How Much Do Chainsaws Weigh?
Chainsaw weight ranges from around 5 lb for a compact battery pruning saw to well over 20 lb for a large professional gas saw with a long bar. Weight is one of the specs we publish on every model where the manufacturer documents it — but published figures are easy to misread, because manufacturers don't all weigh the same thing.
What the listed weight includes (and what it doesn't)
Most manufacturers quote a dry powerhead weight: the saw without the guide bar, chain, fuel, and bar oil. A bar and chain typically add roughly 1–2 lb or more depending on length, and fluids add more still.
Battery saws are the biggest trap: some brands quote the weight without the battery pack, and packs commonly add 2–4 lb. When comparing a battery saw against a gas saw, make sure both figures count the same components — as-cut weight (bar, chain, and battery or fluids fitted) is what your arms actually feel.
Typical weights by power type
- Compact battery and corded pruning saws: roughly 5–8 lb, built for light limbing and overhead work.
- Mid-size battery and corded saws: roughly 8–12 lb with pack, covering most homeowner cutting.
- Homeowner gas saws: commonly about 10–13 lb dry, before bar, chain, and fluids.
- Professional and felling gas saws: about 13–20 lb or more as equipped, with the longest bars adding further weight.
These are broad ranges, not rules — check the weight field on a model's spec sheet for the documented figure and how the manufacturer defines it.
Why weight matters
Fatigue accumulates with every cut, and a heavy saw held away from the body or overhead multiplies the effort. For long sessions, arborist work, or pruning, operators often accept less power to get a lighter saw.
For felling and bucking large wood the calculus reverses: power-to-weight is the more useful lens, because an underpowered light saw spends longer in each cut. That's why we publish both weight and power figures side by side.
Browsing by weight
Every category listing on SawFacts can be filtered into weight bands (under 8 lb, 8–11 lb, 11–14 lb, 14 lb and up) and sorted light-to-heavy, so you can compare only the saws your arms will thank you for.
Related on SawFacts
Compare models by weight:
- Battery chainsaws, lightest first
- Gas chainsaws, lightest first
- Corded chainsaws, lightest first
- Lightweight chainsaws
- What size chainsaw do you need?
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chainsaw weigh?
Most consumer chainsaws weigh between about 6 and 13 lb; compact battery pruning saws can be around 5 lb, while professional gas saws with long bars can exceed 20 lb as equipped. Check the spec sheet for the documented weight of a specific model.
Does the listed weight include the bar, chain, and battery?
Often not. Many manufacturers quote dry powerhead weight without bar, chain, fuel, or battery. A bar and chain add roughly 1–2 lb or more, and battery packs commonly add 2–4 lb, so confirm what a published figure includes before comparing models.
Are battery chainsaws heavier than gas chainsaws?
With the pack fitted, a battery saw is often similar in weight to an equivalent homeowner gas saw with fuel — the battery replaces the engine's fuel and some mechanical mass. Large professional gas saws remain the heaviest class overall.