We evaluated log splitters based on power, size of log handled, ease of use, and reliability. Our top choice is the Champion Power Equipment 27-Ton Splitter. Here, the best log splitters. The Champion Power Equipment 27-Ton Splitter has an impressive 11-second cycle time and is capable of carrying out 300 cycles per hour; that’s a whole lot of firewood. The splitter is small enough to fit into the bed of a truck and can be towed via a hitch at speeds under 45 miles per hour. This means you can take the splitter out into the woods when necessary to split logs at the source. Once you get there, it’s a simple, three-step maneuver to switch the log splitter between horizontal or vertical orientation, so you can spare your back when working on the heaviest logs. All in all, if you routinely need to cut large amounts of firewood, handle large logs, and cut hard woods such as hickory or oak, this is a tool that will serve you well. Price at time of publish: $1,499 The 15-amp motor gives this log splitter enough oomph to easily split logs up to 10 inches in diameter and 20.5 inches in length. Its sturdy steel construction will provide years of use, and the two back wheels make it easy to maneuver the device right where you need it. While you won’t conquer mighty redwoods with this log splitter, it’s definitely more than adequate for the average user who just wants to keep their fireplace fueled. Price at time of publish: $300 This log splitter has two speeds: slow, for when you need more force to split harder woods, and fast for when the wood is softer. Either way, you can tackle logs up to 20.5 inches in length and 12.6 inches in diameter, which is well within the size range you are likely to face when splitting wood at home. The splitter has 8-inch wheels, so you can pull it to where you want it, but at 165 pounds, it’s pretty heavy. Still, thanks to its lack of smelly fumes and reasonable noise level, you could use it right inside your garage if desired, something you’d never do with a gas-powered log splitter. Price at time of publish: $538 This gas-powered log splitter can handle logs all the way up to 36 inches in diameter and 26 inches in length—that’s a big piece of wood. The impressive 11.5-second cycle time means you can work your way through the wood pile in a reasonable amount of time, and you can use the tool in either a horizontal or a vertical orientation to suit your needs, which reduces effort and strain on your back. All in all, this is a log splitter that will work with you season after season to prepare plenty of firewood for your stove, fireplace, or fire pit. Price at time of publish: $1,700 This splitter has other features rarely found in electric models: it has a 2-inch ball coupler for towing behind your car, it can split logs in either a horizontal or a vertical position, and it has “cradles” to keep the log firmly in place while you work. All in all, if you want the power of a gas splitter with all the benefits of an electric splitter, this is your choice. Price at time of publish: $2,850 The Boss Industrial ES7T20 is designed for home use on smaller logs you would normally use for wood-burning purposes. The 2-horsepower motor offers 7 tons of splitting force to tackle logs up to 10 inches in diameter without the need for gasoline or a separate engine. Since the motor is quiet and clean, you can even use the splitter indoors when it is too cold or wet outside. Price at time of publish: $630 This easy-to-operate log splitter might not be the biggest, but it’s no slouch in the field, either. Its 15-amp motor provides over 13,000 pounds of pressure to split logs up to 10 inches in diameter and 20.5 inches in length; the side-support wings hold your log firmly in place, so no sliding while you cut. And the 5.5-inch wheels make it easy to transport the log splitter right where you want it. Price at time of publish: $335 For a step up from a simple axe, the best way to manually split your own logs quickly is with a metal wedge and some good old-fashioned gravity. For the true budget-conscious consumer, the Estwing Sure Split Wedge offers a lot of savings and a hands-on approach to log splitting. Designed as a splitting wedge, the Sure Split focuses the force of a hammer into a single edge for quick and easy splitting. Depending on your own strength and the striking power of the hammer you use—a sledgehammer is the best choice—you can split logs as big as 12 to 14 inches in diameter. And at only 5 pounds, the wedge is light enough to carry around with you for splitting while camping or out at a cabin in the woods. Price at time of publish: $24 The image many people conjure when thinking of a traditional axe is log splitting. Splitting means you are swinging the axe in a vertical motion to split a log into two roughly equal halves, as compared to using a chopping or felling axe, which is normally swung in a horizontal motion to cut down a tree or hack through brush. Log-splitting axes—often called mauls—generally have a wedge-shaped cutting head to maximize the splitting force, but the Fiskars Pro IsoCore Wood Splitting Maul takes it a step further with both a splitting face and a driving face, which is perfect for driving wedges or for striking with a mallet to add force to your splitting efforts. To split logs in remote locations, on a homestead, or at home, the Fiskars Pro IsoCore Wood Splitting Maul is specifically designed to give you a clean and efficient split with every stroke. The patented IsoCore handle greatly reduces shock and vibration to your arms and hands, and the dual-layer rubbery coating further reduces vibration. Price at time of publish: $70 Price at time of publish: $96 Gas-powered log splitters are the most powerful type. Many let you switch between vertical and horizontal splitting, which can be a major issue when working with very large, heavy logs. If you expect to use your log splitter regularly on very hard or large wood, this is the best option. Electric log splitters are generally powerful enough to tackle mid-size logs of light-to-moderate hardness. But you’ll be tethered to a power cord, so these tools aren’t the best choice for splitting wood on the go. Still, their relatively light weight, lack of smelly gas fumes, and quieter performance makes them a good choice if you’ll only use your log splitter occasionally to create firewood at home. Manual log splitters come in various forms, but all rely at least partly on your own strength to get the job done. Some merely require you to pump levers that work up enough pressure to drive the splitter through the log, while others hold the log in place while you do all of the heavy work. You won’t work your way through a lot of wood with a manual splitter, nor will you cut through very large or hard wood, but if you only expect to use the tool occasionally to produce kindling or very small pieces of firewood, and you’re watching your budget, a manual log splitter does the trick.
Driving Force
It takes a lot of force to push a blade through a log, and so one of the most important factors when choosing a log splitter is its driving force, which is usually measured in tons. As a general rule, gas log splitters are far more powerful than their electric counterparts. You’ll find gas log splitters with well over 30 tons of driving force, but 25 tons is about average. That’s enough to split logs up to around 24 inches in diameter. Electric log splitters typically have somewhere between 6 and 10 tons of driving force, which is enough to split logs up to around 12 inches in diameter. Pump-style manual log splitters can generally tackle logs up to around 10 inches in diameter. These tools usually top out at around 10 tons of driving force, but get there much more slowly than gas or electric log splitters, and of course, rely on your own strength to create the initial power.
Cycle Time
A log splitter’s cycle time measures how long it takes the tool to split through a log. There are a lot of variables that affect this number, however, including the size and the hardness of the log. But as a general rule, gas lot splitters are faster than electric log splitters, with an average cycle time of anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds, although you’ll find some high-powered models with cycle times as short as 3 seconds. For most people, however, around 15 seconds is sufficient when tackling a large load of logs.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. You’ll also want to consider whether you’ll generally be splitting new, green wood, or older, “seasoned” wood. Green wood requires more driving force than seasoned wood to split cleanly. As a rule of thumb:
Six-inch logs need 4 to 5 tons of driving force.Twelve-inch seasoned logs require a 7 to 10 ton splitter, while 12-inch green logs may need up to 16 tons of driving force.Eighteen-inch seasoned logs need at least 20 tons of driving force, while a green 18-inch log can require as much as 30 tons of force.A 24-inch green log requires up to 25 tons of pressure, while a green 24-inch log might need over 30 tons of driving pressure.
In terms of your buying decision, as a rough guideline, half-beam splitters are less expensive than full-beam splitters, and are also lighter, which makes them easier to maneuver. However, full-beam splitters are easier to tow behind a car, which can be a major issue if you often need to take your log splitter to distant worksites. For this roundup, she considered dozens of log splitters, evaluating each for basic features, extras, and customer feedback. She also received advise from Mike Saice, Parts & Service Program Manager at Northern Tool + Equipment and Tanisha Peten, the Chief Marketing Officer at Garrett Wade.
