Stihl MS 251 vs MS 250: on paper they are close to twins. Stihl lists both at 2.8 cubic inches and 3 bhp, both ship with the same 18-inch bar and the same chain, and the day I checked, Stihl’s own site priced them within a few dollars of each other. The MS 250 is about half a pound lighter. The MS 251 is the newer design, and its C version is the one I run every day for the easy start.
So the real question is not which saw is stronger. It is whether you want the lighter, simpler saw or the newer one with the starting help. I own the MS 251 C. I do not own an MS 250, so everything I say about it comes from Stihl’s own pages and manual. If you are still deciding what size saw your land needs, start with my gas chainsaw buying guide.
MS 251 vs MS 250 specs side by side
| Spec | MS 251 | MS 250 |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 2.8 cubic inches | 2.8 cubic inches (Stihl also calls it 45.4cc) |
| Power | 3 bhp | 3 bhp |
| Weight, powerhead only | 10.6 lb | 10.1 lb |
| Weight with bar and chain | 12.6 lb | 12.1 to 12.3 lb |
| Weight per horsepower | 3.6 lb | 3.4 lb |
| Bar and chain on Stihl’s page | 18 inches, .325 pitch, 23 RM3 68 | 18 inches, .325 pitch, 23 RM3 68 |
| Chain tensioning | Side-mounted | Side-mounted |
| Carburetor | IntelliCarb compensating carburetor | Winter/summer shutter for cold weather |
| Fuel and oil caps | Toolless, with retainers | Not listed on Stihl’s page |
| Master Control Lever | Yes | Yes |
Weights are Stihl’s figures without fuel. Add bar oil and a tank of mix before you judge how it feels in your hands.
What the extra money buys, if there is any
The plan for this page was “what the extra money buys a landowner.” Then I looked at the prices. On Stihl’s site the day I checked, both saws sat in the same range, roughly $400 to $450 with the 18-inch bar, and the MS 251 was on sale. Your dealer sets the real price, so ask for both.
Here is what the MS 251 gives you over the MS 250, from Stihl’s pages:
- IntelliCarb. Stihl lists a compensating carburetor on the MS 251. The MS 250 page does not.
- Toolless caps. The MS 251 has toolless fuel and oil caps with retainers, so you are not hunting for a wrench in the grass.
- A C version. Mine is the MS 251 C. It has the easy start and a chain tensioner I adjust by hand. Stihl’s MS 250 page lists one version only, the 18-inch saw.
And here is what the MS 250 gives you: half a pound less to hold up, and a winter/summer shutter that Stihl says helps stop carburetor icing below 50 degrees. If you do most of your cutting in cold weather, that counts for more.
I picked the MS 251 C for the easy pull, because I’m not getting any younger and pulling a cord really isn’t my favorite thing to do. My backup is an older MS 230, which shares an owner’s manual with the MS 250. It’s older and sometimes leaks bar oil.
Which one fits your land
Both are 18-inch, 3 bhp homeowner saws. That is the right size for storm limbs, fence lines, small trees and firewood on a few acres. It is the same work I do on my 10 acres, about 4 of them wooded.
- Pick the MS 251 C if starting is what wears you out, or if you cut often enough that fiddling with the chain tension gets old. That is why I own one.
- Pick the MS 250 if you want the lighter saw, cut in cold weather, or your dealer has a good price on one in stock.
- Pick neither for big trees. A tree near the house or a power line, or one that needs more than 3 or 4 cuts to steer, is a job for a pro. Leave it to them. Don’t kill your house.
Owning either one: fuel, chain and upkeep
- Fuel: Stihl’s MS 250 manual says 50:1, which works out to 2.6 ounces of oil per gallon of gas. That is the same ratio I run in every Stihl I own. My Stihl chainsaw fuel mix guide has my can routine.
- Chain: on the factory 18-inch bar, Stihl lists the same 23 RM3 68 chain for both saws. If your bar is not the factory one, read the numbers stamped on it first. My MS 251 chain size guide shows how.
- Upkeep: the parts I replace myself on the MS 251, and when, are in my Stihl MS 251 maintenance guide.
- Starting trouble: see Stihl chainsaw won’t start. Flooding is the one that makes me crazy.
Where to buy either one
Buy a Stihl saw from your local Stihl dealer. That is where the warranty work gets done. Bar oil, chains and filters are fine to buy online.
The bottom line
The MS 251 and MS 250 are the same size saw at about the same price. Buy the MS 251 C if you want the easy start and the hand-adjusted chain; buy the MS 250 if you want the lighter saw or a cold-weather shutter. For a landowner who cuts often, I would spend it on the MS 251 C. That is what I did.
Stihl MS 251 vs MS 250 FAQ
Is the Stihl MS 250 discontinued?
Not on Stihl’s US site. The MS 250 product page was live with an 18-inch bar and an add to cart button when I checked on 22 October 2026.
Is the MS 251 more powerful than the MS 250?
No. Stihl lists both at 3 bhp and 2.8 cubic inches. The MS 251 is a little heavier, so the MS 250 has the better weight per horsepower on paper.
Do the MS 250 and MS 251 use the same chain?
On the factory 18-inch bar, yes. Stihl’s pages list the same 23 RM3 68 chain, .325 pitch, for both. Read the numbers on your own bar before ordering, because bars get swapped.
How much does a Stihl MS 251 weigh?
Stihl lists 10.6 lb for the powerhead and 12.6 lb with the bar and chain, both without fuel.
What fuel mix does the Stihl MS 250 use?
Stihl’s manual says 50:1 with Stihl two-stroke oil, which is 2.6 ounces of oil per gallon of unleaded gas.
Sources
Every source below was opened and checked on 22 October 2026.
