Wood Chipper vs Chipper Shredder: Which One Should You Buy?
Gas wood chipper and chipper shredder examples compared on chipping diameter, shredder chute, weight and upkeep, with a verdict for branch work and mixed debris work.
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Top picks at a glance
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- 1
GreatCircleUSA GUO054 7 HP Gas Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher9.6/10View on Amazon - 2
SuperHandy Mini Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher Heavy Duty 7HP9.6/10View on Amazon - 3
WEN 41119 Electric Wood Chipper and Shredder9.6/10View on Amazon - 4
C40 Wood Chipper 4" inch Max Diameter Capacity 9 HP 274cc GasView on Amazon - 5
Patriot Products CSV-3090B Gas Wood Chipper Leaf ShredderView on Amazon - 6
Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher 7HP Gas Powered Heavy DutyView on Amazon - 7
SuperHandy Mini Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher Heavy Duty 7HPView on Amazon - 8
Landworks Rotor Wood Chipper Shredder MulcherView on Amazon - 9
S3 Wood Chipper ShredderView on Amazon
Verdict: Choose a wood chipper if your work is mainly larger branches that need chipping into smaller pieces. Choose a chipper shredder if your work is a mix of branches and smaller debris, leaves and shrubbery.
A property with trees, brush and leaf piles leaves branches and debris after every cleanup, and the choice of machine shapes how that pile shrinks. The wood chipper vs chipper shredder question comes down to what you cut most: larger branches, or a mix of branches and smaller debris. This comparison covers the differences, then an example of each side from the listings.
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MechMaxx 6 in E-Start Wood Chipper
A gas wood chipper with a 420cc 15hp engine and a 6 in chipping diameter, with a towbar and wheels for moving it around a property.
Read the full review
The MechMaxx example is the wood chipper side: a 420cc 15hp gas engine, a 6 in chipping diameter, and a towbar with 2 rear wheels at 19 in and 2 foldable front wheels at 13 in on a 48 in wheelbase. The listing states a 12V20Ah lead-acid battery for electric start, a 360-degree rotary discharge chute, and double-edge blades made of A8 material with Kevlar belts.
Pros
- 420cc 15hp engine handles branches up to 6 in in diameter, as the listing states
- Electric start with a 12V20Ah lead-acid battery for starting
- 360-degree rotary discharge chute with an adjustable deflector
- Emergency stop switch and a limit switch that shuts the engine down when a chute is open
Cons
- Weight is 639 pounds, so moving it needs the towbar and wheels
- No fuel tank capacity is stated on the listing
- No warranty term is stated; the listing states 2-year after-sales service
- Listing notes its performance note was based on relatively soft branches, and dry hardwood branches may produce pieces no larger than 80% of the advertised size
Champion Power Equipment 3-Inch Portable Chipper-Shredder with Collection Bag
A gas chipper shredder with a 3 in chipper chute, a shredder chute for smaller debris, and a 2-bushel collection bag.
Read the full review
The Champion example is the chipper shredder side: a 224cc gas engine, a chipper chute for branches up to 3 in, and a shredder chute for shrubbery, leaves or yard debris up to ½ in. The listing states a 2-bushel collection bag, a rear access clean-out port for jams, 12 in wheels, and dimensions of 23.3 in by 26.6 in by 41.4 in.
Pros
- Chipper chute handles branches up to 3 in, plus a shredder chute for debris up to ½ in
- 2-bushel collection bag included for yard cleanup
- 224cc gas engine with a .92-gallon fuel tank and .63-quart oil capacity
- 2 Year Limited Warranty with lifetime technical support, as the listing states
Cons
- Chipping diameter is 3 in, smaller than the wood chipper example
- No emergency stop or limit switch safety control is stated
- Shredder chute handles debris only up to ½ in, so larger material must go through the chipper chute
- No discharge chute rotation is stated
Other machines to compare
C40 Wood Chipper 4" inch Max Diameter Capacity 9 HP 274cc GasCheck price on Amazon
Patriot Products CSV-3090B Gas Wood Chipper Leaf ShredderCheck price on Amazon
Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher 7HP Gas Powered Heavy DutyCheck price on Amazon
SuperHandy Mini Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher Heavy Duty 7HPCheck price on Amazon
Landworks Rotor Wood Chipper Shredder MulcherCheck price on Amazon
S3 Wood Chipper ShredderCheck price on Amazon
wood chipper vs chipper shredder side by side
| Factor | Wood chipper | Chipper shredder | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipping diameter | 6 in | 3 in | Larger diameter on the wood chipper example |
| Shredder chute | No separate shredder chute stated | Up to ½ in debris | Shredder chute stated on the Champion example only |
| Engine | 420cc 15hp gas | 224cc gas | Larger engine on the wood chipper example |
| Weight | 639 pounds | 113.5 pounds | Heavier wood chipper example |
| Collection | 360-degree rotary discharge chute, no bag stated | 2-bushel collection bag included | Bag included on the Champion example only |
| Warranty | 2-year after-sales service stated, not called a warranty | 2 Year Limited Warranty | Warranty term stated only for the chipper shredder example |
| Safety controls | Emergency stop, limit switch shutdown | Not stated | Safety controls stated only for the wood chipper example |
Figures are manufacturer stated for the two example models, collected 25 October 2026.
Chipping diameter: branches or mixed debris
The wood chipper example states a chipping diameter of 6 in, so it is built around branches. The chipper shredder example states a chipper chute for branches up to 3 in, plus a shredder chute for shrubbery, leaves or yard debris up to ½ in. On these two examples, the split is the material: the wood chipper example is built around larger branches, while the chipper shredder example adds a shredder chute for mixed material.
The MechMaxx example also lists uses in forestry, gardens, orchards and landscaping, and says yard waste can be turned into decorative sawdust, coverings or fertilizers. The Champion example lists a rear access clean-out port for removing jams, which the listing describes as making it easy to remove jams.
Power and fuel
The MechMaxx example uses a 420cc 15hp gas engine with electric start from a 12V20Ah lead-acid battery. No fuel tank capacity is stated for the MechMaxx example, so fuel range cannot be compared from the listings. The Champion example uses a 224cc gas engine with a .92-gallon fuel tank and .63-quart oil capacity, as the listing states.
Engine size alone does not settle the choice, because the two examples differ in chutes and diameter, not just in engine size. The wood chipper example pairs its larger engine with a larger chipping diameter, while the chipper shredder example pairs its smaller engine with a chipper chute and a shredder chute.
What each one can cut
The wood chipper example is listed for leaves, twigs, cuttings and other yard waste, turned into sawdust, coverings or fertilizers for a house, land or commercial property. Its listed chipping diameter is 6 in, and its listing names forestry, gardens, parks, orchards and landscaping as uses. The chipper shredder example is listed for branches in the chipper chute and for shrubbery, leaves or yard debris in the shredder chute, with a collection bag for cleanup.
Handling and weight
The MechMaxx example weighs 639 pounds and moves on a towbar, with 2 rear wheels at 19 in and 2 foldable front wheels at 13 in on a 48 in wheelbase. The front wheels can be locked for straight-line movement, and the listing states a 360-degree rotary discharge chute with an adjustable deflector. The Champion example weighs 113.5 pounds, with 12 in wheels and dimensions of 23.3 in by 26.6 in by 41.4 in, and the listing calls its design compact and easy to maneuver.
Weight and size point in different directions: the wood chipper example is a towable machine, while the chipper shredder example is a compact machine for a garage, shop or shed.
Upkeep
The MechMaxx example lists double-edge blades made of A8 material and Kevlar belts, and a limit switch that shuts the engine down when a feeding or discharge chute is open for maintenance. The Champion example lists hardened steel blades in the chipper chute, a rear access clean-out port, and a collection bag and oil funnel in the box. The Champion listing also states a 2 Year Limited Warranty with lifetime technical support, while the MechMaxx listing states 2-year after-sales service, not a warranty term.
The two examples
Acreage and terrain fit
MechMaxx B150
Champion 200905
Matching It to Your Property
- On rough ground with obstacles, the wood chipper example tows on a 48 in wheelbase, with front wheels that can be locked for straight-line movement.
- For storage in a garage, shop or shed, the chipper shredder example lists dimensions of 23.3 in by 26.6 in by 41.4 in and a compact design.
- For a property with larger branches, the wood chipper example states a 6 in chipping diameter, while the chipper shredder example states 3 in in its chipper chute.
The Acre Score explained
The Acre Score weighs five factors: performance, build quality, value, safety and warranty. A factor the listing does not state scores zero, which is why the wood chipper example scores zero for warranty and the chipper shredder example scores zero for safety.
| Product | Acre Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MechMaxx B150 | 9.6 | 32 | 21 | 20 | 8 | 0 |
| Champion 200905 | 9.5 | 28 | 20 | 21 | 0 | 3 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.
If you mow open ground, see our brush and field mowers for clearing larger areas.
Read the manual, keep children and pets out of the yard while you work, wear eye and hearing protection and sturdy footwear, and never exceed the slope rating of your machine. Refuel only with the engine off and cool. See CPSC lawn mower safety. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
FAQ: mowing large lots
Can a chipper shredder chip larger branches?
Only up to the diameter its listing states. The Champion example states branches up to 3 in in its chipper chute, while the MechMaxx example states 6 in, so a branch over 3 in fits the MechMaxx example, not the Champion example.
Can a wood chipper shred leaves?
The MechMaxx listing says leaves, twigs and cuttings can be turned into sawdust, coverings or fertilizers, but it states no separate shredder chute. The Champion example states a dedicated shredder chute for shrubbery, leaves or yard debris up to ½ in, with a collection bag.
Which one is easier to move?
On the stated weights, the chipper shredder example is lighter, at 113.5 pounds against 639 pounds for the wood chipper example. The wood chipper example moves on a towbar and wheels, while the chipper shredder example is listed as compact, with 12 in wheels.
What safety controls are stated for these machines?
The MechMaxx example states an emergency stop switch, a limit switch that shuts the engine down when a chute is open, and tail lights synced with vehicle brake and turn signals. The Champion example states no emergency stop or limit switch control.
