Every saw gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Saws are grouped by power source, battery and gas, and each group has its own scales.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per inch of bar | 30% |
| Power | engine size; battery saws, chain speed | 25% |
| Weight | the saw's weight as the maker states it | 15% |
| Bar | bar length | 10% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 20% |
Where the numbers come from
Bar length, engine size, chain speed, weight, warranty and the rest come from the maker’s product page, spec sheet or manual, or the maker’s own copy on its Amazon listing. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest is used. Battery saws are priced as kits with a battery and charger.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the bar length in inches, on a log scale for each group, so going from $20 to $10 per inch counts as much as going from $40 to $20.
| Group | Scores 0 | Full marks |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | $30 per inch | $10 per inch |
| Gas | $35 per inch | $12 per inch |
Power is engine size for gas saws, 35 cc (zero) to 60 cc (full), and chain speed for battery saws, 30 ft/s (zero) to 70 ft/s (full), since battery makers don’t rate power in a way that compares across brands.
Weight is the saw’s weight as the maker states it: 16 lb scores zero, and 8 lb (battery) or 9 lb (gas) full marks. Makers weigh saws differently, some without the bar and chain or battery, so the product page says what each figure includes.
Bar is the bar length the saw comes with: 12 in scores zero and 20 in full marks. A longer bar cuts bigger wood in one pass.
Warranty is the length of the consumer warranty on the saw: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks. Battery warranties are listed separately.
What isn’t scored
Chain pitch, tool-free tensioning, anti-vibration, CARB compliance, battery size and looks are listed but not scored. Fit matters most: pick the bar length for the wood you cut, and a battery saw on a platform you already own if you can. Independent tests are listed where they exist, but there are too few to score.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.