The 6 Best Manual Log Splitters

This wiki has been updated 28 times since it was first published in November of 2018. Unless you have the money to spend on an electric model, cutting firewood is going to require at least a bit of effort. These manual log splitters come in a variety of styles, some of which will barely make the user break a sweat, while others rely on the operator's striking power to create the necessary force. Whichever you choose, they will all help you prepare for the winter. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

This wiki has been updated 28 times since it was first published in November of 2018. Unless you have the money to spend on an electric model, cutting firewood is going to require at least a bit of effort. These manual log splitters come in a variety of styles, some of which will barely make the user break a sweat, while others rely on the operator's striking power to create the necessary force. Whichever you choose, they will all help you prepare for the winter. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Sun Joe LJ10M

As a safety feature, the Sun Joe LJ10M (about $150) requires two hands to operate, so there is no chance of an errant one straying close to where the action is happening. Its handles are very long to provide you with maximum leverage from a relatively compact unit.

Maintenance-free design
Built-in log catch
Can be stored vertically

2. Fiskars Super

There is a reason people have been using axes on logs for years — because they work and, with no moving components, rarely ever fail. The Fiskars Super (about $53) is available in four sizes, but we definitely recommend going for the 36-inch model for more one-swing splits.

Retains its edge for a long time
Feels well balanced
Backed by a lifetime warranty

3. Wel-Bilt Horizontal

The Wel-Bilt Horizontal (appx. $229) is capable of producing up to 10 tons of crushing force, which should be more than enough to tackle logs from most species with ease. It is rated for stock up to 6.5 inches in diameter, but many users report successfully using it on larger pieces.

Integrated wheels for transport
Spring-loaded ram return
200 mm stroke length

4. Logosol Smart-Splitter

The Logosol Smart-Splitter (around $90) is a patented Swedish invention that was built with two things in mind — safety and ease of use. It holds your logs upright, so there is no worry of one falling over, and is designed to always hit them in exactly the right location.

Produces up to 14 tons of force
Includes a spare striker bushing
Requires hardly any storage space

5. Kindling Cracker King

The Kindling Cracker King (about $100) is designed to be used in conjunction with a mallet. You simply insert your log through the nine-inch diameter ring, sit it on top of the wedge, and then give it a smash. It has no moving parts to break and will last for generations.

Crafted from sturdy cast iron
Bolt holes for mounting
Can't handle large stock

6. Estwing Sure Wedge

The Estwing Sure Wedge (around $14) is as basic as they come. It is fabricated in the United States from high-quality steel that can withstand a huge amount of impact force, so you don't have to worry about the edge warping and becoming unusable.

Hand sharpened at the factory
Fins to enhance the splitting action
Can sometimes bounce out

Last updated by Brett Dvoretz

A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.

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