Larger timber
You cut rounds that need a longer bar, and you want the listing with a large UK review sample and a full box list. The mix ratio and a chain brake are not printed on the amazon.co.uk fields, so you still read the manual.
Petrol chainsaw comparison 2026
The best petrol chainsaws, compared.
Top pick: Hyundai HYC6200X 62 cc – Highest score in this set, 84, for a 62 cc saw with a 20 inch bar, two chains on the components line, and 4.2 from 1,335 reviews. The mix ratio and a chain brake are not on the amazon.co.uk fields. Best value: Neilsen 25.4 cc 12 inch – Lower shelf price, about £83.00, with a stated 25:1 mix, a 12 inch bar and 3.85 kg with bar and chain. The score is 82 from 4.1 and 20 reviews. The single-hand title is unresolved, and 20 reviews is a thin sample. Updated 22 October 2026.
Charlie White (Charlie DIYte)Expert source
A petrol chainsaw is a two-stroke saw with its own fuel, used to cross-cut logs or fell where there is no mains socket. You buy one for a stack of timber or a tree, not for a few twigs beside the house. Match the bar to the wood you usually cut, and look for a stated engine size, a chain brake, a throttle lock, a chain catcher and a stop you can reach. A longer bar is not safer, because kickback starts at the nose. Read the mix in that saw's manual, and check that a chain is really in the box. Rear-handled saws are the ground saw for firewood. A top-handled petrol saw is for trained climbers off the ground. In England, felling trees of 8 cm or more at 1.3 m needs a licence above 5 cubic metres a quarter, unless a garden exception applies and you can prove it. Start at least 4 m from the fuel. Those checks are set out in the [petrol chainsaw buying guide](/hub/forestry-tools/petrol-chainsaw/sub/petrol-chainsaw-buying-guide).
A petrol chainsaw is a two-stroke saw with its own fuel, used to cross-cut logs or fell where there is no mains socket. You buy one for a stack of timber or a tree, not for a few twigs beside the house.
11 products checked · 63 hrs invested · +24,100 readers
3 of 3: Best petrol chainsaws compared
Swipe for more
1-2 of 3Best overall
Best value
8.4/10
8.2/10
1.0/10
∼ £110
∼ £83
∼ £268
4.2(1,335)
4.1(20)
–
Personal buying guide
Which petrol chainsaw fits the job?
Question 1 of 2
What will you cut?
The best petrol chainsaws in detail
Our view
The Hyundai HYC6200X is listed as a 62 cc two-stroke with a 20 inch bar at about £109.89, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.2 from 1,335 reviews. The included-components line names two chains, a mix bottle, a 20 inch bar, a bar cover, a bag, a manual and a tool kit, and a bullet claims a 3-year platinum warranty. Many of those UK reviews say the saw starts on the first pulls. Others report a fragile starter, trouble starting it hot, a saw that stops until the air filter is cleaned, stripped starter pawls or a fuel leak. The file states 7 kg, 3 horsepower, side-mounted chain tension and an anti-vibration claim in the bullets. A bullet also claims EURO 5. The amazon.co.uk fields do not state a fuel ratio. A hosted HYC6200X manual says 40:1, and one UK reviewer wrote the same figure. The chain-brake field is empty, so this listing does not confirm a brake. Best Sellers Rank in the file is 538 in Garden and 4 in Chain Saws.
Pros
- 62 cc engine and a 20 inch bar at about £109.89
- Two chains, a mix bottle, a bag and a tool kit are on the components line
- 4.2 from 1,335 amazon.co.uk reviews, with many first-pull starts
- A 3-year warranty is claimed on the listing
Cons
- UK reviews also report a fragile starter, hot-start trouble and stops until the air filter is cleaned
- Fuel mix and a chain brake are not stated on the amazon.co.uk fields
- 7 kg and a 20 inch bar are a lot of saw for short garden rounds
Best for: You cut larger timber and want the only row here with a large UK review sample and a full box list.
Less suitable: A first saw for short logs, or a buyer who needs the mix ratio and a chain brake printed on the listing.
Specifications
- Model
- Hyundai HYC6200X 62 cc
- Brand
- Hyundai
- Price
- ∼£110
- Customer rating
- 4.2/5(1,335)
- Engine
- 62 cc
- Guide bar
- 20 inch
- Power
- 3 hp
- Weight
- 7 kg
- Second chain
- Yes
- Warranty
- 3 years
Common questions
What fuel mix does the listing state?
The amazon.co.uk fields do not state a ratio. A hosted HYC6200X manual says 40:1, and one UK reviewer also wrote 40:1. Use the manual that arrives with the saw.
Is a second chain in the box?
Yes. The included-components line lists two chains, a mix bottle, a bar cover, a bag, a manual and a tool kit.
Do UK reviews say it is easy to start?
Many say it starts on the first pulls. Others report a fragile starter, hot-start trouble, or a saw that stops until the air filter is cleaned.
Our view
The Neilsen listing at about £83.00 is a 25.4 cc petrol saw with a 12 inch bar, stated at 3.85 kg with bar and chain, and the star line is 4.1 from 20 reviews. The bullets give a 25:1 mix, a 230 ml fuel tank, an automatic chain oiler, and about 800 W or 1.2 horsepower. The title says single-hand, while the rest of the file does not show a top handle or a rear handle. A top-handled petrol saw is an aerial tool, so that title is a problem if the handle really is a top handle. The saved UK comments in the file include a saw that cuts out after a few minutes, oil leaking in storage, and a handle that comes loose. The title model is CT2298 and the model-number field is CT2295. Twenty reviews is a thin sample next to the Hyundai's 1,335, and Best Sellers Rank is 101,366 in Garden and 581 in Chain Saws.
Pros
- 12 inch bar and 3.85 kg with bar and chain, at about £83.00
- The listing states a 25:1 mix and an automatic chain oiler
- 4.1 from the 20 amazon.co.uk reviews in the file
Cons
- Only 20 reviews, including cut-outs after a few minutes, an oil leak in storage and a loose handle
- The title says single-hand without showing whether the handle is a top handle
- A second chain, a carry bag and a warranty are not stated
Best for: You want a light 12 inch petrol saw and you have checked that the handle is a rear-handled ground saw.
Less suitable: Firewood rounds that need a longer bar, or a first saw if the single-hand title is a top handle.
Specifications
- Model
- Neilsen 25.4 cc 12 inch
- Brand
- Neilsen
- Price
- ∼£83
- Customer rating
- 4.1/5(20)
- Engine
- 25.4 cc
- Guide bar
- 12 inch
- Power
- 1.2 hp
- Weight
- 3.85 kg
- Fuel mix
- 25:1
- Chain oil
- Automatic
Common questions
What fuel mix does the listing state?
25:1. The same bullets give a 230 ml fuel tank and an automatic chain oiler.
Is this a one-handed saw?
The title says single-hand. The rest of the file does not show a top handle or a rear handle. A top-handled petrol saw is treated as an aerial tool.
What do the UK reviews complain about?
A small set of UK reviews includes a saw that cuts out after a few minutes, oil leaking in storage, and a handle that comes loose.
Our view
This Akorida listing at about £268.00 puts MS381 and a 32 inch bar in the title, and it is not a STIHL MS 381. The brand field is AKORIDA and the manufacturer is akorida, with MS381 only as the model code. The saved listing has no star line and no review count. It states 3 horsepower and 5 kg, and it does not state cubic capacity, even though a listing question asks for displacement. The title says a 32 inch bar and chain are included, and the included-components line says 381 engine, so those two lines are not reconciled. A bullet mentions a 1-year warranty. The country field says Thailand and the dimensions field says 58 x 45 x 56 cm. At this price you are paying for a title the file does not finish.
Pros
- The title claims a 32 inch bar and chain
- 5 kg and 3 horsepower are stated on the listing
- A 1-year warranty appears in a bullet
Cons
- No star rating and no review text in the file
- The brand is Akorida, not STIHL, despite the MS381 model code
- Displacement is not stated, and the components line does not match the 32 inch title
Best for: You already have written confirmation that the 32 inch bar and chain ship with the engine, and you do not need UK reviews before you pay.
Less suitable: Anyone who wanted a STIHL MS 381, or a saw with a published star line and a stated engine size.
Specifications
- Model
- Akorida MS381 title, 32 inch
- Brand
- Akorida
- Price
- ∼£268
- Guide bar
- 32 in title
- Power
- 3 hp
- Weight
- 5 kg
- Warranty
- 1 year
Common questions
Is this a STIHL MS 381?
No. The brand field is AKORIDA and the manufacturer is akorida. MS381 appears only as the model code on this listing.
What engine size does the listing give?
It states 3 horsepower and does not state cubic capacity. A listing question asks for displacement and the bullets do not answer it.
Does the box include the 32 inch bar and chain?
The title says it does. The included-components line says 381 engine. Those two lines are not reconciled in the file.
How we compared
Three amazon.co.uk listings were scored from the star line alone. The star average is multiplied by 20, so a 5.0 line is 100 points and a 4.2 line is 84. A missing Customer Reviews line scores 0. Review volume is not a separate weight. A chain brake, a decibel figure and a vibration figure are not scored, because none of these three files states them. This is not a lab test.
1
Star line
100%The amazon.co.uk star average is multiplied by 20. A 5.0 line is 100 points. A missing Customer Reviews line is 0. No review-count bonus is added, and an empty chain-brake field is not treated as a pass or a fail.
Independent review
Last updated: 22 October 2026
8 sources checked
Petrol chainsaw buying guide
Decide the job before the bar length. Then read the mix in that manual, the parts you can see, the weight you will hold, and whether the box line matches the title. The notes below follow the three amazon.co.uk listings on this page and the public UK sources at the end.
What to check on a petrol chainsaw
A petrol chainsaw is a two-stroke saw with its own fuel tank. You buy one to cross-cut logs or to fell where there is no socket. A few twigs beside the house do not need one. Start with the job, then the bar. Measure the usual log. A retailer rule of thumb puts 14–16 inch bars on most firewood and longer bars on large timber for trained users. A shorter bar is easier when limbing. A longer bar is not safer, because kickback starts at the nose. Next come the parts you can see.
Best for
- A stack of timber or a tree where there is no mains socket
- Buyers who match the bar to the log and read the mix in that manual
- Someone who will check a rear handle before trusting a single-hand title
Not ideal for
- A few twigs beside the house
- Anyone who treats the longest bar, or a familiar model code, as proof of the saw in the box
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Buying the longest bar
Kickback starts at the nose. A retailer rule of thumb puts 14–16 inch bars on most firewood and longer bars on large timber for trained users. A shorter bar is easier when limbing.
- 2
Copying one mix onto every saw
The Neilsen listing states 25:1. A hosted manual for the Hyundai HYC6200X says 40:1. A 50:1 figure is for STIHL engines. The Akorida listing states no ratio. Use the manual in the box, and do not store a home mix for months.
- 3
Reading a model code as the brand
MS381 on the Akorida title is a model code. The brand field is Akorida, not STIHL. The components line says 381 engine, while the title mentions a 32 inch bar and chain. Those lines are not the same claim.
What to weigh up
Bar, engine and the mix
HighMeasure the usual log before you read a bar length. Most firewood sits on a 14–16 inch bar. A longer bar is for large timber and a trained user, and it is not a safety upgrade. The Hyundai listing states 62 cc and 20 inches. The Neilsen listing states 25.4 cc and 12 inches, about 800 W or 1.2 horsepower. The Akorida listing states 3 horsepower and does not state cubic capacity. Read the mix on that saw only. Do not move 25:1, 40:1 or a STIHL 50:1 figure from one engine to another.
Brake, handle, weight and the box
HighLook for a chain brake, a throttle lock, a chain catcher and a stop you can reach. None of these three listings states a chain brake. Rear-handled saws are the ground saw. A top-handled petrol saw is for trained climbers off the ground. The Neilsen title says single-hand and does not show the handle, so confirm it before you buy. Weight on the files is 7 kg for the Hyundai, 3.85 kg with bar and chain for the Neilsen, and 5 kg for the Akorida.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Light pruning
You want a light 12 inch petrol saw with a stated mix ratio, and you have checked that the handle is a rear-handled ground saw rather than a top handle.
Long bar, box confirmed
You already have written confirmation that the bar and chain ship with the engine, and you do not need a UK star line or a stated cubic capacity before you pay. The model code on the title is not the brand.
Common questions about petrol chainsaws
Which petrol chainsaw is the top pick for 2026?
The top pick is the Hyundai HYC6200X at about £109.89. It is a 62 cc two-stroke with a 20 inch bar, two chains and a bag on the components line, and 4.2 from 1,335 amazon.co.uk reviews. The score is 84, the star average times 20, not a lab test. The best value is the Neilsen 25.4 cc saw at about £83.00, with a 12 inch bar, a stated 25:1 mix and 4.1 from 20 reviews. The title says single-hand, and the file does not show the handle type.
How much does a petrol chainsaw cost on amazon.co.uk?
In this set the shelf prices are about £83.00 for the Neilsen 12 inch saw, about £109.89 for the Hyundai 20 inch saw, and about £268.00 for the Akorida title. A UK shop listed the Hyundai model at £136 including VAT on 21 October 2026, which is not the amazon.co.uk price. These amazon.co.uk figures were saved on 19 October 2026 and they move. A longer bar in a title is not a reason to pay more when the components line does not match the title.
What should you check before you buy a petrol chainsaw?
Match the bar to the timber. A retailer rule of thumb puts 14–16 inch bars on most firewood and longer bars on large timber for trained users. A shorter bar is easier when limbing, and kickback starts at the nose. Check a chain brake, a throttle lock, a chain catcher and a stop you can reach. Read the mix in that saw's manual, confirm a chain is in the box, and read the weight you will hold. None of these three listings states a chain brake.
What fuel mix does a petrol chainsaw use?
There is no single mix for every petrol chainsaw. The Neilsen listing states 25:1 and a 230 ml tank. The Hyundai amazon.co.uk fields do not state a ratio. A hosted manual for the HYC6200X says 40:1, and one UK reviewer wrote the same figure. A 50:1 mix is published for STIHL engines and does not transfer to these listings. The Akorida listing states no ratio. Use the manual that arrives with the saw, and do not keep a home mix for months.
Do you need a licence to own a petrol chainsaw?
There is no householder chainsaw licence. Guidance for chainsaws at work covers training for the task, with suggested refreshers every two to three years for occasional use and every five years for full-time use. Felling permission is separate. Forestry Act 1967 section 9 requires a licence unless an exception applies. In England, trees of 8 cm or more at 1.3 m need a licence above 5 cubic metres a quarter. Gardens and topping can be exceptions if you can prove them. A tree preservation order is a further check.
What protective kit should you wear?
For ground work, published kit is a helmet to BS EN 397, hearing protection to BS EN 352, a visor to BS EN 1731 or glasses to BS EN 166, gloves to BS EN 381-7 where required, trousers to BS EN 381-5, and boots to BS EN ISO 17249. Start the saw at least 4 m from the fuel. Rear-handled saws are for the ground. A top-handled petrol saw is for trained climbers off the ground.
When is petrol a better fit than a cordless chainsaw?
A petrol chainsaw carries its own fuel, so it works away from a socket, with fumes, noise and a mix to get right. A cordless saw is limited by the battery and is not in this set. Choose petrol for a timber stack with no power nearby, and a battery saw for short cuts you can recharge. Runtime, noise and fumes are on the cordless chainsaw page. Call a competent person if the tree is hung, near a road or a line, or off the ground.
When should you call a professional instead?
Call a competent person when the stem is wider than the bar, the tree is hung or near a road or a line, a preservation order may apply, the saw is for paid work, or the work is off the ground. Home firewood needs a rear-handled saw and a bar that clears the rounds. In England, wood sold for homes under 2 cubic metres must be at or below 20 per cent moisture. That rule is about wood you sell, not a reason to buy a longer bar.
Our verdict
The top pick is the Hyundai HYC6200X at about £109.89. The listing states a 62 cc two-stroke, a 20 inch bar, two chains, a mix bottle, a bag and tools, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.2 from 1,335 reviews. The score is 84, the star average times 20. It is not a lab test. The fuel ratio and a chain brake are not on the amazon.co.uk fields. A hosted manual for this model says 40:1. The best value is the Neilsen 25.4 cc saw at about £83.00, with a 12 inch bar, 3.85 kg with bar and chain, a stated 25:1 mix, and 4.1 from 20 reviews. The title says single-hand, and the file does not show whether that is a top handle. The Akorida listing at about £268.00 uses the model code MS381 and is not a STIHL saw. It has no star line, and the components line does not match the bar in the title.
Best overallView offer
Hyundai HYC6200X 62 cc
Highest score in this set, 84, for a 62 cc saw with a 20 inch bar, two chains on the components line, and 4.2 from 1,335 reviews. The mix ratio and a chain brake are not on the amazon.co.uk fields.
Best value
View offer
Neilsen 25.4 cc 12 inch
Lower shelf price, about £83.00, with a stated 25:1 mix, a 12 inch bar and 3.85 kg with bar and chain. The score is 82 from 4.1 and 20 reviews. The single-hand title is unresolved, and 20 reviews is a thin sample.
Editorial
Editor
DIY & toolsamazon.co.uk listingsPublic UK sources
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Updated: 22 October 2026
8 sources checked
Guides to petrol chainsaws
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Petrol chainsaw buying guideBar, engine, brake, mix and weight, before a model.Best petrol chainsawsWho each listing in this set is for, and who should skip it.How to use a petrol chainsawChecks, fuel, a cold start, and chain oil.Petrol chainsaw for firewoodBucking on a saw horse, not felling.Petrol vs cordless chainsawFuel and fumes, or a battery you can recharge.
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources listed below, dated 21 October 2026. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures saved for these three ASINs on 19 October 2026.
- HSE INDG317 chainsaw guidance (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE chainsaw PPE (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE AFAG308 top-handled chainsaws (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- GOV.UK felling licence (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Forestry Act 1967 section 9 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- STIHL UK chainsaw fuel mix (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Hyundai HYC6200X manual (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- GOV.UK Ready to Burn (retrieved 22 October 2026)
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The order follows amazon.co.uk listings, review counts and the public sources below. The commission does not set the scores. The amazon.co.uk tag is pcuk26-21.