Stihl Mini Boss Chain: Every Model, and the One That Catches People Out

The Stihl "Mini Boss" is the Australian nickname for Stihl's compact homeowner saws — a group of roughly 30–35cc machines built for pruning, storm cleanup, small felling and topping up the woodheap rather than day-long production cutting. They're the budget-friendly end of the Stihl range and among the most common saws in Australian sheds. The group covers the MS 170, MS 172, MS 180, MS 182 and MS 162, along with the MS 211 and MS 212. All of them run a 3/8" low profile chain — 44 drive links on a 12" bar, 50 on a 14", 55 on a 16". The one difference worth knowing before you order: most run a .043" gauge, but the MS 211 and MS 212 run a thicker .050".

If you walked out of a Stihl dealer with a small orange saw and someone called it a Mini Boss, this page is for you. It's not an official Stihl model name — it's what the range gets called around here, which is exactly why searching the nickname turns up so little useful information about chains.

Which Saws Are "Mini Boss" Saws?

Every saw in the group takes the same bar lengths and the same drive-link counts. Find your model below and the Alpine chain code links straight through to the right chain.

Alpine codes read left to right: LT = 3/8" LP pitch, 43 or 50 = gauge, S = semi-chisel. The drive-link count is added when you pick your bar size. Full code breakdown here.

The One Thing That Catches People Out

Look down the drive-link column and you'll see the problem: every saw in the range takes the same counts. 44, 50 or 55, whichever model you own.

So a chain bought for an MS 180 will be exactly the right length for an MS 211. It'll go on the bar. It'll tension up. It just won't be the right thickness — .043" sitting in a groove machined for .050".

That's what makes this the most common wrong-chain order we see. It isn't an obvious mistake; it's a chain that nearly works.

• .043" chain on a .050" bar — sits loose in the groove, leans under load, cuts in a curve and wears the bar rails unevenly.

• .050" chain on a .043" bar — won't seat in the groove at all. You'll know immediately, which is the safer of the two.

The check takes ten seconds: read the gauge stamped on your bar. .043" or 1.1mm means the LT43-S rows. .050" or 1.3mm means the LT50-S rows. (More on what gauge actually does in our bar gauge guide.)

Can't read the stamp? Enter your model in Search by Chainsaw, or send a photo of the bar through the chat and we'll confirm it before anything ships — that's our Guaranteed Fit promise.

What Chain Should a Mini Boss Run in Australian Hardwood?

These are small engines, and that matters more here than it would on a bigger saw. A 30cc powerhead has nothing spare once the chain stops biting, so edge retention isn't a nice-to-have — it's the difference between cutting and pushing.

In seasoned Red Gum, Box or Ironbark, a semi-chisel profile holds its edge considerably longer than the low-kickback chain these saws often ship with. The rounded working corner tolerates the grit in dry Australian bark rather than fracturing on it. (The geometry is in our full chisel vs semi-chisel guide, and the timber side in best chainsaw chain for Australian hardwood.)

Keep a file with it. Two or three strokes a tooth when you refuel and a small saw keeps cutting like a bigger one.

Mini Boss Chain — FAQ

What is a Stihl Mini Boss?

It's an Australian nickname rather than an official Stihl model name. It refers to Stihl's compact homeowner saws — roughly 30 to 35cc machines including the MS 170, MS 172, MS 180, MS 182, MS 162, MS 211 and MS 212 — built for pruning, storm cleanup and firewood rather than production cutting.

What chain does a Stihl Mini Boss take?

A 3/8" low profile chain, with 44 drive links on a 12" bar, 50 on a 14" bar, or 55 on a 16" bar. Gauge is .043" on most models, or .050" on the MS 211 and MS 212.

Is the MS 170 chain the same as the MS 180?

Yes. Both run 3/8" LP pitch in .043" gauge with identical drive-link counts, so the same chain fits either saw provided the bar length matches.

Does the MS 211 take the same chain as the MS 170?

No — and this is the most common mistake. Both are 3/8" LP with identical drive-link counts, but the MS 170 runs .043" gauge while the MS 211 runs .050". The chain will be the right length and the wrong thickness.

What happens if I fit a .043" chain to an MS 211?

It sits loose in the .050" bar groove, leans under load, cuts in a curve and wears the bar rails. The reverse — a .050" chain on a .043" bar — won't seat in the groove at all.

How do I tell which gauge my saw runs?

Read the guide bar. Most Stihl bars carry the gauge stamped near the mounting slot, shown as .043" / 1.1mm or .050" / 1.3mm. If it's worn off, count the drive links on your old chain and send us a photo.

What bar sizes fit a Mini Boss?

12", 14" or 16". The 14" is the most common fit in Australia, which takes 50 drive links.

Which chain is best for a small Stihl in hardwood?

Semi-chisel. These are 30 to 35cc engines with no power to spare, so a chain that holds its edge through dry, gritty Australian timber matters more than one that cuts fast when brand new.