What Is the Difference Between a Hatchet & an Ax?

Size

• Perhaps the simplest way to tell a hatchet apart from an ax is the size of the tool in question. Hatchets do not typically measure over twelve inches in length, while axes can measure anywhere from two to four feet in length.

Appearance

• Axes and hatchets do not always look different from one another, but by the same token, sometimes they do. Hatchets will always have a single cutting edge on the head, while axes may sometimes have a double-head -- one on the front and one on the back. This is especially true of logging or forestry axes. Also, hatchet handles typically have a pronounced curve in the handle, while axes have much straighter handles.

Use

• In the broad sense, they are both used to cut through wood. However, hatchets and axes have different jobs within that overarching category. Axes are much heavier than hatchets, and are usually used for splitting large pieces of wood or felling trees. Hatchets, by contrast, are used for smaller cuts or for lopping off the limbs of smaller trees. They are also used in the shaping of wood, which axes are ill-suited for due to their larger size.

Grip

• Perhaps the single most defining difference between an ax and a hatchet is how you hold the tool. Axes are universally held in a two-handed grip to ensure greater control. Hatchets, on the other hand, are small enough that they require only a single-handed grip to control while cutting.