Estimate chip volume from tree DBH and height. Plan your truck and chipper logistics before the job.
A large hardwood tree with 60 cm DBH and 15 m height has approximately 2.1 m³ of wood (cylinder × 0.5 taper + 30% branches). Chipped, this expands to approximately 4.6 m³. For a 12 m³ truck, that is roughly half a load per large tree.
Most chip trucks used by arborists in NZ and AU have a bin capacity of 10–14 m³. A 12 m³ truck is common for residential work. Larger straight-trucks and trailers can carry 20–30 m³. Check with your disposal or recycling facility for their vehicle specs.
When wood is chipped, it expands due to air voids between chips. Softwood (pine, macrocarpa) chips expand approximately 2:1 — 1 m³ of wood produces 2 m³ of loose chips. Hardwoods are denser and expand approximately 2.2:1.