Best Chainsaw for Carving [2024 Review]

Wood carving takes a lot of skill and effort. Whether you like to carve small items or you carve huge statues, you need the right tools to help you out. When you work from a large log or hunk of wood, you need a tool that can manage paring it down for you.

I’ve searched the market to try to narrow down the options and figure out just what will work best for carving purposes. My goal was to find a chainsaw that will work well for carving needs in these capacities. I have some great ones to share.

Best Chainsaw for Carving Reviews

Whether you want something large and powerful or just a simple chainsaw to help with precision and accuracy on your sawing needs, I’ve got you covered. There are a lot of great choices out there. Be sure to keep your carving needs in mind as you peruse the choices.

Below, you will find my top picks for the best chainsaws for carving.

Best Battery Option: DeWalt 20V Max XR Chainsaw DCCS620B

The first option is a simple choice with the convenience of no cord or gas. The DeWalt chainsaw is comfortable, easy to use, and battery operated.

Typically, this chainsaw is recommended for simple DIY use. It has enough power to handle carving easily and the cordless design allows you to tile and angle the chainsaw. I love using cordless chainsaws for carving, because you’ll be moving so much around the workpiece.

This DeWalt is not overly large, with a standard blade length of 12 inches. It also comes in handy because it is battery-powered so you don’t have to fiddle with gas or an electric cord.

This chainsaw is designed to be reliable in many ways. In fact, it’s a #1 best seller in the chainsaw world and you can check out more than 8,000 reviews to that effect as well. This option works well for carving because it’s small and easy to control and handle.

The blade is also great for carving without being overly long and hard to wield while you’re carving. You don’t need a larger 20″ chainsaw for carving – it’s the perfect size to manage and maintain full control.

Highlights:

• Blade: 12 inches
• Weight 8.8 pounds
• Power: 20V Max battery
• Warranty: 3 years

We appreciate that DeWalt created a chainsaw to be part of their 20V max line. It gives you some versatility if you use other tools in the line. The 12″ inch blade allows you to have versatility too. You can likely handle most of your carving needs easily with this option.

In addition, DeWalt made this chainsaw with a brushless motor, which makes it operate more efficiently and reliably overall. Your motor will last longer but it will also give you more battery life in the long run.

This battery model is supposed to last up to 90 cuts per charge. This will depend on how challenging the cut is. With carving, you will likely have some variation in the charge times. I recommend having a backup battery to be safe.

What I Like:

• The 12-inch bar gives you added versatility
• The saw is lightweight and comfortable
• Battery-powered for more versatility
• The brushless motor lasts much longer
• Handles up to 90 cuts per charge

What I Don’t Like:

• Depending on your project, you might need a better chain

Best Corded Option: Worx WG303 16-Inch Electric Chainsaw

If you don’t want to have to worry about a battery, you can work with a corded chainsaw instead. The Worx electric chainsaw is a great choice.

This chainsaw is lightweight, which makes it much easier to manage so you can work on carving and get things done. The chainsaw is designed with low kickback as well as automatic lubrication from a built-in reservoir. The thing is that a beginner or a professional can greatly appreciate the quality of this saw.

We recommend the 16″ inch option but there is a 14 or 18-inch option as well if that seems more appropriate for your needs. For carving, you can get by just fine with the smaller lengths, but having 16″ inches allows you to make deeper and longer cuts as you carve.

With a cord, you don’t have to worry about gas, but you need to mind the cord as you work.

The chainsaw allows you to adjust the tension without any tools. It has solid speed and power behind it as well.

With a 16-inch blade you get a comfortable grip as well as an ergonomic design that will make controlling the chainsaw much easier overall. There are several safety features built-in as well.

Highlights:

• Blade: 16 inches
• Weight 11 pounds
• Power: 14.5 amps corded
• Warranty: 3 years

If you’re a beginner with chainsaws, this could be a great choice. However, a professional will still appreciate the easy handling details too. It’s nice to have control and comfort all in one simple tool. Everything is designed to make your working smooth.

Worx made an effort to add modern ingenuity to a simple design. That’s what really makes this chainsaw stand out in many ways. You’ve got simplicity and basic details that really keep you working. It’s safe and it’s smooth. You can even work for extended lengths of time thanks to the cord.

What I Like:

• Corded power lets you work for extended periods of time
• The 16-inch blade is long enough to handle thick wood
• 14 amps of power can handle most tasks
• Comfortable to control and use
• Easy to manage and learn

What I Don’t Like:

• The no-kick tip can make tight corners harder to carve

Best Gas Option: Husqvarna 120 Mark 16-Inch Gas Chainsaw

If you’re looking for the power and durability of gas, take a look at this Husqvarna gas chainsaw. It is gas so you will have to be mindful of that as you work, but it offers a lot of power that can really help you make it through some of the more challenging wood for carving.

The Husqvarna is slightly heavier thanks to a gas design but it’s still not overly heavy. It’s reliably efficient – they created the engine with the X-Torq design.

This is specific to the brand and allows you to enjoy the power of the gas machine without having to worry about heavy emissions. It also helps the chainsaw to functionally operate at a higher efficiency level.

The one thing that is pretty cool on this gas chainsaw is the addition of a centrifugal air filtering system on the chainsaw. The centrifugal allows you to tilt the chainsaw.

It also helps to filter out wood chips and debris so that they don’t jam up the air filter and cause other issues with your chainsaw.

The 16″ inch blade is larger than the DeWalt and the same size as the Worx I recommend.

 Highlights:

• Blade: 16 inches
• Weight 13.5 pounds
• Power: 38cc gas
• Warranty: 2 years

Husqvarna did everything they could to make this chainsaw easy to use. It’s even easy to start. It likely will take some priming on the first startup but after that, it should be much easier to handle. The chain and bar design allow you to handle a variety of carving needs as well.

This chainsaw sports great safety features so you can handle your carving without major concern. The saw will automatically stop if needed and has guards on the design.

It also has anti-kickback features. In addition, the chainsaw is comfortable. The ergonomic design lets you do the hard work without making yourself miserable.

If you’ll be carving hard, dense wood, then you might want to look at buying a gas chainsaw. This Husqvarna would be my recommendation

What I Like:

• Centrifugal air filtration system is useful
• Lightweight to work with for a gas machine
• Reduced vibration design
• X-Torq engine reduces emissions
• Easy to work with no matter your skill level

What I Don’t Like:

• The initial start up requires priming. It needs time to warm up

Best Value Option: Greenworks Pro 16-Inch Cordless Chainsaw

If you like the battery models, take a look at this Greenworks cordless chainsaw. It’s well-built and will work out nicely when you are carving. Greenworks routinely makes the cut for providing high value to money.

The 16″ inch blade is perfectly versatile to handle some of the thicker wood. This size blade is the size I typically see for carving.

Greenworks battery has enough power to handle quite a bit of work as well. This battery is also compatible with other tools in their line so you can compile a collection if you want to. The set comes with the chainsaw, charger, and battery to get you going.

Greenworks worked hard to make this saw comfortable to handle. It’s a battery-operated saw but they tried to manage the overall weight of the saw even with the battery. They have a contoured wraparound handle so that you can maintain control easily. In addition, you have your traditional grip and trigger, which is also made with ergonomics in mind.

The chainsaw sports some great safety features like the low kickback available on the chainsaw. They also have an electronic chain brake that gives you an added level of security.

Additionally, they put metal bucking spikes on the saw too. These can sometimes make tight curves more challenging but it’s a safer way to cut and you can clean that up later.

Highlights:

• Blade: 16 inches
• Weight 12.8 pounds
• Power: 80-volt lithium battery
• Warranty: 4 years

Greenworks hit it out of the ballpark with their warranty. It’s a 4-year warranty, which is one of the longest you will find for a chainsaw. That four years covers both the tool and the battery.

Greenworks is really all about sustainability and you can see that in their design. There are no emissions, oil, or gas necessary here. However, that doesn’t mean that they slack on quality. This 80-volt lithium line gives you tons of power and reliability. The saw is built for hard work and durability.

What I Like:

• Battery operated with plenty of power thanks to the 80-volt lithium battery
• Comes with battery and charger
• 16-inch bar and chain give you plenty of versatility
• Safety features like bar spikes and chain brake are nice
• Designed for control and comfort

What I Don’t Like:

• A bit on the heavy side for a cordless chainsaw

Best Budget Option: Wen 4017 Electric Chainsaw 16-Inch

If you’re looking for something budget-friendly but reliable for carving, check out this Wen electric chainsaw. Wen keeps it simple but functional. Not to mention that this chainsaw is much more affordable than some of the options you will find out there.

It’s a corded model so you just need to be mindful to work carefully around the cord for safety. A typical 16″ inch blade is used by Wen on this model.

This chainsaw is designed to be comfortable to work with. It’s lightweight for the size and incredibly easy to use. No 40 pulls to start since it is electric.

You can control everything with the trigger on the grip, including your speed and the movement of the blade. The blade speed can reach up to 44 feet per second, which is pretty fast for a chainsaw at this price point.

This chainsaw also has the automatic oiling system which helps to keep your blade lubricated. You can add more oil to the blade if you feel the need, but it should be lubricated naturally by the saw. This also helps to make your chainsaw last longer and elude things like rust or corrosion that wear down saws quickly.

Highlights:

• Blade: 16 inches
• Weight 10 pounds
• Power: 12-amp electric
• Warranty: 3 years

Wen is well-known for making affordable tools that still deliver where quality is concerned. You won’t be missing important features and the quality is certainly there. That makes this a great value for the money.

The saw is easy to maneuver. The blade is long and lean so you can easily make curves and more challenging carving cuts just fine. You also have plenty of power to handle some of those harder woods, like mahogany. You have no emissions or gasoline, and you can adjust tension or make chain changes without additional tools required.

What I Like:

• Lightweight style makes it easy to maneuver
• Budget-friendly chainsaw option
• Plenty of power for handling a variety of tasks
• 16-inch bar and chain allow for versatility
• Easy to work with for carvers of all skills

What I Don’t Like:

• Assembly is a bit of a challenge and good instructions are not included

Features to Consider When Buying a Chainsaw for Carving

Some people carve their basic shapes and outline with a chainsaw and then follow up to smooth out the design and add edges and shape more. If you’re going to use a chainsaw for carving, you need it to be easy to handle and you need to know that you can get accurate and precise carving with the tool.

Before you choose a chainsaw, there are some basic details that you need to consider. It’s important that you pick a chainsaw that will work for your needs. Check out some of these details to help you decide.

Type of Chainsaw

One of the first elements to pay attention to is the type of chainsaw you need or would prefer. For example, you can choose from cordless, corded, or gas-powered chainsaws. Of course, they come in different sizes but that’s another topic.

Corded chainsaws are convenient because you don’t have to worry about things like gas or a dead battery. However, you do have to be careful of that power cord.

You’re doing a lot of moving and twisting while carving, and the cord could easily get in your way or be more of a nuisance than it should be. While corded options are usually the lowest price, they might not be the right option for carving wood.

When it comes to cordless chainsaws, there are multiple options: gas or battery operated.

A battery chainsaw is rechargeable and convenient, but you do have to worry about getting enough juice from it and how long it will last. While battery chainsaws might not be good enough for felling large trees, they are usually great solutions for wood carving.

Finally, you have gas chainsaws. These are the most powerful, but they have emissions, and you have to worry about your gas tank as well as noise.

It might not be worth all the hassle to use a gas option for carving. But, if you’re carving harder woods, then you will appreciate the added power.

Chain and Bar Size

The next thing to think about is the size of the blade. Your chain and bar length are the number to check out here. The length of your chain and bar will have some effect on just what you can and can’t do. Try to consider the size of wood that you are going to work with. Do you plan to sculpt small things or larger things?

You need to be sure you have sufficient length for your plans. That being said, smaller length is often sufficient. Smaller length can be easier to manage the chainsaw and also give you something lighter weight that you have to work with.

Safety

Working with a chainsaw is already intimidating enough. It can be dangerous, so you need to make sure that your chainsaw is designed to keep you as safe as possible.

Basic safety features include things like anti-kickback. Of course, it’s always really nice if you can find reduced vibration or even bar spikes on the saw. Keep in mind those bar spikes might hinder curves some though.

Wrap Up

Whether you’re a hobby wood carver or you want to make large and detailed sculptures, you need a heavy-duty chainsaw to depend on. Your chainsaw should be easy to manage and reliable as well.

Look for durability and functionality overall. I highly recommend that you be sure to consider your needs and your plans before you make a final decision. This will help ensure that you get a chainsaw that meets your needs.