A chainsaw is the one tool every tree feller, farmer and handy homeowner ends up wanting, but the right saw depends on what you cut and how often. A light battery saw suits pruning and braai wood; a 50 cc petrol saw handles fallen gums and wattle; a big pro saw is for fellers who work every day. This page explains engine size, bar length, chains and upkeep so you can compare a chainsaw for sale with confidence. Tell us what you need and local dealers send you free quotes, with no obligation to buy.
Petrol, electric or battery
A petrol chainsaw runs on a two-stroke mix of petrol and oil. It works anywhere, has the most power and suits farms, plots and bigger trees, but it is noisy, heavier and needs more care. A corded electric chainsaw is light, quiet and cheap to run, but the cable limits you to work near a plug point. A cordless chainsaw on a battery starts at the press of a trigger and suits pruning, small limbs and cutting braai wood; check how long a battery lasts and what a spare costs, as that is often half the price of the saw.
Engine size and bar length
Petrol saws are rated by engine size in cc and by bar length. As a rough guide:
- 30 to 40 cc with a 30 to 40 cm bar: pruning, small trees and firewood
- 45 to 55 cc with a 40 to 50 cm bar: the all-round size for gardens, plots and storm clean-up
- 60 cc and up with a 50 cm bar or longer: big gums, pines and daily felling work
A longer bar is not always better. It adds weight and needs more power to pull the chain. Match the bar to the wood you usually cut, not the biggest tree you might meet once.
Chain, oil and upkeep
A sharp chain does most of the work. If the saw makes dust instead of chips, or pulls to one side, the chain needs filing. Keep a round file and guide, a spare chain, bar oil, the right two-stroke oil and a combination spanner. Clean the air filter often, check the chain tension when the saw is cold, and empty the fuel before storing it for months. Ask the dealer whether they service saws and keep parts, because a local workshop matters more than a long feature list.
Safety and when to call a pro
Buy the protective kit with the saw: a helmet with visor and ear muffs, chainsaw trousers or chaps, boots and gloves. See chainsaw safety gear. Look for a chain brake and chain catcher, and get some training. Cutting logs on the ground is one thing; felling a standing tree near a house is another. For trees over roofs, walls or power lines, leave it to tree felling teams. If you only need a saw for a weekend, chainsaw hire may make more sense.
What to include in your request
- Petrol, electric or battery
- What you will cut and how often
- Preferred engine size and bar length
- Whether you need spare chains and oil
- Whether you also need protective gear
Chainsaws for different clients
- Homeowners: cutting up fallen branches, pruning small trees and sawing braai wood in the garden
- Estates, complexes and body corporates: a maintenance team saw for storm clean-up and trimming along roads and common areas
- Farms, smallholdings and plantations: clearing fallen gums and wattle, cutting firewood and fixing fence lines on the farm
- Businesses and commercial property: a grounds team keeping parking lot trees and boundary planting under control
- Schools, churches and municipalities: park and school grounds staff cutting up storm damage and dead limbs
- Developers and building sites: cutting up small trees and brush when a building stand is cleared
- Servitudes and fire breaks: servitude teams cutting fallen trees off access roads and fire breaks
- Tree fellers, landscapers and garden services: tree fellers and garden services buying work saws matched to daily felling
Frequently asked questions
What are chainsaw prices in South Africa?
What size chainsaw do I need for a garden?
Is a cordless chainsaw strong enough?
Do you sell chainsaws?
Chainsaws by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg