DeWalt 20V MAX 12 in. Compact Brushless Cordless Chainsaw Kit (12 in. chainsaw with 5 Ah battery & charger)

I reached for the DeWalt 12-inch 20V chainsaw on a Saturday after a windstorm, the kind of job where a gas saw feels like overkill but a handsaw would be a long day. Within a few minutes, it had reminded me why compact battery saws have become my go-to for yard work: no fuel mixing, no pull cords, and instant start. This one pairs a 12-inch low‑kickback bar with a brushless motor and a 5.0 Ah pack, and it’s purpose-built for limbing, pruning, and breaking down small to medium branches. Used in that lane, it’s a capable, user-friendly saw with a couple of quirks worth knowing about.

Setup is painless, but plan ahead on oil
- Out of the box, you install the bar and chain, add bar oil, click in the battery, and go. Access to the chain cover is tool‑less, so cleaning out chips after a session is quick.
- The saw is compact and light (a hair under 10 lb without oil), and the rear‑handle layout feels natural. Balance is good with the 5.0 Ah battery installed—nose‑light enough to place the tip precisely while limbing without fighting the saw.
- The oiler is on the generous side. I had to top off bar oil more often than expected, especially when cutting resinous softwoods that throw a lot of chips. That’s not a deal‑breaker—chains need oil—but it’s something to plan for. If you’re heading to the back corner of a property, bring a small oil bottle with you.

Cutting performance: fast on limbs, middling on bigger hardwood
- Chain speed is rated at 7.7 m/s, which tells you where this saw aims: control more than outright speed.
- On green limbs and typical yard species (pine, spruce, poplar, ornamental fruit trees), it cruises. Limbing is where it shines—nimble, predictable, and easy to place. For storm cleanup and bucking the smaller stuff, it’s excellent.
- On hardwoods above about 8 inches in diameter, you need to adjust expectations. It will do the work, but it slows down, and you’ll feel the motor protect itself if you lean in too hard. On 10-inch seasoned maple, I had to take my time, clear chips, and let the chain do the cutting. Rakers set correctly and a sharp chain make a noticeable difference here.
- Kickback control is good with the narrow‑kerf, low‑kickback chain and the small bar. Still, I treat it like any chainsaw: two hands on the saw, stable stance, and a healthy respect for the tip.

Battery life: enough for a session, better with a second pack
- With the included 5.0 Ah battery, I can do a typical yard cleanup—lots of limbs, a few 6–8 inch rounds—on a single charge if I’m working steadily but not continuously. If I’m bucking a pile of denser hardwood, I plan on swapping packs midway.
- Heat and chain sharpness matter. A dull chain will tank your runtime and invite stalls, especially on harder woods. Touch up the cutters and it feels like you gained a battery.
- The charger is straightforward and brings a depleted 5.0 Ah pack back in roughly an hour-plus. If this is your only 20V tool, consider adding a second battery; if you’re already in DeWalt’s 20V ecosystem, you’re set.

Chain, bar, and maintenance
- The saw runs a 3/8 in. low‑profile chain on a .043 in. gauge bar with 45 drive links. Replacement chains are easy to source—look for narrow‑kerf 3/8 LP, .043 gauge (Oregon 90 series and equivalents).
- Tensioning is simple and holds well if you check it regularly. New chains stretch; I retension after the first few cuts and again mid‑session. Too‑loose chains are a recipe for derailments; too tight and you’ll sap runtime and wear parts.
- Keep the bar groove and oiler port clean. This saw throws fine chips; they cake in the cover. Luckily, the tool‑less cover makes it quick to pop off, wipe out, and get back to work.
- I did notice some oil weeping if I store it with a full tank, which is common with compact oilers. My routine: only fill what I need, wipe the area around the cap, and park the saw on a drip mat. If you won’t use it for a while, drain the oil.

Comfort and control
- Vibration is low for a chainsaw, and noise is far below any small gas saw I own. I still wear ear and eye protection, but it’s conversation-friendly in a backyard environment.
- The trigger response is immediate, which makes precise cuts around landscaping straightforward. It doesn’t feel front-heavy, so working at shoulder height during limbing is less tiring than with a gas unit.
- It’s light enough that some folks might be tempted to one‑hand it. I don’t recommend that; the saw’s controllability is best appreciated with proper two‑handed technique.

Where it fits—and where it doesn’t
- This is a homeowner’s and property‑care saw, ideal for pruning, limbing, and breaking down branches up to roughly 8 inches comfortably, with occasional cuts up to around 10 inches when needed.
- If you routinely fell and buck hardwood over 10 inches or need to cut fast through dense material, a higher‑voltage platform (or a gas saw) will save you time. The modest chain speed here prioritizes control and battery life over raw productivity.
- As a second saw for trades and property maintenance, it’s a handy, no‑fuss option that rides in the truck without fumes. It won’t replace a pro felling saw, but it will save you from hauling one for light work.

Quirks and tips from use
- The oiler is active. Check the reservoir every battery change and carry oil.
- Don’t muscle it. Let the chain pull itself through the cut; the brushless motor is happiest with steady, moderate feed pressure.
- Keep the chain sharp and the rakers set. This saw’s power window is modest; a sharp, narrow‑kerf chain keeps it in the sweet spot.
- If you experience a nuisance shutdown mid‑cut, back out and let the electronics reset. Heat, a pinched kerf, or a too‑aggressive feed can trip protection. Clearing the cut and easing back in has solved it for me.

Warranty and ecosystem
- The included 5.0 Ah battery and charger lower the barrier if you’re new to DeWalt’s 20V line, and it’s nice to share packs with drills, impact drivers, and other yard tools.
- DeWalt backs it with a 3‑year limited warranty, a year of free service, and a 90‑day satisfaction period. That coverage is appropriate for the category.

Pros
- Compact, well‑balanced, and easy to handle
- Clean, instant starts; no gas maintenance
- Very good for limbing and small to medium cuts
- Tool‑less cover access makes cleaning quick
- Battery and charger included; ecosystem friendly

Cons
- Oil consumption is high, with some weeping in storage
- Slows noticeably on hardwood over ~8 inches
- Chain speed is conservative; not a production cutter
- Plan on a second battery for bigger jobs

Recommendation
I recommend the DeWalt 12-inch 20V chainsaw for homeowners and property managers who want a light, easy‑to‑use saw for pruning, limbing, storm cleanup, and breaking down branches and small logs. It’s reliable in that role, comfortable to run, and the included 5.0 Ah battery gets you through typical yard sessions. Be prepared to bring extra bar oil, keep the chain sharp, and accept that it’s not built for fast work in large hardwood. If your workload skews to regular cuts above 8–10 inches or rapid production, step up to a higher‑voltage model. For everything else around the yard, this DeWalt hits a very practical sweet spot.