Mini Chainsaw vs Full Size Chainsaw: Which One Should You Buy?

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mini chainsaw vs full size chainsaw: the quick answer

Buy the mini chainsaw for pruning, limbing and cutting small branches. The DNLBBO example is a 6 in cordless saw at 2.6 lb with a 21V 2000mAh battery; the maker says it cuts a 6-inch log in 6 seconds and runs 30 to 40 minutes per charge. Buy the full size saw for felling trees and bucking rounds: the listings here run from a 14 in, 11.5 lb battery saw to a 62cc gas saw with 20 and 24 in bars at 18.9 lb. If your woodpile sees both kinds of work, many cutters end up with both: the mini for the ladder and the brush pile, the full size for the trunk.

What the mini chainsaw does well

The mini saw in these listings is the DNLBBO 6 in cordless: a 700W pure copper motor, 19.7 ft/s chain speed and a 2.6 lb body the maker describes as comfortable for extended use. It ships with goggles and anti-cut gloves, which tells you the intended user: someone pruning in the yard, clearing storm branches or trimming in the orchard, not someone dropping trees. A 21V 2000mAh battery gives 30 to 40 minutes of continuous cutting per charge, and the maker sells extra compatible batteries for longer days.

Where it earns its place is overhead and one-position work. At 2.6 lb it goes up the ladder, into the brush pile and along the fence line without tiring the arms. The 6 in bar is sized for branches and small rounds; anything much bigger than that is a job for the full size saw. The maker calls out wood cutting, tree pruning and garden pruning across gardens, farms, orchards and ranches, which matches what the specs suggest: light, quick cuts, close to the house.

What the full size chainsaw does well

The full size saws in these listings cover the real firewood work. The Skil is a 14 in battery saw at 11.5 lb with a 40V 2.5Ah battery, a brushless motor and 3.5 hp; its Auto PWR JUMP charger takes the battery from 0 to 30 percent in 15 minutes. The Husqvarna Power Axe 350i is an 18 in cordless saw at 7.7 lb with 1.9 hp, a 4Ah battery, an X-Cut chain and a boost mode the maker says delivers 25 percent more power at the push of a button. The EGO is an 18 in battery saw at 10.1 lb with a 2500W brushless motor, 22 m/s chain speed and a maker claim of 50cc gas equivalence; with a 56V 6.0Ah battery it is rated for up to 330 cuts on a 4×4, though the battery and charger are not included.

Then there is gas. The DOWILIN is a 62cc 2-cycle gas saw with 20 and 24 in bars, 3.5 hp, anti-vibration and an 18.9 lb body, certified EPA Phase III and CARB compliant. It is the heaviest saw here and the only one that runs without a battery, which is exactly the trade: fuel and mixing in exchange for the longest bars and no charging stops. For felling, bucking big rounds and storm cleanup far from an outlet, the gas saw is still the reference.

Bar length and weight

Bar length decides what you can cut in a pass. The mini saw’s 6 in bar handles branches and small rounds; the full size saws run 14, 18, 20 and 24 in, which is the range for felling and bucking firewood. Note the Husqvarna listing contradicts itself here: the title says 18 in while the spec table lists a 14 in bar length. The title is the maker’s headline figure, so this guide treats it as an 18 in saw, but the disagreement is worth knowing before you buy.

Weight decides how long you can cut. The mini saw is 2.6 lb. The battery full size saws run 7.7 lb for the Husqvarna, 10.1 lb for the EGO and 11.5 lb for the Skil. The gas DOWILIN is 18.9 lb. A full day of bucking with the gas saw is a workout; a morning of pruning with the mini saw is not. Match the weight to the duration of the job, not just the size of the wood.

Battery or gas

Four of the five saws here are battery powered: 21V on the DNLBBO, 40V 2.5Ah on the Skil, a 4Ah pack on the Husqvarna and 56V on the EGO. Battery saws start with a button, run quiet and need no fuel mixing, which suits work near the house. The EGO is sold as a bare tool, so factor in the battery and charger the listing excludes. The Skil kit includes its 2.5Ah battery and charger, and the Husqvarna ships as a kit with battery and charger.

Gas is the DOWILIN alone here: a 62cc 2-cycle engine with quick start technology and a winterized carburetor. Gas saws carry their energy in the tank, so runtime is a fuel can, not a battery swap. They need fuel mixing, more maintenance and hearing protection, and they are not welcome everywhere the battery saws are. For remote cutting and the biggest bars, gas still wins; for everything within extension-cord distance of a charger, battery is simpler. Our corded vs cordless chainsaw guide covers the power source question in more depth.

When to own both

A firewood year has two kinds of cutting. Spring and storm cleanup means branches, tops and limbs: the mini saw’s territory, light and quick. Fall means felling and bucking: the full size saw’s territory, where bar length and power matter. The mini saw cannot replace the full size saw on a 20 in trunk, and the full size saw is overkill for a 3 in branch. If your property gives you both jobs, the pair costs less in effort than either saw does alone. Keep the mini saw charged for the quick jobs and the full size saw fueled or charged for the cutting days.

Safety gear belongs with both. The DNLBBO ships goggles and anti-cut gloves in the box, which is a hint about the minimum: eyes and hands. The full size saws here do not list included protective gear, so plan for it separately. See our best safety glasses for chainsaw use and the chainsaws hub for more on the category.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a mini chainsaw cut firewood?

It can cut small rounds and branches: the DNLBBO maker says it cuts a 6-inch log in 6 seconds. For bucking full-size rounds and splitting stock, you need the bar length of a full size saw.

How long does the mini saw run?

The DNLBBO listing states 30 to 40 minutes of continuous cutting per charge on its 21V 2000mAh battery. Extra compatible batteries are sold separately for longer sessions.

Is the EGO really equivalent to a 50cc gas saw?

That is the maker’s claim: a 2500W brushless motor with 50cc gas equivalence and chain speeds up to 22 m/s. The battery and charger are not included, so the 330 cuts on a 4×4 figure assumes the recommended 56V 6.0Ah pack.

Gas or battery for a full size saw?

The DOWILIN gas saw offers 20 and 24 in bars and 3.5 hp with no batteries to charge, at 18.9 lb and with fuel mixing. The battery saws here run 14 to 18 in at 7.7 to 11.5 lb with quieter, simpler operation. See our 2 stroke vs 4 stroke chainsaw guide for the engine side of the question.

Which is better for a beginner?

The mini saw is the gentler start: 2.6 lb, a 6 in bar and included goggles and gloves. A full size saw demands more respect for kickback and weight, whatever the power source. Our brushless vs brushed chainsaw guide explains one of the motor differences you will see in listings.

Related guides: corded vs cordless chainsaw, brushless vs brushed chainsaw, 2 stroke vs 4 stroke chainsaw, Seesii 8 inch mini chainsaw review, the chainsaws hub, battery chainsaws and gas chainsaws.