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Chainsaws come in three meaningfully different types, and bar length is the split that changes the buying decision. A 10-inch bar handles light pruning and storm cleanup, while 16 inches and up shifts toward limbing and small firewood. Measure the wood you cut most often, then compare that to your longest routine cut.
Chainsaw Types Among the Listings We Screened
| Type | What sets it apart | Listings we screened | Price range | Median battery voltage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact cordless chainsaw | bar length up to 12in | 20 | $104.49 to $294.91 | 24V |
| Mid-size cordless chainsaw | bar length 12 to 16in | 24 | $109.99 to $599.95 | 40V |
| Large cordless chainsaw | bar length 16in and up | 41 | $109.99 to $649 | 70V |
Counted over the 95 listings this site screened; a listing that does not state the figure a type is defined by is not counted under any type.
New users can find a helpful starting point by viewing the best chainsaw for beginners.
Where these choices show up in our reviews
Prices across these 3 run from $118.99 to $299; each one has a full review here.
Compact Cordless Chainsaws
Compact cordless chainsaws use bars up to 12 inches, so they suit light pruning, yard cleanup, and quick cuts where reach matters more than output. Their usual battery platform is 24V, which keeps them in the lower-priced part of the cordless range, but they give up cutting reach and reserve for larger wood.
For those primarily interested in processing wood, look at the best chainsaw for cutting firewood.
Choose this type when your cuts stay small and you want the lightest cordless format in the group. The mistake costs time, because a short bar forces more repositioning on thicker limbs and pushes you toward a second tool for bigger jobs.
Mid-size Cordless Chainsaws
Mid-size cordless chainsaws use 12- to 16-inch bars, which puts them in the range for limbing and small firewood.
To understand the basic mechanics of the tool, view how a chainsaw works and what it is.
This type fits a homeowner who wants one saw for routine property work without jumping to the largest cordless format. Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss is the gas benchmark for serious property work, and mid-size cordless saws answer a similar job with a battery platform instead of fuel.
If your work shifts from trimming to regular bucking, this is the point where the extra bar length starts to matter more than compact size. The compromise is cost pressure, because mid-size cordless listings sit above compact cordless models and below the largest cordless options.
Researching different budgets is easier when you see what each chainsaw price level gets you.
Large Cordless Chainsaws
Large cordless chainsaws start at 16 inches and run upward, which makes them the cordless type for bigger limbs and faster bucking. Their median battery voltage is 70V, so they carry the strongest battery systems in the cordless group, but they also ask more from the pack and the saw body.
Selecting the correct bar size is easier when you learn how to choose your chain gauge.
Use this type when you need the longest cordless reach and the most room for larger cuts. The tradeoff is weight and battery demand, and the wrong choice here leaves you with more saw than your routine work can justify.
Stihl MS 261 C-M is the pro gas benchmark for cutting speed, balance, and durability, and large cordless saws are the closest battery answer to that role. They still sit in the cordless price band, where the upper end rises sharply as bar length and voltage increase.
Detailed specifications are available in our full NEO-TEC 20 Inch review.
How the Three Chainsaw Types Compare
| Type | Best-fit buyer | Main advantage | Main compromise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact cordless chainsaw | Homeowner with pruning and cleanup tasks | Shortest bar and simplest cordless format | Least reach for thicker wood |
| Mid-size cordless chainsaw | Property owner handling limbing and small firewood | Balanced reach for routine cutting | Costs more than compact cordless models |
| Large cordless chainsaw | Buyer who wants the biggest cordless cutting range | Longest cordless bars and strongest battery systems | Higher battery demand and more weight |
Which Chainsaw Type Fits Your Work?
Choose by the longest wood you cut regularly, not by the biggest job you hope to finish once. If your work stays under 12 inches, compact cordless is the cleanest fit; if it moves into 12 to 16 inches, mid-size cordless is the better match; if your routine cuts start at 16 inches or more, large cordless belongs in the conversation.
If you split time between yard cleanup and storm work, the bar length you need for the larger task should set the type. If you only need occasional pruning, the extra reach of a larger saw brings cost and battery demand without changing the job much.
You can find a detailed breakdown in our full MS 170 spec review.
Check your own cut size, then confirm the current rules for your location before ordering. If your work is mostly limbing and small firewood, the 16-inch step is the one that changes the decision most.