The Swedish company Husqvarna has been producing high-quality chainsaws and other relevant forestry tools for many years. Not only does this brand focus on delivering quality, but they also have a wide range of chainsaws available for very affordable prices. They don't call Husqvarna "legendary" for nothing!

If you're in the market for a new chainsaw, look no further. We compared five of Husqvarna's best gas and battery-powered chainsaws on the market today so you don't have to. Check out what we found, and stick around until the end to see which contender came out on top!

Backyard Boss Top 5 Husqvarna Chainsaws for 2021

PRODUCT

FEATURES

Husqvarna 24 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw - $$title$$

Husqvarna 24 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw

  • Gas-powdered
  • 24-inch bar length
  • 60.3cc engine

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Husqvarna 14 Inch 120i Cordless Battery Powered Chainsaw - $$title$$

Husqvarna 14 Inch 120i Cordless Battery Powered Chainsaw

  • Battery-powered
  • 14-inch bar length
  • 40V battery

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Husqvarna K970 Concrete Chain Saw With Bar - $$title$$

Husqvarna K970 Concrete Chain Saw With Bar

  • Gas-powered
  • 14-inch bar
  • 6.4 HP engine

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Husqvarna 20 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw - $$title$$

Husqvarna 20 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw

  • Gas-powered
  • 20-inch bar
  • 60.3cc engine

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Husqvarna 966997203 T435 Top Handle Saw - $$title$$

Husqvarna 966997203 T435 Top Handle Saw

  • Gas-powered
  • 14-inch bar
  • 35cc engine

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Why You Can Trust Us

The Backyard Boss team has extensive experience with power tools; chainsaws are no exception. We've been through chainsaw safety training and have chopped up our share of trees to know what to look for in a quality chainsaw. Not only do we know how a chainsaw works and to handle it safely, but we also understand how to properly fuel a gas-powered chainsaw, how to start it on a cold morning, and how to switch out or repair the chain.

If you're ever stuck with a chainsaw that shows a decline in performance, check out our guide on how to maintain your chainsaw. And since you're looking for a new one, you might want to review our guide on how to pick the right size chainsaw.

Best All-Around Saw

    Husqvarna 24 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw

    A great everyday professional or personal use chainsaw with 3.62 horsepower and surprisingly low carrying weight.

The chainsaw with the best all-around saw has to be the Husqvarna 24 Inch 460 Rancher Gas model. This model technically comes in a range of bar lengths and gauges, but we found that the 24-inch bar length, .058-inch gauge is particularly powerful in terms of saw quality. It has all the features of a powerful gas-powered chainsaw, from an intense 60.3cc engine to 3.62 horsepower to a surprisingly low weight of 13.2 pounds. Like most of the products on our list, the 460 Rancher has an X-Torq engine that significantly reduces fuel consumption and a LowVib system that reduces overall vibration.

What sets this model apart is the use of Smart Start and Air Injection. Smart Start is Husqvarna's unique technology that makes their chainsaws extremely easy to start. Their notable Air Injection system also keeps large chunks of dust and debris from reaching the air filter, so you can enjoy a longer period of time between cleanings.

Best for Casual-Use

    Husqvarna 14 Inch 120i Cordless Battery Powered Chainsaw

    A small but mighty battery-powered cordless chainsaw with an intuitive control keypad.

The Husqvarna 14 Inch 120i Cordless Battery Powered Chainsaw may not be the most powerful chainsaw on our list, but it is perfect for casual use and versatility. Complete with a 40V battery, 14-inch bar length, and an extremely low 8.4 lbs, this lightweight machine is perfect for casual branch-clearing and small cutting projects. You won't be able to slice through concrete or extremely thick trees with this machine, but for casual use, it works just fine.

This chainsaw comes with an intuitive keypad for seamless operation and a brushless motor that creates a high torque-to-weight ratio for even more efficiency. Plus, the 120i is very quiet compared to other chainsaws. That's the beauty of battery-powered chainsaws! We recommend this product if you're someone who isn't a professional forester but you do have a backyard that requires a bit of pruning. This chainsaw can fell relatively small trees as well. While the battery charger and a handy chainsaw bar cover are included, you'll need to purchase the bar and chain oil separately.

Best for Heavy-Duty Jobs

    Husqvarna K970 Concrete Chain Saw With Bar

    One of Husqvarna's most powerful machines, the K970 boasts a tough engine with X-Torq reduces emissions while cutting through material as hard as concrete.

Now we've arrived at the biggest powerhouse on this list! The K970 didn't quite make it to our "Best Professional Saw" section, but this model would also be fantastic for professional foresters or arborists. With this powerful engine, users can make up to 18-inch deep cuts from one side and openings as small as four inches. That unique cutting depth makes this chainsaw great for everything from serious felling to small detailing. This gas chainsaw boasts an insanely strong 6.4 horsepower engine, complete with X Torq engine, anti-vibration technology and sturdy guide bar for a more comfortable wielding experience. The K970 comes with the basic EasySart, but also has a Dura Starter unit that makes starter maintenance virtually non-existent and incredibly reliable.

The only downfalls of this machine are that it does make a serious amount of noise and can be a bit of a gas guzzler, but is that really so surprising given its powerhouse of an engine? This is for big projects, big trees, and heavy-duty use.

Best for Professional Use

    Husqvarna 20 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw

    Ideal for professional foresters, the 460 Rancher features a low-vibration system that makes continuous use of this chainsaw more comfortable.

If you're in need of a fairly affordable saw for professional forestry use, the Husqvarna 20 Inch 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw is a machine worth considering. This saw has a 60.3cc engine, a 20-inch bar length, a maximum power speed of 9,000rpm, and only weighs about 11 pounds. It's the perfect balance of powerful and lightweight for the professional forester who needs to carry heavy equipment around on the job.

The 460 Rancher features a ton of extra bells and whistles. Naturally, like most of Husqvarna's products, it comes with an X-Torq engine and a Smart Start starter that makes starting this machine easy and fast with little effort. The quick-release air filter and air injection technology make keeping this chainsaw clean and operable quite easy.

The 460 Rancher is lightweight, packs a ton of power, starts with ease, cuts quickly with an ultra-sharp chain, and offers low vibration that regular professional users will appreciate. It can be used for large trees and small brush alike. The only downside to this chainsaw is that the chain tends to dull quickly, but that's to be expected with most chainsaws as a regular part of maintenance.

Best Top-Handle Saw

    Husqvarna 966997203 T435 Top Handle Saw

    A handy top-handled chainsaw that comes with a bar cover and a compact size that makes handling easy and safe for pros.

A top-handled chainsaw is an excellent choice for professionals and novice users alike, though their unique design was created to help arborists that work in trees. In order to purchase a top-handled chainsaw from Husqvarna, proper certification of competence must be provided. This is because top-handled saws are designed to be used with one hand by pros.

The Husqvarna 966997203 T435 Top Handle Saw is a great example of the top-handled saws that Husqvarna produces. You may not be too impressed by its power, since this model only boasts a 35cc engine and 2.01 horsepower, which pales in comparison to some other machines on this list. However, top handle saws work best when they are lighter and easier to navigate with one hand. At only 7.5 lbs, this lightweight chainsaw still boasts all the best parts of Husqvarna chainsaw: X Torq technology, a quick-release air filter, Smart Start, an X-Force bar and chain, and an adjustable oil pump. This chainsaw has a multitude of uses, from felling to construction work to minor backyard maintenance. It also comes with a handy rope attachment that makes hoisting this chainsaw into a tree quite simple. And because it doesn't consume as much fuel as its heftier counterparts, you'll enjoy the benefits of lower fuel consumption and low exhaust.

Husqvarna Chainsaws Overview

Husqvarna as a company has been around for over 330 years. Initially established in 1689 as a foundry for weapons, Husqvarna has evolved into a supplier of a number of machines, including sewing equipment, motorcycles, and chainsaws. Their forestry products are well-known and popular in the industry, and Husqvarna recognized this in their About Us page: "Husqvarna believes working outdoors is more than a livelihood: It’s a calling. That’s why, whether we’re designing a chainsaw for a forester or building a lawn mower for a landscaper, we strive for a high level of quality and workmanship. Our mission is to help hardworking people achieve their dreams."

woman holding husqvarna chainsaw in polka dot dress indoors

When it comes to using a Husqvarna chainsaw, there are a ton of use cases. They are mostly used for felling (or cutting down trees), as well as branch clearing. Chainsaws can also be used for cutting up firewood and for use as a general outdoor trimmer. Certain heavy-duty chainsaws (one of which makes our list) can cut through everything from concrete to brick to metal and more. Chainsaws have even been used outside of the outdoor power equipment world as tools of art. Each year in Wisconsin, the Chainsaw Sculpture Championship wows crowds and provides opportunities for chainsaw artists to show their stuff. But if you're just interested in having a chainsaw around in case you have a rogue tree branch to deal with, that's fine too.

Gas-powered chainsaws and battery-powered chainsaws are both are offered by Husqvarna. They vary quite a bit, so it's important to decide which type of power tools you're looking for from Husqvarna.

Gas Chainsaws

Gas-powered chainsaws are the most common type of chainsaw available from Husqvarna and in general forestry. These chainsaws are popular because they tend to be faster and much more powerful than battery-powered chainsaws. Just as well, gas chainsaws come in a wide variety of sizes and are perfect for particularly tough cutting projects. Gas chainsaws run on a two-cycle engine and will require a bit of maintenance, which should not be ignored. Any gas-powered engine will need to be maintained with replaced spark plugs, oil mixtures, regular cleanings, and filter replacement.

Gas-powered saws are great because they're incredibly powerful. However, they do require tedious maintenance and also tend to be much louder than battery-powered options. It's also worth mentioning that while many of Husqvarna's chainsaws are built to consume as little fuel as possible, gas chainsaws still produce exhaust fumes and are not fantastic for the environment.

Battery Chainsaws

Electric chainsaws (or battery-powered chainsaws) may not be as popular as their gas-powered counterparts, but they are extremely useful for particular projects. Some are corded with 110-volt plugs while others are cordless, though the cordless versions tend to not be as high-powered. Still, don't count these chainsaws out. They can still be quite powerful machines that can get the job done.

Battery-powered chainsaws require almost no maintenance since they don't utilize gas or a traditional engine. That cuts down a lot of time typically spent cleaning these machines out. You'll still need to maintain the chain, but that's pretty much it. Corded versions tend to be stronger, but as batteries continue to evolve, they may become just as powerful as corded or gas versions someday. Non-gas chainsaws are also significantly better for the environment, making them an excellent eco-friendly choice.

man cutting tree with chainsaw outdoors

Our Favorite Husqvarna Chainsaw

We just couldn't ignore all the best parts of this professional chainsaw! We compared function, features, cost, durability, and reliability among our five contenders and found that the 460 Husqvarna Rancher Gas Chainsaw was the best pick.

best chainsaw husqvarna man holding new saw in front of a pile of wood

On a basic level, the 460 Rancher comes with all of the awesome basic features that a standard Husqvarna chainsaw includes X-Torq for top-tier fuel consumption and reduced exhaust emission levels, a centrifugal air cleaning system that keeps debris from damaging the unit, excellent anti-vibration technology, and Smart Start technology for making start-up easy and starter maintenance non-existent. In addition to all of these features, the 460 Rancher has a fairly strong engine and a low weight that makes it perfect for professional and casual use. What more could you ask for in an affordable, high-quality Husqvarna chainsaw?

How was our guide to the best Husqvarna chainsaw for different uses? Did we miss a product that you think deserved the top-five pick? Tell us about it in the comments!