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Bosch chainsaw: 18 V or 36 V

Updated: 22 October 2026

You grab a green Bosch battery from the mower, and it will not seat on the AdvancedChain. Another saw in the basket still says 18 V, so the mount feels faulty. Voltage on the label is not the mount. This page compares green POWER FOR ALL 18 V, green 36 V, and blue Professional 18 V / AMPShare for the kept saws only. Prices and ASINs sit on the [Bosch chainsaw comparison](/hub/forestry-tools/bosch-chainsaw). Peter F. read those listings and Bosch’s GB pages. This is not a laboratory test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You grab a green Bosch battery from the mower, and it will not seat on the AdvancedChain. Another saw in the basket still says 18 V, so the mount feels faulty. Voltage on the label is not the mount.

Our top picks

Bosch Bosch PKE18V-30-28 bare

Best overall

Bosch Bosch PKE18V-30-28 bare
9.6/10about £172.86
View offer
Bosch Bosch Professional GKE 18V-20 bare

Rank 2

Bosch Bosch Professional GKE 18V-20 bare
9.2/10about £204.98
View offer
Bosch Bosch AdvancedChain 36V-35-40 bare

Rank 3

Bosch Bosch AdvancedChain 36V-35-40 bare
9.0/10about £208.94
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Three systems
  2. 2.What 18 V can cut
  3. 3.What 36 V adds
  4. 4.Blue is not green

Three systems

Green 18 V POWER FOR ALL fits the EasyChain, UniversalChain 18, the pole saw and the PKE in this set. Green 36 V fits the AdvancedChain only among the kept log-class saws. Blue Professional 18 V and AMPShare fit the GKE, not the green garden packs. The alliance FAQ says there is no plan to unify DIY 18 V with Professional 18 V. Green 18 V does not run the AdvancedChain. Green 36 V does not run the EasyChain. Green 18 V does not run the GKE. A longer bar does not make the PKE a 36 V tool. It stays on green 18 V with about 27.5 cm stated cut on a 30 cm bar. Bar order is on the Bosch chainsaw buying guide.

What 18 V can cut

On green 18 V, pruning sits with the EasyChain and UniversalChain 18 near 13–13.5 cm stated cut, and overhead reach with the pole saw at about 14.5 cm. Thicker wood on the same mount moves to the bare PKE at £172.86, with 9 m/s, brushless drive, OptiCut and 3.9 kg without a battery. Kits ship 2.5 Ah for the small saws. Heavier PKE work is pushed toward a 4.0 Ah-class pack. One 2.5 Ah pack is a pruning session, not an afternoon of bucking. Compare like with like: bare UniversalChain at £98.74 plus a pack you own, against bare AdvancedChain at £208.94 plus a 36 V pack you may still need. The PKE at £172.86 is the middle path when you stay on green 18 V.
Bosch Bosch PKE18V-30-28 bare

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch PKE18V-30-28 bare
9.6/10about £172.86
View offer

What 36 V adds

The bare AdvancedChain at £208.94 lists 14 m/s, brushless drive, OptiCut and QuickStop on Bosch’s model page, with about 31 cm stated cut on a 35 cm bar. It uses GBA 36 V packs. The manual lists 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 Ah, not the green 18 V alliance. UK reviewers describe stronger cuts, including hardwood around eight inches in their words. Runtime is the limit: one UK reviewer reported about fifteen to twenty minutes across two 4 Ah packs and one 6 Ah pack. 36 V is speed and bar class, not a reason to fell near buildings or lines. Job picks are on best Bosch cordless chainsaw.

Blue is not green

The bare GKE at £204.98 sits on Professional 18 V / AMPShare, with a gyrosensor chain brake, automatic oiling, variable speed and up to 18 cm in the title. Item weight is 1.83 kg. It competes with the green mini saws for blue-battery owners. It is not a bridge to 36 V. Budget a charger for any new platform. The AdvancedChain amazon line is 3.56 kg, while Bosch’s manual table uses a lower figure. Do not average them. Green pruners here often stop when you release the trigger, rather than listing QuickStop or a gyro brake.

Common questions

Will my 18 V garden battery fit the AdvancedChain?
No. The AdvancedChain belongs to the 36 V POWER FOR ALL system per Bosch’s product page. A green 18 V pack from a mower or the EasyChain will not seat. The bare listing is £208.94 and does not include a battery or charger.
Will my 18 V garden battery fit the GKE?
No. The GKE uses Professional 18 V / AMPShare, not green POWER FOR ALL. The alliance FAQ states there is no plan to unify DIY 18 V with Professional 18 V. The bare GKE is £204.98, with a listed gyrosensor chain brake and up to 18 cm in the title.
Is the PKE a 36 V saw because it has a longer bar?
No. It stays on green 18 V with a 30 cm bar class and about 27.5 cm stated cut on Bosch documentation. The bare PKE is £172.86, with 9 m/s listed speed. A longer bar does not change the mount.
Which 36 V pack size do buyers say they need?
Comments favour more than 2.0 Ah for heavy AdvancedChain cuts. The manual lists GBA 36 V packs in 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 Ah. One UK reviewer reported about fifteen to twenty minutes across two 4 Ah packs and one 6 Ah pack.
What is in the AdvancedChain box on amazon.co.uk?
The capture lists the saw, scabbard, chain and bar, 50 ml starter oil, and a tensioning aid. There is no battery and no charger. At £208.94 you still need a 36 V pack and charger before the first cut.
Does 36 V mean the saw is safe to use for felling?
No. Platform choice does not replace training, PPE, or stopping when the job needs a professional. 36 V matches thicker cross-cuts when you already own the correct packs. It does not make felling near buildings, roads, or overhead lines a garden task.
Can I use one charger for all three systems?
Expect separate chargers per platform. Green 18 V, green 36 V, and blue Professional 18 V / AMPShare are three families. Verify the part number for the packs you own rather than assuming one dock fits every Bosch label that says 18 V.

Related pages

Bosch chainsaw for pruning

How to use a Bosch chainsaw

Bosch chainsaw

Best Bosch cordless chainsaw: top pick, best value

Bosch chainsaw buying guide: your job, battery and kit

Sources

Manufacturer pages and UK public sources first. Listing prices, stars and review counts are amazon.co.uk figures captured on 19 October 2026. This is not a laboratory test.

  1. Bosch DIY GB chainsaw range (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. Bosch UniversalChain 18 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. Bosch AdvancedChain 36V-35-40 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. Bosch PKE18V-30-28 manual (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. Bosch Professional GKE 18V-20 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. HSE chainsaw PPE (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 19 October 2026)