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The Best Planer For Small Shop: Top 5 Picks & Reviews For 2023

Antonio T LewisNicolas J Ward
  Dec 9, 2023 11:01 AM

Not all workshops require a large planer for woodworking.  If you don't have a ton of space, we are here to help you with our recommendations.

Accordingly, rough and rotted surfaces will be smoothed to be ready for new projects. However, how to pick the best planer for small shop?

In this article, we will provide you with the best-selling models in 2023 in the article below with in-depth reviews. Scroll down for details!


Our Top Choice


Reviews

Investing in the best planer for small shop is essential whether you're a beginner or seasoned woodworking professional. Therefore, don't miss the suggestions below to pick the suitable and quality product.

#1. DEWALT Benchtop Planer - Best for Overall

Important specifications

  • Dimensions: 24 x 17 x 21 inches

  • Item Weight: ‎80 pounds

Product's highlights

We mention DEWALT as the best benchtop planer in this article. This 12.5-inch tool offers the powerful 15 amp and 20,000 rpm motor for users to handle larger, deeper cuts in hardwoods.

The three-knife cutter head is employed with the 10,000 rpm cutter-head speed to provide 96 cuts per inch, one of the finest finishes of any portable planer. Besides, you are able to change the knife fast and easily due to its reversible design while the four-column carriage lock drastically reduces the movement that causes snipe.

The extra-long infeed and outfeed tables, and the turret depth stop are featured for 33.5 inch of material support as well as the most frequently used depths with ease. The DEWALT is surely our top choice for any handymen.

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What We Like

  • The 20,000 rpm motor

  • Easy to use

  • 3-year warranty

  • Reduce snipe

  • Provide up to 96 cuts per inch

  • Make knife change fast and conveniently

Things to Consider

  • Short-life battery

#2. JET JWP-13BT, 13-Inch Benchtop Planer - Best for Quiet Operation

Important specifications

  • Dimensions: 26 x 17 x 21 inches

  • Item Weight: ‎75 pounds

Product's highlights

The JET 13” benchtop planer delivers the power and efficiency that woodworkers demand in the shop. This 13" planer produces a smooth and consistent cut surface thanks to its helical-style cutter head with 6 rows of 24 individual quick-change inserts which can be easily rotated or replaced if damaged or worn.

Additionally, this helical-style cutter head design helps reduce noise since its 2-HP motor is turning at an impressive 10,000 RPM. Despite its high quality, this machine comes with a comparatively high price which is not affordable for everyone.

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What We Like

  • Produce smooth and consistent cut

  • Easy to and use

  • 3-year warranty

  • Reduce snipe

  • Quiet operation

  • Easy-to-change blade

Things to Consider

  • Expensive

#3. WEN PL1326 Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer - Best for Budget

Important specifications

  • Dimensions: 26 x 21.5 x 16 inches

  • Item Weight: ‎80.8 pounds

Product's highlights

If you are a beginner who recently started wood renovation projects and needed the best portable wood planer, we would like to recommend that you should buy the WEN PL1326 15-Amp 13-Inch Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer.

We love the finished product coming out of this machine smooth and it looks super great. It's easy to use and clean while the blades are easy to turn as well as replace. The noise level is acceptable, which hardly damages your ears.

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What We Like

  • Smooth cuts

  • Quiet operation

  • Easy to use and clean

  • Comparatively low price

Things to Consider

  • Poor customer service

#4. Makita 2012NB 12" Portable Planer - Best for Portability

Important specifications

  • Dimensions: 30.35 x 19.02 x 15.79 inches

  • Item Weight: ‎61.8 pounds

Product's highlights

Makita is a well known brand that produces high-quality power tools, including this 12” planer. What impresses us most is its sound level. Makita reaches 83db when operating, which is quieter than other models.

The compact and lightweight design allows you to transport this portable unit from place to place easily. Like other modern planers, Makita 2012NB 12" Portable Planer features a fast and easy blade change system.

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What We Like

  • Easy for transportation

  • Quiet operation

  • Easy to use

  • Fast and easy blade change system

Things to Consider

  • Expensive

#5. Wahuda Tools 13" Spiral Cutterhead Planer  -  Best for Accuracy

Important specifications

  • Dimensions: 25.2 x 21.6 x 20 inches

  • Item Weight: ‎77 pounds

Product's highlights

Wahuda is the last option we introduce to you in this review. This two-speed planer offers quick planing to thickness at 26 fpm or slower 18fpm for a smooth finish on figured stock with minimal to no tear out.

The spiral cutterhead with 4-sided carbide inserts installed are cost-effective and easily-maintained so that the inserts are easily rotated or swapped out when becoming dull. 

You will find Wahuda easy to move around due to its weight at 77 lbs. The pullout extensions are also added on the heavy gauge infeed and outfeed tables to give you 45” of total table length if needed, for those longer pieces of stock.

If even longer pieces of lumber need machining, you can always add additional supports such as roller stands. And the tables and pullout extensions are easily adjusted to get them coplanar to the center wear plate.

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What We Like

  • Accurate cuts

  • Easy to use

  • 8 position preset depth stop

  • The cutterhead is quick and easy to access

Things to Consider

  • Terrible noise


Compare Products

Showing  1 - 10  in  10 results
TOP Choice
1
  • SCORE
    9.2
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  • Brand
    WEN
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2
  • SCORE
    9.0
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  • Brand
    Amazon Basics
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3
  • SCORE
    8.9
    AtoZ Score

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  • Brand
    Kattool
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4
  • SCORE
    8.7
    AtoZ Score

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  • Brand
    NADOBA
TOP Choice
5
  • SCORE
    9.0
    AtoZ Score

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  • Brand
    Shop Fox
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6
  • SCORE
    9.3
    AtoZ Score

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  • Brand
    YOGEON
Most Saving
7
  • SCORE
    8.8
    AtoZ Score

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  • Brand
    Jet
TOP Choice
8
  • SCORE
    9.4
    AtoZ Score

    AtoZ Score is evaluated by our experienced experts, in addition, it is also built from the opinions of many customers who have used the product. Learn more

  • Brand
    WEN
Most Saving
9
  • SCORE
    9.0
    AtoZ Score

    AtoZ Score is evaluated by our experienced experts, in addition, it is also built from the opinions of many customers who have used the product. Learn more

  • Brand
    Makita
TOP Choice
10
  • SCORE
    9.6
    AtoZ Score

    AtoZ Score is evaluated by our experienced experts, in addition, it is also built from the opinions of many customers who have used the product. Learn more

  • Brand
    Mophorn

Last update on 2023-12-09 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


FAQs

Is a benchtop planer worth it?

A benchtop planer is indispensable for those working on woodworking projects because it helps users control the thickness and smoothness of wood pieces.

Can I run small pieces of wood through a planer?

MDF base and thin rails make it possible to plane small parts. This simple sled will let you run thin or short pieces through a benchtop planer without the cutterhead chewing them up or sniping their ends. It's made of a piece of MDF—used because it is very flat—and two strips of wood.

What size wood planer is best ?

The thickness planers in the 20-inch to 25-inch range are overkill for most woodworkers. And if you don't plan on thickness planing wide boards at all, or your space is limited, then a benchtop thickness planer with a 12 or 13-inch width will work for you.


Conclusion

Overall, DEWALT Benchtop Planer is the best candidate in my recommendations. Alternatively, consider the WEN PL1326 15-Amp 13-Inch Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer if you want a fitting-budget version.

Above are the best planers for small shops appreciated by most customers. We hope this article can provide you with helpful information to find the suitable product. Thank you for following this post!


4.7
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