You’ve got a forest of trees or a massive wood waste pile staring you down. You need to know if there’s a machine out there that can truly handle it all, but the sheer variety of equipment can be confusing.
The “biggest” wood chipper can refer to different types of machines, each designed for specific scales of operation: traditional wood chippers can handle logs up to about 50 cm in diameter, while heavy-duty industrial horizontal grinders, often called tree grinders, can process entire tree trunks exceeding 1 meter (100 cm) in diameter.
From my 22 years in this industry, I’ve seen how critical it is for our customers to understand the difference. You don’t just need a “big” machine; you need the right big machine for your specific job. Let’s break down what’s truly considered “big” in the world of wood processing equipment.
What is the biggest wood chipper you can get?
When you talk about the “biggest” wood chipper, it often creates some confusion. Many people imagine a massive version of a residential chipper, but the industrial scale is an entirely different beast.
The largest traditional wood chippers that operate with drum or disc mechanisms are typically industrial-grade units, capable of processing logs up to about 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter, offering high throughput for logging, biomass, and large-scale land clearing operations.
From my perspective crafting wood processing equipment for the global market, “biggest” for a standard wood chipper usually means a machine designed for high volume and larger feed material, but still within the typical range of a chipper, which focuses on producing uniform wood chips. For instance, our industrial wood chippers are built to process wood up to 50 cm in diameter. These machines are far more robust than what a homeowner might use. They feature powerful diesel engines, with some models offering up to 235 HP, and employ hydraulic forced feeding systems to pull in large, tough material efficiently and safely. A key aspect of these large chippers is their ability to deliver substantial output. For example, our Model 1585 chipper, with 235 HP, can process 7-10 tons per hour. These larger chippers are designed for demanding applications such as land clearing operations, forestry management, and biomass production. They embody the kind of durable, high-capacity machinery that has been our focus for over two decades. You can view our range of wood chippers to see some high-capacity examples.
What is the maximum diameter for a wood chipper?
You’re looking at a tree that’s just too big for typical chippers, and you’re wondering if any machine can handle it without needing to be cut down first. Knowing the exact limits is crucial for planning.
The maximum diameter for a wood chipper varies significantly by type and model: dedicated industrial wood chippers typically handle up to 50 cm (20 inches), while specialized horizontal grinders can manage much larger diameters, potentially exceeding 1 meter (100 cm) or even 1.5 meters (59 inches) for the largest models [8][11][12][20].
When customers ask me about maximum diameter, it’s essential to distinguish between what a “wood chipper” can do and what a “horizontal grinder” is designed for. Our standard wood chippers, such as the ZSYL-1263 series, are engineered to chip wood up to 35 cm (about 14 inches) in diameter, with some larger specific models reaching up to 43 cm (about 17 inches). Our top-tier industrial wood chippers, which are known for their robust build and high efficiency, can process wood up to 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter. This capability is achieved through a combination of a wide infeed chute, powerful engines (like 197 HP or 235 HP options), and strong hydraulic feed rollers that grab and pull large logs into the cutting mechanism. However, when you move beyond this, you’re looking at what are generally referred to as horizontal grinders—machines built for entirely different scales. These machines are designed with massive inlets and immense power to break down whole trees or large sections of logs that no traditional chipper could ever handle. For example, some of our heavy-duty horizontal grinders, like the XXZX9000, have an impressive input opening of 200 cm (width) by 140 cm (height) and can process wood up to 100 cm (about 39 inches) in diameter. This makes them suitable for exceptionally large timber.
What is the largest tree grinder?
You’re in a situation where you need to process entire trees, or very large sections of trunks, quickly and efficiently. You need to know what kind of machine is powerful enough for such a monumental task.
The largest tree grinders are typically heavy-duty horizontal grinders, capable of processing entire trees or large logs with diameters ranging from 1 meter (39 inches) to even 1.5 meters (59 inches), designed for high-volume, continuous operation in demanding environments like large-scale land clearing or biomass production facilities.
From my experience, when people talk about grinding entire trees, they are almost certainly referring to what we call horizontal grinders. These are not your typical wood chippers. These are industrial titans built for extreme capacity and durability. For example, our horizontal grinders, like the Model 1400, are designed to process logs and branches up to 1.5 meters (59 inches) in diameter in a single pass. This is six times faster than a traditional chipper for such large materials. These machines are often equipped with exceptionally powerful engines, with some exceeding 400 HP, to ensure they can chew through dense, large-diameter wood without bogging down. We even have models like the XXZX9000, which can handle wood up to 100 cm (1 meter) in diameter, powered by engines up to 861 HP. Their construction is incredibly robust, featuring reinforced steel structures (some weighing 20 tons) and advanced hydraulic systems to ensure stable operation even under the most extreme conditions. The applications for these colossal machines are vast: from large-scale land clearing and post-disaster debris removal to producing biomass fuel for power plants and pre-shredding in biomass processing lines. You can explore more about our robust horizontal grinders on our website. For a broader understanding of these machines, you could also look into resources like Wikipedia’s entry on wood chippers, which often touches upon these larger industrial-grade grinders.
Conclusion
The “biggest” wood chipper depends on scale: industrial chippers handle up to 50 cm, while massive horizontal grinders, or tree grinders, process over 1-meter diameters, offering solutions for every wood processing need.
