Best Makita Planers: Hand Planer and Thickness Planer Picks
Makita builds two very different kinds of planer, and mixing them up is the most common buying mistake. The corded and cordless hand planers (KP0800K, 1911B, 1806B, XPK01Z) ride on top of the workpiece to shave doors, edges and timber. The 2012NB is a 12-inch benchtop thickness planer that feeds boards through to a set thickness. Here is how the current line-up compares on published specifications.
Quick answer
If you need to dimension boards to a set thickness, the Makita 2012NB is the pick: a 12-inch benchtop thickness planer with a 15-amp motor, 1/8-inch maximum cut per pass and a 6-3/32-inch maximum stock thickness. It weighs about 62 pounds, so it is a bench machine, not a handheld. If you want a handheld planer for doors and edges, the 3-1/4-inch KP0800K is the sensible corded starting point, and the XPK01Z is the cordless 18V LXT equivalent.
Why trust ToolBuyerHub
- Specs taken from Makita's published data
- Hand planers and thickness planers kept separate
- Battery & ecosystem compared
- Build quality & warranty checked
- Brand reliability
- No fake hands-on claims, no invented review counts
Research updated June 2026.
Makita 2012NB
12-inch benchtop thickness planer for dimensioning stock.
| Product | Type | Key Spec | Editor score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makita 2012NB | Benchtop thickness planer | 15A / 12 in | 4.8/5 | $$$ |
| Makita XPK01Z | Cordless hand planer | 18V LXT / 3-1/4 in | 4.6/5 | $$ |
| Makita 1806B | Corded beam hand planer | 10.9A / 6-3/4 in | 4.7/5 | $$$ |
| Makita KP0800K | Corded hand planer | 6.5A / 3-1/4 in | 4.5/5 | $ |
| Makita 1911B | Corded hand planer | 7.5A / 4-3/8 in | 4.4/5 | $$ |
Makita 2012NB
Best Benchtop Thickness PlanerPros
- 15-amp motor and 12-inch capacity for full-width boards
- Four-post design keeps the cutterhead parallel to the table
- Light enough at 62 pounds to move between sites, unlike cast-iron planers
Cons
- Bench machine only, it cannot be used as a handheld
- Needs a dust extractor, the chip output is heavy
The Makita 2012NB is a portable benchtop thickness planer, not a hand planer. Boards up to 12 inches wide and 6-3/32 inches thick feed through the machine at roughly 28 feet per minute, and the 8,500 RPM cutterhead removes up to 1/8 inch per pass on narrow stock. That is what makes it the right Makita for dimensioning rough lumber to a consistent thickness.
Its long-standing reputation rests on the interna-lok cutterhead system, which clamps the head to reduce snipe at the start and end of a board, plus a solid four-post frame. The trade-off is bulk: at about 62 pounds it lives on a bench or stand, and you will want a chip collector attached before the first pass.
Makita XPK01Z
Best Cordless Hand PlanerPros
- Brushless motor for longer runtime per charge
- Runs on the same 18V LXT batteries as the rest of the Makita line
- Electric brake stops the drum quickly when you release the trigger
Cons
- Sold as a bare tool, battery and charger cost extra
- Heavier in the hand than a corded 3-1/4-inch planer once a battery is fitted
The XPK01Z is Makita's 18V LXT cordless hand planer, with a 3-1/4-inch planing width and up to 3/32 inch depth of cut at 15,000 RPM. That is a shallower maximum bite than a corded 1806B, which is the normal trade for cordless freedom on doors, window sills and site trimming where there is no outlet.
Chip ejection can be switched to either side, which matters more than it sounds when you are planing a hung door and do not want shavings blown into the room. With a 5.0Ah battery fitted the tool sits at roughly 8 pounds, so it is noticeably front-heavy compared with the 5.7-pound KP0800K.
Makita 1806B
Best for Beams and TimberPros
- 6-3/4-inch width covers a beam face in a single pass
- 10.9-amp motor holds speed in dense timber
- Precision-machined base stays flat over long runs
Cons
- At 19.4 pounds it is tiring to control on vertical or overhead work
- Overkill and hard to steer on narrow door edges
The Makita 1806B is a large corded hand planer, often called a beam planer, with a 6-3/4-inch planing width and a 10.9-amp motor spinning at 15,000 RPM. It is designed for timber framing, glulam beams, railway sleepers and other wide surfaces that a 3-1/4-inch planer would need three overlapping passes to cover.
Depth of cut is 3/32 inch per pass, so the appeal is width rather than aggressive stock removal. Because it is a hand planer and not a benchtop machine, you bring the tool to the timber, which is exactly why timber framers keep one in the truck.
Makita KP0800K
Best Value Hand PlanerPros
- Lightest planer here at 5.7 pounds
- 17,000 RPM leaves a clean surface on softwood
- Ships in a tool case with a straightforward blade change
Cons
- Maximum 3/32-inch cut, so deep removal takes several passes
- Dust port may need an adapter for a standard shop vac hose
The KP0800K is the compact corded option: a 6.5-amp motor, 3-1/4-inch planing width and 17,000 RPM, all in a 5.7-pound body. That combination of low weight and high drum speed is why it is the default choice for door edges, sticking sashes and general trimming.
The published maximum depth of cut is 3/32 inch, so it is a finishing and fitting tool rather than a stock-removal tool. Work in shallow passes on oak or maple and it behaves; try to hog material and you will feel the motor load up.
Makita 1911B
Best Mid-Width Hand PlanerPros
- 4-3/8-inch width covers a stud or joist face in one pass
- 7.5-amp motor with more grunt than the 3-1/4-inch models
- Durable aluminum housing and machined base
Cons
- Around 9 pounds, so heavier than a compact planer for edge work
- Corded only, and a large planer on a cord needs cable management
The 1911B sits between the compact KP0800K and the beam-sized 1806B, with a 4-3/8-inch planing width and a 7.5-amp motor at 15,000 RPM. That extra inch of width is the whole point: framing stock, wide boards and worktop edges get covered in one pass instead of two overlapping ones that leave a ridge.
It is still a handheld tool, not a benchtop planer, so it does not set a board to a repeatable thickness. Use it where the surface, not the dimension, is what you are fixing.
Hand planer or thickness planer: decide this first
A hand planer rides on the wood and removes material from whatever surface you steer it across. It cannot make a board a uniform thickness, because there is no reference table. A thickness planer such as the 2012NB feeds the board between a table and a cutterhead set at a fixed height, so every board comes out the same. If the job is "make these boards 3/4 inch", only the 2012NB does it. If the job is "this door catches on the frame", a hand planer does it in five minutes and the 2012NB cannot help at all.
What to check before buying a Makita hand planer
Planing width comes first. The 3-1/4-inch KP0800K and XPK01Z handle door edges and most trim. The 4-3/8-inch 1911B suits framing stock and wide boards, and the 6-3/4-inch 1806B is for beams. Then look at maximum depth of cut, which on Makita hand planers is typically 3/32 inch per pass, so plan on multiple passes rather than one deep bite.
Weight matters more than amperage in day-to-day use. The 5.7-pound KP0800K is easy to hold steady on a door edge for an hour; the 19.4-pound 1806B is not. For cordless, confirm you already run 18V LXT batteries, because the XPK01Z is a bare tool and a battery-plus-charger kit changes the maths completely.
Mistakes to avoid when choosing a planer
The biggest mistake is buying the 2012NB expecting a handheld tool, or buying a hand planer expecting to dimension lumber. They are not substitutes and neither one can do the other's job. The second mistake is buying too much width: a 6-3/4-inch planer is genuinely hard to control on a narrow edge.
Do not overlook dust and chip collection either. The 2012NB throws a large volume of chips and really wants an extractor rather than a bag, while some hand planer dust ports need an adapter for a standard shop vac hose. Finally, check blade type and availability, since double-edged blades that can be flipped stretch the running cost.
FAQs
Is the Makita 2012NB a handheld planer?
No. The 2012NB is a 12-inch benchtop thickness planer that weighs about 62 pounds. You feed boards through it. For handheld work, look at the KP0800K, 1911B, 1806B or the cordless XPK01Z.
What is the best Makita planer for doors?
The 3-1/4-inch KP0800K is the standard choice at 5.7 pounds, and the cordless XPK01Z does the same job without a cable. The 2012NB cannot plane a hung door.
Are Makita planers good for hardwood?
Yes, provided you take shallow passes. Makita hand planers cut up to about 3/32 inch per pass, so oak and maple need several passes rather than one. The 2012NB thickness planer removes up to 1/8 inch per pass on narrower stock.
Do Makita planers come with blades?
Yes, new Makita planers ship with blades fitted. Replacement blades are model specific, so check whether your model takes the small double-edged carbide blades or full-size HSS blades.
Can I use a Makita hand planer on a bench?
Some hand planers can be inverted in a stand, but that is not the same as thicknessing. If you need boards at a repeatable thickness, use the 2012NB.
What is the warranty on Makita planers?
Makita offers a one-year limited warranty on most planers in the US. Registering the tool with Makita is worth doing at purchase.
Are Makita planers compatible with 18V batteries?
Only the cordless XPK01Z runs on Makita 18V LXT batteries. The 2012NB, 1806B, 1911B and KP0800K are all corded.
How do I set the depth on a Makita hand planer?
Turn the graduated knob on the front handle, which raises or lowers the front shoe. Set it back to zero before putting the tool down so the blades are not exposed.
What is the difference between the 2012NB and the KP0800K?
They are different tool types. The 2012NB is a 15-amp, 12-inch benchtop thickness planer at about 62 pounds. The KP0800K is a 6.5-amp, 3-1/4-inch handheld planer at 5.7 pounds.
Can I plane with a cordless planer all day?
The XPK01Z is best for intermittent site work. Continuous planing drains batteries quickly, so a corded planer is the better bet for sustained runs.
How wide a board can the 2012NB handle?
Up to 12 inches wide and 6-3/32 inches thick, at a feed rate of roughly 28 feet per minute.
Can Makita planer blades be sharpened?
The small carbide blades are designed to be flipped and then replaced rather than sharpened. Full-size HSS blades on older models can be reground, but replacement is usually cheaper.
Our verdict
Pick by tool type, not by ranking. The Makita 2012NB is the one to buy for dimensioning boards to a set thickness, with a 15-amp motor and 12-inch capacity in a 62-pound benchtop machine. For handheld work, the KP0800K is the best value at 3-1/4 inches and 5.7 pounds, the XPK01Z is the cordless 18V LXT equivalent, the 1911B adds width for framing stock, and the 1806B is the specialist for beams.