Chainsaws and Wood
Best Log Splitters (2026): How Many Tons Do You Need?
Quick answer
Most homeowners need a 20 to 22 ton log splitter, which handles hardwood rounds up to about 20 to 24 inches. A 4 to 6 ton electric covers seasoned softwood up to about 10 to 12 inches, and 25 to 30 tons is for knotty, green or large hardwood. The Full Boar 28-Ton is our top pick for mixed firewood.
Size a log splitter by the toughest wood you split regularly, not the average round. Tonnage is the maximum force the hydraulic ram pushes the log into the wedge, and species, diameter, moisture and knots all change how much you need. Seasoned pine splits with a fraction of the force that green elm or a knotty oak crotch demands.
Our top pick is the Full Boar 28-Ton at $1,399.00, because 28 tons leaves headroom for the knotty and green hardwood that stalls smaller machines. If you burn a fire pit's worth of seasoned softwood, a Sun Joe LJ602E electric is the right size and a gas machine would be overbuying. Get your own number from the log splitter tonnage calculator.
On this page
- How many tons should a log splitter be?
- What tonnage do I need by wood species and diameter?
- How fast are log splitters? Cycle time explained
- Beginner picks: electric log splitters for seasoned wood
- Intermediate picks: compact gas and 20-ton splitters
- Expert picks: 22 to 28 ton gas log splitters
- How do the picks compare on specs?
- Also worth a look
- Electric vs gas log splitter: which should I buy?
- What should I check before buying a log splitter?
How many tons should a log splitter be?
A log splitter should be 20 to 22 tons for most homeowners who burn mixed hardwood, because that force splits rounds up to about 20 to 24 inches. Use these general tiers:
- 4 to 7 tons (electric): seasoned softwood and easy hardwood up to about 10 to 12 inches in diameter and 20 inches long. Quiet, fume-free and plug-in.
- 8 to 10 tons (compact gas or manual hydraulic): seasoned wood up to about 12 to 16 inches, or splitting away from power.
- 20 to 22 tons (gas): the homeowner sweet spot for oak, maple and ash up to about 20 to 24 inches.
- 25 to 30 tons (gas): knotty rounds, crotches, green wood and stringy species such as elm and sweetgum, or big rounds from storm cleanup.
The best tonnage for a log splitter is the lowest one that splits your worst regular round without stalling. Buying far beyond that adds weight, cost and noise without making the easy wood split faster; cycle time does that.
What tonnage do I need by wood species and diameter?
Species and diameter drive tonnage more than log length. These ranges are general guidance compiled from manufacturer sizing charts; knots and crotches can double the force needed. The same data is on the log splitter tonnage chart.
| Wood type | Up to 12 in | 12 to 18 in | 18 to 24 in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softwood: pine, spruce, fir | 4 to 6 tons | 8 to 10 tons | 16 to 20 tons | Resin can gum the wedge; clean it |
| Easy hardwood: ash, cherry, poplar | 6 to 8 tons | 10 to 16 tons | 20 to 22 tons | Straight grain splits cleanly |
| Dense hardwood: oak, maple, hickory | 8 to 10 tons | 16 to 20 tons | 22 to 25 tons | Season first where possible |
| Stringy or knotty: elm, sweetgum, crotches | 10 to 16 tons | 20 to 25 tons | 25 to 30 tons | Fibers tear rather than split |
| Green (unseasoned) hardwood | Add about one row | 20 to 25 tons | 25 to 30 tons | Wet wood resists more than dry |
Electric splitters also cap log size: the Sun Joe LJ602E takes rounds up to 10 in. wide and 20.5 in. long. Check both tonnage and maximum log dimensions.
How fast are log splitters? Cycle time explained
Cycle time is how long the ram takes to extend and return. It decides how many splits you can make in an hour far more than tonnage does. The theoretical maximum is 3,600 seconds divided by cycle time; real output is lower because you load, reposition and stack.
| Splitter | Power | Tons | Cycle (sec) | Max cycles per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BILT HARD 6.5-Ton | Electric, 15 amp | 6.5 | 18 | 200 |
| PowerSmart 7-Ton | Electric, 15 amp | 7 | 20 | 180 |
| Champion 8-Ton Compact | Gas, 79cc | 8 | 20 | 180 (Champion rating) |
| SuperHandy 20-Ton | Gas, 7 HP | 20 | 7.5 | 480 |
| Full Boar 28-Ton | Gas, 212cc | 28 | 10.9 | 330 |
| BILT HARD 22-Ton | Gas, 209cc, 14 GPM pump | 22 | 7 | 514 |
Cycles per hour = 3,600 / cycle seconds. Manufacturer cycle times; real splitting pace is lower once loading time is included.
Beginner picks: electric log splitters for seasoned wood
For fireplace, wood stove and fire pit owners who split seasoned softwood and smaller hardwood rounds in batches. Electric splitters are quiet, emit no fumes and need only hydraulic fluid checks.
Sun Joe LJ602E 5-Ton Electric Log Splitter
$399.99A 15 amp motor drives 5 tons of force into logs up to 20.5 in. long and 10 in. wide, with a dual-handed safety switch and 6 in. rear wheels. Sun Joe backs new powered products for two years.
Best for: seasoned softwood for a fireplace
Check price on Amazon
PowerSmart 7-Ton Electric Log Splitter
$379.99A 15 amp induction motor with 7 tons of force and a 20 second cycle for logs up to 20 in. long and 10 in. across, in a 37.4 by 10.6 by 18.5 in. body with a 2-year warranty. The extra tonnage helps with dense seasoned hardwood at the small end.
Best for: light-duty home firewood with some hardwood
Check price on AmazonIntermediate picks: compact gas and 20-ton splitters
For owners who split away from an outlet or process a few cords of mixed hardwood a season. This is where splitting speed jumps.
Champion 8-Ton Compact Horizontal Gas Log Splitter
$789.00A 79cc engine with an auto-return valve and 20 second cycle that Champion rates at about 180 cycles per hour. The low-profile beam and log cradle make heavy rounds easier to load, and never-flat tires help it roll to the woodpile.
Best for: splitting away from power without a towable machine
Check price on Amazon
SuperHandy 20-Ton Gas Log Splitter
$869.00A 7 HP engine and 2-stage Bucher gear pump with rapid auto return deliver a 7.5 second cycle for logs up to 20 in. long and 16 in. across. The listing notes hydraulic fluid is not included, so budget for it.
Best for: several cords a season of mixed hardwood
Check price on AmazonExpert picks: 22 to 28 ton gas log splitters
For wood-heat households, acreage owners and anyone splitting big, knotty or green hardwood from storm cleanup.
Full Boar 28-Ton Gas Log Splitter
$1,399.00A 212cc OHV engine producing 28 tons with a 10.9 second cycle, an auto-return valve with adjustable detent and a heavy-duty H beam. The hydraulic filter sits inside the reservoir, away from falling logs.
Best for: knotty hardwood and big-volume firewood
Check price on Amazon
BILT HARD 22-Ton Gas Log Splitter
$1,099.99A 209cc engine with a 14 GPM 2-stage pump and 7 second cycle, a 3.5 by 19 in. cylinder, 21 in. log capacity and 13 in. wheels. The listing rates it towable at up to 25 MPH.
Best for: farm and acreage owners heating with wood
Check price on AmazonWho should not buy this tier: Skip this tier if you split less than a cord of seasoned wood a year or mostly softwood. A 22 to 28 ton gas splitter is heavy, loud, needs engine and hydraulic maintenance and takes a lot of storage space. An electric 5 to 7 ton unit, or renting a large splitter for one weekend, is the better value for light use.
How do the picks compare on specs?
| Model | Price | Splitting force | Cycle time | Max log length | Max log diameter | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Joe LJ602E 5-Ton Electric Log Splitter | $399.99 | 5 tons | - | 20.5 in | 10 in | - |
| PowerSmart 7-Ton Electric Log Splitter | $379.99 | 7 tons | 20 sec | 20 in | 10 in | - |
| Champion 8-Ton Compact Horizontal Gas Log Splitter | $789.00 | 8 tons | 20 sec | - | - | 79 cc |
| SuperHandy 20-Ton Gas Log Splitter | $869.00 | 20 tons | 7.5 sec | 20 in | 16 in | - |
| BILT HARD 22-Ton Gas Log Splitter | $1,099.99 | 22 tons | 7 sec | 21 in | - | 209 cc |
| Full Boar 28-Ton Gas Log Splitter | $1,399.00 | 28 tons | 10.9 sec | - | - | 212 cc |
Also worth a look
Two lower-cost options for specific situations.
Sun Joe LJ10M 10-Ton Manual Hydraulic Log Splitter
$249.99A two-speed hand-pumped hydraulic splitter with 10 tons of force for rounds up to 18 in. long and 8 in. wide. Slow, but it works at a cabin or campsite with no outlet or fuel.
Best for: cabins and spots without power
Check price on Amazon
BILT HARD 6.5-Ton Electric Log Splitter
$319.99A 15 amp motor with 6.5 tons, an 18 second cycle and two-hand controls for logs up to 20.5 by 9.8 in. The warranty is 90 days, much shorter than the Sun Joe and PowerSmart units.
Best for: small batches of fire pit wood
Check price on AmazonElectric vs gas log splitter: which should I buy?
Buy an electric log splitter if you split seasoned wood under about 10 to 12 inches, work near an outlet and want quiet, fume-free operation. Buy a gas splitter if you split hardwood over 12 inches, green or knotty wood, or more than a couple of cords per year. The full comparison is on electric vs gas log splitter.
- Force ceiling: homeowner electrics top out around 5 to 7 tons; gas splitters run 8 to 30 tons.
- Log size limits: electrics cap diameter at roughly 10 inches; the SuperHandy 20-Ton takes 16 in. rounds.
- Speed: electric cycles run 18 to 20 seconds; two-stage gas pumps run 7 to 11 seconds.
- Upkeep: both need hydraulic fluid at the right level; gas adds oil changes, air filter care and fuel storage.
- Where you can run it: gas engines produce carbon monoxide and must run outdoors in open air.
If you are still cutting the wood, match the splitter to the saw: see best chainsaws for firewood.
What should I check before buying a log splitter?
- Maximum log length and diameter, not just tons. Measure your firebox and cut rounds to fit the splitter's beam.
- Cycle time and auto return. Auto return lets the ram retract without holding the lever, which speeds the work.
- Beam height. Low-profile beams, as on the Champion 8-Ton, reduce lifting heavy rounds.
- Hydraulic fluid. Some gas splitters ship dry; confirm the type and capacity before first start.
- Towing. Towable splitters list a maximum speed. Never exceed it and check local rules for trailers on public roads.
- Warranty length. Terms vary widely: the BILT HARD 6.5-Ton lists 90 days, while Sun Joe, PowerSmart and Champion list 2 years on the models here. Confirm terms for any gas splitter before you buy.
For technique, including reading the grain and splitting from cracks, read how to split firewood.
How we chose
We did not test these products in person. Picks are researched from manufacturer specifications and owner manuals, engine and safety certifications where they apply, warranty terms, public recall records, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. We favor established brands with large review counts and parts support, match each pick to a real yard size or task, and place it in the tier where its price and capability actually belong.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 20 ton log splitter enough?
A 20 ton log splitter is enough for most homeowners. It splits seasoned oak, maple and ash rounds up to about 20 inches and handles most mixed firewood. Step up to 25 to 30 tons if you regularly split knotty crotches, green wood, elm or sweetgum, or rounds over 24 inches. For seasoned softwood under 12 inches, a 5 to 7 ton electric is plenty.
What size log splitter do I need for oak?
For seasoned oak, a 10 ton splitter handles rounds up to about 12 inches, 16 to 20 tons handles 12 to 18 inches, and 22 to 25 tons handles 18 to 24 inches. Green oak and knotty pieces need more force, so many oak burners buy 22 to 28 tons. Electric 5 to 7 ton splitters can only split small, straight-grained seasoned oak.
Can an electric log splitter split hardwood?
An electric log splitter can split seasoned hardwood in small diameters. A 5 to 7 ton electric such as the Sun Joe LJ602E or PowerSmart 7-Ton handles straight-grained ash, cherry and small oak up to about 10 inches wide. Large, knotty or green hardwood will stall it. If most of your wood is oak or maple over 12 inches, a gas splitter is the right tool.
Is a 25 ton log splitter better than 20 ton?
A 25 ton splitter is better only if your wood needs the extra force: knotty rounds, crotches, green wood, elm, sweetgum or diameters over 24 inches. For clean seasoned hardwood under 20 inches, a 20 to 22 ton machine splits just as well, and often cycles faster. Cycle time, maximum log size and build quality matter as much as the tonnage number.
How many splits per hour can a log splitter make?
The ceiling is 3,600 seconds divided by the cycle time. A 7 second cycle, as on the BILT HARD 22-Ton, allows about 514 ram cycles per hour, while a 20 second electric allows about 180. Real output is much lower, because loading, repositioning halves and stacking take longer than the ram, and big rounds need several passes. Faster cycles matter most when you split a lot of wood.
Should I rent or buy a log splitter?
Rent if you split one big pile after a storm or tree removal. Buy if you burn wood every winter or process more than a cord or two per year, because a few rental weekends can approach the cost of a compact electric or mid-size gas splitter. Buying also lets you split wood as it seasons instead of all at once on a rental deadline.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.