Felling Wedge vs Splitting Wedge: Which One Should You Buy?

Felling wedge vs splitting wedge: side by side

Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 19 October 2026.

What each wedge is for

A felling wedge goes into the back cut of a standing tree. The AR-PRO listings describe driving wedges to separate and lift the back cut, direct the tree to the chosen direction, and keep it from falling backward, with raised spikes that bite into the stump so the wedge cannot back out. A splitting wedge goes into a round on the chopping block: the Truper listing pitches its drop forged head at splitting firewood, and the AMES listing is a square-head wedge for the same job. Different cut, different wedge. See wood splitting wedge vs axe and how to use a splitting wedge.

Plastic vs steel

The felling examples are ABS plastic, ultra-tough per the AR-PRO listing, and the listing makes the key point: the plastic takes multiple chainsaw hits without huge damage or damaging the chain. That matters because felling wedges live in the cut where the saw is. The splitting examples are forged steel, the Truper drop forged and heat treated, because a splitting wedge takes maul blows and must not deform. Do not swap them: plastic in a splitting job mushrooms, and steel in a felling cut meets the chain. See the best plastic felling wedges.

Sizes and packs

The felling side sells in 6-packs because, as the AR-PRO listing says, you will drive several wedges on a single tree: 2 each of 10, 8 and 5.5 in in one pack, or 3 each of 8 and 5.5 in in the other, both with a storage bag. The splitting side sells singly: the Truper at 9.25 in per its spec table and the AMES at 8.75 in. One wedge splits one round at a time; several wedges fell one tree together. See the best felling wedge size guide.

Choose the felling wedge side if

• You fell trees and need to guide the direction of fall.
• You want spikes that bite in so the wedge cannot back out.
• You want chainsaw-safe plastic in the cut.
• You want several wedges per tree: the 6-packs are built for that.

Choose the splitting wedge side if

• You split firewood rounds on the block.
• You want forged steel that takes maul blows: drop forged and heat treated on the Truper.
• You want a single wedge, not a pack: 5-lb or 4-lb class.

The four products

How we scored them

The Gear Score weighs performance, build, value, safety and warranty, with the weights published on our How We Pick page. For this comparison, a spec the listing does not publish scores nothing, and a figure from one listing describes that listing only.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Safety counts only for powered gear or where the listing states safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.

Around the Woodpile

• Drive felling wedges into the back cut to lift and direct the tree; the spikes keep them from backing out.
• Keep splitting wedges on the block: forged steel for rounds, ABS plastic for the back cut, never swapped.
• The AR-PRO 6-packs include a storage bag; keep the sizes together so the right wedge is at hand.
• The Truper listing’s own weight figures disagree, 5-pound in the title against 4.15 lb in the table; read both before you judge the heft.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a felling wedge for?

Driving into the back cut of a standing tree to lift it, direct the fall, and keep the tree from falling backward, per the AR-PRO listings. The spikes bite into the stump so the wedge cannot back out.

What is a splitting wedge for?

Splitting firewood rounds. The Truper listing pitches its drop forged, heat treated head as the tool for splitting firewood.

Can I use a felling wedge to split wood?

The listings say no by design: the felling examples are ABS plastic for the back cut, the splitting examples are forged steel for the maul. Use each wedge for its own job.

Why do felling wedges have spikes?

The AR-PRO listings call the spikes felling dogs: triangular protrusions that bite into the stump and prevent the wedge from backing out of the cut.

Which splitting wedge is heavier?

The Truper is the 5-pound class (4.15 lb in its table) and the AMES is the 4 lb class (3.95 lb in its table). The Truper listing’s own figures disagree, so read both.

Related guides

See the best tree felling wedges, cheap felling wedges and best felling lever.