Small, lightweight, and portable, having the best mini chainsaw in your garden toolkit is great for tackling all kinds of wood-related cutting tasks. Whether you want to prune overgrown trees and bushes, chop down wood for kindling, or if you're crafting a timber-themed creation, a mini chainsaw is the tool to reach for.
A mini chainsaw is a convenient, cordless alternative to full-sized tools, as Modern Gardens contributor Geoff Hodge explains. "If you're worried about using a standard chainsaw, and haven't been trained nor have all the required safety clothing and equipment, these are the perfect alternative." Caution is still advised though when using any kind of cutting tool. "Treat them with reverence and respect at all times; they can zip through dense wood with ease."
Best mini chainsaws at a glance:
A standard-size mini chainsaw will have a six-inch 'guide bar' that the chain wraps around, but we're also featuring four- and eight-inch options so you can choose the best size to suit your sawing needs. All the mini chainsaws we're featuring are powered by rechargeable batteries and most bundle in extra parts such as spare chains, and even in some cases, safety goggles. Take a look through our sharp selection below to find your next favourite garden tool.
Best mini chainsaw for your cutting needs
Best overall mini chainsaw
Peektook www.ebay.co.uk
This Peektook mini chainsaw is a number one best seller on Amazon with over 3,000 4.3-star reviews. It's a tidy package - you get the six-inch, 700W, cordless mini chainsaw, two 21V rechargeable batteries and the required charger, a spare chain, safety gloves and goggles, and the tools you need for maintenance.
With a sawing speed of 34.5ft/s, Peektook claims this can cut a branch with a six-inch diameter in around 10 seconds. Your safety is taken care of with a protective guard baffle over the top of the chain, a security lock to prevent accidental activation, and overheat protection.
Pros
- Supplied with two 21V rechargable batteries
- Safety gloves and protective gloves included
Cons
- Only a 700 watt motor
Best 8-inch mini chainsaw
jygmpro Powered by an efficient 850W brushless motor, this powerful mini chainsaw from Jygmpro gets an eight-inch guide bar with two chains, one of which will arrive pre-installed. This cordless option draws its power from one of two supplied rechargeable batteries that offer a handy LED indicator to show power levels.
This saw should provide you with around 80 cuts per fully charged battery. This has an ergonomic, anti-slip, rubber handle and the trigger area is shielded by a large fingerguard. Plus, it comes with a storage case and boasts a metallic belt clip if that's your thing.
Pros
- Handy built-in LED battery power indicator
- Larger eight-inch design for bigger sawing ability
Cons
- One battery offers up to 30 minutes runtime
Best 4-inch mini chainsaw
Greenworks Greenworks is a trusted brand in the cordless power tool marketplace, and this mini chainsaw works with one of the manufacturer's interchangeable 24V rechargeable batteries, so it is a strong choice for anyone who has already bought into Greenwork's cordless range.
Obviously this chainsaw, with its four-inch guide bar, is not capable of getting through branches of more than four inches, but it still offers a more efficient way of pruning than manual methods. The compact dimensions mean this can be used in restricted spaces that a larger tool would not be able to access.
Pros
- Compact dimensions are ideal for working in tight spaces
- Uses a powerful 24V Greenworks battery
Cons
- Sold as a "bare tool"
Best mini chainsaw for battery life
cqwlkej While cordless power tools offer the freedom and convenience of cable-free usage, the inevitable compromise is shorter operation time. If that's an issue that concerns you, consider Cqwlkej's six-inch mini chainsaw - it comes with two 21V batteries that each offer up to 50 minutes of cutting action.
This chainsaw offers 'quintuple' protection that includes a safety lock, a chain guard, a non-slip handle, and overheat protection. This comes in a tidy storage case and gives you a spare chain, a screwdriver, and a pair of safety gloves.
Pros
- Offers up to 50 minutes battery life
- Can tackle branches up to six inches in diameter
Cons
- No safety glasses included in the bundle
Best dual blade mini chainsaw
Docsmart Panthem's comprehensive mini chainsaw solution covers you for all eventualities - it includes a six-inch blade for everyday cutting jobs and an eight-incher for more challenging tasks. The sawing action is powered by a brushless 400W motor for more torque and higher efficiency.
This weighs in at 1.5 kilograms and is compatible with batteries from other tool manufacturer's cordless power tool ranges including DeWalt. This comes with two chains for each blade, safety gloves, and protective goggles.
Pros
- Comes with two different size guide bars and chains
- Boasts an automatic chain lubrication system
Cons
- Only a slim integrated finger guard over the trigger
Best lightweight mini chainsaw
xiazarThis mini chainsaw gives you a six-inch guide bar and two chains but is just slightly more lightweight and compact than rival products weighing in at 880 grams and measuring 43cm long. These dimensions, and the full hand guard over the trigger area, make this a manoeuvrable choice that can be handled confidently.
Adding to that confidence is an integrated safety lock and a full-length baffle guard over the top of the saw's chain to offer protection from flying sawdust and other debris. This comes with two rechargeable batteries, safety gloves, a screwdriver, a sharpening file, and an oil brush.
Pros
- Comes with a handy sharpening file for the chains
- Full hand guard to shield the chainsaw's trigger area
Cons
- Only offers a 19.69ft/s chain speed
Best budget mini chainsaw
huiniIf you will only use a mini chainsaw occasionally, you may not want to spend out on a high-end model, but instead opt for a more budget-friendly choice. This Huini 6-incher is just that - it's a capable tool that can saw wood with a diameter of up to six inches at a chain speed of 20ft/s.
Safety is not compromised by the lower price, this features a lock-out button to prevent accidental activation, there's a robust chain guard, the trigger area is well protected with an integrated guard, and this comes with a cover to pop over the blade area when not in use.
Pros
- Safety-chain precision stop with chain brake
- Comes with a blade cover for safer storage
Cons
- This budget choice only comes with one battery
How we chose the best mini chainsaws
All of these mini chainsaws have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the design, functionality, and usability in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching chainsaws to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
FAQs
Do you need a mini chainsaw?
If you need to saw wood often, then yes, a mini chainsaw is a savvy investment. If your only wood-cutting tasks are everyday garden pruning, then you may get away with a pair of electric secateurs.
However, powered pruners can generally only tackle branches with a diameter of up to 30mm (approximately 1.18 inches), whereas mini chainsaws can take on wood up to six inches in diameter.
Safety considerations when using a mini chainsaw
While full-sized chainsaws require special safety clothing and ideally even professional training in best practice usage, mini chainsaws can be used by gardeners and DIYers who are confident using handheld power tools. However, there are still some vitally important safety factors to consider.
• Familiarise yourself with how your mini chainsaw works in a safe outdoor place before trying to cut anything, paying particular attention to the braking procedure.
• Before you use the mini chainsaw, check the chain is properly in place and at the correct tension.
• Protect your hands with a robust pair of gloves. Most of the tools we're featuring come with gloves, but there's always something to be said for researching and upgrading when it comes to such an important kit. Ordinary gardening gloves, although great for everyday use, are not protective enough for chainsaw use.
• Safety goggles or even a full face shield are an absolute must to shield your eyes from sawdust and other debris.
• All the mini chainsaws we're featuring boast a safety lock, usually in the form of a button. Get used to hitting that every time you stop a task so that the saw can't be accidentally activated.
• Most of these saws are designed to be used single-handedly. Be sure to keep your hand or finger behind any safety guard over the chainsaw's trigger.
• Put the chain guard baffle down every time you use the tool to reduce the amount of sawdust flying up towards you.
• Always use the saw horizontally, and always start a cut at the mid base of the blade, never from the tip as this can cause 'kick-back' and propel the tool towards your face.
• Follow maintenance guidelines as provided by the manufacturer, including oiling the chain if necessary, to keep your chainsaw in optimum working condition.
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.