Best overall: Champion Power Equipment Compact Log SplitterBest gas: NorthStar Horizontal/Vertical Log SplitterBest electric: Boss Industrial EC5T20Best manual: Fiskars IsoCore 36-Inch MaulBest budget: Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SELS60
The best log splitters: Reviews & Recommendations
There are two important measurements to watch for when shopping for log-cutting tools. Hydraulic log splitters are rated in tons for the amount of pressure they apply to the log, with the smallest machines applying about 5 tons and the largest more than 30 tons. The other measurement is maximum log size. Often only a length is provided in the literature, although some manufacturers specify both length and diameter. Here are our picks for the best log splitters.
Best overall: Champion Power Equipment Compact Log Splitter
This 7-ton gas log splitter conveniently fits into most pickup truck beds but also includes a 2-inch ball hitch for easy towing. A 20-second automatic return cycle, low-profile frame with integrated log cradle, and durable offset wedge increase work efficiency. Maximum log size is 19.3 inches.
Best gas: NorthStar Horizontal/Vertical Log Splitter
This heavy-duty gas log splitter is built from the ground up with premium parts—commercial GX200 Honda engine, NorthStar hydraulic cylinder with Hallite seals, and two-stage concentric pump—for many years of hard work. Thirty tons of force ensures this item will push through the toughest trees with the hardest, gnarliest grain with ease. Innovative design elements—such as a patented log stripper, heavy-duty log tables, auto throttle control, and engine guard—help you work more efficiently and safely. The 2-inch ball coupler, high-speed tires, and fenders make transportation a cinch. Maximum log size is 25 inches.
Best electric: Boss Industrial EC5T20
This compact and powerful electric log splitter, with innovative two-way operation, weighs only 104 pounds and requires less than 15 cubic feet of storage space in the garage or tool shed. The 1.8 HP motor, providing 5 tons of force, operates on a standard household electrical outlet, produces no emissions, and it’s safe to use indoors. Maximum log size is 10 inches.
Best manual: Fiskars IsoCore 36-Inch Maul
This manual log splitter is built to last with a forged, heat-treated steel head with a rust-resistant coating. Plus, the sculpted, soft-grip handle fits the contour of your hand and promises to transfer 2X less shock and vibration than wood handles. The wedge-shaped maul head is specifically designed for, and highly efficient at, splitting—significantly better than the thin, relatively lightweight head of an axe. At only 6.6 pounds, and requiring almost no storage space, this tool punches well above its weight.
Best budget: Southland Outdoor Power Equipment SELS60
With 6 tons of ram force and an adjustable 15-second cycle time, this electric log splitter is built for quick, efficient work. Weighing in at just over 100 pounds, it is the lightest machine on our list, and the ability to park in an upright position makes it easy to stow away when not in use. Maximum log size is 20.5 inches.
What to consider when shopping for the best log splitters
There’s no way around it: Cutting your own firewood is a big job for one person. Even with the help of heavy-duty log-cutting tools, it’s more work, not less. The benefit of adding a commercial log splitter to the equation is that it makes the work faster, more efficient, more productive, and you can do it independently. That’s what a hydraulic model does, for example. Without one, a woodcutter positions the log, then uses a maul to chop it (often requiring multiple swings and repositioning the wood), then puts the maul down in order to position a new one. The process is tiring and time-consuming. Adding one of the best wood splitters to the equation saves at least half the time. The operator simply positions the log and pulls a lever. It takes about 14 seconds for a hydraulic piston to drive the log into a fixed wedge and return to the ready position. And with between 12,000 pounds and 70,000 pounds of force, these machines don’t often get stuck. They are capable of splitting logs with twisted or springy grain that would be impossible with hand tools. In the end, they allow you to work faster and harder, plus they utilize wood that would otherwise be wasted.
Is a gas-powered log splitter or electric model better for your needs?
Hydraulic log splitters are powered either by gasoline or electricity. Which one is best depends on several factors, including log size and weight, where and how often it is used, available storage space, and more. If chopping wood out in the forest is your normal routine, a gas log splitter would be the logical choice, since they carry their own power supply. These machines tend to be significantly larger and more powerful than their electric counterparts, so they are also better for larger, heavier logs with a diameter greater than about 16 inches. Many have the ability to work either horizontally or vertically. In the vertical position giant, heavy logs can be chopped with no lifting. Due to its relatively smaller size, an electric model is an excellent choice if storage space is limited. They typically feature lightweight construction, which makes positioning them for work or storage easier. Plus, they can be used inside a barn or workshop if you’d like to cut wood when the weather is cold or rainy. Electric log splitters operate more quietly than their gas-powered counterparts, which makes the work more enjoyable—and you a better neighbor. Electric power also eliminates much of the maintenance for the machine.
If you appreciate the exercise and relative quiet of working with hand tools, consider a maul.
A splitting maul is basically a heavy steel wedge on a wood, fiberglass, or metal handle. A manual splitter requires no engine or fuel, just human power. Those who only do a few at a time may find it more convenient to use this simple hand tool, rather than setting up a much larger electric or gas-powered machine. The maul takes up almost no storage space and requires no maintenance.
On a budget? Here’s what to look for in cheap wood splitters.
With a cheap log splitter, you get the basic functionality to process a large pile of wood rather quickly. However, in exchange for the bargain price, some capability is lost. Low-cost splitters offer less ram force, as little as 5 tons of pressure, which limits the log diameter the machine can effectively handle. For instance, a model with 5 tons of pressure maxes out on logs that are 8 to 10 inches in diameter, while a 20-ton product can handle logs up to 24 inches in diameter. A good, inexpensive one should offer at least 5 tons of pressure and should be easy to transport with a lightweight frame on sturdy wheels.
The final word on purchasing the best log splitters
Whether you need a simple wood-splitting maul, a quiet electric machine, or a powerful gas model, finding just the right tool is key for work satisfaction. An oversized machine is as inconvenient as an undersized one is frustrating. The best log splitter will get you out of the woods fast, saving you time, money, and stress.
