5 Best Electric Wood Chippers of 2023
Updated: Mar. 08, 2023Electric wood chippers reduce branches and leaves into mulch without the extra noise and fumes of gas-powered machines.
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Electric wood chippers—also called shredders or mulchers—efficiently transform bulky and cumbersome sticks, brush and leaves into a manageable pile of shredded chips. These chips can be easily disposed of or reused as landscaping mulch.
Electric wood chippers, although less powerful than gas-powered chippers, are much more affordable and require less maintenance. They’re also light and easy to maneuver. Best of all, because they lack the combustion engine and harmful fumes of gas models, they can be safely used inside your garage.
Although most electric wood chippers look similar, some may be better suited to your specific needs. Below are five of the best electric wood chippers on the market right now.
Best Overall Electric Wood Chipper
Sun Joe CJ603E Electric Wood Chipper
The straightforward control panel and impressive 1.73-inch cutting diameter of the Sun Joe CJ603E Wood Chipper make it our best overall choice. Large power buttons take guesswork out of operation, and a convenient forward and reverse toggle allows you to easily change directions in the event of a clog or jam. The 7-inch wheels and large handle also make it easy to maneuver in and out of storage, as well as around your yard.
Pros
- Portable
- Good value
- Safety hopper keeps motor from operating when opened
- Easy-glide wheels
Cons
- Not designed for heavy-duty chipping and shredding
Best Budget Electric Wood Chipper
Sun Joe CJ601E Electric Wood Chipper
Though priced lower than any other option on our list, the Sun Joe CJ601E Wood Chipper cuts sticks up to 1-1/2 inches in diameter and reduces debris to 1/16th of its original size. Plus, at just 25.4 pounds, this wood chipper is easy for most people to wheel around. An included push paddle helps you direct material into the hopper while keeping your hands safely out of harm’s way.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Affordable
- Easy to assemble
- Very low maintenance
Cons
- Designed only for light-duty chipping and shredding
Best Electric Wood Chipper for Beginners
Earthwise GS70015 Corded Electric Wood Chipper
The extra-wide, top-mounted chute and hard-sided collection bin make the Earthwise GS70015 Wood Chipper easy to use and a great choice for beginners. The 10.5-gallon bin contains a significant amount of material, and it’s easier to dump into a yard waste bag or dumpster than a soft-sided bag.
This chipper can handle branches up to 1.75-inches thick, and the tamper tool helps you insert leaves and soft material without endangering your fingers.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean out
- Simple assembly
- Churns out fine mulch
Cons
- Designed for dry materials only
Best Electric Wood Chipper for Safety
Wen 41121 Steel Electric Wood Chipper
If safety is your top priority, the Wen 41121 Wood Chipper could be the perfect fit. It features an internal locking mechanism that keeps the unit from turning on when the hopper is open, greatly reducing the potential for injury. The narrow hopper entrance will only allow small items to fit through, increasing safety even more.
A metal support bar provides a sturdy foundation while you work. The 1.5-inch cutting diameter can accommodate a wide range of sticks, twigs and branches.
Pros
- Internal safety mechanisms automatically prevents startups when hopper is open
- Affordable
- Compact and lightweight for easy storage and transportation
- Unclogging is simple and easy
Cons
- Blades need to be kept sharp for optimum performance
Best Electric Wood Chipper for Heavier Jobs
Detail K2Â Electric Start 429-cc Kohler 6-in Steel Gas Wood Chipper
If you want a wood chipper that can handle tougher jobs, you’ll probably need one that uses some gas. uses some gas. Additionally, you can expect a heavy-duty wood chipper to be significantly more expensive than a lightweight electric wood chipper.
This wood chipper from Lowe’s has an electric start, but does take gas. However, it has dual 13-inch cutting blades that can pulverize yard debris up to 6.25 inches in diameter—more than three times the diameter of the other options above. This electric wood chipper has a removable tow bar, so you can hitch it to the back of your riding lawn mower and pull it wherever you need to chip and shred.
Pros
- Dual swing chutes open for easy drum access
- Removable tow bar
- Built in steel toolbox
- Chute pipe rotates 180 degrees
- Chute is truck bed height for chip loading
Cons
- Expensive
- Takes gas
What to Consider When Buying an Electric Wood Chipper
Take the time to carefully consider these factors when choosing your wood chipper:
- Weight: You’ll most likely wheel your chipper out to the yard or driveway, so pay attention to how much it weighs. If you have joint or strength issues, go with a lighter option that will be less work to pull and push into place. Keep in mind you’ll likely sacrifice power.
- Chipping Capacity: Some electric wood chippers handle larger diameter sticks than others, so make sure to choose the correct capacity for your yard waste. The maximum cutting diameter will be clearly stated on the machine. Electric wood chippers sometimes jam or clog, so it’s better to err on the side of higher capacity.
- Bag capacity: Some chippers come with a collection bag or container that fills with chips as you work. Think about how much debris you’ll be processing and choose a bag size that suits your needs. Hard-sided containers can be easier to pour and dump into a yard waste bag than soft-sided bags.
- Cost:Â Although some higher-end options can be expensive, electric wood chippers are relatively affordable, most ranging from $100 to $250. In our experience, the higher the price, the larger diameter branches it can handle.
How We Found the Best Electric Wood Chippers
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
FAQ
Is an electric wood chipper noisy?
Electric wood chippers are generally less noisy than gas-powered wood chippers. However, they are still considered noisy (about 85 decibels) enough that you should wear hearing protection while operating one.
How is an electric wood chipper used?
Electric wood chippers are efficient for transforming bulky sticks, brush and leaves into shredded chips for mulch, composting and easy disposal. Electric wood chippers require less maintenance than gas-powered chippers, and they’re also lighter and easier to maneuver. Electric wood chippers also don’t put out harmful fumes because they don’t have a gas engine.
Can you put bamboo in an electric wood chipper?
We don’t recommend putting bamboo in a wood chipper. Even if your wood chipper has a motor strong enough to shred bamboo, thick and dry woody canes can be extremely brittle and split into sharp, dangerous slivers.
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