A pole chainsaw is a small chainsaw head on a long shaft, so you can cut branches several metres up while standing on the ground. It is far safer than a chainsaw on a ladder. Pole saws come petrol, battery and manual, and many are sold as a pole pruner chainsaw kit with extensions. They suit crown lifting, fruit trees and trimming over driveways, not felling. This page compares the types, reach and weight, and explains the safety rules. Tell us what you need and dealers send you free quotes, with no obligation.
Petrol, battery or manual
A petrol pole saw has the most power and suits big gardens, orchards and trade use, but the engine at the bottom adds weight. A battery pole saw is lighter, quieter and starts instantly, and suits homeowners doing a few hours of trimming at a time. A manual pole pruner with a curved saw blade and a rope-pulled lopper is cheap, silent and fine for small branches and fruit trees.
Reach, weight and balance
Reach from the ground is your own reach plus the shaft, about 3.5 to 4.5 m for most machines with extensions. Longer shafts flex and get heavy at the far end, so cutting is slower and less accurate. Before you buy:
- Hold it at full length at an angle, as you would in use
- Check for a harness or shoulder strap
- Ask whether the head can be angled
- Check how the shaft locks and whether it rattles
Cutting safely from below
Stand to the side of the branch, never under it, and cut small pieces at a time. Use a small undercut first so the bark does not tear down the trunk, and cut just outside the branch collar (see tree pruning). Wear a helmet with a visor, gloves and boots; sawdust and twigs fall straight down. Keep the saw at least 2 m from you at all times while it runs, and keep others well clear of the drop. Clean the chain and shaft after each use, keep the chain sharp and check the oil, because a blunt chain on a long pole pulls and twists.
Power lines and bigger jobs
Never use a pole saw near overhead power lines. Shafts can conduct electricity and a branch can swing into the line. Call the municipality or power utility to make the line safe. For branches thicker than your forearm, heavy limbs over roofs or anything higher than your reach, book tree trimming or a team with a cherry picker.
What to include in your request
- Petrol, battery or manual
- Reach you need from the ground
- Thickness of branches you will cut
- Whether you want extensions
- Harness and protective gear
Pole Saws & Pruners for different clients
- Homeowners: lifting branches off the gutter, driveway and pool fence without a ladder
- Estates, complexes and body corporates: keeping branches clear of estate roads, walkways and street lights
- Farms, smallholdings and plantations: pruning avocado, mango and citrus trees from the ground in the orchard
- Businesses and commercial property: trimming low branches over parking bays and walkways on office grounds
- Schools, churches and municipalities: parks and school grounds staff lifting crowns over paths and fields
- Developers and building sites: clearing low branches from site access routes before machines move in
- Servitudes and fire breaks: trimming small branches away from fences and gates on servitudes
- Tree fellers, landscapers and garden services: garden services adding a pole saw for crown lifting and hedge tops
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pole chainsaw cost?
How high can a pole saw reach?
Can I use a pole saw on a ladder?
Where can I buy a pole saw near me?
Pole Saws & Pruners 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