Fuel Type

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

The energy source the saw runs on: a petrol and two-stroke oil mixture, a battery pack, or mains electricity through a cord. It is the choice that shapes almost every other characteristic of the machine.

Petrol saws offer the most power and unlimited runtime away from a socket, at the cost of noise, vibration, exhaust and the discipline of mixing fuel correctly. Battery saws are quiet, start instantly, need no fuel maintenance and are now genuinely capable for pruning and firewood, but runtime is finite and heavy work drains packs fast. Corded electric saws are the cheapest and simplest, and are only realistic within reach of power. Note that most published battery saw specs come without the pack, so add its mass before comparing Weight across fuel types.

This spec across the catalog

Recorded on 202 models in this database. Most common values:

  • Battery ×47
  • Electric ×46
  • battery ×15
  • 2-stroke ×11
  • Electric (Battery) ×11
  • electric ×10
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Related terms

Intended Use The class of user a saw is built for: consumer, semi-professional or professional. It summarises the duty cycle the machine is designed to sustain rather than any single technical measurement. Rear-handle saw The conventional chainsaw layout, with the throttle handle behind the engine and a wrap or front handle across the top, designed to be held with both hands. It is the correct configuration for essentially all ground-level work. Top-handle saw A compact chainsaw whose rear handle sits on top of the machine rather than behind it, allowing controlled one-handed operation. It is designed for arborists working aloft in a tree on rope and harness.

See also

All glossary terms Guides Compare models
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