The 2022 Best Wood Chippers

Buying a Wood Chipper

If you frequently tackle yard work projects that produce piles of sticks, branches, and logs, you’ll probably benefit from a wood chipper.

Sharp blades chop these bulky items into manageable piles of chips that can then be bagged up and thrown out, or used as mulch in a landscaping project. As a landscaper, I’ve found wood chippers extremely useful while clearing brush. Once they’re in place, they do most of the work for you.

When choosing the best wood chipper for you, consider these factors:

• Type: You’ll find three — electric, gas and power take-off (PTO). Electric wood chippers are the least powerful and better suited for thinner branches, from 1/2-in. to two inches in diameter. And because they need to be plugged in, their portability is limited. Gas chippers are more powerful and more expensive, typically handling branches up to 3-in.-dia. But their engines are noisier, produce harmful fumes and require messy fuel mixes. PTO chippers are the most powerful and much larger than electric or gas. They hook up to your existing tractor and draw energy from the engine. PTO chippers would only be practical for clearing large amounts of land with lots of thick branches and logs.
• Size and weight: Dimensions vary depending on the type. Measure carefully and note the weight. It needs to fit in your garage or tool shed, and transport easily to where you need it. Electric chippers typically weigh from 25 to 100 lbs., gas models more than 100 lbs., and PTO chippers up to 1,000 lbs.
• Use: Some chippers process leaves and other soft debris better than others. If you plan on using your chipper for sticks and leaves, go with a wider chute that can hold more debris.
• Cost: Essentially, the more expensive the wood chipper, the larger the diameter of wood it can handle. Consider type and size chipper carefully so you don’t waste money on a model that’s too powerful, or buy one that’s not powerful enough. If you’ll only use your chipper occasionally, it might be cheaper to rent one from your local hardware store.