The Best Pole Saws: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)

RBE top pick

Greenworks 60V 10" Cordless Pole Saw Kit (1405602)

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The Greenworks 60V pole saw is the best default pole saw: up to 14 feet of reach, a 10-inch bar, 8.2 pounds, and up to 85 cuts from one 60V 2.0Ah battery, sold as a ready-to-run kit at a mid-range price. The Milwaukee M18 FUEL with QUIK-LOK is the pick if you already own M18 tools and want its cutting power plus a modular attachment system.

Trimming high branches from the ground beats dragging a ladder into a tree, and a good pole saw makes it safe and quick. We compared the makers' published specifications across four popular pole saws that span self-contained cordless, a modular battery attachment system, and a corded electric option: two we'd happily recommend, one that only makes sense for a specific buyer, and one most people should now skip. The right pick comes down to how high you cut, how thick the branches are, and whether you already own a battery platform.

RBE top pick

Greenworks

Greenworks 60V 10" Cordless Pole Saw Kit (1405602)

Buy it

The best all-round pole saw: real reach, a 10-inch bar, and a ready-to-run 60V kit at 8.2 pounds.

Best for: Homeowners who want one capable, low-hassle cordless pole saw for high branches without buying into an attachment system.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Pole extends to 9 feet for a maximum reach of 14 feet
• 10-inch bar and chain handles the limbs most homeowners face
• Listed at 8.2 pounds, which matters most at full extension
• Ships as a kit with a 60V 2.0Ah battery and charger, and the battery fits more than 75 Greenworks 60V tools

Know before buying

• Up to 85 cuts per charge, so heavy pruning days want a spare pack
• The page does not state an automatic oiler, and it's a dedicated pole saw, not a modular head

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Milwaukee

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10" Pole Saw w/ QUIK-LOK (2825-21PS)

Buy it

A pro-grade 10-inch pole saw and, thanks to the QUIK-LOK system, the head of a whole modular yard tool set for M18 owners.

Best for: Owners already invested in Milwaukee M18 who want serious cutting power and a modular attachment system.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Brushless M18 FUEL power and an XC8.0 high-output pack give up to 150 cuts per charge and full throttle in under a second
• QUIK-LOK modular shaft accepts other attachment heads, so the same pole becomes a string trimmer, edger, or hedge tool
• 10-inch Oregon bar and chain, plus a 3-foot QUIK-LOK extension in the kit
• Shares one battery with a huge M18 lineup, so existing owners skip buying into a second platform

Know before buying

• Premium price, and the high-output battery it wants adds cost and weight up top
• Overkill if you don't already own M18 tools and only prune a few times a year

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DeWalt

DeWalt 20V MAX XR Cordless Pole Saw (DCPS620)

It depends

A tall-reaching 20V pole saw that's a great value if you already own DeWalt batteries, and a narrower buy if you don't.

Best for: Existing DeWalt 20V MAX owners who prioritize maximum reach over the biggest cut capacity.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• Brushless motor and a pole that extends to 10 feet give a total reach of up to 15 feet, among the tallest here for overhead branches
• 8-inch low-kickback, full-complement bar and chain
• Automatic oiling and low maintenance keep upkeep minimal
• Runs on the widely owned 20V MAX platform, so batteries are shared across a large tool range

Know before buying

• The 8-inch bar and chain limit branch diameter compared with the 10-inch saws, so thick limbs take more passes
• DeWalt lists an assembled weight of 10.5 pounds, the heaviest stated figure here
• Commonly sold as a bare tool, so the real cost climbs once you add a battery and charger if you're not already on 20V MAX

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We'd skip it

Sun Joe

Sun Joe SWJ803E Electric Multi-Angle Pole Chain Saw (10-inch)

Skip it

An inexpensive corded pole saw with a 10-inch bar, but the cord tether undercuts the whole point of working up high and on the move.

Best for: Buyers on the tightest budget with a small yard, cutting close to an outlet and unbothered by an extension cord.

$ · budget

Why we like it

• Lowest entry cost of the group and never needs a battery charged
• 10-inch bar with a multi-angle cutting head and automatic oiling
• Unlimited runtime while plugged in, so long pruning sessions never pause to recharge
• Up to 14 feet of overhead reach and a published 7.7 lb weight

Know before buying

• A power cord tethers you to an outlet, so reach and mobility around a yard are limited and you're managing a cord underfoot while looking up
• Extending the pole with a live cord overhead is more awkward and less safe than an untethered cordless saw
• Cordless pole saws have closed the price and power gap, leaving little reason to accept the tether for typical yards

See our pick instead See it at Amazon anyway Read our detailed assessment ↓

How we judged the field

We don’t run our own cutting lab. Instead we compare each maker’s published specifications against what actually matters for a pole saw. Our priorities, in order: usable reach and how steady the saw feels at full extension; bar length and cut capacity matched to real branches; cutting power and, for cordless, runtime per charge; weight and balance out at the end of a long pole, which is where fatigue lives; the practical stuff, meaning the automatic oiler, chain tensioning, and whether the shaft converts into other tools; and finally value, including whether you already own a compatible battery platform.

We deliberately spanned the range, from a self-contained cordless saw to a modular battery attachment system to a corded electric model, so the comparison reflects the real choice you face rather than four near-identical tools. Across sources, three themes came up again and again: high-voltage cordless saws have closed most of the gap to corded and gas, weight at full extension matters more than raw power for most people, and the biggest hidden cost is the battery platform you commit to.

This is the pole saw we’d hand most homeowners. Greenworks lists a pole that extends to 9 feet and a maximum reach of 14 feet, so you can take high branches while keeping both feet on the ground. The 10-inch bar and chain take on the mid-size limbs most yards throw at you, and at a listed 8.2 pounds it stays manageable at extension. It ships as a kit with a 60V 2.0Ah battery and charger, so it runs out of the box, and the battery fits more than 75 other Greenworks 60V tools. The caveats: Greenworks rates it at up to 85 cuts per charge, so a big pruning day wants a spare pack; the 30-minute recharge figure is quoted with a 4-amp charger; and the page does not state an automatic oiler, so check the manual. It is also a dedicated pole saw rather than a modular head. None of that is a dealbreaker for typical use. It takes the place of EGO’s PS1001, which EGO’s own page lists as coming soon rather than for sale.

If you already own Milwaukee M18 tools, this is arguably the smarter buy than starting a new platform. The brushless M18 FUEL motor paired with the XC8.0 high-output battery reaches full throttle in under a second and delivers up to 150 cuts per charge on a 10-inch Oregon bar and chain. Its real party trick is the QUIK-LOK system: the same powered shaft accepts other attachment heads, so one purchase can become a string trimmer, edger, or hedge tool, which is genuinely useful if you’re kitting out a yard. The kit includes a 3-foot QUIK-LOK extension. The trade-offs are cost and heft: it’s a premium tool, and the large high-output pack it wants adds both price and weight up top, which you feel at full extension. For an M18 owner who prunes regularly, it’s an easy recommendation; for someone buying in cold to trim twice a year, the Greenworks is the more sensible spend.

The DeWalt extends to 10 feet for a total reach of up to 15 feet, among the tallest here, and it uses a smaller 8-inch low-kickback bar. DeWalt lists an assembled weight of 10.5 pounds, though, more than the stated 8.2 pounds for the Greenworks and 7.7 pounds for the Sun Joe. It pairs automatic oiling with low maintenance and the widely owned 20V MAX battery platform. So why “it depends”? Two reasons. First, the 8-inch bar and chain limit branch diameter compared with the 10-inch saws, so thick limbs take more passes. Second, it’s commonly sold as a bare tool, so the real cost climbs once you add a battery and charger. If you already own 20V MAX batteries and value reach over cut capacity, it’s a strong, sensible buy. If you’re starting from scratch and want the biggest cut in a single pass, the 10-inch cordless saws make more sense for the money.

None of this is a knock on the SWJ803E as a machine; it’s an inexpensive corded pole saw with a 10-inch bar, a multi-angle cutting head, automatic oiling, and the nice property of unlimited runtime as long as it’s plugged in. The problem is fit for the job. A pole saw earns its keep by letting you move around a tree and reach freely while looking up, and a power cord fights exactly that: it tethers you near an outlet, limits how far you roam, and adds a cord to manage underfoot while your attention is overhead. Extending a live cord above your head is more awkward and less safe than an untethered saw. Cordless pole saws have closed both the price and power gap enough that, for typical yards, there’s little reason to accept the tether. Corded electric earns its place only in a narrow case: a small yard, cutting close to an outlet, on the tightest budget. If that’s not you, skip it and put the money toward a cordless saw.

Greenworks 60V vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL QUIK-LOK: which should you buy?

These are the two strongest saws here, and the decision is refreshingly clear. Both cut hard, both carry a 10-inch bar, and both are pleasant to work with overhead. The Greenworks gives you 14 feet of reach at 8.2 pounds and a lower, mid-range price, and as a self-contained kit it’s the better choice if you’re starting fresh and just want one excellent pole saw that’s easy to hold up for a while. The Milwaukee counters with up to 150 cuts per charge from its 8.0 pack and, crucially, the QUIK-LOK modular system: if your garage already runs on M18, you skip buying into a platform and gain a shaft that becomes a whole set of yard tools. So the tiebreaker is your existing batteries and whether you want a tool system. No cordless platform yet, or you want a ready-to-run kit? Take the Greenworks 60V. Already on Milwaukee M18, or you want one shaft that also trims and edges? The M18 FUEL pole saw is the pick. Either way you get a saw that handles the vast majority of overhead pruning without a ladder.

What to look for

• Reach matched to your trees: aim for a tool that extends to about 10 to 13 feet, which puts roughly 15 feet of overhead branch within safe ground-level reach; more than that is tree-service work.
• Bar length and cut capacity: an 8-inch bar suits thinner limbs and lighter weight, while a 10-inch bar cuts thicker branches in one pass; size it a couple of inches over the branches you cut most.
• Weight and balance at full extension: the lightest, best-balanced saw is the one you can actually hold up and control; feel it extended with the battery fitted, not collapsed on the shelf.
• Power and runtime: a high-voltage cordless saw cuts close to corded, and for battery models check cuts-per-charge and whether a spare pack is easy to add.
• Automatic oiler and tensioning: insist on an auto-oiler with an easy-to-check reservoir and simple chain tensioning, since you can’t easily service the chain overhead.
• Conversion and platform: a modular attachment shaft like QUIK-LOK turns one purchase into several tools, and buying into a battery system you already own saves the most.
• Safety features: low-kickback chain, a secure locking pole, and a shoulder strap all help; always cut from beside, never under, the branch.

Our final take

For most people, the modern answer is a light, high-voltage cordless pole saw, and the Greenworks 60V 10” Cordless Pole Saw Kit (1405602) is the best all-round pick: 14 feet of reach, a 10-inch bar, up to 85 cuts from one 60V battery, and 8.2 pounds, ready to run out of the box. If you already own Milwaukee M18, the M18 FUEL pole saw with QUIK-LOK is the harder-cutting choice that shares your batteries and turns one shaft into a modular tool set, and DeWalt 20V MAX owners will love the DCPS620 for its tall reach, if they can live with the smaller 8-inch bar and a listed 10.5 pounds. The corded Sun Joe SWJ803E remains a cheap, capable saw, but for the overhead, move-around work a pole saw is built for, its cord tether makes it the one to skip unless budget rules everything. Buy the saw that matches how high and how thick you cut and the batteries you already own, and you’ll spend far more time trimming than fussing.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Greenworks 60V 10" Cordless Pole Saw Kit (1405602) vs Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10" Pole Saw w/ QUIK-LOK (2825-21PS).

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