The Real Cost to Rent a Chainsaw

What Does It Cost to Rent a Chainsaw by Type?

The daily cost of chainsaw rental will, in part, depend on the type of saw you need for the job you’re taking on. Every model is different, with varying saw blade lengths and engine power levels. 

You can expect to find chainsaws for rent in the following broad categories.

Light-Duty Chainsaws

Most homeowners only need a light-duty chainsaw for occasional light work around the yard, such as cutting up large fallen branches after a storm or trimming and pruning low-hanging tree limbs. Look for a model with a 16-inch saw blade or less, which will likely cost you $35 to $60 per day to rent.

Medium-Duty Chainsaws

To handle all larger routine tasks, such as felling small trees, clearing large branches, cutting cords of firewood, or stump removal, you will likely want a medium-duty chainsaw with a 20- to 24-inch saw blade. These tasks require more time, and larger models tend to feature vibration dampening capabilities to reduce user fatigue. Expect a rental price of $65 to $90 per day.

Heavy-Duty Chainsaws

You really only need the most powerful specialty chainsaws if you’re taking down large trees and branches or cutting large amounts of firewood. These models are designed to run all day long under heavy use and often feature long saw blades of at least 30 inches. Expect to pay at least $100 per day to rent a heavy-duty chainsaw.

Cost to Buy a Chainsaw Yourself

One alternative to renting a chainsaw is to purchase one instead. As you shop, you’ll find many manufacturers with models that vary dramatically in price depending on their size and power. Prices range from as low as $80 for the most affordable light-duty household chainsaws to more than $2,000 for professional-grade models.

Most homeowners can expect to pay an average of $220 for a quality light-duty chainsaw that’s appropriate for occasional branch cleanup and trimming. If you need a model that’s suited to more frequent use and heavier wood-cutting, you can invest in a medium-duty chainsaw that most often costs from $300 to $600.

Cost to Buy or Rent a Chainsaw vs. Hiring a Professional

If you purchase or rent a chainsaw to do simple cleanup work around your yard, you will likely save money compared to the cost of hiring a tree service, which is $860 on average. Chainsaw rental costs $70 to $90 per day on average, while the cost to purchase your own can range anywhere from $130 to $2,000 depending on your needs. 

One task better left to the pros is tree trimming. According to HomeAdvisor, expert tree trimming services cost between $200 and $760 on average, but without proper training and equipment, trimming trees can be dangerous.

On the ground, you risk branches falling on you. In-tree specialty trimming is even more dangerous, especially when your trees are large (more than 60 feet tall) and you add power tools to the mix. On top of all that, improper pruning and trimming can hurt your trees and cause lasting damage.