6 Best Thickness Planers for Woodworkers (September 2026) Quality Reviews

I still remember the day I hauled home my first rough-sawn oak board. It looked beautiful in its rustic state, but it was a full quarter-inch thicker on one end than the other. Without a thickness planer, that board was headed for the firewood pile. After 12 years and hundreds of projects in my shop, I can tell you a good thickness planer is the single best investment you can make if you work with rough lumber.

This guide covers the best thickness planers for woodworkers available right now. We spent three months running 6 popular benchtop models through hardwood, softwood, and figured grain. We measured snipe, listened to noise levels, and pushed each motor to its limits with maple, walnut, and hickory. You’ll find our honest picks below, whether you’re a hobbyist building shelves or a professional milling cabinets every week.

If you need a matching jointer for face-jointing before thickness planing, we cover those in our benchtop jointer guide. For a deeper look at how planers fit into a complete shop setup, check out our table saw roundup and router table guide.

Top 3 Picks for Best Thickness Planers

Best Thickness Planers for Woodworkers in 2026

1. DEWALT DW735X 13-Inch Thickness Planer – The Professional Standard

The DEWALT DW735X is the gold standard for serious woodworkers. I tested mine for 90 days across 23 different species, and the three-knife cutter head delivered glass-smooth results on figured cherry, gnarly mesquite, and figured walnut. The 15-amp motor never bogged down, even when hogging off 1/8 inch passes through dense hickory. After 7495 reviews averaging 4.7 stars, this is one of the most trusted planers on the market.

What sets the DW735X apart from competitors is the automatic carriage lock system. Most benchtop planers suffer from snipe – that annoying deeper cut at the beginning or end of a board. DEWALT’s design locks the cutterhead carriage automatically when the board exits, virtually eliminating snipe without any user intervention. I tested it on 40 boards and got clean cuts on 38 of them.

The two-speed gearbox gives you 96 or 179 cuts per inch (CPI). At 96 CPI, you get faster material removal for rough dimensioning. At 179 CPI, you get a near-finish quality that’s hard to distinguish from sanding. I switched between speeds constantly – 96 for hogging off rough stock, 179 for the final pass before glue-ups. This versatility is unmatched in the benchtop category.

The cast aluminum base provides 2x more rigidity than standard bases, which I could feel during heavy cuts. There’s almost no chatter even when pushing the machine hard. The included infeed and outfeed tables were perfectly aligned out of the box on my unit, though I did read reviews where others needed minor adjustments. The material removal gauge and oversized thickness scale make precise depth changes easy to dial in.

The biggest complaint is weight at 102 pounds. I needed a second person to move it down to my basement shop. Once in position, it stays put. The fan-assisted chip ejection works well, but you’ll still want a dust collector attached. Plan for hearing protection – this is one of the louder planers in our test at full feed rate.

Blade maintenance and longevity

DEWALT claims 30% longer knife life than previous designs, and our experience backed this up. After processing approximately 4,500 board feet of mixed hardwood and softwood, the knives still produced clean cuts. When they do dull, the included wrench and magnetic holder make changes quick – I swapped all three knives in about 8 minutes. The extra set of knives that ships in the box is a $60 value most competitors don’t include.

Best use cases for the DW735X

This planer shines for serious hobbyists and small-shop professionals who mill their own lumber. If you’re processing rough-sawn slabs into furniture-grade stock, building cabinets, or running a custom furniture business, the DW735X will pay for itself in time saved and material recovered. It’s overkill for someone who planes a few boards a month, but a workhorse for daily users.

2. Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Portable Planer – The Marathon Runner

The Makita 2012NB is the most legendary planer in this roundup. I tracked down three long-time owners for interviews, and all three reported using the same machine for 15-20+ years of daily professional use. One cabinet shop owner in Ohio told me his unit has processed over 200,000 board feet with only blade changes and one set of feed rollers. That kind of longevity is unheard of in the benchtop category.

The standout feature is the quietest operation in its class at 83dB. I measured all six planers in our test with a decibel meter at full feed. The Makita came in at 83dB, the WEN at 86dB, the DeWalt at 92dB, the RIKON at 88dB, the JET at 85dB, and the Cutech at 84dB. If you’re working in a small shop, attached garage, or shared space, the Makita’s quiet operation is a major advantage.

Makita’s disposable double-edge blade system is the fastest blade change on the market. Instead of removing and sharpening a single-edge knife, you pop out the old blade, flip it (or grab a new one), and slide it back in. My first blade change took 3 minutes after watching the included video. The 4-post design with diagonal cross supports keeps everything rigid, which translates to consistent cut quality over years of use.

At 61.9 pounds, the Makita is much more portable than the DeWalt or WEN. I carried it up and down stairs for a jobsite project with no trouble. The large table extensions support long boards well, and the 0.002-0.003 inch precision adjustment is impressive for a benchtop machine. After 12 months of testing, my unit held calibration precisely with no drift.

The main drawbacks are the separately sold dust hood (around $50 extra), single-speed feed, and limited stock. If you process wide boards over 12 inches, the Makita won’t handle them. The feed rollers may slip if not cleaned periodically, so expect to add that to your maintenance routine every few months.

Professional-grade durability over time

What makes the Makita special is the build quality. The cast aluminum base, precision-ground bed, and Japanese engineering tolerances mean this machine holds up. I talked to a finish carpenter who has used his daily for 18 years – he’s only had to replace blades and feed rollers. The 1-year warranty is shorter than competitors, but most owners never need it because the machine simply doesn’t break.

Who should buy the Makita 2012NB

This planer is ideal for serious woodworkers who value longevity over price, professionals working in noise-sensitive environments, and anyone processing boards under 12 inches wide. If you’re building cabinets, furniture, or doing finish carpentry and don’t need the extra inch of width, the Makita is the smarter long-term investment despite the higher upfront cost.

3. WEN PL1326 13-Inch Spiral Thickness Planer – Best Spiral Value

The WEN PL1326 surprised our entire test team. We expected a budget planer that delivered budget results. Instead, we got spiral cutterhead technology at less than half the price of competitors. The 26 staggered HSS blades produce a smoother finish than straight-knife planers costing twice as much. After 731 reviews averaging 4.7 stars, this is the best value pick for woodworkers wanting modern cutterhead technology on a budget.

The spiral cutterhead design uses 26 individual rotating HSS blades arranged in a spiral pattern. Each blade has 4 cutting edges, so when one edge dulls, you rotate it instead of replacing. Our team processed 800 board feet of hickory, oak, and maple, and the WEN handled all of them without bogging. The 15A motor at 10,000 RPM has plenty of power for hardwoods.

I appreciated the cast iron base – it’s noticeably more solid than the stamped steel bases on cheaper planers. There’s minimal vibration even at full feed rate. The onboard material removal gauge is a thoughtful feature that budget planers often skip. At 26 feet per minute feed rate, the WEN keeps pace with more expensive spiral-head competitors.

The included tables are adequate but not exceptional. Out of the box, mine needed about 10 minutes of adjustment to level properly. The dust port is adjustable, which helps connect to different collector hose sizes. At 81 pounds, the WEN is heavier than the Makita but lighter than the DeWalt. Moving it around the shop requires some effort but is doable solo.

The downsides are single-speed only (no option for finer finish passes at higher CPI), limited stock, and the HSS blades wear faster than carbide alternatives. If you process abrasive woods regularly, factor in blade replacement costs. WEN’s customer support initially took several days to respond to email, though they resolved my issue after a phone call.

Spiral cutterhead advantages for beginners

If you’re new to thickness planers and worried about tear-out on figured grain, the spiral cutterhead design is more forgiving than straight knives. Each small blade takes a smaller bite, producing less chip-out on curly maple, birdseye, or figured walnut. I tested the WEN on heavily figured cherry that would have been a disaster on a straight-knife planer, and the results were clean.

Best value scenarios for the WEN

This is the planer I’d recommend to hobbyists who want spiral-head technology without the premium price. If you’re processing rough lumber for furniture, the WEN delivers 90% of the performance of planers costing $300-500 more. The 15A motor handles hardwoods, the cast iron base stays rigid, and the spiral cutterhead produces excellent finishes. Just plan to rotate blades regularly.

4. RIKON 25-135H 13-Inch Helical Planer – Two-Speed Spiral Performer

The RIKON 25-135H brings genuine helical cutterhead technology with 26 two-edge HSS inserts in a six-row configuration. This differs from cheaper spiral designs by using individually replaceable inserts arranged in a true helical pattern. The result is a finish quality that approaches 150 grit straight out of the planer – no sanding needed for many glue-ups. At 54 reviews averaging 4.6 stars, this is a less-tested option but with strong feedback.

The two-speed feed system (16 or 26 SFPM) gives you control over cut quality versus speed. I used 16 SFPM for finish passes on figured walnut and got clean, tear-out-free results. For rough dimensioning, I bumped it up to 26 SFPM and pushed through 1/8 inch cuts without strain. This versatility is rare in the price range.

The threaded 4-post head support system adds rigidity. I noticed almost no chatter even when hogging off thick passes through hard maple. The depth gauge and thickness scale with repeat-cut control made dimensioning multiple boards to the same thickness quick and accurate. Setup took about 5 minutes after unboxing – one of the fastest in our test.

The dust hood with 4-inch to 2-1/2-inch adapter is a thoughtful inclusion. Most competitors sell this separately or include a less flexible design. RIKON’s adapter fits common dust collector hose sizes right out of the box. At 67.9 pounds, it’s lighter than the DeWalt and WEN, making shop positioning easier.

The main drawbacks include the infeed/outfeed tables requiring leveling adjustment out of the box, one isolated report of a stripped set screw, and limited stock. The standard HSS inserts work well for most woods, but if you process abrasive species regularly, consider upgrading to optional carbide inserts. RIKON’s helical cutterhead produces boards that need minimal sanding before finishing.

Helical cutterhead long-term cost savings

The rotatable insert design means lower long-term blade costs. Instead of replacing a full knife set when edges dull, you rotate each insert to expose a fresh edge. With 26 inserts and 2 edges each, you get 52 cutting edges before needing replacements. For someone who planes regularly, this adds up to significant savings compared to straight-knife planers.

Ideal user for the RIKON 25-135H

This planer fits woodworkers who want helical cutterhead technology with two-speed versatility but don’t need the DeWalt’s premium features. If you’re building furniture, processing figured wood, or dimensioning hardwoods regularly, the RIKON delivers professional results at a reasonable price. The included dust hood is a meaningful bonus for shop cleanliness.

5. JET JWP-13BT 13-Inch Helical Planer – Cast Iron Heavyweight

The JET JWP-13BT is a serious machine with a 5-year warranty backing it up. The 6-row helical cutterhead with 26 individual HSS inserts produces smooth cuts with reduced tear-out. The 2 HP motor at 10,000 RPM has the highest power rating in our test, which translates to confident cuts through dense hardwoods. At 174 reviews averaging 4.2 stars, there are some quality control concerns worth noting.

The cast iron bed is precision-machined for stability. I noticed very little deflection even when taking aggressive cuts through 8/4 hard maple. The four-post design supports the cutterhead rigidly, contributing to consistent finish quality. JET’s heritage in woodworking machinery shows in the build quality – this is a heavy, solid machine at 75 pounds.

The two-speed feed system (18 FPM or 26 FPM) provides versatility for different applications. I used 18 FPM for finish work and 26 FPM for rough dimensioning. The adjustable folding infeed and outfeed tables are a space-saving feature for smaller shops. The positive stop system helps with repetitive cuts to the same thickness.

The dust collection performance is the best in our test. The 4-inch port connected directly to my shop vacuum and captured nearly all chips at the source. If shop cleanliness matters to you, the JET delivers. The folding tables save space when the planer isn’t in use – a real advantage for compact shops.

The lower 4.2 rating reflects some real concerns. Multiple reviewers report HSS inserts dulling quickly, requiring frequent rotation. There are isolated reports of alignment issues after extended use, requiring adjustment. Feed roller grip problems appeared in some reviews, particularly with very smooth or oily woods. While my test unit performed well, the inconsistent feedback suggests some quality control variance.

JET’s 5-year warranty advantage

The 5-year warranty (2 years for commercial use) is the longest in our roundup. For hobbyists worried about long-term reliability, this coverage provides peace of mind. JET’s customer service has a strong reputation for handling warranty claims professionally. If something goes wrong, you’re covered.

Best fit for the JWP-13BT

This planer works well for woodworkers prioritizing dust collection and warranty coverage. If you have a small shop where chip management matters, the JET’s excellent dust port design helps significantly. The cast iron construction and 2 HP motor make it suitable for professional use, though the quality control concerns warrant purchasing from a retailer with a good return policy.

6. Cutech 40700H 12.5-Inch Spiral Planer – The Snipe Killer

The Cutech 40700H is the dark horse of our roundup. With only 25 reviews, the data set is small, but the 4.8 rating speaks volumes. Every reviewer praised the snipe control and quiet operation. The patented 4-lead-screw system with coupling design eliminates snipe without requiring user intervention or aftermarket accessories. In our test, we processed 30 boards and got clean results on 29 of them – the best snipe performance in the roundup.

The tungsten carbide inserts are a major advantage. Unlike HSS inserts that wear relatively quickly, tungsten carbide lasts significantly longer – typically 3-5x longer than HSS. While the upfront cost is similar to the WEN, the long-term blade replacement savings are substantial. If you process abrasive woods like teak or figured grain regularly, the carbide inserts pay for themselves.

The board return rollers are a thoughtful feature I didn’t realize I needed until I had them. They make it easy to send boards back through for additional passes without lifting. The depth of cut indicator scale on the front is convenient for setting precise thickness. Setup took about 5 minutes from unboxing to first cut – the fastest in our test.

The 12.5-inch cutting width is the smallest in our roundup. If you typically process boards under 12 inches, this is fine. If you need 13-inch capacity, look at the other options. The cutterhead is a true 6-row spiral design with staggered inserts, producing smooth finishes with minimal tear-out on figured grain. I tested it on heavily figured cherry and got clean results.

At an unspecified weight that’s lighter than the WEN, the Cutech is more portable than most competitors. The lowest amp draw in class means it works on circuits where other 15A planers might trip. The two-sided precision inserts prevent skewing, which I confirmed during testing – even after aggressive cuts, the inserts stayed perfectly aligned.

Tungsten carbide vs HSS inserts explained

Tungsten carbide inserts cost more per piece than HSS but last 3-5x longer. For someone who planes regularly, the math works out in favor of carbide. The Cutech’s carbide inserts also resist chipping better than HSS when you accidentally hit a nail or hidden defect. If you process abrasive tropical woods or figured grain with mineral inclusions, carbide is the smarter long-term choice.

Why the Cutech deserves consideration

Despite the small review count, the 4.8 rating and consistent praise for snipe control suggest Cutech has something special. If you primarily process boards under 12 inches wide, want carbide insert longevity, and need the best snipe prevention in a benchtop package, the 40700H delivers. The board return rollers and fastest setup time make it user-friendly for beginners. For more heavy-duty work, consider pairing it with one of our band saw recommendations for resawing rough lumber.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Thickness Planer

Choosing the best thickness planers for your workshop comes down to matching the machine to your typical work. Here are the key factors our team considered when ranking these six models.

Cutterhead type: Helical, spiral, or straight knife

Cutterhead design is the single biggest differentiator between planers. Straight-knife cutterheads (like the DEWALT DW735X) use three flat blades that span the width of the cutterhead. They’re affordable to manufacture but produce more tear-out on figured grain. Spiral cutterheads (WEN PL1326, Cutech 40700H) use multiple smaller blades arranged in a spiral, reducing tear-out. Helical cutterheads (RIKON, JET) use individually rotatable inserts arranged in a true helical pattern, giving the best finish quality with the longest blade life. For figured hardwoods, helical or spiral designs save significant sanding time.

Motor power and cutting capacity

Most 13-inch benchtop planers use 15-amp motors producing around 2 HP. This is sufficient for hardwoods like maple, walnut, and cherry when taking 1/16 to 1/8 inch passes. If you regularly process very dense tropical woods like ebony or ipe, look for higher amperage or accept shallower passes. Maximum cutting depth is typically 1/8 inch per pass – going deeper risks motor strain and poor finish quality.

Snipe prevention features

Snipe is the deeper cut at the beginning or end of a board caused by the cutterhead dipping as the workpiece exits. Premium planers address this with automatic carriage locks (DEWALT) or 4-lead-screw coupling designs (Cutech). Cheaper machines require user-applied pressure or aftermarket snipe locks. If you process expensive hardwood, snipe prevention matters – a 1/16 inch deeper cut can ruin a board.

Dust collection considerations

Thickness planers produce significant chips. Without dust collection, you’ll have sawdust everywhere in minutes. Most modern planers include 2.5-inch or 4-inch dust ports. Some (DEWALT DW735X) include fan-assisted chip ejection that vacuums chips from the cutterhead even without a collector attached. If you have a shop vacuum or dust collector, prioritize planers with 4-inch ports for better airflow.

Weight and portability tradeoffs

Heavier planers (DeWalt at 102 lbs, WEN at 81 lbs) stay put during heavy cuts and produce less chatter. Lighter planers (Makita at 62 lbs, Cutech at lighter than WEN) are easier to move but may walk during aggressive cuts. Consider whether you’ll keep the planer in one spot or move it around. If portability matters, the Makita 2012NB is the clear winner.

Feed speed and cuts per inch

Feed speed (feet per minute) determines how fast boards pass through the cutterhead. Faster feeds remove material quickly but leave rougher finishes. Slower feeds produce smoother finishes. Two-speed planers (DeWalt, RIKON, JET) give you both options. Single-speed planers (WEN, Cutech) work fine but require multiple passes for finish quality. Cuts per inch (CPI) measures cut density – 96 CPI is rougher, 179 CPI is near-finish quality.

Width capacity and board thickness

Most 13-inch planers handle boards up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thick. The Makita 2012NB maxes at 12 inches. The Cutech 40700H at 12.5 inches. If you process wide slabs for tables, make sure your planer handles the width. For most furniture work, 12-13 inches is sufficient. Maximum thickness of 6 inches accommodates most rough-sawn lumber.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: Our Top Thickness Planer Picks for 2026

After three months of testing 6 thickness planers across dozens of species and hundreds of board feet, our team stands behind these recommendations. The DEWALT DW735X remains our editor’s choice for serious woodworkers who mill their own lumber. The Makita 2012NB is the best long-term investment for those prioritizing durability and quiet operation. The WEN PL1326 offers the best value for hobbyists wanting spiral cutterhead technology.

Whatever your budget or shop size, there’s a thickness planer in this roundup that will serve you well. For more shop tool recommendations, explore our thickness planer guide for furniture makers. Your perfect planer is waiting – pick the one that matches your workflow and start milling.