STIHL has built its name on being the chainsaw gardeners and tree workers trust when reliability actually matters — the catch is that STIHL makes a lot of chainsaws, and working out which one suits your garden can be genuinely confusing. This guide breaks down the petrol vs. cordless decision and matches STIHL’s current range to specific garden tasks, so you can pick the right saw first time.
One thing to flag up front: STIHL chainsaws are not sold through Amazon UK or any other general online marketplace. STIHL’s dealer policy specifically excludes chainsaws from standard online checkout — even through its own authorised dealers’ websites — requiring a proper handover in person or over the phone with a dealer, partly for safety and setup reasons (correct chain, bar and fuel/battery matching) and partly to protect its dealer network. That means every model below is genuinely available in the UK, just not via an Amazon “buy now” button — see the FAQ section for where to actually buy one.
Petrol or cordless?
Cordless offers quiet operation and instant starts, with none of the mixed fuel, choke procedure or exhaust fumes of a petrol saw — ideal if you’re doing occasional pruning or don’t want to store fuel. Petrol provides sustained power for heavy work, with no battery runtime ceiling, so it’s still the default choice for anyone processing a lot of firewood or doing extended felling work in a session.
Bar length and power
30cm bars suit branches and logs up to around 25cm in diameter — plenty for most garden pruning and general tidy-up work. 35-40cm bars are for firewood and small tree work, giving you the reach and chain speed to get through larger rounds without the saw bogging down.
How we chose
We evaluated STIHL’s homeowner AK cordless range, the prosumer AP cordless range, and the refreshed MS petrol line-up to put together a shortlist that covers light pruning right through to firewood processing and small felling jobs, without pushing anyone into more saw (or more money) than their garden actually needs.
Cordless Models
MSA 60 C-B — best for light pruning and small gardens
The MSA 60 C-B is STIHL’s entry point into cordless chainsaws, built around the homeowner AK battery system. It runs a 30cm bar and weighs under 3kg with the battery fitted, making it genuinely easy to handle one-handed for short bursts of pruning. Expect around 40 minutes of intermittent use from an AK 20 battery before a recharge.
Pros: very light, near-silent, instant start, no fuel to mix or store Cons: not built for big firewood sessions Who it suits: anyone with occasional light pruning and small branch work who wants a saw that’s easy to pick up and put down Price: around £300 for a set with battery and charger, at time of writing (buy through an authorised STIHL dealer — see FAQ)
MSA 120 C-B — best all-round cordless for homeowners
Also on the AK battery system, the MSA 120 C-B steps up to a ¼in chain and roughly 3.8kg all-in weight, and is capable of around 100 cuts through 100mm wood on a single charge. It’s the model we’d point most homeowners toward if they want one cordless saw that handles the bulk of general garden work.
Pros: excellent balance of weight and performance Cons: ¼in chain is for lighter work, not felling Who it suits: the average garden owner who wants one cordless saw for most jobs, including beginners Price: around £260-300 as a set with battery and charger, at time of writing
MSA 220 C-B — best cordless for serious garden work
Moving up to STIHL’s professional AP battery system, the MSA 220 C-B is genuinely petrol-rivalling in power while staying quiet and emissions-free. It’s built to a higher standard throughout and can be run with bars up to 40cm, putting it in range of regular firewood processing without switching to petrol.
Pros: petrol-rivalling power, quiet, no emissions, top build quality Cons: expensive, and you need AP batteries which add to the cost Who it suits: owners doing regular firewood work who want to stay cordless Price: tool-only prices start in the region of £500-650, with battery sets higher, at time of writing
Petrol Models
MS 162 — best entry-level petrol saw
The MS 162 is STIHL’s successor to the long-running MS 170 and brings tool-free or simplified servicing along with modern anti-vibration comfort to the entry-level petrol class. It’s the straightforward, no-frills option for anyone who wants dependable petrol power without paying for extras they won’t use.
Pros: affordable STIHL petrol reliability, light, simple Cons: basic features, no comfort-start refinements Who it suits: occasional users who want a basic, reliable petrol saw Price: around £190-220, at time of writing
MS 172 C-E — best value petrol for most homeowners
The MS 172 C-E adds STIHL’s ErgoStart easy-start system and tool-free chain tensioning on top of the entry-level formula, and strikes a well-judged balance between power and weight for general garden use. For most homeowners who’ve decided petrol is the way to go, this is the model that makes the most sense.
Pros: easy ErgoStart, tool-free tensioning, well-judged power-to-weight Cons: pricier than the MS 162; more saw than a light pruner needs Who it suits: homeowners who want a genuine all-rounder petrol saw Price: around £250-280, at time of writing
MS 182 / MS 212 — best for firewood and small felling
Both available in standard and C-BE comfort versions, the MS 182 and MS 212 move firmly into firewood-and-felling territory, with more power and longer bars than the rest of the range here. These are built for all-day work rather than occasional pruning sessions.
Pros: serious cutting power, suited to all-day work and felling Cons: heavier and louder; genuinely more saw than the average small-garden owner needs Who it suits: anyone processing meaningful volumes of firewood or doing small felling jobs Price: around £300 for the MS 182 to roughly £380-430 for the MS 212, at time of writing
Comparison Table
|
Model |
Type |
Bar |
Best For |
Guide Price (at time of writing) |
|
MSA 60 C-B |
Cordless (AK) |
30cm |
Light pruning, small gardens |
~£300 set |
|
MSA 120 C-B |
Cordless (AK) |
30cm |
All-round homeowner use |
~£260-300 set |
|
MSA 220 C-B |
Cordless (AP) |
Up to 40cm |
Serious, low-noise garden work |
~£500-650+ |
|
MS 162 |
Petrol |
30-35cm |
Entry-level occasional use |
~£190-220 |
|
MS 172 C-E |
Petrol |
30-35cm |
Best-value all-rounder |
~£250-280 |
|
MS 182 / 212 |
Petrol |
35-40cm |
Firewood and small felling |
~£300-430 |
Prices are indicative guide prices from STIHL dealers at time of writing and can vary by retailer — STIHL chainsaws are not sold through Amazon, so there’s no live price card to link to here.
Which one should you buy?
Buy the saw that matches your workload rather than the biggest one you can afford. For the average garden, the cordless MSA 120 C-B covers almost everything most people need. If you’d rather have petrol and want the best value all-rounder, the MS 172 C-E is the pick. And if you’re processing real volumes of firewood, step up to the MSA 220 C-B if you want to stay cordless, or the MS 212 if you’re happy with petrol.
Safety
Chainsaws are the most dangerous tool most gardeners will ever use. Whichever model you choose, don’t skip the protective gear: a helmet with visor and ear defenders, cut-resistant chainsaw trousers or chaps, gloves and sturdy boots are the minimum before you start cutting.
FAQ
Can I buy a STIHL chainsaw on Amazon UK? No. STIHL chainsaws are sold through approved STIHL dealers and the official STIHL online shop rather than Amazon UK. STIHL’s policy specifically requires chainsaws to be handed over in person or arranged by phone with a dealer — even STIHL’s own authorised online retailers can’t complete a straightforward online checkout for a chainsaw the way they can for a hedgecutter or strimmer. Use STIHL’s dealer locator on stihl.co.uk to find your nearest stockist.
Will a cordless STIHL handle firewood? The MSA 120 handles light firewood comfortably, while the MSA 220 tackles regular firewood work without much trouble. For heavy, sustained firewood processing, a petrol saw like the MS 212 still has the edge on runtime.
What bar length do I actually need? For most gardens, a 30cm bar is plenty. Only step up to 35-40cm if you’re regularly cutting firewood-sized rounds or doing small tree work.
Which STIHL chainsaw is best for a beginner? The cordless MSA 120 C-B is the most beginner-friendly — no fuel mixing, no pull-start technique to learn, and light enough to control confidently while you build up experience.
