Quick verdict
DeWalt's 20 inch FLEXVOLT chainsaw gives DeWalt battery owners a saw long enough for real trees, with a brushless motor, automatic oiling and tool-free chain tensioning. Sold bare, it makes sense only if you already own 60V batteries, and it wants the big 9.0Ah or 12.0Ah packs to perform. Within those limits it is a capable storm-cleanup saw.
Strengths
- 20 inch bar for larger trunks
- Brushless motor with gas-class cutting speed
- Tool-free chain tensioning and automatic oiler
- FLEXVOLT batteries also run DeWalt 20V tools
- Rugged DeWalt construction
Weaknesses
- Bare tool; large FLEXVOLT batteries are expensive
- Heavy with a 12.0Ah battery
- Smaller 6.0Ah packs give short runtime on a 20 inch bar
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Twenty Inches on FLEXVOLT
DeWalt’s 60V MAX FLEXVOLT chainsaw family runs from 16 to 20 inches, and this bare-tool 20 inch model is the one for owners with real trees. It uses a brushless motor, an automatic oiler and a tool-free chain tensioner, and it runs on the same FLEXVOLT batteries that power DeWalt’s circular saws and mowers, batteries that also drop into 20V MAX tools.
What follows is based on DeWalt’s specifications and on owner feedback, not on our own field research.
Cutting Performance
Owners describe the saw as comparable to a 50cc-class gas unit in softwood and most hardwoods, with a brushless motor that holds chain speed under load. A 20 inch bar handles trunks up to roughly 18 inches in one pass. The low kickback chain supplied is a safe default; owners who cut a lot of hardwood often swap to a more aggressive chain for speed.
Battery and Runtime
A long bar draws a lot of current, and the saw’s performance depends on the battery. With a 9.0Ah or 12.0Ah FLEXVOLT pack, owners report a solid session of bucking on a charge. With the common 6.0Ah pack from drill kits, power is adequate but runtime is short. Because this is a bare tool, buyers should price the battery they actually need before comparing against kits from EGO or Greenworks.
Maintenance Features
The tool-free tensioner is the stand-out convenience: a knob locks the bar and a dial sets tension, so a loose chain in the field takes seconds to fix. The automatic oiler is reliable in owner reports, and the oil window is easy to read. A chain brake with a front hand guard is standard.
Handling
With a 12.0Ah battery the saw is heavy, as every 20 inch battery saw is. Balance is rearward, which suits bucking on the ground more than overhead work. The grip and trigger follow DeWalt’s power tool conventions and feel familiar to anyone with a DeWalt drill.
Build Quality
Construction is typical DeWalt: thick housing, metal where it counts, and a tolerance for job-site abuse. DeWalt’s three-year limited warranty applies.
Common Owner Complaints
Oil leakage during storage, common to many saws, is the most frequent. A few owners note that the saw feels underpowered on a 6.0Ah battery, which is a battery choice rather than a saw fault.
Alternatives to Consider
The EGO CS2005 is the same bar length with a 6.0Ah battery and charger in the kit. Milwaukee’s 2727-21HD is shorter but arrives with a 12.0Ah battery. Greenworks’ 80V 18 inch saw is the budget kit.
Verdict
For FLEXVOLT owners with big batteries, this is a capable, well-built saw that turns their existing packs into a storm-cleanup tool. For everyone else, a kit from EGO or Greenworks delivers a similar saw with the battery problem already solved.
Full specifications
DeWalt 60V MAX FLEXVOLT 20 Inch Brushless Chainsaw (DCCS677B) FAQs
A 9.0Ah or 12.0Ah FLEXVOLT pack for serious cutting. The 6.0Ah pack works for light limbing but runs down quickly on a 20 inch bar.
Similar bar and cutting class. EGO sells a kit with a battery; DeWalt sells this bare, so the comparison depends on which batteries you own.
Yes. A side knob locks the bar and a dial sets tension, so no scrench is needed in the field.
DeWalt sells the same saw family with 16 and 18 inch bars. Fitting a shorter bar and chain to this model is possible but check DeWalt's guidance first.
