9 Best 20 Inch Gas Chainsaw | Bar Oil That Stays Put

Check Price on Amazon

A 3.5-horsepower budget saw with a low-vibration handle system that punches well above its price

If you want maximum engine for the money, start here. The PROYAMA runs a 62cc two-cycle engine making 3.5 hp — more displacement than the Husqvarna above at the same bar length. It carries an anti-vibration system with dampers that isolate the engine from the handles, so your hands and arms stay fresher during long sessions. There is also a steel bar spring built into the starter that reduces the resistance you feel when pulling the cord, which makes it a friendlier saw for older users or anyone with a weaker grip.

The safety kit is solid for the tier. An inertia-activated chain brake (a safety brake that trips the instant the saw kicks back) stops the chain on kickback, and a separate safety switch prevents accidental starts. Owners consistently call out how quickly it fires up — most report it starting within one to three pulls. One owner working through backyard timber put the power into perspective: “It made quick work of a 28 inch wide tree in the backyard.” Saw quality is the aspect praised most among its owner base, followed by value for money, and both hit hard for a saw at this price point.

Two things to know before you buy. First, it is a heavier saw than the Husqvarna above — you will feel the difference during overhead work. The trade-off is you cannot argue with the power-to-dollar here. Second, the fuel mix has to be exactly right; the manual leans you toward a precise ratio and the saw will let you know if you get it wrong. A bag is included, and there is a one-year warranty backing it.

Check Price on Amazon

The under-the-radar 58cc pick with a leak-proof dual-tank design and lifetime technical support

This is the saw for the buyer who hates fuel leaks and hates fiddling with carburetor settings more. The NEO-TEC 58cc engine makes 2.8 hp and spins up to 7500 RPM, which is a modest output for its displacement — but the design leans into reliability rather than peak grunt. The standout feature is the dual-tank system: 550ml of fuel and 260ml of oil capacity in sealed containers that the manufacturer says prevents leaks and extends runtime. The 25:1 fuel-oil mix ratio is clearly printed on the saw, so you are not guessing at the pump.

Starting is where this saw earns its keep. NEO-TEC engineered a cold/hot start system with an extended pull rope that fired up within about three seconds in the manufacturer’s testing. The side-mounted chain tensioner lets you adjust the chain without tools — a nice touch when the chain loosens mid-job. Safety includes a quick-stop chain brake, a safety switch lock, and a front hand guard working together as a layered system. Quality is what buyers praise most here, followed by value for money. One owner’s aggressive cutting feedback sums it up: the saw “cuts like a champ” through softwood and queen palm tops with clean results and good fuel economy.

The honest catch is the bar-size warning: this model is not CARB certified and cannot be shipped to California. If you are outside California, you are fine. The 2.8 hp output also puts it below the 3.5 hp saws on this list, so if you are felling thick hardwoods full-time, a bigger engine will serve you better. For a homeowner clearing storm damage and seasonal firewood, it is more than enough. Lifetime technical support on the engine, chain brake, and fuel system is included — unusual at this price.

Check Price on Amazon

Two bars, one saw — the kit that switches between trunk bucking and close-quarters limbing

Most 20 inch saws lock you into one bar length. This IVOVI ships with two, and that is genuinely useful. The 20 inch setup handles wider trunks and bucking; swap to the 18 inch bar for limbing, trimming, and tighter spaces where the longer bar just gets in the way. The 63cc two-cycle engine makes 3.7 hp, spins at 8500 RPM, and drives the chain at 85 feet per second — enough to turn fallen limbs and thick rounds into finished firewood without a lot of drama.

The physical build is where this saw separates from the budget-tier options. It is listed at 14 pounds, which sits nicely between the featherweight Husqvarna and the heavier budget saws. The easy-start recoil system reduces the effort needed to pull the cord, and shock-absorbing handles keep the vibration from working up your arms. The 0.26 L automatic oiler keeps the bar and chain fed during use so friction and heat stay manageable — one less thing to think about mid-cut. And because replacement chain specs (0.325P, 76DL for the 20 inch; 0.325P, 0.058G, 72DL for the 18 inch) are printed up front, you can order the correct chain without guessing.

What to watch: the plastic covers feel a bit brittle to the touch, and the spring-assisted starter has its own rhythm worth getting used to before the first big job. Neither is a dealbreaker at this tier, but plan on treating the housing with care. Reviews are thin so far, which usually reads as a newer saw gaining traction — the spec sheet holds up on its own.

Check Price on Amazon

A 62cc saw that stays at 14 pounds fully equipped, so your arms last longer

Some saws hide their weight in a spec sheet and then feel like bricks in the yard. This one does not. The NEO-TEC 62cc weighs 14 pounds fully equipped, and it carries a professional 20 inch bar and chain along with a wrap-around handle for extra control when you are cutting at odd angles. The engine is a 62cc two-cycle unit making 3.5 hp, and it spins up to 8500 RPM — plenty of torque for pruning, limbing, bucking, and felling. The bar itself spec-checks as 0.325 inch pitch, 0.058 inch gauge, 76-drive-link chain.

The starting system is what makes this saw genuinely accessible. A premium starter with a choke knob gives you a smooth one-to-two pull ignition, and a chain brake plus trigger lockout round out the safety picture so a slip does not turn into an injury. The precision carburetor and tune combustion keep the engine efficient, which means fewer trips to the fuel can during long sessions. Size is what owners praise most across a large review base, followed closely by value for money and cutting performance — this saw has wide real-world feedback behind it, not a handful of early adopters.

The catch worth knowing: the handle is the honest weak point. There are owner reports of the handle cracking within a couple of hours of use, and the choke lever and fuel caps feel flimsy to some. Two-cycle gas saws of any brand require fuel mix discipline and proper bar-oil top-ups, and this one uses a specific mix ratio you will want to follow closely. For the type of work it was designed for — pruning, limbing, storm cleanup — it earns its keep, especially for anyone who wants a lighter feel without giving up engine size.

Check Price on Amazon

A 4.5-horsepower monster with a magnesium chain brake case and both 24 inch and 20 inch bars

For pure engine size, nothing in this group beats it. The PROYAMA 68cc two-cycle engine (a 68 cubic-centimeter engine that runs on a gas-and-oil mix) produces 4.5 hp — the highest output on this list short of the Echo CS-590-20AA’s 5.3 hp — and it makes that power with a magnesium alloy chain brake and case that resists deformation under heavy cutting loads. Two bars are included: a 20 inch and a 24 inch, so you can match the cutting length to the job. For the same reason the 20 inch saw of this same brand runs 3.5 hp, this one runs 4.5 hp — same brand, different animal.

Where the design earns its keep is in long sessions. The anti-vibration system cuts hand fatigue, and the ergonomic handle keeps the saw balanced while you work through big rounds. Assembly is straightforward from the start, and one owner reported the saw slicing through 24 inch trunks like butter — that is what 4.5 hp behind a sharp chain looks like. Quality is what buyers praise most across the review base, and value for money ranks a close second. Switching between the two bars is the easiest way to see the difference between bucking logs and clearing limbs.

Here is the honest trade: this saw is heavier and thirstier than its spec sheet suggests, and some owners note starting problems creeping in over time, especially after the saw has been run hard and refueled. The fix is usually fresh fuel and a carburetor tune-up, but it is the kind of maintenance the 68cc class asks for. Push this saw beyond what you actually need and it will show in the fuel bill and your back. Use it for the work it was designed for and it delivers on its engine spec.

Check Price on Amazon

Husqvarna’s 450S Rancher — the same 3.2-horsepower X-Torq engine with an upgraded X-CUT chain

The 450S Rancher is the step up from the 450 Rancher at position one, and the main difference is the chain and crankcase. It runs a 50-cc two-cycle X-Torq engine making 3.2 hp, the same output as the 450 Rancher above. What you get on the S is the X-CUT chain — a chain Husqvarna builds for long-lasting sharpness — plus a reinforced patented crankcase that improves cooling while keeping the body slim enough to handle in tight quarters. The LowVib handle system uses dampeners between the engine and chassis to knock down vibration in your hands.

Smart Start returns on this model, easing cold starts the same way it does on its sibling above, and the 20 inch blade carries the same inertia-activated chain brake (a safety brake that trips the instant the saw kicks back) for kickback protection. The professional-oriented design thinking shows up in the reinforced crankcase — a symptom check on some cheaper saws is heat build-up during extended runs, and the Husqvarna addresses that directly. Where owners converge is on the start reliability: the saw fires consistently, and one buyer’s cattle-fence job put it plainly — “This saw is a monster and has made clearing debris, trimming trees and chopping 10″ diameter cattle fence posts super easy.”

Buyers should know going in that this is a bolder platform than the base model. Quality feedback is mixed — some owners find it excellent, others run into trouble sooner than expected. That is genuinely mixed, not a red flag; it is also a smaller review base than the base 450 Rancher, so the signal is thinner. The chain durability complaint also carries over. If you want the most established Husqvarna 20 inch on this list, position one has more feedback behind it — but if you specifically want the X-CUT chain and reinforced crankcase, the 450S is a fair step up.

Check Price on Amazon

The 5.3-horsepower sweetheart of the firewood-cutting crowd — a 59.8cc engine in a 20 inch bar

There is a reason the CS-590-20AA keeps showing up in the same conversation as saws costing hundreds more. It runs a 59.8cc engine rated at 5.3 hp — the strongest horsepower rating on this entire list — and pairs it with a 20 inch bar. That combination is what makes it a favorite among people who cut firewood season after season and want the saw to just keep pulling when the chain is buried in a wet oak log. It also happens to share an engine designation with the ECHO saw at position nine, but the CS-590-20AA is the more heavily reviewed of the two.

Owner feedback is centered on quality and cutting performance. The saw feels solid in hand, and the cutting feedback is enthusiastic. One reviewer noted the saw “went through wood like it was BUTTER” while throwing three-inch chips — the kind of detail that tells you the engine has real torque behind it. Another praised it as a “very good replacement for a Husqvarna 460” that felt “solid” with parts that even appeared slightly higher quality. Ease of use and power both rate solidly across the owner base, and the professional feels show up in the build quality.

The honest part: starting takes some ritual. The 59.8cc engine has a specific cold-start sequence that owners learn by trial — too many choke pulls and you flood it, too few and it just will not fire. Once it starts, it runs reliably, and hot restarts are quick. The other thing to know is that it comes as a bare tool — no oil, no fuel mix, so plan your first-use supplies before the saw arrives. If you want a saw with the biggest power rating on this list and you are willing to learn its starting rhythm, this is the one to beat.

Check Price on Amazon

A 59.8cc ECHO built for long-run firewood cutting with a 21.8-ounce fuel tank

This ECHO runs a 59.8cc engine (a 59.8 cubic-centimeter engine that runs on a gas-and-oil mix) rated at 3.9 hp — the same displacement as the CS-590-20AA at position eight, but tuned to a lower horsepower spec — and it drives a 20 inch bar with an automatic, adjustable chain oiler that feeds the chain steadily during long cuts. The fuel tank holds 21.8 ounces, which is a lot for a 20 inch saw and directly translates into fewer refill stops during firewood sessions. Anti-vibration handles are built in, and the included kit covers the chain, bar, and operators manual.

Owner feedback is warm on performance and value. Cutting performance and power are the top positives, and one owner noted that with a sharp chain the saw powered through a 24 inch stump without needing to swap chains. Speed is a quiet strength too — customers note getting through jobs faster than they expected. There is also serious durability feedback: one 5-year owner reports the saw still clearing fence lines and handling firewood and honey locust, surviving an ATV run-over along the way, running on the original filters and plug with just a carb adjustment after break-in. That kind of long-run feedback is rare.

The foibles are worth naming. This saw has a specific starting ritual — flood it with too many choke pulls and you will spend more time clearing the engine than cutting. Owners also report the tank and bar oil reservoir being a bit low-visibility, so keep an eye on levels. And avoid running without ethanol-free gas if you can; the ethanol in standard pump gas is what eventually hardens carb diaphragms, which is what takes most saws in this class out of service. Treat the fuel right and the saw rewards you.