Petrol vs Electric Chainsaw: Which Should You Buy? (November 2026)

On this page (8 sections)

1. Petrol vs electric chainsaw: the two side by side
2. Which saw cuts bigger wood?
3. How do they start and run day to day?
4. Which weighs less to carry and hold?
5. How much noise and exhaust do you have to live with?
6. What upkeep does each type need?
7. Where you'll store and use the saw
8. Which should you buy?

Pick a petrol chainsaw for thick trunks and all-day felling, and an electric or battery saw for trimming, pruning and quiet suburban work. In this petrol vs electric chainsaw comparison, the job size and where you store the saw decide more than raw motor size.

The SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc gas saw and the SEESII 12-inch cordless electric saw show the split well. One brings a 20-inch bar and 4.2 hp; the other brings a brushless motor and two 4.0Ah batteries.

Choosing between them means matching the saw to your trees, not to a spec sheet.

Petrol vs electric chainsaw: the two side by side

The gas saw wins on cutting power and bar length; the electric saw wins on starting ease, noise and upkeep. The table below puts the four saws in this comparison next to each other.

The pattern is clear once the numbers sit together. Gas saws bring more engine size and longer bars.

Electric saws bring lighter bodies and no fuel routine. The bar length tells you the trunk size each one can handle; the weight tells you how long you can carry it.

One number worth noting is chain speed, since it hints at how a saw behaves in the cut. The SUPMIXTOOLS runs at 8500 RPM.

The VEVOR runs at 8500 RPM with a maximum of 11500 RPM. The Seesii Mini states up to 29ft/s chain speed, while the SEESII cuts at 12 inches with a 1200W brushless motor.

Electric saws reach their speed the moment the trigger goes, while a 2-cycle engine builds power as it revs under load.

That difference shows up in the type of cut each saw likes. A gas saw holds its speed through a long cut in dense wood.

A battery saw gives its best on shorter, cleaner cuts. Neither is wrong; they just suit different work.

Which saw cuts bigger wood?

The petrol saws cut bigger trunks, led by the SUPMIXTOOLS 20-inch bar and 62cc engine. Bar length limits the diameter you can cut in one pass, so the longer bar is the practical advantage.

The SUPMIXTOOLS runs a 20-inch low-kickback bar with a 62cc full-crank 2-stroke engine at 4.2 hp. That combination suits felling, bucking large logs and preparing firewood.

SUPMIXTOOLS lists splitting wood and tree felling among its uses.

The VEVOR keeps a 12-inch bar and a 25.4cc engine at 1.2 hp. Its cutting diameter reaches 9.84 inches (250 mm), so it handles limbs and smaller trunks but not a mature tree.

On the electric side, the SEESII 12-inch bar covers pruning, lumber and storm debris. The Seesii Mini takes branches up to 15cm thick with its 6-inch bar.

Seesii says the Mini cuts wood up to 15cm thick in about 7 seconds with its 900W motor. Neither electric saw reaches the trunk sizes the 20-inch gas saw handles.

If your cutting list is mostly branches, a 12-inch saw covers it. If you drop trees and cut them into rounds, the 20-inch bar saves you from working around a trunk in stages.

Our Echo vs Husqvarna comparison looks at how two gas brands split on power and bar size.

How do they start and run day to day?

Electric saws start with a trigger and a battery; petrol saws need a choke and a pull cord. That difference shapes how often you reach for the saw on a quick job.

The SUPMIXTOOLS cold start follows a set routine. Push the chain brake forward, pull the choke out fully, switch on, then pull the starter handle up to 6 times until the motor sounds.

Push the choke fully back, pull up to 20 more times, then release the brake and squeeze the throttle with the lockout.

A warm start skips the choke and switch steps. The VEVOR adds an easy-start button and a brass carburetor for a smooth start in hot weather.

The SEESII electric and Seesii Mini start as soon as a charged battery goes in. The Mini arrives fully assembled, with two batteries, two chains and an oil bottle in the box.

No fuel, no choke, no pull cord.

The cold start routine in practice

The SUPMIXTOOLS steps are written down for a reason. Pulling the cord before the choke is set, or leaving the choke half out after the engine fires, is the usual cause of a saw that will not run.

The manual stresses pushing the choke fully back.

The VEVOR's easy-start button removes part of that routine. Press the button and the engine catches with less pulling.

Its brass carburetor is meant to keep the start smooth even in hot weather.

For a homeowner who cuts twice a month, the trigger start is the reason to go electric. For daily work on a woodlot, the pull-start routine becomes second nature.

Which weighs less to carry and hold?

The Mini is the lightest at 2.7 lb; the gas saws sit at 14 lb and 9.26 lb. Weight decides how long you can work before your arms tire.

The Seesii Mini weighs 2.7 lb, which Seesii frames as about 23% of a large gasoline chainsaw. That suits one-handed pruning overhead and long trimming sessions.

Women, older users and people with arthritis are the audience Seesii names for it.

The VEVOR is the lighter gas option at 9.26 lb (4.2 kg), with a top handle for one-handed limbing. The SUPMIXTOOLS weighs 14 lb, balanced for two-handed work on the ground.

The SEESII electric lands at 12 lb.

Carrying a 14 lb saw up a ladder or across a slope is real work. If your cutting is mostly overhead or along a fence line, the Mini or the SEESII makes more sense.

If you stand at a trunk and cut rounds, the heavier gas saw's balance helps more than its weight hurts.

How much noise and exhaust do you have to live with?

Petrol saws are loud and produce exhaust; electric saws run quieter with no fumes. This matters in a suburb with close neighbors or a yard next to a window.

The SEESII electric and Seesii Mini both run without exhaust. Seesii says the Mini's low noise suits early-morning or evening work.

An electric saw still needs ear protection, but it won't carry across the block the way a 2-cycle engine does.

A gas saw like the SUPMIXTOOLS or VEVOR produces exhaust and engine noise. That rules out indoor use and can run into local quiet hours.

Wear hearing protection and work outdoors with good airflow.

If you cut near a house, a hospital or a neighbor's bedroom window, the electric option keeps the peace. If your nearest neighbor is a quarter mile away, noise stops being a deciding factor.

What upkeep does each type need?

A petrol saw needs fuel mixing, carburetor care and engine maintenance; an electric saw needs chain care and battery charging. The upkeep load is the hidden cost of gas.

Gas saws run on a 2-cycle fuel mix. Getting the ratio wrong can stall the engine or wear it early, so our guide on how to mix gas for a chainsaw is worth reading before your first tank.

The VEVOR's fuel tank holds 230ml and its chain oil tank 160ml. The SUPMIXTOOLS runs at 8500 RPM and needs routine spark plug and air filter checks.

Electric saws skip fuel but still need chain oil, tension and sharpening. The SEESII adds an auto-oiling system with a 60mL tank that adjusts oil flow to cutting speed.

The Mini ships with two chains and a charger, so a spare is always on hand.

Battery care matters too. Store the SEESII's 4.0Ah batteries and the Mini's 21V 2000 mAh packs away from heat and charge them before long jobs.

Neither saw needs an oil change or a carburetor rebuild.

Our corded vs cordless chainsaw comparison covers the electric side in more depth if you want to weigh battery against cord.

Safety features on both types

Both types carry safety gear, and the details differ by model. The SUPMIXTOOLS has a safety switch to prevent accidental starts and a quick-stop chain brake.

The VEVOR adds a large protective guard to keep sawdust off your hands and a tool-free chain tension knob so the bar stays tight.

On the electric side, the Mini pairs a double safety lock with a chain guard that blocks flying debris. The SEESII includes tool-free chain tension.

Whichever type you buy, read the brake and lockout instructions before the first cut.

Where you'll store and use the saw

Gas saws suit a shed or garage with ventilation; electric saws store anywhere and start without fumes. Storage and fumes push many homeowners toward battery.

A petrol saw needs a safe place for fuel and a spot with airflow when it runs. Keep fuel away from living areas and follow local rules for storage.

The SUPMIXTOOLS at 32.14 x 10 x 10.43 inches needs shelf space to match.

An electric saw stores on a hook or in a cabinet with no fuel smell. The SEESII measures 16.54 x 14.96 x 10.24 inches.

The Mini is small enough for a shelf at 15 x 3.2 x 6 inches.

Working away from an outlet is the gas saw's home turf. Felling a tree in a back lot with no power nearby favors the SUPMIXTOOLS or VEVOR.

Pruning the hedge by the kitchen door favors either battery saw.

Which should you buy?

Buy the SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc gas saw if you fell trees and cut big logs; buy the Seesii Mini for light branch work and the SEESII 12-inch electric saw for yard cleanup. That's the short answer to petrol vs electric chainsaw for most buyers.

The SUPMIXTOOLS earns the top score here because its 20-inch bar and 62cc engine cover the heaviest jobs in this group. It handles felling, bucking and firewood prep without a battery clock running down.

Its 14 lb weight is the price you pay for that reach.

The SEESII electric is the better pick for a typical suburban yard. Its 12-inch bar, brushless motor and two 4.0Ah batteries cover pruning, storm debris and lumber without fuel or a pull cord.

The Seesii Mini is the lightest option for one-handed trimming and overhead branches.

The VEVOR sits between the two: gas power without the big bar, for limbing and trimming away from outlets. If you only ever cut branches, the Mini or SEESII is the simpler buy.

If you cut trunks, the SUPMIXTOOLS is the one to get.

If you're still weighing battery against gas more broadly, our guide on battery chainsaw vs gas chainsaw goes deeper on runtime and charging. The decision rule is simple: thick trunks and remote work mean petrol; branches, hedges and quiet hours mean electric.

Frequently asked questions

Is a petrol or electric chainsaw better for home use?

An electric or battery chainsaw is the better fit for most home yards, because it starts without fuel mixing and runs quieter near neighbors. Pick petrol when you regularly cut trunks wider than about 12 inches or work where no outlet is close.

How much heavier is a petrol chainsaw than an electric one?

The SUPMIXTOOLS gas saw weighs 14 lb and the SEESII cordless electric weighs 12 lb, so the gap is only about 2 lb between these two. Weight matters most when you carry the saw across a large property or hold it overhead, so try the feel before you commit.

Can an electric chainsaw cut a large tree?

The SEESII 12-inch electric saw cuts with a 12-inch bar, so it suits branches and smaller logs rather than full trunks. For felling a large tree, the 20-inch bar and 62cc engine on the SUPMIXTOOLS gas saw are the more sensible match.

Do petrol chainsaws need more maintenance?

Yes. A petrol saw needs the right fuel mix, a choke routine for cold and warm starts, and regular engine care.

A battery saw skips fuel mixing and pull starting, though its chain still needs oil, tension checks and sharpening like any other saw.

How noisy is a petrol chainsaw compared with an electric one?

A petrol saw is much louder, since a 2-cycle engine runs at high RPM under load. An electric saw runs quieter, which matters in a suburban yard with close neighbors or early-morning work limits.

Wear hearing protection with either type.