Heavy rounds, no socket
The pile is away from a 13 A socket and you cannot lift the round onto a horizontal beam. You want a petrol hydraulic ram with a stated vertical mode, a stated log size, and a cycle time you can read before you buy.
Petrol log splitter comparison 2026
The best petrol log splitters, compared.
Top pick: Lazy-Log LS-4 22 ton – Highest score in this set, 74, for a 22-ton petrol hydraulic with stated log size and a vertical pivot, with the single review and missing review text called out rather than treated as a durability test. Best value: Not awarded – The value rule needs a different listing at a score of at least 60, with at least 50 reviews, and a lower shelf price than the top pick. None of the other four listings meets that floor. Updated 22 October 2026.
Charlie White (Charlie DIYte)Expert source
A petrol log splitter parts logs along the grain with a petrol engine when the woodpile has no 13 A socket, or when the rounds are too large for a domestic electric machine. UK buyers are stove owners with a distant pile, smallholders, and people processing arboricultural waste. You recognise a suitable machine by the stated log length and diameter, a cycle time that matches the engine, two-hand hold-to-run controls, and a way of moving it that is honest about the road. The tonne figure is the seller's calculated peak force, not a regulated test, and a strong engine on a large ram can still be slow. A hydraulic wedge, a kinetic flywheel stroke and a tapered screw are different tools. Wedge splitters fall under BS EN 609-1:2017 and screw splitters under BS EN 609-2. A ball hitch is not road approval. An unbraked trailer stays at or under 750 kg loaded until the seller shows lights and approval. If you are still deciding, use the [petrol log splitter buying guide](/hub/forestry-tools/petrol-log-splitter/sub/petrol-log-splitter-buying-guide).
A petrol log splitter parts logs along the grain with a petrol engine when the woodpile has no 13 A socket, or when the rounds are too large for a domestic electric machine.
18 products checked · 56 hrs invested · +18,400 readers
5 of 5: Best petrol log splitters compared
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1-2 of 5Best overall
8.2/10
5.0/10
1.4/10
1.0/10
1.0/10
∼ £1,496
∼ £479
∼ £1,600
∼ £1,048
∼ £169
5.0(1)
3.0(1)
1.0(1)
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Personal buying guide
Which petrol log splitter fits the pile?
Question 1 of 2
Can you lift the round onto the beam?
The best petrol log splitters in detail
Our view
The Lazy-Log LS-4 is a trailer-mounted hydraulic petrol splitter on amazon.co.uk at about £1,495.95, with a 22-ton claim, a 212 cc four-stroke engine listed as 7 hp, and stated log size up to 635 mm long and 485 mm in diameter. The listing says it pivots between horizontal and vertical, carries a built-in safety guard, and quotes a 10-second split with an 8-second return for an 18-second full cycle. The star line is 5.0 from one review, but the saved listing has no review text, so there is no UK buyer record of oil fill, assembly, seal life, or real cycle feel on this ASIN. A tow bar and wheels are named; road approval, lights, and plated weight are not. Treat the tonne figure and the cycle times as seller claims beside a thin review sample, not as a measured force or a durability test.
Pros
- 22-ton claim with 635 mm by 485 mm log size stated
- 212 cc four-stroke petrol, listed as 7 hp
- Pivots horizontal to vertical; trailer mount with tow bar
- Listing cycle 10 s out / 8 s back; safety guard stated
Cons
- Only one amazon.co.uk star and no review text in the saved listing
- Road legality, lights, and plated weight not stated
- Weight, hydraulic pressure, and fuel-tank size missing
- Two-hand hold-to-run controls not named in the bullets
Best for: A yard or woodland buyer who needs a stated 22-ton petrol ram away from a 13 A socket and can confirm trailer rules before towing on the road.
Less suitable: Socket-side stove loads better suited to electric, buyers who need a thick UK review file, and anyone treating the tow bar as proof of road legality.
Specifications
- Model
- Lazy-Log LS-4 22 ton
- Brand
- Lazy-Log
- Price
- ∼£1,496
- Customer rating
- 5.0/5(1)
- Type
- Hydraulic
- Force
- 22 ton
- Log length
- 635 mm
- Log diameter
- 485 mm
- Engine
- 212 cc 4-stroke
- Orientation
- Horizontal, vertical
- Movement
- Trailer, tow bar
- Guard
- Yes
Common questions
How large a log does the Lazy-Log listing claim?
The listing states logs up to 635 mm long and 485 mm in diameter, and a splitting force of 22 ton. That is the seller's figure, not a measured force.
Does the listing say it can work upright?
Yes. The bullets say it pivots from horizontal to vertical.
What cycle time is printed?
The listing says the split takes 10 seconds and the return takes 8 seconds, 18 seconds for a full cycle.
Our view
The LUPENGSHOP listing at about £478.76 is not a hydraulic ram. The bullets describe tapered drills on a 64 cc two-stroke petrol engine, with 2.7 N·m, 2,500 W, a 0.4 gal tank (about 1.5 litres), and a title claim for woods of 9.4 in diameter, shown as 239 mm in the table. Stated weight is 20 kg with anti-slip feet; wheels and a safety guard are not named. One review, 3.0 from 1 and marked United States on 18 April 2026, says the machine started and worked for about an hour, which is not a UK durability record. Speed lines disagree inside the saved listing: 9,000 rpm no-load in a bullet and 5,000 rpw in another field. Screw-style machines sit under BS EN 609-2, with a glove-catch risk that wedge rams do not share. Keep it in the comparison as a different mechanism, not as a quieter Lazy-Log.
Pros
- 64 cc two-stroke cone at a lower shelf price than the hydraulics
- 20 kg stated weight with anti-slip feet
- 0.4 gal tank and up to 2.5 hours claimed
- English manual and toolkit bag named in the box
Cons
- Not a hydraulic ram; no tonne figure stated
- Only one review, written in the United States after about an hour
- Conflicting speed lines (9,000 rpm and 5,000 rpw)
- Safety guard and log length not stated
Best for: Only a buyer who already understands tapered-screw splitters and accepts a one-hour US review as the only buyer note.
Less suitable: Anyone wanting a guarded hydraulic wedge, a UK review file, or a machine ranked against 8-ton and 22-ton rams.
Specifications
- Model
- LUPENGSHOP 64 cc cone
- Brand
- LUPENGSHOP
- Price
- ∼£479
- Customer rating
- 3.0/5(1)
- Type
- Cone
- Log diameter
- 239 mm
- Engine
- 64 cc 2-stroke
- Movement
- Anti-slip feet
- Weight
- 20 kg
Common questions
Is this a hydraulic ram splitter?
No. The bullets describe tapered drills on a 64 cc two-stroke engine. No tonnage is stated. It is not ranked here as if it were an 8-ton or 22-ton ram.
What diameter does the title claim?
The title says it is for woods of 9.4 in diameter, about 239 mm. A log length is not stated.
Where was the only review written?
The saved listing has one review, 3.0 out of 5, marked as reviewed in the United States on 18 April 2026. It says the machine started and worked for about an hour.
Our view
The Rotatech RTP-GL-22T lists a 7 hp four-stroke petrol engine and a splitting force of 22–26 tons at about £1,599.99 on amazon.co.uk. Log length, diameter, weight, cycle time, and a named safety guard are missing from the bullets. The single UK review (1.0 from 1, 19 March 2025) says this unit arrived as a box of parts with limited instructions and no hydraulic-oil information, and that after about five hours the oil-pump fitting was too tall to sit under the towing bar. The reviewer could not finish assembly and notes a hose in that place would press against the exhaust manifold. A handle and light, portable wording appear in the listing; the review refers to a towing bar. Treat the tonne range as a title claim beside an incomplete assembly report, not as evidence of splitting performance.
Pros
- 7 hp four-stroke petrol stated
- Force claimed as 22–26 tons
- Listing says it works without mains electricity
- Handle for moving named in the bullets
Cons
- 1.0 from 1 UK review: arrived as parts, assembly unfinished
- No hydraulic-oil information in the reviewer's experience
- Pump fitting clashes with the towing bar per that review
- Log length, diameter, weight, and guard not stated
Best for: Only if you are prepared to complete a full mechanical build and can verify fittings against the tow bar before paying.
Less suitable: Buyers who need a ready-to-run hydraulic, a clear log-size table, or a machine with a clean UK review file.
Specifications
- Model
- Rotatech RTP-GL-22T
- Brand
- Rotatech
- Price
- ∼£1,600
- Customer rating
- 1.0/5(1)
- Force
- 22–26 ton
- Engine
- 7 hp 4-stroke
- Movement
- Handle
Common questions
What splitting force does the listing state?
The bullets state 22–26 tons and a 7 hp four-stroke petrol engine. Log length and diameter are not stated.
Does the listing say it needs mains power?
No. A bullet says it can be used without relying on electricity.
What does the UK review say about assembly?
The single UK review, 1.0 out of 5, says this unit arrived as parts, with limited instructions and no hydraulic-oil information, and that the pump fitting would not sit under the towing bar.
Our view
The SIP 01987 is a horizontal hydraulic petrol splitter at about £1,048.17 on amazon.co.uk, with an 8-ton claim, a 196 cc 6.5 hp engine titled EURO V, and a stated log length of 520 mm. Technical details give 93.5 kg, 70 x 92 x 151 cm, and 25 MPa hydraulic pressure; rough-terrain wheels, a pull handle, support legs, protective guarding, and a log catcher are named. A SIP 2-year Standard Silver Warranty appears in the bullets. Maximum diameter, cycle time, and two-hand controls are not in the saved listing, and the title's towable claim is not backed by lights or approval wording. There is no customer-review line, so oil level, seal life, and real splitting feel on this ASIN are unknown. It is the other hydraulic row in the set, and the lighter of the two named hydraulic machines by stated weight. The score stays at 0 because the star line is missing. That is not a best-value award.
Pros
- 8-ton claim with 520 mm log length stated
- 196 cc 6.5 hp petrol; EURO V in the title
- 93.5 kg with rough-terrain wheels and pull handle
- 25 MPa and SIP 2-year Standard Silver Warranty stated
Cons
- No amazon.co.uk star line or review text
- Log diameter and cycle time not stated
- Horizontal only; no vertical pivot in the saved listing
- Towable title without lights or approval detail
Best for: A smallholding or landscaping buyer who wants a named SIP horizontal 8-ton petrol ram up to about 520 mm and can handle roughly 93.5 kg.
Less suitable: Buyers who need a vertical mode for heavy rounds, a thick review record on this ASIN, or a proven road trailer.
Specifications
- Model
- SIP 01987 8 ton
- Brand
- SIP
- Price
- ∼£1,048
- Type
- Hydraulic
- Force
- 8 ton
- Log length
- 520 mm
- Engine
- 196 cc, 6.5 hp
- Orientation
- Horizontal
- Movement
- Wheels, handle
- Weight
- 93.5 kg
- Guard
- Yes
Common questions
What log length does the SIP listing state?
The title and bullets state a log capacity of 520 mm. A maximum diameter is not in the saved listing.
Is a warranty named?
Yes. A bullet states a SIP 2-year Standard Silver Warranty.
How heavy is it?
The technical details give an item weight of 93.5 kg and dimensions of 70 x 92 x 151 cm.
Our view
The STAXXR listing at about £169.00 is another 64 cc two-stroke tapered-drill petrol splitter, not a hydraulic ram. Bullets name tapered chopping drills, 2.7 N·m maximum torque, air cooling, and about 2.5 hours from a 0.4 gal tank. Force, log length, diameter, weight, and a safety guard are not stated. The saved listing shares the same Amazon image URL as the LUPENGSHOP ASIN while using a different brand, price, and title. There is no star line and no review text, and the date first available is 4 June 2026. A bullet about almost eliminating oil leakage refers to the engine casing, not a hydraulic circuit. Treat it as an entry cone listing that still needs mechanism and capacity checks, not as a budget twin of the 8-ton or 22-ton hydraulics. The score is 0 because the Customer Reviews line is missing.
Pros
- Lowest shelf price in this set at about £169.00
- 64 cc two-stroke with 2.7 N·m torque stated
- 0.4 gal tank and about 2.5 hours claimed
- Described as portable for garden and camping firewood
Cons
- No star line or review text in the saved listing
- No tonne, log length, diameter, or weight stated
- Same hero image URL as the LUPENGSHOP listing in the saved listings
- Not a hydraulic ram; guard not named
Best for: Only a buyer who specifically wants a cheap tapered-drill petrol unit and will confirm capacity and safety parts before use.
Less suitable: Anyone ranking it against hydraulic tonnes, needing UK reviews, or expecting a trailer-mounted wedge.
Specifications
- Model
- STAXXR 64 cc cone
- Brand
- STAXXR
- Price
- ∼£169
- Type
- Cone
- Engine
- 64 cc 2-stroke
- Movement
- Portable
Common questions
What kind of splitter is the STAXXR listing?
The title calls it a 64 cc two-stroke petrol log splitter with a tapered drill. It does not state a tonnage, log length, or weight.
How long does the listing say a tank lasts?
The bullets say the 0.4 gal tank can run for about 2.5 hours. That is a listing claim, not a timed run for this page.
Are there customer reviews in the saved listing?
No star line and no review text are in the saved listing. The date first available is 4 June 2026.
How we compared
Five amazon.co.uk listings were scored from the star line and the review count, not from a log split for this page. Stars are multiplied by 16, so a 5.0 line is 80 points. Review volume is 5 times log10 of the count, which reaches 20 points at 10,000 reviews. A missing Customer Reviews line scores 0. Deductions sit outside that sum when one review would flatter the maths: about six points on the Lazy-Log for a single star and no review text, about six on the LUPENGSHOP for a single United States review, and about ten on the Rotatech for a UK review of unfinished assembly. Hydraulic rams and tapered screws are not ranked as the same machine. A tonne claim is the seller's figure, not a measured force. BS EN 609-1 and BS EN 609-2 are safety standards, not score points.
1
Star line
80%The amazon.co.uk star average is multiplied by 16. A 5.0 line is 80 points before any deduction. A missing Customer Reviews line is 0. The deduction for a single review with no text, or for a review that describes unfinished assembly, sits outside this weight.
2
Review volume
20%Review volume is 5 times log10 of the amazon.co.uk count, up to 20 points at 10,000 reviews. One review adds nothing on this part. A count of zero, where the listing has no Customer Reviews line, stays at 0.
Independent review
Last updated: 22 October 2026
9 sources checked
Petrol log splitter buying guide
Decide whether the pile needs petrol before you read a tonne badge. Then separate hydraulic rams from tapered screws, and read log size, cycle time and how the machine actually moves. The notes below follow the five amazon.co.uk listings on this page and the public UK sources at the end.
What to check on a petrol log splitter
A petrol log splitter is a petrol-driven wedge ram, a flywheel ram, or a tapered screw that parts logs along the grain. You buy one when a 13 A socket is missing, or when the rounds are too large or too many for a domestic electric machine. A few barrow-loads of seasoned wood beside the house are usually an electric splitter or a hire day. A published rule of thumb is that more than about a week of hire a year starts to favour buying.
Best for
- A distant woodpile with no 13 A socket and rounds an electric machine will not take
- Buyers who can read log length, diameter and cycle time, not the tonne badge alone
- Someone who already understands a tapered screw and will not treat it as a ram
Not ideal for
- A few barrow-loads of seasoned stove wood beside a socket
- Anyone who treats a tow bar, or one star, as proof of road legality or durability
Mistakes to avoid
- 1
Reading only the tonne number
The badge is the seller's calculated peak, not a test of your species. Knots stop rams inside the stated maximum. A 7 hp engine on a 22-ton ram can be strong and slow. Read length, diameter and cycle time with the force.
- 2
Treating a tow bar as road approval
An unbraked trailer stays at or under 750 kg loaded and needs working lights. Many towable titles are yard machines until the seller shows approval. Lights and plated weight are missing on the listings here.
- 3
One star as a durability test
Review counts on these five listings are none or one. A 5.0 from a single review with no text is not a season of splitting. A cone is not a hydraulic ram, even when the shelf price looks lower.
What to weigh up
Log size, force and cycle
HighStart with the stated maximum length and diameter, then the tonne band, then the cycle. Garden bands used here are about 8–10 tonnes for stove hardwood to roughly 40 cm, 15–20 for knottier rounds, and 22 and up for trunk sections. A typical stove on electric is often put lower, at 5–7 tonnes. Use the machine's own limits. In this set only the Lazy-Log prints both length and diameter, 635 mm by 485 mm, and a cycle, 10 seconds out and 8 seconds back.
Mechanism, controls and moving it
HighA hydraulic wedge and a tapered screw are different tools. BS EN 609-1:2017 covers wedge splitters. BS EN 609-2 covers screw splitters. The two 64 cc listings are cones. Rank them only if you already want a screw. Two-hand hold-to-run controls should stop the ram when either hand lets go. A helper is not covered. None of these bullets names that control. A guard is stated on the Lazy-Log and the SIP, and not on the cones or the Rotatech. Wheels suit the yard.
Which option suits you?
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
Horizontal 8-ton ram
You can lift the rounds, you want a named horizontal hydraulic with a stated length around 520 mm, and you can move a machine listed at 93.5 kg. You do not need a vertical pivot.
Tapered screw only
You already know a cone is not a hydraulic ram, and you accept a single United States review after about an hour as the only buyer note. A guarded wedge with a tonne figure is a different tool.
Common questions about petrol log splitters
Which petrol log splitter is the top pick for 2026?
The top pick in this set is the Lazy-Log LS-4 at about £1,495.95. The listing states a 22-ton hydraulic ram, a 212 cc four-stroke, logs up to 635 mm by 485 mm, and a horizontal-to-vertical pivot. The score is 74 from a 5.0 line with one review and no review text, after a deduction for that thin sample. It is not a lab test. No other listing scores at least 60 with 50 or more reviews at a lower price, so this page does not name a best value.
How much does a petrol log splitter cost on amazon.co.uk?
In this five-listing set, shelf prices run from about £169.00 for a 64 cc cone to about £1,599.99 for the Rotatech. The other cone is about £478.76. The SIP 8-ton hydraulic is about £1,048.17, and the Lazy-Log 22-ton is about £1,495.95. Published UK hire examples are about £67.50 for a first day and about £225.18 for 24 hours including VAT, delivery extra. These are October 2026 amazon.co.uk figures and they move. More than about a week of hire a year is the published point where buying starts to make sense.
Is a hydraulic ram the same as a tapered-screw splitter?
No. A hydraulic wedge uses an engine, a pump, a ram and a wedge. BS EN 609-1:2017 covers that type for one operator. A tapered screw spins a drill into the log. The two 64 cc listings here are screws, and neither states a tonne. BS EN 609-2 covers screw splitters. Do not rank a cone against an 8-ton or 22-ton ram as one machine. A kinetic flywheel is a third type, quicker on straight logs and weak on a long push. None of these five is described as kinetic.
What tonne rating should you look for?
The tonne badge is the seller's calculated peak, not a test of your species. Published UK starting bands are about 8–10 tonnes for stove hardwood to roughly 40 cm, 15–20 for knottier rounds, and 22 and up for trunk sections. Other guides put a typical stove at 5–7 tonnes on electric. Use the machine's own length and diameter. Knots can stop a ram inside that maximum. A 7 hp engine on a 22-ton ram can be strong and slow. Only the Lazy-Log listing here prints a cycle, 18 seconds full.
Does a tow bar mean the splitter is road-legal?
No. A ball hitch on the listing is not approval to use the public road. An unbraked trailer must stay at or under 750 kg loaded, and it needs working lights. Many towable titles are yard machines until the seller shows approval paperwork. The Lazy-Log names a tow bar and wheels and does not state lights or a plated weight. The SIP title says towable without lights or approval wording. The Rotatech review mentions a towing bar that would not clear the pump fitting. Confirm the paperwork before you tow.
What fuel does a petrol log splitter use, and how much can you store?
The Lazy-Log and the Rotatech are listed as four-stroke petrol. The SIP title does not name a stroke. The two cones are 64 cc two-stroke, and neither prints a mix ratio, so do not copy one from another engine. Some garden equipment is not E10-compatible. If the manual is silent, use super-grade E5. At home you may keep up to 30 litres of petrol in suitable containers, not in living rooms. Do not run the engine in a closed shed, and do not hunt a hydraulic leak by hand.
When should you stay with electric, hire, or call a professional?
A few barrow-loads of seasoned rounds beside a 13 A socket are usually an electric log splitter or a hire day, not a petrol ram. More than about a week of hire a year is the published point where buying starts to make sense. Call a professional if work equipment is unchecked, if fluid has punctured skin, or if a road trailer has no approval. A helper is not protected by two-hand controls. PUWER applies at work, not to a householder's own stove wood.
Our verdict
The top pick is the Lazy-Log LS-4 at about £1,495.95: a trailer-mounted hydraulic ram with a 22-ton claim, a 212 cc four-stroke listed as 7 hp, logs up to 635 mm by 485 mm, and a horizontal-to-vertical pivot. The score is 74 from a 5.0 line with one review and no review text, after a deduction for that thin sample. It is not a lab test. No other listing scores at least 60, with at least 50 reviews, at a lower shelf price, so this page does not name a best value. The SIP 01987 is the other hydraulic, at about £1,048.17, with no star line. The two 64 cc cones and the Rotatech, whose UK review describes unfinished assembly, stay in the table as different evidence, not as substitutes for that ram.
Best overallView offer
Lazy-Log LS-4 22 ton
Highest score in this set, 74, for a 22-ton petrol hydraulic with stated log size and a vertical pivot, with the single review and missing review text called out rather than treated as a durability test.
Best value
Not awarded
The value rule needs a different listing at a score of at least 60, with at least 50 reviews, and a lower shelf price than the top pick. None of the other four listings meets that floor.
Editorial
Editor
DIY & toolsamazon.co.uk listingsPublic UK sources
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Updated: 22 October 2026
9 sources checked
Guides to petrol log splitters
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Petrol log splitter buying guideWhether petrol fits the pile, then which band to read.Best petrol log splittersWhich kind of machine for which job, and who should skip it.How to use a petrol log splitterStart, split, stop, and what to do when a log jams.Petrol vs electric log splitterSocket machine or petrol, and nothing else.Petrol log splitter tonnageForce against diameter, species and a slow ram.
Related comparisons
Sources
Public UK sources from the research digest, last checked on 22 October 2026. Listing prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures saved for these five ASINs.
- HSE firewood processors bulletin (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- GOV.UK machinery guide (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE PUWER overview (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- BS EN 609-1:2017 wedge log splitters (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- HSE petrol storage (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- GOV.UK E10 petrol (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- GOV.UK towing checks (retrieved 22 October 2026)
- Garden Review petrol log splitter guide (retrieved 22 October 2026)
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The order follows amazon.co.uk listings, review counts and the public sources below. The commission does not set the scores. The amazon.co.uk tag is pcuk26-21.