STIHL Chainsaws: Models, Sizes & How to Choose the Right One (2026)

Choosing a STIHL chainsaw comes down to three questions: how big is the wood, how often will you cut, and do you want gas or battery? Answer those and the long list of model numbers suddenly makes sense.

STIHL’s US website lists 54 chainsaws right now. They run from light homeowner saws to professional machines with more than 7 horsepower. That is a lot of choice, and the names do not explain much on their own.

This guide sorts the lineup into clear groups, gives you STIHL’s own specs for the popular models, and explains the fuel, safety gear and maintenance every owner needs. We have not tested these saws. Everything comes from STIHL’s official pages.

Where to Buy a STIHL Chainsaw

Start here, because it surprises many people. You will not find STIHL chainsaws at big box stores, and STIHL does not sell them on Amazon.

STIHL says its products are sold through more than 10,000 authorized local dealers across the United States. These are independent shops such as hardware stores and outdoor power equipment dealers. On STIHL’s product pages, the saws are marked for pickup in store through a dealer.

Why does STIHL do it this way? Its own explanation is service. Full-line STIHL dealers can set up and repair the equipment they sell, which STIHL points out is not something big box stores offer.

For you, that has three practical effects.

• You get the saw assembled and ready, with the chain fitted and tensioned.
• You have somewhere to take it for sharpening, parts and warranty work.
• You should be careful with marketplace listings. A new STIHL saw offered by an unknown online seller has not come through that dealer network. Ask about the warranty before you pay.

The STIHL Lineup Explained

STIHL’s 54 saws fall into six groups.

A word on top-handle saws. They are short and light so an arborist can use them up in a tree. STIHL marks them for tree service professionals only. They are not a clever choice for a first saw.

STIHL Gas Chainsaws Compared

Here are STIHL’s own figures for the gas saws most people choose between. Weight is for the powerhead alone, without the bar and chain.

One comparison in that table explains what “professional” really buys you. The MS 271 FARM BOSS and the MS 261 have the same size engine, at 3.1 cubic inches. But the MS 261 makes 4.00 bhp and weighs 10.9 pounds. The MS 271 makes 3.50 bhp and weighs 12.4 pounds.

Key insight: professional saws are not just bigger. They give more power from less weight, which matters when you run a saw all day.

For a homeowner who cuts a few weekends a year, that difference rarely justifies the higher cost. For someone who cuts for a living, it is everything.

What Size STIHL Chainsaw Do You Need?

Bigger is not better with a chainsaw. A saw that is too heavy tires you out, and tired people make mistakes.

1. Measure the wood you really cut. Think about the thickest logs you handle often, not the one big tree you might meet someday.
2. Count your cutting days. A few hours a year is light use. Every weekend through winter is regular use.
3. Be honest about your strength and experience. A lighter saw you control well is safer than a powerful one you fight.
4. Choose the smallest saw that does the job. You can always make two cuts in a big log.

Then match your answers to the lineup.

• Pruning, limbs and small firewood, a few times a year: MS 162, MS 172 C-E or MS 182. These make 1.60 to 2.20 bhp and weigh about 10 pounds.
• Regular firewood and storm cleanup: MS 250, MS 251 WOOD BOSS or MS 271 FARM BOSS, with 3.00 to 3.50 bhp.
• Large firewood, felling and farm work: MS 291, MS 311 or MS 391, with 3.80 to 4.40 bhp.
• Cutting for a living: MS 261 and above.

Gas or Battery?

Battery saws now make up a large part of the STIHL range. STIHL says demand for them is rising among both professionals and homeowners, and it highlights their use in noise-sensitive areas.

STIHL uses two battery families. The AK system powers the homeowner saws: the MSA 60, 70 and 80. The AP system powers the professional ones, from the MSA 160 to the MSA 300. The two families use different batteries, so check which system a saw uses before you buy.

Note the words “unit only” on many battery listings. That means the saw comes without a battery or charger. Sets include both.

STIHL Model Letters and Feature Names, in Plain English

The letters after a model number are not random. They tell you which comfort features the saw has.

So an MS 182 C-BE is an MS 182 with both the quick chain tensioner and the easier start.

A few feature names appear on almost every saw.

• Master Control Lever. One lever handles choke, start, run and stop.
• Anti-vibration system. Springs or buffers between the engine and the handles reduce fatigue.
• Side-access chain tensioner. The adjusting screw sits on the side, away from the chain.
• Pre-separation air filtration. STIHL says this removes larger debris before it reaches the filter, so the filter lasts up to five times longer on the MS 271.
• Toolless fuel and oil caps. They open without a tool, and retainers keep them attached to the saw.

Fuel and Oil: Get the Mix Right

A chainsaw has a 2-stroke engine. It has no oil sump, so the oil that protects it must be mixed into the gasoline. Get this wrong and you can ruin a new saw in an afternoon.

STIHL’s guidance is clear.

1. Use a 50:1 mix. All STIHL gasoline-powered equipment runs on 50 parts gasoline to 1 part 2-cycle engine oil.
2. Buy mid-grade gasoline. STIHL recommends a minimum octane rating of 89. It warns that lower octane can raise engine temperatures and risk piston seizure.
3. Keep ethanol at 10% or less. STIHL says fuel with more ethanol may damage the saw and void the warranty.
4. Pour the oil in first, then the gasoline. Close the can and shake it well.
5. Mix small amounts. STIHL advises mixing only enough for a few days of work and never storing fuel for more than three months.

Do not forget the second tank. A chainsaw also uses bar and chain oil, which lubricates the chain as it runs. Top it up every time you refuel.

If you only cut a few times a year, premixed fuel is the easy answer. STIHL sells its own, called MotoMix, through dealers. General-purpose 50:1 premix is also sold online.

Our guide on how long gasoline lasts explains why small engines are so sensitive to old fuel.

Safety Gear You Should Not Skip

A chainsaw chain moves fast enough to cause a serious injury before you can react. Protective gear does not replace skill, but it changes the outcome when something goes wrong.

The basic kit is the same for a homeowner and a professional.

• Leg protection. Chainsaw chaps or trousers. The legs are one of the most commonly injured areas.
• Head, face and hearing protection. A forestry helmet combines all three.
• Eye protection under the mesh visor.
• Gloves and sturdy boots, ideally with steel toes.

Our equipment safety page covers safe habits for all engine-powered tools.

STIHL Chainsaw Maintenance Basics

A chainsaw is a simple machine. Five habits keep it cutting well.

• Keep the chain sharp. A sharp chain throws chips. A dull one makes fine dust and forces you to push. Touch it up with a file every time you refuel.
• Check chain tension. A new chain stretches quickly. It should sit snug against the bar but still pull round by hand.
• Clean the air filter. Sawdust clogs it fast. A blocked filter makes the saw run rich and lose power.
• Clean the bar groove and oil hole so chain oil can reach the chain.
• Do not store it with fuel inside for months. Empty the tank and run the carburetor dry before a long break.

A small filing kit lives in the truck and pays for itself the first time you hit dirt.

If your saw refuses to fire up, our guide to a small engine that won’t start walks through fuel, spark and air in order. The small engine maintenance schedule helps you plan the rest.

Common Mistakes When Buying a STIHL Chainsaw (and the Fix)

Pro Tips for STIHL Owners

• Ask the dealer to start it with you. Five minutes of instruction on the Master Control Lever saves a lot of flooded engines.
• Buy a second chain. Swap when one goes dull and sharpen both at home.
• Mix fuel in small batches and write the date on the can.
• Let the saw do the work. If you have to push, the chain is dull.
• Clean it after every use. Brush the sawdust from the cooling fins, the air filter and the sprocket cover.
• Store it dry, with the bar cover on, and out of reach of children.
• Have it serviced before the season, not during it. Dealers are busiest after the first storm.

Real-Life Scenarios: Which STIHL Fits?

These are typical situations that buyers describe in forums and reviews. They are examples to help you choose, not quotes from real people.

STIHL Chainsaws: FAQ

Your STIHL Chainsaw Checklist

• Measure the wood you cut most often.
• Decide between gas and battery.
• Pick the smallest saw that suits the job.
• Visit an authorized STIHL dealer and ask for the right bar length.
• Buy chaps, a helmet with visor and ear muffs, glasses, gloves and boots.
• Buy 2-cycle oil or premixed 50:1 fuel, plus bar and chain oil.
• Get a file kit in the size your chain needs.
• Read the safety section of the manual before the first cut.
• Clean the saw and check the chain after every use.

Sources: STIHL USA’s official website: the chainsaw range and product pages, the guide to mixing oil and gasoline, and the authorized dealer page; Amazon listings for the safety gear and supplies named in this guide. All checked October 2026.