Which Pole Saw Brand Wins?
A head-to-head test of 10 pole saw options with the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.
GreenWorks
Price shown in test: $125
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Sprocket speed | Noise level | 4x4 cut - full pressure (avg of 3) | 4x4 cut - 2.5 lb light pressure (avg of 3) | Hedge apple cut | Pole test at 18in spacing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Sun Joe$105 | 2,750 RPM | 77.4 decibels | 11 seconds (11.35, 10.85, 10.85) | 14.2 seconds (12.57, 15.1, 14.55) | 41 seconds | 80 in length, 21 lbs front pressure, about 0.5 in sag |
| 2GreenWorks$125 | 4,015 RPM | 84.9 decibels | 5 seconds (5.11, 4.71, 5.16) | 5.8 seconds (5.77, 5.72, 5.98) | 21.5 seconds | 91 in length (11 in longer than Sun Joe), 20 lbs front pressure, sag just over 2 in |
| 3Black & Decker$140 | 1,750 RPM | 75.7 decibels (quietest of all 10) | 10.9 seconds (11.25, 10.95, 10.49) | 14.04 seconds (14.7, 14.35, 14.09), last place this round | 42.8 seconds | 112 in length, 23 lbs front pressure, 5.5 in sag |
| 4DeWalt$160 (tool only; kit available for around $220) | 3,360 RPM | 81.8 decibels | 4.3 seconds (4.35, 4.5, 4.15), took the lead this round | 5.5 seconds (5.42, 5.82, 5.31), barely edges GreenWorks | 15.1 seconds | 112 in length (same as Black & Decker), 31 lbs front pressure, 5.5 in sag |
| 5Craftsman$169 | 2,150 RPM | 79.1 decibels | about 7.7 seconds (7.6, 7.35, 7.96) | 9.5 seconds (9.63, 9.73, 9.12) | 27.5 seconds | 108 in length, 23 lbs front pressure, 7 in sag (most sag of all 10) |
| 6Ryobi$199 | close to 2,900 RPM (no-load) | 79 decibels | 6.3 seconds (5.87, 6.54, 6.54) | 6.3 seconds (6.08, 6.54, 6.23) | 16.3 seconds | 109 in length, 32 lbs front pressure, 5 in sag |
| 7Worx$238 | 1,640 RPM | 76 decibels | 5.3 seconds (5.62, 5.21, 5.16) | 15.3 seconds (15.21, 12.97, 17.64), last place this round | 14.55 seconds | 116.5 in length (longest), 41 lbs front pressure (heaviest to manage), 12.5 in sag (worst of all 10) |
| 8Oregon$297 | 6,555 RPM | 99 decibels (loudest of all 10) | 3.4 seconds (3.49, 3.49, 3.28), took the lead this round | 3.3 seconds (3.49, 3.28, 3.13), took the lead from DeWalt by over 2 seconds | 10.24 seconds, took the lead this round | 110 in length, 21 lbs front pressure, about 0.5 in sag (best pole strength/balance of all 10); 0.55 in of sag per foot of pole length |
| 9EGO$349 | 6,750 RPM (fastest of all 10) | 92.2 decibels | 2.9 seconds (3.08, 2.78, 2.78), took the lead this round | 2.7 seconds (2.73, 2.68, 2.83), came out on top this round | 11.2 seconds, second place behind Oregon | 69 in length (shortest), 11 lbs front pressure, about 0.5 in sag; with a 31 in extension (~$65), 26 lbs of front pressure |
| 10Milwaukee$369 (most expensive tested) | spec sheet lists 4,600 RPM; measured sprocket speed given as 4,620 RPM (both figures kept verbatim) | 85.5 decibels | 2.32 seconds (2.42, 2.12, 2.32), came out on top this round | 3.5 seconds (3.79, 3.54, 3.28) | 8.41 seconds, came out on top this round | 67 in length (shortest of all 10), 12 lbs front pressure, about 0.5 in sag; with a 31 in extension (~$120), 24 lbs of front pressure |
How it was tested
- 4x4 pressure-treated lumber cut speed, full downward pressure, 3 cuts averaged
- 4x4 pressure-treated lumber cut speed, light 2.5 lb downward pressure, 3 cuts averaged
- hedge apple (5.5 in diameter hardwood) cut speed
- no-load sprocket speed (RPM)
- noise level (decibels)
- pole front-end pressure and sag at 18 in spacing, plus sag per foot of pole length
Data notes and caveats
Ends in per-use-case recommendations rather than a single declared winner: budget pick = GreenWorks, quality pick = DeWalt (only if buyer already owns DeWalt batteries), best all-around out of the box = Oregon, premium picks for buyers willing to spend more = EGO and Milwaukee (both would need a purchased extension since they have the shortest poles). Milwaukee won 2 of 3 timed cut-speed rounds (full-pressure 4x4 and hedge apple) and EGO won the light-pressure 4x4 round, so no single brand swept the quantitative tests either. Transcript and description brand list matched cleanly throughout with no caption garbling of brand names; all 10 products in the description's Products Tested list and amzn.to link list are accounted for. One likely narration/caption inconsistency flagged in the Worx product notes (pole sag 'more than 20 times' Oregon's, but the two stated per-foot figures are only about 2.3x apart).