The Best Wood Chippers & Shredders

Troy Bilt CS499 Chipper/Shredder

• Homeowners who have new brush or tree debris to chip and shred each season or multiple times per year will find the Troy Bilt CS499 Chipper and Shredder a good choice. While it can only handle branches up to 3 inches in diameter, according to Galt Home Buying Guides, the 10-horse-power engine is powerful enough to chip small branches quickly and easily. Shredding leaves in the fall is easy with the automatic rake system built into this model, which rakes in leaves and other plant debris and shreds them with a fast-moving lawn mower-style blade. It may not have the same capacity as a larger chipper or shredder, but the Troy Bilt CS499 offers the best balance of power and features for homeowners on a budget.

Ardisam Earthquake 9060300

• Compact design and equally good performance at shredding and chipping makes the Ardisam Earthquake 9060300 a good choice for light use. 3-inch branches are it's limit, but it's 6-horse-power engine has plenty of power to pull branches into the chipper. Aggressive pulling on branches in the chipper and the suction produced by the shredder can lead to overfilling, according to Popular Mechanics, which jams the machine. Homeowners must be careful to regulate how much material goes through the machine when using this model. Easy to store and lightweight, the Ardisam Earthquake is a great choice for occasional use.

Patriot CSV 2515 Electric Chipper/Shredder

• Electric chippers and shredders lack the raw power of a gasoline engine, but they don't create the same noise and air pollution levels. Electric models may be the only choice in certain suburban areas where running a loud gas shredder would be considered a nuisance. The Patriot CSV 2515 is the best electric powered model and is able to handle branches up to 2.5 inches in diameter, while many other electric models barely chip at all says Bestcovery. It costs as much as a slightly higher powered gas model, but will produce leaf and wood mulch from your yard and garden trimmings without the fumes and difficulties of a gas engine.

BCS Bio 100 Chipper

• Heavy duty, regular chipping and mulching around your property requires a high quality chipper. For heavy use, the Galt Home Buying Guides website recommends the BCS Bio 100 Chipper. Like other gas powered chippers it can handle branches up to 3 inches in diameter, but it's steel knife cuts tree limbs into mulch much quicker than smaller models. The shredder on this machine is also much more powerful. Brush with a stem diameter up to an inch can be fed into it whole because it contains 28 swinging flails for efficient shredding. While it can't process larger limbs and logs, it takes care of smaller branches and brush quickly and easily.