Best Felling Wedge Size (2026): Sizing Guide and Chart

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The best felling wedge size: quick answer

If you want a single wedge size for typical firewood cutting on rural acreage, select an 8-inch wedge. As Cold Creek Loggers and TIPU show across their logging gear, 8-inch wedges are built for medium to large trees, offering enough length to establish a solid bite in the back cut while generating steady lift.

Many makers, including AR-PRO, package 5.5-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch wedges together in a 6-pack with 2 pieces per size. A compact 5.5-inch wedge fits in a pocket and works cleanly on smaller trees where a longer wedge might strike the guide bar. Stepping up to a 10-inch model from Poweka or Oregon, or a 12-inch model from Oregon, provides the leverage required to tip heavy trunks. Pairing an 8-inch working wedge with a 5.5-inch trailing wedge gives you versatile control across the woodlot.

Felling wedge size chart

Wedge size	Tree size application	Lift and taper profile	Typical pack options
5-inch	Small timber and tight back cuts	Double taper with 1 inch lift	1 count
5.5-inch	Small to medium trees	Compact taper for pocket carry	3-pack or 6-pack
8-inch	Medium to large trees	All-around taper for general woodlot felling	2 pieces, 3-pack or 6-pack
10-inch	Medium to large trees	Extended surface for maximum leverage	2 pieces or 6-pack
12-inch	Large trees and heavy timber	Extra-long taper for deep cuts	1 count

Match the wedge size to the trunk diameter so the body of the wedge lifts the trunk without bottoming out against the hinge wood or contacting the chainsaw guide bar. Explore our guide to the best tree felling wedges to compare specific spiked sets for your woodlot.

How to choose the best felling wedge size

5.5-inch wedges for small to medium timber

A 5.5-inch wedge is the standard compact option. Brands such as Skyward, UNCO, Cold Creek Loggers and TIPU produce 5.5-inch wedges for smaller trunks and lighter timber. In slender trees, driving a long wedge into a narrow back cut risks piercing the hinge wood and ruining directional control. A 5.5-inch wedge provides kerf relief without striking the saw chain. UNCO supplies 5.5-inch wedges in a 6-pack with a storage bag, while Skyward lists its 6-pack at 1.23 pounds and Cold Creek Loggers lists a pack weight of 2.18 pounds.

8-inch wedges for all-around woodlot felling

The 8-inch wedge is the most versatile choice for firewood cutters. Listings from Cold Creek Loggers, TIPU and AR-PRO identify 8-inch wedges as the standard size for medium to large trees. An 8-inch body distributes the heavy downward pressure of the trunk across wood fibers, preventing the plastic from sinking into sapwood while generating meaningful lift. TIPU offers 8-inch wedges in a 3-pack alongside 5.5-inch wedges, with the 6-pack weighing 1.67 pounds. For mixed stands of oak, maple and ash, an 8-inch wedge delivers dependable lifting power.

10-inch and 12-inch wedges for large trees

For mature timber or trunks with a back lean, you need the extended leverage of a 10-inch or 12-inch wedge. Oregon manufactures both 10-inch and 12-inch felling wedges, listing a single 10-inch wedge at 1.6 ounces, while Poweka supplies 10-inch wedges in an orange 6-pack weighing 3.83 pounds. A 10-inch wedge offers a gradual incline that reaches deep into a wide back cut, creating the vertical displacement needed to tip heavy crowns forward.

Taper angle and lift height

The taper of a felling wedge sets how much vertical separation it creates inside the kerf. Most plastic wedges use a single gradual taper for smooth driving. Specialized models feature steeper inclines; for instance, FORESTER manufactures a 5-inch wedge with a double taper delivering 1 inch lift, weighing 7.8 ounces. A gradual taper drives more easily into dense hardwood, while a steeper taper delivers quick lift where back cut space is tight.

Stacking wedges for additional lift

When a wedge is driven flush but the tree has not yet tipped, loggers stack wedges to gain additional lift. Because wedges from AR-PRO, Cold Creek Loggers and Poweka feature raised spikes and serrated teeth, you can insert an additional wedge on top of the primary wedge. The barbs bite together to prevent slipping or kickout, providing greater lift height.

What are felling wedges made of

Unlike steel splitting wedges, felling wedges are made of high-impact ABS plastic. Listings from Cold Creek Loggers, AR-PRO, TIPU, Poweka, UNCO and Skyward highlight rugged ABS plastic construction that protects equipment and workers:

• Chainsaw protection: If a spinning saw chain touches a plastic wedge, the plastic gives way without dulling teeth or damaging the bar. AR-PRO and Poweka state their ABS wedges take saw contact without ruining equipment.
• Impact resistance: Tough ABS absorbs heavy strikes from an axe or maul without cracking in cold weather. Cold Creek Loggers notes its ABS material resists rot, shrink and swell.
• Grip barbs: Spikes and felling dogs prevent wedges from backing out. Cold Creek Loggers, TIPU, Poweka and FORESTER design wedges smooth on one side with barbs on the other.
• High visibility: Safety orange wedges from Poweka, UNCO, Skyward and FORESTER, as well as multi-colored options from Oregon, are easy to spot on the woodlot floor.

FORESTER also makes a 5-inch wedge with a barbed metal head for hammering, but standard all-steel wedges should never be used in a felling cut. See our guide to the best splitting wedges for tools designed strictly for splitting firewood rounds.

How to use a felling wedge safely

Felling trees is among the most hazardous tasks on any rural woodlot. Wedges help manage the kerf, but they do not replace professional training. Consult certified arborists for hazardous or leaning trees, and review official guidelines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) logging eTool.

Always wear complete chainsaw personal protective equipment (PPE):

• Chainsaw chaps: Wear certified protective leg chaps to stop a running saw chain upon contact. See the best chainsaw chaps and our chainsaw safety gear checklist.
• Forestry helmet: Use a logging helmet with a mesh face screen and hearing protection against falling debris and engine sound.
• Gloves and boots: Wear cut-resistant work gloves and steel-toe cut-resistant boots for firm grip and footing.
• Kickback and escape paths: Grip the saw firmly with both hands, avoid bar tip contact to prevent kickback, clear escape paths, and never cut alone.

Insert the wedge into the back cut as soon as the bar clears the cut, seat the barbs lightly, finish the cut to form the hinge wood, and drive the wedge to relieve bar pressure and direct the tree.

Why wedge size matters in tree felling

Selecting the wrong wedge size introduces serious hazards into your felling routine:

• Undersized wedges bottom out: Driving a 5.5-inch wedge into a large hardwood trunk leaves the head flush before creating sufficient lift to overcome back lean.
• Oversized wedges damage hinges: Driving an 8-inch or 10-inch wedge into slender trees risks severing the hinge wood, eliminating directional control.
• Bar pinching: Wood settling backward binds the chain instantly. Having a multi-pack, such as the sets in our guide to the best plastic felling wedges, ensures a backup wedge is always on hand to free the bar.
• Loss of fall line: Inadequate wedge lift fails to overcome natural tree lean or heavy limb weight, increasing the risk of an uncontrolled drop.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size felling wedge should I use?

For most firewood cutting in mixed woods, an 8-inch wedge is the most practical choice. It provides sufficient lift for medium to large trees without bottoming out too quickly. For smaller trees, use a 5.5-inch wedge to avoid hitting the guide bar or penetrating the hinge. For large timber, choose a 10-inch or 12-inch wedge for maximum lift.

What size wedges for tree felling are most versatile?

An 8-inch wedge is the most versatile single size because it handles typical firewood logs and medium timber across softwoods and hardwoods. Owning a combo set with 5.5-inch, 8-inch and 10-inch wedges, such as the 6-pack from AR-PRO, gives you the versatility to tackle trees of any size on your property.

What are felling wedges made of?

Modern felling wedges are made from high-impact ABS plastic. ABS plastic withstands heavy hammer strikes while protecting your saw. If a spinning chain touches a plastic wedge, the cutters remain undamaged. Metal wedges should never be used in felling cuts because they ruin chains and present severe hazards.

How to use a felling wedge when cutting a tree?

Stop the saw once the bar penetrates deeply enough to leave space behind the chain in the back cut. Insert the wedge tip and tap it lightly to seat the barbs. Complete the back cut to preserve the hinge wood, then drive the wedge with an axe or maul to direct the tree toward the notch. Always wear chainsaw PPE and follow OSHA guidelines.

Can I use a felling wedge to split firewood?

No. Felling wedges are built to lift trees and keep saw kerfs open; they are not designed to split firewood rounds. Their wide plastic bodies and spikes will not split tough wood. To split rounds on the block, use a heavy steel wedge. See our guide on how to use a splitting wedge for splitting techniques.

Related guides

See the chainsaw gear hub, the best tree felling wedges and the best plastic felling wedges. Review essential woodlot safety with our chainsaw safety gear checklist and protect your legs with the best chainsaw chaps. Cutting your own timber? Equip your woodlot with the best chainsaw for firewood and keep your chain sharp with the best chainsaw sharpener. Also see our guide on how long should a chainsaw bar be. Also see our how to bucking firewood safely with a chainsaw. Also see our best chainsaw gloves. Also see our guide on do chainsaw chaps work. Also see our chainsaw types. Also see our chainsaw helmet with chin strap. Also see our best chainsaw helmet for small heads. Also see our how to use a splitting wedge. Also see our guide to the best splitting wedge.