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A 16-inch chainsaw chain isn’t one size — match the pitch, gauge, and drive-link count stamped on your bar or old chain.
For the full breakdown, see our best 16 Inch Chainsaw guide.
Walk into any hardware store and a “16-inch chainsaw chain” sounds like one product. It isn’t. The loop has to match the saw’s pitch, gauge, and drive-link count, and those specs vary even between 16-inch bars. The practical side of how to choose the right 16-inch chainsaw chain is simple: read two numbers stamped on the bar, count the drive links on the old chain, and match all three.
This guide explains what each number means, where to find it, and the combinations most 16-inch saws actually use, so the replacement loop fits on the first try.
Why A “16-Inch Chain” Is Not One Size
Bar length only tells you the size class of the loop, not the chain itself. A chain is defined by three measurements — pitch, gauge, and drive-link count — and all three must match the guide bar and the drive sprocket.
Husqvarna defines pitch as the distance between rivets, sprocket teeth, and bar nose teeth. Gauge is the thickness of the drive link and the width of the guide bar groove. Chain length comes from pitch plus the number of drive links, which is why two loops labeled “16 inch” can be different chains entirely.
That’s why buying by brand or saw model alone is risky: OEM and aftermarket chains vary within the same model line. The numbers stamped on the bar settle the question every time.
Choosing The Right 16-Inch Chainsaw Chain: Three Numbers To Match
Every replacement chain is defined by the same three specs, and each one is easy to find on the saw you already own.
| Measurement | What It Is | What It Must Match |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch | Spacing between rivets, sprocket teeth, and bar nose teeth | The drive sprocket and bar nose sprocket |
| Gauge | Thickness of the drive link | The width of the guide bar groove |
| Drive-link count | Number of drive links in the loop | The old chain’s loop count and the bar’s spec |
| Common 16-inch combo | 3/8″ Low Profile,.050″ gauge, 56 links | Oregon’s fit guide lists this as S56 for 16-inch bars |
Where these numbers live: pitch is often printed on the bar’s tail, on the chain’s drive links, in the operator’s manual, or on the rim of the spur, per Husqvarna. Gauge usually appears on the guide bar, the chain packaging, or the old chain. Common pitch values are 1/4″,.325″, 3/8″, and.404″; common gauges are.043″,.050″,.058″, and.063″.
How To Find The Right Chain For Your 16-Inch Saw
The reliable method is to read the old chain and the bar, then match all three numbers in this order. The steps below work for any saw brand.
- Read the pitch. Check the bar tail, the drive links, the operator’s manual, or the spur rim for one of the pitch values above. Pitch must match the drive sprocket and bar nose sprocket — a wrong pitch won’t seat or run properly.
- Read the gauge. Look on the guide bar, the chain packaging, or the old chain. Gauge must match the bar groove exactly; a mismatch can cause poor fit or unsafe operation.
- Count the drive links. Count only the drive links — the parts that ride in the bar groove — on the entire old loop. The new chain needs the same count.
- Confirm the combination. Match the loop to the 16-inch bar and the saw