A chainsaw is one of the best tools you could have at hand for taking care of outdoor chores around the house, to use on a farm or ranch, or in your work on a construction site. It's also a helpful tool when you have an emergency, such as storm damage and you need to do something about that fallen tree. In addition to choosing the right chainsaw for the job, you also need to choose the right brand of chainsaw for you.

When you've decided that Jonsered is the way you want to go, you'll have to sort through a handful of options to pick out the best Jonsered chainsaw. To do that, you need to know what's out there, and what customers have said about the Jonsered chainsaws they bought. It's also good to know a little about the brand itself, and what you can expect from one of the company's chainsaws.

5 Best Jonsered Chainsaw Comparisons

What You Should Know About the Jonsered Brand of Chainsaws

The history behind the Jonsered brand and company is a bit complex. Back in the 1800s, it was founded by a Scotsman who moved to Sweden, and initially, it was a textile company. Canvas was a big seller, and one of the best-known products Jonsered made were sails. Later, the company became known for its fire hoses. Finally, in the 20th century, Jonsered made the leap to chainsaws.

For a long while, Jonsered chainsaws were exported from Sweden to North American, mostly. After a bunch of business and wheeling and dealing, Jonsered exchanged hands a few times and ended up being owned by Husqvarna. This means that many of the Jonsered and Husqvarna models are the same but covered with a different colored jacket and logo. You might notice that the angle of the front handle is a little different between the brands.

Jonsered gets credit for producing the first lightweight, one-man chainsaw back in 1954, and the company continued to be innovative. The very next year, the brush cutter was introduced. Husqvarna has a research and development group involved in the Jonsered branch, so you're likely to see new Jonsered chainsaws created from time to time.

Many loyalists to the Jonsered chainsaw say it packs more power and has a better power-to-weight ratio. Really, the only way to decide is to decide for yourself. Reading the best Jonsered chainsaw reviews can be a big help, too.

There's More to a Jonsered Chainsaw Than the Teeth, Motor, and Bar Length

What does every Jonsered chainsaw have, aside from the basics of every chainsaw? Let's go over what the company deems necessary, extra, and special for you, the professional, the homeowner, the farmer, or the rancher.

Air Cleaning

An air filter is important, sure, but Jonsered goes a step further. The turbo air cleaning system eliminates all but about 3 percent of the sawdust before it gets to your filter. That means your filter works longer, and your engine stays cleaner.

Anti-vibration

One of the biggest risks of using a chainsaw for an extended period is the vibration that your hands and arms could endure. A vibration dampening system is included that helps mitigate the vibration that's transferred from the chainsaw to your hands and arms. Vibration can cause permanent damage, but with the steel springs taking the brunt of the vibration force, you're better protected.

Chain Brake

Safety is not an option. At Jonsered, safety is a necessity, and that's why the company includes an inertia chain brake. When kickback happens – and it will – this brake will activate automatically, which could save you from maiming yourself or others.

Heated Handles

Jonsered is a big fan of never including extra features that aren't practical. Although heated handles sound like a luxury feature, they could be necessary for those who are working in cold conditions. You can keep working through cold and wet weather and do so in comfort.

Faster Acceleration

The quicker your chain moves, the smoother and faster cuts you can make. It's especially important when you're high up in the trees limbing. That's why Jonsered includes Peak pulse, a patented way to make the chain move at a faster speed for faster work.

Spin Start

Starting a chainsaw can be a bear of a chore. You pull and pull, and sometimes nothing happens. Or perhaps you end up flooding the engine. Jonsered includes a spin start that reduces starter cord resistance by about 40 percent. So, you get quicker and easier starts every time you use your chainsaw.

Clean Engine

The two-stroke engine uses gas and oil, so you can't get away from emissions completely. However, Jonsered has created a way to ensure harmful exhaust is lessened by 75 percent, and your fuel efficiency goes up by about 20 percent.

Tool-less Chain Tensioner

An added convenience with a Jonsered chainsaw is the chain tensioning knob. You won't need to fish out a tool to tighten chains on your saw, which saves you time and money. Simply twist and feel the tension come back to your chain and bar, and then get back to cutting.

Quick-release Cylinder Cover

All gas-powered chainsaws are going to need some work at some point that goes beyond adding more gas and oil and lubricating the chain and bar. To make it easy to access the areas you need to get to often, Jonsered includes a quick-release cylinder cover. You can quickly change the spark plug and air filter without having to mess with screws.

Balanced Weight

You won't find a Jonsered chainsaw heavier than about 13 pounds, excluding the cutting equipment. Keeping the chainsaw lightweight makes it easier to handle when you're limbing, felling, and bucking trees. It just makes sense to not overload the chainsaw with extras to pack the pounds on. A heavier chainsaw isn't necessarily better.

Not all these features are on every chainsaw because not everyone needs each one, nor does every chainsaw require them all. You'll have to keep reading to see which one has the features you want and need.

Top 5 Best Jonsered Chainsaw Reviews

Jonsered 38cc 2-Cycle Gas 14 in. Chainsaw, CS2238

• Power: 38cc
• Power source: Gas
• Bar size: 14 inches
• Weight: 12.75 lbs.
• Warranty: 2 years

 

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Rather than start with what you can't do with the Jonsered 38cc gas-powered chainsaw, let's go over what you can do with it. This is one of those chainsaws that are great to have in your garage for small DIY projects or for cleaning up bushes and brush around your house. It's lightweight, so it's great for limbing and smaller jobs. The 14-inch bar is just big enough for a homeowner's needs.

This chainsaw is also fantastically easy to start and use. The clean engine means you won't be suffocating in a plume of black smoke every time you pull the start cord. And the anti-vibration system ensures you can use this chainsaw for extended periods without fatigue. The inertia-activated chain brake is a great safety feature that you need, too. This isn't the most powerful chainsaw ever made, but sometimes you don't need more power. You should really use a bar any bigger than 16 inches, but if you need something bigger, you should get the machine to match.

PROS

• Lightweight
• Easy to use
• Starts easily
• Fewer emissions
• Vibration dampening system
• Inertia-activated chain brake

CONS

• Not super powerful
• 16-inch bar max

PRO TIP

If you’re looking for a good everyday chainsaw from Jonsered to use around the house, this could be a good one to start with.

Jonsered 40cc 2-Cycle Gas 16 in. Chainsaw, CS2240

• Power: 40cc
• Power source: Gas
• Bar size: 16 inches
• Weight: 12.25 lbs.
• Warranty: 2 years

 

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The next step up from an introductory homeowner chainsaw is this Jonsered 40cc gas-powered saw. That isn't to say that this 16-inch bar chainsaw isn't going to be a great addition to your collection of saws, Professional. This is one of those saws you keep around for the smaller to medium sized jobs. It'll power through 14-inch thick logs with no problem. It starts as easily as you'd hope, and it has the same cleaner engine as all of Jonsered's chainsaws.

The snap-lock covers make it easy for you to access the spark plug and air filter. You may need to beat the dust out of the filter occasionally, but that's to be expected. There's a fuel gauge included, so you don't have to guess on the fuel level. Plus, this chainsaw with the heart of a much bigger chainsaw is a little workhorse that'll just keep going as long as you can stand it. With the anti-vibration system, you'd be surprised just how long you'll be able to go. The biggest you can go with this chainsaw is about 18 inches for the bar, so keep that in mind if you're eying some thick hardwoods you want to knock down and buck.

PROS

• Snap-lock covers
• Fuel gauge included
• Starts easily
• Fewer emissions
• Vibration dampening system
• Inertia-activated chain brake

CONS

• Not for extra-thick wood
• 18-inch bar max

PRO TIP

When you’re ready for a little more power, the Jonsered 40cc gas-powered chainsaw with a 16-inch bar could be ideal for you.

Jonsered 50cc 2-Cycle Gas 18 in. Chainsaw, CS2250

• Power: 50cc
• Power source: Gas
• Bar size: 18 inches
• Weight: 13.75 lbs.
• Warranty: 2 years

 

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A powerful option in the line of Jonsered chainsaws is this 50cc gas-powered one. It comes with an 18-inch bar, which is a good length for those who cut all kinds of wood. It would take a good while to fell thick trees, but if you've already knocked one over, you might want this chainsaw for bucking. It can slice through hardwoods like red oak quickly and easily. And speaking of quick, starting this chainsaw is a breeze – it's even passed tests of 30 degrees below in an Alaskan winter, and it kept chugging along.

As sturdy and powerful as this chainsaw is, it does have its limitations. The recommended max bar length is 18 inches, and that's the size of the bar that comes with this chainsaw. The chain tensioner is easy enough to use, but some experienced loggers and chainsaw users feel it's a bit unnecessary. The anti-vibration keeps your hands steady, and the chain brake keeps you and others around you safe.

PROS

• Chain tensioner
• Fuel gauge included
• Starts easily
• Powerful
• Vibration dampening system
• Inertia-activated chain brake

CONS

• Chain tensioner seems extraneous
• 18-inch bar max

PRO TIP

Whether you’re limbing, felling, or bucking, this rugged chainsaw could be an excellent tool for your bigger jobs.

Jonsered 45cc 2-Cycle Gas 16 in. Chainsaw, CS2245

• Power: 45cc
• Power source: Gas
• Bar size: 16 inches
• Weight: 13.25 lbs.
• Warranty: 2 years

 

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For a low- to a mid-grade chainsaw, Jonsered managed to make this 45cc gas-powered one a contender. It comes with a 16-inch bar, which is big enough for most medium-sized jobs, and it can take up to an 18-inch bar. You get all the features you'd expect on a modern chainsaw. There's a vibration dampening system, which makes it possible for you to use with for hours without fatigue. It starts easily enough, and there's a fuel view window, so you can see when it's time to add more fuel.

Adjusting the choke is difficult on this chainsaw, but what with emissions needing to be low and all, you can expect that with any chainsaw. The tool-less tensioner makes it easy to adjust the chain's tightness without having to find a tool to do it. And the snap-lock covers are easy to remove and put back in place when you need to clean the filter or change a spark plug.

PROS

• Chain tensioner
• Fuel gauge included
• Starts easily
• Snap-lock covers
• Vibration dampening system
• Inertia-activated chain brake

CONS

• Choke isn't easy to adjust
• 18-inch bar max

PRO TIP

If you need a chainsaw that can keep up with you on your larger-than-average yard, this could be the chainsaw for you.

Jonsered 58V 16-inch Chainsaw, CS16I

• Power: 58V
• Power source: Battery
• Runtime: 16 minutes (continuous)
• Bar size: 16 inches
• Weight: 15 lbs.
• Warranty: 5 years

 

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One of the newest chainsaws from Jonsered is this battery-powered little workhorse that may be more powerful than you'd expect. It includes a 16-inch bar, which is the max for this little guy. It also has a chain tensioner, which makes it easy for you to adjust how tight the chain is while you're working. You won't have to worry about emissions because this is battery-powered. You start it with the push of a button, and it really doesn't get any easier than that.

This does come with a caveat, though: It'll run out of charge in about 16 minutes of continuous use. If you're using it intermittently, it'll last much longer, but constant use will be short. The good news is that the charger is fast, so you should have a newly charged battery in as little as 30 minutes. Get a backup to reduce frustration during longer projects. Also, you get a longer warranty with this chainsaw than typical – five years.

PROS

• Chain tensioner
• Brushless electric motor
• Starts easily
• Fast charger
• Long warranty
• Inertia-activated chain brake

CONS

• Short runtime
• Heavier than others

PRO TIP

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly chainsaw that still packs some power, this one might be right for you.

Conclusion

Jonsered makes a series of chainsaws that are excellent, and they make them for every tier of chainsaw user. To determine which one is the best for you, it's necessary to go through each review and read the pros and cons, plus the specifications. Not everyone needs warming handles, but those who do may not want to go without them. All the chainsaws above are great choices and could be the best for you, but the one that takes the title of the best Jonsered chainsaw has to be the Jonsered 45cc 2-Cycle Gas 16 in. Chainsaw, CS2245. This is slightly more powerful than the introductory homeowner type of chainsaw, which puts this in a farm and ranch category. It doesn't have quite enough oomph to act as a professional chainsaw, but it's close. It's one of the best chainsaws you can find, and it'll be a reliable machine to help you get through some thick trees.