The best pole saws to reach new heights when trimming and pruning

Trim tall branches with a long-reach pruning tool.

Best pole saws

by Amy-Mae Turner |
Updated on

Chainsaws and ladders aren't a combination made in garden maintenance heaven. Our resident gardening expert, Geoff Hodge says, "Where trees are involved, it's a good idea to look for a tool that allows you to cut them safely from terra firma, without having to clamber up through branches or wobble on the top of a rickety step ladder." Enter the best pole saw, a kind of mini chainsaw or saw blade on a stick, that make for great garden tools to help you lop the tops of growth in your garden. Designed for use on greenery that is beyond arm's length, pole saws can cut through tree branches that have gotten too tall and cut off the tops of hedges, bushes, and shrubs.

You could argue that pole saws are borderline pro-level power tools, but tree surgeons and professional gardeners can be expensive - and hard to find - so if you have the confidence and expertise, trimming your own trees with a pole saw can save you both time and the hassle of dealing with tradespeople. Plus, once you've invested in a decent garden tool like a pole saw, you can use it season after season if you maintain it well.

Best pole saws at a glance:

Pole saws come in two different designs - motorised power tools and traditional manual saw-style options. Motorised versions can be powered by petrol, corded electric, or as cordless tools with rechargeable batteries. Petrol-powered pole saws are not the most eco-friendly and tend to be loud, expensive, and better suited to pros. So, we're taking a look at the best electric and manual pole saws currently available that are best suited to your tool shed.

Best motorised and manual pole saws

Best overall pole saw

Ryobi pole saw Ryobi
Price: $130.70

A part of RYOBI's ONE+ shared battery family, this pole pruner when sold as a bare tool is a great value choice for anyone who has already bought into the system but can also be purchased with the 18V battery and charger required for anyone who hasn't.

This pole saw gives you an Oregon guide bar and chain measuring in at 20cm (eight inches) that offers a high torque performance with 5.5m/s chain speed. The 30-degree angled cutting head offers great control and the extendable handle provides a reach of up to four metres which reviewers love for enabling them to ditch the stepladders. One reviewer even goes as far as to call this tool their new best friend for sky-high yard work.

This pole saw comes complete with a shoulder strap to help you keep the saw stable when in operation, chain oil to keep things lubricated, and a sheath cover for the guard bar to keep you safe when the saw is being transported and stored.

Pros

  • Boasts an automatic chain bar lubrication mechanism
  • Comes complete with a shoulder strap for stability

Cons

  • Weighs in at six kilograms

Best manual pole saw

Walensee pole saw Walensee
Price: $35.99

If you're looking for a traditional manual option, this Walensee pole saw has a curved design that makes cutting overhead easier compared to a straight blade. The saw blade features hook barbs at either end to give you better control, while the serrations boast a three-sided sharpened edge for a faster and cleaner cut.

The blade is crafted from Mn steel, also known as mangalloy or manganese steel, which is durable, hard-wearing, and rust-resistant. It's also lightweight, making this tool more manoeuvrable. This tool gets praise from professional users with one rating it as surprisingly good.

You can use this two-in-one tool as a handheld pruning saw, or employ the extendable handle to use it at height. The pole is made of high-quality steel with a power-coated coated finish and can be extended from 235cm, to 305cm, or 427cm in length.

Pros

  • Two-in-one functionality as a hand and pole saw
  • Non-slip handle with an ergonomic design

Cons

  • This does not come with a cover for the blade

Best multifunctional pole saw

Einhell pole sawEinhell
Price: $137.94

This is another option that's part of a proprietary interchangeable battery system, this time from Einhell. This multifunctional garden tool gives you a pole saw and a hedge trimmer, but the 18V battery and charger you need to power them is available separately.

The pole saw has an Oregon guide bar and chain that measures in at 20cm allowing you to cut through branches of up to around eight inches. The hedge trimmer attachment is 45cm long which means you can tidy up a fair bit of foliage with each swipe. Reviewers don't love the weight of this took, but they are impressed with its cutting performance.

Both tool heads attach to the adjustable telescopic aluminium handle that measures 88cm but can be extended to 182cm. When bought separately, Einhell's 18V Power X-Change battery comes with a fast charger that can fully charge it in an hour and can be used across a wide range of power tools.

Pros

  • Bundle includes a hedge-trimmer attachment
  • This tool is capable of tackling branches of up to eight inches

Cons

  • Handle only extends to 182cm

Best rope pull pole saw

Amazon Basics pole saw Amazon Basics
Price: $40.99

This Amazon Basics pole saw is a manual option that gives you a 33cm saw blade that's forged from rugged steel with a sharp, serrated cutting edge to help you hack through all kinds of branches, with reviewers stating this saw is very effective on for reaching limbs you'd normally need a ladder for.

There is also a smaller pruning blade to lop off smaller branches. This is located at the bottom of the saw and operated by a rope pulley that you can activate once you're in the perfect position to make an efficient cut.

This pole saw has an extendable handle made from lightweight metals that, with the length of the saw blade taken into account, offers you an impressive 290cm reach.

Pros

  • Combines a pole saw with a rope pull pruning blade
  • Entire tool is lightweight at less than 1.8 kilograms

Cons

  • The pull rope will eventually need replacing

Best corded electric pole saw

Black+Decker pole sawBlack+Decker pole saw

As you'd expect from a trusted brand like BLACK+DECKER, this capable pole saw is both powerful and safe to use. The power comes in with an 800W motor that enables a chain speed of 11.5m/s, meaning this can efficiently cut wet and dry wood with ease and this can extend to 270cm for great reach.

The safety is taken care of with a chain brake system that cuts off the power automatically within 0.015 seconds if the chainsaw kicks back.

This has a 25cm guide bar and the saw head can pivot to reach awkward branches. This offers an easy-fill automatically lubricating oil system that has a capacity of 60ml for less refills, but reviewers note there is no oil included, so bear this in mind when ordering.

Pros

  • Boasts an 800W motor with 11.5m/s chain speed
  • Chain brake system that cuts off the power automatically 

Cons

  • Requires access to a power point

Best extendable pole saw

Vevor pole saw Vevor
Price: $69.99

If reach is what's important to you, consider VEVOR's pole saw that offers you a mighty 8.24 metres of pole saw action to ensure you can lop even the loftiest of branches, although reviewers do warn using this saw at its full length does take some skill. This can also be used as a handheld pruning saw.

At the end of that multi-section pole you can attach one of two saw blades crafted from rust-proof and long-lasting carbon steel with a Teflon coating. Both the blades have hooked ends to improve your cutting dexterity.

This offers a spring-action pulley system pruning blade for smaller branches. This capable pole saw system comes complete with a saw sleeve cover and a carry case for portability and tidy storage.

Pros

  • Saw blades are protected with a Teflon coating
  • Offers a generous 8.24 metres reach

Cons

  • Skill is required to use this at the longer lengths

Best cordless pole saw

Greenworks pole saw Greenworks
Price: $108.16

Cordless garden power tools are a fabulous choice for anyone with a larger plot as you can enjoy cable-free freedom. Thanks to its advanced battery technology, Greenworks promises this pole saw gives the same results as a mains corded pole saw.

This has a 20cm chain-wrapped guide bar that's capable of reaching speeds of 6.7m/s. The chain stays lubricated at all times thanks to the automatic oiling system that draws from the integrated 50ml oil tank.

This extendable pole saw's handle comes in three sections that you can join together to reach a total length of 270cm. This has a soft-grip foam handle and comes with a shoulder strap to improve your comfort and control. While reviewers are happy with how simple this is to assemble and break down, some would like it to have come with a storage case.

Pros

  • Very lightweight and manoeuvrable at just 3.2 kilograms
  • Automatic oiler system for chain lubrication

Cons

  • Chain speed runs at 6.7m/s 

How we chose the best pole saws

All of these pole saws have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the design, functionality, and usability in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching motorised and manual pole saws to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.

Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.

Manual versus motorised pole saws

There is a huge difference between the two types of pole saw available. Deciding which is best for you depends on your budget, skill level, and physical ability.

Geoff Hodge lays it out: "While standard manual secateurs, pruners, and saws will do an excellent job, those gardeners with lots of trees and shrubs will find powered tools a godsend, as will gardeners with mobility or other health issues. Thick branches can involve a hard squeeze with manual secateurs, which is a painful exercise if you suffer from arthritis, an old injury, or simply don't have the strength anymore."

So generally motorised pole saws will make your pruning job faster and easier, however, Hodge warns of the downside of powered pole saws. "Don't forget that powered tools are heavier than their manual counterparts, so wherever possible, check how heavy the tool is before you make the purchase."

Manual pole saws are generally more affordable than motorised options, don't require a power cable or charging, don't need to be oiled, and are more lightweight than powered options. They do require more physical effort though, and you have to have a certain amount of skill in understanding the pole saw's flexure, especially when using them at longer lengths.

FAQs

What are the best pole saw alternatives?

If you don't think a pole saw is the garden tool for you, consider these alternatives. While they don't all offer the reach a pole saw does, they are useful cutting tools to consider adding to your pruning tool arsenal.
Mini chainsaws - These cordless power tools boast chain-covered blades of between four and eight inches, offering a very efficient and fast way of cutting through all kinds of branches and wood.
Electric secateurs - These powered hand tools can take on most average garden pruning challenges with most offering the ability to cut branches with a diameter of up to 30mm (approximately 1.18 inches).
Hedge trimmers - These are more designed for cutting greenery and foliage than lopping off branches, but they are great for hedge management.
Garden multi-tools - Depending on the model, garden multi-tools have interchangeable heads that can include mini chainsaws and pole saws for a capable multi-tasking tool to cover your pruning needs.
Pruning saws - These longer-length handheld saws are designed for cutting through wood but just don't offer the length and reach a pole saw does.

Safety considerations when using a motorised pole saw

  • Familiarise yourself with how your pole saw works in a safe outdoor place before trying to cut anything, paying particular attention to the braking procedure.

  • Before you use the pole saw, check the chain is properly in place and at the correct tension.

  • All the pole saws we're featuring boast a safety lock, usually in the form of a button. Get used to hitting that every time you stop a task so that the saw can't be accidentally activated.

  • Follow maintenance guidelines as provided by the manufacturer, including oiling the chain if necessary, to keep your saw in optimum working condition.

Safety considerations when using any kind of pole saw

  • If you're cutting growth overhead, always take time to consider your position in relation to where the branches are going to fall.

  • Protect your hands with a robust pair of gloves. Ordinary gardening gloves, although great for everyday use, are not protective enough for use with a sharp saw.

  • Safety goggles or even a full face shield are an absolute must to shield your eyes from sawdust and other debris, especially when you're cutting overhead.

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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.

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