Best garden shredders: top picks to clear wood chips and waste

Tough prunings and garden waste will rot down quicker in the compost heap if you shred it first, but you'll need a reliable and quick shredder that will help you whizz through the job. 

There are two main types. Impact shredders (also known as rapid shredders) are generally the cheapest, but also the noisiest. They have a blade mechanism that slices garden material into very fine pieces, and they don't block as often. 

Roller shredders (also known as quiet shredders) use a ridged roller to crush and cut garden debris. They're handy if you have lots of material to shred, as they have internal drums. They're a more heavy-duty machine, unlike some impact models, which can be a bit flimsy. 

Turbine shredders are similar to roller shredders, but have several blades that cut the material down.

We put different types of garden shredders through their paces in our tough tests, so you can choose one that will make your gardening chores that bit easier.

The best garden shredders from our tests

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The garden shredders we tested

The biggest brands and the most popular 12 garden shredders we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

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Bosch AXT 25 D

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Type Roller

Need to know Weight 31.3g, cable length 4 metres, max branch size 40mm, storage dimensions 67 x 39 x 70cm (HxWxD)

Bosch AXT 25 TC

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Most recently tested November 2023

Type Turbine

Need to know Weight 30.5kg, cable length 4 metres, max branch size 45mm, storage dimensions 67 x 39 x 70cm (HxWxD)

Bosch AXT Rapid 2200

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Available from B&Q (£220), Just Lawnmowers (£259)

Most recently tested March 2023

Type Impact

Need to know Weight 12.1kg, cable length 5 metres, max branch size 40mm, storage dimensions 97 x 44 x 49cm (HxWxD)

Draper 230V Quiet Garden Shredder

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Most recently tested September 2024

Type Roller

Need to know Weight 20.5kg, cable length 3 metres, max branch size 44mm, storage dimensions 103 x 37 x 65cm (HxWxD), safety cut-out facility, double insulated, blockage prodder included

Einhell GC-KS 2540

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Type Impact

Need to know Weight 10.7kg, cable length 3 metres, max branch size 40mm, storage dimensions 109 x 43 x 43 (HxWxD), collection box and tamper included, reverse setting

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Hyundai HYCH2800ES 

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Available from Hyundai (£170.99)

Most recently tested September 2023

Type Roller

Need to know Weight 20.8kg, cable length 10 metres, max branch size 44mm, storage dimensions 90 x 45 x 63cm (HxWxD)

Mac Allister MQS2800-3

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Available from B&Q (£159)

Most recently tested September 2024

Type Roller

Need to know Weight 27.4kg, cable length 3 metres, max branch size 45mm, storage dimensions 100 x 48 x 62cm (HxWxD), reverse function, thermal protections, low-noise blade, collection box and tamper included

Powerbase 2800W Quiet Shredder

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Available from Homebase (£127.99)

Most recently tested November 2021

Type Roller

Need to know Weight 22kg, cable length 3 metres, max branch size 42mm, storage dimensions 54 x 50 x 60cm (HxWxD)

Ryobi RY36SHX40-0 36V Max Power

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Available from Ryobi (£499.99)

Most recently tested November 2023

Type Roller

Need to know Weight 18.8kg, cordless, max branch size 40mm, storage dimensions 58 x 39 x 51cm (HxWxD)

Stihl GHE105 Electric

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Type Impact

Need to know Weight 20kg, cable length 10 metres, max branch size 35mm, storage dimensions 97 x 48 x 77cm (HxWxD), safety interlock motor-run down brake, protective cover, overload protection

More garden shredders from our tests

Here’s how the rest of the garden shredders from our tests measured up, listed in alphabetical order.

How we test garden shredders

In our lab tests, we assess each garden shredder on the following:

• How efficiently does it shred garden debris We put each shredder through a series of rigorous tests to find out if it's up to the job. Each shredder had a mix of both easy and difficult-to-shred waste fed through it for 30 minutes. We rated the shredding in terms of how fine it was and weighed the material produced to see how much it shredded.
• Will it get blocked easily We noted down how often each shredder blocked or stalled, and how easy it was to unclog according to the manufacturer's instructions. The best shredders should be quick to unblock without needing any special tools, and all of the necessary parts you need to unblock it should be located in a simple and safe place to reach.
• How noisy is it We rated the loudness of each shredder when switched on but not shredding any material, as well as when shredding woody debris. We also rated the noise levels at different distances, so we can tell you whether a shredder will be irritatingly loud not just for you, but for your neighbours as well. 
• How easy is it to use We rated how easy it is to feed branches into the machine, how easy it is to clear blockages, and how easy is to clean, move and store. If the shredder came with a collector, we also rated how good a job it does at collecting the shreddings, so you can be confident that you won't have to spend ages clearing up unnecessary mess.

We regularly revisit the garden shredders on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them, we do. 

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How do different types of garden shredder compare?

Power type

Corded electric 

Most gardeners will opt for a corded electric garden shredder. They can have different cable lengths, but are usually between three and 10 metres long. They're fine for most domestic jobs, but it's a good idea to check that the length of the cable is sufficient for your garden. Some brands skimp on cable length more than others, so you might need an outdoor extension cable.

Cordless electric

If you don't have an outdoor power supply then you might want to go for a cordless shredder with a battery. These can be used in any part of the garden without worrying about plug sockets and extension cables, but they are typically the priciest type.

Petrol 

These are normally more powerful, but also more expensive and they need servicing regularly. We're seeing fewer launches of petrol-powered gardening tools as manufacturers appear to be focusing their attention on electric, which offer a better alternative for the environment and our health, as they’re quieter and produce zero emissions, while still being flexible and powerful enough to rival petrol tools.

Types of cutting mechanism

Impact garden shredders 

Also known as rapid shredders, these are generally the cheapest type of garden shredder and the noisiest. They have a blade mechanism that slices up garden material into very fine pieces and don't block as often. 

Impact shredders are more suited to chopping up leaves and lighter garden foliage rather than big chunks of wood, and are typically lighter than roller models. If you opt for an impact shredder, try to look for one that has more than one blade as they will get blunt less quickly. You should also choose a machine with a regular-shaped hopper as it will help you to feed material into the shredder easily and get the job done quicker.

Impact shredders are cheaper than roller models. They start from about £100, although we'd recommend spending around £200 to get a really good model.

Roller garden shredders

Roller shredders, sometimes known as quiet shredders, use a ridged roller to crush and cut garden debris. The roller action draws material through the machine, which can make it easy to shred lots of waste.

Unfortunately, these shredders tend to get blocked by greener, more fibrous material and are normally more expensive. 

Before buying a roller shredder, make sure you can move it around easily. They can be pretty weighty machines. You should also check that you can adjust the gap between the roller and the plate. Not being able to do so could result in ineffective shredding.  

Roller shredders cost from £150 up to £500, but you can find a good model for around £250.

Turbine garden shredders

These are similar to roller garden shredders, but have an open drum with several blades that cut against a pressure plate. 

Which garden shredder features are most important?

Using a good shredder can make clearing garden waste a breeze, but a bad model will struggle to slice anything and get blocked up every five minutes. 

The following features can really help: 

• Safe and easy access to the roller This will keep the time spent clearing blockages to a minimum. 
• Collection box To help reduce the mess when you're gardening and make it easier to transport the shredded material. 
• Tamper or reverse setting Both can help force items back out of the shredder if there's a blockage. 
• Wheels If you have a big garden, wheels will make it easier to move your shredder around. 
• Accessories You'll need to buy some basic safety equipment to use a shredder, including goggles, gloves and ear defenders. 

Expert tips for using your garden shredder 

1. Shred material shortly after pruning, as the wood will be a bit softer and will compost down more easily. 
2. Alternate sappy, green waste, such as hedge trimmings, with more dry, woody material to stop the blades from clogging. 
3. Clean out after shredding sappy material or it will clog the blades. 
4. Make sure the shredder is disconnected from the mains before trying to clear any blockages. 
5. Some saps are irritants, so use gloves and eye protection, as well as ear defenders. 
6. Keep the shreddings from different types of material separate: wood for mulch and green for composting. 
7. Take care that stones don’t get put in the shredder, as they will blunt the blade, clog the machine or they could fly out. 
8. Where possible, put the thicker end of your branches through first. 
9. Try not to stuff too much or too large branches in at once, and if you don’t have a tamper, keep a stout branch for pushing through softer material.

Using your shreddings

Don't throw out your garden shreddings as they can be used in the garden. They can be added in small quantities when making garden compost, or they can be left to rot down on their own for a couple of years. This woody material will steal nitrogen from the soil when added fresh, but it's great for making paths with, as it will stand up to wear and can be topped up when it breaks down.

Repairing a garden shredder

Blockages are the most common reason for a garden shredder not working. Always turn off your machine before attempting to unblock it, or you could face life-changing injuries.

Blades can also become blunt over time and may need to be replaced. Check with your shredder's manufacturer if they can supply spare parts, such as blades. Expensive petrol models can be serviced by garden machinery specialists.