6 Things to Know About Chainsaw Bar Length for Limbing and Felling

A 16-inch bar is faster and easier to maneuver in tight branches, making it ideal for limbing. It keeps the saw balanced and prevents bouncing off limbs.

A 20-inch bar gives you more reach and can cut through a 20-inch tree in one pass. It provides better leverage for back-cutting and handling lean and tension.

Limbing is about control, so the lighter 16-inch bar reduces arm fatigue after an hour. Felling is about leverage, and the longer bar lets you work deeper into the wood.

A 20-inch bar needs a saw with enough torque to push the chain through wide cuts. An underpowered saw with a long bar will bog down and dull faster.

A 16-inch bar on a 50cc saw is a sweet spot for most homeowners. For pros doing both tasks all day, two saws or a quick-change setup is better.

If you mostly fell trees over 16 inches in diameter, buy the 20-inch. If you mostly clean up brush and small logs, the 16-inch is plenty.