5 Best Pole Saws of 2025

While there are some fantastic electric and petrol pole saws out there, people often don’t want to be dealing with trailing cables or refilling the fuel. This is where cordless pole saws come in, and one of the most popular models out there is the Bosch Cordless Pruner UniversalChainPole 18.

This pole saw certainly looks pretty snazzy, but how does it compare to the other models available, and, more importantly, would it enable me to prune my trees in a quick and efficient way? That’s exactly what I intended to find out…

Some of the pole saws that I tested took a while to assemble, but this one was the fastest to put together, taking less than 5 minutes. Since the chain and blade are already attached to the machine, all you need to do is click the two poles together, tighten the blade, and fill the machine up with oil. You don’t need any extra tools to get this saw going – Bosch has given you everything that you’ll need in the box.

In terms of design, there are a few features in particular that help this pole saw to stand out from its competition. The pivoting head that tilts to 120 degrees, unlike the 30-degree angle offered by most other machines, is a huge plus, as is the telescopic pole that extends out to 2.6m.

This pole saw also has a metal guard over the tip of its blade, giving you a total of 15cm of cutting length, along with a shoulder strap attached to the pole.

It only took a few cuts for me to realise just how impressive this tool really is. I tested it out on apple, sycamore, and spruce trees, and it sliced through each branch very neatly. At 4m/s, its cutting speed is a little slower than the other pole saws I tested, but this isn’t actually very noticeable when you’re using the machine. 

Battery-operated garden tools can often feel less powerful than those that run from the mains, but that wasn’t the case with this pole saw. Its 18V battery gives it fantastic power, and the fact that Bosch batteries are interchangeable is ideal for those of you who already own Bosch products.

My pole saw came with a 2.5aH battery, which gave me about an hour of on and off cutting time. However, once it went flat, I then replaced it with a 4aH battery and continued cutting for a couple more hours.

Those of you who hate heavy garden tools will appreciate how lightweight this pole saw is. At 3.6kg with the battery in, it weighs less than all of the others that I reviewed, and the fact that it comes with a shoulder strap helps to take some of the weight off of your arms.

Something else that made this pole saw more convenient to use was the blade impact guard at the tip of the blade. It allows you to basically hook the blade over a branch so that all you need to do is press the power button and hold it steady while it cuts, which, again, makes the pole saw feel lighter and more comfortable.

Some of the other models that I tested had a multitude of safety features while others had next to nothing. The Bosch sits somewhere in the middle. From the low-kickback chain to the blade impact guard, the safety features incorporated into this machine are mainly designed to reduce kickbacks, which, in my opinion, is the most important thing to focus on when it comes to keeping a pole saw as safe as possible.

As impressive as this machine may seem, the fact that it’s priced higher than many of the other pole saws out there may put some people off. However, if your budget allows for it, I would definitely recommend going the extra mile for this tool. It offers a number of very useful design features that others don’t have, which justifies its cost. Of course, the price varies depending on whether or not you need a battery, making this machine even better value for those who already own other cordless Bosch products.

Some of the pole saws that I tested were designed with beginners in mind, whereas others were better suited to those who already have some pole saw experience under their belt. The Bosch Cordless Pruner UniversalChainPole 18 is unique in that it would work well for both groups of people. It performs well enough for even professional landscapers to take this machine seriously, yet it’s lightweight and easy enough to use for pole saw newbies too. All in all, a fantastic machine that I would highly recommend.

Loved for their pro-level yet affordable garden tools, Ryobi is a brand that I’m very familiar with. The Ryobi RPP750S Pole Pruner with Extension Pole sits in Ryobi’s electric range of power tools and promises to make pruning hard-to-reach branches an easy feat.

Since I had a number of overgrown sycamore trees around my farm that desperately needed to be cut back, I couldn’t wait to put this pole saw into action to find out how good it really is.

It’s always a bonus when garden tools don’t require too much assembly, so this pole saw made a great first impression. With the chain already fitted around the bar, all you need to do is slot the poles together and fill the machine with oil. Ryobi supplies a small amount of oil with this pole saw, and there’s an oil display window at the side of the machine that makes it easy to keep things topped up. All in all, assembling this pole saw took about 5 minutes and, even better, it was simple enough that the instructions weren’t needed.

Ryobi tools are usually decked out in the brand’s signature bright green colour palette, and this pole saw is no exception. It looks sleek and high-quality, especially once you take a closer look and see that it’s fitted with a 20cm Oregon bar and chain. Its cutting head pivots to 15 degrees, which is pretty limited compared to other pole saws, but the fact that it boasts an easily removable centre shaft, giving you 4m of reach in total, more than makes up for this.

In terms of performance and speed, this pole saw is pretty much on par with the other electric pole saws that I tested. At 10m/s, it slices through branches quickly, leaving a neat edge behind. It performed beautifully on all of my sycamore trees, and did well with the spruce branches that I tested it on too.

Its 750W motor puts this pole saw somewhere in the middle of the scale when it comes to power – the Black & Decker had a slightly larger motor, but the eSkde had a smaller one. That said, the Ryobi still felt just as powerful as the Black & Decker – it had no trouble at all slicing through thicker branches.

What I really appreciated about this pole saw was its weight. At 3.8kg, it was the lightest of the mains-powered pole saws that I tested – it was even almost as light as the cordless Bosch that I reviewed, which is ideal for those of you who want to avoid aching arms.

Even better, Ryobi provides a shoulder harness with this pole saw. While you’re unlikely to need this for short pruning sessions, it’s extremely handy if you’re going to be using the machine for extended periods of time. The fact that the centre shaft is removable helps too, since you don’t need to carry all of that extra weight unless you’re pruning super-tall branches.

Safety is key when it comes to electric saws of any kind, so it was good to see that Ryobi took this into account when designing this machine. In addition to its safety guard and hand guard, it also boasts a low-kickback chain, along with a button that needs to be pressed before the trigger can be pulled, saving the machine from being accidentally turned on at any point. Just like the other pole saws that I tested, this one also comes with a plastic protective cover that easily slips over the bar and chain when the machine isn’t in use.

This pole saw is a little pricier than the other electric pole saws that I reviewed, but not by much. Is it worth paying slightly more for this machine? In my opinion, yes, mostly because of the fact that it gives you a significantly longer reach than the others offer, making it so much more versatile. It also helps that it comes with oil and a shoulder harness, meaning that everything that you need to get going with this machine is supplied in the box.

It’s easy to see why this pole saw has such a wide appeal. If you’re a beginner that’s never used a pole saw before, this one is so easy to assemble and operate. Alternatively, if you’re a professional gardener looking for a machine that will enable you to prune high, hard-to-reach branches, this one has a long-enough reach, as well as a fast-enough cutting speed, to whizz its way through thicker limbs.

Either way, if tall and mature branches are what you’re dealing with, then I would highly recommend giving the Ryobi RPP750S Pole Pruner with Extension Pole a try!

Famed for their budget-friendly yet reliable power tools and home appliances, Black + Decker is a brand with a huge lineup of products, one of which is their PS7525-GB Corded Pole Saw.

When compared to higher-end models, this electric pole saw certainly looks the part, but does it perform as well as the pricier products out there? Fortunately, I had several trees in need of some pruning to help me find out just that…

Assembling this pole saw only took about 7 minutes, which was helped by the fact that the chain is already fitted onto the blade, saving you from the fiddly process of unravelling and attaching it. All you need to do is attach the bar to the main unit and then fill the machine up with oil (you’ll need to buy some as it doesn’t come with any).

In terms of design, this Black + Decker pole saw definitely boasts a few impressive features, such as its 2.7m extendable pole and its pivoting head. It’s also equipped with a 25cm blade, complete with a high-quality Oregon chain, which will allow you to tackle some pretty thick branches.

So, that’s exactly what I did, with both evergreen spruce trees as well as apple trees. Turns out, I didn’t need to worry about how it would perform – it handled everything that I asked it to, cutting through both green and dry branches neatly and quickly. With a cutting speed of 11.5m/s, it’s the fastest electric pole saw that I tested and makes relatively quick work of every pruning job. 

This is helped by its 800W motor, making it the most powerful of the electric pole saws that I reviewed. You can definitely feel this power when using the machine – it makes each cut feel so much more effortless.

I was also thrilled with how easy this pole saw was to use. At 4.5kg, some may find it a little heavy, but, for me, its weight was spot on. It gives the head enough weight to balance on the branch you’re cutting, making it much easier to hold the machine steady while it’s in use. This, coupled with the telescopic pole for reaching tall branches, plus the head that pivots 30°, gives you a machine that’s versatile enough to handle just about everything.

Without the right safety features, a pole saw can be pretty dangerous, so it’s great to see that Black + Decker has fitted this machine with an anti-kickback chain, as well as a chain brake system that turns the machine off if a kickback is experienced. You’ll also find plenty of safety information in the instruction manual, as well as on the safety stickers plastered onto the pole.

Considering all of the above, it’s genuinely surprising how inexpensive this pole saw is. In fact, it’s the cheapest of the five that I tested, yet you wouldn’t have guessed that judging by its features, its powerful motor, and its fantastic performance. With that in mind, I’d say that this pole saw offers brilliant value for money.

Some pole saws are designed for beginners, while others are better used by people with some experience, but this machine is the Goldilocks of pole saws – it’s well-suited to just about everyone. Whether you only have a couple of small trees in your garden or you have several mature trees to prune, the Black + Decker PS7525-GB Corded Pole Saw will do a solid job.

If you’re looking for a pole saw that prioritises power, then you’ve probably already dismissed electric/cordless models in favour of petrol-powered machines, which are known for having extra “oomph”. A quick search online will show you that the Hyundai 52cc Petrol Long Reach Pole Pruner is a popular choice, but what exactly is it about this pole saw that makes it worth the money?

I put this machine to the test on a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees to find out how it compares to the other best-selling pole saws out there.

Hyundai products can sometimes be a little fiddly to assemble, so I was pleased to find that this pole saw only took about 5 minutes to put together. There’s not much to be done, other than attaching the handle (the Allen key that you’ll need for this is supplied in the box) and slotting the poles together. Then, fill it with petrol/oil using the provided mixing bottle, pour in some chain oil, and you’re good to go!

Being a landscaper, I take a pole saw to various jobs with me, so I loved how Hyundai has designed this machine with a shaft that splits into three, making it easy to pack away and transport. At full length, that shaft can reach 2.7m – it’s not the longest of the pole saws that I tested, but it’s certainly adequate for most gardens, especially when combined with its 26cm bar and chain. The only downside to this machine’s design is the lack of a pivoting head, which all of the other pole saws that I reviewed had. 

However, the non-pivoting head didn’t affect how this saw performed at all. It did mean that I had to pay more attention to how I angled the pole, but its performance more than made up for that.

Its cutting speed is significantly faster than that of the other pole saws, and it cut through branches with so much more ease as well. I used it to trim back my sycamore trees, as well as a leylandii hedge at a client’s garden, and it’s one that I will continue to use in the future.

When you compare this pole saw’s power to the others that I tested, there’s no competition – this one is, by far, the most powerful. However, it was also the only petrol-powered model, so this was to be expected. Its 52cc engine offers more than enough power for both home users and professionals – this pole saw has now accompanied me on several landscaping jobs and there has been nothing that it couldn’t handle. 

At 9.25kg, this pole saw is definitely on the heavy side. This isn’t an issue for me, especially since Hyundai supplies a sturdy body harness for when the machine is being used for long periods of time, but if you’re looking for something lightweight, then consider an electric or cordless model instead. Petrol pole saws will always be weightier, but Hyundai has fitted this machine with a padded front handle to make life a little more comfortable. 

The only flaw was that this machine can sometimes be a little tricky to get started from cold. Even if you follow all of the instructions, you may still find yourself having to repetitively pull on the recoil start cord for a couple of minutes before things kick into action.

When it comes to safety, this pole saw’s features are pretty standard. It doesn’t particularly prioritise safety, but it’s still kitted out with a safety start button, anti-vibration technology, and a protective cover for the bar. If you’re familiar with pole saws, then this won’t be an issue, but if you’re a newbie, you may want to look for a machine that also offers anti-kickback features.

The Hyundai costs the most out of the five pole saws that I tested. However, the big question is; is it worth the money? In my opinion, yes.

It may lack a few of the features found in other models, such as a pivoting head and a longer reach, but its sheer power puts this pole saw in a class of its own – you’re really not going to get anything better at a lower price.  

If you’re looking for a lightweight pole saw for occasional use, then save yourself some money and go for a battery or electric model – they’re more than capable of tackling most garden pruning tasks. However, if power and speed are what you’re after, then the Hyundai excels. For those of you who plan on using your pole saw regularly and want a machine that can handle pretty much any type and size of branch out there, then the Hyundai 52cc Petrol Long Reach Pole Pruner would be an excellent choice. 

It can often be tempting to want to go with a big-name company when buying new garden tools. However, sometimes, lesser-known brands produce products that are just as good, if not better, yet without the high price tag.

That’s exactly what I was hoping for with the eSkde LPCS1 Telescopic Long Reach Pole Saw. Although this brand is still making a name for itself, the power tools that they manufacture seem to be very capable, so I had high hopes that their pole saw would enable me to quickly and efficiently prune my garden trees.

Assembling this pole saw took about 15 minutes, which is a little longer than the other pole saws that I reviewed. The assembly process was a little fiddly, hence why it was more time-consuming. However, on the plus side, everything that you need to set this machine up comes in the box, from the Allen key that you use to remove the blade panel and tighten the chain to the oil that the machine needs to kick into action.

Just a quick glance at the overall design of this pole saw was enough to impress me. It stands out from the others in a few different ways, most notably because of its 30cm bar, making it longer than the other electric-powered machines that I reviewed. It also extends to 290cm, making it one of the longest pole saws that I tested. Add to this its long 10m cable, its pivoting head, and its Oregon bar and chain, and you have a machine that works well pruning large trees,

When it comes to performance, this pole saw acts the part too. I used it to prune sycamore, spruce, and apple trees, and with a cutting speed of 10m/s, it sliced through all of those branches quickly and neatly.

That said, I did notice that it didn’t feel quite as powerful as some of the other pole saws that I tested. This is down to its 600W motor. This isn’t an issue if you’re cutting smaller branches, but you may need to apply a little pressure if you’re trying to cut through chunkier limbs.

At 5.34kg, some may find this pole saw to be on the heavy side, especially when the branch that you’re cutting drops and you need to keep the pole saw held up and steady. However, its heavy head gives it good balance – most of the time, you can simply lean it onto a branch and just hold it in place while the blade gets to work. The extendable pole and pivoting head help with this, as they enable you to establish the perfect angle and position for each branch that you need to cut.

What lets this chainsaw down is its lack of safety features. The others that I tested all had their own safety mechanisms in place to prevent accidents from kickbacks and chain breakages, but this one didn’t have any of that. The only real safety feature was the plastic protective cover for the blade, but this is something that all pole saws come with.

Although safety seemed to be an oversight when eSkde designed this machine, it’s an easy one to forgive once you see how much (or rather, how little) this pole saw costs. It was one of the least expensive that I tested, which is surprising considering that it offers up many design features that pricier models lack. Even though it seems to run through more oil than the others that I reviewed, I would still say that this pole saw offers good value for money.

If you’re new to using a pole saw, then I would recommend going with a product that’s equipped with proper safety features. However, if you already know your way around pole saws, but could do with a machine that has a large cutting bar and can reach high branches on tall trees, I’d say the eSkde LPCS1 Telescopic Long Reach Pole Chainsaw is it.