The Best Professional Chainsaw In 2021

Our Take

With an impressive combination of power, innovative features, and affordability, Husqvarna’s 455 Rancher is our clear best overall choice. With decades of experience making great outdoor tools – and chainsaws in particular – Husqvarna has continued to build on their reputation as the professional’s choice. Let’s take a look at this impressive professional chainsaw in more detail.

Equipped with a 55cc 3.5hp two-cycle motor, this saw isn’t short on power. Sure, it’s not the most powerful chainsaw around, but with power comes additional weight, so a balance needs to be struck. The engine features a number of Husqvarna’s latest technologies – including their X-Torq design which brings the saw in line with emissions standards.

Ease of use has been considered throughout the design – with the 455’s choke and engine stop lever combined into one to help avoid over choking. This theme continues with the easily accessible chain tensioners on the side and the easily removable air filter for quick cleaning. Chain oil distribution is automatic and adjustable, so you can tweak it to your cutting conditions.

You can choose different bar options for this saw – and we believe the 20-inch provides a nice balance. You have plenty of bar width to work with for all but the largest trees, and yet not so much that the saw becomes unwieldy for general cutting work. Weighing in at 13.2lbs this isn’t the lightest saw – but it is in line with the market broadly.

With hundreds of glowing buyers reviews and expert opinions online – it’s hard to find a better professional chainsaw than the 455 Rancher – you won’t be disappointed.

Our Take

When it comes to all-out performance, the Makita EA6100PRGG is tough to match. When you think of high-performance chainsaws you typically think of the Scandinavian brands, but Makita and slowly and steadily established themselves as a compelling alternative. With a good presence in online stores, Makita is well-positioned to take leaps forward in the years to come.

The magic of this saw lies in the outstanding power to weight ratio – with a 61cc 4.6hp engine packed into a 13.2lb machine with a 20” bar. Impressive numbers, that give it real credentials as a true professional chainsaw. Makita’s spring-assisted starter makes the saw easy to fire up, and they have opted for a very durable heavy-duty cartridge-style air filter for long term reliability. Clearly, choices that didn’t negatively impact the power or weight of the saw!

Much of the weight saving actually comes from a magnesium housing, which has enabled Makita to keep frame weight down and add power to the saw. Manufactured in Germany – this level of attention to detail is apparent throughout the design, with impressive details everywhere.

All of the basic features you’d expect to find on a professional chainsaw are included – with chain tensioning found on the right-hand side of the saw. Cleaning is easy with a spacious and well-designed chain compartment causing limited wood chip build-up. 

Although not the cheapest saw in this test, the glowing reviews and impressive stats clearly show this saw is a powerhouse. If you’re faced with demanding jobs and need a powerful and reliable tool – the Makita EA6100PRGG is a great companion.

Our Take

For the more value-conscious buyer – the Huyosen 20” 54.6cc offering represents a very compelling package. While it doesn’t quite have the swagger of a Makita, Stihl or Husqvarna, this is nonetheless a powerful package at a very respectable price point. If you are a commercial buyer, we do always recommend investing in a tool, but for the less demanding residential buyer, a more affordable option is definitely appealing.

Fitted with a 54.6cc gas powered 2-stroke cycle engine, the Huyosen has enough power on tap to take on large logs. The 20” bar is fitted with a safety switch to prevent accidents, which is a useful addition. It can be removed if required but forms some added protection in case the saw kicks back at you. 

At 19.96lbs, this chainsaw should be a managable design for most people.

Although perhaps not a superstar – this is a decent chainsaw at an appealing price. Buyers will have the confidence to take on large jobs without worrying if the saw will let them down.

Our Take

Although not widely available online, no professional chainsaw review would be credible without an offering from Stihl. Annoying, the company has opted to stay away from most online retailers, so you’ll need to locate a local dealer in order to track one down. Nevertheless, the MS 261 C-M is an incredibly impressive professional chainsaw from one of the most famous manufacturers in the industry.

In this, the C-M version of their popular MS 261 chainsaw, we gain the addition of the Stihl’s proprietary M-tronic engine management system. This clever computer technology is designed to tune the engine for optimal performance in a wide range of conditions. These included everything from altitude and humidity to the cleanliness of the air filter and fuel quality.

All that technology creates a powerful, reliable, and all-round impressive power plant in this chainsaw. The 50cc motor develops 4hp, which is right at the top end of saws in this size category. Stihl has also included a number of less technological innovations in this saw, including their Air separation air filter system, which helps to remove particles using centrifugal force before they enter the main filter system. This helps to cut down on maintenance and filter changes.

Thanks to Stihl’s decompression valve, this saw is very easy to start and also complies with all the emissions standards throughout the US. As you would expect from such a well-established company, the vibration damping is very effective too – making this saw an all-round delight to use. You can purchase it with a range of bar sizes – from 16” to 20” – and all are Stihl’s own proprietary and well-respected design.

The Stihl MS 261 C-M is a hugely impressive saw all round – and a clear challenger for the top performer in this review. Nevertheless, we did feel that a lack of online availability will annoy many buyers.

Our Take

Another offering from Husqvarna – the 460 Rancher is the bigger brother of the 455 Rancher we discussed earlier in the review. Equipped with a larger motor and cutting bar this machine is definitely aimed at the professional chainsaw market and will help you take on the most demanding applications.

Starting the 460 is easy thanks to the air purge system, which temporarily reduces air in the carburetor to make it easier to start. Interestingly, the large 60cc 2 stroke motor doesn’t produce a whole lot more power than the smaller model, however. That larger capacity does give you a little more torque though – which should help when dealing with hardwoods.

Like the 455, the 460 features all of Husqvarna’s latest engine tech – including a centrifugal air pre-filtration system very similar to Stihl’s design. These systems are very effective at reducing particles entering the main air filter system, and hence improving reliability. In addition, the included X-Torq technology helps to keep the saw in line with emissions guidelines for stress-free commercial use.

This is, however, a large and quite heavy saw. It can accommodate bars from 16” through 24” – but given the relatively heavyweight of 13.2lbs, we imagine it will be best suited to felling large trees. As a result, this saw might be a better choice for demanding buyers who are looking for a specialist felling saw, rather than the all-round performance you’ll find from other professional chainsaws in this review.

In summary, this is an impressive saw from a quality manufacturer. That said, it is bulky, so we consider it a bit of a specialist when compared with other options in this review.

Our Take

Echo has long been very well respected for their chainsaws and brush cutters, and the CS-590 Timber Wolf is no exception. Aimed at farm and ranch use this saw is built to be rugged and durable enough to withstand the most demanding applications.

Fitted with a 59cc engine, the Timber Wolf is equipped with one of the largest motors in the Echo range. The 2-stroke motor features a digital ignition and develops a very respectable 3.89hp. Torque is also plentiful, thanks to the larger engine, and will help buyers looking for a professional chainsaw to get through the toughest hardwoods.

Like the Husqvarna and Stihl machines, the Timber Wolf features an effective decompression valve for easy starting. This helps greatly in getting the machine up and running quickly and is almost essential on modern chainsaws. Like other similar saws, it also features a centrifugal pre-filtration system on the air filter to remove heavy particles before they enter the main system.

An adjustable automatic oiling system helps to maintain the correct level of chain oil under different cutting conditions – helping to prolong chain life. Echo has also kept the process chain adjustment nice and easy, with tensioning adjustments located on the right side of the bar. In terms of weight – this isn’t a light saw – weighing in at 13.3lbs.

Summing up, this is a durable and heavy-duty saw for demanding landowners. While it doesn’t quite have the power to weight ratio of some of the top performers in this test – it’s a solid choice and will serve any potential buyer well.

Our Take

Remington’s chainsaw is another saw pitched at the affordable end of the market and has picked up some praise from owners. Although not well suited to demanding or commercial use – this unit proves that you can pick up a decent saw at a lower price point.

Equipped with a 46cc motor, the Reamington has one of the smallest capacity motors in this test. That said, paired up with a 14 Inch bar there is definitely some cutting power on tap with this machine. You should expect lower torques than the larger motors, however – which will mean the saw won’t work as well in tough hardwood cutting.

The unit is fitted with a spring-assist starter for easy starting – something we like to see on all higher-grade chainsaws these days. Few owners report problems with engine reliability, and you can count on this unit to start when required. It also comes with anti-vibration technology, which is great for the lower price point.

Oiling is taken care of with an automatic oiler with a manual option on it as well – which helps to give the saw a top-up when it is running dry. Tension can be adjusted on the side of the saw using the usual bolt and tool mechanism that is reliable over time. Generally, we much prefer to see a simpler system like this on a gas chainsaw, rather than the tool-free systems which tend to break over time.

To sum up, this is a good option if you are looking for a general-purpose chainsaw for residential yard work. It might not have enough power to be a true professional chainsaw – and if you need to cut dense wood like oak, we recommend looking for a saw with a larger motor.

Our Take

The PR5020 sits at the top of Poulan Pro’s range of chainsaws – their most powerful offering. While they don’t have the same loyal following as Husqvarna or Stihl – they are a popular choice with homeowners for affordable garden power tools.

As a 50cc saw, this is one of the mid-powered saws in this review, and very much aimed at the residential market compared to the large 60cc workhorse chainsaws. The Poulan Pro’s motor takes advantage of many of the technologies we’ve mentioned earlier in this review – such as decompression switches and spring assist starters.

It’s worth noting however that quite a few owners have reported that this saw can be hard to start because it is very easy to flood the motor. Where other brands have taken steps to make this harder to do, it seems to be very easy with the PR5020. Owners have also reported issues with the idle – which frequently causes the saw to cut out unexpectedly. This can be particularly frustrating if you put the saw down for a moment to adjust a log, only to find the motor cuts out.

Engine problems aside, this is a 20” bar chainsaw and is actually quite bulky for a saw of this size. Weighing in at 17lbs it’s the heaviest in the review, but only offers a mid-size bar and a mid-sized motor.

While the price is quite competitive, we’d hesitate before taking the plunge on this machine as there are so many great saws on the market at the moment. A gas chainsaw should be an investment, and you don’t want to be stuck with a machine that could cause problems later down the line.

Our Take

The Blue Max 52cc Gas Chainsaw is another saw positioned at the affordable end of the market – for buyers who still want the power of a larger engine. While Blue Max isn’t the most widely known name, the saws are available at Home Depot so are relatively easy to find.

The motor is always one of the key elements to a good professional chainsaw, and looking down the spec sheet the Blue Max features many of the key elements we expect to see on a saw of this size. There are, however, some tell-tale signs of a cheaper saw: you won’t see the centrifugal air pre-filter on this machine, and it is not CARB compliant. That second point is definitely something for owners to consider with tightening emissions regulations on the horizon in many states.

Owners have reported some issues with this saw, ranging from starting problems to parts breaking. That isn’t a good sign, and given that you could get a better saw from a few bucks more – it is problematic. The most common theme appears to be starting the saw – which is a common problem across cheaper saws. This can occasionally be the result of the owner’s over priming or over choking the saw, but it is cause for concern.

Considering other parts of the saw, it is worth noting that this machine is heavy at 15lbs, and certainly a lot more so that other professional chainsaws with similar motors. That can certainly weigh on your arms during extended use. Blue Max has also experimented with a tool-free chain adjustment system – which you don’t often see on chainsaws of this level. It is however not the most durable system and appears fairly fragile.

All in all – if you are looking to pick up a cheaper gas chainsaw, the Ryobi or Remington is probably your best shot. For very little extra money you can pick up a machine that seems much more reliable. If you are more demanding on your saws – then take a look at the Husqvarna.