We get asked all the time, is it better to rent or buy a wood chipper? It’s a good question, but one that doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer. Choosing between renting vs. buying a wood chipper ultimately comes down to answering a few other questions:
- How often will you use it?
- Do you have space to store it?
- Are you flexible enough to work around rental schedules?
We’ll help you weigh the pros and cons of both options - renting or buying a wood chipper - below. But the key takeaway is pretty simple. If you find yourself in need of a wood chipper more than 2-3 times a year, it’s probably going to make more sense to invest in your own unit. Not only will it save you on rental costs in the long run, but you can use it whenever you want.
We make it easy to justify buying a wood chipper here at Equipment Outfitters. Whether you’re looking for a mini wood chipper for small branches or a commercial wood chipper for larger limbs, you’ll gain access to the best brands and their most popular models - at the lowest prices online, guaranteed. With hassle-free financing, what more could you ask for?
Get in touch for a personalized recommendation today!
Fast Facts on Renting vs. Buying a Wood Chipper
|
Factor |
Better to BUY if... |
Better to RENT if... |
|
How often you need a chipper |
You’ll use it several times a year (storm cleanup, pruning, seasonal work). |
You only see a serious branch pile once a year or even less. |
|
Branch size and volume |
You deal with thick limbs and large piles that would require multiple rental days. |
Your debris is light, or a single weekend rental easily clears everything. |
|
Total cost over time |
Your yearly rental fees would quickly approach or pass the price of a mid-range chipper. |
Renting once in a while is far cheaper than dropping money on a machine you rarely use. |
|
Schedule and convenience |
You want to chip on your own time without booking, pickup, or return deadlines. |
You don’t mind planning around rental store hours and set rental windows. |
|
Storage space |
You have a garage, shed, or barn where a chipper can live full-time. |
You’re tight on space and don’t want one more large machine to park. |
|
Maintenance comfort |
You’re fine with basic upkeep: checking oil, sharpening or swapping blades, general care. |
You don’t want to service equipment and prefer to let the rental yard handle that. |
|
Use of wood chips |
You’ll use chips often for paths, beds, livestock areas, or compost. |
You don’t have much use for chips beyond clearing the mess. |
|
Trying before committing |
You’ve already used chippers and know what size and style you want. |
You’re still figuring out capacity needs and want to test a few sizes first. |
|
Property type |
You manage acreage, a wooded lot, or a tree-heavy residential property. |
You’re in a smaller yard with limited tree cover and light pruning needs. |
Benefits of Buying a Wood Chipper
Buying a wood chipper pays off for anyone who deals with branch cleanup more than once or twice a year. The biggest advantage is that you can take care of the mess the moment it hits the ground.
Storm drops a limb? You can chip it that afternoon. A rental window doesn’t hang over your head, and you’re not rushing through the job just for the sake of avoiding another day’s rental fee.
There’s also the consistency side of things. Owning a wood chipper means you get really in tune with your equipment. You know the sound it makes when the knives are sharp, how fast it pulls in a branch, and how to feed material so the job moves smoothly.
A good chipper also holds value. If you use it for a few years but then decide you’re ready to upgrade or no longer need it enough, you can recoup part of your investment by reselling it - as long as you keep the machine in good working order, of course.
Plus, having access to a steady supply of chips starts is great if you garden, raise animals, or keep trails on your property. You can mulch beds, build paths, or add carbon material to compost without buying bagged mulch or waiting for yard-waste pickup.
But what matters most for homeowners navigating the decision of renting vs. buying a wood chipper is the cost side of things. These machines are actually more affordable than you may suspect, starting at just a few hundred dollars for a residential model and less than $2,000 for a commercial-grade wood chipper.
You buy once, and you own the machine for life. It’s simple math when you run the numbers on what you pay per rental and find that within 2 years you’re paying more to rent.
Benefits of Renting a Wood Chipper
Don’t get us wrong, renting a wood chipper has its own unique appeal as well. This is the path that makes sense when you only face substantial branch cleanup once in a great while. You might find that renting once a year is smarter than buying a machine just for it to collect dust.
Renting also works well when you’re still trying to figure out what capacity you need. A lot of first-time buyers aren’t sure whether a 3” or 5” chipper suits their yard. Renting lets you test a size before committing, which prevents buyer’s remorse.
We’ve seen a lot of people decide to rent - even if it makes more sense to buy - just because they don’t want to deal with maintenance or storage. You can just pick up the chipper (or have it delivered) and never have to worry about sharpening, belt checks, oil changes, fuel issues, etc.
That said, renting stops making sense the moment you’re calling the rental yard multiple times a year. Add up delivery fees, fuel surcharges, and daily rates, and you’ll discover it often surpasses the cost of buying a solid mid-range machine.
So, is it better to rent or buy a wood chipper? Let’s get into some specifics below!
Is it Better to Rent or Buy a Wood Chipper?
There’s no way to know for sure whether renting vs. buying a wood chipper makes more sense without knowing more details about your situation.
Ultimately, it depends on how often branches hit the ground on your property, how quickly you like to clean things up, and whether the long-term math tilts one way or another. Here’s what you need to take into consideration before committing one way or the other.
How Often Are You Going to Use it?
The frequency question matters most when deciding between renting vs. buying a wood chipper. This is where the cost side of things comes into play.
Buying often works out better if your trees drop limbs throughout the year or you’re the kind of homeowner who trims and maintains trees seasonally. Each rental trip eats up time and money, and repeated rentals stack up faster than you might expect.
On the other hand, rentals make perfect sense if your yard has a couple of ornamental trees and branch cleanup happens once every year or two. In this case, it wouldn’t make sense to sink money into equipment that will sit untouched for the majority of the year.
Here’s a simple way to look at it if you just want a quick recommendation:
- More than two cleanups a year: buying usually wins.
- One cleanup a year or less: renting stays practical.
But frequency is just one piece of the puzzle…
How Urgent Are Your Cleanup Needs?
Cleanup timing matters more than people think. Storm damage, broken branches, and seasonal pruning don’t always fall neatly into a weekend. You’re sort of at the mercy of pickup and return windows when you rent, though. If a limb comes down on a busy weekday or late evening, that debris sits there until you can get to the rental yard.
This is part of the appeal of having access to a wood chipper whenever you need it. You can handle tasks at your leisure rather than scheduling around store hours.
Do You Have Room to Store a Chipper?
You need to be realistic with yourself about how much space you have available for storing a wood chipper if you plan on buying it. They’re not exactly compact pieces of equipment.
Even smaller gas chippers still take up floor space in a garage or shed. You might just not be able to justify the purchase if you already wrestle with lawn equipment, kids’ gear, or project materials.
But storage might not be a barrier if you have a barn, shop, or roomy garage. In this case, the convenience of having a chipper ready whenever you need it becomes a strong reason to look into buying your equipment rather than renting it.
Calculating the Total Cost of Renting vs Buying
Daily rental rates vary by region, but most people pay enough in two or three rentals to equal a large chunk of a mid-range chipper. Add in delivery charges, fuel surcharges, and an extra day when the job runs long, and renting becomes more expensive than it seems at first glance.
Buying has a higher upfront cost, but it stops the repeated spending. A good chipper lasts years with basic care, and like we touched on earlier, you might be able to resell it to recoup a good chunk of your initial investment.
All that being said, is it better to rent or buy a wood chipper?
So, Should I Rent or Buy a Wood Chipper?
Buying is the move in most cases - but only you can determine what makes the most sense for your specific situation. If you do decide to buy, though, look no further than our lineup here at Equipment Outfitters.
Whether you need an electric wood chipper or a gas wood chipper, you’ll gain access to the most trusted brands and their most popular models - such as Superhandy, PowerKing, Detail K2, and more.
Better yet, we have a price-matching policy in place to ensure you get the best deal possible, with hassle-free financing available to make the purchase more accessible as well.
Most importantly, though, you’ll have the help of our world-class customer service team every step of the way - whether you need help choosing between a gas vs electric wood chipper or have questions about sizing:
Our team knows the machines inside and out and can match you to a chipper that fits your property instead of upselling something oversized. Reach out now and see why customers trust Equipment Outfitters!
Final Words on Renting vs. Buying a Wood Chipper
So, is it better to rent or buy a wood chipper? If branches come down often, or you like keeping the yard cleaned up without waiting for a rental window, owning a chipper pays off in time saved and money kept in your pocket.
Now, renting does have its place when cleanup is rare and your trees barely shed. We hope this comparison of renting vs. buying a wood chipper has made this decision easier for you. But if you’re ready to add a residential or heavy-duty wood chipper to your arsenal, it’s time you took the next step at Equipment Outfitters.
Browse our handpicked lineup today or connect with our customer support team for one-on-one support. We’ll talk about your cleanup needs, space considerations, and budget to point you toward a chipper that checks every box for you!