Makita’s newest 40V Max XGT 20-inch chainsaw is a beast. The brand claims it offers the power of a 50cc gas saw, and I’m inclined to believe it. When I first pulled the trigger, I was surprised by the speed and sound of the chain whizzing around. And it wasn’t just the noise that was impressive—in testing, it positively tore through logs.
At 20 inches, the 40V Max XGT chainsaw is among the biggest battery-powered chainsaws we test. A saw this size will give you the ability to tackle bigger jobs, and it appears to have the power to do so. The saw we tested came as a kit with everything you need, including an 8.0-Ah battery and charger. The kit isn’t cheap, but if you’re already on the Makita 40-volt XGT platform, you can save $500 and buy the chainsaw as a tool only.
Pros
- Tremendous power
- Three cutting modes allow you can match power to the job and conserve battery
- Display panel for monitoring saw functions
Cons
- Power comes at a price, it’s the most expensive saw we’ve tested
Key Specs
| Volts | 40 |
| Battery capacity | 8.0Ah |
| Number cookies cut | 160 |
| Weight | 16.8 lbs (w/battery) |
| Bar length | 20-in. |
As Powerful as Gas
While we don’t time cutting speed, the 40V Max XGT sounded powerful when I first pulled the trigger. And touching it to a log, the chain quickly ripped into it—the saw does in fact cut as fast as it sounds. The 6-inch logs we use for cutting cookies—thin discs of wood—were child’s play for this saw. We use the test as a proxy for run-time, so we continually cut cookies at full throttle until the battery runs out. The 40V Max XGT cut 160 cookies, and using the average cookie diameter, we were able to calculate the total area cut at 4,155 square inches.
The Makita 40V XGT produced 160 cookies in our testing, though cuts this small are child’s play for this saw.
It’s important to note that we test at the highest power/speed settings, and for a saw this big, that’s overkill on 6-inch logs. Using the three mode settings to match the power needed to the job at hand, it’s possible to greatly extend run-time.
Using the 40V Max XGT for practical tasks like felling trees or cleaning up fallen trees after a storm, confirmed its power. I tackled logs as big as 18 inches, and the saw left nothing to be desired—it handled everything I used it on, without faltering.
Pro Quality Construction
Picking up and examining the 40V Max XGT, it was obvious that it was well made. The plastic saw housing is tightly fitted and sturdy, with a removable mesh filter to keep dust out of the cooling vents. Adding to the impression of solid construction is the saw’s weight at 16.8 pounds—this is a little heavy, but it is a bigger saw with a large, high-output 8.0-Ah battery.
Unlike many battery-powered saws, the 40V Max XGT has removable metal bucking spikes to positively engage logs when cutting. It also has a clear window in the bar oil reservoir so you can check the level by looking at the side of the saw.
Controls and Display
The Makita 40V XGT chainsaw doesn’t complicate things. It only has two buttons and a small display to manage and monitor saw functions.
Other than the trigger throttle and chain brake, which are largely the same as those of any traditional gas saw, the 40V Max XGT has two buttons and a display to manage and monitor saw functions. One button is used to turn the saw on, while the other allows you to toggle through the three modes to adjust chain speed—something you can confirm by checking the LED display below the forward handle.
The Verdict
The 40V Max XGT is a powerful, high-quality saw that appears to be built to last. It’s capable of bigger jobs, those you might normally reserve for a gas saw. With it, you’ll be able to fell trees or clean up storm fall. Battery run-time is fair to good—to extend it, you’ll want to be careful to use the appropriate cutting mode.
The expense for this saw is considerable, so it may be best for people already committed to Makita’s XGT 40-volt platform. For comparison, Stihl’s MSA 300 C-O with a 20-inch bar is slightly more expensive as a tool only, but the battery and charger are less, so the cost is similar. While I might pick the Stihl in a vacuum, this saw’s merits make it a worthy recommendation, and its value increases if you are already invested in the XGT platform for other tools or plan to in the future.
Buy the Makita 40V Max XGT Chainsaw
More chainsaws we recommend
Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.