As a chain type wood chipper supplier, I get this question at least once a week from forestry operators, landscape contractors, and even small-scale sawmill owners: “What’s the output size of chips your machine makes?” It’s a fair question—too small, and the chips will blow away in transport or be too fine for biomass fuel; too big, and they won’t compact for bedding or clog a boiler. The answer isn’t a one-size-f-all number, though. It depends on three key factors: the chipper’s design, the screen you install, and the raw material you’re processing. Let’s break this down so you know exactly what to expect when you invest in a chain type wood chipper, and why that matters for your operation. Chain Type Wood Chipper
First, let’s clear up what a chain type wood chipper is, because a lot of people mix it up with disc chippers or drum chippers. Chain type models use a set of heavy steel chains mounted on a rotating drum, not fixed knives on a disc or a drum. Those chains swing around, catch small branches, logs, or whole trees, and yank them into the cutting area, where stationary knives slice them into chips. This design is perfect for processing rough, uneven material—think storm-damaged trees, whole logs with knots, or branches up to 18 inches in diameter—without jamming, which is why they’re the workhorse for forestry cleanup and large-scale biomass operations. The tradeoff? Their output is more adjustable than disc chippers, but you have to match that adjustment to what you’re going to use the chips for.
Now, the core of the question: output size. Most standard chain type wood chippers I supply produce chips that range from ¼ inch to 2 inches. Wait, that’s a wide range, right? Let’s narrow it down by the screens, because screens are the single biggest control you have over final chip size. A screen is a perforated metal plate that sits at the bottom of the chipper’s cutting chamber. Only chips small enough to fit through the holes in the screen get discharged; larger chunks get pulled back into the cutting area to be reprocessed until they’re small enough. So if you want fine chips for animal bedding, you use a screen with ¼-inch to ½-inch holes. If you want medium chips for biomass fuel or mulch, 1-inch to 1.5-inch screens work. If you need rough chips for erosion control or landscape fill, 2-inch screens are your go-to.
I’ve seen customers make the mistake of buying a chain type wood chipper and using the wrong screen for their job. Last year, a landscape contractor reached out to me upset because his machine was producing chips that were too big for wood mulch for residential yards. He’d installed a 1.5-inch screen thinking it would work, but mulch for homes needs to be consistent small enough to spread easily without sticking to lawn mowers. We swapped it for a ⅜-inch screen, and his output went from mostly 1-inch chips to a uniform ½-inch, exactly what he needed. That’s the thing about chain type chippers—their flexibility is their superpower, but only if you use the screen to match your end use.
Next, raw material affects output too. If you’re chipping softwood like pine or cedar, the chains slice through it easily, so you can get consistent chips with even the middle-range screens. But hardwood like oak or maple is denser, so chips tend to be a little larger and sometimes a bit irregular, even with the same screen. The moisture content of the wood matters too: wet wood is softer, so it breaks into more uniform chips, while dry, brittle wood can splinter into smaller pieces or larger chunks depending on how it’s cut. I always advise customers to test a small batch of their material with a sample screen before ordering a custom screen, just to make sure the output meets their needs.
Wait, what about the size of the input material? A lot of people think if you feed a big log into a chipper, you’ll get big chips, and that’s mostly true, but chain type chippers can handle different input sizes without messing up output consistency. Our heavy-duty model, for example, takes logs up to 18 inches in diameter, and even if you mix 2-inch branches with 16-inch logs, the screen will sort them out—small chips come out fast, large chunks get reprocessed. That’s not the case with disc chippers, which often need sorted input to avoid inconsistent output. For our customers who process mixed storm debris, that reliability is a game-changer.
Now, let’s talk about what this output means for your operation, because it’s not just a number on a spec sheet. If you’re in biomass production, chip size affects combustion efficiency: 1-inch to 1.5-inch chips burn more evenly and produce less ash than too-fine or too-coarse chips. For animal bedding, uniform ½-inch to ¾-inch chips are ideal because they’re soft, don’t stick to animal coats, and compact well for insulation. For mulch, ¼-inch to 1-inch chips look neat for residential landscaping, while 1-inch to 2-inch chips are better for commercial landscaping where durability is key. Erosion control chips can be even larger, up to 3 inches, though chain type chippers can handle that with a custom oversized screen.
I also get asked a lot: can a chain type wood chipper produce finer chips than ¼ inch? Technically, yes, but it’s not practical. Screens smaller than ¼ inch wear out much faster, they can clog easily with wet wood, and you’ll get a lot of sawdust mixed in, which is messy and hard to market. Conversely, can you get chips larger than 2 inches from a standard chain type chipper? You can, but they’ll be irregular, with lots of oversized chunks, and that can cause problems for transport—large chunks take up more space, so you get fewer loads per truck, increasing your shipping costs. That’s why most reliable operations stick to the ¼-inch to 2-inch range for standard needs.
Another point to consider: the chipper’s horsepower. A chain type wood chipper with less than 50 horsepower will have a smaller cutting chamber, so its maximum screen size is usually 1.5 inches, and it’s better for smaller jobs like residential landscape work or small tree farms. Our 75 to 150 horsepower models can handle 2-inch screens, making them perfect for mid-sized forestry operations or biomass producers. The heavy-duty 200+ horsepower models we make for large-scale timber operations can even handle custom screens up to 3 inches, though those are for very specific uses like large-scale erosion control projects.
I remember one customer who runs a 100 horsepower chain type wood chipper processing hardwood for a local biomass plant. They were originally using a 1-inch screen, but the plant asked for more consistent chips to reduce boiler maintenance. We worked with their team to adjust the screen, and within a month, their output was 90% 1-inch chips, meeting the plant’s specs exactly. That’s the kind of partnership I’m here for—helping customers adjust their chipper’s output to fit their end use, not just sell them a machine and walk away.
Now, if you’re in the market for a chain type wood chipper, how do you make sure you get the right output size for your needs? First, define what you’ll use the chips for. If it’s bedding, mulch, or biomass, note the target chip size. If you’re processing mixed debris for landscape fill, note that oversized chips are acceptable. Second, ask about screen options. Most suppliers will let you order custom screens if standard sizes don’t fit, but make sure the chipper you’re considering can handle that. Third, factor in your input material: if you mostly work with dense hardwood, you might need a slightly larger screen than if you work with softwood.
A common mistake new buyers make is looking only at the spec sheet’s “maximum chip size” number. That number is usually for dry, softwood logs with a specific screen, and it’s not the full story. The real output is adjustable, and that’s where the chain type wood chipper stands out from other types. Unlike drum chippers, which have fixed knives and less flexibility, or grinders, which produce a wide range of sizes but less uniformity, chain type chippers strike the perfect balance: consistent, adjustable output, and the ability to handle rough material without jamming.
At the end of the day, the output size of your chain type wood chipper isn’t a static number—it’s a tool you can adjust to fit your job. Whether you need fine chips for a small mulch business or large chips for a timber operation, the right screen and the right chipper setup will get you there. If you’re not sure what setup works for your needs, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ve helped dozens of customers tweak their chipper’s output to cut waste, reduce costs, and deliver a better product for their clients. We can walk through your material, your end use, and the size of job you’re running, so you know exactly what to expect before you invest.
Don’t guess what size chips you’ll get—get the right guidance from someone who’s built their business around chain type wood chippers. Contact our team today to discuss your specific requirements, test sample chips if possible, and find the perfect setup for your operation.
Wood Hammer Mill References
- Forestry Equipment Manufacturers Association. (2022). Performance Standards for Wood Chippers and Mulchers. North American Agricultural Equipment Association.
- Biomass Power Association. (2021). Specifications for Wood Chips Used in Commercial Biomass Combustion Facilities. Renewable Energy Industries of America.
- Mulch and Landscape Association. (2020). Best Practices for Wood Mulch Production and Quality Control. National Association of Landscape Professionals.
- USDA Forest Service. (2019). Small-Scale Wood Processing Equipment: Operation and Maintenance Guidelines. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
Shandong Hualing Machine Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
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