A 14 inch chainsaw is the sweet spot for most homeowner cutting work: light enough to use for an hour without fatigue, long enough to buck typical firewood rounds and limb mid-size trees, and small enough to control safely without professional training. The wrong 14 inch chainsaw has a weak chain tensioner that loosens mid-cut, a bar oiler that runs dry without warning, and either an underpowered motor or a battery that dies after 15 minutes. After a season of property maintenance, storm cleanup, and firewood prep across five 14 inch saws, these picks stood out.
Quick comparison
| Chainsaw | Power source | Weight | Bar oiling | Chain tensioning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stihl MS 170 | Gas 30.1cc | 9.7 lb | Auto adjustable | Standard nut |
| EGO CS1400 | Battery 56V | 10.4 lb | Auto adjustable | Tool-less |
| Husqvarna 120 Mark II | Gas 38cc | 10.8 lb | Auto adjustable | Tool-less |
| DeWalt DCCS670X1 | Battery 60V | 12.2 lb | Manual adjustable | Tool-less |
| Worx WG303.1 | Corded 14.5A | 11 lb | Auto adjustable | Tool-less |
Stihl MS 170 - Best Gas Overall
Stihl’s MS 170 is the entry-point gas chainsaw that has earned its place over multiple generations. 30.1cc engine, 14 inch bar, automatic chain oiling, and a 9.7 pound dry weight that is lighter than any battery competitor in the same cut class. The saw starts predictably with the correct cold-start sequence, and Stihl’s anti-vibration system is among the best in the price range.
The chain tensioner uses a standard nut-and-scrench design rather than tool-less, which is more time-consuming but also more reliable in dirt and chip-heavy environments. Cut speed on 8 inch oak rounds is comparable to saws with 35-plus cc displacement.
Trade-off: gas maintenance (mixed fuel, spark plug, air filter) is more work than battery. The MS 170 is not rated for professional all-day use.
Best for: occasional homeowners, anyone wanting Stihl’s parts and dealer network, dry climates where battery sealing matters less.
EGO CS1400 - Best Battery Overall
EGO’s CS1400 is the 56V battery saw that proves modern lithium designs can match small gas saws for typical homeowner work. The 14 inch bar drives a 3/8 LP chain at gas-comparable cut speeds in 8 inch hardwood, with a 2.5 Ah to 5 Ah battery delivering 25 to 50 cuts before recharge.
The brushless motor stops the chain almost instantly when the trigger releases, which is the biggest safety upgrade battery saws have over gas. Tool-less chain tensioning is genuinely easy and the auto-oiler is reliable.
Trade-off: a single battery charge limits continuous work to about 30 to 45 minutes of active cutting. For full days of work, gas is still faster.
Best for: small-property owners, storm cleanup, anyone in the EGO battery ecosystem.
Husqvarna 120 Mark II - Best Mid-Range Gas
Husqvarna’s 120 Mark II is the value gas chainsaw in the 14 inch class. 38cc engine (larger than the Stihl MS 170), tool-less chain tensioning, and the Husqvarna X-Torq engine design that runs cleaner and uses less fuel than competing 35 to 40 cc designs.
The 38cc engine has more torque under load than the Stihl 30.1cc, which makes longer continuous cuts smoother. The price sits between the Stihl entry models and the premium Husqvarna lineup.
Trade-off: heavier than the MS 170 by about a pound. Tool-less tensioning is convenient but the plastic adjustment knob has wear life.
Best for: regular weekly use, mid-size property maintenance, anyone wanting more displacement at a moderate price.
DeWalt DCCS670X1 - Best for DeWalt Battery Users
DeWalt’s DCCS670X1 uses the FlexVolt 60V battery platform, which doubles as 20V Max for other DeWalt tools. The saw delivers strong cut performance for a battery model and the platform integration is genuinely useful if you own DeWalt cordless tools already.
The brushless motor is powerful, the auto-oiler is reliable, and the tool-less tensioner uses a wing-nut style that holds well. Battery runtime is comparable to the EGO with a 6 Ah pack.
Trade-off: heavier than the EGO at 12.2 pounds. DeWalt’s chainsaw lineup is newer than EGO’s, so the long-term durability track record is still building.
Best for: existing DeWalt battery platform owners, mixed-tool job sites, contractors.
Worx WG303.1 - Best Corded
Worx’s WG303.1 is the 14 inch corded electric chainsaw that handles homeowner work without fuel, batteries, or recharge time. 14.5 amp motor, 14 inch bar, auto chain oiler, and tool-less chain tensioning. Plug it in and it runs as long as power flows.
The cord limit (typically 100 feet maximum with proper gauge extension cord) restricts where you can cut, but for backyard, driveway, and near-house work the corded design is genuinely convenient. Maintenance is minimal: just chain oil and occasional chain sharpening.
Trade-off: cord management is annoying and the cord position can interfere with cut planning. Not usable for any cutting away from a power outlet.
Best for: backyard cleanup, suburban property maintenance, anyone wanting zero-fuel-zero-battery operation.
How to choose a 14 inch chainsaw
Power source by use case. Gas for heavy or remote use, battery for clean and quiet operation, corded for unlimited runtime near outlets. Match to where and how often you cut.
Weight matters past 30 minutes. Anything over 11 pounds becomes tiring after a half hour of continuous use, especially when limbing overhead. Lighter saws reduce fatigue but sometimes trade off engine displacement.
Chain tensioning is a daily task. Tool-less tensioners save time but wear faster. Standard scrench tensioners last decades but add a step to every chain adjustment. Match to how often you adjust.
Auto bar oiling is non-negotiable. Manual oilers exist on some budget saws and cause chain and bar destruction when forgotten. Every saw in this list has automatic oiling. If a saw does not, skip it.
Where 14 inch makes sense and where it does not
A 14 inch chainsaw is the right size for homeowner property maintenance, occasional firewood prep, limbing trees up to 30 feet tall, and storm cleanup. The bar length handles most rounds homeowners actually encounter.
Wrong for: felling trees larger than 14 inches in diameter on a regular basis (16 or 18 inch saw is safer), production firewood operations (20 inch and larger pro saws are faster), or any high-reach work where a pole saw is the correct tool.
Safety and maintenance basics
Chainsaws cause more emergency-room visits than any other power tool, and the injury patterns are predictable: kickback to the left shoulder or face, chain contact with the left leg, and pinched-blade fall-forward injuries during felling. Each pattern has a prevention.
Wear chainsaw chaps. The polyester fibers inside the chaps jam the chain instantly on contact, preventing serious cuts to the leg. Chaps cost $60 to $100 and prevent the most common chainsaw injury type. Skipping chaps is the single biggest mistake homeowner chainsaw users make.
Use a chainsaw helmet with face shield and ear protection. Branches falling during limbing strike the head at high speed. Chainsaw noise damages hearing after even 30 minutes of continuous operation.
Sharpen the chain on a schedule rather than waiting for cutting problems. A sharp chain reduces kickback risk because it bites the wood cleanly rather than skating across the surface. A dull chain that skates is the primary kickback trigger.
Check the chain brake function before every cutting session. Tip the bar forward sharply and confirm the brake engages. A failed chain brake is the second most common kickback injury contributor.
Drain old fuel from gas saws between seasons. Ethanol in modern fuel separates and gums up carburetors after 4 to 6 weeks of storage. Use fuel stabilizer or store with the tank drained.
For related guidance, see our chainsaw bar length by task article and the 10000 BTU air conditioner guide for outdoor work cooling context. Our full evaluation approach is documented in our methodology.
A 14 inch chainsaw is one of the most-used tools in a homeowner’s outdoor lineup, and the difference between a good one and a bad one shows up in every cutting session. The Stihl MS 170 is the long-term gas pick, the EGO CS1400 is the strongest battery option, and the Husqvarna 120 Mark II is the upgrade for regular use. Maintain the chain, keep the bar oiler topped, and any of these five will deliver years of cutting work.
Frequently asked questions
What size tree can a 14 inch chainsaw cut?+
A 14 inch chainsaw can fell trees up to roughly 12 inches in diameter in a single cut, and trees up to 24 inches with a two-side bore cut technique. The bar length limits the cut depth, not the saw's power. For trees over 14 inches in diameter, the technique matters more than the bar length, but a 16 or 18 inch saw makes the work safer. A 14 inch chainsaw is sized for limbing, bucking firewood rounds, and felling small to medium trees.
Are battery 14 inch chainsaws strong enough for firewood?+
Yes for hardwood rounds up to 10 inches in diameter. Modern 40V to 80V battery saws produce comparable cut speeds to small gas saws in the 30 to 40 cc class. Runtime per battery on continuous cutting runs 25 to 45 minutes depending on wood density. For a full cord of firewood prep in one session, gas is still faster because of immediate refueling versus battery charging. For 1 to 2 truckloads of bucking work, battery is convenient.
How often does a 14 inch chainsaw chain need sharpening?+
A 14 inch chain needs touch-up sharpening after every 2 to 3 tanks of fuel or 2 to 3 battery cycles of cutting. Full sharpening is needed every 8 to 12 hours of cutting, or sooner if the chain hits dirt, rocks, or buried metal. Signs of a dull chain include sawdust instead of chips, the saw pulling sideways through the cut, and increased force needed to feed the bar. Sharpening adds 5 minutes to a chain's life cycle and dramatically improves cut speed.
What is the chain pitch on a 14 inch chainsaw?+
Most homeowner 14 inch chainsaws use 3/8 inch low-profile (3/8 LP) chain with 0.043 inch or 0.050 inch gauge. Some larger displacement gas saws use full 3/8 inch chain. The bar marking lists the exact pitch and gauge required. Using the wrong pitch chain will either bind, fly off, or wear the bar rapidly. Always cross-check the bar label before buying a replacement chain. A 50-link or 52-link count is typical for 14 inch bars.
Gas, battery, or corded for a 14 inch chainsaw?+
Gas runs longest and cuts fastest, with no recharge time, but needs mixed fuel and regular maintenance. Battery is quieter, starts instantly, and is the right pick for occasional use; runtime limits matter for big jobs. Corded plug-in saws have unlimited runtime within cord reach and need almost no maintenance, but cord length and outdoor outlet placement limit where you can cut. Match the power type to your use frequency and job size.
