How to find your Chainsaw Bar & Chain Size

There are hundreds of different bars and chains out there, so when buying a replacement, it's important to make sure you know what information you need. In this post, we will cover several ways to identify the key information you'll need to buy the correct chainsaw bar and chain.

Look at the Bar First

Saw bars and chains can be easily identified by looking at the saw bar. Most saw bars will have a stamp on it similar to the one pictured below. This stamp shows the bar length, gauge (the thickness of the chain), pitch (distance between the rivets), and drive link count (the number of links that fit into the bar).

The location of each piece of information may be different depending on the brand of the bar, but most bars will list this information.

Some bars may also list the part number of the bar itself. 

Measure the Chain Yourself

If you can't find the measurements, then you will need to measure yourself. There are tools (like the one pictured below) that make measuring different chains easier. This would be the best way to measure the chain if the bar doesn't show the information.

Pitch

The pitch, which is the distance between the chain’s links is measured by the outside notches. The chain is held together by rivets, count out three rivets and then measure the distance between the center of the first rivet and the center of the third rivet. Divide that by 2 and you will have your pitch.

You may also find the pitch on the chainsaws drive sprocket if you are having difficulty measuring it.

Gauge

The gauge is the thickness of the drive links. The drive links are the teeth that fit into the grooves of the saw bar to keep them in place. To measure the gauge, use a caliper on the tooth to see how thick it is. That number is your gauge.

The most common gauge sizes are .043, .050, .058, and .063.

Drive Links

The number of drive links your chain needs to make to ensure that your new chain will fit on your existing bar. Count them out by either holding onto one drive link, or marking it with a marker to make sure you get an accurate count.

Once you have the pitch, gauge, and drive link count, you can find a replacement chain.

Measure the Bar

To measure the bar, set your chainsaw down on a table with the bar still installed. Measure from the tip of the bar to the front of the chainsaw. The length should be a whole number, so if you measure 15 3/4", round up to 16" for your bar length.

If you are replacing a bar to match your existing chain, you can either look for the identification stamp on your bar, or you can measure your chain's gauge, pitch, and drive link count to make sure your chains are compatible.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have your measurements, you can replace your bar and chain. The easiest way to replace a bar or chain is to go off the measurements on the bar, but if you keep your chainsaw chain box or receipt from when you purchased your chainsaw, chain, or bar, you would be able to look up exactly what bar and chain you have.

Many chainsaws are sold with several different bar and chain options, so knowing what chainsaw you have doesn't guarantee that you'll be able to find the correct bar and chain.