A good cordless chainsaw is one of the most useful tools a UK gardener can own. No fuel mixing, no choke, no pull-start ritual – just squeeze the trigger and cut. Below we’ve rounded up seven of the best battery chainsaws for UK gardens right now, for every budget from around £150 up to serious pro-grade kit at over £500.
Our Quick Picks for 2026
- Best Overall: EGO Power+ CS1800E
- Best Pro-Grade: Stihl MSA 220 C-B
- Best for Makita 18V LXT Owners: Makita DUC355Z
- Best for DeWalt XR Owners: DeWalt DCM575N FlexVolt
- Best Budget: Ryobi ONE+ RCS1830-150
- Best for Pruning: Stihl GTA 26
- Best Value All-Rounder: Greenworks 40V GD40CS15
Before You Buy: Safety First
Chainsaws, cordless or not, are the most dangerous garden tool most of us will ever own. Always wear proper chainsaw trousers or chaps, boots, gloves, eye protection, ear defenders and a helmet for anything overhead. If you’ve never used a chainsaw before, consider a short introductory course with a qualified instructor before you fire one up.
1. EGO Power+ CS1800E – Best Overall
EGO’s 56V platform has matured into a genuinely impressive professional-quality system. Our previous pick in this slot, the CS1610E, is still a genuine current model but we couldn’t find it listed anywhere on Amazon UK, so we’ve moved to its 45cm sibling, the CS1800E, which shares the same 56V ARC Lithium platform and is readily available on Amazon. With a 5Ah+ battery fitted it will comfortably work through a good pile of logs on a single charge, and tool-free chain tensioning and bar adjustment make it easy to live with day to day.
Key specs: 56V ARC Lithium platform, 45cm bar, tool-free chain tensioning and bar adjustment, 5-year warranty when registered.
Pros: – Real petrol-like cutting performance – Tool-free chain tensioning and bar adjustment – Long run time with 5Ah+ EGO batteries – 5-year warranty when registered
Cons: – At time of writing, a full kit with battery and charger is a serious investment – check the card above for current pricing – Noticeably heavier than the smaller 40cm models in the EGO range – Chain oil tank empties faster than expected on long sessions
2. Stihl MSA 220 C-B – Best Pro-Grade
The Stihl MSA 220 C-B is the cordless saw that tends to live on the back of the landscaper’s van, running on Stihl’s AP/AR battery platform. It has pro-grade build and serviceability, a perfect balance for limbing and pruning, and is genuinely quiet for a 14-inch saw – backed up by Stihl’s huge UK dealer network. We couldn’t find it (or any other Stihl chainsaw) listed on Amazon UK during this update: Stihl sells exclusively through its authorised dealer network rather than through Amazon, so there’s no compliant Amazon listing to card here. If you want this saw, your nearest Stihl dealer is the place to buy it.
Key specs: AP/AR 36V battery platform, 35cm bar, pro-grade chain brake and build quality.
Pros: – Pro-grade build and serviceability – Perfect balance for limbing and pruning – Quiet for a 14-inch saw – Huge Stihl dealer network in the UK
Cons: – Not sold via Amazon UK – dealer purchase only – Very expensive as a full kit – Shorter bar than the EGO – not for felling large trees
3. Makita DUC355Z – Best for Makita 18V LXT Owners
The DUC355Z uses two 18V LXT batteries in series to produce 36V at the chain, and at around 4.4kg with two 5Ah packs fitted it has great ergonomics and weight distribution. If you’ve already got a shelf of Makita LXT batteries and chargers from other tools, this is the obvious way into cordless chainsaws without buying into a new battery system.
Key specs: Twin 18V (36V total), 35cm bar, reliable chain brake and oil pump, sold as a bare tool.
Pros: – Uses two 18V LXT batteries you probably already own – Great ergonomics and weight distribution – Reliable chain brake and oil pump – Widely stocked at UK retailers and on Amazon UK
Cons: – Run time is shorter on 4Ah batteries than 5Ah – No FlexVolt-style equivalent – you’re bound to the 18V platform – Sold as a bare tool only – batteries and charger cost extra
4. DeWalt DCM575N FlexVolt – Best for DeWalt XR Owners
DeWalt’s FlexVolt batteries automatically switch between 18V and 54V depending on the tool they’re fitted to, and in the DCM575N they run the chainsaw’s brushless motor at 54V through a 40cm bar. It’s a strong, consistent cutter, and because it’s sold as a bare tool (the DCM575N designation) it’s the sensible buy if you already own FlexVolt or 18V XR batteries and just need the saw itself.
Key specs: 54V XR FlexVolt brushless motor, 40cm bar, sold as a bare tool (body only), three-year warranty.
Pros: – FlexVolt battery doubles as an 18V XR pack for other tools – Strong, consistent cutting power – Three-year warranty – Widely stocked in UK tool shops and on Amazon UK
Cons: – Body only – you’ll need a FlexVolt battery and charger separately – Heavier than an equivalent EGO saw – Chain can come slightly loose from new – check tension before first use
5. Ryobi ONE+ RCS1830-150 – Best Budget
Our previous pick in this slot no longer matches any current Ryobi UK product, so we’ve moved to the Ryobi ONE+ RCS1830-150 – a straightforward 18V ONE+ chainsaw with a 30cm bar that comes as a kit with a 5.0Ah battery and charger included. It’s not as refined as a Stihl or EGO, but for periodic hedge reduction, firewood splitting or general garden clear-up it’s extremely good value, and if you already own ONE+ batteries from other Ryobi tools it’s an easy, affordable add to the shed.
Key specs: 18V ONE+ battery platform, 30cm bar, sold as a kit with 1×5.0Ah battery and charger, straightforward tool-free chain tensioning.
Pros: – Shares batteries with the huge Ryobi ONE+ tool range – Kit includes a 5.0Ah battery and charger – Straightforward chain tensioning – Genuinely budget-friendly at time of writing – check the card above
Cons: – Plastic construction is obvious compared with the pros on this list – 30cm bar is on the small side for anything beyond light garden work – Not built for all-day continuous cutting
6. Stihl GTA 26 – Best for Pruning
The Stihl GTA 26 is small but superb – a battery pruner with a 10cm chain running on Stihl’s AS system batteries, and it comes with a nylon holster that makes it genuinely practical for ladder and tree work. It’s tiny, quiet and feels safe to operate one-handed, which is exactly what you want for precise pruning rather than felling.
A note on sourcing: unlike the other Stihl model in this post, we did find a GTA 26 listing on Amazon UK, but because Stihl normally sells exclusively through authorised UK dealers, this is most likely a third-party or parallel-import listing rather than official Stihl UK stock – worth a quick manual check before this card goes live.
Key specs: AS system 10.8V battery, 10cm cutting length, includes carry case and holster.
Pros: – Tiny, quiet and safe feeling to operate – Ideal for precise pruning work – Comes with a proper carry case and holster – Chain stays sharp with very simple maintenance
Cons: – Not a felling saw – 10cm cut capacity only – AS batteries are small and have limited run time – Kit price is higher than you’d expect for the size
7. Greenworks 40V GD40CS15 – Best Value All-Rounder
Our previous pick in this slot, the GD40TCS, turns out to actually be a different tool – a compact 25cm top-handle pruning saw rather than the 35cm all-rounder this section describes. The genuine match for that spec is the Greenworks GD40CS15: a 35cm-bar saw on Greenworks’ reliable 40V platform, weighing around 3.5kg and sold as a bare tool. It’s a great way into cordless chainsaws for first-time buyers, and the battery shares with Greenworks’ wider 40V range of hedge trimmers and strimmers if you want to build out the ecosystem later.
Key specs: 40V platform, 35cm bar, around 3.5kg, tool-free chain tensioning, sold as a bare tool (battery and charger separate).
Pros: – Excellent value for first-time buyers – Light in the hand at around 3.5kg – Tool-free chain tensioning – Battery shares with Greenworks 40V hedge trimmers and strimmers
Cons: – Not professional build quality – Simple gravity-feed chain oiling system – Sold as a bare tool – battery and charger cost extra
At-a-Glance Comparison
|
Product |
Best For |
Bar Length |
Voltage |
Price |
|
EGO Power+ CS1800E |
Best overall |
45 cm |
56V |
See card for current price |
|
Stihl MSA 220 C-B |
Best pro-grade (dealer only – no Amazon card) |
35 cm |
36V AP |
Buy via Stihl dealer |
|
Makita DUC355Z |
Best for Makita 18V LXT owners |
35 cm |
2×18V (36V) |
See card for current price |
|
DeWalt DCM575N FlexVolt |
Best for DeWalt XR owners |
40 cm |
54V |
See card for current price |
|
Ryobi ONE+ RCS1830-150 |
Best budget |
30 cm |
18V |
See card for current price |
|
Stihl GTA 26 |
Best for pruning |
10 cm |
10.8V AS |
See card for current price |
|
Greenworks 40V GD40CS15 |
Best value all-rounder |
35 cm |
40V |
See card for current price |
Prices change frequently on Amazon – check each product card above for the current price at time of viewing.
How to Choose the Right Cordless Chainsaw
Match Bar Length to the Work
For pruning, 25-35 cm bars are ideal. For firewood and occasional felling of small trees, 35-45 cm is the sweet spot. Anything over 45 cm in cordless is uncommon and usually overkill for a typical UK garden.
Stick With Your Battery Platform
A cordless saw is most cost-effective when it shares batteries with tools you already own. EGO, Stihl AP, Makita LXT, DeWalt FlexVolt and Ryobi ONE+ are the five ecosystems most UK gardeners invest in.
Look for a Proper Chain Brake
Any saw worth buying will have an inertia-activated chain brake. Test it before you buy – push the guard forward with your left hand and the chain should stop instantly.
Chain Maintenance for Cordless Saws
- Fill the oil reservoir every time you fit a fresh battery
- Keep chain tension allowing 3-5 mm lift at the bar middle
- Check chain file angles monthly, with round-file touch-ups every hour of use
- Flip the bar every few sharpenings to even out wear
- Use purpose-made chain oil in cold weather rather than old engine oil
FAQ
Can a cordless chainsaw replace a petrol one?
For most UK domestic use, yes. The EGO Power+ CS1800E and Stihl MSA 220 C-B both punch well above what cordless kit could manage five years ago. For full-time professional felling, petrol still wins on sustained run time.
Do I need to wear chainsaw trousers with a cordless saw?
Yes. The chain on an EGO or Stihl saw is just as sharp and fast as on a petrol equivalent. Class 1 chainsaw trousers (Type A minimum) are a non-negotiable part of the kit.
How long does the chain last?
With good sharpening habits, a chain lasts one to three seasons of domestic use. Stock a spare chain in the shed – changing one mid-job is a five-minute fix if you have the tools and spares on hand.
Final Verdict
For most UK gardeners, the EGO Power+ CS1800E is the most cordless chainsaw you can buy without going full professional. If you already own Stihl AP kit or want the best dealer support, the MSA 220 C-B is the grown-up option – just buy it from a Stihl dealer rather than Amazon. For anyone with a shed full of Makita LXT or DeWalt XR tools, the DUC355Z and DCM575N make more sense than switching platforms.
And if all you want is a light, simple pruner for apple trees and storm cleanup, the Stihl GTA 26 will win your heart within about five minutes of using it.
Before you fire any cordless saw up, please read our dedicated UK chainsaw safety guide and dress for the job. Even the best saw is only as safe as the person holding it.
