10 Best Bench Top Planer 2025 in the United States

The WEN PL1337 benchtop planer is designed for woodworkers who need a reliable and efficient machine to smooth and dimension wood. It offers a solid cutting width of 13 inches and can handle boards up to 6 inches thick, making it suitable for a range of common woodworking projects. With a powerful 15-amp motor spinning the cutterhead at 10,000 RPM, it delivers fast and smooth planing. The two-speed feed rates let you choose between quicker material removal or a finer finish, adding versatility. A standout feature is its spiral cutterhead with 26 staggered, rotatable high-speed steel blades, which helps produce cleaner cuts and quieter operation compared to traditional blades.

Dust collection is addressed through combined 2.5- and 4-inch ports that connect to shop vacuums or dust extractors, helping keep your workspace cleaner. At 69 pounds, the planer is fairly portable for a benchtop model, but it’s best suited for a workshop setting rather than frequent moves. The metal build feels sturdy and durable, and extra touches like onboard wrench storage, return rollers, and a depth stop make adjustments and use easier. The maximum cutting depth of 0.13 inches per pass is typical for this category, balancing precision with efficiency.

Although it does not include an integrated dust collector, the included ports and solid build make it a strong choice for hobbyists and small shop users seeking a high-quality planer that combines power, smooth finishes, and user-friendly features.

The DEWALT Benchtop Planer (DW734) is a solid choice for those looking to achieve fine finishes on their woodworking projects. It features a powerful 15-amp motor capable of 20,000 RPM, making it efficient for tackling larger and deeper cuts in hardwoods. The three-knife cutter head, with a cutter-head speed of 10,000 RPM, provides an exceptionally smooth finish, delivering 96 cuts per inch. This makes it suitable for creating high-quality surfaces on various types of wood.

One of the standout features is the disposable, reversible knives that offer 30% more life and are easy to change, minimizing downtime during projects. The four-column carriage lock significantly reduces snipe, ensuring the material remains steady during planning. Additionally, the extra-long infeed and outfeed tables provide extended material support, measuring a combined 33-1/2 inches, which helps in handling longer pieces of wood with ease.

The material removal gauge and large thickness scale offer precise cutting, and the turret depth stop allows for quick returns to frequently used depths, adding convenience. On the downside, at 36.29 kilograms, the planer is quite heavy, which affects its portability. While the build quality is robust, making it durable for extended use, the weight can be a drawback for those who need to move it frequently.

The JET JWP-13BT benchtop planer is a solid choice for woodworking enthusiasts who need a reliable and precise machine for smoothing and sizing boards. It features a 13-inch cutting width, which is versatile enough for most small to medium-sized projects. The powerful 2-HP motor running at 10,000 RPM ensures smooth cutting performance, and the helical cutterhead with multiple easy-to-change blades delivers cleaner cuts and reduces tear-out compared to traditional straight blades. This setup also helps extend blade life.

The planer is built with a precision-machined cast iron bed and steel cover, which helps maintain board flatness and reduces snipe, a common issue where the ends of boards get uneven cuts. Its compatibility with a 20" x 29" universal benchtop machine table adds workspace convenience and flexibility, which is great if you have other JET tools or want a more stable surface. The ergonomic handles for flipping and locking the top make adjustments straightforward.

The JET JWP-13BT offers excellent cutting quality and solid build for woodworkers looking for a dependable benchtop planer. It’s best suited for home workshops or small professional setups where precision and durability matter, but if portability or advanced dust management is a top priority, you might want to consider those factors carefully.