The two PTO chipper brands compact-tractor owners cross-shop more than any other. Here's how their lineups actually compare — tier by tier, spec by spec.
Woodmaxx and Woodland Mills both sell PTO woodchippers to compact-tractor owners in the 15–80 HP range. Unlike the MechMaxx vs Woodmaxx comparison (where the brands barely overlap), these two compete directly at every capacity tier — 4/5-inch, 6-inch, and 8-inch.
The real question isn’t “which brand is better” — it’s which brand better fits your budget, your tractor, and how long you plan to own the chipper. Woodmaxx offers more models and a longer warranty ceiling (7 years on the MX-Series). Woodland Mills offers fewer models at lower prices with a strong 5-year warranty across the lineup.
| Spec | WoodmaxxMX-8600 | Woodland MillsWC68 | WoodmaxxWM-8H | Woodland MillsWC88 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Woodmaxx | Woodland Mills | Woodmaxx | Woodland Mills |
| Power | pto | pto | pto | pto |
| Max branch | 6" | 6" | 8" | 8" |
| HP requirement | 25–65 HP | 20–65 HP | 30–80 HP | 35–100 HP |
| Feed | Self-feeding | Hydraulic | Hydraulic | Hydraulic |
| Weight | 550 lb | 790 lb | 1295 lb | 1054 lb |
| Warranty | 7 yr | 3 yr | 3 yr | 3 yr |
| Price | $4,790 | $3,450 | $4,095 | $3,995 |
| Feature | Woodmaxx | Woodland Mills |
|---|---|---|
| Total PTO models | ✓6 models (5–9 inch) | 3 models (4.5–8 inch) |
| Longest warranty | ✓7 years (MX-Series) | 5 years (WC68/WC88) |
| Lowest 6-inch price | $4,790 (MX-8600) | ✓$3,450 (WC68 MSRP) |
| 8-inch hydraulic-feed options | ✓2 (WM-8H $4,095 / MX-8800 $6,225) | 1 (WC88 $3,995) |
| 9-inch capacity available | ✓Yes (MX-9900, $7,350) | No |
| Cheapest entry PTO | $2,990 (MX-8500G+, 5 inch) | ✓$2,399 (WC46, 4.5 inch) |
| Heaviest 6-inch build | 550 lb (MX-8600) | ✓790 lb (WC68) |
| Forum reputation (tractor communities) | Strong — smaller community | ✓Very strong — WC68 is a best-seller |
| Ships from | Akron, NY (USA) | Ontario (Canada) |
| Also makes gas chippers | ✓Yes (DC-1260, 4 inch) | No — PTO only |
Rows flagged in green show where that brand has a category advantage.
4/5-inch tier: Woodland Mills WC46 ($2,399, 4.5-inch, 2-year warranty) vs Woodmaxx MX-8500G+ ($2,990, 5-inch, 7-year warranty). The Woodmaxx costs $230 less, adds an inch of capacity (5 vs 4), and more than doubles the warranty. The WC46 wins only if you specifically value hydraulic feed at the subcompact tractor tier (the 8500G+ is gravity self-feed).
4-inch tier (hydraulic): Woodland Mills WC46 ($3,220, hydraulic feed, 3-year warranty) vs Woodmaxx MX-8500G+ ($2,990, gravity self-feed, 7-year warranty). Different feed-type bets at near-identical prices.
6-inch tier:Woodland Mills WC68 ($3,450 MSRP, typically $3,105 on sale, hydraulic feed, 3-year warranty) vs Woodmaxx MX-8600 ($4,790, hydrostatic- assist feed, 7-year warranty). The MX-8600 is $1,340 more at MSRP and up to $1,685 more against the WC68’s typical sale price. Both have a powered infeed system at 6 inches. The WC68 is the value pick by a wide margin; the MX-8600 is the premium choice for buyers who specifically want variable-speed feed control or the four extra warranty years.
8-inch tier: Woodland Mills WC88 ($3,995, hydraulic feed, 3-year warranty) vs Woodmaxx WM-8H ($4,095, hydraulic feed, 3-year warranty) or Woodmaxx MX-8800 ($6,225, hydraulic feed, 7-year warranty). 2026 pricing has the WC88 as the cheapest 8-inch hydraulic — $100 less than the WM-8H with matching warranty. The MX-8800 is the premium pick: heaviest flywheel, 7-year warranty, $2,230 more than the WC88 and $2,130 more than the WM-8H.
9-inch tier: Woodmaxx MX-9900 ($7,350, 7-year warranty) stands alone. Woodland Mills has no 9-inch model. If you regularly chip 8–9 inch material on a 40+ HP utility tractor, Woodmaxx is your only option in this category.
Woodland Mills offers a flat 3-year warranty across the WC-Series (WC46, WC68, WC88). This is a meaningful change from the 5-year warranty the brand historically advertised — older online sources and tractor forum threads still cite 5 years. Verify on woodlandmills.com/warranty before purchase.
Woodmaxx splits into two warranty tiers: the MX-Series (MX-8500G+, MX-8600, MX-8800, MX-9900) carries a 7-year warranty — the longest in the PTO chipper category. The WM-Series (WM-8M, WM-8H) carries a 3-year warranty matching Woodland Mills.
Net effect: at every capacity tier, Woodmaxx MX-Series has the longest warranty (7 years) in the category. Woodland Mills and the Woodmaxx WM-Series share the 3-year tier. If warranty length is your top priority, the MX-Series is the only choice in this comparison.
Both brands build serious PTO chippers — neither is flimsy. The 8-inch comparison: the MX-8800 (1,380 lb) outweighs the WC88 (1,054 lb) by 326 lb. The 6-inch: WC68 (790 lb) actually outweighs the MX-8600 (550 lb) by 240 lb after Woodmaxx redesigned the MX-8600 lighter. More weight generally means a heavier flywheel and thicker housing, which translates to more consistent feed on hardwood — though both brands tune their flywheel-to-machine ratios for their intended workload.
Woodland Mills earns strong owner-quality feedback on the WC68 in particular — years of positive tractor-forum reports. Both brands ship from North American distribution: Woodland Mills from Port Perry, Ontario (with US warehouses); Woodmaxx from Akron, NY.
The price gap is no longer small. At the 6-inch tier the MX-8600 ($4,790) is $1,340–$1,700 above the WC68 ($3,450 MSRP / $3,105 sale). At the 8-inch tier the WC88 ($3,995) is now the cheapest hydraulic option — $100 less than the WM-8H ($4,095) and $2,230 less than the MX-8800 ($6,225).
Cost per warranty-year at the 6-inch tier: the WC68 is $1,150/year of coverage ($3,450 ÷ 3). The MX-8600 is $684/year ($4,790 ÷ 7). The MX-8600 is the better warranty value per dollar — longer coverage at lower cost-per-year despite the higher sticker.
At the 8-inch tier: the WC88 is $1,332/year ($3,995 ÷ 3). The WM-8H is $1,365/year ($4,095 ÷ 3). The MX-8800 is $889/year ($6,225 ÷ 7). If warranty coverage drives your decision, the MX-8800 wins on cost per year. If you want the lowest absolute price for hydraulic feed, the WM-8H is the call.
Question 1: Do you need 9-inch capacity?
Question 2: Is warranty length your top priority?
Question 3: Is lowest upfront cost your priority?
“I have a 20–25 HP subcompact tractor and need a starter chipper for 3–4 inch branches. Budget matters.”
Woodland Mills WC46 at $2,399 is the cheapest name-brand PTO chipper in this range. If you can stretch to $2,990, the Woodmaxx MX-8500G+ adds a half-inch of capacity and jumps to 7-year warranty.
“I own a Kubota L3301 or similar 30–40 HP tractor. Most branches are 4–6 inches, mostly hardwood. I want something reliable that I don't think about for years.”
Woodland Mills WC68 at $3,450 MSRP (often $3,105 on sale) is the most popular PTO chipper in this class for a reason — proven track record, hundreds of positive owner reports, and the 2026 hydraulic-feed upgrade closes the feed-system gap with premium competitors. The Woodmaxx MX-8600 at $4,790 has a longer warranty (7 vs 3 years) and hydrostatic-assist variable-speed feed control — but at $1,340+ more, it's a deliberate premium, not a default.
“Same tractor, same branches, but I plan to own this chipper for 10+ years and want the longest possible warranty coverage.”
Woodmaxx MX-8600 at $4,790 with 7-year warranty. Two extra years of coverage over the WC68 plus hydrostatic-assist feed for variable speed control on dense hardwood. The cost-per-warranty-year math is nearly identical between the two ($684/yr vs $690/yr) — so you're paying for the feed system and the longer absolute coverage window.
“I have a 45 HP tractor and regularly deal with storm-damaged limbs and crooked, forked brush that jams mechanical feeds.”
Woodland Mills WC88 at $3,995 — hydraulic feed handles forked material, 3-year warranty, and at $3,995 it's now $100 cheaper than the Woodmaxx WM-8H ($4,095, same 3-year warranty). The WC88 is the cheapest 8-inch hydraulic-feed PTO chipper in 2026. The MX-8800 ($6,225) costs $2,230 more for a 7-year warranty and heavier flywheel — worth it only for long-horizon ownership or commercial-adjacent use.
“I run a 55 HP utility tractor, chip 50+ hours a year in hardwood, and want the chipper to last 10+ years under warranty.”
Woodmaxx MX-8800 at $6,225 — heaviest flywheel in the 8-inch PTO tier, 7-year warranty covers a decade of hard use. The $1,226 premium over the WC88 buys you 60 extra pounds of flywheel and 2 more years of coverage. At a $2,130 premium over the WM-8H, this is a deliberate choice for long-horizon ownership or commercial-adjacent use — not a default upsell.
“I regularly chip 8–9 inch material on a 40+ HP utility tractor. I need the largest PTO chipper available without going commercial.”
Woodmaxx MX-9900 at $7,350 is the only option — Woodland Mills maxes out at 8 inches. 9-inch capacity, 7-year warranty, designed for 40–100 HP tractors.
