10 Best Axe for Splitting Wood [Axes Worth Your Money In 2023]

Splitting rounds for firewood is hard work. Your best splitting axe should be sharp, wieldy, ergonomic, durable, and affordable if you want your woodpile to last the winter. The Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe is our favorite and the best splitting axe for firewood.

And it comes with a lifetime warranty – a genuinely unbeatable package for firewood cutting value. For a high-performance splitting axe made for homesteaders and pro-lumberjacks alike, The Fiskars X27 is the go-to tool, making it our # 1 choice.

But – there are other axes we recommend for homesteaders, campers, and professionals. The best axes for splitting firewood are as follows.

Best Splitting Axe for Firewood and Log Splitting

1. Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe | Best Value for skilled splitters. Ideal for large rounds. 
2. Gransfors Bruk Large Splitting Axe | Best Premium Large splitting axe for traditionalists. Suitable for all workloads.
3. Husqvarna Steel Splitting Axe | Best Premium Medium splitting axe. Great for shorter users on all types of wood.
4. Fiskars X25 Splitting Axe | Best Value Medium splitting axe for experts and beginners. Suitable for all types and sizes of logwood.
5. Hults Bruk Agdor Splitting Axe | Best Premium and Lightweight splitting axe for seasoned splitters. Ideal for straight-grain woods.
6. Wilton B.A.S.H. Splitting Maul | Best Premium log splitting maul. These axes get built for experienced users who appreciate an optimum power-to-weight ratio.
7. Fiskars IsoCore Splitting Maul | Best Value log splitting maul forhomesteaders and mountaineers. Superb shock absorption on gnarly wood.
8. Woox Forte Hybrid Axe | It’s the best Hybrid splitting and chopping axe. Versatility, portability, and style make a perfect all-purpose heirloom axe.
9. Hults Bruk 16-inches | Best Premium Hand splitting axe. Ideal for splitting small logs and preparing firewood kindling.
10. Eletorot 14.5-inches | Best Budget Hand splitting axe. Great for fireside use.

Why is the Fiskars X27 the Best Splitting Axe for Firewood?

The Fiskars X27 combines build strength and optimum axe splitting blade geometry to enable single-strike splits across diverse wood types. An ultra-sharp edge on a non-stick five-pound forged steel bit, riveted to a 36-inch non-slip fiberglass handle, delivers robust power. Plus, elite bite and split action.  

Apart from its premium performance characteristics, the Fiskars X27 Super Splitting Axe is considerably less expensive than premium Scandinavian splitting axes. And it carries a lifetime warranty! We think the lifetime warranty also helps make it Amazon’s top-selling splitting axe.

• Log splitting is physically demanding and best undertaken with a balanced and ergonomic axe – this Fiskar fits that bill. It also has an excellent power-to-weight ratio that limits user fatigue. 

At 36-inches, the X27’s hollow composite fiberglass handle helps deliver superior leverage and velocity to the axe head. The long shock-absorbent handle suits taller users and offers extra safety, preventing the axe from accidentally swinging back into the user’s legs and feet.

The proprietary low-resistance (non-stick) coating on the axe head stops the bit from sticking in the wood. Ask any heavy splitter – having an axe that effortlessly extracts from a stubborn round is a valuable energy saver. 

In a nutshell, the Fiskars X27 allows you to split more wood with less effort at a fraction of the price of a comparable Nordic axe (Fiskars axes are made in Finland and have been since 1649). And, it’s tough enough to handle repeated overstrikes from rookies.

Even though we love all the axes on our list – this one is probably the best splitting axe for firewood.

Weight: Just under six pounds (5.8 pounds)

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Is a Gransfors Bruk Splitting Axe Worth the Price?

A Gransfors Bruks splitting axe is handcrafted and considered a collector’s item. We don’t think it’s the best splitting axe for firewood – but it’s in the top three. Hand-forged in Sweden, the five-pound axe head has a concave design with a super-sharp edge curving into a powerful wedge. A hickory handle with a protective steel collar provides ultra-smooth handling and user comfort.

Should you pay three times more than a Fiskars splitting axe costs for a traditional Swedish axe? The answer is yes if you’re a traditionalist axe wielder. And if you want a splitting axe that not only looks great hanging on the wall above the fireplace but will one day become a high-value heirloom.

The hefty price of a Gransfors Bruk splitting axe is justified when you consider the time, care, and craftsmanship each smith gives the axe during the production process. 

The steel is tempered and annealed, then ground to form a beautiful silvery concave bit, all done by hand by one craftsman, whose initials get scorched into the axe head for posterity.

• Gransfors Bruks splitting axes get sharpened by hand before leaving the factory.
• Every Gransfors Bruks has a 20-year warranty.

The 31-inch hickory handle on the Gransfors Bruk large splitting axe has an elegant curve with circular grooves carved into the handle end for optimum grip. Hickory absorbs shock tremendously well, but for safety’s sake, a steel neck collar protects the Gransfors Bruks’ handle from splitting if you overstrike. The company name and logo are burned into the hickory, giving the axe additional presence.

The Gransfors Bruks large splitting axe is considerably shorter than the Fiskars X27. What it loses in brute power, the Gransfors Bruks makes up for in accuracy, comfort, and maneuverability. Let’s call it axe finesse.

The Gransfors Bruks is not an axe you want to place in the hands of a novice log splitter. It’s a reliable wood-splitting tool for those extended splitting sessions where a meditative flow state transports you to a woodland somewhere in the misty climes of the Scandinavian fjords. 

Weight: Five pounds

Pros:

• Elite handcrafted quality.
• Collector’s item.
• Lightweight, durable, and ergonomic.
• Durable.
• Factory sharpened.
• It also comes with a leather blade sheath and a collectible booklet.
• 20-year warranty. 

Cons:

• Expensive.
• Not suitable for beginners.

Is the Fiskars X25 a Good Beginner Splitting Axe?

The Fiskars X25 splitting axe has a super-tough composite fiberglass handle and a lifetime warranty, making it the ideal axe for novice log splitters. The 28-inch handle provides sufficient length for safe use, while the five-pound head is sharp and aggressively wedged to split wood with minimal effort. 

Rookie log splitters need a splitting axe that is manageable and rugged, capable of surviving repeated overstrikes. The Fiskars X25 is light, virtually unbreakable, and has a power-to-weight ratio that makes it easy to wield accurately. And the convex head delivers superior impact. These features make it arguably the best splitting axe for firewood in this price range.

It’s also an excellent axe for newbies. For people learning how to split rounds, the X25 makes a reliable and user-friendly partner – in a word, forgiving.

Make no mistake! The Fiskars X25 is also a superior axe for skilled log splitters, sharing all the features of its larger sibling, the X27 – premium performance at an affordable price.

Weight: Just over five pounds. (5.29 pounds)

Pros:

• Low price and excellent value.
• Lightweight, durable, and ergonomic.
• Unbreakable.
• Factory sharpened.
• Lifetime warranty. 

Cons:

• Replacement under warranty takes time.

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Does Husqvarna Make a Great Splitting Axe?

The 28-inch Husqvarna Steel Splitting Axe is designed to split large logs. A five-pound forged steel head has unique beveled geometry and a non-stick coating for optimal splitting capacity. The composite fiberglass handle with a protective steel bash plate is ergonomic, rugged, and well-balanced. 

Husqvarna makes its axes in partnership with Hultafors Group, ensuring the axe heads get made to exacting Swedish steel manufacturing standards. The 28-inch Husqvarna Steel Splitting Axe has perfect weight distribution, allowing it to split all types of wood. With ease!

• The rear of the Husqvarna axe head can be used for pushing non-steel wedges into the wood.

Priced midway between the Fiskars X27 and the Gransfors Bruk Large Splitting Axe, the Husqvarna Steel is ideal for professional axemen (and lumberjills) requiring a portable, rugged splitting axe with a lifetime warranty. 

Weight: Just over six pounds (6.17 pounds)

Pros:

• Lightweight, robust, and ergonomic.
• Durable.
• Factory sharpened.
• Lifetime warranty. 

Cons:

• Replacement under warranty takes time.
• Slightly heavier than competitor models.
• It does not include a blade protector.

Is the Hults Bruk Agdor a Practical Splitting Axe?

The Hults Bruk Agdor is a premium traditional 20-inch Swedish splitting axe with an American hickory handle. A two-pound tempered steel head has a beveled spine running from a super-sharp edge to the eye, delivering exceptional splitting performance and limited potential for blade sticking.  

The Hults Bruk Agdor gets designed for use on smaller logs, and its portability makes it an ideal camping companion. Manufactured at the legendary Hults Bruk factory in Sweden, which has made fine axes since 1697, the Agdor head is forged and ground to sustain a sharp edge after heavy use.

• The 20-inch hickory handle gets hung using a wooden and a steel wedge.
• The Agdor comes with a leather axe head sheath.
• The axe looks beautiful – and is in the running for the best splitting axe for firewood – especially if you want a small axe for travel, RVing, and camping.

The Hults Bruk Agdor splitting axe is an heirloom tool that requires skillful handling and proper maintenance. It was not cheap. But it is practical, and it looks great!

Weight: Two pounds

Pros:

• Premium quality.
• Portable.
• Durable.
• Factory sharpened.

Cons:

• Pricey.
• It’s limited to smaller logs.

Is a Fiskars Splitting Maul Better than a Splitting Axe?

The Fiskars IsoCore 36-inch Maul weighs 10.5 pounds – double the weight of the Fiskars X27, which accounts for its splitting prowess. What a Fiskars maul loses in bite, it makes up for in brute blunt force trauma to the timber, ripping apart the most obdurate rounds with minimal shock to the user.  

A splitting maul doesn’t have an edge as sharp as a splitting axe, but the Fiskars IsoCore Maul can penetrate hardwood effectively, allowing the heavy wedge to split the wood.

Splitting mauls are most effective on knotty and stringy woods (elm, gum, dogwood, and birch, to name a few). The sheer mass of the axe transfers massive amounts of kinetic energy into the round, effectively weakening the fibers and allowing the blade and wedge to drive through the wood.

• The patented IsoCore Shock Control System in the Fiskars splitting maul absorbs strike shock and vibration better than wood axe handles, significantly reducing muscle damage and fatigue in the user.
• The rubberized handle improves grip, dissipates vibration, and reduces the potential for hand blisters.

Weight: Just over ten pounds (10.4 pounds)

Pros:

• Proven technology.
• Durable.
• Budget-friendly
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Relatively heavy.

Is an Expensive Splitting Maul Necessary?

The Wilton B.A.S.H. 36-inch Splitting Maul is a popular eight-pound tool for splitters of large rounds of stubborn wood. Priced at over $140ish, it is double the price of a Fiskars IsoCore 36-inch ten-pound maul and provides no performance benefits beyond what the Fiskars maul offers. 

Like the Fiskars maul, the Wilton B.A.S.H. 36-inch maul has a sharp edge and a heavy wedge with a maul at the rear. The handle has a steel core and gets fitted with vulcanized rubber for vibration reduction. 

In our opinion, buying a maul at the price of a Wilton B.A.S.H. when you can buy a Fiskars maul and a Fiskars splitting axe for less doesn’t make sense.

Weight: Ten pounds

Pros:

• Well-designed wedge.
• Durable.
• Shock absorbent handle. 

Cons:

• Pricey.
• It’s a great axe. But the high price prevents it from being the best splitting axe for firewood.

Can a Hybrid Axe Split Effectively?

A hybrid axe is capable of felling, bucking, and splitting timber. The Woox Forte hybrid axe combines American and Italian axe head designs to produce an extremely functional splitting axe. A three-pound high carbon steel beveled bit on a 28-inch hickory handle splits large rounds effortlessly.

A sharp edge penetrates deeply into heavy rounds, while a high concave centerline on the Woox Forte bit effectively splits wood and prevents sticking.

They also get handmade in the United States! The Woox Forte is unquestionably a beautiful axe built for those excursions into the wilderness when traditional style helps create an authentic backwoods experience. See for yourself!

Weight: Just shy of six pounds (5.72)

Pros:

• Beautifully handcrafted.
• Versatile.
• Aesthetically appealing.
• Heirloom value. 
• If you want power and looks? It might be the best splitting axe for firewood on this entire list. 

Cons:

• Pricey.

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Can a Swedish Hand Axe Split Wood?

A hand axe or hatchet like the Hults Bruk Almike splits small logs like butter. The axe head is hand-forged in Sweden and has a modest wedge. The wedge and the super-sharp blade produce an effective log split.

The Hults Bruk Almike weighs 1.7 pounds (one point seven pounds) and sports a 16-inch American Hickory handle. 

Weight: Just shy of two pounds (1.7 pounds)

Can a Cheap Hand Axe Split Wood?

The Eletorot Camping Hatchet is a budget-friendly all-purpose hand axe suitable for splitting medium to small logs for firewood. The 1.23-pound head gets made from tempered drop forged carbon steel, and a 14.5-inch hickory handle makes a versatile, portable, and highly capable small splitting axe.

The edge on the Eletorot isn’t factory sharpened. So a sharpening stone will be required at the outset. 

Weight: Just shy of two pounds (1.76 pounds)

What is the Best Wood Splitting Technique?

Splitting wood with an axe or maul requires a technique focused on safety and economy of movement. Spread your legs far apart and extend the axe 90 degrees from your body to the log. Raise the axe directly above your head and drive it with a flowing motion into the round. 

Generally speaking, logs and rounds split best on a chopping block. A large stump approximately 13-inches tall and 20 to 30-inches in diameter. 

Attempting to split rounds on soft ground will waste energy and risk damage to the axe and injury to the user.

• It is essential to bend the knees when striking the log. Proper formation when splitting logs with an axe will prevent the axe or maul from swinging back into your legs in the case of a wayward strike. 
• Always aim to hit the chopping block (rather than the top of the log getting split) and bring the axe down as perpendicular to the ground as possible at the striking point.
• When splitting large rounds, begin penetrating the outer edges with the grain until a split opens in the log.
• Identify where knots are in the wood and work around them, rather than cutting straight into them or across them.
• Prevent the pieces of the split log from flying all over the place by using an old car tire to act as a chopping ring around the log getting split. Using a chopping ring will also help prevent damage to the axe handle.
• Use a sharpening stone to ensure your axe blade can handle the wood cutting task.

Here’s an example of the correct splitting technique using a Fiskars X27 and ratchet strap, used to keep the split round together for easy handling after the splitting’s finished. 

If considering a Fiskars X27 versus the Gransfors Bruk Large Splitting Axe review? Watch this tutorial.

Sheathing Up

With all our wood chips down, it’s indisputable that our # 1 splitting axe, the Fiskars X27, is the king of the wood splitting yard. We think it’s the best splitting axe for firewood. By far! It may not have the allure and romance of the Gransfors Bruk, but The Fiskars X27 is dynamite value and does the job without missing a beat. For a lifetime!

Let us know your thoughts?

Which splitting axe do you like the best?

Or – maybe the best splitting axe for firewood isn’t on this list? Did we miss one of your favorites?

Let us know!

And – we thank you for reading.

Have a great day!

P.S. – Here are More of Our Favorite Log Splitting Videos!

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