This page contains useful information on Stihl chainsaw chains. The page complements my Stihl chain quick reference, providing more detail on the Stihl chain lineup.
Common Stihl chain models are listed below by chain pitch and each model is given a short description. The pitches are ordered by weight, from the “lightest” 1/4 “Picco to the heaviest .404″ last. Specialist chains are listed in a separate table at the end. If you’re not sure of the pitch of your Stihl saw, check my Stihl Saw Profiles page.
I have listed the available chain loop lengths in the tables and included a link to the product at Amazon if possible. Workshoppist.com is an Amazon Associate. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
1/4″ Picco pitch
The lightest Stihl chain pitch is the 1/4″ Picco. This pitch is used in low-powered Stihl saws with an engine power 1½ hp or less, covering the battery saws MSA 120…200 (not MSA 220) and arborist gas saws under 30cc (MS 150,151). Also Stihl pole saws up to 1.9 hp or 35cc use the 1/4″ pitch (interestingly the power limit has been stretched there).
The 1/4″ Picco is also known as 1/4″ Extended or 1/4″ Low Profile (rare), and abbreviated 1/4P. The chain comes only in .043″ gauge and in a single model version: 71 PM3. The available lengths are listed in the table below.
| STIHL CHAINS 1/4P – .043″ | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 71 PM3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3670 | 56(10″) 64(12″) 65(12″) 72(14″) |
| *(links Amazon) |
1/4″ pitch
Stihl also offers chains in the 1/4″ (regular) pitch. These chains come in .050″ gauge and two models, but are not the default cutting equipment for any Stihl saw model. The 1/4″ pitch chains are listed in the table below.
| STIHL CHAINS 1/4″ – .050″ | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 13 RM ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ #3660 | 56(10″) 64(12″) 72(14″) 80(16″) |
| 13 RMS ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Carving | 63(12″) |
| *(links Amazon) |
3/8″ Picco pitch
Stihl chains in the 3/8″ Picco pitch are used in Stihl saws from around 1.5 to 2.8hp or 25…45cc, covering entry-level gas models MS 170…201 and electric models MSE 141…210 (not MSE 250). The 3/8″ Picco is a low-profile, narrow-kerf version of the standard 3/8″ pitch, and alternatively called 3/8″ Extended or 3/8″ Low Profile, abbreviations 3/8P or 3/8LP.
3/8″ Picco chains come in two gauges – .043″ (Picco Mini) and .050″ (Picco) – and are listed in the two tables below. The .043″ Picco Mini chains 61 PMM3 and 61 PMMC3 are recommended for saws under 2 hp; the .050″ (Picco) chains vary in power ratings (some have none).
NB. Do not confuse the 3/8″ Picco with regular 3/8″ (plain) – the chains, bars and sprockets are incompatible.
| STIHL CHAINS 3/8 Picco – .043″ gauge | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 61 PMM3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ Saws <2hp ∙ #3670 | 44(12″) (x5) 50(14″) 55(16″) (x3) |
| 61 PMMC3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ Saws <2hp | 50(14″) 55(16″) |
| *(links Amazon) |
| STIHL CHAINS 3/8 Picco – .050″ gauge | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 63 PM3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ Saws 2…2.5hp ∙ #3636 | 44(12″) 50(14″) 55(16″) 61(18″) |
| 63 PM ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ #3613 | 50(14″) |
| 63 PS3 ∙ Full-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ Saws <2hp ∙ #3616 | 50(14″) 55(16″) |
| 63 PD3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Carbide ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3612 | 44(12″) 50(14″) 55(16″) |
| 63 PS ∙ Full-chisel ∙ Saws <2hp ∙ #3617 | 44(12″) 50(14″) 55(16″) 56(16″) 61(18″) |
| *(links Amazon) |
.325″ pitch
The intermediate .325″ chain pitch is used in gasoline-powered Stihl saws between 3…4 hp or 45…60cc. This narrow but popular saw class includes the MS 250, 251 Wood Boss, 271 Farm Boss and MS 291. Older models 025…036 used the .325″ too (with 036 putting out 4½ hp).
Stihl .325″ pitch chains come in 3 gauges: .050″, .058″ and .063″. The chain models are listed in the three tables below by gauge.
NB. .325″ pitch bars are available in both the 3005 (small) and the 3003 (medium) mounts. Because of this, 16″ and 18″ chains loops come with very two alternative drive link (DL) counts.
| STIHL CHAINS .325″ – .050″ | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 23 RM3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3632 | 66(12″) 62(16″a) 67(16″b) 68(18″a) 74(18″b) 78(20″) 81(20″) |
| 23 RM ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ #3627 | 59(12″) |
| 23 RS ∙ Full-chisel ∙ #3637 | 66(16″) 72(18″) |
| 23 RSC ∙ Full-chisel ∙ #3690 | 72(18″) |
| 23 RD3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Carbide ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3665 | 59(12″) |
| *(links Amazon) | a3005 mount b3003 mount |
| STIHL CHAINS .325″ – .058″ | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 25 RM3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3633 | (?) |
| 25 RM ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ #3685 | 59(12″) |
| 25 RS ∙ Full-chisel ∙ #3638 | 72(18″) |
| *(links Amazon) |
| STIHL CHAINS .325″ – .063″ | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 26 RM3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3689 | 56(13″) 62(15″/16″a) 67(16″b) 68(18″a) (x2 x3) 74(18″b) (x2) 81(20″) (x2) |
| 26 RM ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ #3686 | 59(12″) |
| 26 RMC ∙ Semi-chisel | 67(16″) |
| 26 RD3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Carbide ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3667 | 59(12″) |
| 26 RS ∙ Full-chisel ∙ #3639 | 68(16″) (x2) 74(18″) 81(20″) |
| *(links Amazon) | a3005 mount b3003 mount |
3/8″ pitch
The 3/8″ (regular) chain pitch is used in practically all Stihl saws above 4 hp or 60cc. This means model numbers MS 311 and higher with new saws and 038 and higher with old saws.
3/8″ Stihl chains come in three pitches: .050″, .058″ and .063″. The chain models are listed in the three tables below by gauge.
NB. Do not confuse the 3/8″ with the incompatible 3/8″ Picco.
| STIHL CHAINS 3/8″ – .050″ | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 33 RM3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3662 | 60(16″) 66(18″) 72(20″) 84(25″) |
| 33 RM ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ #3650 | 84(24″) |
| 33 RS3 ∙ Full-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3624 | 60(16″) 66(18″) 72(20″) 84(25″) 91(28″) 92(28″) 105(32″) 115(36″) |
| 33 RS ∙ Full-chisel ∙ #3623 | 66(18″) 72(20″) (x2) 84(25″) |
| *(links Amazon) |
| STIHL CHAINS 3/8″ – .058″ | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 35 RM ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ #3651 | 84(25″) |
| *(links Amazon) |
| STIHL CHAINS 3/8″ – .063″ | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 36 RM3 ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3664 | 66(18″) 72(20″) 84(25″) |
| 36 RM ∙ Semi-chisel ∙ #3652 | 59(16″) |
| 36 RS3 ∙ Full-chisel ∙ Low-kickback ∙ #3626 | 66(18″) 72(20″) 75(21″) 76(22″) 84(25″) 91(28″) 97(30″) 105(32″) 114(36″) 115(36″) |
| 36 RS ∙ Full-chisel ∙ #3621 | 72(20″) 84(25″) |
| *(links Amazon) |
.404″ pitch
Stihl uses the long .404″ chain pitch only as optional pitch for the flagship MS 880/881. There is only one “standard” chain model in this pitch: the 46 RS, with lengths listed in the table below.
| STIHL CHAINS .404″ – .063″ | Loops DL(in)* |
|---|---|
| 46 RS ∙ Full-chisel | 75(21″) 80(25″) 91(30″) 95(32″) 104(36″) 123(41″) 138(47″) 173(59″) |
| *(links Amazon) |
Special chains
The table below lists Stihl chains that I consider more specialist chains employing an unusual cutter shape, a skip pattern, or both.
| SPECIAL STIHL CHAINS | Description | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| RMF | semi-chisel, full skip | 3/8″-.050″ .404″-.063″ |
| RMHS | semi-chisel, harvester | .404″-.080″ |
| RMX | ripping, semi-chisel | 3/8″-.050″ |
| RSF | full-chisel, full skip | 3/8″-.050″ |
| RSK | K full-chisel | 3/8″-.050″ |
| RSLK | L full-chisel | 3/8″-.050″ 3/8″-.063″ |
| RSLFK | L full-chisel, full skip | 3/8″-.050″ 3/8″-.063″ |
| RSLHK | L full-chisel, half skip | 3/8″-.050″ 3/8″-.063″ |
These Stihl chains provide slightly better performance, particularly with large logs. However, they are not low-kickback compliant, and are mainly for discerning forestry professionals who know why they want them.
