Harbor Freight Vs. Home Depot: Which Offers The Better Value For Chainsaws?
The best practice when in the market for a chainsaw is to shop around and compare the best chainsaw brands. Many of the devices sold by Stihl, Echo, and Husqvarna are high-quality, professional-tier tools. Whether you're a homeowner or casual DIYer, you likely don't need top-of-the-line chainsaws, as a quality budget or entry-level saw will handle most of your tasks and projects.
If that sounds like you, you may want to consider checking out Harbor Freight. The budget-oriented store provides a respectable selection of chainsaws at affordable prices. However, Harbor Freight's chainsaw inventory is admittedly limited compared to other hardware and home improvement stores. Home Depot is another great option for budget-minded shoppers with a vast selection of chainsaws with prices ranging from economy-level to professional-tier.
Harbor Freight and Home Depot are both solid options for anyone shopping for a chainsaw. But is one better than the other? Harbor Freight offers six chainsaws in total, representing a mixture of gas-, electric-, and battery-powered devices. Home Depot's selection is much more extensive, and its prices fall into a broader range. When composing this list, SlashGear chose tools with similar prices, specifications, and overall user ratings. You can certainly buy a high-powered, pro-level saw from Home Depot, but Harbor Freight does not offer an analog. For now, let's check out the chainsaw offerings from Harbor Freight and Home Depot so you can decide which store provides the right product for you.
Harbor Freight chainsaws
Harbor Freight sells six different chainsaws. Those saws can be divided into three categories: gas-powered, electric-powered, and battery-powered. Each tool is well-rated by customers and comes with an affordable price tag. The Portland 42cc, 18 in. This is Harbor Freight's only gas-powered saw. It costs $179.99 and has an average of 4.7/5 stars based on 43 user reviews. The tool features an 18-inch bar and can cut trees and limbs up to 36 inches in diameter. It weighs just under 17 pounds, has an ergonomic handle, and uses a 50:1 gas/oil fuel mixture.
Harbor Freight sells two corded electric chainsaws, including the Bauer 14.5 Amp 16 in. Electric Chainsaw. It costs $79.99 and has an average rating of 4.5/5 stars based on 993 reviews. The 16-inch Bauer saw weighs about nine pounds, has an automatic chain brake for safety, and has an instant electric start for convenience.
Harbor Freight offers three different battery-powered saws. Each is highly rated by customers and ranges in price from $74.99 to $149.99. The Atlas 80V Brushless Cordless 18 in. Chainsaw is the best option and costs $149.99. It has 4.5/5 stars with 789 reviews. It weighs just under 10 pounds, features an 18-inch bar that can cut logs up to 32 inches in diameter, and boasts more power than a 50cc gas-powered saw. The Atlas chainsaw also includes an automatic chain oiler, an instant start feature, and an automatic chain brake for safety.
Home Depot chainsaws
Home Depot's chainsaw selection is significantly more extensive than Harbor Freight's. The store sells over 600 chainsaws from dozens of different brands. For this article, SlashGear picked a few different saws to compare to Harbor Freight's tools. We'll check out electric-, gas-, and battery-powered devices to help you make your decision. The Prorun 45cc 18-in. 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Chainsaw is Home Depot's closest option to Harbor Freight's gas-powered saw. It costs $180.79 and has 4.9/5 stars with 13 reviews. It weighs 12.3 pounds, features a 2.3-horsepower engine, has an automatic chain oiler, and includes an easy-start mechanism for convenience.
For corded electric chainsaws, go with the Wen 16 in. 12 Amp Electric Chainsaw from Home Depot. It costs $56.64 and has 4.4/5 stars based on 532 reviews. The Wen saw weighs 10 pounds, has a motor capable of spinning the chain at 44 feet per second, and features an automatic chain oiling mechanism. It requires no tools to adjust the chain and includes a safety button to prevent accidental starting and injuries.
The Echo eFORCE 18 in. 56V Cordless Electric Battery Brushless Rear Handle Chainsaw is the choice for a battery-powered saw from Home Depot. It costs $199.99 and has an average of 4.2/5 stars based on 123 user reviews. The tool weighs 14.6 pounds, features a built-in tool holder for efficiency, and has an easy-access oil cap for convenience. It comes with a five-year warranty and is designed for yardwork and mid-level tree-cutting applications.
How to choose the right saw for you
Price is only one factor to consider when shopping for a chainsaw. Several other tips can help you choose the right chainsaw for your needs.
One of the most important things to consider is what you plan to do with your saw. If you're a homeowner interested in performing light trimming and pruning work, you probably don't need a massive Stihl saw with a 25-inch+ bar. For most yardwork, a smaller chainsaw with a 14-inch bar should do the trick. For light tree felling and debris clearing jobs, a larger saw with a 16-inch to 20-inch bar is more appropriate.
You should also determine whether you want an electric-, gas-, or battery-powered tool. Gas saws tend to be more powerful, but they also require more maintenance and tend to be heavier. Most pro-level chainsaws are gas-powered, and these tools can handle much more demanding jobs. Electric chainsaws are better suited for light-duty tasks like pruning and trimming hedges. Battery-powered saws offer a middle ground between gas and electric power. Some battery-powered saws are even more powerful than certain gas-powered devices.
Harbor Freight vs. Home Depot chainsaws: the final verdict
In terms of price, Harbor Freight beats Home Depot in almost every chainsaw category, though Home Depot's Wen electric chainsaw is cheaper than Harbor Freight's Bauer electric saw. However, the Wen device is a 12-amp tool, while Bauer's electric saw provides 16-amp power for less than $15 extra. Regarding power for price, the two stores are relatively close. While Harbor Freight's gas-powered saw is cheaper by about $1, Home Depot's Prorun gas saw weighs less and provides a slightly more powerful engine. Harbor Freight's battery-powered Atlas saw beats Home Depot's Echo battery saw in terms of power and price. The Atlas saw weighs about four pounds less, making it easier to maneuver, and provides gas-powered performance for roughly $50 less.
Both stores provide well-rated products with solid warranties. That said, the warranties that come with the Home Depot tools tend to be for longer periods. While Harbor Freight provides a minimum warranty of 90 days on these devices, the shortest warranty for any of the Home Depot items lasts two years. Both stores' chainsaws feature glowing reviews. However, two Harbor Freight saws are rated higher than their Home Depot counterparts.
Overall, Harbor Freight provides generally lower prices for the categories and applications covered here, while Home Depot provides better warranties. If you're looking to get the best bang for your buck, Harbor Freight is your best choice. If you're looking for a higher-level tool for professional work, choose Home Depot.
Methodology
When choosing items for this list, SlashGear considered a few criteria: price, application, and user reviews. Harbor Freight only sells six chainsaws across three power categories: gas, electric, and battery. Because of this, SlashGear chose one saw from each category and compared them to three similar devices from Home Depot. The saws in each category provide comparable power outputs with similar sizes and price tags. They're compared based on the criteria above. Each of the items covered here has highly positive customer reviews. Users on both the Home Depot and Harbor Freight websites praise the saws for their affordability, usefulness, and power. Finally, these are chainsaws that average homeowners and DIYers can actually use for their yardwork and hobby projects. Each chainsaw on this list provides real-world applications, from light-duty trimming and pruning to mid-level tree felling and debris clearing.