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 wood chippers 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. For a ranked list by tractor HP, see our best PTO wood chippers hub.
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 |
| Engine | PTO-driven, 15–50+ HP tractor | PTO-driven, 20–50 HP tractor | PTO-driven, 19–50+ HP tractor (15 HP absolute minimum per spec sheet) | PTO-driven, 35–100+ HP tractor |
| Max branch | 6" | 6" | 8" | 8" |
| HP requirement | 15–50 HP | 20–50 HP✓ | 19–50 HP | 35–100 HP |
| Feed | Hydraulic | Hydraulic | Hydraulic | Hydraulic |
| Weight | 550 lb✓ | 747 lb | 990 lb | 918 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 (4–8 inch) |
| Longest warranty | ✓7 years (MX-Series) | 3 years (WC-Series) |
| 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) | $3,220 (WC46, 4 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($3,220, 4-inch, hydraulic feed, 3-year warranty) vs Woodmaxx MX-8500G+ ($2,990, 5-inch, gravity self-feed, 7-year warranty). These are the two brands’ entry PTO chippers, and it’s a genuine feed-type bet at near-identical prices: the Woodmaxx is $230 cheaper, adds an inch of capacity, and more than doubles the warranty, but the WC46 gives you a powered hydraulic infeed roller instead of gravity feed. Pick the WC46 if hands-off feeding of forked yard brush matters most; pick the MX-8500G+ for more capacity, longer warranty, and a lower price.
6-inch tier:Woodland Mills WC68 ($3,450 MSRP, typically $3,275 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 $1,515 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. See our WC88 vs MX-8800 comparison. For mechanical feed at 8 inches, the Woodmaxx WM-8M mechanical-feed review is $405 less 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. If you’re weighing the MX-9900 against the 8-inch MX-8800, see our MX-9900 vs MX-8800 comparison.
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 is closer than the spec sheets suggest: the MX-8800 (1,004 lb) and the WC88 (1,054 lb) are within 50 lb of each other. At 6 inches the 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.
“Woodland Mills vs Woodmaxx” is one of the most-asked questions in the compact-tractor forums, and the owner threads add texture no spec sheet captures. Here is what surfaces repeatedly across ArboristSite, TractorByNet, and OrangeTractorTalks — the good and the annoying.
Woodmaxx WM-8H (the most-discussed model):owners consistently describe the dual hydraulic feed rollers as aggressive and effective, pulling 3-inch limbs through continuously during large cleanups, with several noting it “performs better than expected.” The self-contained hydraulic system needs no tractor remotes and gives variable feed speed for different material. The honest limit: clean limbs feed effortlessly, but thick, gnarly brush (think mature rose or multi-stem shrubs) can hang up in the throat.
The cross-shop story: the single most relevant signal for this comparison is how often owners land on a Woodmaxx MX-Series after cross-shopping Woodland Mills. On the 9-inch MX-9900 in particular, owners cite the hydrostatic infeed and report no plugging across multi-day chipping sessions. The flip side is just as real: Woodland Mills has the far larger owner community, and the WC68 has one of the strongest multi-year track records in the 6-inch class. Popularity is itself a data point — more owners means more secondhand knowledge and easier resale.
US-assembled vs imported:a recurring forum clarification is that Woodmaxx’s MX-Series is assembled in Akron, NY, while the WM-Series and the DC-1260 are imported — a distinction some buyers miss. Owners of the imported units occasionally flag the included PTO shaft as low quality and swap in a US-made replacement. Woodland Mills runs a comparable global-components model, shipped from Ontario. Neither brand is “all domestic,” and owners who assume otherwise are sometimes surprised.
Setup and first-day gripes:across both brands the most common complaint is freight-related, not design-related. A few Woodmaxx owners found bolts loose on arrival and recommend torque-checking all hardware before first use; paint chips from LTL handling are cosmetic and don’t affect warranty. Woodmaxx phone support earns mostly positive marks for proactively shipping replacement parts, though at least one owner reported trouble reaching technical support quickly during a feed-system issue. None of this is disqualifying for either brand — it’s the ordinary texture of buying a freight-shipped machine direct from the manufacturer.
The price gap is no longer small. At the 6-inch tier the MX-8600 ($4,790) is $1,340–$1,515 above the WC68 ($3,450 MSRP / $3,275 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.”
On pure budget the Woodmaxx MX-8500G+ ($2,990) is the pick — it's $230 cheaper than the Woodland Mills WC46 ($3,220), adds an inch of capacity (5 vs 4), and more than doubles the warranty (7 vs 3 years). The catch is feed type: the MX-8500G+ is gravity self-feed, while the WC46 gives you a powered hydraulic infeed roller. Choose the WC46 instead only if hands-off feeding of forked, leafy brush is worth paying more for less 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 $3,275 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. Four extra years of coverage over the WC68 plus hydrostatic-assist feed for variable speed control on dense hardwood. On a cost-per-warranty-year basis the MX-8600 actually comes out ahead ($684/yr over 7 years vs roughly $1,100/yr over the WC68's 3 years) — you pay more up front for the feed system and a much 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.
