What is the best stump grinder?
Stump grinders are one of the fastest ways to get rid of tree stumps. Whether you’re looking for a handheld stump grinder or the best stump grinder for commercial purposes, these are some of the best options currently on the market.
Before we get into the stump grinder reviews, one thing to consider: You can buy or rent these tools, even if you’re a commercial user. Renting is often the better choice in the beginning.
Tree Stump Grinder Reviews
If you’re looking for the best stump grinder for the money, these are the ones to look at.
1. DK2 Power Adjustable Stump Grinder – Best For Residential Use
Detail K2’s 14-horsepower grinder is a heavy but powerful portable stump grinder.
The key feature is its direct belt drive system, which avoids the clutch and powers a 3600 RPM system for its 12-inch cutting head. The gas engine performs excellently in practically all environments, while the sturdy frame helps absorb shocks.
This is a great choice for most home and farm needs because it offers precision, reliability, and simplicity. It’s also beginner-friendly because Detail K2 ships it with ear, eye, and hand protection. Stump grinders come in various shapes and sizes, but the attention to user safety here is a major positive.
This grinder works well on fresh and old stumps alike and has a dual locking wheel system to make it safer and easier to use on rough terrain. In total, it works up to 12 inches above ground level and nine inches below, which is a comfortable range for any grinder.
Although not the absolute best model on the market, the Detail K2’s excellent balance of price, reliability, and performance make it a great option for regular home and farm owners looking for the best stump grinder for the money.
See our complete DK2 Stump Grinder review for much more information.
Pros:
- The best option for most personal needs
- Excellent cutting range
- Reasonably affordable
Cons:
- Not suitable for heavy commercial needs
- Heavier than many other options
2. Generac Pro Walk Behind Stump Grinder – Cheap Option
Generac’s Pro Stump Grinder is a good runner-up when you’re looking for the best stump grinders.
Although not as large as some other residential stump grinders, its 12 gauge steel gives it a comparatively light and durable design. The detachable tow bar is a nice touch that can help you attach it to various other devices.
The engine is surprisingly powerful for this machine’s size, allowing it to cut cleanly and with good fuel efficiency. However, as a lighter machine, this works best in prepared areas free of grass, weeds, and other items that can tangle around the cutting head. It’s not as good in wilder areas.
Similarly, this stump grinder isn’t very good for hills. That’s a common concern among buyers, so it’s worth being aware of. None of this means that Generac’s stump grinder is a bad choice, but it is a little harder to use than our top choice.
This is a good machine if you’re looking for something relatively simple and affordable. It’s not strong enough for commercial purposes, but it usually gets the job done if you want to clear just one or two properties.
Pros:
- More affordable than many other options
- Works excellently on prepared grounds
Cons:
- Not good on plant-filled or sloped areas
- Hard to maneuver
3. Bear Cat SG340 Stump Grinder – Best Small
Bear Cat isn’t as well-known as some other brands, but this surprisingly powerful unit can still get the cost done.
Note that cheap, in this context, is entirely relative. This grinder is still almost $2500 because you’re not going to find a unit that’s both good and extremely cheap.
The SG340 uses a Honda engine to power a seven-inch cutting head.
While the head is smaller than you’ll see with some of the competition, its horizontal placement on a 23-inch wide unit means it’s easy to maneuver this grinder through almost any environment. Meanwhile, the single-wheel brake system makes it easy to turn and pivot once in place.
For convenience, the front part of the unit has a screen-covered opening. This helps reduce the number of wood chips flying toward your face while still allowing a good look at the grinding so you can see what you’re doing.
The cutter head spins at an industry-respectable 3600 RPM, the same as some other models on this list. Oversized tires make transport easier. Overall, this is an outstanding choice for budget-conscious buyers.
Pros:
- More affordable than other stump grinders
- Easy to maneuver through almost any area
- Pivots well
Cons:
- The smaller cutting head takes longer to grind through big stumps
- The pneumatic tires are a little vulnerable to punctures
4. Power King Stump Grinder – Best Compact Stump Grinder
Electric start stump grinders have a noticeable advantage over traditional models. They are simple for anyone to use and don’t require yanking on a cord for several minutes.
The Power King Stump Grinder is also surprisingly affordable, beating out some of the other low-cost options on this list in price.
This unit’s main features are the 14-horsepower motor, 11-inch cutting teeth, and dual V-belts for rotating the cutting head.
Power King’s grinder is also beginner-friendly because it has an adjustable handle for control, a drum brake for rotating, and even a usage meter to help you know when it’s time to do maintenance.
That last feature is especially useful for both homeowners and commercial buyers. This isn’t a top-of-the-line grinder, but its accessibility makes it a good choice for mild to moderate use scenarios.
Power King delivers this grinder with a weatherproof cover, a full set of replacement cutting teeth, and a removable tow bar.
The cutting range here is twenty inches, eleven above the ground and nine below. The grinder has a one-year warranty, while the engine has a three-year warranty.
For advanced buyers, this unit is compatible with Greenteeth. These are professional-grade cutting teeth with additional surfaces for longer cutting life.
For more info, check out our Power King Stump Grinder Review here.
Pros:
- Extremely affordable
- Easier to start than traditional engines
- Comes with a cover
- Supports Greenteeth
Cons:
- Somewhat inconsistent build quality
- It may occasionally vibrate itself off
5. Dosko 200-6HC – Best Mini Stump Grinder
Size matters for stump grinders, especially if you’re working in tight areas and need the most compact unit.
That’s where Dosko’s 200-6HC model comes into the picture. This compact unit uses a Honda GX engine and Greenteeth 500 series cutting for outstanding performance.
The 200-6HC also has several other useful features, including an oil shutdown sensor that will automatically turn the unit off if it’s too low on its lubrication. A cyclone air cleaner and an unusual side discharge frame provided added help and protection. Even storage is simple, thanks to the handlebar folding over the front when it’s not in use.
Size is the most important attribute here, so that’s the factor that determines if you should get this or not. However, this grinder has a few interesting qualities even outside of its size.
The most notable is its use of a concave cutting area. This helps sheer wood off instead of completely shredding it, making for easier disposal later.
The 200-6HC has a slightly smaller cutting grade than most competitors, going about 10 inches above ground and 9 below it. It’s comparatively light for a stump grinder at roughly 134 pounds, but it’s still heavy enough that you should be careful around hills.
It is self-propelled, however, so it can help you get it up hills while the engine is on.
Pros:
- The best small stump grinder available
- Particularly good as a portable stump grinder
- Comes with Greenteeth
Cons:
- Comparatively small cutting range
- Not a great choice unless you need the smallest walk behind stump grinder you can get
6. Husqvarna SG13 – Best Husqvarna Stump Grinder
Husqvarna is a solid brand focusing on high-performance products, most well known for its chainsaws.
That shows with the Husqvarna SG13, which you can immediately tell is larger and heavier than many competing products. That weight supports its quality, though, including the extra-large 14-inch cutting head.
This unit weighs about 252 pounds total and has a bright orange color scheme that makes it easy to spot in any environment.
The most notable feature is its adjustable handlebar, though. Plenty of other stump grinders let you fold the handlebar forward, but the SG13’s bar is adjustable, so you can reposition it for comfort while using the machine.
Heavy-duty shields cover the front of this unit to minimize the number of wood chips that fly around, supported by permanently lubricated and self-adjusting bearings that provide an outstanding lifespan.
While this isn’t the absolute top of the market, it’s still a significant step up from most other products on this list.
Husqvarna’s gear is much closer to commercial than residential, so this is a great choice if you need to cut many stumps or buy something for your business.
Pros:
- The best stump grinder to buy for serious use
- Adjustable handle for a comfortable stance
- Comes with lift handles on each side
Cons:
- Extremely heavy
- Noticeably more expensive than most other options
7. Barreto Tracked Stump Grinder – Best Commercial
The word “premium” barely begins to do justice to this product.
All the other options on this list are hand-pushed units, and this Barreto sit-down machine is no different. It is easily the best stump grinder in terms of power and performance.
The unit rests on wide tracks that can take you forward at almost three hundred feet per minute. That’s not particularly fast, but it gets done once you’re on-site. A 14-gallon hydraulic reservoir provides additional power for engaging the arm, while simple controls provide outstanding cutting precision in practically any environment.
At 1700 lbs, this unit is too heavy to pick up with anything short of professional equipment. Fortunately, its ability to drive itself up ramps largely eliminates that issue, while its immensely powerful head will chew through practically any stump.
If you want to buy stump grinder equipment for heavy commercial needs, this is the one to look at. It’s also a good choice for, especially large or rough farms. This is far too much for casual home use, though, and most people will do better renting one of these instead of buying them.
Pros:
- Better cutting power than anything else on this list
- Comes with a comfortable seat
- Capable of maneuvering itself up hills and over rough terrain
- Unquestionably the best option on this list
Cons:
- Several times more expensive than the Husqvarna
- More than most people need
Best Stump Grinder Brands
Thankfully, there are plenty of models to choose from, meaning we’re spoiled for choice.
Some of the best brands for stump grinders include:
- Barreto
- Vermeer
- Kubota
- NorthernStar
- DOSKO
Husqvarna is another good brand people will look at – see all the top brands here.
It’s right at the top of residential grinders, and anything better will probably be commercially focused and far more expensive.
Main Components Of A Stump Grinder
All stump grinders have three primary components.
The Engine
The engine is the main power source.
This is usually a gas engine, with smaller units running on regular gas and bigger units occasionally using diesel motors instead. Any grinder that uses diesel is probably a commercial design with better quality than residential units, but they’re also more expensive in general.
Gas engines are significantly more common than electric engines, although you’ll occasionally see electric start systems for ease of use.
Most stump grinders have engines offering 10-15 horsepower, with 14 being a common choice. Anything above this range is either commercial or unusually good for the industry.
The Drive System
is what connects the engine to the cutting wheel. Most stump grinders use a drive belt system where strong rubber connects and turns the parts. These belts wear down over time, but they’re quite cheap and easy to replace.
Premium stump grinders will usually have a long hydraulic pump system instead. These drive a secondary hydraulic motor that turns the cutting wheel. Hydraulic motors are almost universally better than drive belts, both in lifespan and real performance.
The Cutting Wheel
The cutting wheel is the component most people truly care about.
These are usually tungsten teeth set on a steel disc, designed to cut through wood and rocks.
Higher-quality teeth like Greenteeth allow rotating, but they all need to be replaced regularly to maintain quality.
Best Stump Grinder
From massive commercial grinders to compact cutters, there are plenty of options for high-quality grinders.
Price matters here, with premium tools being far more durable and reliable than budget models.
The Power King Grinder from Home Depot is probably the most popular model for residential, home, and hobby farm use. The higher-priced alternatives on Acme Tools are better for commercial and residential use.
Stump grinders are an area where getting the best unit you can afford is better. If you want to save money, there are some cheap removal options, but a high-quality grinder can help you remove many tree stumps faster than any other method.
Lastly, check out the Dr Stump Grinder range for more options, or check out this MTD log splitter I’ve been trying out.
