7 Best Handheld Chainsaw | One-Handed, No Gas, All Grip

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A lightweight powerhouse that uses your existing Dewalt batteries — and cuts dry hardwood without flinching.

The single most important thing to know about this saw is its chain speed: a no-load speed of 36 ft/s, which is more than double the 16.4 ft/s of the Ohenjoy model below. That speed, driven by a 1200-watt brushless motor (a brushless motor, meaning no physical brushes to wear out, so it runs cooler and lasts longer), turns a quick pruning job into a genuinely fast cut through 4-5 inch branches.

Owners mention that the 6-inch bar “easily cuts 4-5″ branches,” and the package includes both 6-inch and 8-inch bars plus four chains total — two for each bar length. That gives you a serious runtime advantage: you can swap to the longer bar for a thicker limb without switching saws, and the extra chains mean you have backups when one dulls. The auto-oiler (a system that automatically drips lubricating oil onto the chain as it runs) keeps the cut smooth without manual effort, though some owners note the oil outlet can clog if not cleaned regularly.

At 2.7 pounds (tool only), it is lighter than the 6.4-pound Ohenjoy, which makes a real difference when you are cutting overhead for an hour. The tool-free chain tensioning is a proper convenience — just turn the rotary knob to tighten the chain when it loosens from heat expansion during use, something customers note is much easier than the adjustment mechanism on cheaper brands.

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The kit that gives you everything — battery, charger, and a saw that handles light rain without worry.

What sets the Skil apart from the tool-only models is that it arrives with a 2.0Ah battery and charger in the box. You do not need to own any other tool system to start cutting immediately. The brushless motor delivers up to 115 cuts per charge on that 2.0Ah battery, according to the manufacturer, which reviewers confirm handles a full afternoon of pruning limbs up to 3-4 inches without needing the spare.

This saw has an IPX4 water resistance rating (meaning it is protected against splashing water from any direction). Unlike the Ohenjoy or DEJUNPIOOL, which have no stated water resistance, you can keep cutting through a light drizzle without worrying about the electronics. That matters if you are clearing storm debris or pruning in damp weather when branches are wet and the saw is exposed. Reviewers point out the auto-lubricating chain (a system that drips oil automatically during use) also does not leak when the saw is stored upright, which solves a common complaint with cheaper models.

One common owner observation: the tool-free chain tensioning works well, but the chain needs frequent adjustment after large cuts — specifically on 4-5 inch logs where the chain stretches from heat. The Skil uses only 0.043 gauge chain, so replacement chains are slightly less common than standard sizes. Two reviewers mention that the safety button placement feels awkward compared to pricier brands like Stihl, but they still rate the saw five stars for its lightweight feel and dependable battery run-time.

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An 8-inch bar that chews through 6-inch branches, yet requires zero bar oil at all.

This is the only saw on this list with a completely oil-free design. RYOBI engineered the chain and bar to run without lubricant, which eliminates the single messiest part of owning a chainsaw — no oily residue on your hands, no stained storage bag, no refilling a tank. The trade-off, as one reviewer notes, is that the cut can feel slightly more ragged than a well-oiled chain, but for pruning and light limbing up to 6-inch branches, most owners find it performs “surprisingly well.”

The ONE+ HP brushless motor delivers 3X faster cutting than standard RYOBI 18V tools, according to the manufacturer, which reviewers back up by saying it cuts through branches up to 6 inches without bogging. At 3 pounds, it is significantly lighter than the 4.19-pound Skil and the 4.6-pound Dewalt, making it the lightest 8-inch bar saw on this list. It is also 30% more compact than standard pruning saws, which one owner found critical when reaching into dense shrubbery where a longer saw would snag.

The variable speed trigger (a trigger that lets you control chain speed from slow to max depending on how hard you squeeze) gives you better control in tight cuts than fixed-speed models. One reviewer had the chain pop off during use but said it was easy to reattach thanks to the onboard combination wrench stored on the tool itself. The chain and handle guards add safety for one-handed use, especially when bracing yourself in a tree with the other hand.

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A full kit with battery and charger, weighing only 3.4 lbs, that slips into any Greenworks 24V yard-tool lineup.

Greenworks runs on a 24V platform (a higher-voltage system than the standard 18V or 20V tools from other brands), which the company says provides 20% more power and 35% longer run-time than standard 20V equivalents. The saw weighs 3.4 pounds with the included 2.0Ah battery, making it lighter than the Skil and much lighter than the Ohenjoy with its two batteries. Shoppers say it cuts through up to 2-inch vegetation easily and handles 5-6 inch trees with patience.

The key design choice here is the tool-free one-click chain tightening, which buyers report is genuinely simple — you can adjust chain tension with one hand while holding the saw. The safety lock prevents accidental starts. Unlike the Skil’s IPX4 rating, Greenworks does not specify a water resistance standard, so you will want to keep it dry. Owners who cut back overgrown evergreens found the chain needed tightening twice in 1.5 hours of steady use, which is typical for a new chain bedding in.

One long-term owner notes that the plastic chain tensioning knob broke over time, describing it as “flimsy,” but Greenworks replaced the entire saw under the 3-year warranty without requiring the broken unit to be returned. That warranty support is a strong point vs. lesser-known brands on this list. Another reviewer specifically says this saw is easy enough for a woman to handle, calling it “not overly heavy” and ideal for use from a ladder without fatigue.

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A demon in a compact frame — Dewalt’s 2.8 HP brushless motor that slices through 7-inch limbs like butter.

This is the most powerful saw on the list, rated at 2.8 horsepower — note that horsepower here refers to an equivalent rating that manufacturers use for electric motors, not the same as a gas engine, but it still translates to noticeably more torque than the 0.73 HP Skil or the 2 HP RYOBI. Owners confirm it cuts through 6-7 inch oak saplings and tree limbs without bogging. One reviewer described it as “a demon in the best way,” saying it handled “good size tree limbs like butter.”

At 4.6 pounds (tool only, with a 6Ah battery attached), it is the heaviest saw here, but owners say the weight is well-balanced. The 8-inch bar gives you 33% more cutting reach than the 6-inch models, matching the RYOBI but with higher horsepower that owners mention handles 5-6 inch limbs with authority. The one real quirk: oil can leak if the saw is stored lying flat with oil in the tank. Dewalt’s instructions say to drain the oil after use or store the saw upright with the oil cap at the highest point — a few owners who stored it flat reported oil on their workbench and initially blamed the design until they learned the proper orientation.

One owner explicitly returned this saw to upgrade to the Dewalt 12-inch model because they regularly needed to cut 8-9 inch limbs. That is a useful data point: if your average branch is under 6 inches, this saw is perfect. If you regularly face bigger wood, the 12-inch may be the better fit. Battery life is impressive — one reviewer noted a full weekend of cutting on a single charge with a 6Ah battery, which is well beyond what the smaller 2.0Ah batteries deliver.

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The only saw on the list that includes two batteries, three chains, and a full safety kit right in the box.

At 6.4 pounds with both batteries, this is the heaviest handheld saw here — but it is also the only one that gives you two 1500mAh batteries and three chains in the package. One buyer reports that each battery lasts roughly 30 minutes of continuous cutting with a 2-hour recharge time, and the two batteries together give you about an hour of runtime before you need to plug in. That is a genuine advantage if you tend to forget to charge between jobs: you can swap batteries and keep working.

The pure copper motor delivers 850 watts of power with a chain speed of 16.4 ft/s. That is noticeably slower than the 36 ft/s of the DEJUNPIOOL, so cuts take a bit longer. But the auto-oiler (a built-in pump that drips oil onto the chain as it runs) provides smoother cutting than manual lubrication models, and the 6-inch bar cuts through 6-inch logs in about 5 seconds, per the manufacturer. Buyers confirm it handles bamboo, limbs, and small tree branches effectively — one single mom called it “a good starter for small tasks,” noting it includes safety gear, an extra chain, and a carry case that makes it feel like a complete solution.

One significant difference from the DEJUNPIOOL: the Ohenjoy is a self-contained system with proprietary batteries (2x 1500mAh), not a tool that runs on an existing brand’s batteries. That means if you already own Dewalt or RYOBI tools, you cannot share batteries. But if you are starting from zero, having the charger and two batteries included means you do not need to buy anything else except oil.

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At 2.1 pounds, this is the lightest chainsaw here, with a balanced feel that tree climbers love.

The Makita XCU14Z weighs just 33.76 ounces (2.1 pounds) — the lightest saw on the list by a significant margin. That featherweight feel, combined with the compact design at 18.23 inches in length, makes it the saw you grab when you are climbing a tree and need one hand free to brace yourself. Owners specifically mention using it as a middle-ground tool between hand pruners and larger chainsaws, filling a gap that no other saw quite covers.

Makita’s brushless motor delivers up to 140 cuts in 2-inch cedar with an 18V LXT 2.0Ah battery (battery sold separately), according to the manufacturer. The tool-free chain adjustment allows convenient operation and maintenance without fumbling for a wrench. The retractable guard (a shield that covers the chain when not cutting and retracts when you press it against wood) provides a saw chain barrier that adds an extra layer of safety compared to fixed-guard designs on other models.

One owner’s honest assessment: “It does catch on flexible branches and stops quite a bit.” The auto-adjusting chain tensioner, which some reviewers dislike, can cause the saw to clog on sappy or bendable branches and fail to restart until you clear the debris. This is a specific trade-off for the saw’s otherwise excellent lightweight design. On the flip side, another reviewer said the saw is “so effective that it is addictive,” using it to slice up branches, prune tree limbs, and even cut down a small tree without the battery running down before their arms got tired.