Best Chainsaw Under $100
Under $100 you are shopping in one specific corner of the market: corded electric saws, plus a couple of small cordless and jaw-style options. We compared published specs, bar lengths, motor amps and safety features to find the chainsaws in that price band that genuinely cut wood rather than just look the part.
Quick answer
The WORX WG305.1 is our top pick: an 8-amp corded saw with a 14-inch bar, automatic chain tensioning and an automatic bar oiler, which is a lot of real chainsaw for the money. For the lowest price, the Sun Joe SWJ599E covers the same 14-inch bar for less. Prices at this level move around, so a few of these sit right on the $100 line rather than safely under it.
Why trust ToolBuyerHub
- Compared on published specs (amps, bar length, weight)
- Corded vs cordless trade-offs explained
- Safety features checked (chain brake, oiler, tensioning)
- Build quality & warranty checked
- Brand reliability
- No fake hands-on claims
Research updated August 2026.
WORX WG305.1
The most usable bar length and safety kit you can get for around $100.
| Product | Best For | Bar / Cut | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WORX WG305.1 | Overall Value | 14 in bar | Corded, 8 amp | Check Amazon |
| Sun Joe SWJ599E | Budget Pick | 14 in bar | Corded, 9 amp | Check Amazon |
| Sun Joe SWJ701E | Firewood & Bigger Logs | 18 in bar | Corded, 14 amp | Check Amazon |
| BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 | Cordless Pruning | 10 in bar | 20V MAX battery | Check Amazon |
| BLACK+DECKER LP1000 Alligator Lopper | Limbing Small Branches | Cuts up to 4 in | Corded, 4.5 amp | Check Amazon |
WORX WG305.1
Best OverallPros
- Automatic chain tensioning, so no fiddling with a scrench
- Automatic bar oiler with a window to check the level
- Chain brake fitted as standard
Cons
- Needs an outdoor-rated extension cord
- 8 amps is modest if you cut hardwood all day
The WORX WG305.1 is a corded electric chainsaw with a 14-inch bar driven by an 8-amp motor. That bar length is the key number: it comfortably handles logs up to roughly 12 inches across in a single pass, which covers storm cleanup, cutting rounds for a fire pit and taking down small trees. Most saws at this price stop at 10 or 12 inches.
Two features do the heavy lifting here. The auto-tension system keeps the chain at the right tightness without tools, which is where beginners most often go wrong, and the automatic oiler feeds the bar continuously so the chain does not run dry. There is a chain brake and a rear handle guard as well. The trade-off is the cord, so budget for a heavy-gauge outdoor extension lead.
Sun Joe SWJ599E
Best BudgetPros
- Usually the cheapest 14-inch saw on the shelf
- Lighter than most corded saws in this class
- Tool-less tensioning and an automatic oiler
Cons
- Plastic housing feels basic next to the WORX
- Chain that ships in the box dulls fairly quickly
The Sun Joe SWJ599E pairs a 9-amp motor with a 14-inch bar, and it is normally the cheapest way to get that combination. On paper it draws slightly more current than the WORX, though in practice the two cut at a similar rate; what separates them is finish and the tensioning system rather than raw ability.
It is noticeably light for a corded saw, which matters if you are limbing overhead or working for an hour at a time. Tool-less tensioning and an automatic bar oiler are both included. The stock chain is the weak point, so plan on a sharpening or a replacement chain once you have worked through a load of wood.
Sun Joe SWJ701E
Best for FirewoodPros
- 18-inch bar is unusual at this price
- 14-amp motor pulls through seasoned hardwood
- Chain brake and automatic oiler included
Cons
- Heaviest saw here, and front-heavy with the long bar
- Often drifts just above $100
The Sun Joe SWJ701E is the power option in this group: a 14-amp motor and an 18-inch bar, which is bucking-firewood territory rather than pruning. If your job is reducing felled trunks to stove lengths, the extra bar and current make a real difference and you will not stall the saw the way a 9-amp model stalls.
The cost is weight and balance. At around 12 pounds with a long bar out front, it is tiring to hold at shoulder height, so it is best used on a sawhorse or on the ground. Price is the other caveat: it frequently sits a little over the $100 mark, so check before you commit.
BLACK+DECKER LCS1020
Best CordlessPros
- No cord, so it goes anywhere in the yard
- Shares the 20V MAX battery with other BLACK+DECKER tools
- Light enough for overhead limbing
Cons
- Runtime is short on the small included battery
- Kits with a battery often list above $100
The LCS1020 is a 20V MAX cordless chainsaw with a 10-inch bar, tool-free chain tensioning and an oil reservoir. It is built for pruning and light limbing rather than felling, and the short bar keeps it manageable. At around 7 pounds it is the easiest saw here to use above waist height.
Runtime is the honest limitation. Expect short bursts of cutting on the battery that ships in the kit, and a recharge before you finish a big job. It makes most sense if you already own BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX batteries, since a bare-tool or shared-battery setup is what keeps this comfortably in budget.
BLACK+DECKER LP1000 Alligator Lopper
Best for LimbingPros
- Clamping jaws grip the branch, so it cannot kick back at you
- Easiest tool here for a nervous first-time user
- Lightest option in the group
Cons
- Not a conventional chainsaw and will not cut logs
- Hard 4-inch limit on branch thickness
To be clear about what this is: the LP1000 Alligator Lopper is not a bar chainsaw. It is a scissor-action tool with a short chain running inside a pair of jaws that clamp the branch before the chain engages. Because the wood is held, the classic chainsaw kickback risk is largely designed out, which is why it is worth including for anyone who is wary of a full-size saw.
The 4.5-amp corded motor cuts branches up to about 4 inches thick. Beyond that it simply will not close, and it cannot buck a log on the ground the way a bar saw can. Treat it as a powered replacement for manual loppers for hedge and tree maintenance, not as your only saw.
What to Check Before Buying a Chainsaw Under $100
Bar length is the number that decides what you can cut. A rough rule is that the bar should be about two inches longer than the thickest wood you plan to cut in one pass, so a 14-inch bar handles logs up to roughly 12 inches. Anything with a 10-inch bar is a pruning tool, whatever the listing calls it.
Then look at the power source. Corded electric dominates this price band because there is no battery cost baked into the price, and it gives you unlimited runtime at the cost of dragging an outdoor-rated extension cord. Cordless saws under $100 are usually small-bar pruning models, and the ones that include a battery tend to push past the budget.
Finally, check three safety and maintenance items: a chain brake, an automatic bar oiler, and the tensioning system. Automatic or tool-less tensioning is far easier to live with than a bar nut and scrench, and a chain that is running at the wrong tension is both slower and more dangerous.
Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Budget Chainsaw
The biggest mistake is buying a tool that is not actually a chainsaw. Mini saws, NanoBlade-style handheld saws, jaw loppers and pole pruners all get listed under chainsaw searches, and they cut very differently. Read the cutting capacity, not the category label.
The second is under-buying on bar length to save twenty dollars, then discovering the saw cannot get through the log you bought it for. Match the bar to the work first, then look at price.
Third, do not forget the running costs. Bar and chain oil is consumable, a spare chain is a sensible purchase, and a corded saw is useless without a heavy-gauge outdoor extension cord. Budget for chaps, gloves, eye and ear protection too. Safety gear is not optional just because the saw was cheap.
FAQs
Can a chainsaw under $100 cut down a tree?
A 14 or 18-inch corded saw can fell a small tree, but felling is the most dangerous chainsaw job there is and it is not a beginner task. For anything large or near a building, hire an arborist.
Is a corded or cordless chainsaw better under $100?
Corded, in most cases. At this price corded saws give you a longer bar, more sustained power and no battery to run flat. Cordless only wins if you need to work away from an outlet and are only pruning.
How long does a battery last on a budget cordless chainsaw?
Runtime depends on the battery amp-hours and the wood, but small kit batteries on 10-inch saws deliver short working sessions rather than a full afternoon. A second battery is usually the fix.
What bar length do I need?
Pick a bar about two inches longer than your thickest cut. Ten inches suits pruning, 14 inches handles most yard cleanup, and 18 inches is for cutting firewood rounds.
Do I need to sharpen the chain on a budget chainsaw?
Yes. Chains dull with use regardless of price, and stock chains on cheap saws dull sooner. A round file and guide costs very little and restores cutting speed. A dull chain forces you to push, which is how accidents happen.
Are budget chainsaws safe for beginners?
They can be, if the saw has a chain brake and low-kickback chain and you wear chaps, gloves, eye and ear protection. Electric saws are also quieter and start instantly, which removes one hazard compared with gas.
Can I use a budget chainsaw for cutting firewood?
Yes, with the right saw. You want at least a 14-inch bar and a higher-amp corded motor for repeated bucking cuts. A 10-inch cordless pruning saw will overheat and run flat long before the pile is done.
What warranty do chainsaws under $100 come with?
Typically one to three years depending on the brand, and registration is sometimes required. Check the manufacturer's terms before you buy, since consumables like the chain and bar are usually excluded.
How do I maintain an electric chainsaw?
Keep the oil reservoir topped up, clean sawdust out of the bar groove and sprocket, check chain tension before every use, and sharpen or replace the chain when it stops throwing chips and starts making dust.
Can I use a chainsaw to cut roots?
Avoid it. Soil and grit embedded in roots destroy a chain within a few cuts and can throw debris back at you. Use a mattock, a root saw or an old handsaw you do not mind ruining.
Our verdict
The WORX WG305.1 is the best chainsaw under $100 overall: a 14-inch bar, automatic tensioning and an automatic oiler make it the most complete saw at the price. Choose the Sun Joe SWJ599E if you want the same bar length for less, the Sun Joe SWJ701E if you are cutting firewood and can stretch to an 18-inch bar, and the BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 if you need cordless freedom for pruning. The LP1000 Alligator Lopper is the safest pick, but only for branches up to 4 inches.