The Top 5 Best Wood Chippers for Efficient Yard Work

Mulching or chipping is one of the most effective methods for disposing of yard waste, such as leaves and branches. You can easily rent a chipper from a hardware store for a day, but it is more cost-effective to purchase one for long-term use.

When shopping for a wood chipper, there are a few factors to consider. The first consideration is the type of fuel the chipper uses. An electric motor is quieter and cleaner, but has less power, limiting its ability to chip or mulch larger debris. On the other hand, gas chippers have more power and can handle debris up to three inches in diameter, but require regular maintenance and refueling.

Most shredders and chippers can process branches up to three inches in diameter. If you need to chip larger materials, you will need a specialized chipper, which is typically more expensive and geared towards commercial use.

Sun Joe CJ603E Silent Electric Wood Chipper

The Sun Joe 15-Amp Electric Wood Chipper has a limited capacity of 1.7 inches in diameter, but it boasts an impressive reduction ratio of 21:1. The compact design, weighing only 38.6 pounds, is powered by a 15-amp motor that provides the necessary energy for chipping, mulching, and shredding. It features a built-in safety mechanism that stops the motor when the hopper is open to reduce the risk of injury.

During testing, we found the Sun Joe CJ603E easy to assemble and unpack, with a working range limited only by the length of a heavy-duty extension cord. It handled green and dried branches up to 1.7 inches thick with ease, and the motor provided sufficient power to grind even the toughest dried wood without stalling. Although it lacks a hopper-style intake for shredding fine debris, the branch feed chute worked well for coarse weed stems, sunflower stems, cornstalks, and tree branches.

We appreciated the chipper’s compact size and lightweight build, making it easy to transport and store. The moderate price and convenient low-maintenance electric operation make this an excellent choice for routine yard maintenance, especially for those who wish to avoid the fumes of gas models.

Product Specs:

• Engine: 15-amp corded electric
• Branch capacity: 1.7 inches
• Weight: 38.6 pounds

Pros:

• Grinds branches up to 1.7 inches in diameter
• Reduces 21 bags of yard debris to the volume of 1 bag
• Convenient plug-in electric operation with less noise and pollution compared to gas models

Cons:

• Teeth may wear down quickly with long use
• Mulch bag may seem somewhat flimsy for extended use.

Earthwise Electric Chipper

The Earthwise Electric Chipper Powerful is equipped with a 15-amp electric motor that can effectively shred branches up to 1.75 inches in diameter. With a safety chute and tamper tool, this wood chipper ensures that your hands stay safe from the steel blades while in use. The powerful motor runs up to 4500rpm, making it a fast and efficient option for yard waste disposal. Additionally, the product comes with a spacious 40-liter bushel collection bin to keep your outdoor space clean and organized. Its rear wheels enable you to transport and store the chipper safely and conveniently close to a power outlet.

Pros:

• Can shred branches of up to 1.75 inches in diameter
• Safety chute and tamper tool keep hands away from the blade
• Large 40-liter bushel bin for convenient waste collection
• Rear wheels enhance portability and ease of storage

Cons:

• The absence of a bin full indicator can be inconvenient as it requires stopping and checking the bin manually to prevent jams.

Great CircleUSA Heavy Duty Wood Chipper Shredder

Pros:

• Can handle branches up to 3 inches
• High reduction rate
• Offers a leaf vacuum attachment
• Can be towed by a lawn tractor

Cons:

• Discharge bag is not sturdy
• Assembly instructions are unclear

If you have a lot of trees in your yard and need to dispose of fallen branches and other debris, the Great CircleUSA Heavy Duty Wood Chipper Shredder is a great choice. This versatile machine can easily handle branches, limbs, leaves, and chips up to 3 inches in diameter, thanks to its powerful 7 HP engine.

With a 15:1 reduction rate, this chipper shredder can transform 15 bags of lawn waste into just one bag of mulch. However, it is important to note that this product is not suitable for pine cones, palm fronds, vines, or fresh greens. This wood chipper shredder also comes with attachments for a leaf blower and can be towed across larger yards with a lawnmower, ATV, or other transportation method.

While assembly is not complicated, the instructions may be unclear. However, the efficiency and convenience this wood chipper shredder provides makes it worth the price tag. Just be aware that the discharge bag is not very sturdy.

Patriot Products CSV-2515

Rewritten: This electric wood chipper is a versatile and quiet machine that can handle shredding leaves, chipping branches, and producing a range of chip sizes. It weighs less than 100 pounds, making it easy to move around the yard, and it can be plugged into any standard 110-volt outlet or used with a heavy-duty extension cord under 100 feet. With a 2 HP motor, it can chip branches up to 2.5 inches in diameter, and it doubles as a leaf shredder. The machine comes with safety goggles and a collection bag, and it has a two-year warranty that can be extended to three years. While it has received some reviews that note it can clog easily, it’s still an easy-to-maintain wood chipper that can make yard work a breeze.

Landworks Powerful Wood Chipper

This gas-powered wood chipper from Landworks is ideal for shredding wood branches up to two inches thick. In addition, the shredding chute can also process leaves and create mulch, while the large wheels make it effortless to tow around larger properties. It is essential to follow the user manual to ensure proper and safe usage of this wood chipper, as with all other models. While Amazon does not sell wood chipper blades for this specific model, most customers were able to find them locally.

One satisfied customer gave this product a five-star review and mentioned that the Landworks chipper was simple to assemble in just about 20 minutes. “I added oil and gas, and the unit started on the first pull, which surprised me,” they wrote. “I set the throttle to full and chipped for about an hour. I reduced a large pile of branches to a mulch pile about three feet tall. Excellent power.”

Specifications: Mulch reduction ratio: 15:1 Wood chipper AMP/HP: 7HP

How to Choose a Wood Chipper

When considering purchasing a wood chipper, the size of your property and where you live are important factors to consider. For residential or urban homes, electric wood chippers that can chip branches up to 2 inches are ideal. They are quieter, cleaner, and easier to maintain than gas-powered models, but may not be suitable for heavy-duty jobs. However, gas-powered wood chippers are more powerful and can handle branches up to 3 inches in diameter, making them ideal for larger rural properties such as farms and acreage. They are more expensive, noisier, and produce fumes, but can tackle large amounts of wood and are more portable. Be sure to follow the user manual to ensure proper and safe usage.

FAQs

1. How Often Do You Use a Wood Chipper?

Here at Besthomegear.com, we want to ensure you get the best value possible, which doesn’t always mean purchasing an item outright. If you’re only going to be using these once a year or to clean up a mess that an unexpected storm left behind, then you probably would be better off renting one rather than spending money on one.

But if you own a yard with high vegetation, lots of trees, and a brush, this may be a permanent product worth owning. Why? Because it does far more than just cut branches.

You can also use wood chipper shredders to shred grass, weeds, kitchen waste, or other materials. The result is a super fine mulch that is easy to dispose of or use as homemade compost. There are tons of things you can do with these machines.

Tip: If you have large trees AND a  privacy fence in your yard, any overhanging tree limbs can potentially fall and damage your fence significantly. 

If you own an excellent pole saw – you can quickly remove any potentially damaging stems and use your wood chipper shredder to finish them off.

1. How Do Wood Chippers Work?

A wood chipper shredder works by using a chute that you feed branches into. Once the wood hits the rotating blades, it’s chopped into tiny chips that the shredder mechanism then shreds into fine mulch. Once that’s done, the mulch falls to the ground for easy clean-up.

Some chipper shredders utilize attachments for easy bagging of the mulch. Determine whether a mulching bag or vacuum accessory is essential for using mulch from a Wood Chipper for Composting.

1. How Should I Choose a Wood Chipper Shredder?

Like most lawn maintenance tools, the machine that is best for you depends mainly on your needs. Of course, you could always go for the best chipper on the market, but you could likely “outspend your needs.”

We recommend you determine how often you will use it, how much of a workload you will put on it, and of course, your budget.

After reviewing our wood chipper list, you may require a larger tow-behind model.