Chain Speed

Specification
Updated 2026-08-24 · Read this page as Markdown

The linear speed at which the chain travels around the guide bar, in metres per second, normally quoted at maximum engine speed. It is determined by engine rpm, the number of teeth on the drive sprocket and the chain pitch.

Chain speed is the clearest single indicator of how quickly a saw will cut, and it is especially useful when comparing battery saws with petrol ones because it sidesteps displacement entirely. What matters in practice, though, is the speed the saw holds under load: a machine with high free-running chain speed and modest power will drop away as soon as the cutters bite. Note that the published figure assumes a sharp chain and correct tension — a blunt chain or a slack one cuts far more slowly regardless of the number on the spec sheet.

This spec across the catalog

Recorded on 68 models in this database, from 10.5 m/s to 25 m/s, averaging 19.89 m/s.

Advertisement

Related terms

Chain Pitch The distance between any three consecutive rivets on the saw chain divided by two, expressed in inches. It is the dimension that must match the drive sprocket and the bar nose, and the common sizes are 1/4", .325", 3/8" (including 3/8" low profile) and .404". Chain gauge The thickness of the drive link tang that rides inside the guide bar groove, given in inches. The common gauges are .043", .050", .058" and .063", and the chain gauge must match the bar exactly. Drive links The toothed links on the underside of the chain that engage the drive sprocket and run in the bar groove. Their count is what determines the chain's overall length for a given bar. Maximum Bar Length The longest guide bar, in centimetres, that the manufacturer approves for the saw. Fitting anything longer overloads the engine and clutch and usually voids the warranty. Raker (depth gauge) The small rounded projection immediately ahead of each cutter on the chain, which limits how deep that cutter can bite into the wood. The height difference between the raker and the cutter's top plate sets the chip thickness. Recommended Bar Length The guide bar length, in centimetres, that the manufacturer considers the best match for the saw's power. It is the length the machine is normally supplied with and the one that gives the best balance of cutting reach and cutting speed.

See also

All glossary terms Guides Compare models
Advertisement