Planers
Machines are sorted into tiers by price, build quality & typical usage
Weekend Warrior occasional use
Hobbyist regular home shop
Serious Hobbyist frequent, dedicated shop
Semi-Pro near-daily use
Professional industrial use
Read how we assign tiers
Powermatic 209HH 20-Inch Planer with Helical HeadProfessional
The Powermatic 209HH is a 20-inch industrial planer with a Byrd Shelix helical head, built for shops that dimension …
Grizzly G0454Z 20-Inch Planer with Spiral CutterheadProfessional
The G0454Z is the most affordable way into a 20-inch spiral planer, an all-cast-iron machine that one owner ran about …
Grizzly G0453 15-Inch PlanerSemi-Pro
The G0453 is an entry into stationary 15-inch planing at the bottom of the semi-pro range, a heavy cast-iron machine …
Grizzly G0453Z 15-Inch Planer with Spiral CutterheadSemi-Pro
The G0453Z is the spiral-carbide version of Grizzly's 15-inch planer, and owners describe the cut as smooth as silk and …
DeWalt DW735X 13-Inch Two-Speed Thickness PlanerSerious Hobbyist
The DW735X is the benchmark benchtop planer, a 13-inch three-knife machine with a two-speed head and a fan-assisted chip …
Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Benchtop Thickness PlanerSerious Hobbyist
The Makita 2012NB is the quiet one, a 12-inch benchtop that owners pick when noise and low snipe matter more than raw …
Rikon 25-130H 13-Inch Benchtop Planer with Insert HeadSerious Hobbyist
The Rikon 25-130H brings an insert cutterhead to a 13-inch benchtop, so instead of setting knives you rotate or replace …
Cutech 40200HC-CT 13-Inch Spiral Cutterhead Benchtop PlanerSerious Hobbyist
The Cutech 40200HC-CT puts a true spiral carbide head on a 13-inch benchtop, and owners say it solves the tearout that …
DeWalt DW734 12.5-Inch Benchtop Thickness PlanerHobbyist
The DW734 is a strong three-knife benchtop for a hobbyist who wants a clean finish and buy-once durability without …
Ridgid R4331 13-Inch Thickness PlanerHobbyist
The R4331 is a 13-inch three-knife benchtop sold through Home Depot, and its standout is the chip-impeller dust system …
Delta 22-555 13-Inch Portable Thickness PlanerHobbyist
The Delta 22-555 is a 13-inch benchtop with a stable four-column design and grippy poly feed rollers that owners say …
WEN 6550T 12.5-Inch Benchtop Thickness PlanerWeekend Warrior
This is a first planer for someone who wants to flatten and thickness boards without spending much. The granite table …
WEN 6552T 13-Inch Three-Blade Benchtop Thickness PlanerWeekend Warrior
The 6552T is for a hobbyist who wants 13 inches of width and a three-knife finish at the low end of the price range. …
Craftsman CMEW320 15-Amp Benchtop Thickness PlanerWeekend Warrior
This Craftsman is a casual and beginner planer that shows up often on sale pricing. The 15-amp motor and cast-aluminum …
Porter-Cable PC305TP 12.5-Inch Benchtop Thickness PlanerWeekend Warrior
The PC305TP is an easy-to-set-up benchtop for dimensioning and light hobby work, and owners rate its cut as good as …
Bauer 63445 12.5-Inch Portable Thickness PlanerWeekend Warrior
The Bauer is the lowest-cost way into a benchtop planer, sold only at Harbor Freight, and owners get solid results on a …