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WORX WG322.9 vs BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 (2027)

Two 10 inch homeowner saws compared: the WORX WG322.9 tool-only saw against the BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 kit, for 2027 buyers pruning on a budget.

TGBy TrueGear Research TeamIndependent editorial teamLast updated How we researchResearch-based assessment · Chainsaws
Specs verified against manufacturer docs
No paid placements
Independently funded by readers
Updated 2026-11-01
WORX WG322.9 vs BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 (2027) featured graphic

What owners report

Most praised
  • Owners with WORX batteries already in the garage call it the cheapest useful saw they own
  • The pole attachment option turns a pruning saw into a high-limb tool without buying a second machine
  • Its light weight makes it the saw older owners and smaller users reach for first
Common complaints
  • Chain tension sometimes loosens during a session despite the auto system, owners report
  • Oil weeping in storage leaves a mark on shelves and truck beds if the saw is not parked on a rag
  • Battery runtime on small PowerShare packs ends pruning sessions sooner than buyers hoped

What owners report

Most praised
  • First-time owners say it is the least intimidating chainsaw they have used, which matters more than power
  • The bale handle gets credit for steady control on branches at odd angles
  • It earns its keep on storm cleanup, where its size lets it work between fence lines and shrubs
Common complaints
  • The charger speed frustrates owners who expected a quick turnaround between sessions
  • Bar oil weeping in storage is a recurring note, solved by most owners with a rag underneath
  • Hardwood near the top of its capacity makes the motor work audibly hard, owners say

Our recommendation

These two share a 10 inch bar and almost nothing else. The WORX WG322.9 is a tool-only saw for owners already on the PowerShare platform, lighter at 6.2 lb with a battery, with auto tensioning and an optional pole attachment for high limbs. The BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 is a complete kit with battery and charger for buyers starting from zero, heavier at 9.1 lb, with tool-free tensioning and a bale handle. If you own WORX batteries, take the WORX. If you own nothing, take the BLACK+DECKER kit. The pole option is the WORX saw's unique argument, and the complete box is the BLACK+DECKER's.

Tool only versus complete kit

The WORX arrives bare: no battery, no charger, and the real price depends on the PowerShare packs you already own. The BLACK+DECKER arrives as a working saw with an LBXR2020 battery and LCS1620 charger in the box. For a first-time buyer the kit is the honest comparison price; for a WORX household the tool-only price is the bargain it appears to be.

Weight and handling

The WORX at 6.2 lb with a battery is markedly lighter than the BLACK+DECKER at 9.1 lb as a kit, and that gap shows on overhead pruning and long sessions. The BLACK+DECKER's wraparound bale handle gives a secure second grip that the WORX lacks, which matters on awkward branch angles. Light and simple against heavier and more secure is the handling trade.

Tensioning and oiling

The WORX uses patented auto tensioning that guards against over-tightening but occasionally lets the chain loosen mid-session, owners report. The BLACK+DECKER uses tool-free tensioning that owners adjust by hand and generally trust more. Both saws oil automatically, and both weep a little bar oil in storage, so neither wins the maintenance argument outright.

The pole question

Only the WORX offers an extension pole: the WA0167 attachment stretches reach to 10 feet for high limbs, sold separately. The BLACK+DECKER has no pole option, so high work needs a ladder or a second tool. For owners with tall trees and a dislike of ladders, the pole is a deciding feature rather than a footnote.

Choose WORX WORX 20V PowerShare WG322.9 10 in. Cordless Chainsaw (Tool Only) if…

  • You already own WORX 20V PowerShare batteries
  • Light weight matters most for your pruning sessions
  • High limbs make the optional 10 foot pole attachment appealing
  • Auto tensioning sounds better to you than manual adjustment

Choose BLACK+DECKER BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LCS1020 10 in. Cordless Chainsaw Kit if…

  • You own no battery platform and want one complete box
  • A bale handle and a secure second grip matter for awkward cuts
  • Tool-free tensioning you control by hand appeals more than auto tensioning
  • You want the simplest possible first chainsaw with no extra decisions

Questions, answered

Which one is better for a first chainsaw?

The BLACK+DECKER LCS1020, because it arrives complete with battery and charger and its controls are the simplest here. The WORX is the better saw only for buyers already on the PowerShare platform.

Can either saw cut small trees?

Small ornamental trees and saplings, yes, within the 8 inch cut capacity of the BLACK+DECKER and the 10 inch bar of the WORX. Neither is a felling saw, and anything approaching a foot in diameter needs a bigger saw.

Is the WORX pole attachment worth buying?

For high limbs, yes. It turns a ground pruner into a 10 foot reach tool without a ladder. It is sold separately, so price the saw plus pole together before comparing with the BLACK+DECKER kit.

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