The horsepower a sawmill needs depends mainly on log diameter, wood hardness, cutting speed, and sawmill type. There is no single horsepower rating that fits every sawmill.Typical Sawmill HorsepowerSawmill TypeTypical Power RangeSuitable UseSmall portable band sawmill14–25 HPSmall logs
A band sawmill can be quite accurate, but the precision depends heavily on the machine quality, setup, operator skill, blade condition, and log conditions.Typical accuracy ranges:Good-quality hydraulic band sawmills: Often can hold cuts within about 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) under good conditions.