Pole saws (2026)

A pole saw cuts limbs you can't reach from the ground, without a ladder: storm-hung branches, dead limbs over a driveway, trimming before hurricane season. This page compares battery and manual pole saws on reach, bar length and power source. Every spec is from the maker's page, read on the date in each card's notes; we haven't used these ourselves.

By Tom Calder · Updated November 9, 2026 · 6 products, 2 of 6 price-tracked

Our picks

Best cordless pole saw 4.5

Faster cutting for regular trimming

EGO PS1001

56V battery · 10 in · Up to 13 ft reach (17 ft with extension)

Higher branches with a long telescopic pole

Researched

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Best manual pole saw 3.5

Quiet, no battery, a few limbs a year

Fiskars 12 ft pole saw

Manual · 12 in · Up to 12 ft reach (maker)

Quiet, no-battery limb cutting

Researched

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All 6 compared

Show

Pole saw	Power	Bar	Reach (maker)	Weight (maker)	Price
1. EGO POWER+ PS1001 10-inch Telescopic Pole Saw Kit Best cordless pole saw 56V battery · 10 in · Up to 13 ft reach (17 ft with extension) Higher branches with a long telescopic pole 4.5	56V battery	10 in	Up to 13 ft reach (17 ft with extension)	—	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A 10-inch 56V telescopic pole saw with a stated 13 ft reach, tool-free tensioning and an LED cut-line light. The extension pole is extra. Best for Higher branches with a long telescopic pole Good 13 ft total reach, 17 ft with extension (maker) Tool-free chain tensioning Brushless motor Worth knowing Extension pole sold separately Maker lists no weight Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you want a pole you can lengthen without buying an extra part.
2. DEWALT 20V MAX XR Brushless Cordless Pole Saw DCPS620B (Tool Only) 20V MAX battery · 8 in · Up to 15 ft reach (maker) 20V MAX owners needing 15 ft reach 4.0	20V MAX battery	8 in	Up to 15 ft reach (maker)	—	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A tool-only 8-inch pole saw with a stated 15 ft total reach and auto oiling. It needs a 20V MAX battery and charger you already own or buy separately. Best for 20V MAX owners needing 15 ft reach Good Up to 15 ft total reach (maker) Brushless motor and auto oiling Metal bucking strip and tree hook Worth knowing Battery and charger sold separately Maker lists no weight Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you do not already own DEWALT 20V MAX batteries.
3. Milwaukee M18 FUEL 10-inch Telescoping Pole Saw 3013-20 (Tool Only) M18 battery (18V) · 10 in · 9 to 13 ft telescoping (maker) M18 owners who want a long telescoping reach 4.0	M18 battery (18V)	10 in	9 to 13 ft telescoping (maker)	—	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A tool-only 10-inch pole saw that telescopes from 9 to 13 ft, with an automatic oiler and a side-access tensioner. Milwaukee's page gives no weight, and other sources disagree. Best for M18 owners who want a long telescoping reach Good Telescopes from 9 to 13 ft (maker) Automatic oiler Runs on M18 batteries Worth knowing Battery and charger sold separately Weight figures disagree across sources Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you do not own M18 batteries, or want the lightest pole saw.
4. Greenworks 40V 8-inch Cordless Pole Saw with 2.0Ah Battery and Charger (PS40L210) 40V battery · 8 in · Up to 11 ft reach (maker) · 8.2 lb Light limb trimming from the ground 3.5	40V battery	8 in	Up to 11 ft reach (maker)	8.2 lb	$136.99 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. In stockCheck price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched An 8-inch 40V pole saw with 11 ft maximum reach and an auto oiler. Chain tensioning needs a tool, and the cut count per charge is modest. Best for Light limb trimming from the ground Good 11 ft maximum reach (maker) Auto oiler Battery and charger included Worth knowing Chain tensioning needs a tool (maker spec table) Up to 45 cuts per charge (maker) Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need to reach branches higher than about 11 feet.
5. CRAFTSMAN V20 CMCCSP20M1 8-inch Cordless Pole Chainsaw Kit with 4.0Ah Battery 20V battery · 8 in · Up to 14 ft reach (maker) Occasional limb trimming at 14 ft 3.5	20V battery	8 in	Up to 14 ft reach (maker)	—	$179 at Amazon as of Nov 9, 2026, 11:40 AM ET · Details Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. In stockCheck price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A budget 20V pole saw kit with an 8-inch bar and a stated 14 ft reach. Craftsman lists a brushed motor and no weight. Best for Occasional limb trimming at 14 ft Good 4.0Ah battery, charger and oil in the kit Up to 14 ft reach (maker) Fits V20 battery system Worth knowing Brushed motor (maker) Reach is measured with a person standing, not pole length Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need a brushless motor or heavy daily use.
6. Fiskars Extendable Pole Saw & Pruner (7 to 12 ft) 393951 Best manual pole saw Manual · 12 in · Up to 12 ft reach (maker) Quiet, no-battery limb cutting 3.5	Manual	12 in	Up to 12 ft reach (maker)	—	Check price →
Our verdict Our verdictResearched A manual pole saw with a 12-inch blade and a pruner head, reaching 12 ft. It has no battery, so it works in an outage but takes arm effort. Best for Quiet, no-battery limb cutting Good No battery or fuel Saw plus pruner head, 12 ft reach (maker) Lifetime warranty (maker) Worth knowing Manual effort on thick limbs Pruner handles branches only up to 1 inch Who shouldn't buy it: Don't buy it if you need to cut limbs thicker than about 4 inches quickly.

ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedStates earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and can change at any time.

Not near power lines, not over your head

A pole saw puts metal and a long pole up near wires. OSHA says to stay at least 10 feet from overhead power lines unless they're de-energized and grounded, and that trimming trees around electrical lines is work for qualified line-clearance tree trimmers: call your utility. OSHA lists eye protection and a hard hat for overhead hazards in storm debris work, and says not to cut directly overhead with a chainsaw. For a few small branches, a manual pole saw is quieter and needs no battery.

Before you buy

Reach: makers state total reach (with your arms) or pole length.

The saws here reach about 11 to 15 feet; EGO says its PS1001 reaches 17 feet with an extension sold separately.

Bar length: 8 to 10 inches is normal for battery pole saws; they're for limbs, not trunks.

Fiskars' manual saw has a 12-inch blade.

Battery system

DEWALT's DCPS620B and Milwaukee's 3013-20 come without a battery or charger, so they make sense if you already own those tools. The Greenworks and CRAFTSMAN kits include both.

Weight is the limit at full reach: a pole saw feels much heavier with the pole extended.

Greenworks lists 8.2 pounds for its 40V saw.

Chain oil and tension: most battery pole saws here oil automatically; check tension before each use.

How we choose

We verify every product's specifications against at least two independent sources, re-check its US price and stock on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and cross-check safety-relevant claims against official guidance. Every review is labeled Researched or Used and reviewed by us: where we've bought a product, or been sent it free, and used it ourselves, its review says which; where we haven't, our verdict is a considered spec-and-evidence comparison, not a hands-on test. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Read our full methodology →

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Common questions

How high can a pole saw reach?

The ones here reach about 11 to 15 feet by their makers' figures, and EGO says 17 feet with its extension pole. Above that, call a tree service.

Can I use a pole saw near power lines?

No. OSHA says to keep at least 10 feet from overhead lines unless they're de-energized and grounded, and that clearing trees from lines is for qualified line-clearance tree trimmers. Call your utility.

Battery or manual pole saw?

Battery saws cut faster and with less effort. A manual saw is quiet, light, needs no charging and is enough for a few small limbs a year.

Is a pole saw safe to use from a ladder?

The point of a pole saw is to keep you on the ground. OSHA lists eye protection and a hard hat for overhead hazards in storm debris work; for limbs too high to reach from the ground, call a tree service.

Sources (4)