The 5 Best Pole Saws (2023) for better tree pruning experience

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I use pole saws and pruners to keep my garden and outdoor places looking well. It’s a tiny chainsaw or hand saw on an extendable pole, suitable for pruning or trimming branches on trees and plants that are out of reach without a ladder. It allows for precise tree and bush sculpting. Without stretching or straining to reach high branches, a pole saw lets you trim them safely from the ground.”

I’ve looked at garden centers and home improvement stores for the right pole saw. Different lengths, bar diameters, and power sources—manual, gas, corded electric, and battery—are available. Noah James offers good suggestions for selecting the right choice, which matches my experiences. He advises, “Consider branch size and type. For thicker, tougher materials, choose a saw with a powerful motor or longer bar. Determine the branch height and choose a pole saw that fits.”

Noah says, “Comfort and durability are equally crucial.” Ergonomic handles and solid construction can improve user experience. Always prioritize safety, therefore buy a pole saw with an automatic chain brake to limit injury risk. Finally, consider saw maintenance and usability. A user-friendly design improves productivity and enjoyment.” I’ve found that a good pole saw makes tree and shrub maintenance easy, safe, and precise.

Best Pole Saws Comparison Table

As part of regular upkeep, the chain should be kept sharp, any loose parts should be checked, and the saw should be cleaned after each use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for lubricating the chain and store the pole saw in a dry place to keep it from rusting.

Feature	Echo Power Pruner	Greenworks 40-Volt Cordless	Stihl HT 135	BLACK+DECKER	DeWALT Cordless
Power Source	Gasoline	40-Volt Lithium-Ion Battery	Gasoline	20-Volt Lithium-Ion Battery	20-Volt Lithium-Ion Battery
Engine/Battery Voltage	21.2 cc 2-stroke	40V	36.3 cc 2-Mix	20V	20V
Bar Length	10 inches	8 inches	12 inches	10 inches	8 inches
Weight	13.3 lbs	8.4 lbs	16.3 lbs	8.9 lbs	8.44 lbs
Maximum Reach	Up to 12 feet	Up to 8 feet	Up to 13 feet	Up to 14 feet	Up to 14 feet
Chain Tensioning System	Tool-less	Tool-less	Tool-less	Tool-less	Tool-less
Suitable For	Professional/Residential	Residential	Professional	Residential	Residential
Latest Deal	–	Check Deal	–	Check Deal	Check Deal

List of the Best Pole Saws

Most of the time, powered pole saws work better and require less work from you. They work well with bigger branches and can do more thorough pruning work. Manual pole saws are light and can be used for small jobs and light cutting. The amount of work a pole saw can do depends on the type. Even though many pole saws can cut branches of different sizes, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s specs to make sure it can handle the limbs you need to prune. If you try to cut twigs that are too thick, you can hurt the saw and put yourself in danger.

Echo Power Pruner

Feature	Description
Power Source	Gasoline
Engine	21.2 cc 2-stroke
Bar Length	10 inches
Weight	13.3 lbs
Reach	Up to 12 feet
Chain Tensioning System	Tool-less

If you cut a lot, you need a real (gas-powered) saw like this Echo pole saw. The Power Pruner is powered by the company’s well-known 21.2-cc pro-duty engine, which is a high-torque, lightweight engine that is great for this job. The rotary-valve carburetor, which feeds fuel to the engine, works well at part throttle and in any position. This is important because when pruning tall trees or big limbs, you’ll often have to hold the saw at odd angles. Echo uses its i30 start system, which has a spring-assist that makes it easy to start the engine with a light pull.

Popular Mechanics writers have used i30-equipped Echo products, such as chainsaws, and say it’s one of the best pull-start mechanisms on the market. The saw has a reach of 7 feet 9 inches, and you can buy an extension piece that adds another 3 feet. Trust the Power Pruner if you need a tool that can easily cut at its full length and full diameter.

Greenworks 40-Volt Cordless Pole Saw

Feature	Description
Power Source	40-Volt Lithium-Ion Battery
Bar Length	8 inches
Weight	8.4 lbs
Reach	Up to 8 feet
Chain Tensioning System	Tool-less
	Check Price

Even though this Greenworks pole saw isn’t as strong as a professional tool, we love it. It comes with a 40-volt, 2-amp-hour battery that can cut up to 65 times before it needs to be charged again. Plus, the battery works with many of Greenworks’ other 40V tools, like hedge trimmers, string trimmers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws. With this pole saw’s 8-inch bar and chain, you can cut through branches with a width of up to 6 inches. The slightly angled head makes it easier to reach up into tree branches and helps you focus on just the part you want to cut off.

The aluminum pole comes in three pieces, so you can leave out the middle piece if you don’t need much reach or add it for a maximum length of 8 feet and a reach length of about 10 feet, based on how long your arms are. This lets you take dead, broken, or wrongly placed branches from most backyard trees without having to use a ladder. The tool’s handle has a padded overmold that makes it easier to hold, and the pole saw is well-balanced between the weight of the battery at one end and the weight of the saw at the other end. This makes it easier to move the saw up into the tree branches.

Stihl HT 135

Feature	Description
Power Source	Gasoline
Engine	36.3 cc 2-Mix
Bar Length	12 inches
Weight	16.3 lbs
Reach	Up to 13 feet
Chain Tensioning System	Tool-less

This badass pole saw was made for landscapers and tree service workers, but you can also buy it for yourself. It has a square-shaped telescoping shaft that makes it less likely to bend when fully stretched. This saw can cut big branches because it has a 36.3cc engine and a 14-inch guide bar. It was easy for the saw to cut through poplar branches that were 6 inches in thickness. It’s easy to change the length of the pole. Just turn a knob near the guide bar to make the pole longer or shorter. Stihl says that this saw can cut trees up to 16 feet above the ground.

The price and the weight are the only things I don’t like about this pole saw. At $770, this saw is a lot of money. But it’s worth it if you do a lot of work on trees every year. This is a big saw, so keep that in mind. If you use a 17-pound pole saw for a few hours, you’ll be tired, but you’ll get a huge amount of work done.

BLACK+DECKER Pole Saw

Feature	Description
Power Source	20-Volt Lithium-Ion Battery
Bar Length	10 inches
Weight	8.9 lbs
Reach	Up to 14 feet
Chain Tensioning System	Tool-less
	Check Price

We believe that this pole saw is ideal for homeowners who are interested in taking care of a few lawn maintenance duties around their property. Its eight-inch bar is powered by a lithium-ion battery, and it can chop branches that are six inches in diameter. In addition, it provides you with an oil bottle as well as a blade cover to assist you in maintaining your tool after each time you use it.

The majority of reviewers were pleased with this electric pole saw, praising its manageable weight and convenient cordless operation. It was said by a number of customers that the capacity of the cutter was enough for meeting their requirements. However, a number of customers complained that the pole saw’s handle and shaft were too fragile and were not sturdy enough for their needs. Another user expressed their desire for a feature that allowed them to change the amount of strain.

DeWALT Cordless Pole Saw

Feature	Description
Power Source	20-Volt Lithium-Ion Battery
Bar Length	8 inches
Weight	8.44 lbs
Reach	Up to 14 feet
Chain Tensioning System	Tool-less
	Check Price

Customers who don’t want the noise or trouble of high-maintenance gas saws will like this portable pole saw from DeWALT that runs on batteries. It can cut trees up to 4 inches thick, has an 8-inch cutting bar chain, and a saw blade that automatically oils itself. This product doesn’t come with a battery or charger, but it can be used with other DeWALT batteries that run tools like a hedge trimmer.

This product gets very good marks because it is strong, versatile, and long-lasting. It also helps that DeWALT is a trusted name in the business world. One reviewer said, “Great for trimming small trees without having to climb a ladder; you can just reach it from the ground.” “I cut down my tree. I usually need an hour and a half to do it. It took me 10 minutes to do.”

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