Husqvarna 450 vs 455: My Honest Take After a Weekend

I remember standing in the aisle of the hardware store a few years ago. I was staring at a wall of orange saws. Two models caught my eye right away: the Husqvarna 450 and the 455 Rancher. They looked almost the same. But the price tags were different, and the specs hinted at a different story.

Since then, I have logged plenty of hours with both saws. I have cut firewood in the dead of winter and cleared storm mess in the humid summer. If you are stuck deciding between the Husqvarna 450 vs 455, I get it. It is a tough choice.

Here is my personal experience to help you pick the right tool for your shed.

The First Impression: Weight Matters

The first time I picked up the Husqvarna 450, I noticed how light it felt. It weighs about 11 pounds without the bar and chain. That might not sound like much. But trust me, after three hours of cutting, every ounce counts.

I spent a Saturday morning limbing a fallen pine tree with the 450. I was reaching up, cutting sideways, and bending over. The saw felt nimble. I didn’t feel like I was fighting it. It was easy to toss around.

Then, I grabbed the Husqvarna 455 Rancher. You feel the difference immediately. It is about two pounds heavier. It feels like a “big boy” saw. It feels solid, like a tank. But after an hour of carrying it, my shoulders knew the difference.

My Take: If you have a bad back or just want to trim branches, the 450 wins on comfort hands down.

Weight and Feel Comparison

The Cut: Power vs. Speed

This is where the Husqvarna 450 vs 455 debate gets interesting.

The 450 has a 50cc engine. It is snappy. It revs up fast. For cutting logs that are 10 to 12 inches thick, it is perfect. It screams through the wood. The chips fly, and the cut is smooth.

But then I tried to buck a 20-inch oak log.

The 450 did it, but I had to be patient. I couldn’t lean on it too hard, or it would bog down.

That is when the 455 Rancher shines. It has a larger 55.5cc engine. It has more torque (grunt). When I buried the bar in that same oak log, the Rancher just kept pulling. It didn’t care that the wood was hard. It didn’t stall. It just ate the wood.

Performance Breakdown

Living with Them: Start-up and Maintenance

I hate a saw that won’t start. Nothing ruins a Saturday faster.

Luckily, both saws are pretty good here. They both have Husqvarna’s “Smart Start.” But I will say this: the 450 is physically easier to pull. The engine has less compression. My wife has used the 450 and can start it without an issue.

The 455 Rancher takes a bit more muscle. You have to mean it when you pull that cord.

Maintenance is about the same for both. They both have those snap-lock covers. This makes it easy to check the spark plug or clean the air filter. I love that I don’t need a screwdriver just to peek at the filter.

Daily Usability Check

Which One Should You Buy?

After using both, here is my honest advice.

Go for the Husqvarna 450 if:

• You are a homeowner with a normal-sized yard.
• You mostly cut firewood or clean up after storms.
• You want a saw that is easy to carry all day.

Go for the Husqvarna 455 Rancher if:

• You live on a farm or have a lot of land.
• You need to cut big, hardwood trees often.
• You don’t mind carrying extra weight to get the job done faster.

Final Thoughts

Both of these are great tools. I still reach for the Husqvarna 450 for 90% of my jobs. It is just so easy to use. But when a big tree comes down, I am glad the 455 Rancher is sitting on the shelf.

Think about what you cut the most. Be honest with yourself. If you buy the saw that fits your daily needs, you will actually enjoy the work.

FAQs – Husqvarna 450 vs 455