A good wood chipper turns a weekend of dragging brush piles into an afternoon job. The wrong one jams, stalls or sits unused because it is too small for your branches. Three things decide which machine fits: the branch size you need to chip, how it is powered and how it feeds.
1. Chipping capacity
Capacity is the largest branch diameter the machine can take. Buy for the branches you actually have, with a little headroom.
| Capacity | Typical use | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 to 3 inches | Garden cleanup, prunings and leaves | YARDBEAST 2510, BigBear Power BBC31 |
| 4 to 5 inches | Storm cleanup, small trees, acreage | BigBear Power BBC52, MechMaxx GS1500 |
| 6 inches and up | Land clearing, landscaping and tree work | MechMaxx B150, MechMaxx B200 (8 inches) |
2. Engine power
More horsepower keeps the rotor spinning through dense hardwood and larger branches. As a rough guide, 7 to 10 HP suits small chippers, 13 to 15 HP suits 4 to 6 inch machines, and 20 HP and up suits commercial chippers. Brand-name engines such as Kohler, Honda and Briggs & Stratton Vanguard have wide parts and service support.
Electric start is worth having on larger engines, especially in cold weather.
3. Cutting system: disc vs drum
- Disc chippers use knives on a spinning flywheel. They produce consistent chips and are common on homeowner and mid-size machines.
- Drum chippers use a rotating drum that pulls material in. They handle bushy, leafy material well and are common on commercial machines.
4. Feed system
- Gravity feed: you push material in; simple and reliable.
- Self-feeding: the cutting system pulls branches in once they are started.
- Hydraulic feed: powered rollers control the feed rate, standard on larger commercial chippers.
5. Tow-behind or tractor PTO?
Most of our chippers have their own engine and tow behind an ATV or truck. If you own a tractor, a PTO chipper uses the tractor’s engine instead. See our PTO wood chipper guide.
Frequently asked questions
What size wood chipper do I need for a typical yard?
For pruning and storm cleanup on a typical property, a 3 to 5 inch chipper covers most needs.
Can a wood chipper handle leaves?
Leaves and soft material are better handled by a chipper shredder. Read wood chipper vs chipper shredder.
Questions? Email support@genpowershop.shop. Every order ships free in the US. Browse all wood chippers.