Chainsaw Brands – Popular Chainsaw Brands & Chainsaw Manufacturers

Published Categorized as Lumber Journal

Are you thinking of purchasing a new chainsaw? Researching chainsaw brands? Or are simly curious about what is available? Well, this list of chainsaw brands will help you discover the wide array of brands out there.

By all means, the brands listed in this article are not the only ones available, as I’m sure we’ve missed many out from our list. We see it as more of a guide to some of the best chainsaw brands available on the market, including links to their respective products available on Amazon!

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Chainsaw Brands - Popular Chainsaw Brands & Chainsaw Manufacturers

List of Chainsaw Brands

There are so many various chainsaw brands, that it can sometimes be difficult to select the right reputable brand when you’re looking to purchase one. Therefore, here is a chainsaw brands list of some of the most popular chainsaw brands and the most reliable chainsaw brand.

Some reputable brand names and chainsaw manufacturers to look out for include:

  • Black + Decker
  • Blue Max
  • Craftsman
  • DeWalt
  • Earthwise
  • Echo
  • Efco
  • Ego
  • Greenworks
  • Hitachi Koki
  • Homelite
  • Husqvarna
  • Jonsered
  • Kobalt
  • McCulloch
  • Makita
  • Milwaukee
  • Oregon
  • Poulan Pro
  • Remington
  • Ryobi
  • Snapper
  • Stihl
  • Sun Joe
  • Tanaka
  • Wen
  • WORX

Again, these aren’t the only chain saw brands available on the market, they’re simply some of the best chainsaw brands. Let’s take a look at each individually so you can get a little bit more information on the best chainsaw brand.

Black + Decker

Black + Decker is a brand under their parent company, Stanley Black & Decker. In 2010, Stanley Works and Black & Decker merged to form this enormous tool company. In addition to Stanley and Black + Decker brands, they also own other brands that are featured in this chainsaw brand list such as DeWalt and Craftsman.

The Black + Decker brand manufacture both corded and battery-powered chainsaws for residential use, in addition to numerous other products including power tools, lawn mowers, and much more. Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Blue Max

Blue Max is made is a subsidiary of North American Tool Industries. The company manufacturers products for use by both consumers and professionals. Blue Max manufactures the following chainsaws:

  • 16-inch gas-powered 38cc
  • 18-inch gas-powered 45cc
  • 14-inch x 18-inch 2-in-1 gas-powered 38cc
  • 4/20 inch 45cc bar & chain gas-powered

Craftsman

Craftsman was a longtime brand of Sears until it was sold to Black + Decker in 2017. Craftsman themselves, date back to 1927 when their primary focus was making tools for farmers.

When you buy a Craftsman chainsaw today, it doesn’t come from a Craftsman manufacturing unit. Rather, they are primarily made by Husqvarna or by one of their other brands such as Poulan Pro – both will be presented in this article. Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

DeWalt

DeWalt was started in 1922 by a man named Raymond DeWalt who invented a type of circular saw for woodworking purposes known as a radial arm saw. The company was eventually sold to Black & Decker in 1960 and continued making this famous radial arm saw until 1989 until the saw was sold off.

This left Black & Decker with the DeWalt trademark but no product made under its name. Black and Decker successfully rebranded its professional tool line under the DeWalt name in the 1990s. DeWalt has become a powerhouse in the tool market since the launch under its name.

DeWalt is now a subsidiary of the parent company Stanley Black & Decker. The chainsaws they sell are 20V and 60V cordless, battery-powered tools. Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Earthwise

Earthwise is connected with American Lawn Mower Company (ALMC). These products are heavily geared toward the consumer market with all chainsaws made by Earthwise are battery-powered or corded. Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Echo

Echo is widely regarded as being one of the best chainsaw brands on the market. Their roots come from the Kioritz Corporation out of Japan, which made the first Echo chainsaw in the 1960s, the Echo CS-80.

Kioritz and Shindaiwa merged to create Yamabiko Corporation which today, holds the Echo brand. Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Efco

Efco are based out of Burnsville, Minnesota, and is a division of Comet USA. In addition to their chainsaws, Efco manufacture blowers, hedge trimmers, pruners, trimmers, and split-boom brush cutters. Their range of chainsaws is a selection of high-quality gas-powered chainsaws.

Ego

Ego is a popular choice for consumers looking to move away from gas-powered outdoor equipment. The company states that its three battery-powered chainsaws offer a similar performance to a gas-powered chainsaw.

They manufacture the Power+ 18″, the Power+ 16″ and the Power+ 14″. Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Greenworks

Greenworks has seemed to blow up from practically nowhere in recent years. A late bloomer, starting only in 2007 with a focus on manufacturing tools using lithium-ion batteries and eventually corded outdoor power equipment.

The company makes a nice variety of battery-powered and corded chainsaws. These are available in 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18-inch models. Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Hitachi Koki

Company Website: hikoki-powertools.com

Hitachi Koki (HiKoki) is a subsidiary or division of the conglomerate based out of Tokyo, Japan known as Hitachi LTD. Hitachi also owns the Tanaka brand as of 2007. Other outdoor equipment made by HiKoki are blowers, grass trimmers, hedge trimmers, and lawn mowers.

Homelite

Homelite started their journey in 1921 by making a very innovative gas-powered electrical generator that was very popular in rural areas that lacked power. The company then produced its first chainsaw not long after World War II which was powered by electricity.

By the 1960s, the company had built itself into a powerhouse within the chainsaw market, making anything and everything from light-duty to heavy-duty logging saws. The company was once owned by John Deere but was sold to Techtronic Industries in 2001, which is based out of Hong Kong and produces other familiar tool brands such as Milwaukee and Ryobi.

Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Husqvarna

Company Website: husqvarna.com/us

Husqvarna is originally a company that produced rifles back in 1689. Through the years they moved on to manufacturing various products, with their chainsaw landing in 1959. A decade later they would create a chainsaw that was the first chainsaw equipped with an integrated anti-vibration feature.

Today, the company is a leader in producing chainsaws for just about everyone from homeowners to professionals. In the U.S. the company classifies its saws as either:

  • Casual use
  • All-round saws
  • Powerful robust
  • Professional
  • Top handle

Some notable features that can be found on Husqvarna are the X-Torq and AutoTune. X-Torq works to reduce fuel usage while also helping to lower emission levels. AutoTune allows the chainsaw to automatically adjust to variables like altitude, humidity, and temperature to be able to provide peak engine performance.

Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Jonsered

Jonsered started as a Swedish textile mill in the 1830s in the small town of Jonsered. They later diversified their portfolio by manufacturing woodworking machines and eventually by the 1950s, the company focused heavily on chainsaws. The company was eventually sold to Electrolux in 1979 and is now owned by Husqvarna.

The chainsaws made by Jonsered are mostly for professional and semi-professional use. While the majority of chainsaws are gasoline-powered, Jonsered has recently introduced a chainsaw that is powered by a 58V 5.2Ah lithium-ion battery.

Kobalt

Company Website: kobalttools.com

Kobalt is Lowe’s in house brand so you will naturally go there to purchase one. Kobalt appear to produce three chainsaws, all of which use a lithium-ion battery for their power sources. Kobalt produces:

  • 24V 12-inch cordless
  • 40V 14-inch cordless
  • 80V 18-inch cordless

McCulloch

Company Website: mcculloch.com

McCulloch brought its first chainsaw to the market in 1948, called the Model 5-49 – a heavy two man saw. A year later, McCulloch introduced the first one man chainsaw, the 3-25, which had a huge impact on the chainsaw industry.

McCulloch was purchased by Black and Decker in 1974, both Husqvarna acquired the European segment and Jenn Feng acquired the North America division in 1999, before Husqvarna eventually purchased McCulloch North America from Jenn Feng in 2008. Therefore, today, McCulloch is a brand of Husqvarna.

The company makes a selection of electric, gas, and battery-powered chainsaws for just about any task around the property.

Makita

Makita is a Japanese company that manufactures a wide array of outdoor power equipment and power tools of all sorts. You will have likely spotted one of their power tools on display with its familiar water blue color in Home Depot if you’ve been there recently.

Makita’s roots date to 1915 when it began selling and servicing motors, but it wasn’t until the late 1950s that Makita started constructing electric power tools. They acquired the German chainsaw maker Dolmar in 1991 and eventually consolidated the Dolmar name into the Makita brand years later.

Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Milwaukee

Milwaukee was founded in 1924 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is currently owned by Techtronic Industries. Milwaukee makes high-end 16-inch lithium-ion brushless chainsaws. They claim that their lithium-ion chainsaw model #2727-21-HD has the same power as a gasoline-powered 40CC chainsaw.

Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Oregon

Oregon was launched in 1947 after discovering a way to improve upon the saw chain. Oregon now manufacturers a variety of consumer and professional products. Some of these products include lawn mowers and outdoor power equipment.

Their chainsaws include self-sharpening cordless and electric-powered saws. If you are looking for an inexpensive electric chainsaw, the Oregon CS1500 is one of the favorites for this category of saws, and is readily available on Amazon here:

Poulan Pro

Poulan Pro is another brand now owned by the Swedish company Husqvarna. The company was first bought by Emerson Electric in the 1970s and Electrolux in the 1980s before eventually landing in the hands of Husqvarna. Poulan started off as Poulan Saw in Louisiana back in the early 1900s.

Poulan’s design both gas and electric powered models for consumers. The company sells their chainsaws under “Poulan Pro” for their colored black & yellow range and “Poulan” for their colored black & green, with Poulan Pro being the higher-end model.

Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Remington

Company Website: remingtonpowertools.com

Remington started their journey in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the early 1920s. Their first products were powered saws and drills, with the chainsaw being introduced a little over 30 years later which was powerful enough for professional use. Moving on to the 1990s, Remington launched their first electric chainsaw.

Today, the company not only manufacturers chainsaws, but also an assortment of outdoor equipment including cultivators, lawn mowers, trimmers, and blowers. The Remington line of chainsaws are designed primarily for consumers and includes the following types:

  • battery-powered
  • electric
  • gas-powered

Ryobi

Ryobi is a popular brand sold at The Home Depot, and are typically known for their cordless technology. Ryobi, a Japan based company, are a popular brand for many DIYers or homeowners looking for high-quality tools that won’t break the bank.

The Ryobi Outdoor Power Equipment and Power Tools is licensed by Techtronic Industries. Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Snapper

Snapper are best known for the lawn mowers they produce. However, the company started by making saws in 1894. At the time, it was called Southern Saw Works. Simplicity Manufacturing owned Snapper in the early 2000s before more recently being purchased by Briggs & Stratton where the company still remains in the hands of.

In regard to chainsaws, the company makes a 14-inch 48V lithium-ion and a 18-inch 82V lithium-ion powered saw. Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Stihl

Stihl manufactures many different types of chainsaws for the homeowner up to professional use. They produce not only gasoline powered saws, but also battery and electric.

To purchase a new Stihl chainsaw you will need to find an authorized dealer near you. Unlike most other chainsaws, they aren’t at the huge hardware stores or available on Amazon. However, you can expect to receive superior customer service from their knowledgeable members of staff.

Their chainsaw chains are often regarded as the best of best and are known for their superior quality to others. When they are purchased, most owners expect the chainsaw to last many years assuming suitable maintenance.

Sun Joe

Sun Joe, also known as Snow Joe, started in 2004 making a single product, the electric snow shovel at an affordable price. They now sell a huge assortment of products including lawn mowers, air compressors, and chainsaws to name a few.

They only electric and cordless equipment, and manual tools, not gas-powered equipment. The chainsaws manufactured are available in electric and battery-powered options and range from 10 to 18 inches in chain size.

Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

Tanaka

Tanaka began in 1918 as Tanaka Iron Works. They initially focused on producing internal combustions engines, moped engines, and motorcycle engines, before using this engine knowledge to manufacture their initial chainsaw in 1971.

Ariens purchased Tanaka’s U.S. assets in 1987, and in 2007, Hitachi acquired Tanaka where it still remains today. The company currently makes a handful of gas-powered chainsaws ranging from 12 to 20 inches in chain size.

WEN

WEN was founded in 1951, first developing random orbital technology which is used widely in modern times for waxers, buffers, and polishers. The company now produces a battery-powered and an electric chainsaw.

The WEN 40417 uses a 40V Max lithium-ion rechargeable battery for power and features a 16-inch Oregon chain. The WEN 4017 has a 12A motor and provides 12 amps of power. It also has a 16-inch Oregon chain.

Here’s an example of one of their chainsaws available on Amazon:

WORX

WORX was launched in 2004 by a Chinese tool company known as Positec Tool Corporation. The chainsaws sold by WORX are cordless (battery-powered) and electric. The WORX WG322 is one of the company’s most popular chainsaws because of its affordability and functionality.

WORX are a brand to consider for light-duty chainsaw tasks around the home, especially for people who prefer to stay away from gas-powered tools. Here’s an example of their WG322 chainsaw available on Amazon:

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By Dave Cross

Hi, I'm Dave. I’ve been sawing for more than 40 years. I feel most at home when I’m surrounded by nature and my saws, but occasionally, I’ll share some of my know-how and experience on Cross Saw Mill.

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