Cheap Stihl Chainsaws: The Real Prices (and Why They’re Not on Amazon)
Stihl doesn’t sell chainsaws on Amazon at all – the company only sells through authorized dealers. The cheapest real Stihl chainsaws are the homeowner-grade MS 170 (about $220) and MS 180 (about $270-$320), bought from a dealer, not a marketplace. What Amazon does carry is genuine parts and aftermarket accessories for the saws you already own.
Why You Won’t Find A Stihl Chainsaw On Amazon
Best Chain For MS170/MS180 Owners
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Molten 14″ Chainsaw Chain, 3-Pack (Fits Stihl MS170, MS180) – $21.56 Stihl doesn’t sell its saws through Amazon, but this is the part MS170/MS180 owners actually order there – a spare chain (or two) so a dull or damaged chain doesn’t stop a job.
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Stihl has kept its power equipment out of big-box online marketplaces for decades. It’s a deliberate distribution decision, not a stock or licensing issue: buying through an authorized dealer means the saw gets assembled and safety-checked before it leaves the shop, the dealer handles warranty claims directly, and Stihl can require in-person training on things like kickback safety for a tool that genuinely injures people when used carelessly. That’s why every listing you’ll find searching “Stihl chainsaw” on Amazon is either a used unit from a third-party seller, a toy, or a part – never a new saw sold by Stihl itself.
The Actual Cheapest Stihl Chainsaws
Within Stihl’s own lineup, “cheap” means the homeowner-saw category, not the professional Farm Boss or MS 400-series saws built for daily use. As of this review, dealer pricing looks like this:
- Stihl MS 170 – around $220. A 16-inch bar, 30.1cc engine, and the lightest gas saw Stihl makes. Built for occasional pruning, small firewood, and storm cleanup, not for running all day.
- Stihl MS 180 / MS 180 C-BE – around $270-$320. Same 16-inch bar class but a larger 31.8cc engine, noticeably more cutting power for about $50-$100 more. The C-BE adds Stihl’s Easy2Start pull system and a tool-less chain tensioner.
Both are still well under what Stihl charges for its professional-grade saws, and for most homeowners the extra power of the MS 180 is worth the small price gap over the MS 170.
Where To Actually Buy One
Search “Stihl dealer near me” on Stihl’s own site, or check a local hardware chain that carries the brand (Ace Hardware and independent outdoor power equipment shops commonly stock both models). Buying from a dealer also means you have somewhere local to bring the saw for its first tune-up and any warranty work, which matters more with a gas engine than it does with most other tools.
What You Can Actually Buy On Amazon
If you already own an MS 170 or MS 180, Amazon is a perfectly good source for consumable parts – replacement chains being the most common purchase, since a chain dulls or gets damaged long before the saw itself needs replacing. The Molten 3-pack above matches the OEM 61PMM3-50 spec used on both saws. Beyond chains, genuine and aftermarket Stihl-compatible bar-and-chain combos, scrench multi-tools, and files for hand-sharpening are also widely available and don’t carry the same dealer-only restriction that the powered tools do.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stihl make a cheap chainsaw?
Yes. Stihl’s homeowner lineup starts with the MS 170, a light 16-inch gas saw priced around $220, and the MS 180 / MS 180 C-BE step up from there for roughly $270-$320. Both are Stihl’s entry point below its professional Farm Boss and MS 400-series saws.
Can I buy a Stihl chainsaw on Amazon?
No. Stihl sells its chainsaws exclusively through authorized dealers and its own site, not through Amazon or most big-box online retailers – that’s a deliberate company policy, not a stock issue. Amazon does carry genuine and aftermarket Stihl parts and accessories, like replacement chains.
What is the cheapest Stihl chainsaw model?
The Stihl MS 170 is the brand’s least expensive gas chainsaw, at roughly $220 from an authorized dealer. It’s a 16-inch, 30.1cc saw built for light homeowner work like pruning and small firewood, not daily heavy cutting.
Is a cheap Stihl chainsaw worth it over a big-box brand?
For occasional yard work, a lower-cost brand from a home center will cut just fine. Stihl’s homeowner saws cost more up front, but the trade-off is dealer service, parts availability for years afterward, and a saw built to be sharpened and serviced rather than replaced – worth it if you’ll actually use it more than a few times a year.
What’s the difference between the Stihl MS170 and MS180?
The MS 180 costs about $50-$100 more than the MS 170 and has a larger 31.8cc engine versus the MS 170’s 30.1cc, giving it noticeably more cutting power for the same light weight – most buyers choosing between the two pick the MS 180 unless price is the deciding factor.
Conclusion
If you’re searching for a “cheap Stihl chainsaw” expecting to find one on Amazon, you won’t – that’s simply not how Stihl sells its saws. The real budget options are the dealer-only MS 170 (~$220) and MS 180 (~$270-$320). What you can order online right now is the aftermarket parts that keep either saw running, starting with a spare chain.
