What size chain does your saw take?
Pick your saw and the bar actually fitted to it. You get the pitch, gauge, drive-link count, file size and the Oregon-equivalent chain — checked against manufacturer fit-up charts, with the one verification step that keeps you from ordering the wrong loop.
No saw handy? The answer is stamped on your bar. Jump to the bar-stamp verification guide — it takes about a minute with the chain off.
Why bar-first?
The model name alone does not pick the chain
A chainsaw model is sold with several bar lengths, and owners swap bars all the time. The chain has to match the bar that is on the saw today — its pitch, its groove gauge, and its drive-link count. Get any one of the three wrong and the loop either will not mount, will not seat in the groove, or will run dangerously loose.
This is not a theoretical problem. For the Stihl MS 250 — one of the most common homeowner saws in North America — the top web results currently contradict each other: one roundup lists .325″ pitch / .063″ gauge / 68 drive links, another lists 3/8″ pitch and .050″ gauge, and a marketplace listing gives 62 drive links for a 16″ bar and 72 for an 18″ bar. All three cannot be right for the same saw.
So every lookup on this site works the way a good dealer counter does:
- 01Start with the saw and the fitted bar length — that narrows the spec to the factory combinations.
- 02Check the stamp on your bar tail — pitch, gauge and drive links are stamped into the bar itself. If the stamp and the chart disagree, the stamp wins: your bar may not be the one the saw shipped with.
- 03Order by the three numbers, not by bar length alone — “18-inch chain” is not a specification.
Most looked up
Popular saw models
Before you order
Three numbers, one stamp
Read the full verification guide → · Open the chain identification chart →
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
What size chain does a Stihl MS 250 take?
There is no single honest answer, because MS 250s left dealers with different bars — and published sources disagree with each other. Listings we checked report .325″ pitch / .063″ gauge / 68 drive links, 3/8″ pitch / .050″ gauge, and 62 drive links (16″ bar) / 72 drive links (18″ bar). Read the stamp on your bar tail, then match all three numbers. The MS 250 page lays out each reported variant side by side.
How do I know my chain size if I threw the box away?
Read the stamp on the tail of the guide bar (you will need to take the bar cover off — two nuts on most saws). It shows bar length, pitch, gauge and usually the drive-link count. No readable stamp? Count the drive links on your old chain and measure the pitch: distance across three consecutive rivets, divided by two. The verification guide walks through all three methods.
Oregon 72 vs 73 chain — what is the difference?
Same pitch (3/8″), different gauge: 72 is .050″ and 73 is .058″. This is the classic wrong buy in this category — the boxes look identical. A .058″ chain will not seat in a .050″ bar groove, and a .050″ chain in a .058″ groove runs sloppy and can derail. Check the gauge number on your bar stamp before you order. Full code table on the identification chart.
How many drive links do I need?
As many as the bar fitted to your saw was built for — the count is stamped on the bar tail on most bars, and it changes with bar length even on the same saw. A 20″ Husqvarna 455 Rancher bar takes 72 drive links; the same saw on a shorter .325″ setup can take anywhere from 56 to 78 depending on the exact bar. Never order by model name alone.
Can I run a different-gauge chain if the pitch matches?
No. Gauge is the thickness of the drive links, and it must match the width of the groove in your guide bar. A thicker chain will not seat; a thinner one wobbles in the groove, wears the bar rails unevenly and can jump off. Pitch, gauge and drive links all have to match.
What file size do I need to sharpen my chain?
File size follows pitch: 3/8″ low-profile → 5/32″ (4.0 mm); .325″ → 3/16″ (4.8 mm); standard 3/8″ and .404″ → 7/32″ (5.2–5.5 mm). Every model page on this site lists the file size next to the chain spec, and the identification chart has the full table.
What a loop costs
Typical prices (examples)
So the buying sections on our model pages make sense: in listings checked on 23 October 2026, a single Oregon replacement loop was listed at about $21.43, and Oregon 3-packs at about $47.94–$67.99. Echo's own 20″ 72LPX70CQ loop for the CS-590 was listed at $43.99 by a US power-equipment dealer. These are examples from the day they were checked, not live prices — chains are sold by dealers and marketplaces whose prices move. Every price on this site is labelled with the date it was checked.
Home / Chain identification chart
Chainsaw chain identification chart
Every saw chain is described by three numbers — pitch, gauge and drive-link count — plus a file size for sharpening. This chart ties them together and cross-references the chain codes used by Oregon, Stihl, Husqvarna and Carlton, so a loop sold under any brand's numbering can be matched to your bar.
Pitch × gauge × file size
| Pitch | Used on | Common gauges | Round file size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/8″ Low Profile (“Picco”) | Small homeowner & electric/battery saws, pole pruners | .043″ (1.1 mm) · .050″ (1.3 mm) | 5/32″ (4.0 mm) |
| .325″ | Mid-size homeowner & ranch saws (40–60 cc) | .050″ (1.3 mm) · .058″ (1.5 mm) · .063″ (1.6 mm) | 3/16″ (4.8 mm) |
| 3/8″ (standard) | Large homeowner, ranch & professional saws (55 cc +) | .050″ (1.3 mm) · .058″ (1.5 mm) · .063″ (1.6 mm) | 7/32″ (5.2 mm) |
| .404″ | Large professional & harvester saws | .058″ (1.5 mm) · .063″ (1.6 mm) | 7/32″ (5.5 mm) |
File sizes per Oregon and Husqvarna chain data (e.g. Oregon 91-series 3/8″ LP chain is specified with a 5/32″ file; Husqvarna's H30 .325″ chain with a 3/16″ file). Always confirm against your chain maker's sharpening data.
Pitch is the distance between any three consecutive rivets, divided by two — it must match your drive sprocket and bar nose sprocket. Gauge is the thickness of the drive links where they ride in the bar groove. Drive links are the tang-shaped links that sit in the groove; their count sets the loop length for a given bar.
Chain code cross-reference
Chain makers print a short code on the box and on the drive links. The same physical chain is sold under different codes by different brands. Codes below are the ones confirmed in manufacturer and dealer data we checked; a dash means we have not verified that brand's code for that spec — match on pitch, gauge and drive links instead.
| Spec (pitch · gauge) | Oregon | Stihl | Husqvarna | Carlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/8″ LP · .043″ | 90PX | 61 PMM3 (Picco Micro Mini 3) | H38 | N4C |
| 3/8″ LP · .050″ | 91PX / 91VXL | 63 PM3 | H37 | — |
| .325″ · .050″ | 95TXL (SpeedCut) · 20BPX | — | H30 · X-CUT SP33G | — |
| 3/8″ · .050″ | 72 (72LPX / 72EXL) | — | H80 | — |
| 3/8″ · .058″ | 73 (73LPX) | — | H81 | — |
| 3/8″ · .063″ | 75 (75LPX) | — | — | — |
Oregon's two-digit code is the fastest tell in the aisle: the first digit is the pitch family (9 = 3/8″ low profile, 2 = .325″, 7 = 3/8″ standard) and the second digit encodes the gauge (0 = .043″ LP / 2 = .050″, 3 = .058″, 5 = .063″ in the 7-series). Stihl and Husqvarna equivalents confirmed via dealer cross-reference listings and Husqvarna's bar & chain combination tables.
72 and 73 chain are both 3/8″ pitch and the boxes look near-identical — but 72 is .050″ gauge and 73 is .058″ gauge. Fit a 73 loop to a bar with a .050″ groove and the drive links will not seat in the groove at all; run a 72 in a .058″ groove and the chain slops side-to-side, wears the bar rails and can derail under load. The same trap exists at .325″ (.050 / .058 / .063) and in Stihl's Picco line (.043 vs .050). Read the gauge off your bar stamp — never guess it from the pitch.
Counting drive links
Drive links are the tang-shaped links on the underside of the chain — the ones that ride inside the bar groove and engage the sprocket. Cutters and tie straps on top do not count.
- Lay the loop flat, or keep it on the bar with the cover off.
- Mark one drive link with chalk or a marker.
- Count every drive link around the loop until you get back to the marked one. Count the marked link once.
- That total is the number on the box: a “72” loop has 72 drive links regardless of brand.
Full verification guide: bar stamps, pitch measurement and gauge checks →
Home / Guides / How to verify your chain size
How to verify your chain size
Three checks, in order of reliability. Do the first one that your bar allows — together they take about five minutes and they settle arguments that model charts (including ours) cannot, because they describe the bar actually fitted to your saw.
Method 1 — Read the bar tail stamp
- Switch the saw off, let it cool, and wear gloves — a dull chain still cuts skin.
- Remove the clutch cover (usually two nuts on the side of the saw) and lift the bar and chain off together.
- Find the stamped text on the flat of the bar near the tail (the mount end). Clean off oil and sawdust with a rag; a phone flashlight at an angle makes faint stamps readable.
- Read off, in order: bar length, pitch, gauge, and — on most bars — the drive-link count for the correct loop.
Worked examples from real bars:
- 18″ · .325 · 050 · 72 on a Husqvarna 450 Rancher bar → .325″ pitch, .050″ gauge, 72 drive links (Husqvarna H30 / X-CUT SP33G, Oregon 95TXL).
- A Forestry Forum member's bar stamp read …058-1.5 … 325 72 DL → .325″ pitch, .058″ gauge (1.5 mm), 72 drive links. Note the gauge shown both ways — inches and millimetres.
Method 2 — Count the drive links
If the stamp is worn away, your old chain still knows the answer — as long as it was the right chain. Mark one drive link (the tangs on the underside of the loop) with chalk, then count all the way around and stop when you reach the mark again. Full instructions with a diagram are on the identification chart. If the old chain was wrong (it happens — it is the most common reason people land on this site), use Method 3 for pitch and gauge and match the count to your bar length in the model charts.
Method 3 — Measure pitch and gauge
Pitch
- Measure the distance between the centres of any three consecutive rivets on the chain.
- Divide by two. That is the pitch.
- Results you will actually see: ≈ 0.650″ → .325″ pitch (3 rivets span 0.650″), 0.750″ → 3/8″, 0.808″ → .404″. A 3/8″ low-profile chain also spans 0.750″ — it is told apart by its smaller, lower cutters and is what small saws use.
Gauge
- Gauge is the thickness of a drive link's tang — the part that rides in the bar groove.
- Measure it with a caliper if you have one: .043″ / .050″ / .058″ / .063″ (1.1 / 1.3 / 1.5 / 1.6 mm).
- No caliper? The bar stamp (Method 1) states the gauge the bar was made for, and that is the number that matters — the chain must match the bar groove, not the other way round.
Believe the stamp and the count. Bars get swapped, saws get sold with non-standard setups, and manufacturers change factory fitments mid-model-run — shopping results for the Stihl MS 250 note a gauge change on later production. Our model pages show the factory combinations we could verify and flag every disagreement we found instead of quietly picking one.
Safety, briefly and seriously
A chain that is wrong for the bar — wrong gauge, wrong pitch, wrong length forced onto the sprocket — can derail at speed. Never run a chain that does not sit fully in the bar groove, never “make do” with a near-enough loop, and always follow the saw manufacturer's manual for fitting, tensioning and protective equipment. If you are unsure, a dealer will check a bar and chain over the counter in minutes. See our Terms of Use for the full disclaimer.
Home / Models
Chain sizes by saw model
One page per saw: the factory bar-and-chain combinations we could verify from manufacturer manuals, fit-up charts and chain-maker data — each with the bar-stamp check for that saw, the file size, and where to buy the loop. More models are added as their specs are verified, never guessed.
Don't see your saw? The verification guide gets you the three numbers off your own bar in about five minutes, and the identification chart turns those numbers into a chain code in any brand. You can also tell us which model to add next — requests with a photo of the bar stamp go to the front of the queue, because that is exactly the evidence we publish from.
Home / About
About SawChainSize.com
SawChainSize.com is a reference site with one job: telling you the exact chain — pitch, gauge and drive-link count — that fits the bar on your chainsaw, and the file that sharpens it.
It exists because that answer is oddly hard to get right. A saw model is sold with several bar lengths; owners swap bars; dealers fit alternatives; and the pages that rank for “what size chain” questions are often roundups that copy each other. When we researched this site we found the leading results for one of North America's best-selling saws, the Stihl MS 250, giving three different answers. A wrong chain is not a trivial mistake: at best it does not mount, at worst it derails.
Who it is for
Homeowners cutting firewood and storm cleanup, acreage and ranch owners, and anyone standing in a store aisle holding two near-identical chain boxes. The site covers the US and Canada and the brands most commonly sold there: Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, Poulan and McCulloch, plus the Oregon chain that most of them are fitted with as replacements.
How the site works
- Bar-first, always. Every lookup starts from the bar fitted to the saw, because that is what determines the chain. Model charts show factory combinations; the bar-stamp check on every page settles it for your specific saw.
- Verified or flagged. A spec appears as fact only when it traces to a manufacturer manual, a fit-up chart, or chain-maker product data. Anything we could not verify is labelled “verify on your bar stamp” — we would rather show a gap than a guess.
- Conflicts shown, not hidden. Where credible sources disagree, the page prints the disagreement and tells you how to resolve it on your own bar.
How we are funded
The site is free to use. It earns money from affiliate commissions when readers buy through links to retailers, and may carry display advertising in future. That never changes a specification: a chain is listed because it fits, not because it pays. The full details are in our Affiliate Disclosure, and our sourcing rules are in How We Verify Specs.
What we are not
We are an independent reference publication. We are not a dealer, not a repair shop, and not affiliated with any saw or chain manufacturer — see the trademark notice in the footer. For fitting, tensioning and operating instructions, your saw's manufacturer manual is the authority.
Questions, corrections and model requests: contact page or contact@sawchainsize.com.
Home / How we verify specs
How we verify specs — editorial policy
Every number on this site follows the same rule: if we cannot point to where it came from, it does not get printed as a fact. This page explains the method, so you can judge the pages — and so affiliate programs and readers can see exactly what they are trusting.
Sources, in order of authority
- Manufacturer operator manuals and bar & chain combination tables — e.g. Husqvarna's manual tables listing bar length, pitch, gauge, chain type and drive links per model; Echo's operator manuals naming the factory-fitted Oregon chain type.
- Manufacturer fit-up charts and selector data — e.g. Oregon's published selection/fit-up data mapping model and bar to pitch, gauge, links and file size.
- Chain-maker and dealer product data — e.g. Oregon product pages stating pitch, gauge, drive links and file size per part number; Stihl dealer listings stating the OEM chain designation (such as 61 PMM3 55, part 3610 005 0055) and its fitments.
- Owner and forum evidence — used only to illustrate (for example, a real bar stamp reading) or to flag a question, never as the sole source for a published spec.
The bar-first rule
A model name does not determine a chain; the fitted bar does. Every spec on this site is therefore keyed to a bar length, presented with its variants separated, and paired with the bar-stamp verification step. Where the same model shipped with more than one gauge or pitch across production years, the page says so.
When sources conflict
We print the conflict. The Stihl MS 250 page, for example, shows each reported specification with its source type, because the leading web results disagree on that saw's pitch, gauge and drive links. Silently picking one would make the page tidier and the reader worse off. The resolution we recommend is always the same: read the stamp on your bar.
What “verify on your bar stamp” means
Some bar-length variants and older models have no specification we could trace to an authoritative source. Those cells are marked “verify on your bar stamp” rather than filled from a secondary roundup. It is a deliberate gap, and it is how you can tell the filled cells earned their place.
Prices
Prices are shown only as dated examples (“checked 23 Oct 2026”) taken from listings we actually saw, never as live prices and never invented. Retailer prices change; the checkout price is the real one.
Corrections policy
If a spec is wrong, we want to know. Send the model, the bar length, and — ideally — a photo or transcription of your bar stamp via the contact page. Verified corrections are applied to the page, and where a correction changes a published spec, the page notes the change. We do not quietly edit numbers.
Affiliate links and editorial independence
Buying links are added after a spec is settled, and only to chains that match the spec on the page. Commission rates differ between retailers; specifications never do. See the Affiliate Disclosure.
Last reviewed: 23 October 2026.
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Affiliate disclosure
The short version: SawChainSize.com earns commissions when you buy through some of the links on this site. It costs you nothing extra — the price at the retailer is the same whether you arrived through our link or went there directly.
Programs we participate in
- Amazon Associates — SawChainSize.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.
- Acme Tools — via the Impact affiliate network.
- RepairClinic — via the CJ Affiliate network.
- Other retailer and manufacturer programs may be added over time; this page is updated when they are.
How links work
When you click a retailer link, the retailer (or its affiliate network) places a tracking cookie so the purchase can be attributed to this site for a limited window — for example, Amazon's Associates session is 24 hours, and Acme Tools' tracking window is 15 days. If you buy in that window, we may earn a percentage of the sale. You can read how cookies are used on this site in our Privacy Policy.
What this does and does not influence
- It does not influence any specification on this site. Specs come from manufacturer manuals, fit-up charts and chain-maker data, per our verification policy.
- It does not change the price you pay.
- Products are listed because they match the specification on the page, in the sizes the page covers. If a chain does not fit the spec, it is not listed as a buying option, whatever it pays.
Prices and availability
Prices shown on this site are dated examples from listings checked on the date stated next to them; they are not live. The price and availability at the retailer's checkout are the accurate ones. Product names, chain designations and trademarks belong to their owners — see the footer notice.
This disclosure is provided in line with the US Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and affiliate marketing (16 CFR Part 255) and Canada's Competition Act requirements on disclosure of material connections. Last updated: 23 October 2026.
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Privacy policy
Last updated: 23 October 2026. Applies to sawchainsize.com.
What we collect
- Nothing, for the lookup tools. The Chain Finder runs entirely in your browser. Your selections are not sent to us or stored.
- Analytics. We use privacy-respecting aggregate analytics to understand which pages are used (for example, page views and approximate region). We do not build advertising profiles of individual visitors.
- Contact messages. If you email us or use the contact form (which opens your own email app), we receive your email address and the content of your message, and use them only to reply and to act on corrections or requests.
Cookies
- This site sets, at most, a functional cookie remembering that you dismissed the cookie notice.
- Affiliate links. When you click through to a retailer, that retailer or its affiliate network (Amazon, Impact, CJ Affiliate) may set tracking cookies on the retailer's domain to attribute a purchase to this site for a limited window (for example 24 hours for an Amazon session, 15 days for Acme Tools). Those cookies are governed by the retailer's and network's own privacy policies.
- Advertising. If display advertising is added in future, the ad network may set cookies as described in its own policy; this page will be updated before that happens.
What we never do
- We do not sell personal data. We have none to sell: no accounts, no checkout, no mailing list at this time.
- We do not collect payment information — purchases happen entirely on the retailer's site.
- We do not knowingly collect information from children; this is a power-tool reference site intended for adults.
Your requests
To ask what information we hold about you (for email correspondence, that is simply your messages), or to have it deleted, write to contact@sawchainsize.com or use the contact page. We respond to privacy requests from any jurisdiction, including under Canada's PIPEDA and applicable US state laws.
Changes
If this policy changes, the new version will be posted here with a new date at the top.
Home / Terms of use
Terms of use
Last updated: 23 October 2026.
Reference information only
The specifications on SawChainSize.com are provided as a reference to help you identify parts. They are compiled from manufacturer manuals, fit-up charts and chain-maker data in good faith, but manufacturers change fitments, bars get swapped, and errors can occur. Always verify pitch, gauge and drive-link count against the stamp on your guide bar and your saw's manual before ordering or fitting a chain. We are not responsible for parts ordered in reliance on this site where that verification was not done.
Safety disclaimer
Chainsaws are dangerous tools that can cause serious or fatal injury. This site does not provide operating instruction. Fitting, tensioning, sharpening and using a chain must follow the saw manufacturer's manual, including all protective-equipment requirements. A chain that does not match the bar's pitch and gauge must never be run. If you are not confident fitting a chain, have a dealer do it.
Trademarks
Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo, Poulan, McCulloch, Oregon and all model names and chain designations are trademarks of their respective owners. Their use on this site is nominative — to identify the products a specification refers to — and implies no affiliation with or endorsement by those owners. SawChainSize.com is an independent publication and is not affiliated with Stihl Inc., Husqvarna AB, Yamabiko Corporation (Echo), or Oregon Tool, Inc.
External links
Links to retailers and manufacturers take you to sites we do not control. Prices, availability and product descriptions there are theirs. Some links are affiliate links — see the Affiliate Disclosure.
Acceptable use
You may use this site for personal, non-commercial reference. The compiled charts may not be scraped and republished wholesale; individual specifications are facts and may of course be cited with a link.
Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, the site is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, and our liability for any claim arising from use of the site is limited to the amount you paid us to use it, which is zero. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law.
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Contact us
Corrections, model requests, business and affiliate-program enquiries — all welcome. A correction with a photo or transcription of your bar stamp gets acted on fastest, because that is the evidence we publish from.
Direct email
contact@sawchainsize.com
What to include in a correction
- Saw brand and model (e.g. Husqvarna 450 Rancher)
- Fitted bar length
- The full stamp text from your bar tail
- The page on this site you believe is wrong
Response time
We read everything and reply to corrections and privacy requests first. There is no phone support — we are a small reference publication, and email keeps a written record that corrections can be checked against.