Wood Chippers

The right size depends on the diameter of branches you'll be chipping and how often you'll use it. For occasional homeowner use on branches up to 3", a 7HP–9HP compact chipper handles it. For regular property maintenance with 4"+ branches, step up to a 15HP towable. If you're clearing acreage or running a tree service, look at 5"+ chippers with 420cc engines. Read our full sizing guide.

Gas chippers handle more — bigger branches, longer runtime, no extension cord. Electric chippers are quieter and lighter, but cap out around 1.5"–2" branches. Working away from an outlet, on rough terrain, or chipping anything over 2"? Go gas. Light yard waste near the house? Electric is fine. See our homeowner buying guide.

Brush chippers (also called shredders) handle leafy material, soft branches, and yard debris. Wood chippers are built for hard wood and thicker limbs. Many of our machines are combo wood chipper/shredders that do both — but if you're mostly clearing brush, you don't need the heavier-duty wood chipper. Compare brush vs wood chippers.

Depends on where you're chipping. Towable chippers have a 2" hitch — you can pull them to wherever the brush is with a truck, tractor, or ATV. Portable/compact chippers stay in one spot and you wheel them around by hand. Clearing acreage or moving between brush piles? Go towable. Working in a fixed area near the driveway or barn? Portable is plenty.

For landowners with 5+ acres or anyone clearing storm damage, a chipper saves serious money on tree-service fees and brush hauling — usually paying for itself within 2–3 cleanups. For occasional homeowner use, it's more of a quality-of-life tool than a strict ROI play. See the full ROI breakdown.

Yes — but the right size matters. Hardwoods like oak, maple, and hickory take more power than softwoods. For hardwood branches up to 3", you want at least 9HP. For 4"+ hardwood, step up to 15HP with a heavier feed system. Smaller chippers can technically chip hardwood, but blades dull faster and you'll work in shorter passes. Match the chipper to the hardest wood on your property.