivets, and the listing frames that as wear resistance and longer time between sharpenings; the Morocca listing makes no material claims beyond the basic specs.

Pitch, gauge, length and drive links: matching the bar

A chain has to agree with the bar on four specs. Pitch is the spacing: both examples state 3/8 inch low profile. Gauge is the drive link thickness that rides in the bar groove: both state .050 inch. Length is the bar the loop is made for: 20 inches on the SawWorks, 16 inches on the Morocca. Drive link count sets the loop length for the bar: 69 for the 20 inch SawWorks, 57 for the 16 inch Morocca. Buy the count your bar takes, because a 69-link loop will not fit a 16 inch bar and a 57-link loop will not fit a 20 inch bar.

Fit lists name specific saws. The SawWorks states compatibility with EGO AC2005, CS2000 and CS2005, plus other matching specifications. The Morocca states fit for the Portland Harbor Freight Bauer 57622 and the Bauer 20112E-B, 14.5 amp electric chainsaw. Those lists are the only saws either listing claims; anything else is a guess, and the SawWorks listing itself points you at the bar stamp to be sure.

The standard side: a sharpening tool, not a chain

The standard side has no chain in these listings. The Oregon 27742 is a depth gauge tool with a 6 inch flat file, stated for sharpening and maintaining all standard chainsaw chains. Its listing says the tool makes accurate, consistent depth gauge settings easy, keeps depth gauge height for optimum cutting performance, and recommends filing depth gauges at least every third time the chain is sharpened. Detailed instructions are stated on the back of the package.

This matters because a standard chain that is sharp but has tall depth gauges still cuts poorly, and the Oregon tool addresses that specific maintenance step. It states 2.4 ounces, one flat file and one depth gauge tool, and the file can be used with or without a handle. The warranty description reads only “Warranty” with no term stated, so the guide treats it as unstated. If you run standard chains and sharpen your own, this is the maintenance half of the comparison; if you want a new chain, the low profile side has the actual chains.

Three examples

How we scored them

Each example is scored on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, using only what the listing publishes. Only the SawWorks states a kickback rating, so it is the only one with a safety score. No listing states a warranty term, so warranty scores at zero across the board.

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.

Around the Woodpile

• Match all four chain specs to the bar stamp: the examples here are 3/8 inch low profile pitch, .050 inch gauge, with 69 drive links on the 20 inch chain and 57 on the 16 inch chain.
• File depth gauges at least every third sharpening, per the Oregon tool’s listing, and follow the package instructions it states.
• Keep the chain that fits your saw on hand before cutting season: the Morocca 2-pack gives a spare loop for the Bauer saws it names.
• Check the fit lists before ordering: EGO AC2005, CS2000 and CS2005 for the SawWorks; Bauer 57622 and 20112E-B for the Morocca.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do 3/8 inch, .050 and 69 drive links mean?

They are the specs that match a chain to a bar, along with bar length. On the SawWorks example: 3/8 inch low profile pitch (the spacing), .050 inch gauge (the drive link thickness), and 69 drive links (the loop length for a 20 inch bar). The Morocca 16 inch example states 57 drive links. All four must match your bar.

Can I put a low profile chain on any bar?

Only if the bar is cut for it. The SawWorks listing tells you to check the owner’s manual or the guide bar side stamp for pitch, gauge, length and drive link number. A 3/8 inch low profile chain does not fit a bar stamped for a different pitch or gauge.

Is the Oregon 27742 a chainsaw chain?

No. It is a depth gauge tool with a 6 inch flat file, stated for sharpening and maintaining all standard chainsaw chains. It is maintenance gear for standard chains, not a replacement chain.

How often should depth gauges be filed?

The Oregon listing recommends filing depth gauges at least every third time the chain is sharpened, and states that detailed instructions are on the back of the package.

Which saws do these low profile chains fit?

The SawWorks names EGO AC2005, CS2000 and CS2005 plus other matching specifications. The Morocca names the Portland Harbor Freight Bauer 57622 and the Bauer 20112E-B 14.5 amp electric chainsaw. Confirm against your bar stamp before ordering.

Related guides

See our pitch comparison guides, best 16 inch chainsaw chain, best 20 inch chainsaw chain and best chainsaw sharpener.