Are Chainsaw Chains Universal (Interchangeable)?


Are chainsaw chains interchangeable across brands? And are there multiple sizes that you need to be thinking about? In other words, are chainsaw chains universal?

Chainsaw chains are usually universal across brands. However, chainsaw chains are not “one size fits all”. It’s the chain’s pitch, gauge, and links that determine the proper fit. 

In the below article, we will dig deeper into chainsaw chain compatibility, including 3 methods you can use to find the correct chain size for your specific chainsaw. Let’s get to it.

Are Chainsaw Chains Universal?

If you’re asking yourself whether chainsaw chains are universal, then you’re probably wondering about one of two things:

  1. Whether brands of chains are universal (or brand-specific)
  2. Whether chain sizes are universal

So let’s dig into both of those questions together. 

Are Chainsaw Chains Brand-Specific?

Brands of chainsaw chains are typically interchangeable because the fit of a chainsaw chain is determined by the chain’s pitch, gauge, and link count, rather than the brand that manufactures the chain.

To illustrate this point, let’s look at an example.

Let’s imagine you have a Stihl chain, like this one:

Now imagine you have a Husqvarna chainsaw and the guide bar for the chainsaw takes a chain with the following dimensions:

  • Link count: 62
  • Pitch: 0.325 inch
  • Gauge: 0.063 inch

The above Stihl chain, should still fit on your Husqvarna chainsaw, because the dimensions of the Stihl chain (which are outlined in a red square in the above image) match the required dimensions for your Husqvarna chainsaw.

If you’re not quite following the logic yet, don’t worry, this next section should help make things more clear.

Are Chainsaw Chain Sizes Universal?

Although brands of chainsaw chains are typically interchangeable, chain sizes are NOT universal.

In the brand section above, we compared our Stihl chain’s pitch, gauge, and link count with some (hypothetical) dimensions for a Husqvarna chainsaw.

If any of these dimensions do not match exactly, then you should not use that chain on your chainsaw, because it will not fit properly. If you have the wrong size chain and you don’t want to get a new one, you might be wondering about shortening your chain.

So, each time you look for a new chain, you’ll need to verify that the pitch, gauge, and link count all match (between the chain and chainsaw guide bar).

There are a few different ways you can find the pitch, gauge and link count for a given chain. It’s possible to do this with the box and without the box.

In the next few sections, we’ll show you how to determine the chain you need for your chainsaw and how to find the measurements on an existing chain.

2 Ways to Find the Chain You Need

1. Use the Existing Chain

If you already have a chain for the chainsaw you’re working on, then skip down to this section below and it will show you how to find the size measurements directly from your existing chain.

Once you know the chain measurements you’ll need, you can go to a local saw shop, or you can order a new chain online.

For example, Oregon has a great Part Finder on their website that will allow you to find the specific chain you need by entering your measurements. Then you can order straight from them if you like.

2. Use the guide bar stamp

To identify the chain size you need, an alternative approach is to use the stamp on the guide bar.

Most chainsaws will have a stamp on their guide bar similar to this:

Chainsaw guide bar stamp

This is super handy, because it’s basically giving you the pitch, gauge and link count on a silver platter. It’s right there. Easy to get to.

Once you find this info, then you can continue with ordering your chain, either in person at a saw shop, or online from a reputable manufacturer.

These two methods should cover 99% of cases, but if neither one works for you, then you may need to ask a pro for help. You can ask a rep at your local saw shop, or if you already know a chainsaw professional, you could ask them for a hand.

Find an Existing Chain’s Dimensions

In this section, we’ll walk through a few different ways you can determine the measurements of an existing chain that you already have in front of you.

You may need to do this if you’re trying to figure out if an old chain (or a new chain in a store) will fit your specific chainsaw properly.

1. Use the Box

Here’s our handy Stihl chain again.

I added the red box in this image to highlight the chain measurements.

From left to right, the box is telling you the following:

  • The chain fits a 16 inch guide bar
  • The chain has 62 links
  • The chain’s pitch is 8.25 mm / 0.325 inches
  • The chain’s gauge is 1.6 mm / 0.063 inches

Now, you might be noticing, that there are 4 dimensions mentioned here. And previously, I only mentioned 3.

That’s because the standard way of measuring the length of a chainsaw chain is by counting the links (in this case 62).

And if you know the link count, then you essentially know the length of the chain and the compatible guide bar length also.

In other words, the first two bullet points are basically communicating the same information, and the more standard dimension is “link count”.

So if you have the link count, then you don’t really need to know the length of the guide bar, which makes bullet point #1 unnecessary.

Alright, that’s enough of that. Now let’s look at chain markings, which you can use to determine a chain’s size without the box.

2. Use the Chain Markings

Another way you can determine the size of a chainsaw chain (without the box) is the read the markings/numbers that are stamped into the chain’s links.

See the photo below:

There are two primary systems for the numbers that are stamped into chainsaw chains.

The system shown above is used by Stihl, which is one of the leading manufacturers of chainsaw chains. This system uses the combination of 2 numbers.

The other system only requires one number, and is used by other leading manufacturers, including Oregon, Husqvarna.

So, here’s the easiest way to identify your chainsaw chain size using this information:

  1. Identify the brand of the chain (usually stamped directly into the chain)
  2. If it’s Stihl, then find the numbers on the drive link and the guide (circles 1 and 3 in the photo above), then skip to step 4.
  3. If it’s an Oregon or Husqvarna chain, then find the number on the guide (circle 3 in the photo above)
  4. Find this number (or number combination) in the tables on this page, which provides summary tables of chain size data
  5. Those tables will give you the pitch and gauge of your chain, then to get the link count, you literally just have to count the links 🙂

If you want more information on this process, or found it tough to understand the above instructions, then I’d encourage you to read this detailed guide on chainsaw chain numbers. It should clear things up.

3. Measure it Manually

If methods 1 and 2 above don’t work for you, then you can take the slow (and potentially less accurate) approach of manually measuring your chain.

The easiest way to figure this process out, is by watching someone demonstrate it. So, here’s a video which explains the basics in ~2 minutes:

To recap on the video, you need to find your pitch, gauge, and link count. To get those, you do the following:

  • For pitch – you measure the distance between 3 rivets and divide by 2
  • For gauge – you measure the width of a drive link
  • For link count – you literally just count the links (drive links specifically)

If you still want more information about how to measure your chain, check out our other post.

So, that’s 3 methods you can use to find your basic chain measurements. But, before you finish the job, there are a couple of other chain features you may want to think about.

Other Chain Features to Consider

In addition to the basic chain size measurements covered above, there are also a few different variations that some chains will have. Specifically, you might see these types of variations:

  1. Cutter type (shape)
  2. Chain sequence
  3. Special additions

Some of these variations can make chains better equipped for certain situations, and some of them can also be quite dangerous.

So, if you want to double-check that you aren’t buying a chain that’s out of your league, then I’d encourage you to read the chain types section of this guide. It’s also a good idea to check with an expert at your local saw shop if you’re not sure what you need. Better safe than sorry!

Conclusion

In summary, chainsaw chains are usually interchangeable across brands, as long as the chain is the appropriate size (as measured by it’s pitch, gauge, and link count).

We’ve also covered how you can find a new chain that is the right size, as well as a few methods for identifying the dimensions of an existing chain.

I hope you’ve found this helpful, and if you want to learn more about chainsaw chains. Then I’d encourage you to read our ultimate guide to chainsaw chains.

JJ

JJ is a firewood enthusiast, an Eagle Scout, and an avid learner and teacher of outdoor skills.

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