Black+Decker LCS1020 Chainsaw Review
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Last updated October 31, 2026
The Black+Decker LCS1020 is a good buy for light pruning and limb cleanup around a home yard, and a poor choice for firewood, felling or anything much over 6 inches thick. It suits homeowners with a suburban lot, gardeners, and campers who want quiet, cord-free cutting of small wood. Anyone planning to process firewood, drop a tree or cut all day should skip it, because the battery runtime and the 8-inch cut capacity will not hold up.
Its features add up to a low-effort way to stop dragging an extension cord around the yard: the saw weighs 6.8 lb, the chain tensions without a wrench, and the kit arrives with a battery and a charger.
What the LCS1020 does well
The LCS1020 earns its place in a garage for the jobs between a handsaw and a gas saw: a branch over the walkway, a sapling in the hedge line, a shrub that got away from you.
Light enough to carry and hold up
At 6.8 lb and 16.7 inches long, 8.81 inches wide and 9.63 inches high, the saw moves from one job to the next in one hand. That weight is also what makes overhead limb work realistic, and buyers on Amazon most often single out the low weight as the reason they can keep using it.
More power than its size suggests
The 10-inch low-kickback chain handles trimming and small cuts well. Buyers on Amazon describe surprising power for a saw this size, and many say it beats a handsaw or an axe for the same branch. Comments on cutting performance are mostly positive, which fits a saw built for limbs rather than trunks.
Chain tensioning without a wrench
The tool-free tensioning knob lets you tighten the chain. That matters more than it sounds, because a new chain stretches and needs checking often in its first hours of use. There is no wrench to lose and no cover to fight with.
Familiar, simple operation
Battery in, oil in the reservoir, and cut. There is no fuel to mix, no pull cord to yank and no cord to route around the shrubs. Buyers on Amazon rate ease of use highly, and the comparison they keep making is against manual tools rather than other saws.
Ready to run out of the box
The kit includes the LBXR2020 battery and the LCS1620 charger, so nothing else is needed to start cutting. Bar and chain oil is not included, so pick up a bottle with the saw.
A safer chain for new users
The bar and chain are low-kickback, which reduces the force of a kickback if the nose of the bar catches. For someone who has never run a saw, that is a sensible starting point.
Where the LCS1020 falls short
The limits of the LCS1020 show up on bigger wood and longer days, and they are worth knowing before the first cut rather than after.
Battery life divides buyers
Battery life is the topic Amazon buyers argue about most, and Amazon's review summary calls the feedback mixed: some call it excellent, others find it extremely short. Read that as a saw that covers a pruning session but not a full day of cutting. A spare battery is the practical fix, and it is the single accessory that changes how the saw feels to own.
An 8-inch cut capacity
The saw has an 8-inch cut capacity behind the 10-inch bar. In practice that means branches and small limbs, not trunk sections. Push it into larger, harder wood and it will bog down and stop mid-cut.
Not a felling or firewood saw
Dropping a tree or working up a cord of firewood is beyond what this saw is built for. The cut capacity and the runtime both run out long before the job does.
Bar and chain ship loose
The bar and chain come off the saw in the box, so you fit and tension them before the first use. It is a step to plan for.
No bar and chain oil in the box
You need a bottle of bar and chain oil before the first cut.
The product in this review
Black+Decker LCS1020 chainsaw
See on AmazonUseful specifications, explained
The numbers that matter on this saw are the cut capacity, the weight and what comes in the box. The rest is detail.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | LCS1020 |
| Power source | Battery powered |
| Chain length | 10 inches |
| Cut capacity | 8 inches |
| Chain tensioning | Tool-free |
| Oiler | Automatic |
| Chain type | Low kickback |
| Weight | 6.8 lb |
| Dimensions | 16.7 inches long, 8.81 inches wide, 9.63 inches high |
| Included | LBXR2020 battery, LCS1620 charger, chainsaw |
| Warranty | 2-year limited manufacturer warranty |
What the 8-inch cut capacity means in practice
Eight inches is the widest piece of wood the bar and chain will pass through in one go. That covers the branches you would otherwise attack with a lopper or a handsaw, and it stops well short of a log you would split for firewood.
Why tool-free tensioning helps a new owner
With the tool-free knob you can check and correct tension every time you pick the saw up, which is exactly what a new chain needs.
What the automatic oiler does
The oiler feeds bar and chain oil to the bar while the saw runs, which keeps the chain moving freely and limits wear. Your only job is to keep the reservoir filled with bar and chain oil.
What the 2-year limited warranty covers
The 2-year limited manufacturer warranty covers the saw for home use. Commercial use falls outside it, which fits a saw aimed at homeowners.
Kit or tool only, the LCS1020B variant
The LCS1020B is the same 10-inch battery chainsaw sold as a tool-only version, without a battery and without a charger, and it includes a guide bar scabbard. It suits someone who already owns compatible Black+Decker batteries and a charger and does not need another set. If you are starting from nothing, the kit is the version that lets you cut on day one.
The Black+Decker LCS1020 is a good buy for light pruning, limb cleanup and small wood around the home, and a poor fit for firewood, felling or all-day cutting. Plan for two extras from the start: a spare battery and a bottle of bar and chain oil.
Buy this if you want a light, cord-free saw for branches and shrubs on a suburban lot. Skip this if your wood is thicker than 8 inches or your cutting days run long.
Frequently asked questions
Most of what decides whether the LCS1020 suits you comes down to the size of the wood you cut and how long you cut it.
How thick a limb can the Black+Decker LCS1020 cut through in a single pass?
The Black+Decker LCS1020 is rated for an 8-inch cut capacity, which is the widest piece of wood its bar and chain will pass through at once. In practice, we would keep it to limbs about 6 inches thick or less, since it is a poor choice for anything much over 6 inches thick.
How long can the Black+Decker LCS1020 run before the battery needs recharging?
Owners on Amazon are divided on this point, with some describing runtime as excellent and others calling it far too brief. No official minute or hour figure is published for the LBXR2020 pack, so the honest answer is that runtime depends on wood size, chain sharpness and how hard you lean on the saw.
Is there a tool-only version of the Black+Decker LCS1020?
Yes. The LCS1020B carries the same 10-inch bar, the same 8-inch cut capacity and the same 6.8 lb weight as the kit version, and it ships with a scabbard for the guide bar. Buying the standard kit is the better route if you own nothing yet, since it lets you cut right away.
Can the Black+Decker LCS1020 drop a tree or process firewood?
No. Both the 8-inch cut capacity and the battery runtime give out long before a felling job or a cord of firewood is done, so this saw is meant for branches and shrubs rather than trunks. Felling, firewood and all-day cutting call for a different class of saw.
What does the tool-free tensioning knob on the Black+Decker LCS1020 let you do?
The knob lets you tighten or correct chain tension in seconds without hunting for a wrench or working around a cover. That matters because a fresh chain stretches and needs frequent checking during its first hours of use.