Best Wood Planers
Quick answer
For most woodworkers, the WOODERS 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer offers the best balance of full-size capacity, motor power, and overload protection among the models compared here.
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Research updated September 2026.
What Matters Most for This Category
The most important factors in a wood planer purchase are motor power and amperage, cutterhead blade count, and feed speed for benchtop machines, versus blade material and depth adjustability for manual hand planes. Matching the tool to the actual job, rough dimensioning of full boards versus detail trim work, matters more than chasing the highest RPM or lowest price on its own.
| Model | Best for | Key specs | Research Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| WOODERS 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer, 15A Wood Planer with 4 HSS Blades, 2000W All Copper Motor, Overload Protection for Woodworking | Best Overall | WOODERS, Check Current Price | 90/100 |
| DEWALT Thickness Planer, 13-inch Wood Planer, Three Knife Two Speed, 15 Amp, 20,000 RPM Motor (DW735X) | Best for Professionals | DEWALT, Check Current Price | 87/100 |
| VEVOR Thickness Planer - 13-Inch Benchtop Wood Planer, 2000W, 8000 rpm, 15 AMP, Foldable, 6m/min Planing Speed, Iron Stand, Dust Exhaust for Woodworking | Best Portable Design | VEVOR, Check Current Price | 85/100 |
| JORGENSEN No.101 Mini Wood Planer - Mini Hand Planer for Woodworking | Best Budget | JORGENSEN, $16.98 | 82/100 |
| Amazon Basics Woodworking Hand Planer - No.4 Adjustable Bench Plane with 2-Inch Steel Blade for Quality Wood Smoothing Cuts, Grey/Black | Best for Beginners | Amazon Basics, $28.22 | 79/100 |
| VEVOR Electric Hand Planer, 3-1/4-Inch Cut Width, 16500 RPM High-Speed Powerful Electric Handheld Planers for Woodworking, Wood Chamfer DIY, Smooth Finish Carpentry Tool, FCC-SDoC(710W) | Best Electric Hand Planer | VEVOR, $34.83 | 77/100 |
| VEVOR Thickness Planer, Two Speed, 13-Inch Width Worktable Power Benchtop Planer, Three-Blade, 2000W 23500 RPM Powerful Motor, Dual Rollers, Over Protection, Woodworking for Hard & Soft Wood Material | Best Value Benchtop Planer | VEVOR, $309.9 | 75/100 |
WOODERS 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer, 15A Wood Planer with 4 HSS Blades, 2000W All Copper Motor, Overload Protection for Woodworking
Best OverallPros
- 4 HSS blades support cleaner, more consistent cuts across passes
- 2000W all-copper motor is built for sustained duty rather than short bursts
- Overload protection guards the motor when feeding thicker or knottier stock
Cons
- Full 13-inch benchtop capacity still needs a stable bench and infeed/outfeed support for long boards
- Less established brand history than DeWalt or Vevor, so parts and support may be harder to source
The WOODERS 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer pairs a 15A, 2000W all-copper motor with a 4-blade HSS cutterhead for dimensioning rough lumber down to size. Overload protection is built in to help the motor handle demanding feed rates without tripping constantly.
DEWALT Thickness Planer, 13-inch Wood Planer, Three Knife Two Speed, 15 Amp, 20,000 RPM Motor (DW735X)
Best for ProfessionalsPros
- Three-knife cutterhead extends time between blade changes versus two-knife designs
- Two-speed gearbox lets you trade feed rate for a smoother finish on demand
- DEWALT's parts and service network makes long-term ownership easier
Cons
- Runs heavier and typically costs more than basic benchtop planers in this lineup
- Still needs a dedicated dust collection setup to manage chip output at 20,000 RPM
The DEWALT DW735X is a 13-inch, 15 Amp thickness planer built around a three-knife cutterhead and a 20,000 RPM motor. Its two-speed feature lets the operator choose faster stock removal or a slower pass for a finer surface finish.
VEVOR Thickness Planer - 13-Inch Benchtop Wood Planer, 2000W, 8000 rpm, 15 AMP, Foldable, 6m/min Planing Speed, Iron Stand, Dust Exhaust for Woodworking
Best Portable DesignPros
- Foldable iron stand makes the unit easier to store and move between work areas
- Built-in dust exhaust port helps keep chips out of the immediate work zone
- 6m/min planing speed keeps throughput reasonable for a benchtop machine
Cons
- No listed two-speed control, so feed rate and finish quality are less adjustable than on two-speed models
- The stand still takes up floor space once unfolded for use, despite folding flat for storage
This VEVOR 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer runs a 2000W motor at 8000 rpm and includes a foldable iron stand plus a dust exhaust outlet. At a 6m/min planing speed, it is built to move between a storage spot and an active work area.
JORGENSEN No.101 Mini Wood Planer - Mini Hand Planer for Woodworking
Best BudgetPros
- Compact mini size is suited to detail work and tight spots larger planes cannot reach
- Low price makes it an easy add-on tool alongside a primary planer
- Simple hand-plane design needs no power source or dust collection
Cons
- Mini scale limits it to trim and detail work rather than dimensioning full-size boards
- Manual hand planes require some blade-sharpening skill to perform well
The JORGENSEN No.101 is a mini hand planer sized for detail and trim work rather than full board dimensioning. Its small footprint and low price make it a practical companion tool rather than a primary shaping machine.
Amazon Basics Woodworking Hand Planer - No.4 Adjustable Bench Plane with 2-Inch Steel Blade for Quality Wood Smoothing Cuts, Grey/Black
Best for BeginnersPros
- Adjustable depth control follows the familiar No.4 bench plane pattern
- 2-inch steel blade is sized for general smoothing rather than heavy stock removal
- Affordable price gives new woodworkers a low-risk entry into hand planing
Cons
- Entry-level steel blades often need honing before they cut cleanly out of the box
- Manual bench planes take practice to set up square and use with even pressure
The Amazon Basics Woodworking Hand Planer is a No.4-style adjustable bench plane with a 2-inch steel blade for smoothing cuts. It follows a traditional hand-plane layout aimed at general surface work rather than heavy dimensioning.
VEVOR Electric Hand Planer, 3-1/4-Inch Cut Width, 16500 RPM High-Speed Powerful Electric Handheld Planers for Woodworking, Wood Chamfer DIY, Smooth Finish Carpentry Tool, FCC-SDoC(710W)
Best Electric Hand PlanerPros
- 16500 RPM motor speeds up chamfering and edge work compared to a manual plane
- 3-1/4-inch cut width covers common board and door edge widths in a single pass
- Handheld format suits on-site trim, door-fitting, and framing adjustments
Cons
- Powered hand planers can still leave marks that need hand-plane or sanding cleanup for a fully smooth finish
- Corded design limits reach and mobility compared to cordless alternatives
The VEVOR Electric Hand Planer is a 710W, 16500 RPM tool with a 3-1/4-inch cut width built for chamfering and quick material removal. Its handheld design targets carpentry tasks like door fitting and edge trimming rather than benchtop dimensioning.
VEVOR Thickness Planer, Two Speed, 13-Inch Width Worktable Power Benchtop Planer, Three-Blade, 2000W 23500 RPM Powerful Motor, Dual Rollers, Over Protection, Woodworking for Hard & Soft Wood Material
Best Value Benchtop PlanerPros
- Two-speed gearbox and three-blade cutterhead give more control over finish quality
- Dual infeed and outfeed rollers help feed boards through evenly
- Rated for both hard and soft wood, adding flexibility across project types
Cons
- Highest price point among the products compared in this lineup
- A 13-inch benchtop planer at this power level still needs a dedicated bench and dust collection setup
This VEVOR Two-Speed Thickness Planer combines a 2000W, 23500 RPM motor with a three-blade cutterhead and dual rollers across a 13-inch worktable. It is built to handle both hardwood and softwood material with more speed and blade control than simpler benchtop units.
Who Should Avoid the Top Pick
Anyone without dedicated bench or floor space should think twice before buying a full 13-inch benchtop thickness planer, since these units need a stable surface and typically benefit from dust collection. Occasional users who only need to smooth an edge or fit a door are better served by a hand planer or electric hand planer rather than a larger benchtop machine that will sit idle.
Before You Buy
Before buying, confirm you have the bench or floor space and dust management setup a benchtop planer requires, and decide whether the project calls for rough dimensioning of full boards or fine detail and trim work. Also factor in blade type and count, since more blades generally mean a smoother finish with less frequent sharpening, and compare the two-speed options if finish quality on hardwood is a priority.
FAQs
How do I choose wood planers?
Match the planer type to the job: a benchtop thickness planer with more blades, higher wattage, and a two-speed gearbox suits dimensioning full boards, while a hand planer or electric hand planer with an adjustable blade and manageable cut width suits detail, trim, and edge work; also weigh available bench space, dust collection needs, and budget before choosing.
Our verdict
Across this lineup, the WOODERS and DEWALT benchtop planers stand out for full-size dimensioning work, while the JORGENSEN mini plane and Amazon Basics No.4 bench plane suit detail and hand-tool tasks at a much lower cost. Choose based on whether the primary need is milling full boards, fine trim work, or on-site edge and chamfer work with an electric hand planer.