Milwaukee Planer Guide 2026: The M18 2623-20 Is the Only Model
Milwaukee does not sell a range of planers. The M18 2623-20 is the one cordless handheld planer in the catalog, and there is no Milwaukee benchtop thickness planer at all. This guide covers what the 2623-20 actually does, and which planers from other brands cover the jobs Milwaukee leaves open.
Quick answer
If you want a Milwaukee planer, there is exactly one choice: the M18 2623-20, a 3-1/4 in. cordless handheld planer sold as a bare tool on the M18 battery platform. If you need a benchtop thickness planer for dimensioning boards, Milwaukee does not make one, so look at the DeWalt DW735X or DW734 instead.
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Research updated August 2026.
Milwaukee 2623-20 M18 3-1/4 in. Planer
The only planer Milwaukee makes. A cordless handheld unit for trimming doors, easing edges and dressing framing lumber on site.
| Product | Type | Best for | Key spec | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 2623-20 | Cordless handheld (M18) | Anyone already on M18 | 3-1/4 in., 14,000 RPM | Check price |
| DeWalt DCP580B | Cordless handheld (20V MAX) | Brushless cordless alternative | 3-1/4 in., 15,000 RPM | Check price |
| Makita XPK01Z | Cordless handheld (18V LXT) | LXT battery owners | 3-1/4 in. brushless | Check price |
| Makita KP0810 | Corded handheld | Deep single-pass work, no runtime limit | 3-1/4 in., 7.5 amp | Check price |
| DeWalt DW735X | Benchtop thickness planer | Dimensioning boards to thickness | 13 in., 15 amp, three knives | Check price |
Milwaukee 2623-20 M18 3-1/4 in. Planer
The only Milwaukee planerPros
- Cordless, so no lead to drag around a door or a stud wall
- Runs on any M18 battery you already own
- Comes with a bevel and edge guide for repeatable chamfers
- Dust chute takes a shop vac hose
Cons
- Sold bare, so battery and charger add real cost
- 5/64 in. per pass means several passes for meaningful stock removal
- No brushless version and no wider Milwaukee planer to step up to
The 2623-20 is a jobsite planer rather than a woodworking planer. Its 3-1/4 in. cutter width and 5/64 in. maximum depth of cut per pass put it in the same class as every other compact handheld planer: fitting a sticking door, chamfering a post, cleaning up a joist edge, taking the twist out of a piece of framing lumber. It runs at 14,000 RPM no-load, which is normal for this size of tool.
Its real advantage is the battery. If your van already has M18 packs in it, this is the planer that costs you the least to add, because it is sold as a bare tool. If you are not on M18, the battery and charger make it an expensive way to buy a compact planer, and the DeWalt or Makita cordless units below are worth pricing up first.
DeWalt DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer
Not Milwaukee: cordless alternativePros
- Brushless motor, which Milwaukee's planer does not have
- Slightly higher cutter speed for a cleaner surface
- Also sold bare, so cheap to add to a DeWalt kit
Cons
- Wrong battery platform if you are committed to M18
- Same shallow 5/64 in. cut limit
This is the closest direct competitor to the 2623-20 and the honest answer for anyone asking "is the Milwaukee the best cordless planer". Same 3-1/4 in. width, same 5/64 in. maximum cut, but a brushless motor and 15,000 RPM. Milwaukee has no brushless planer to answer it with.
Platform decides this one. If you own M18 packs, the Milwaukee still makes more sense overall than buying into a second battery system for one tool.
Makita XPK01Z 18V LXT Brushless Planer
Not Milwaukee: LXT ownersPros
- Makita has decades of handheld planer design behind it
- Brushless, bare tool, drops into an existing LXT kit
- Well regarded for low vibration and a flat sole
Cons
- Another battery platform
- Same shallow cut depth as the rest of the class
Makita's handheld planers are the reference point in this category, and the XPK01Z is the cordless LXT version at the same 3-1/4 in. width. If your kit is Makita, there is no reason to add an M18 charger just to own the Milwaukee.
It sits in the same performance band as the Milwaukee and the DeWalt. Choose by the batteries in your bag, not by the spec sheet.
Makita KP0810 Corded 3-1/4 in. Planer
Not Milwaukee: corded workhorsePros
- Takes a deeper bite per pass than the cordless units
- No battery cost and no runtime ceiling
- Usually cheaper than a bare cordless planer plus a pack
Cons
- Cord gets in the way on ladders and door frames
- Needs a socket, which is not a given on a first fix
If most of your planing happens at a bench rather than up a ladder, a corded planer is the better tool and the cheaper one. The KP0810 is a long-running Makita design that will remove stock faster than any of the 3-1/4 in. cordless planers, because it is not rationing a battery.
Milwaukee has no current corded handheld planer, so if you want one, you are buying another brand regardless.
DeWalt DW735X 13 in. Benchtop Thickness Planer
Not Milwaukee: the gap in the lineupPros
- Actually dimensions boards to a set thickness, which no handheld planer does
- Three-knife head and two feed speeds for a finish pass
- The X version ships with infeed and outfeed tables and spare knives
Cons
- Heavy and loud, needs a dedicated spot and dust extraction
- Much more expensive than any handheld option
A lot of searches for a "Milwaukee planer" are really looking for a thickness planer, the benchtop machine that takes rough boards down to a consistent thickness. Milwaukee does not build one. The DW735X is the standard answer at 13 in. capacity, with a 15-amp motor, a three-knife cutterhead and two feed speeds so you can slow the feed for a cleaner final pass. The DW734, at 12-1/2 in., is the smaller and cheaper version of the same idea.
These are different tools from the 2623-20, not upgrades to it. A handheld planer trims a specific edge; a thickness planer processes stock.
What to check before buying a Milwaukee planer
First, check that you want a handheld planer at all. Milwaukee's 2623-20 is a 3-1/4 in. handheld tool that shaves an edge or a face; it cannot bring a board to a set thickness. If that is what you need, you are shopping for a benchtop thickness planer instead, and from a different brand. Second, check the battery math. The 2623-20 is a bare tool, so the price you see is not the price you pay unless you already run M18. Third, look at cut depth: 5/64 in. per pass is standard for this class, so plan on multiple passes rather than expecting one heavy cut. Finally, check the dust chute against your extractor, because planers throw a large volume of shavings very quickly.
Mistakes to avoid when choosing a planer
Do not assume Milwaukee has a full planer range to choose between; there is one model, and any list showing five Milwaukee planers is wrong. Do not confuse a handheld planer with a thickness planer, which is the single most common mistake in this category. Do not buy into a new battery platform for one tool when a corded planer costs less and cuts deeper. Do not take a heavy bite in hardwood to save time, because a shallow pass gives a better surface and less tear-out. And do not run a planer indoors without extraction unless you enjoy sweeping.
FAQs
How many planers does Milwaukee make?
One. The M18 2623-20 cordless handheld planer. Milwaukee does not currently offer a corded handheld planer or a benchtop thickness planer in the US lineup.
Is there an M18 FUEL planer?
No. The 2623-20 uses a standard brushed M18 motor, not a FUEL brushless one. Competing brushless cordless planers include the DeWalt DCP580B and the Makita XPK01Z.
What is the cut depth of the Milwaukee 2623-20?
Up to 5/64 in. per pass, at a planing width of 3-1/4 in. That is typical for a compact handheld planer.
Does the Milwaukee planer work with all M18 batteries?
Yes, it runs on any M18 pack. A higher-capacity battery simply gives you more runtime between charges.
Does the 2623-20 come with a battery?
No. It is sold as a bare tool, so budget for a battery and charger if you are not already on the M18 platform.
Is the Milwaukee planer good for DIY use?
It is capable but expensive for occasional DIY once you add a battery. For a few doors a year, a corded planer such as the Makita KP0810 is better value.
Can a Milwaukee planer thickness a board?
No. Handheld planers remove material from a surface but cannot hold a board to a consistent thickness. That needs a benchtop thickness planer like the DeWalt DW735X or DW734.
How do I adjust the depth on the 2623-20?
Turn the knob at the front of the tool, which raises or lowers the front shoe, up to the 5/64 in. maximum.
What is the warranty on Milwaukee power tools?
Milwaukee gives a five-year limited warranty on most M18 power tools, with a separate shorter warranty on batteries. Check the current terms at purchase.
Does the Milwaukee planer have a dust port?
Yes, it has a dust chute that accepts a shop vac hose. Extraction matters more with planers than with most tools because of the volume of shavings.
Our verdict
There is no "best Milwaukee planer" to choose, because Milwaukee makes one: the M18 2623-20. It is a solid 3-1/4 in. cordless handheld planer and the obvious buy if you already own M18 batteries. If you are not on M18, the DeWalt DCP580B or Makita XPK01Z match or beat it, and a corded Makita KP0810 does more work for less money. If what you actually need is boards at a consistent thickness, buy a benchtop planer such as the DeWalt DW735X, because Milwaukee has nothing in that category.