A wood chipper can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to well over $100,000, depending on the machine’s size, power, capacity, brand, and condition. Smaller wood chipping machines, made for light yard work, are usually at the lower end, while larger commercial machines built for heavy trees can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more.
The purchase price is only part of the cost. Fuel, maintenance, repairs, and transportation can also add to your overall expenses. If paying the full cost upfront would put pressure on your business’s cash flow, equipment financing can help you spread the cost over time. Beacon Funding provides equipment financing that helps landscaping businesses add a wood chipper without paying the full cost upfront.
In this article...
- What Affects the Cost of a Wood Chipper?
- What Other Costs Should You Plan For?
- Should You Finance or Rent a Wood Chipper?
- Customer Success Spotlight: Landscaping Equipment Financing
- How Do You Choose the Right Wood Chipper?
- Should You Buy A New or Used Wood Chipper
- How Can You Pay For a Wood Chipper?
- How Much Would a Wood Chipper Cost Each Month to Finance?
- Wood Chipper Cost and Financing
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Affects the Cost of a Wood Chipper?
Several things can change the price of a wood chipper.
Size and Capacity
Larger branches usually require a more powerful chipper. Before buying, think about the jobs your crew handles most often.
- Small branches may only need a small chipper.
- Larger branches need a bigger feed opening and more power.
- Regular tree work may call for a commercial wood chipper.
There is no reason to pay for a large machine if it’s not necessary.
Power
Wood chippers come with different power options.
- Electric: Usually suited for lighter work.
- Gas: Common for outdoor jobs.
- Diesel: Often used in larger commercial machines.
- Power Take-Off (PTO): Connects to a 3-point hitch and uses the tractor’s take-off shaft to process branches and brush into mulch.
Feed System
The feed system moves branches into the chipper.
Smaller machines may need branches to be fed by hand. Larger machines may use powered rollers that pull branches into the machine. A powered feed can make bigger jobs easier, but it can also increase the price.
New or Used
New wood chippers generally cost more than used ones. Used equipment can help keep upfront costs lower, but the cost depends on its age, condition, hours, and equipment.
If you’re looking to keep costs down, a used wood chipper may be a good option, as long as it is in good working condition.
CALCULATE YOUR WOOD CHIPPER'S LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT
What Other Costs Come with a Wood Chipper?
The purchase price is only one part of the total cost: maintenance, fuel, repairs, transportation, and safety equipment should also be considered in your wood chipper budget.
Maintenance
Wood chippers have parts that wear down with use.
You may need to pay for:
- Oil
- Filters
- Blades
- Belts
- Tires
- Other replacement parts
Check the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule before buying so you know what the equipment will need.
Fuel
Gas or diesel costs can add up when your crew uses the chipper often. When comparing machines, look at both the purchase price and the cost to run the equipment.
Repairs
Older or heavily used equipment may need more repairs. If you are buying used, ask about the repair history and have the machine checked before you buy it.
Transportation
Commercial wood chippers can be heavy. Before buying, make sure your truck or trailer can safely move the equipment between job sites.
Safety Equipment
Wood chippers can cause serious injuries when they are not used correctly. OSHA recommends following the manufacturer’s instructions and using the right protective equipment when working with landscaping equipment.
Should You Finance or Rent a Wood Chipper?
The answer depends on how often you need one. Financing may make sense if your crew uses a wood chipper regularly. You can get the equipment you need without paying the full cost upfront, and you can use the machine for ongoing jobs while making payments over time.
If you only need a chipper a few times a year, renting may cost less than financing and maintaining your own machine.
Before you decide, compare:
- How often you will use it
- Rental costs
- Financing costs
- Maintenance and repair costs
- Transportation costs
If you use a wood chipper regularly, wood chipper financing from Beacon Funding can help you spread the equipment cost over time while keeping more of your business’s cash available for other expenses.
GET STARTED WITH WOOD CHIPPER FINANCING
Customer Success Spotlight: Beacon Funding’s Equipment Financing for Landscapers
Beacon Funding helped Jose Granados, owner of Grow Care Outdoor Solutions, finance the equipment his crew needed to keep up with growing demand for landscaping projects.
By financing his equipment, Jose split the purchase into smaller monthly payments instead of paying the full cost upfront. His team increased efficiency, expanded services, and the business grew revenue.
The success of Grow Care Outdoor Solutions shows how equipment financing can support a growing landscaping business without tying up cash flow. The same approach can be applied to a wood chipper: instead of paying the full price upfront, you can spread the cost over time and put the equipment to work right away.
If a wood chipper is the next piece of equipment your crew needs, Beacon Funding can help you explore financing options that fit your business.
How Do You Choose the Right Wood Chipper?
Start with the work your business already does.
Ask yourself:
- What size branches do you usually handle?
- How often will you use the chipper?
- How much material will you need to chip?
- Will you move it occasionally between job sites?
- Do you need a small or a commercial wood chipper?
- What’s in your budget?
The goal is simple: buy equipment that fits the work you actually do.
You do not need the biggest chipper on the market if a smaller one can handle your jobs.
If the upfront cost is higher than what you want to pay at once, equipment financing can help spread the cost into low monthly payments.
Should You Buy a New or Used Wood Chipper?
Both options can work for a business.
New Wood Chipper
A new machine usually costs more upfront, but you are buying new equipment. Depending on the machine and seller, you may also get a manufacturer’s warranty.
Used Wood Chipper
A used machine can lower the upfront cost. It may be a good choice if it has been well maintained and can handle your work.
Before buying used equipment, check its condition, service history, and hours of use.
The cheapest machine is not always the cheapest choice.
For more information about financing used equipment, see Beacon Funding’s guide to used equipment financing.
How Can You Pay for a Wood Chipper?
You can pay for a wood chipper with cash or use equipment financing.
Paying cash means you do not have a financing payment, but it also means using a large amount of your business’s cash at once.
With equipment financing, you pay for the equipment over time. This can leave more money available for everyday business costs such as:
- Payroll
- Fuel
- Materials
- Repairs
- Other equipment
Beacon Funding finances new and used wood chippers for landscaping, hardscaping, and forestry businesses. Learn more about wood chipper financing.
Beacon also covers wood chippers as part of its landscaping and hardscaping equipment financing. See landscaping equipment financing options.
How Much Would a Wood Chipper Cost Each Month to Finance?
The monthly payment for a wood chipper can vary depending on the equipment price, amount financed, financing term, and your application. Want to see what your payment could look like? Use Beacon Funding’s equipment financing calculator to enter your equipment price and get an estimated low monthly payment.
CALCULATE YOUR LOW MONTHLY PAYMENT NOW
Wood Chipper Cost and Financing
A wood chipper can cost from a few hundred dollars to well over $100,000, depending on the equipment. Paying the full price upfront may use more of your business’s cash than you want. If you’re looking to spread the cost over time, explore wood chipper financing with Beacon Funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a wood chipper cost?
A wood chipper can cost a few hundred dollars for a small machine and well over $100,000 for some large professional machines. The price depends on the size, power, capacity, brand, and condition.
How much does a commercial wood chipper cost?
A commercial wood chipper can cost several thousand dollars and go well above $100,000 for larger professional machines.
Is a used wood chipper worth buying?
A used wood chipper may cost less upfront than a new machine. To evaluate if a used wood chipper is a good value check its hours, service history, engine, blades, feed system, and tires before buying.
Can I finance a wood chipper?
Yes. Beacon Funding finances new and used wood chippers starting at $10,000. Equipment financing lets you pay for the equipment over time instead of paying the full cost upfront.
What other costs come with buying a wood chipper?
Plan for fuel, maintenance, repairs, transportation, and safety equipment. These costs should be considered when evaluating the total cost of buying a wood chipper.