Best Splitting Maul for Yard Cleanup

If you have a wood-burning stove, you know how important it is to split the wood so it stacks neatly and sturdily in your firewood rack until you need it. You’ll go through several cords of wood during the cooler months, and it’s important that you have the best splitting maul on hand to make the entire process go much smoother from start to finish. This is one of the best tools you can have to help tackle this project, and the best splitting maul will be sturdy enough to take on small and large-scale projects without slowing you down. It should be well-balanced and made out of materials that are built to last season after season. 

However, picking out the best splitting maul can be a challenge if you haven’t bought one before or if you’re shopping for a new one after years of use. There are so many options available on the current market from reputable brands, and they cover any price point you can think of. The goal is to find a decent balance between price and durability, and this requires some detective work. Luckily, I’ve combed through dozens of reviews to bring you the top 10 best splitting mauls available on the current market. You can take a look, use the reviews to compare products, and look at the buying guide to help narrow down the best splitting maul for your wants and needs below. 

Whether you love or hate splitting wood, it’s essential that you have to correct tools for the job. Doing so will ensure that the project goes by quickly and you can move onto something else. Splitting firewood in the Ger district of Sukbaatar, Monglolia by Byron Lippincott / CC BY-ND 2.0

Gransfors Bruk Splitting Maul – Top Pick 

My top pick for the best splitting maul comes from Gransfors, and it’s durable enough to allow you to slice through very knotty and thick wood chunks. It comes forged and ground to a concave and thin blade that is very sharp and resistant to chips. The maul will cut cleanly each time you use it, and it effectively splits the wood as the broader section forces the wood apart. In turn, you’ll get even and neat pieces of wood that are ready to stack until you want to use them in your cheap fence idea or to warm your home. 

When you get this best splitting maul, it has a sturdy poll with bevelled corners and a balanced weight that makes it an excellent striking wedge. The handle of this product comes with a protective steel collar that sits right below the axe head for added durability, and it has circular grooves located by the end to give you an extra firm and secure grip when you use it. It weighs in at around 20-pounds, and this is heavy enough to take care of thick pieces without being cumbersome. The axe head has a leather sheath to help protect it and keep you safe until it’s time to use it. 

PROS: 

• Protective leather sheath 
• Concave and thin blade
• Well-balanced design 
• Sturdy poll
• Beveled corners 
• Protective steel collar
• Extra grip with circular grooves

CONS: 

• Handle is a mix of wood types

Wilton Tools Splitting Maul – Step-Up Pick 

Wilton’s best splitting maul takes the spot for the step-up pick because the company dedicates itself to creating some of the most durable and long-lasting tools on the market. It comes with unbreakable handle technology that includes a steel core that prevents the handle from snapping or splintering on impact when you use it for long periods of time or on heavy-duty projects. There is also a no-slip rubber grip on this handle that allows you to use it with confidence in both wet and dry conditions without worrying about it slipping or you losing your grip and getting hurt. 

The safety plate on this best splitting maul will prevent the maul’s head from dislodging as you work, and this also increases your safety factors. There is an anti-vibe neck with a tapered design that helps to reduce or eliminate vibrations when you strike the wood, and this can make each wood splitting project more comfortable by reducing the stain on your body. Wilton offers a $1,000 B.A.S.H. guarantee, and this means that they’ll refund your money or replace the item if something were to go wrong with it. It’s easy to store, and it has a bright green and black color scheme that improves your visibility. 

PROS: 

• Unbreakable handle technology 
• Steel core 
• No-slip rubber grip 
• Safety plate included 
• Anti-vibe neck
• Ergonomic design 
• $1,000 guarantee 

CONS: 

• Maul head is softer metal 

Hooyman Splitting Maul – Mid-End Budget Pick

Hooyman’s best splitting maul is my mid-end budget pick because it offers durability and versatility without breaking your bank. It’s perfect for helping you create raised planter boxes or if you want to clear out overgrown parts of your yard. Each maul comes designed to tackle whatever task you have on-hand, and it comes with a very modern aesthetic in the design that appeals to a large group of people, and it has a no-slip H-GRIP handle that increases your confidence levels while ensuring that you stay safe and comfortable when you use this tool. There are slight ridges for your fingers. 

This is a lightweight product, and this best splitting maul can easily take on projects right around your home or at more rural sites. It uses 1045 high-strength forged steel with a convex grind to create a very durable product, and the handle features interlocking epoxy seal with a solid fiberglass core that won’t flex or splinter. There is a flat poll to start cracks in the wood, and the v-shaped head will allow you to create neat splits. It has a limited lifetime warranty from the date of purchase to protect you against failure, damage, or defects. 

PROS: 

• Modern design
• Lightweight and durable 
• No-slip grip 
• Fiberglass handle 
• 1045 high-strength steel
• V-shaped head with a flat poll
• Limited lifetime warranty 

CONS: 

• Hard to pull back out if it gets stuck 

Cold Steel Splitting Maul – Bargain Budget Pick 

My bargain budget pick for the best splitting maul comes from Cold Steel. It has a European-style head with a 4 ½-inch cutting edge and a 4-inch blade to allow it to make larger cuts with every swing. There is a very sturdy and straight American Hickory handle with straight grains. You can safely and effectively use it to chop kindling, clear trails, clear roads, chop down a fair-sized tree, and build blinds. In turn, this means you can tackle a huge range of projects around your home without having to drag out multiple tools. It has a slightly more compact design that makes it easy to strap to your pack and carry it with you while you’re out and about. 

You can choose from two different styles with this best splitting maul, and this allows you to customize your choice to fit your unique needs. It has a very balanced design with an ergonomic handle that gives you a secure and comfortable grip when you use it, and it’s very lightweight at just over two pounds. You can use it for hours on end without straining your body, and this also makes it easy to transport from location to location without a problem. There is no blade cover included, but you can purchase one that is relatively inexpensive. 

PROS: 

• European-style head
• Larger cutting blade 
• American Hickory handle 
• Ergonomic design 
• Works for multiple projects 
• Lightweight and compact 
• Durable 

CONS: 

• No blade cover

Husqvarna Wooden Split Axe – Best for Small Jobs

If you have a small project or job around your house like clearing out an area for your outdoor bench, look at Husqvarna’s best splitting maul. It comes in a 19 or 30-inch design, and it’s suitable for splitting thicker firewood pieces. The head design on this maul allows you to cut easily into wood pieces of all sizes with minimal effort on your part, and it’ll help you get two neat and even parts on each split. It has a slightly longer handle that allows you to put far more power into each swing, and you can easily use two hands while staying comfortable when you use it. 

This best splitting maul features hand-forged Swedish steel and hickory, and these materials are very durable and resistant to wear and tear. The attachment point for the head uses both a steel and a wooden wedge to make it extremely secure. There is a leather edge cover included in each purchase that will not only protect the blade, but it’ll also prevent you from accidentally cutting yourself  when you’re carrying it around. It weighs in at under four pounds, and this makes it easy to carry or use for several small jobs without having a lot of strain or fatigue. 

PROS: 

• Available in two design options
• Hand-forged steel 
• Longer handle 
• Resists wear and tear 
• Steel and wooden wedges for attachment points 
• Leather blade cover 
• Lightweight 

CONS:

• Customer service is challenging to contact 

Fiskars IsoCore Maul  – Best for Overgrown Yards

This is a powerful and rugged best splitting maul from Fiskars that lets you tackle your overgrown yard while reducing joint pain and muscle fatigue. It uses premium steel that is forged to a concave shape that makes it excellent for splitting wood evenly while taking advantage of every swing you make. It has an industry-leading IsoCore Shock Control System that will work to absorb any strike shock and vibrations to help reduce how much you feel each swing, and this also keeps you more comfortable on longer projects. The blade geometry comes optimized to cut through thick and knotty logs or thinner ones with ease. 

There is a dual-layer handle capture on this best splitting maul that will also help reduce vibrations. You get a secure and comfortable grip each time you use it, and it has a pronounced handle flair to improve your security. It comes designed to exceed U.S. standards for durability, and this gives you the peace of mind that comes with knowing it’ll perform well on tough projects. You can choose from two sizes when you order, and it has a riveted head that won’t slide down or snap off when you use it to improve the safety factor. 

PROS: 

• Premium steel design 
• IsoCore Shock Control System 
• Dual-layer handle
• Two sizes available 
• Exceeds U.S. durability standards 
• Riveted head 
• Sleek color scheme 

CONS: 

• Steel is softer 

Seymour Splitting Maul – Best for Heavy-Duty Projects

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Seymour’s best splitting maul weighs in at just over 10-pounds, and this gives you enough weight to split thicker or more knotty pieces of wood without being too heavy to use for extended periods of time. It’s a great pick if you need to clear out a place for your hammock stand in your garden, and the blade comes specially designed to split rather than cut to give you even pieces that you can clear away and stack neatly. It has a weighted head that allows you to put more power behind each swing, and this makes it easy to make clean and neat splits each time you bring it out. 

There are beveled and polished edges on this best splitting maul that don’t lose their sharpness with repeated use, and it has a lightweight but durable fiberglass handle that won’t splinter or crack with heavy use. The rubberized grip comes textured to give you a very secure grip in all weather conditions, and it has a bright yellow coloring to help improve the tool’s visibility when you’re outside and set it down. The slightly flared end on the handle improves your safety when you use it, and the customer service team is very responsive to any questions you may have. 

PROS: 

• Weighted design 
• Splits rather than cuts 
• Beveled and polished edges 
• Fiberglass handle 
• Rubberized textured grip 
• Flared end 
• Responsive customer service team

CONS: 

• Smaller cutting edge 

Intertool Steel Splitting Maul – Best for Harder Materials

Intertool’s best splitting maul brings you a heavy-duty, wedge-shaped head that weighs in at five pounds to make splitting harder wood types easier. It uses high-quality tool steel that won’t ding or scratch with heavy use, and you get a flat pole that lets you double this tool as a powerful sledgehammer that comes with a lot of driving power behind it. You get a slightly longer handle at 32-inches that gives you more leverage, precision, and power with each swing to help you make neat splits, and the handle features a fiberglass design that won’t break down or wear out. 

The handle on this best splitting maul also absorbs shock when you use it to reduce the strain on your body, and it has rubber inserts that prevent you from slipping and losing your grip in dry and wet conditions. It has a well-balanced design with a head-to-handle joint that will stay in place and not slip. The silicone blade cover is great when you want to transport and store this tool to prevent accidental injury or damage. There is a red and black contrasting color scheme that will help you locate this tool in different terrains, and there is a hole at the end of the grip that makes it easy to hang to store.  

PROS: 

• Wedge-shaped head 
• Longer handle design 
• Fiberglass handle 
• Absorbs shock 
• Head-to-handle joint 
• Silicone blade cover 
• Easy to store 

CONS: 

• Handle is hollow 

Fiskars 375591-1001 Splitting Maul – Best for Remote Work Sites

Fiskars has a second entry on the best splitting maul list, and it works well for splitting large or medium-sized logs at remote work sites. It comes designed for maximum efficiency, and it weighs in at under four pounds. This lightweight design makes it easy to carry around from spot to spot without taking up a lot of room or causing fatigue. It comes outfitted with an advanced bevel convex blade geometry that allows you to easily cut landscape timbers, and the blade design also allows you to easily remove it from the piece of wood if it doesn’t cut all of the way though. 

There is a blade-grinding technique used on this best splitting maul that gives you a wickedly sharp edge to get cleaner cuts and better contact as you work. The Dura frame handle has shock-absorbing properties while being lightweight. It’s stronger than steel, and the handle material with the design can help prevent overstrike damage. The handle is 28-inches long, and this improves your reach and how much power you can put behind each swing. You can use a two-handed grip on each swing, and this is a safer option that helps ensure you won’t slip. 

PROS: 

• Under four pounds 
• Bevel convex blade geometry 
• Very sharp edge 
• Dura frame handle
• Shock-absorbing properties 
• Longer handle 
• Easy to unstick from pieces of wood 

CONS: 

• No blade cover or case

Performance Tool Splitting Maul – Best for Heavy Use

The final product on the best splitting maul list comes from Performance Tool. Since 1971, this company has been manufacturing and producing high-quality tools that come designed for heavy use without breaking down. Each product comes tested for function and durability in real-world conditions before it ships to you, and the hardened forged steel handle won’t chip or dent with repeated use on hard or knotty wood types. The mirror polish on the heads allows it to glide through the toughest projects while making clean splits, and it’s easy to remove if it gets stuck. 

The heavy-duty fiberglass handle on this best splitting maul is very durable while not adding a lot of weight to it, and it comes equipped with an anti-shock rubber cushioned grip that is textured to help you hang onto it when you swing it in different weather conditions. The maul weighs in at six pounds, and this is lightweight enough to carry from project site to project site without fatigue. The bright yellow handle on this tool improves the visibility factor when you set it down, and it has a slightly wider head that gives you more force each time you use it. 

PROS: 

• Long history of quality tools 
• Tested for real-world conditions 
• Hardened forged steel 
• Mirror polish 
• Bright yellow color 
• Anti-shock rubber grips 
• Lightweight 

CONS: 

• Head may be too wide for smaller cutting jobs

Best Splitting Maul – Buyer’s Guide 

When you start shopping for the best splitting maul, what criteria do you want to keep in mind? It’s important that you pick out the correct tool for the projects you have lined up to help you complete them much quicker. No matter if you want to split wood to help build your extension or if you want to clear out an overgrown area in  your yard, the best splitting maul can help. The following short guide can help you narrow down your choices. 

Choosing the best splitting maul is something you want to take your time with and think about to ensure you match your tool to your intended projects. Aerobic Exercise by Linda, Fortuna future / CC BY-NC 2.0

Handle Length and Material

Generally speaking, you’ll choose from a wooden or fiberglass handle. Wooden handles are traditional because they’re durable, but they can splinter or crack with age and heavy use. They also add a lot of weight to your splitting maul as a whole. Fiberglass handles are quickly becoming the new normal because they’re lightweight without sacrificing durability, and many of them come reinforced with a steel core. Decide which handle type you want to help narrow down your choices. Also, the handle lengths can vary from one brand to the next. A shorter handle may be easier to handle, but a longer handle gives you more room to grip and put more power behind your swings. 

Head Size and Material

Most of the best splitting mauls feature a forged steel head, and this makes it durable to take on both large and small-scale projects with ease. You won’t have to worry about it cracking or breaking, and steel is less prone to rusting or corroding when you use it in wet environments. The head size is also an important factor to consider because you want something that is going to give you the most cutting power possible without being too big or cumbersome for the types of projects you have in mind. 

Looking at the biggest buying considerations when you start to compare products ensures that you can quickly discard ones that don’t fit your needs while sorting through your options to narrow down your best choice. Stacked Wood by Shelby L. Bell / CC BY 2.0

Safety Features

As with any tool you use, the safety features are paramount. Many of the best splitting mauls on the list come with blade covers that are leather or silicone. These blade covers slip over the sharp end of the maul’s head for storage or transport, and this reduces the risk of damaging it or accidentally cutting yourself. Another feature to look for is anti-shock layers on the handle. This is usually a rubberized coating that reduces how badly it vibrates when you strike wood, and this reduces the wear and tear on your body. These features allow you to build your porch or work on bigger projects without fatigue or injury. 

Bottom Line

The best splitting mauls mean different things to different people, and this is why there is such a broad range of companies and types on this list. You can take a look through them and start to compare the products before using the buying guide to narrow down your choices and make your final pick. When you find the one you like, you can have it shipped straight to your door and tackle your wood splitting gprojects all year round.