14 Inch Chainsaw Chain: Sizes for Every Brand Australia
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A 14 inch bar is the small-saw sweet spot in Australia, light enough to use all day, big enough for firewood, pruning and storm clean-up. You'll find 14 inch bars on compact petrol saws like the Stihl MS 180, and on most of the battery saws sold through the big hardware chains.
Here's the catch: "14 inch chain" isn't one chain. At this bar length the drive link count actually changes by brand, Stihl runs 50 drive links where most other brands run 52, and there are two different gauges in play. This guide lists the chain specs for every common 14 inch saw by brand, so you can order the right one from our chainsaw chains and bars range first go.
The Three Numbers That Decide Your Chain
Bar length alone never identifies a chain. Every chainsaw chain is defined by three measurements, and all three have to match your bar:
- Pitch: the spacing of the links. On 14 inch saws it's nearly always 3/8" LP (low profile), with a couple of exceptions covered below.
- Gauge: the thickness of the drive links. On 14 inch saws it's either .043" (1.1 mm) or .050" (1.3 mm).
- Drive links: the number of links in the loop. This is what actually sets the chain's length, and at 14 inches it varies by brand: 50, 52 or 53 on most saws.
Get any one of the three wrong and the chain won't fit, wrong gauge and it won't sit in the bar groove properly, wrong drive link count and it won't tension. If you want the full plain-English rundown on how these measurements work, our chainsaw chain sizes explained guide covers it step by step.
Why Most 14 Inch Saws Are Small or Battery Saws
Look down the brand tables below and you'll notice a pattern: almost every 14 inch saw is a compact petrol saw (roughly 30–40cc), a battery saw, or a plug-in electric. That's no accident. A shorter bar means less chain to drag through the cut, so a small engine or a battery motor can keep the chain speed up where it cuts cleanly.
It's also why nearly every chain on this page is 3/8" LP, low profile. LP chain has smaller cutters that take a narrower bite, which suits low-powered saws: smoother cutting, less grab. If yours is a cordless saw, our battery chainsaw chain guide goes deeper on getting the most out of it.
Farm and professional petrol saws almost always run longer bars, that's where 16, 18 and 20 inch chains take over.
14 Inch Chainsaw Chain Sizes by Brand
All specs below show pitch, gauge (with the metric equivalent) and drive links. Check the numbers stamped on your bar against the table before ordering.
Stihl 14 Inch Chain Sizes
| Model | Pitch | Gauge | Drive Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS 180 | 3/8" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 50 | The classic small Stihl |
| MS 210 | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 50 | Different gauge to the MS 180, not interchangeable |
| MSA 220 (battery) | 3/8" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 50 | Same chain as the MS 180 |
| MSA 160 (battery) | 1/4" | .043" (1.1 mm) | 72 | 1/4" pitch, a completely different chain |
Key point for Stihl owners: Stihl 14 inch saws run 50 drive links where most other brands run 52, so a generic "14 inch chain" off the shelf usually won't fit your Stihl. And watch the MSA 160, it runs 1/4" pitch, so nothing else on this page fits it.
One more trap: the same MS 180 with a 16 inch bar takes 55 drive links, not 50. If yours is the bigger bar, use our 16 inch chainsaw chain guide instead.
Husqvarna 14 Inch Chain Sizes
| Model | Pitch | Gauge | Drive Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T540 XP (top handle) | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 52 | Arborist saw |
Husqvarna's homeowner saws (120 Mark II, 130, 135 Mark II, 235, 240) all run 16 inch bars, not 14. The 14 inch Husqvarna you're most likely to meet is the T540 XP top-handle arborist saw, and it takes the common 3/8" LP, .050" (1.3 mm), 52 drive link chain.
Echo 14 Inch Chain Sizes
| Model | Pitch | Gauge | Drive Links | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS-310 | 3/8" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 52 | With the .043" (1.1 mm) bar |
| CS-310 | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 53 | With the .050" (1.3 mm) bar |
| CS-352 | 3/8" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 52 | With the .043" (1.1 mm) bar |
| CS-352 | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 53 | With the .050" (1.3 mm) bar |
| CS-370 | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 53 |
Key point for Echo owners: the CS-310 and CS-352 were sold with two different 14 inch bars, a .043" (1.1 mm) gauge bar taking 52 drive links, and a .050" (1.3 mm) gauge bar taking 53. You can't tell which you've got by looking at the saw; check the numbers stamped on the bar itself.
Battery and Cordless 14 Inch Saws
| Brand & Model | Pitch | Gauge | Drive Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makita DUC353 (36V) | 3/8" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 52 |
| Makita DUC355 (36V) | 3/8" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 52 |
| Ryobi RY36CSX35A (36V) | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 52 |
| Ryobi RCS36X3550HI (36V) | 3/8" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 52 |
| Victa 18V Twin | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 52 |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL Top Handle (2826-20T) | .325" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 59 |
Watch out: Ryobi sells two 36V 14 inch saws with different gauges, the RY36CSX35A runs .050" (1.3 mm) while the RCS36X3550HI runs .043" (1.1 mm). Same brand, same voltage, same bar length, different chain. And the Milwaukee M18 FUEL top handle is .325" LP with 59 drive links, no other chain on this page fits it.
Electric and Budget Petrol 14 Inch Saws
| Brand & Model | Pitch | Gauge | Drive Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryobi RCS3835T (37cc petrol) | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 52 |
| Full Boar 14" | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 52 |
| Ozito CSE-355 (electric) | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 52 |
| Black & Decker CS1835 (electric) | 3/8" LP | .050" (1.3 mm) | 52 |
| Bosch AKE 35-19 S (electric) | 3/8" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 52 |
| Bosch UniversalChain 35 (electric) | 3/8" LP | .043" (1.1 mm) | 52 |
Most of this group takes the same chain, 3/8" LP, .050" (1.3 mm), 52 drive links, with Bosch the odd one out on the thinner .043" (1.1 mm) gauge.
The Most Common 14 Inch Chains
Strip away the model numbers and there are really only four 14 inch chains doing the rounds in Australia, plus two odd ones out.
Chain 1: 3/8" LP, .050" (1.3 mm), 52 drive links
The most common 14 inch chain in Australia. Fits the Ryobi RCS3835T and RY36CSX35A, Victa 18V Twin, Full Boar 14", Ozito CSE-355, Black & Decker CS1835 and Husqvarna T540 XP.
Chain 2: 3/8" LP, .043" (1.1 mm), 52 drive links
The narrow-kerf battery chain. Fits the Makita DUC353 and DUC355, Ryobi RCS36X3550HI, both Bosch electrics, and the Echo CS-310/CS-352 when they're wearing the .043" (1.1 mm) bar.
Chain 3: 3/8" LP, .043" (1.1 mm), 50 drive links
The Stihl small-saw chain. Fits the MS 180 and MSA 220 with 14 inch bars. It's two links shorter than Chain 2, they are not interchangeable.
Chain 4: 3/8" LP, .050" (1.3 mm), 53 drive links
The Echo .050" option, fits the CS-310, CS-352 and CS-370 with the .050" (1.3 mm) bar fitted.
The odd ones out
The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 14" top handle runs .325" LP, .043" (1.1 mm), 59 drive links, and the Stihl MSA 160 runs 1/4" pitch, .043" (1.1 mm), 72 drive links. Neither shares a chain with anything else here.
Running a bigger saw as well? We've done the same brand-by-brand breakdown for 18 inch chains and 20 inch chains.
.043" vs .050" Gauge: What's the Difference?
Gauge is the thickness of the drive links, the tabs on the underside of the chain that ride in the bar groove. At 14 inches you'll meet two:
- .043" (1.1 mm): the thinner gauge, common on battery saws and small Stihls. Less steel to pull through the cut, which suits lower-powered saws.
- .050" (1.3 mm): the slightly thicker gauge, common on small petrol, electric and budget saws.
The difference is 0.2 mm, too small to spot by eye, big enough to matter. A .050" (1.3 mm) chain won't seat in a .043" (1.1 mm) bar groove, and a .043" chain in a .050" groove flops sideways and cuts crooked at best. Check the gauge stamped on your bar, and if the markings are worn off, send us a photo and we can usually work it out pretty quickly.
How to Count Drive Links
Since 14 inch saws take anywhere from 50 to 72 drive links, counting them is the surest way to confirm your chain:
- Take the old chain off and lay it flat.
- Find the drive links, the tabs on the underside that sit down in the bar groove.
- Mark one link with chalk or a texta so you know where you started.
- Count your way around the loop back to the mark.
That number, plus the pitch and gauge stamped on your bar, identifies your chain exactly. No guesswork.
Standard vs Tungsten Carbide on a 14 Inch Saw
The chains above come in standard steel, and the common specs are also made with tungsten carbide tipped cutters. The fitment is identical, same pitch, same gauge, same drive link count, the difference is in the teeth.
- Standard chain: cheaper up front, sharpens with a round file, dulls faster, especially in dry hardwood or dirty timber.
- Tungsten carbide tipped chain: holds its edge up to 10x longer than standard chain. Ideal for Australian hardwood, storm clean-up and timber that's been sitting on the ground. Needs diamond sharpening rather than a round file.
On a small or battery saw, carbide makes a lot of sense. A dull chain forces the saw to work harder, and on a battery saw that shows up as chewed-through batteries and slow, smoky cuts. A chain that stays sharp keeps a small saw cutting the way it should. Have a look at the GoldStrike tungsten carbide range and match the specs from the tables above.
FAQ
What chain fits a Stihl MS 180 with a 14 inch bar?
3/8" LP pitch, .043" (1.1 mm) gauge, 50 drive links. Don't grab a generic "14 inch" chain off the shelf, most of those are 52 drive links and won't fit. With a 16 inch bar, the same saw takes 55 drive links.
Are all 14 inch chainsaw chains interchangeable?
No. At 14 inches the drive link count varies by brand, 50 on Stihl, 52 on most battery and budget saws, 53 on some Echo bars, and there are two gauges in play: .043" (1.1 mm) and .050" (1.3 mm). All three numbers have to match your bar.
Can I run a 16 inch chain on my 14 inch bar?
No. A 16 inch chain has more drive links than your tensioner can take up, so it'll never tighten properly. Always match the drive link count to your bar, not just the bar length on the box.
What does 3/8" LP actually mean?
LP stands for low profile. The pitch measures the same as standard 3/8" chain, but the cutters sit lower and take a narrower bite, exactly what a low-powered saw wants. A full 3/8" chain is not a substitute for a 3/8" LP chain, even though the pitch number looks the same. Match what's stamped on your bar.
Do tungsten carbide chains come in 14 inch sizes?
Yes, tungsten carbide tipped chains are built to the same pitch, gauge and drive link specs as standard chains. Match the spec from your bar or the tables above, and if you can't see your size listed, send through your numbers and we'll point you in the right direction.
TL;DR: 14 Inch Chain Quick Reference
| If your saw is... | Your chain is most likely... |
|---|---|
| Ryobi RCS3835T / Victa 18V / Full Boar / Ozito / Black & Decker / Husqvarna T540 XP / Ryobi RY36CSX35A | 3/8" LP, .050" (1.3 mm), 52DL |
| Makita 36V / Bosch electric / Ryobi RCS36X3550HI | 3/8" LP, .043" (1.1 mm), 52DL |
| Stihl MS 180 / MSA 220 | 3/8" LP, .043" (1.1 mm), 50DL |
| Stihl MS 210 | 3/8" LP, .050" (1.3 mm), 50DL |
| Echo CS-310 / CS-352 / CS-370 with .050" bar | 3/8" LP, .050" (1.3 mm), 53DL |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL 14" top handle | .325" LP, .043" (1.1 mm), 59DL |
| Stihl MSA 160 | 1/4", .043" (1.1 mm), 72DL |
Always confirm against the numbers stamped on your bar before ordering.
Need a 14 inch chain? Browse our chainsaw chains and bars, standard and tungsten carbide options across the common sizes. Not sure which one fits? Send us your saw model or a photo of the bar markings, call 0431 183 421 or email farmandacreco@gmail.com and we can point you in the right direction.