The easiest starting chainsaw for a smaller or older owner is a light homeowner gas saw with an easy-start system, like Stihl’s Easy2Start (an “E” in the model name) or Husqvarna’s Smart Start, and a decompression valve if it has one. If even that pull is too much, a battery saw starts with a button.
I run a Stihl MS 251 C with Stihl’s easy-start on our 10 acres, and a Saker 22-volt mini saw for the small stuff. Below is what each easy-start feature does in the makers’ own words, why weight matters as much as the pull, and how to start a saw without flooding it. If you’re still choosing a saw, my gas chainsaw buying guide covers bar length and engine size for your property.
Size the saw to you, not to a list
There is no one easiest saw for everybody. A saw is easy to start when the pull is short and smooth for your arm, and easy to use when you can hold it steady for the whole job. For storm limbs, fence lines and firewood on a few acres, a homeowner saw is plenty. Stihl says its homeowner saws are “easy to start, simple to handle, and ideal for tasks like pruning, storm cleanup, or cutting small firewood.”
So ask two questions in the store: how hard is the pull on this one, and can I hold it at waist height for a few minutes without my arms shaking? If the answer to the second one is no, a bigger engine won’t help you. If you land on a Stihl, buy it from your local Stihl dealer, because that is where the warranty work happens.
What makes a gas chainsaw easier to start
Stihl Easy2Start
Stihl says Easy2Start makes starting easy “without requiring a lot of effort,” and that saws with it have an “E” in the model name. A spring sits between the rope and the crankshaft. You pull smoothly, the spring stores the energy and then turns the engine over for you. Stihl says “an even pull with two fingers is sufficient” and that you can pull the rope about two-thirds slower than with a regular starter.
Husqvarna Smart Start
Husqvarna describes Smart Start as a “specially-designed engine and starter for easy and fast starting with minimum effort.” You’ll see it listed on homeowner saws like the Husqvarna 435. More on the brand in my Husqvarna reviews.
A decompression valve
Husqvarna says a decompression valve “releases some of the compression from the combustion chamber during the starting procedure.” You push it in before you pull, and it closes on its own once the engine starts. Less compression means less fight in the rope. Stihl’s own starting guide says pressing it, if your saw has one, “will make it easier to start your chainsaw.”
A primer bulb
Stihl says to press the primer bulb several times, if your saw has one, to ease startup and cut down on pulls. Fewer pulls is the whole point.
I went with Stihl partly for the easy pull, because I’m not getting any younger. Flooded engines make me crazy. I’ve had the saw that’s pullin, pullin, pullin and never fires, and that’s the one that makes you hate chainsaws. A good starter and the right steps fix most of that.
Weight matters as much as the pull
A saw you can start but can’t hold steady is not an easy saw. Stihl lists the MS 251 at 10.6 pounds for the engine alone and 12.6 pounds with the guide bar and chain. Husqvarna lists the 435 at 9.78 pounds without the bar and chain. Add fuel and bar oil on top of that.
| Feature | What it does (maker’s words) | Who it helps most |
|---|---|---|
| Easy2Start (Stihl “E” models) | A two-finger, slower, even pull | Anyone who struggles with a hard, fast yank |
| Smart Start (Husqvarna) | Easy, fast starting with minimum effort | Same, on Husqvarna homeowner saws |
| Decompression valve | Lets out some compression while you start | Smaller frames and sore shoulders |
How to start it without flooding it
Stihl says to put the saw on level ground and engage the chain brake by pushing the chain brake handle forward before you start the engine. Keep your left hand on the front handle and your right foot in the rear handle.
Stihl’s FAQ says the most common reason a saw won’t start is “too many attempts trying to start the machine in the choke position,” and that pulling more than two to three times on full choke may flood it. So: choke, a few pulls until it pops, then move off full choke to the next setting and pull again. My full routine for the MS 251 is in Stihl chainsaw won’t start?, and old gas is the other big cause, so mix fresh at the right ratio from my Stihl chainsaw fuel mix guide.
When a battery saw is the better pick
If any pull cord is too much, skip it. Stihl says its battery saws have “instant starts.” I keep a Saker 22-volt mini saw with a 185 mm bar for small limbs and brush, and it starts every time with a button. It is not a firewood saw. For limbs a few inches thick near the house, a battery saw is the easy answer. For a downed tree, you still want gas or a pro.
When to call the pro
An easy-starting saw doesn’t make a big tree an easy job. If a tree near the house or a power line makes you nervous, or it would take more than three or four cuts to steer it, I call a tree service. Leave it to them. Don’t kill your house.
The bottom line
The easiest starting chainsaw for a smaller or older owner is a light homeowner saw with an easy-start system (Stihl’s “E” models or Husqvarna Smart Start) and a decompression valve if it has one. Hold it in the store before you buy. If the pull is still too much, a small battery saw starts with a button.
Easiest starting chainsaw FAQ
What does the E mean on a Stihl chainsaw?
Stihl says the “E” in the model name means the saw has Easy2Start, its low-effort starter that turns the engine over with a smooth, even pull.
What makes a chainsaw easier to pull start?
An easy-start starter like Stihl Easy2Start or Husqvarna Smart Start, a decompression valve to let out some compression, and a primer bulb to cut down on pulls.
Does a decompression valve make a chainsaw easier to start?
Yes. Husqvarna says it releases some compression from the combustion chamber while you start, and it closes on its own once the engine runs.
Why does my chainsaw flood when I start it?
Stihl says it’s usually too many pulls on full choke. More than two or three pulls in that setting may flood the engine, so move off full choke after it pops.
Is a battery chainsaw easier to start than a gas one?
Yes. Stihl says its battery chainsaws have instant starts, with no pull cord. They suit smaller cutting jobs.
Sources
Every source below was opened and checked on 9 November 2026.
- STIHL Easy2Start: how it works, the E in the model name (Stihl USA)
- 435 Gas Chainsaw: Smart Start and weight (Husqvarna US)
- What is the purpose of a decompression valve on a chainsaw? (Husqvarna US support)
- How to Start a Chainsaw: chain brake, primer bulb, decompression valve (Stihl USA)
- STIHL Chainsaws FAQs: hard starting and flooding (Stihl USA)
- MS 251 Gasoline Chainsaw: weight (Stihl USA)
- Which STIHL Chainsaw Is Right for You? Homeowner and battery saws (Stihl USA)
- Find a Stihl dealer (Stihl USA)
