A wood chipper is one of the biggest equipment investments a tree care company makes. Buy too small and your crew spends the day waiting on the chipper. Buy too large and you are hauling unnecessary weight, burning extra fuel, and paying for capacity you never use. This guide walks through the factors that matter most when choosing a wood chipper for a professional tree care operation.
Assess your capacity needs
Chipper capacity, measured in inches, tells you the maximum diameter material the machine can process in a single pass. The right capacity depends on the size of material you process most often, not the largest piece you occasionally encounter.
For residential pruning and light removals, Bandit’s 9- to 12-inch chippers handles the majority of material. The Bandit 90XC (9-inch) and Bandit’s 12” disc or drum style chippers are common choices. These machines are compact, lightweight, and easy to maneuver in tight residential yards.
For full-service tree care handling regular takedowns, Bandit offers a variety of options in the12” to 21” range. The 12XP and 15XP provide lighter weight options at a more economical price, yet still have the capability to process material efficiently.
Companies that regularly take down large trees should look at 18- to 21-inch models. The 18XP and 19XPC are built for this work. The 19XPC delivers over 10,000 pounds of feed pulling power, a 44 percent increase over the 18XP, which means it can grab and pull forked, limby material that would stall a smaller machine.
The chipper buyer’s guide on the Bandit website provides additional guidance on sizing.
Drum vs Disc Chippers
Both drum and disc chippers produce quality wood chips, but they handle material differently.
Drum-style chippers use a rotating drum with knives mounted on its face. The drum design typically allows for larger throat openings, which means you can feed brushy, forked, or irregular material with less trimming. Drum chippers are the dominant choice for tree care crews handling varied material including palm fronds.
Disc-style chippers use a large rotating disc with knives. They are known for high chip-throwing velocity and ability to chip large diameter logs more efficiently. Disc chippers are popular for those needing to throw chips a further distance, and are often the preferred solution by Utility Line Clearing Contractors.
Bandit makes both types. The hand-fed chipper lineup includes eight drum models (12XC through 21XP) and eight disc models (65XP through 280HD). Your local Bandit dealer can arrange a demonstration so you can see the difference in person.
Engine power and fuel type
Engine horsepower determines how much material the chipper can process before the engine labors or stalls. More horsepower means you can maintain feed rates on larger, denser material.
Small hand-fed chippers (6-9 inch) use gas engines ranging from 25 – 40 horsepower. These machines are utilized by rental companies, landscaping professionals, homeowners, and smaller tree services.
Mid-range chippers (12-15 inch) offer both gas and diesel options, with horsepower ranging from 49 to 174. Diesel engines provide more torque and fuel economy while gas engines are lighter in weight, less expensive, and easier to maintain.
Large hand-fed chippers (18-21 inch) also utilize gas and diesel engines with the 18XP and 19XPC featuring engine options ranging from 125 to 225, while the 21XP utilizes diesel only ranging from 275 to 350 horsepower.
Towable vs track configurations
Most hand-fed chippers are towable, designed to be pulled behind a chipper truck between job sites. Towable models are the standard for tree services because they are easy to move, require no special transport, and cost less than track models.
Track-mounted chippers make sense for operations that work on soft ground, steep slopes, or clearing and fire prevention applications. Tracks provide better traction and stability on uneven terrain, and they spread the machine’s weight over a larger footprint, reducing ground pressure.
Select Bandit hand-fed models are available in track configuration. The 12XP, 15XP, 18XP, and 19XPC all offer track options.
If your operation involves moving the chipper between job sites daily, towable is the right choice. If you work on land clearing projects or pipeline right-of-way clearing where the chipper stays on site for weeks, track may be worth the investment.
Feed system design
The feed system is what pulls material into the chipper. A weak feed system means your crew will spend more time trimming or repositioning material, which slows production and creates fatigue.
Bandit’s Slide Box Feed System is standard on most hand-fed models. This feed system has been used on Bandit chippers since 1983 and provides unmatched pulling and compressing power. It uses dual feed wheels powered by high-displacement hydraulic motors. The feed wheels grip material aggressively and pull it through, compressing forked limbs and reducing the need for pre-cutting.
The difference between a good feed system and a mediocre one shows up in daily production. A chipper that grabs and pulls material on its own lets the crew focus on cutting and dragging, not fighting the infeed. Sitting at the top of the chain for pulling power is the 19XPC and 21XP, with its chain-driven top feed wheel and oversized feed motors, delivering over 10,000 pounds of pulling power. That is the kind of difference that shows up at the end of the week in how many loads you filled.
Weight and transport considerations
A chipper’s weight affects what you can tow and where you can go. Bandit offers a variety of machines with varying weights. Key consideration has been given on Bandit’s larger machines like the 18XP and 19XPC to keep under 10,000 pounds. The 18XP can be kept under 10,000 pounds with gas or diesel engine options, while the 19XPC can be kept under 10,000 pounds with gas engine only and limited options.
Check your truck’s towing capacity before buying. Overloading a tow vehicle is unsafe and will shorten the life of the transmission and brakes. If you need to upgrade your truck to handle a larger chipper, factor that cost into your decision.
Track-mounted chippers do not require towing in the traditional sense, but they still need to be transported between job sites on a trailer. Track models are typically heavier than their towable counterparts.
Dealer support and warranty
A chipper is a long-term investment. The quality of your local dealer’s parts and service support matters as much as the machine itself. Bandit has over 250 dealer locations worldwide, each with trained parts, sales, and service personnel. When something breaks, you need a dealer who has the part in stock and can get you back to work quickly.
Ask any dealer you are considering about their parts inventory, service department capabilities, and response times. A good dealer will offer demonstrations, provide loaner equipment during major repairs, and maintain a stock of common wear items like knives, anvils, and filters.
Bandit’s hand-fed chippers come with a 5-year, 3,000-hour GUTS warranty covering the fabricated components of the feed system and chipper drum or disc.
Wood chipper FAQ
What is the best wood chipper for a tree care business?
The best wood chipper for a tree care business depends on your typical job size. For residential and light commercial work, a 12- to 15-inch drum chipper like the Bandit 12XP or 15XP handles most material efficiently. For companies handling large tree removals, the 18XP or 19XPC provides the capacity and feed power needed. Request a demonstration from a Bandit dealer to see which model fits your operation.
What size wood chipper do I need for professional tree removal?
For professional tree removal, a 15- to 19-inch capacity chipper is the most versatile choice. This range handles large limbs and whole trees without exceeding 10,000 pounds in most configurations. If you regularly process trees larger than 19 inches in diameter, consider a 21-inch hand-fed model.
Should I choose a drum or disc wood chipper?
Drum chippers are better for tree care crews handling varied, brushy, or forked material because they offer larger throat openings. Disc chippers produce uniform chips with high throwing velocity. Bandit makes both types. A dealer demonstration is the best way to decide.
What is the most important feature in a commercial wood chipper?
The feed system is arguably the most important feature. A powerful feed system like Bandit’s Slide Box Feed System pulls material aggressively, reduces manual effort, and increases daily production. Engine horsepower, capacity, and dealer support are also critical factors.
How do I find a wood chipper for sale?
Bandit sells through a network of over 250 dealers. Find a dealer near you, specify the product line and your location, and the dealer can provide pricing, demonstrations, and financing options. Used Bandit chippers are also available through the used equipment page.