Best Thickness Planers for the Money in 2027

The CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 leads our Best Score at 63. It covers what most hobby woodworkers need: a 15 amp motor for hardwood and softwood, a 12.25 in planing width for typical boards and a Poly-V cutterhead drive for strong stock removal.

Its two knife, quick change, solid steel cutterhead is mounted on ball bearings for smooth operation and long life. The knives are high carbon steel, double edged and reversible, so you can flip them when one edge dulls before replacing them, which keeps running costs low.

The cutterhead turns at 8000 rpm, slower than the DEWALT planers, so the finish may need a little more sanding. A dust port connects to a shop vac or collector. At 62.92 lb it is easier to lift onto a bench than many rivals, and it carries a 3-year warranty, tied for the longest here. For value, it is the planer to beat.

Second with a Best Score of 62, the DEWALT DW735 is one of the most popular benchtop planers. Its 15 amp, 20,000 rpm motor and three-knife cutterhead running at 10,000 rpm give a fine finish, and DEWALT says the knives last 30% longer and change faster.

A two-speed gearbox lets you choose 96 or 179 cuts per in: the faster feed for quick dimensioning and the slower one for a smooth final pass. It planes boards up to 13 in wide and 6 in thick, and includes anti-snipe features and a dust hose adapter.

At 91.25 lb it is the heaviest planer in our top five, so plan a permanent spot or a sturdy cart. It costs more than budget planers, but its finish and long track record make it good value for woodworkers who plane often. Warranty is not listed in our data.

Its spiral cutterhead has 6 rows of staggered two-sided inserts, 26 in total, which Cutech says gives reduced noise and a smooth finish. Spiral heads shear the wood, which reduces tear-out in figured and reversing grain.

Two-sided inserts can be rotated when one edge dulls, and a damaged insert can be replaced on its own instead of a whole knife. A snipe minimizer with 4 lead screws and a patented coupling design reduces snipe without a separate lock.

A 2-speed feed lets you slow to 16-fpm for hardwood and figured boards. It handles 13 in wide and 6 in thick stock at 10000 rpm and weighs 69.2 lb. For woodworkers who use figured maple, walnut or reclaimed lumber, a spiral head at this level is strong value. Replacing a chipped insert takes minutes, so a nail or knot does not mean a full set of new knives.

Fourth with a Best Score of 60, the VEVOR 13-in spiral planer puts a spiral cutterhead within reach of tighter budgets. Its 2000W motor drives the head at a listed 23500 rpm, the fastest on this page, and VEVOR rates it for oak, maple and other hardwoods.

Dual rollers advance boards steadily to reduce vibration and alignment problems. The worktable measures 13 in wide, 6 in high and 28.2 in long, which helps support long or warped boards. Depth adjusts in 1/8 in increments for repeatable results, and it has anti-snipe features and a dust port.

Warranty and insert count are not clearly listed in our data, and VEVOR is a budget brand, so buy from a seller with good returns. If you want the smoother cut of a spiral head without paying for a premium brand, it is worth a look.

The WOODERS PL13-15AB completes our top five with a Best Score of 55. At 60 lb it is the lightest planer on this page, which matters if you store it under a bench and lift it out for each project.

Its 15-AMP, 2000W all-copper motor drives the cutterhead at 10,000 rpm. It planes boards up to 13 in wide and stock from 1/4 to 6.3 in thick, the tallest capacity in our top five. An anti-snipe dual-blade system helps reduce snipe at the ends of boards, and a dust port keeps chips under control.

WOODERS highlights an oversized, smooth-turning depth adjustment handle that is easier on the hands for older woodworkers. Warranty is not listed in our data. It uses straight knives rather than a spiral head, so expect a finish similar to other knife planers. Add infeed and outfeed support for long boards to get the most from its anti-snipe design.