A chainsaw chain must match your saw on three specifications: pitch, gauge and drive-link count. Get any one wrong and the chain will not fit your bar. This chart covers all three, with examples taken from maker manuals and pages and from Oregon’s chain data.
What Three Specs Must Match
| Specification | What It Is | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch | Oregon: the distance between any three consecutive rivets, divided by two | Must match the drive sprocket and the bar nose sprocket (Oregon) |
| Gauge | Thickness of the drive link where it fits into the bar groove | Must match the bar groove (Oregon) |
| Drive links | Number of drive links in the loop | Must match the bar; Oregon says the count varies by bar maker |
Get the free Chainsaw Chain Sizing Guide (PDF)
Pitch, gauge & drive-link count decoded — match any chain yourself.
All three must be correct for safe, reliable operation.
Chainsaw Chain Pitch Sizes
Pitch is the distance between the center points of consecutive teeth. It’s the most obvious spec — look on the side of your bar or chain.
| Pitch | Metric figure printed by makers | Examples (maker sources) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4″ | — | Stihl MSA 120 C to MSA 200 C (1/4″ P); one Husqvarna 540i XP bar option |
| 3/8″ LP (Stihl 3/8″ P, Husqvarna 3/8″ mini) | Stihl: 9.32 mm for 3/8″ P | Makita DUC saws; DEWALT and Milwaukee 3/8″ LP chains; Stihl MS 170 to MS 211 and MSA 220; Husqvarna 135, 235, 120i, 340i |
| .325″ | Milwaukee: 8.3 mm | Stihl MS 250 (option), MS 261, MSA 300; Husqvarna 440–460 and 550 XP Mark II; Milwaukee M18 FTHCHS30/35 and F2CHS50 |
| 3/8″ (full profile) | — | Stihl MS 362, MS 500i, MS 661; Husqvarna 455 and 460 (option), 560 XP, 576 XP |
| .404″ | Stihl: 10.26 mm | Stihl MS 660, MS 661 |
Makers print different metric figures for 3/8″ chains (Stihl gives 9.32 mm for 3/8″ P, Milwaukee 9.5 mm and Ryobi 9.525 mm for their 3/8″ chains), and low-profile and full-profile 3/8″ chains are different types. Go by the pitch name on your bar or in your manual, not a millimetre conversion.
Chainsaw Chain Gauge Sizes
Gauge is the thickness of the drive link where it fits into the bar groove. Oregon says it must match the bar.
| Gauge (Inches) | Gauge (Millimetres) | Saw Type | Typical Bars |
|---|---|---|---|
| .043″ | 1.1 mm | Makita DUC; DEWALT and Milwaukee 3/8″ LP; Stihl Picco Micro Mini 3 and 1/4″ P; Husqvarna X-PRECISION, H38; Einhell 25/35 cm | Check the gauge stamped on your bar |
| .050″ | 1.3 mm | Stihl Picco Micro 3 (MS 180, MS 211); Husqvarna 135, 235, 340i and many .325″ Rancher chains; Makita UC3551A; Ryobi 36V saws | Check the gauge stamped on your bar |
| .058″ | 1.5 mm | Husqvarna H25 and S35G (.325″), H42 and C85 (3/8″) | Check the gauge stamped on your bar |
| .063″ | 1.6 mm | Stihl .325″ on the MS 250/261; Stihl 3/8″ on the MS 362, MS 500i, MS 661 | Check the gauge stamped on your bar |
Check your bar’s groove with a feeler gauge or calipers if you’re unsure. Most residential and semi-professional saws use .050″ gauge.
Drive Link Count by Bar Length and Chain Pitch
This is the table you’ll reference most often. Find your bar length and pitch combination to determine how many drive links your chain needs.
| Bar Length | 1/4″ | 3/8″ Low Profile | .325″ | 3/8″ Full Profile | .404″ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10″ / 25 cm | 56–60 (Stihl 1/4″ P 56/57; Husqvarna H00 58/60) | 40 (Makita, Husqvarna H37/H38, Oregon R40, Einhell, WORX) | — | — | — |
| 12″ / 30 cm | 64–68 (Stihl 64/65; Husqvarna H00 64/68) | 44–46 (Stihl 44; Husqvarna, Oregon R45, Milwaukee FCHSC and Ryobi OCS1830 (Oregon 90PX045) 45; Makita 46) | .325″ mini: 51 (Husqvarna SP21G, Milwaukee FTHCHS30) | — | — |
| 13″ / 33 cm | — | — | 56 (Husqvarna) | 52 (Husqvarna 560 XP) | — |
| 14″ / 35 cm | 72 (Stihl 35 cm) | 50–52 (Stihl 50; Makita, Husqvarna, Oregon R52, Milwaukee, Einhell, WORX 52) | 56 (Stihl Rapid Super 35 cm); .325″ mini 59 | — | — |
| 15″ / 38 cm | — | — | 64 (Husqvarna) | 56 (Husqvarna) | — |
| 16″ / 40 cm | — | 55–56 (Stihl 55; Makita, Husqvarna, Oregon R56, Milwaukee 56) | 62 (Stihl Rapid Super 40 cm) or 66 (Husqvarna); .325″ mini 64 | 60 (Husqvarna; Stihl MS 500i 40 cm) | — |
| 18″ / 45 cm | — | 61–62 (Stihl MSA 220.0 C 45 cm 61; Husqvarna 18″ H37 62) | 68 (Stihl Rapid Super 45 cm) or 72 (Husqvarna) | 66 (Stihl MS 500i / MS 661 45 cm) or 68 (Husqvarna) | 60 (Stihl MS 661 45 cm) |
| 20″ / 50 cm | — | — | 78–81 (Husqvarna 78 or 80; Milwaukee F2CHS50 78; Stihl MSA 300 81) | 72 (Stihl and Husqvarna) | 66 (Stihl MS 661 50 cm) |
| 24″ / 63 cm | — | — | — | 84 (Husqvarna 24″; Stihl 63 cm) | 77 (Stihl MS 661 63 cm) |
| 28″ / 71 cm | — | — | — | 91–92 (Stihl 71 cm 91; Husqvarna 28″ 92) | — |
Read this table as a starting point, not an answer. Drive-link count belongs to the specific bar, not its nominal length: Oregon lists 55-link loops (for example 90PX055 and 91PX055E) for Stihl 40 cm bars and 56-link loops (R56) for other 16″ bars, and says to order by the number stamped on the drive link.
Gauge does not change the drive-link count: Husqvarna, for example, lists the same counts for its 1.3 mm and 1.5 mm .325″ chains at each bar length.
Figures above are drawn from Oregon’s published loop catalogue and Stihl’s published saw configurations. The .404″ counts previously shown here could not be confirmed against a manufacturer source and have been withdrawn rather than guessed.
How to use this table: Find your bar length in the left column. Move right to the column that matches your chain pitch and gauge. The number shown is your drive link count.
Example: a Stihl MS250 with a 40 cm (16″) .325″ bar takes 1.6 mm (.063″) chain. Stihl UK lists 62 drive links for .325″ 1.6 mm Rapid Super at 40 cm (part 3639 000 0062) and 68 at 45 cm. The MS250 can also take 3/8″ P bars, so confirm the pitch and gauge on your bar.
Note: Ranges exist because manufacturers use slightly different bar lengths. If you have a choice between two numbers in a range (e.g., 55–56), go with the exact count on your old chain. The chain will be slightly tighter or looser, but both are safe.
How to Find Your Chain Size
If you’ve lost your manual or the bar marking has worn away, here’s how to identify your chain size:
Step 1: Find the Pitch
- Look at the side of your bar or the chain itself
- You should see a marking like “3/8”, “.325”, “1/4”, or “.404”
- This is your pitch — it’s the most important spec
- If you can’t find it marked, your chainsaw manual will list it (look up your exact model online)
Step 2: Measure the Bar Length
- Measure from the front of the saw to the tip of the bar (Oregon’s method for the called length)
- Round to the nearest inch
- Common lengths: 12″, 14″, 16″, 18″, 20″
Step 3: Count the Drive Links on Your Old Chain
- Remove the old chain (or lay it out flat)
- Count each individual link until you reach the end (you may need to count twice to be sure)
- Drive links are the parts that insert into the bar groove
Step 4: Cross-Reference the Chart
- Use the drive link count by bar length table above
- Find your bar length and pitch to confirm your drive link count
- Order a replacement chain with matching pitch, gauge, and drive link count
For detailed measurement instructions with photos, see our full guide: How to Measure a Chainsaw Chain
Common Chainsaw Chain Size Combinations
These are the most popular specs you’ll encounter in the UK market:
| Common Spec | Pitch + Gauge | Typical Saws | Drive Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small petrol (Stihl) | 3/8″ P, 1.1 or 1.3 mm | Stihl MS 170, MS 180, MS 211 | 44 / 50 / 55 at 30 / 35 / 40 cm |
| Small petrol (Husqvarna) | 3/8″ (mini), 1.3 mm | Husqvarna 235, 236, 240 | 52 / 56 / 62 at 14 / 16 / 18″ |
| Mid-range petrol (Stihl) | .325″, 1.3 or 1.6 mm | Stihl MS 250, MS 261 | 1.6 mm Rapid Super: 56 / 62 / 68 at 35 / 40 / 45 cm |
| Mid-range petrol (Husqvarna) | .325″, 1.3 or 1.5 mm | Husqvarna 440–460, 550 XP Mark II | 56 / 64 / 66 / 72 at 13–18″; 78 or 80 at 20″ |
| Professional Stihl | 3/8″, 1.6 mm | Stihl MS 362, MS 500i, MS 661 | 60 / 66 / 72 at 40 / 45 / 50 cm (MS 500i, MS 661) |
| Cordless 3/8″ LP | 3/8″ LP, 1.1 mm | Makita DUC, DEWALT, Milwaukee, Einhell, WORX | 40 at 25 cm, 52 at 35 cm, 56 at 40 cm |
| Stihl 1/4″ battery | 1/4″ P, 1.1 mm | Stihl MSA 120 C to MSA 200 C | 56 / 64 / 72 at 25 / 30 / 35 cm |
Gauge Identification (If Marked on Your Bar)
Your bar may have a marking that indicates gauge. Common markings:
- .043″ or 1.1 mm — for example Makita DUC, DEWALT and Milwaukee 3/8″ LP bars
- .050″ or 1.3mm — standard petrol bars (most common)
- .058″ or 1.5mm — professional bars
- .063″ or 1.6mm — heavy-duty professional and milling bars
If you can’t find a gauge marking, measure the groove depth with calipers (take the measurement at the base of the groove, where the chain sits) or contact the bar manufacturer with your model number.
Pitch, Gauge & Drive Link Relationship
Here’s the relationship that governs all three specs:
- Pitch determines the bar nose sprocket size and tooth spacing — these are fixed on your saw
- Gauge determines the bar groove width — this is also fixed
- Drive link count determines total chain length; this varies by bar length
Manufacturers build bars with a specific pitch and gauge. You can’t change them. You can only change the drive link count when you get a longer or shorter bar. Always verify all three specs before buying.
What Happens If You Get the Specs Wrong
| Wrong Spec | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Wrong pitch | Does not match the drive sprocket and bar nose sprocket (Oregon says the pitch must match both). |
| Wrong gauge | Does not match the bar groove (Oregon says the gauge must match the bar). |
| Too few drive links | Chain is too short. It won’t reach around the bar and will break under tension or jam. |
| Too many drive links | The loop is too long for the bar, so it cannot be tensioned correctly. |
Never force a chain onto a bar. If it doesn’t fit smoothly, stop and recheck all three specs.
Watch: Video Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can’t find my exact drive link count in the chart?
Bar lengths vary slightly between manufacturers. A 16″ bar from Stihl might need 55 links, while a 16″ bar from Husqvarna might need 56. If your bar is close to a listed length (e.g., between 14″ and 16″), count the drive links on your old chain and order a chain with the same count. Never guess.
Is the bar length always printed on the bar?
Not always. Oregon measures a bar’s called length from the front of the saw to the tip, rounded to the nearest inch, and the first two digits of an Oregon bar part number give that length.
Can I put a .325″ pitch chain on a 3/8″ saw?
No. Oregon says the chain pitch must match the drive sprocket and the bar nose sprocket.
What’s the difference between 3/8″ LP and 3/8″ full-profile?
They are different chain types and are not interchangeable. Makers print different metric figures for 3/8″ chains (Stihl gives 9.32 mm for 3/8″ P), so go by the type named on your bar or in your manual.
My bar is marked “.050” — is that the pitch or gauge?
.050″ is gauge (drive link thickness), not pitch. Look elsewhere on the bar or your manual for the pitch marking (for example 1/4″, 3/8″ LP, .325″, 3/8″ or .404″).
How tight should my chain be?
Oregon’s guidance: adjust tension only when the chain is cool and the engine is off; at the right tension the drive links stay fully seated in the bar groove and the tie straps lightly touch the bar. Sprocket-nose bars are tensioned tighter than solid-nose bars. Follow your saw’s manual.
Do Oregon, Stihl, and Husqvarna chains use the same sizing system?
They use the same three measurements — pitch, gauge and drive-link count — but the same nominal bar length can need different counts: Stihl lists 55 drive links for a 40 cm 3/8″ P bar and Husqvarna 56 for its 16″ 3/8″ mini bar. Match all three figures to your bar.
Running a battery chainsaw? Several Greenworks manuals list Oregon chain codes — our Greenworks chainsaw chain compatibility guide lists the chain codes we could confirm for each UK model.
How we compile this guide
We cross-reference compatibility details against manufacturer specifications where available, official tool manuals, and the physical standards that govern fitment (bore sizes, arbor diameters, voltage platforms, connector types). We prioritise primary sources over retailer listings, flag anything we can’t confirm, and re-verify the data on a regular cycle. Where we give a buying recommendation, we tell you the reasoning — not just the link. More on our method →
