Whether you’re cleaning up after a storm or pruning branches from your trees and shrubs to keep them looking nice, a wood chipper makes disposal much easier while also providing useful mulch.
When I lived in the Pacific Northwest, I used a powerful gas wood chipper to clear my yard of fallen branches and create mulch to keep the weeds down in the spring and retain moisture in the summer. Now that I’m in Florida with no large trees, a much smaller electric wood chipper gets the job done just fine.
We tested six wood chippers and shredders at our homes, including both gas and electric models, to see what works and what doesn’t. We found that homeowner-grade gas wood chippers can handle branches up to 3 inches, while electric models manage about 1.75 inches. I prefer to save anything larger than that as kindling for my fire pit.
Even if you prefer to compost or discard the mulch, chipping up your branches is still worth it. Our testing revealed that the manufacturer’s claims of reduction ratios are accurate (and disposing of a few bags of compact mulch is far easier than dealing with a huge pile of branches).
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We used this Champion Power Equipment chipper to clean up deadfall around a remote lake house, and we were seriously impressed with its powerful performance and huge reduction ratio.
This is a big, heavy gas-powered chipper, but the large wheels made it easy to move over all terrain (both around a lake house and in a suburban yard), and the dual handles were comfortable. We like that it has a hopper on top for smaller items (capable of handling branches the same size as our best electric pick) and a main chute for bigger branches.
What Our Tester Said
“When feeding material into the chipper shredder, it grabs onto things very quickly, and it pulls the material in very efficiently, almost like a magic trick, poof it’s gone.”
The hopper chewed through leaves and branches up to 1.5 inches in diameter, while the main chipper chute devoured 3-inch branches. The finely chopped mulch is collected in a convenient bag connected directly to the chipper. We noticed it struggled a little with bushy material, but none of the chippers we tested did any better with that type of material.
I’ve used chippers that can handle bigger branches in the past, but they’re so expensive that you’re better off renting if you really need to chip branches that big, or save them for kindling like I do. Our best heavy-duty pick has the same maximum branch diameter, but the motor is more powerful, so it chews through thick branches more easily.
Power Source: Gasoline | Dimensions: 28.1 x 25.9 x 50 inches | Weight: 135.6 pounds | Capacity: 3 inches | Reduction Ratio: 20:1
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If you only have smaller branches to dispose of, you can save a lot of money with this electric chipper shredder from Wen—the list price is about $100 less than our best electric pick (which itself is cheaper than our gas recommendations). It works great with branches up to 1.5 inches in diameter.
I tested this chipper in my own yard, where I don’t have any non-palm trees but do have one large bush with delusions of treehood. Some of the branches I had on hand were too big for this chipper, so I set those aside to cut up for kindling later.
This chipper is designed to handle branches up to 1.75 inches in diameter, but I found that it works better with branches that are a bit smaller.
I managed to feed smaller branches in without stripping them, but inserting a bare 1.75-inch branch caused it to bog down and stop shredding. Although I didn’t have any trouble pulling the branch back out and feeding it back in, it was enough extra work that I ended up setting branches of that size aside in the kindling pile.
This chipper comes with a collection bag, but it seemed like an afterthought. There’s no way to attach it to the chipper, and it wouldn’t stand up on its own, so I used a bin instead.
This chipper produces great mulch, which I spread in a planter to help control weeds. While the chipper does let a lot of small twigs pass through, the mulch separated out easily enough by shaking the tub, so I didn’t mind.
Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 17.3 x 14.2 x 37 inches | Weight: 21.3 pounds | Capacity: 1.75 inches | Reduction Ratio: 15:1
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This powerful gas chipper has a slightly lower reduction ratio than our overall best recommendation, but I love how versatile it is. During testing, we fed it branches, leaves, and even corn cobs, and it chewed through everything—dried out and green material alike.
When we used this chipper’s large hopper for branches, brush, and leaves, we didn’t have to be very selective about what we put in. It has a limit on the width of the material it can chip, but when we put in branches that were too wide due to a fork in the branch, it simply stopped at that point, and we were able to pull the material out and break it up.
The versatility of this chipper extends beyond the material it can process, it also has a few very useful optional attachments you might want to look into—a tow bar and a vacuum. We didn’t test them, but the tow bar is perfect for transporting the chipper around behind an ATV or lawn tractor, and the vacuum attachment could be very useful for quickly mulching a heavy carpet of leaves.
The collection bag worked well, but the attachment system could have been easier. I prefer a bag that’s easy to put on and take off to save time, but this one connects with pins that were somewhat challenging to manage. Assembly could have been easier, too (some of the bolts were hard to reach), but actually using the chipper was very straightforward and easy.
Power Source: Gasoline | Dimensions: 24.1 x 36 x 41.6 inches | Weight: 130 pounds | Capacity: 3 inches | Reduction Ratio: 15:1
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All of the gas-powered chippers we tested have the same maximum branch diameter, but this Earthquake model is best-suited for heavy-duty work due to its powerful 301cc motor. Our overall best recommendation has a 212cc motor that didn’t jam at all, but this one bogged down less when chewing through thick branches.
This chipper is heavy and awkward to move around, which is expected from a heavy-duty machine. The large handle and wheels made it possible to move through the yard and mulch up branches and leaves, but it was a struggle due to the size and weight of the machine. Our most versatile pick is a little lighter, and it also has an optional tow bar if you have an ATV or lawn tractor.
The overall design of this chipper is similar to the other gas models we tested, with a hopper for small branches and leaves and a chute for thicker branches. I’m not in love with the hopper’s design (it has rubber flaps, as a protective feature, that make it too hard to feed leaves and other light debris), but the main chute works great for branches up to 3 inches in diameter.
What Our Tester Said
“The machine was almost scary with its efficiency and power – it pulls the sticks in so fast and they feed in so easily!”
One thing I love about this chipper is how easy it is to clear jams. Jams can happen with any chipper, so it’s actually fortunate that this one finally jammed up on us after a long day of grinding up brush. By removing an easy-access panel, we were able to pull out a few pieces of bark and wood that were causing the blockage.
The dock-and-lock collection bag is great too. It’s really easy to connect and remove, and it has a zipper for quick and controlled emptying. The connector is significantly better than other chippers we tested, and it felt very secure, even though it pops off so easily with a simple twist.
Power Source: Gasoline | Dimensions: 29.9 x 29.9 x 34 inches | Weight: 138 pounds | Capacity: 3 inches | Reduction Ratio: 20:1
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Electric chipper shredders can’t match the power and effectiveness of gas models, but they’re also a lot easier to handle (and cost significantly less). If your branches are under 1.75 inches in diameter, this Earthwise chipper will save you about $500 compared to our overall best recommendation.
This chipper has two holes joined by a slot in the bottom of the hopper that serve as an easy guide—if a branch fits, the chipper will mulch it. It did bog down when chipping branches at the limit of its capacity, but that’s an improvement over our best budget pick, which actually stopped chipping altogether in the same scenario.
We found that this chipper works best with smaller branches (around 1 inch) with or without smaller attached twigs. The design with two holes joined by a slot allows smaller branches and twigs to collapse down and get chipped right along with the main branch, while bigger branches need to be prepared by stripping them down first.
While this chipper shredder can handle leaves, it isn’t the best option if that’s the main thing you want to shred. Every chipper we’ve tested had at least some trouble with leaves, but we struggled to get leaves in this one at all. If you don’t have any branches to chip, I recommend a lawn sweeper or leaf mulcher instead.
I love that this chipper comes with a rigid collection bucket. It slides easily under the chipper and catches the mulched branches so nothing goes flying.
The bin holds plenty of chipped-up branches (1.2 bushels, according to Earthwise, which is about 1.5 cubic feet). It was a little heavy when full, but it was easy enough to pick up and dump into a compost bag or spread in a planter.
Power Source: Electric | Dimensions: 24 x 18 x 41 inches | Weight: 31 pounds | Capacity: 1.75 inches | Reduction Ratio: 15:1
Final Verdict
Our recommendation for the overall best wood chipper is the Champion Power Equipment 2-in-1 Upright Gas Wood Chipper. This gas-powered chipper devours branches and smaller twigs, chewing them up into useful mulch with remarkable speed. If you don’t have any large branches to clean up, the Wen Rolling Chipper Shredder (our best value recommendation) is an electric wood chipper that’s a lot easier to move around and use.
How We Tested the Wood Chippers
We tested a variety of gas and electric wood chippers in our own yards, using them to reduce branches, brush, leaves, and other yard debris for easier disposal (or to use as mulch). We used each chipper shredder at least twice during the initial testing period and then continued using them for six months or more for long-term testing.
- Ease of Setup: We started out by setting up the chipper shredders and noting any difficulties we had, and whether they included clear instructions.
- Ease of Use: While moving the chippers into position, we noted how easy or difficult it was to maneuver them (smaller electric chippers were much easier to move). We then used them to turn branches, brush, and leaves into mulch, recording any issues we had feeding in materials.
- Design: We evaluated design based on noise output, safety features (like automatic shutoff and overload protection), the collection bag or bin (if present), and other factors.
- Performance: After using each chipper shredder, we evaluated its performance based on how effectively it processed both green and dry materials. We also considered how well it chipped different branch sizes, brush, and leaves, as well as the reduction ratio and quality of the mulch.
- Value: Considering all of those factors, we determined the value of each chipper shredder by examining its price, performance, and features.
The Spruce
What to Look For in a Wood Chipper
Choose a Power Source: Gas or Electric
When selecting a wood chipper, you can start by deciding whether to get a gas or electric model. I opted to test an electric model in my own yard because I don’t have any big trees with huge branches, but I preferred more powerful gas models when I lived in the Pacific Northwest.
According to Marco Picano, landscape architect and co-owner of Picano Landscaping, you should make your decision based on the scale of work you need to get done and how mobile the chipper needs to be.
“Gas-powered chippers are more powerful and are essential for larger jobs or when working in areas without easy access to electrical outlets. Electric models, however, are quieter, environmentally friendly, and perfect for smaller yards and gardens where mobility isn’t an issue,” says Picano.
- Gas wood chippers: During our tests, we found that gas chippers can handle bigger branches with less prep work (you don’t need to strip off smaller branches and twigs). However, they’re also much noisier, more likely to kick back, and harder to move around. Our overall best recommendation is a gas-powered wood chipper that handles 3-inch branches with ease.
- Electric wood chippers: These chippers are smaller and lighter, and they’re good if your branches are smaller than 1.75 inches in diameter (the smaller the better). Our best electric pick effortlessly chewed through 1-inch branches and processed bigger 1.75-inch branches without jamming (just not as quickly).
Chipping Capacity Wide Enough For Your Branches
The chipping capacity of a wood chipper is also referred to as maximum branch diameter, as it indicates the size of the largest branches the machine can process.
While chipping capacity tells you the maximum diameter a chipper can process, I recommend choosing a chipper that’s capable of handling branches a little bigger than the ones you have. Chippers are much more efficient when they aren’t pushed to the limit, and they’re also more likely to jam when chipping maximum diameter branches.
Our best budget pick is capable of chipping 1.75-inch branches, but I noticed it bogging down a lot with branches of that size—the branches even got stuck a few times. When chipping slightly smaller branches, it operated much smoother.
The most powerful homeowner-grade wood chippers have a maximum branch diameter of 3 inches for gas chippers and about 1.75 inches for electric chippers.
I’ve used much more powerful wood chippers, but they’re so expensive that I don’t recommend buying one. If you’re cleaning up a bunch of deadfall and need to process huge branches, it’s more cost-effective to rent a more powerful chipper. When I have branches that are bigger than 3 inches in diameter, I like to cut them up for use as firewood or kindling instead.
The Spruce
Do You Need to Shred Too?
Wood chippers are sometimes referred to as chipper shredders because most can shred leaves in addition to chipping wood. If you have a lot of leaves to shred up, I recommend choosing a wood chipper that has great shredding performance, too. The alternative is to buy a separate leaf mulcher.
Our overall best recommendation has a huge hopper for leaves, brush, and small twigs, and it worked really well when shredding. If you have a lot of leaves on the ground, our most versatile pick is an even better option. If you buy the optional leaf vacuum attachment, you can suck up the leaves without even needing to rake.
The Spruce
The Right Reduction Ratio
The reduction ratio, or compaction ratio, indicates how effectively the chipper reduces branches to mulch. Since it’s a ratio, it’s very easy to assess how well the chipper works. If a chipper has a 20:1 reduction ratio, that means it can take a pile of branches that occupies 20 cubic feet of space and make it fit in a one cubic foot bag.
The chippers we tested all have high reduction ratios—ranging from 15:1 to 20:1—so they’re all great at making fine mulch for easy disposal, composting, or spreading around your yard. I tested our best budget pick, and I spread the mulch in a planter strip to control weeds.
If you prefer a more finely-shredded mulch, or you’ll be disposing or composting the mulch, our overall best recommendation has an even higher 20:1 reduction ratio.
Understanding Feeding Mechanisms
The feeding mechanism of a chipper refers to how it draws material in. There are three basic mechanisms—manual, self-feeding, and gravity feed.
- Manual feed: With this type, you need to manually feed the branches into the chipper, sometimes with the assistance of a push stick. Most homeowner-grade residential wood chippers—including every one we tested—use this method.
- Gravity feed: This method uses a hopper that you fill with material, and gravity pulls it down into the chipper. The gas chippers we tested all have a hopper, but the overall best worked better than the others.
- Self-feeding: Commercial wood chippers often have rollers that pull material in, so you don’t need to push manually. None of the models we tested has this feature, but some of them effectively grabbed on with their blades, so we didn’t need to push as hard, like our best heavy-duty pick.
Important Safety Features
Wood chippers can cause severe injury if used carelessly, so it’s important to read through the owner’s manual before the first use, familiarize yourself with the safety features, and follow all recommended safety guidelines.
Picano warns, “Safety can’t be overstated when operating wood chippers. Always wear protective gear, including safety goggles, hearing protection, and gloves. Never operate the machine without all safety guards and devices in place, and avoid wearing loose clothing that could get caught in the machine.”
Some of the important safety features I look for include:
- Safety flaps: These cover the hopper and side chutes, help keep things from accidentally falling in, and should never be removed. All of our picks have safety flaps.
- Automatic shutoff: This turns the chipper off automatically if it’s jammed or due to other conditions. Our overall best recommendation will shut off automatically if the oil is low.
- Overload protection: This feature shuts the chipper off under excessive load to avoid damage to the motor. Our best electric pick has overload protection and a reset switch.
- Control lockout: This feature keeps the chipper from turning on accidentally. Our best budget pick has an easy lockout activation on the power switch.
The Spruce
Why Trust The Spruce?
I’m Jeremy Laukkonen, an updates writer for The Spruce with over 10 years of experience covering yard equipment, power tools, and other home goods. I was a mechanic before I was a writer, so I know my way around heavy equipment. I’m currently long-term testing the Wen Rolling Chipper Shredder, which was perfect for turning a huge, overgrown bush into a more manageable size and creating piles of mulch for the planting strip in front of my house.
For this article, I relied on my extensive experience with wood chippers and data from our wood chipper tests (which I also participated in). To identify the best chipper shredders for every yard, I evaluated each chipper based on ease of setup and use, design, performance, value, and other factors.
Our Expert:
- Marco Picano, landscape architect and co-owner of Picano Landscaping
