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Stihl MS 250 chain size
One of the best-selling homeowner saws in North America — and the model where published chain specs contradict each other most. Bar-first verification matters most here.
The MS 250 is a 45.4 cc homeowner and firewood saw sold in large numbers across the US and Canada, most often with a 16″ or 18″ bar. It is also the clearest example on this site of why model-only lookups fail: the leading web results for this saw's chain disagree with each other on pitch, gauge and drive links, and shopping listings note a gauge difference between earlier and later production. We therefore publish what each source reports — side by side — and the check that resolves it.
For this saw, the sources a normal search turns up contradict each other on the chain spec. The table below prints what each reports. The stamp on your bar tail — pitch, gauge, drive links — is the tiebreaker, and it takes a minute to check: verification guide.
Chain specifications by fitted bar
| Bar | Pitch | Gauge | Drive links | File | OEM chain | Equivalent chains |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16″ SOURCES CONFLICT | Reported both .325″ and 3/8″ | Reported .050″ and .063″ | 62 (marketplace listing) | By pitch: .325″ → 3/16″ · 3/8″ → 7/32″ | — | — |
| A marketplace listing gives 62 drive links for the 16″ setup. Pitch and gauge for this length are exactly what the sources argue about — read your bar stamp. | ||||||
| 18″ SOURCES CONFLICT | Reported both .325″ and 3/8″ | Reported .050″ and .063″ | 72 (marketplace listing) · 68 (one roundup) | By pitch: .325″ → 3/16″ · 3/8″ → 7/32″ | — | — |
| One affiliate roundup lists the MS 250 as .325″ pitch / .063″ gauge / 68 drive links; another lists 3/8″ pitch and .050″ gauge; a marketplace listing gives 72 drive links at 18″. They cannot all describe the same bar. | ||||||
What each source reports
| Bar | Source | Pitch | Gauge | Drive links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16″ | accio.com (marketplace listing) | — | — | 62 |
| 16″ | smartfixhardware.com (one roundup) | .325″ | .063″ | — |
| 16″ | chainsawnerds.com (chainsaw blog) | 3/8″ | .050″ | — |
| 18″ | accio.com (marketplace listing) | — | — | 72 |
| 18″ | smartfixhardware.com (one roundup) | .325″ | .063″ | 68 |
| 18″ | chainsawnerds.com (chainsaw blog) | 3/8″ | .050″ | — |
Sources: Reported variants from: an affiliate buying roundup (smartfixhardware.com), a chainsaw blog's MS 250 pages (chainsawnerds.com), and a marketplace listing set (accio.com), all read 23 Oct 2026. Genuine Stihl chain is sold through dealers rather than online, so replacement buying runs through Oregon-equivalent loops matched on your three numbers.
Source list (3)
- smartfixhardware.com — Affiliate buying roundup listing the MS 250 chain [one roundup · retrieved 2026-10-23]
- chainsawnerds.com — Chainsaw blog's MS 250 pages [chainsaw blog · retrieved 2026-10-23]
- accio.com — Marketplace listing set for MS 250 chain [marketplace listing · retrieved 2026-10-23]
The 60-second check for this saw
- Take the clutch cover off (two nuts) and lift the bar out.
- Read the stamp on the bar tail: length, pitch, gauge, and the drive-link count on most bars.
- Match all three numbers to the table above. If your stamp disagrees with the table, your saw is wearing a non-standard bar — order to the stamp, and tell us via the contact page so we can note the variant.
Full method, with diagrams: How to verify your chain size · Chain identification chart
Because published specs conflict for this saw, we do not point you at a specific loop for it. Read the three numbers off your bar stamp, then search any retailer below by pitch + gauge + drive links (for example “.325 .050 72”).
- Oregon Products — the chain maker's own site: full spec data for every Oregon loop, sold through its dealers.
- Acme Tools — US outdoor-power retailer carrying Oregon chain.
- Amazon — widest selection of Oregon and OEM loops in the US and Canada; check the seller's stated pitch/gauge/drive links against the table above.
- Your local saw dealer — the right call for genuine Stihl chain, which Stihl sells through dealers rather than online.
Price guide from listings checked 23 Oct 2026: a single Oregon loop was listed at about $21.43 and 3-packs at about $47.94–$67.99. These are dated examples, not live prices — the checkout price is the real one. The links above are plain retailer links with no affiliate tags and earn no commission: our disclosure.
Questions about the Stihl MS 250 chain
What size chain does a Stihl MS 250 take?
Published sources disagree for the Stihl MS 250: listings variously report .325 inch pitch / .063 inch gauge, 3/8 inch pitch / .050 inch gauge, and 62 drive links (16 inch bar) or 72 drive links (18 inch bar). The chain depends on the bar actually fitted to the saw, so read the stamp on your bar tail before ordering.
How do I check the chain size on my Stihl MS 250?
Take the clutch cover off, lift the bar out and read the stamp on the bar tail: it shows bar length, pitch, gauge and usually the drive-link count. Match all three numbers; if your stamp disagrees with a chart, order to the stamp.