If you are shopping for a chainsaw in the UK, it will not take long before you find yourself choosing between STIHL and Husqvarna. These two brands have dominated the professional chainsaw market for decades, and between them they account for the majority of the good saws you will see in the hands of arborists, farmers and gardeners who actually depend on the tool to work.
But which one should you buy? The honest answer is “either will serve you well” – but they have different strengths, different dealer networks and a few genuinely important differences for the UK buyer. Here is our head-to-head guide for 2026.
Quick Verdict
For most UK gardeners, STIHL edges it thanks to a denser dealer network and a slightly friendlier domestic range. Husqvarna tends to win on backpack leaf blowers, cordless battery platforms for semi-professional work, and pure-professional felling saws used by tree surgeons. You will not regret choosing either.
- Best for small UK gardens and first-time buyers: STIHL MS 170 (petrol) or MSA 60 C-B (cordless)
- Best for cordless semi-professional use: STIHL MSA 220 C-B or Husqvarna 340i
- Best for pro arborists: Husqvarna 540i XP (cordless) or STIHL MS 261 C-M (petrol)
- Best for farms and smallholdings: Husqvarna 450 II or STIHL MS 271 Farm Boss
The Two Brands in a Nutshell
STIHL
A German family-owned firm founded in 1926. In the UK, STIHL machines are sold exclusively through a huge network of approved dealers – you cannot buy a new petrol or top-spec cordless STIHL chainsaw on Amazon UK, and that is a deliberate strategy. The trade-off: you get proper advice, set-up and servicing, but a slightly higher list price.
Husqvarna
A Swedish engineering company with roots dating back to 1689 (it used to make muskets). Husqvarna is part of the Husqvarna Group and sells through a mix of dealers and some larger online retailers. Its saws are often favoured by UK tree surgeons and are known for smooth power delivery and excellent anti-vibration design.
Petrol Range Compared
Both brands offer petrol saws from light homeowner kit up to professional-grade felling saws with 70cc engines and 50cm+ bars. In the UK, the most common models are:
| Job | STIHL model | Husqvarna model | Typical UK price |
| Light pruning / small garden | MS 170 | 120 Mark II | ~£200-£260 |
| General garden use | MS 180 C-BE | 135 Mark II | ~£260-£310 |
| Firewood / farm | MS 271 Farm Boss | 450 II | ~£440-£500 |
| Semi-professional | MS 261 C-M | 550 XP Mark II | ~£700-£900 |
| Pro arborist | MS 400 C-M | 572 XP | ~£950-£1,150 |
For most domestic UK users, the cheapest STIHL (MS 170) is slightly friendlier to live with than the cheapest Husqvarna (120 Mark II) because of its better chain tensioning and lighter throttle. Step up into the farm and pro ranges, however, and Husqvarna’s X-Torq engines often win on fuel economy and emissions.
Cordless Range Compared
This is where the two brands have taken genuinely different paths. Both invested heavily in 36V-class professional cordless platforms, but the implementation differs.
STIHL – AP System
The STIHL AP and AR batteries are large, modular lithium packs that fit a huge range of tools from chainsaws to hedge trimmers, leaf blowers and pole pruners. Batteries are serviceable at dealers and come with long warranties. Flagship saws include the MSA 220 C-B and MSA 300 – both properly pro-grade.
Husqvarna – BLi System
Husqvarna’s BLi batteries are smaller and lighter than Stihl’s AP packs. The 540i XP and newer 340i are outstanding cordless saws that many tree surgeons now use for climbing work. Husqvarna’s battery platform is also compatible with some AEG and Ryobi 36V tools in certain markets.
| Job | STIHL model | Husqvarna model | Typical UK price |
| Pruner (hand / pocket) | GTA 26 | — | ~£160 |
| Light garden cordless | MSA 60 C-B | 120i | ~£220-£280 |
| Mid cordless | MSA 140 C-B | 320i | ~£320-£400 |
| Pro cordless | MSA 220 C-B | 540i XP | ~£400-£500 (bare) |
Dealer Network and Support in the UK
This is where STIHL genuinely has the edge for UK buyers. Official STIHL dealers number in the hundreds across the country – most UK postcodes are within 20 minutes of one. Husqvarna dealers are rarer, though still well represented in rural and professional markets.
If you live in a town or village, check Google Maps before you buy. A local STIHL dealer is usually easier to find than a local Husqvarna stockist, and the difference shows when you need a chain sharpened or a clutch rebuilt in the middle of a busy weekend.
Weight, Balance and Vibration
Husqvarna has long championed the X-Torq and LowVib system, and many UK arborists genuinely prefer Husqvarna for all-day work because of lower hand-arm vibration (HAV) and better weight distribution. STIHL has closed the gap considerably with the M-Tronic carburation system and updated anti-vibration mounts, but on a pro saw like the MS 400 C-M vs the 572 XP, Husqvarna still nudges ahead for long-day ergonomics.
For weekend garden use, the difference is negligible. You will likely only notice it after several hours of continuous cutting.
Features Face-Off
| Feature | STIHL | Husqvarna |
| Country of origin | Germany / USA / Brazil | Sweden / USA / China |
| UK dealer density | Very high | Good (more rural/pro-focused) |
| Proprietary fuel | STIHL MotoMix available | Aspen / Husqvarna XP fuels |
| Chain brand | STIHL Oilomatic | Husqvarna X-Cut / Oregon |
| Cordless platform | AP / AR / AS | BLi (36V) |
| M-Tronic / AutoTune | Yes (M-Tronic) | Yes (AutoTune) |
Cost of Ownership
Over a 5-10 year ownership window, the running costs of a STIHL and Husqvarna of similar class are very close. Both manufacturers price their chains, bars, sprockets and air filters competitively, and both have robust after-sales parts supply in the UK. Compatibility between brands is limited – you cannot put a STIHL chain on a Husqvarna saw as a general rule – so commit to your brand’s ecosystem when you buy.
Who Should Buy What?
You should buy a STIHL if…
- You want the friendliest UK dealer experience and easy local support.
- You prefer the STIHL AP cordless platform for your leaf blower, hedge trimmer and chainsaw to share batteries.
- You are a casual user who values a clean user manual, dealer set-up and a phone number to call when something goes wrong.
- You are buying a light home saw like an MS 170 or MSA 60 – STIHL’s small saws are a little more refined.
You should buy a Husqvarna if…
- You are climbing trees and need the very best ergonomics and low vibration for all-day use.
- You already own Husqvarna kit (robot mowers, strimmers) and want the battery compatibility.
- You want X-Torq engine efficiency on a farm or smallholding saw.
- You have a local specialist Husqvarna dealer who knows you.
Our Personal Verdict
If we had to pick one brand for a typical UK garden, it would be STIHL, simply because the dealer network makes ownership so much easier. But we have also owned several Husqvarnas over the years and never been let down. Both brands build chainsaws that will outlast most of the tools you own, provided you look after them.
If you are new to chainsaws, your first saw should not be the defining “brand loyalty” moment of your life. Buy the one your local dealer will service, wear the right PPE, take a safety course if it is your first saw, and learn to sharpen the chain. The brand on the casing matters far less than how well you treat it.
Need more help picking a saw? See our full Best Chainsaw UK 2026 review, or if you know you want a battery saw, our Best Cordless Chainsaw UK 2026 guide is the next stop.