A tree chipper rents for roughly $150 to $350 a day for a towable machine that takes 6 in material, and more for the 12 in class that needs a heavier tow vehicle. Capacity is quoted as the largest diameter the machine will swallow, and that single figure decides the tow, the rate and how the day goes.
Capacity is the diameter it will swallow
A 6 in chipper handles hedge trimmings, brush and limbs from a domestic clearance. Anything approaching 12 in is trunk work and a different machine on a different trailer. Buying capacity you do not need costs you in rate and in towing; buying too little means an afternoon of cutting limbs down to size by hand.
Towing it home is half the booking
Most chippers are trailer mounted with a ball hitch, and the loaded weight is more than people expect once the engine and the feed table are counted. Check the hitch rating, the connector and the brakes if fitted. Where the numbers do not work, delivery each way is the cheaper answer and the yard prefers it.
The feed table is where people get hurt
Feed butt end first, let go, and step to the side of the chute rather than standing in line with it. Never reach past the feed table to push material through. Site clearing rules require a means of stopping the feed within reach of the operator, and knowing where that bar is comes before the first branch.
The chips have to go somewhere
A chipper produces a surprising volume, and blowing it into a heap makes a second job of moving it. Aim the chute into a truck bed, a trailer or a tarped area, or straight onto beds where mulch is wanted. Yards will hire the chipper and a dump trailer together, which is usually the cheaper way to end the day.
Questions people ask about tree chipper rental
What size chipper do I need for garden clearance?
A 4 in to 6 in machine covers hedge cuttings, brush and limbs from most domestic work. Move up only when you are chipping trunk sections. The larger machines are heavier to tow and slower to reposition around a garden.
Can I chip green and dry wood together?
Yes, and alternating them actually helps: green material carries dry brush through the drum and keeps the chute from packing. Very dry brush alone tends to dust and bridge, and thorny material is worth keeping in smaller bundles.
Do rented chippers come with a chipper truck?
Not usually. The standard hire is a towable machine, with a dump trailer or a chip box rented separately if you need to take the chips away. Say what you plan to do with the chips when you book and the counter will quote both.