16-inch vs 20-inch chainsaw bar: Short bar for limbing, long bar for felling

The 16-inch bar is faster and lighter for limbing in tight branches; the 20-inch gives you reach to fell bigger trees in one pass. If you mostly fell, get the 20-inch; if you mostly clean up, get the 16-inch. The trade-off is weight and power—a 20-inch needs a saw with enough torque, while a 16-inch on a 50cc saw is a sweet spot for homeowners.