If you want one STIHL chainsaw and nothing more, the MS 170 is the answer: 30 cm³, 1200 W, a 30 cm guide bar and 4.6 kg, with the deepest owner rating base of anything on this list. When the job is overhead pruning rather than ground work, step up to the MS 201 TC-M, and when noise or neighbours rule out exhaust, the MSA 60 C-B cordless saw covers light green care.
That said, the best STIHL chainsaws are not one saw. They are a range split by engine class, bar length and handle layout, and picking the wrong tier means either paying for power you will never use or wearing out a saw that cannot keep up. STIHL builds across every tier from a 3 kg top-handle arborist saw to a 16 inch homeowner bar.
We compared six genuine STIHL chainsaws side by side, reading the manufacturer specifications and owner feedback for each one and matching them against the way people actually use saws: yard debris, firewood, tree care and light property maintenance. If you are weighing a competing brand too, our Husqvarna chainsaw roundup covers the other side of that argument.
One note before the picks. STIHL does not sell through general retail, so these saws reach owners through authorised dealers. That shapes the buying decision more than most guides admit, and we cover it near the end.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Best Stihl Chainsaws (October 2026)
- Quick Comparison: All Six STIHL Chainsaws
- 1. Stihl MS 170 Chainsaw – Best All-Rounder for Yard and Firewood Work
- 2. Stihl MS 162 Chainsaw with 16 inch Bar – Budget Pick Entry Point
- 3. STIHL MS 194 T Chainsaw 30 cm – Best for Arborists and Pruning
- 4. Stihl MSA 60.0 C-B Cordless Chainsaw – Best for Quiet Green Care Work
- 5. STIHL MS 201 TC-M Chainsaw 35 cm – Best for Aerial and Professional Work
- 6. MSA 120 C-B Chainsaw with AK 20 Battery and AL 101 Charger – Lightest Cordless Kit
- How We Chose These Six Saws?
- How to Choose a STIHL Chainsaw?
- Dealer-Only Buying, Service and Common Problems
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict: Which STIHL Chainsaw Should You Buy?
Top 3 Best Stihl Chainsaws (October 2026)
These three cover the widest spread of real jobs. The MS 170 is the default answer for most owners, the MS 162 is the cheapest way into the brand, and the MSA 60 C-B is the pick when a battery saw makes more sense than a fuel one.
Stihl MS 162 with 16 inch bar
- 16 inch bar and chain included
- 1.2 kW gas engine
- 13.3 lb weight
Quick Comparison: All Six STIHL Chainsaws
All six saws, with the numbers that actually separate them. Engine class, output, weight and bar length matter far more than badge or trim level.
| Product | Key Specs | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Stihl MS 170 Chainsaw 30 cm |
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| Stihl MS 162 with 16 inch bar |
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 STIHL MS 194 T 30 cm |
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| Stihl MSA60.0 C-B cordless |
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Check Latest Price |
 STIHL MS 201 TC-M 35 cm |
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Check Latest Price |
 MSA 120 C-B with AK 20 kit |
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Check Latest Price |
1. Stihl MS 170 Chainsaw – Best All-Rounder for Yard and Firewood Work
Stihl MS 170 Chainsaw Displacement in cm3: 30 cm³, 1200 W, 30 cm Guide
★★★★★★★★★★30 cm3, 1200 W, 1.6 hp
30 cm guide bar
4.6 kg, gas powered
- Chain lubrication system for smooth running
- Anti-vibration system dampens motor oscillation
- Zoom compensator steadies the idle
- Deepest owner rating base in this group
- Gas saw needs fuel mixing and routine upkeep
- 4.6 kg is heavy for a small bar saw
The MS 170 is the saw most people end up with, and for a straightforward reason: the specification sits in the middle of everything. 30 cm³ displacement, 1200 W of output and a 30 cm guide bar cover storm cleanup, pruning, bucking and a few cords of firewood without approaching the weight of a farm or ranch saw.
Owner feedback on this one is unusually settled. Of the ratings on record, 82 percent sit at the top mark, and the recurring praise lands on the same two things: the chain lubrication system and the anti-vibration system that dampens motor oscillation. That second feature matters more than the spec sheet suggests, because a saw that stops shaking in your hands is a saw you can still hold at the end of an afternoon.
What makes it our top pick is not the spec list. It is that 1670 owners have already bought this specific saw and rated it, and the anti-vibration and lubrication systems they credit are the exact things that decide whether a saw feels good after two hours of bucking.
What the 30 cm bar will and will not cut?
A 30 cm bar is the right length for brush, small storm debris, limb work and firewood rounds. The rule of thumb most owners use is roughly three times the log diameter: a 30 cm bar handles about a 10 cm log with plenty of margin. Push that to larger hardwood rounds and you are single-pass cutting, which slows you down quickly.
The zoom compensator in the specification is a small thing worth knowing about. It holds the idle steadier than a basic carburettor, which matters when the bar is buried in a round and you are trying to keep the chain from bogging.
Where the MS 170 strains?
This is a 4.6 kg saw with a 30 cm bar, and that is a real constraint for anyone working above head height or in a mature tree. It also means a fuel mix to measure and an engine to maintain. If your work is pruning rather than bucking, or if you cut a full winter’s firewood every year, the lighter or heavier options further down fit better.
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2. Stihl MS 162 Chainsaw with 16 inch Bar – Budget Pick Entry Point
Stihl MS 162 Chainsaw W/ 16″ Bar & Chain
★★★★★★★★★★16 inch bar and chain included
1.2 kW gas engine
13.3 lb, 30 cm class
- Bar and chain included in the box
- Good power to weight for light yard work
- Stihl build quality at the entry point
- 14 percent of reviews are 1-star
- 13.3 lb is the heaviest listed weight here
- Fuel mixing and engine upkeep still apply
The MS 162 is the cheapest way to own a genuine STIHL saw, and the box matters here: bar and chain are included. On a 16 inch bar you get a usable cutting length of 30 cm, which covers the same firewood and yard work as the MS 170 for less money and without hunting down a separate bar purchase.
Owner sentiment is more split than any other saw on this list. 71 percent of ratings are 5-star, but 14 percent are 1-star, which is a wider spread than the MS 170 shows. In plain terms: most owners love it and a meaningful minority had problems, so it is worth checking what your dealer will cover before you commit.
At 1.2 kW the engine is modest, and at 13.3 lb it is the heaviest listed weight in this group despite being the smallest saw by bar length. It handles limbs, brush and small rounds comfortably. It is not the tool for felling or for a heavy firewood habit.
The box contents matter more here than on any other saw in the roundup. A 16 inch bar and chain in the box means no separate purchase before the first cut, and STIHL OEM bars and chains are widely available through the dealer network if you later want a different length. That is the practical reason this model makes sense as a first STIHL saw rather than as a step up from one.
Who this suits?
Buy the MS 162 if this is your first chainsaw, you cut light debris and seasonal firewood, and you want STIHL parts and dealer support without stepping up a tier. The included bar and chain remove the most common first purchase problem, and 30 cm of cutting length matches the saw above it.
Who should look elsewhere?
Skip it if you fell trees, process serious firewood volume, or work overhead. And if you want a smoother ownership experience, the MS 170 above carries a far tighter spread of owner ratings for a similar class of work.
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3. STIHL MS 194 T Chainsaw 30 cm – Best for Arborists and Pruning
STIHL MS 194 T Chainsaw (30 cm) (11372000325-30)
★★★★★★★★★★3 kg top-handle body
1.4 hp from a 30 cm saw
30 cm chain, gas powered
- 3 kg is the lightest gas saw listed here
- 1.4 hp from a compact top-handle body
- Cuts 40 cm-plus logs per owners
- Excellent manoeuvrability in tree crowns
- Only 61 reviews
- a thin owner base
- Top-handle layout suits climbing work only
- Gas maintenance still applies
The MS 194 T exists for one job: working in a tree. At 3 kg with a top-handle layout, it is a saw you can hold one-handed while climbing or in a crown, and 61 owners rate it at 4.6 on average. The 81 percent 5-star share says the compact size is not costing it cutting ability.
Owners report it taking logs past 40 cm, which sounds strange from a 30 cm bar until you remember how much of that cut is happening at the nose with the operator controlling the saw from above. This is a felling and pruning tool, not a firewood saw.
Why top-handle matters?
A top-handle saw puts the grip at the bar end with a wrap-around rear handle, so you can hold the saw at any angle. That control is what makes overhead work controllable, and it is why the same layout appears on the professional saw further down this list.
The trade-off is real: on the ground, a top-handle saw is awkward to hold level for bucking. If most of your cutting happens at knee height, this is the wrong geometry for you.
Buying considerations
At 1.4 hp you are giving up power relative to the ground-handle saws here, so expect more effort on dense hardwood. The reward is a 3 kg gas saw that professionals in the reviews describe as well suited to tree care. Check that 61 reviews is enough for you, because that is the entire owner record for this model.
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4. Stihl MSA 60.0 C-B Cordless Chainsaw – Best for Quiet Green Care Work
Stihl MSA60.0 C-B Cordless Chainsaw Lightweight and Comfortable to Use – For Occasional Green Care & Easy Crafts
★★★★★★★★★★Battery powered, no fuel mixing
0.7 kW output
5 kg, tool-less chain tensioning
- No fuel mixing and no exhaust
- Quiet operation suits close-to-home gardens
- Tool-less chain tensioning
- Comfortable for extended light work
- 0.7 kW is well below any gas saw here
- Battery runtime limits long sessions
- Built for occasional rather than daily cutting
The MSA 60.0 C-B is built around a simple idea: if your cutting is light and infrequent, an electric saw beats a petrol one on every practical measure. 75 owners rate it 4.6, with 76 percent at the top mark, and the praise lands on comfort and the absence of fuel handling rather than on cutting speed.
At 0.7 kW it is the least powerful saw here, and the manufacturer is clear about the intent: occasional green care, garden work and light crafts. Owners frame it the same way. It is comfortable, quiet and easy to pick up, and it is not a tool for a winter of firewood.
What changes when you go cordless?
Three things get simpler: no fuel mix to measure, no starting cord, and no exhaust in a garden you use every day. Tool-less chain tensioning on the C-B version means adjusting the bar takes no tools at the side of the tree.
Two things get harder. Output is a fraction of the gas saws here, so soft green work is the ceiling rather than the average. And runtime bounds how long a session can be, which is the single complaint that recurs in battery saw reviews generally.
Which battery platform?
This model is listed against the AK battery system. Buyers who already own a battery from that platform get far more from the saw than buyers starting from zero, because the battery and charger are the real cost of entry. If you are starting fresh, that changes the arithmetic against a gas saw entirely.
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5. STIHL MS 201 TC-M Chainsaw 35 cm – Best for Aerial and Professional Work
STIHL MS 201 TC-M, PS3, Cutting length 35 cm
★★★★★★★★★★2.4 hp, 35 cm cutting length
Top-handle arborist layout
3.85 kg, M-Tronic engine
- 2.4 hp
- the highest output in this group
- 3.85 kg top-handle arborist layout
- M-Tronic engine management
- 25-year spare parts availability
- 35 cm cutting length
- Only 9 reviews to judge it by
- Top-handle layout is not for ground felling
- Gas maintenance still applies
- Overpowered for typical yard work
The MS 201 TC-M is the professional pick in this group, and the specifications explain why. 2.4 hp is the highest output of any saw on this list, the 35 cm cutting length is the longest bar here, and M-Tronic engine management handles the fuel and ignition work that an operator climbing a tree should not be thinking about.
It is also the smallest evidence base. Nine reviews, averaged to a perfect 5.0. A perfect score on nine reviews tells you very little, and we would not present it as more than that. What the number of reviews does not change is the parts commitment: this model carries a 25-year spare part availability window, which is the kind of detail that matters when a saw lives on a tree truck.
At 3.85 kg it is heavier than the MS 194 T above but carries roughly 70 percent more power, and the longer bar changes what a single pass can take. That combination is the whole argument for the professional tier.
Where this saw earns its place?
Aerial work, tree service and estate maintenance. Owners of smaller top-handle saws consistently praise this one for the jump in power per kilogram, and the 35 cm bar means fewer passes on every cut. The trade-off is that all of that capability is dead weight on a small property.
What you give up for it?
Ground work. A top-handle saw held level for bucking is awkward, and this one carries more mass than the lighter arborist models. If your cutting is firewood and brush, the saws earlier in this list do the job with less to carry and no climbing technique required.
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6. MSA 120 C-B Chainsaw with AK 20 Battery and AL 101 Charger – Lightest Cordless Kit
MSA 120 C-B Chainsaw with AK 20 Battery and AL 101 Charger
★★★★★★★★★★AK 20 battery and AL 101 charger
2.5 kg bare saw
Battery powered, tool-less tensioning
- Battery and charger included in the kit
- 2.5 kg is the lightest unit here
- Tool-less chain tensioning
- Quiet operation with no fuel storage
- Only 6 reviews
- and 25 percent are 1-star
- Battery runtime limits heavy cutting
- The lightest saw here is also the least powerful
The MSA 120 C-B arrives as a kit with an AK 20 battery and an AL 101 charger, which removes the biggest objection to cordless saws: you do not have to source the battery separately. At 2.5 kg it is the lightest unit in this roundup, lighter even than the gas saws above.
The evidence here is the thinnest of the six. Six reviews, averaging 4.0, with 25 percent of them at one star. That split points to inconsistent experiences rather than a settled reputation, and it is the main reason this saw sits last in the ranking despite the attractive specification.
When the kit makes sense?
If you already use AK-platform batteries, the included battery is close to a bonus and the 2.5 kg weight is genuinely useful for overhead light work. Owners point to it working well for light property maintenance, which matches the design intent.
What to check before buying?
Ask your dealer about battery warranty terms and confirm the charger suits how you will actually use the saw. With a review record this small, dealer support matters more here than on any other saw in the list, and STIHL parts and service run through authorised dealers only.
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How We Chose These Six Saws?
We did not test all six saws by cutting wood for a season, and we would rather say so than dress up a spec sheet as a field trial. What we did was read the manufacturer specification for each model, work through the owner review record in full, and score every saw against the same four questions.
First, does the specification cover the job its size implies? A 30 cm bar on a 4.6 kg saw is a homeowner combination; a 35 cm bar with 2.4 hp is a professional one. Mismatches between bar, weight and output are the clearest sign of a saw built for something other than what you need.
Second, what do owners actually report? We weighted the review record heavily, which is why the MS 170 leads despite not having the highest specification on paper. 1670 ratings averaging 4.7 tells us more than a spec list does.
Third, how wide is the rating spread? A saw with 71 percent 5-star and 14 percent 1-star, like the MS 162, has owners who had a bad experience, and we would rather you hear that from us than discover it in season.
Fourth, is there enough evidence to recommend it at all? Two saws here rest on fewer than ten reviews each. We included them because their specifications are clear, but we flagged the thin evidence rather than letting a small perfect average carry a ranking.
How to Choose a STIHL Chainsaw?
Every saw on this list is a competent machine. The wrong choice is a class mismatch, so the decisions that matter are bar length, engine class and handle layout.
What the model number actually means?
STIHL model numbers encode more than most owners realise. The MS prefix means chainsaw. The digits tell you the engine class, which is the single most useful number when comparing two saws. A trailing letter marks trim level: C for the comfort package with rear handle and chain brake variants, E for the simplified entry package, and M for the M-Tronic engine management system on professional models.
MSA with an A is the battery range, and MSA with a bare S is the older cordless naming. So MS 201 TC-M is a 20-class gas chainsaw with a top handle and M-Tronic electronics, while MSA 120 C-B is a battery saw in the comfort package. That single decode saves most of the confusion first-time buyers report.
Bar length versus log diameter
Use three times the log diameter as your working rule. A 30 cm bar handles roughly a 10 cm log, a 35 cm bar about 12 cm, and a 16 inch bar sits in the same territory as a 30 cm metric bar. Anything larger and you are working with the nose of the bar rather than the side, which is slower and harder on the chain.
Buy the shortest bar that handles your largest common log. Extra bar length adds weight, adds kickback potential and does not add cutting speed.
Engine size tiers and workload
Under 40 cm³ is homeowner territory: brush, small rounds, occasional firewood. Between 40 and 50 cm³ is the serious firewood and farm band, where you can process a season of wood without the saw fighting you. Above 50 cm³ is professional territory, for daily use, dense hardwood and felling work.
Match the tier to annual volume, not to the biggest job you will ever face. A saw that spends most of its life underloaded is fine; a saw that is always overloaded is a saw that ages quickly and frustrates you daily.
Gas or battery
Gas wins on power, runtime and long cutting sessions. Battery wins on noise, weight, no fuel mixing and instant start. If you cut under a few cords a year and work near houses, a battery saw is the more pleasant tool. If you fell trees or stack wood all winter, gas is the only answer.
The catch with battery is platform cost. Buyers who already hold compatible batteries get much more from a cordless saw than buyers starting from zero, and that calculation matters more than the saw price itself. Our Husqvarna battery and gas comparison covers how the same trade-off works on the other brand.
Handle layout and safety gear
A top-handle saw is built for climbing and overhead pruning. A rear-handle ground saw is built for bucking, felling and firewood. Matching the layout to your dominant cutting position prevents most handling complaints.
Wear chaps, a helmet with face and hearing protection, and check that the chain brake works before every start. A chain brake stops the chain instantly on kickback, and it is the reason the comfort package exists. Never run a saw one-handed on the ground.
Dealer-Only Buying, Service and Common Problems
Why dealer-only matters for parts and service?
STIHL does not sell through general online retail, and experienced owners treat that as a buying criterion rather than a limitation. An authorised dealer stocks genuine chains, bars and carburettor parts, and will sharpen your chain locally. That matters more than a small price difference once you are maintaining a saw every few weeks.
It also explains why owner reviews focus on dealer experience so heavily. Before you buy, find your local authorised dealer and confirm they service the model you want. If the nearest one is a long drive, that is a real cost in the ownership of a gas saw.
Hard starting, flooding and dull chains
Hard starting is the most common complaint across the STIHL range, and it is usually fuel rather than the saw. A stale fuel mix, a clogged air filter or a flooded carburettor after a break in use will all cause it. Fresh 2-stroke mix, a clean air filter and a properly set mixture resolve most of it.
A chain that produces fine dust instead of coarse chips is blunt. Sharpening at a dealer is cheaper than forcing a dull chain through hardwood, which also damages the bar and the sprocket. Running a saw out of bar oil is the other common cause of rough cutting and chain wear, and the transparent oil tank on these models exists so you can check it at a glance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which STIHL chainsaw model is considered the best?
The MS 170 is the most commonly recommended STIHL chainsaw in this group, with 30 cm3 displacement, 1200 W of output, a 30 cm guide bar and a 4.7 owner rating across 1670 reviews. It covers yard debris, pruning and seasonal firewood without the weight of a farm or ranch saw, which is why it suits the widest range of owners.
What is the best professional STIHL chainsaw?
The MS 201 TC-M is the professional pick here, with 2.4 hp, a 35 cm cutting length, M-Tronic engine management and a 3.85 kg top-handle body built for aerial work and tree service. It carries a 25-year spare part availability window, and its owner record is small at nine reviews, so judge it on specification rather than ratings.
Which STIHL chainsaw is best for home use?
For most home properties the MS 170 fits best, pairing a 30 cm bar with 4.6 kg of weight and anti-vibration damping for longer sessions. If your work is light and occasional, the MSA 60.0 C-B cordless saw removes fuel handling and noise at the cost of output, rated at 0.7 kW.
What’s the best STIHL chainsaw for the money?
The MS 162 is the value pick, with a 16 inch bar and chain included in the box, 1.2 kW of gas power and a 30 cm cutting length. Owner ratings are more divided than the MS 170, with 71 percent 5-star and 14 percent 1-star, so confirm dealer support before buying.
Who is better, STIHL or Husqvarna?
Both brands build saws across the same engine classes, and the real differences sit in feel, bar and chain availability, and service network. STIHL is sold exclusively through authorised dealers, which is why parts, sharpening and warranty work depend on your local dealer. Husqvarna saws are easier to compare online and wider in retail reach.
What is the most common problem with STIHL chainsaws?
Hard starting and engine flooding are the most reported issues, and both usually trace back to fuel rather than the machine. Stale 2-stroke mix, a clogged air filter and a carburettor left flooded after a break in use cause most complaints. Fresh mix, a clean filter and correct mixture settings resolve the majority of them.
Final Verdict: Which STIHL Chainsaw Should You Buy?
For most people reading this, the answer is the MS 170. It has the deepest owner record of any saw we looked at, a 30 cm bar that covers brush, firewood rounds and storm debris, and anti-vibration damping that keeps it comfortable in long sessions.
Move down the list when your work changes rather than up it for its own sake. Go lighter with the MS 194 T for overhead tree work, quieter and simpler with the MSA 60.0 C-B for occasional green care, and only step up to the MS 201 TC-M when you are working in trees professionally.
Whichever you pick, buy it from an authorised dealer and get the chain sharpened there twice a year. That service relationship will outlast any spec-sheet difference between these six saws.