The Difference Between an Axe And a Hatchet, Explained (2024)

Axes and hatchets are wood chopping tools that have been used for centuries. Given their similar appearance, you might think of these two icons as interchangeable. But, in fact,they are different tools that perform best when used to do what they weredesigned for.

The modern axe and hatchet consist of a steel head attached to a wood or composite handle. Some hatchets are formed from a single piece of steel, such asthis Estwing. The bit is what you call the sharp edge of the tool, so a double-bit axe would be sharp on both ends.

Last week, while we were talking in the officeabout the bestChristmas tree-cuttingtools,Senior Home EditorRoy Berendsohn and I got into a long, tool-nerd discussionabout hatchets vs. axes. Roy hasbeen writing about tools for more than 25 years and has an expert opinion on just about all of them.He defines a hatchet as simply, "a small one-hand axe used for chopping."These are ideal for splitting small pieces of firewood and chopping small branches from trees. Their diminutive size allows you squeeze into tighter spaces and requires less backswing as compared to a two-handed axe. Hatchets typically have a hammer head on the opposite side of the bit for striking purposes. The hatchet shown above from SOG is a tactical/sportsman version that can also be used for camping as well as throwing.

Axes, on the other hand,are made to be used with two hands to maximize striking power. They can be used to fell trees, split firewood, or hew lumber (flatten it off for construction). There are specific axes to perform these tasks and the main difference between them is the width, angle, and sharpness of the bit. Check out our field test of four different axes for more about what they can do.

A third chopping tool is the hand axe, which is also meant to be used with one hand but has a longer handle and is not used for striking. These tools hit the middle ground between hatchets and axes, and because they are designed to be used with one hand, they are more closely related to hatchets in regards to use.

In a pinch, an axe can be used in situations where a hatchet would work better, and vice versa. You could conceivably chop down a tree with a hatchet, but it would take hundreds more strikes and would dull the blade much faster. By choking up on an axe you can take shorter one-handed swings, and that is a technique that is widely used. If you were to have onlyone of these tools for around the house jobs, a hatchet would probably be your best bet.