Replacement chain identifier
Chainsaw Chain Size Finder
Chain size is three numbers — pitch, gauge and drive links. Look them up from your chainsaw model, or measure your bar and old chain step by step. If a value can't be confirmed, this tool says so instead of guessing.
Four measurements, in the order that matters. Chain pitch and gauge decide fitment; drive links decide length.
Typical combinations by bar length. Use it to sanity-check a result, not to replace your own measurement.
| Bar length | Common pitch | Common gauge | Drive links |
|---|
Housing to nose tip, rounded up to the nearest even inch. This is the number printed on the bar and used in listings.
The full bar including the mount. Useful when replacing the bar itself, never when ordering a chain.
Most bars are stamped with length, pitch, gauge and drive link count near the mounting slot — check there first.
Specs reflect common factory configurations. Always confirm pitch, gauge and drive links on your bar or old chain before ordering.
Learn the right way to find bar length, chain pitch, gauge, and drive links — so you always buy the correct replacement chain.
Lay your chainsaw flat. Get a tape measure. Start at the point where the bar meets the saw body. Run the tape to the very end of the bar. Look at the inches. Round up to the next even number, like 16 or 18. That is your bar length.
This number tells you the size of your saw. You need this number to pick a new chain. The right chain will fit your bar. A wrong chain will not work. It is that simple.
To measure your bar the right way, start with your eyes. Find the point where the bar comes out of the saw body. That is your first mark. Run your tape to the far end of the bar. Stop before the rounded tip. That nose is not part of the length. You only measure the straight cutting area.
Check the inches on your tape. If you get a half inch, round up to the next full even number, like 18 or 20. That number is your true bar length. Use this guide each time. It is the correct way to know your saw size and buy a chain that fits.
To get the right chain, you need three numbers. First, look at the bar. Find the number stamped near the base. That often tells you the pitch and gauge. If not, you must count the drive links.
Drive links are the metal teeth that sit inside the bar groove. Take the chain off the saw. Lay it flat. Count every single drive link. Write that number down.
Next, measure the pitch. That is the space between any three rivets, divided by two. Last, check the gauge. That is the thickness of the drive link where it fits in the bar. You can use a simple tool or a coin for this.
Chain pitch is the size of the chain. It is the space between any three rivets, split in half. Think of it as the distance between each cutting tooth. You need the right pitch for your saw. If the pitch is wrong, the chain will not fit the bar or the sprocket.
To check it, grab a ruler. Measure from the first rivet to the third. Divide that number by two. That is your pitch. Common sizes are 3/8″ or .325″.
You can also look at the bar. Most bars have the pitch stamped near the base. Find that number. Match it when you buy a new chain. Get the pitch right, and your chain will run smooth and safe.
Chain pitch is just the size of your chain's teeth. It tells you how far apart the links are. To find it, look at three rivets in a row — those are the small round pins. Measure the distance from the first to the third. Then cut that number in half. That half is your pitch.
Common pitches are 3/8 or .325. Most bars have this number stamped right on the side. Check there first.
The pitch must match your bar and the little wheel that spins the chain. If it does not match, the chain will not move right. It might jump off or bind up. So, find your pitch number. Write it down. Use that same number when you buy a new chain. That is all there is to it.