Top 10 Thickness Planers in 2027 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

For most woodworkers in 2027 the Best Overall thickness planer is the DeWalt DW735X at $799, a 13-inch, three-knife benchtop machine with a two-speed gearbox and the best dust ejection in its class. The Best Value pick is the WEN 6550T at $329, a 12.5-inch planer that handles construction lumber and basic furniture stock for a fraction of the price of the premium machines.

This guide is for hobbyists, furniture makers, and small-shop pros who want to flatten and dimension rough lumber without paying for an industrial floor-standing machine. We rank ten currently-shipping models from DeWalt, Makita, WEN, Ridgid, Cutech, Delta, Triton, CRAFTSMAN, and Powermatic, calling out exactly who each one is for.

Whether you run softwoods like pine and cedar or figured hardwoods like maple and walnut, there is a pick below sized to your bench and your budget.

How We Ranked the Top 10

We weighted each planer on the factors that actually change the wood coming out the back of the machine, not on spec-sheet bragging rights. We leaned on hands-on testing and long-term reports from Fine Woodworking, Wood Magazine, Pro Tool Reviews, ToolGuyd, Tool Box Buzz, and Bob Vila, plus manufacturer spec sheets from DeWalt, Makita, and WEN, and reader threads on woodworking forums.

Here is how the points break down:

• Cut quality and cutterhead — 25% (straight 2/3-knife versus spiral/helical, cuts per inch, finish off the machine)
• Snipe control — 20% (cutterhead lock, four-post columns, infeed/outfeed table support)
• Max width and depth capacity — 15% (board width and maximum stock thickness)
• Power and feed rate — 15% (motor amps, no-load speed, feet-per-minute feed)
• Dust collection and noise — 15% (chip ejection, 4-inch ports, measured dB)
• Price-to-performance — 10% (what you pay versus what you get)

1. DeWalt DW735X 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Price: $799 | Best for: serious hobbyists and small-shop pros who want one planer to do everything

The DW735X is a 13-inch, three-knife planer driven by a 15-amp motor spinning at 20,000 RPM, and its standout feature is the two-speed gearbox that lets you pick 96 or 179 cuts per inch depending on whether you want fast stock removal or a glass-smooth finishing pass.

It takes boards up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thick, and the fan-assisted chip ejection system blows shavings clear of the cutterhead and out the 4-inch port instead of letting them pack up. The cast-aluminum base is roughly twice as rigid as a typical benchtop frame, which keeps snipe predictable, and the X package adds infeed and outfeed tables plus a spare set of knives.

At about 105 pounds it is heavy for a benchtop unit, but that mass is part of why it cuts so cleanly.

Pros:

• Two feed speeds give you both fast hogging and a near-jointer finish
• Three-knife head with 179 CPI leaves very little sanding to do
• Best-in-class dust ejection keeps the shop and the machine clean
• Bundled tables and spare knives add real value over the bare DW735

Cons:

• One of the heaviest benchtop planers, so it is not truly portable
• Stock straight knives nick on grit; many owners upgrade to a helical head later

Verdict: The DW735X is the default recommendation for anyone who wants premium results without stepping up to a floor-standing machine.

2. Cutech 40200H-CT 💎 (Helical Upgrade Pick)

Price: $649 | Best for: woodworkers running figured hardwoods who want tear-out-free finishes

The Cutech 40200H-CT is a 13-inch benchtop planer built around a spiral cutterhead carrying 26 two-sided tungsten-carbide inserts, which is the big reason to buy it over a straight-knife machine. The shearing action of the staggered carbide inserts plows through curly and birdseye maple with dramatically less tear-out than a straight knife, and when an insert dulls you rotate it instead of resharpening a whole blade.

It runs a 15-amp motor with the cutterhead turning at 10,000 RPM, takes stock up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thick, feeds at 26 feet per minute, and includes a snipe lock and a convenient side crank for height. It is quieter than a straight-knife planer because each insert takes a smaller bite.

Pros:

• Carbide spiral head delivers the cleanest cut on figured wood in this guide
• Rotatable inserts mean no blade sharpening, just a quick turn
• Snipe lock and side crank make setup fast and repeatable

Cons:

• Smaller dealer network than DeWalt or Makita for parts and support

Verdict: The cheapest legitimate way to get a true helical-style finish on a benchtop, and a giant upgrade for hardwood shops.

3. Makita 2012NB

Price: $729 | Best for: mobile users and quiet shops that value low snipe above all

The Makita 2012NB is a 12-inch planer that has been refined for decades, and its claim to fame is the Interna-Lok automated head clamp that locks the cutterhead during each pass to deliver snipe of only about 0.008 inch — about as low as you will measure on any benchtop machine.

It runs a 15-amp motor at 8,500 RPM, feeds at 27.9 feet per minute, and takes boards up to 12 inches wide and just over 6 inches thick. At a measured 83 to 86 dB it is noticeably quieter than most competitors, and at roughly 62 pounds it is light enough to move between job sites.

Reviewers at Fine Woodworking and Bob Vila consistently praise its smooth, bog-free feed on both hardwoods and softwoods.

Pros:

• Interna-Lok head clamp produces the lowest snipe in its class
• Lighter and quieter than nearly every rival here
• Decades-proven reliability and a wide parts network

Cons:

• Only 12 inches wide, narrower than the 13-inch crowd
• Two-knife straight head means more passes than a three-knife machine

Verdict: If snipe-free boards and a quiet, portable machine matter more than raw width, the 2012NB is hard to beat.

4. Ridgid R4331

Price: $429 | Best for: value-minded buyers who still want a three-knife head and a built-in stand

The Ridgid R4331 packs a three-blade cutterhead and an integrated folding stand into a mid-price 13-inch package, which is unusual at this point on the list. The 15-amp motor spins at 9,000 RPM for roughly 96 cuts per inch, it accepts stock up to 13 inches wide and 6 inches thick, and it feeds material through at about 23.5 feet per minute.

The blades are reversible, dual-edge, and self-aligning, so swaps are quick, and the included stand saves you from building or buying one. At about 73 pounds it is manageable, and Ridgid's lifetime service agreement on registered tools is a real draw for hobbyists.

Pros:

• Three reversible blades at a price where rivals offer only two
• Integrated stand included in the box
• Lifetime service agreement on registration adds long-term value

Cons:

• Straight knives can leave faint lines that need light sanding
• Snipe is average; you will want to support long boards

Verdict: A lot of three-knife, 13-inch planer for the money, made even better by the included stand.

5. Delta 22-590X

Price: $549 | Best for: furniture builders who want a cutterhead lock and a full-width removal gauge

The Delta 22-590X is a 13-inch, three-knife benchtop planer whose snipe-reduction system pairs a patented cutterhead lock with generously sized infeed and outfeed tables. Its full-width material-removal gauge shows exactly how much wood each pass takes across the entire board, which makes dialing in a final finishing cut far easier than guessing.

The indexed, double-sided high-speed-steel knives give roughly twice the blade life of single-edge knives and swap quickly, and the 4-inch dust port with chip ejection keeps shavings moving. It handles stock up to 13 inches wide and about 6 inches thick on a 15-amp motor.

Pros:

• Cutterhead lock plus long tables keep snipe in check
• Full-width removal gauge takes the guesswork out of final passes
• Double-sided indexed knives double effective blade life

Cons:

• Dealer support is thinner than it was a decade ago
• Heavier than the Makita and Triton if you move it often

Verdict: A thoughtful three-knife machine whose removal gauge and head lock reward careful furniture work.

6. WEN 6552T

Price: $379 | Best for: budget buyers who want three knives and a cast-iron table

The WEN 6552T is the upgraded sibling of our value pick: a 13-inch benchtop planer that moves from the 6550T's two-knife head to a three-knife cutterhead and swaps the granite base for a cast-iron table. The 15-amp motor handles boards up to 13 inches wide and roughly 6 inches thick, the fan-assisted dust port clears chips, and the extra knife means smoother results and fewer passes than the two-blade WEN.

It holds the same low price point that made WEN famous while delivering a meaningfully better cut. For a hobbyist stepping up from construction-lumber duty into real furniture stock, it is a sensible middle rung.

Pros:

• Three-knife head at a price most rivals charge for two
• Cast-iron table is flatter and more durable than the older granite top
• 13-inch width for the price of many 12.5-inch machines

Cons:

• Snipe needs board support; tables are short
• Straight knives still struggle with heavily figured grain

Verdict: The smart pick if you want the WEN price but a three-knife finish and a wider table.

7. Triton TPT125

Price: $399 | Best for: hobbyists who want fine depth control on a four-post column

The Triton TPT125 is a 12.5-inch benchtop planer whose four-post column keeps the cutterhead moving squarely up and down for consistent thickness across the board. It delivers 17,500 cuts per minute, lets you set depth of cut in precise 1/16-inch increments, and accepts stock from 1/8 inch up to about 5.9 inches thick on its 1,100-watt / 15-amp motor.

Large infeed and outfeed tables support long boards, and at roughly 64 pounds it stays portable. Reviewers note it gives unusually fine control over each pass for the price, which helps creep up on a finished thickness without overshooting.

Pros:

• Four-post column keeps cuts square and snipe consistent
• 1/16-inch depth increments allow precise final passes
• Long support tables included for the board

Cons:

• Two-blade straight head means more passes on thick stock
• Dust extraction is adequate but not as aggressive as the DeWalt

Verdict: A precise, well-supported 12.5-inch planer for hobbyists who like to sneak up on final thickness.

8. CRAFTSMAN CMEW320

Price: $369 | Best for: DIYers prepping construction lumber and simple builds

The CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 is a 12.5-inch benchtop planer with a two-knife, quick-change steel cutterhead running at 8,000 RPM for about 16,000 cuts per minute, on the familiar 15-amp motor. It takes boards up to 12.5 inches wide and 6 inches thick, weighs roughly 64 pounds, and stows easily under a workbench.

Testers describe it as a solid choice for planing 2-by construction lumber and prepping boards for basic furniture, though it is not built for exotic hardwoods. The quick-change knives keep maintenance simple for an occasional user, and CRAFTSMAN's broad retail presence makes parts easy to find.

Pros:

• Quick-change two-knife head is simple to service
• Compact and storable under a bench
• Widely available at major retailers

Cons:

• Two knives and 16,000 CPM leave a coarser finish than three-knife rivals
• Not suited to figured or exotic hardwoods

Verdict: A dependable, store-everywhere planer for DIYers who mostly dimension softwood lumber.

9. WEN 6550T 💎 BEST VALUE

Price: $329 | Best for: first-time buyers who want the most planer for the least money

The WEN 6550T is the reason WEN owns the budget category: a 12.5-inch benchtop planer with a 15-amp motor, a two-blade head producing 18,000 cuts per minute, and a 26-feet-per-minute feed rate, all for a price that routinely sits under $330. It planes boards up to 12.5 inches wide and 6 inches thick, rides on a flat granite-style table, and clears chips through a fan-assisted port.

It will not match a DeWalt or a helical Cutech on figured grain, but for flattening rough softwood, dimensioning pine and poplar, and learning the craft, nothing else gives you this much capability per dollar. It is the machine we recommend to anyone buying their first planer on a tight budget.

Pros:

• Lowest real-world price of any capable 12.5-inch planer here
• 18,000 CPM is plenty for softwoods and basic furniture stock
• Flat granite table and easy blade changes keep it beginner-friendly

Cons:

• Two straight knives tear out figured hardwoods
• Short tables mean snipe unless you add roller support

Verdict: The clear Best Value: a genuinely useful planer at a price that lets you start dimensioning lumber today.

10. Powermatic 15HH

Price: $2,999 | Best for: dedicated shops ready to step up to a floor-standing helical machine

The Powermatic 15HH is the outlier here — a 15-inch floor-standing planer with a helical cutterhead carrying 74 four-sided indexable carbide inserts spinning at 4,500 RPM, driven by a 3-HP, 230-volt motor through three V-belts. The precision-ground cast-iron table with extension wings supports wide, heavy stock that would overwhelm any benchtop, and the helical head delivers near-flawless finishes on the most difficult grain with very low noise.

With a 4-inch dust chute and a deep, rigid frame, it is built for shops that plane hardwood every day. It costs many times what the benchtop machines do and needs a 230-volt circuit, so it is strictly for buyers who have outgrown portability.

Pros:

• 74-insert helical head gives a finish no benchtop can match
• 3-HP cast-iron build powers through wide, dense hardwood
• Indexable carbide inserts rotate four times before replacement

Cons:

• Very expensive and requires a 230-volt circuit
• Heavy and permanent — not a machine you move around

Verdict: The upgrade destination once a serious shop outgrows benchtop planers and wants helical results on full-width stock.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One's Right for You?

What to Look For When Buying a Thickness Planer

• Cutterhead type — straight versus helical: Straight 2/3-knife heads are cheaper and fine for softwoods; a spiral/helical carbide head shears figured hardwood with far less tear-out and rotates inserts instead of sharpening blades. This is the single biggest driver of cut quality.
• Snipe control: Look for a cutterhead lock, a four-post column, and long infeed/outfeed tables. The Makita's head clamp and Delta's lock keep snipe near 0.008 inch; cheaper machines need you to support the board.
• Cut quality and cuts-per-inch: More knives and higher CPI mean a smoother surface and less sanding. The DeWalt's 179-CPI finishing speed and three-knife head set the benchtop standard.
• Width and depth capacity: Most benchtop planers handle 12 to 13 inches wide and about 6 inches thick. Match width to your widest glue-ups before paying for more.
• Dust collection: A real 4-inch port with fan-assisted ejection keeps chips off the cutterhead and out of your shop. The DW735X leads here.
• Noise: Universal motors are loud; the Makita and helical machines run noticeably quieter at 83 to 86 dB.

What matters less than marketing implies: exact RPM numbers and "maximum cuts per minute" headline figures look impressive but tell you little once a machine clears the basic threshold — feed rate, knife count, and snipe control determine the actual finish far more than a big RPM spec.

FAQ

Do I really need a helical cutterhead? Only if you regularly plane figured or exotic hardwoods like curly maple or walnut. For softwoods and straight-grained stock, a good three-knife head such as the DW735X gives an excellent finish for much less money. Helical heads shine on tear-out-prone grain and reduce noise.

What is snipe and how do I stop it? Snipe is the slightly deeper cut at the leading and trailing ends of a board, caused by the cutterhead rocking as only one roller engages. Reduce it with a cutterhead lock, by supporting long boards with roller stands, and by feeding boards end-to-end so they support each other.

The Makita 2012NB and Delta 22-590X are engineered specifically to minimize it.

Is a 12-inch planer wide enough? For most furniture and hobby work, yes — you plane boards before glue-up and joint wide panels another way. Step up to 13 inches if you frequently surface wide single boards, or to the 15-inch Powermatic if you run a production shop.

Can a benchtop planer flatten a board on its own? No. A planer makes the second face parallel to the first, but it follows whatever shape the bottom face has. You need to flatten one face first on a jointer or with a planer sled, then run the board through to make the other side parallel.

How often do I change or rotate the knives? Straight knives need swapping or sharpening when you see lines or fuzz in the cut — frequency depends on wood and grit. Helical carbide inserts last far longer and can be rotated to a fresh edge four times before replacement, which is a major long-term savings on the Cutech and Powermatic.

Which planer is quietest? The Makita 2012NB and the helical-head machines are the quietest here, measuring around 83 to 86 dB. Standard straight-knife universal-motor planers are louder, so wear hearing protection regardless.

Bottom Line

For nearly everyone, the DeWalt DW735X at $799 is the Best Overall thickness planer of 2027 — its two-speed three-knife head and class-leading dust ejection make it the do-everything benchtop machine. If you are watching your budget, the WEN 6550T at $329 is the runaway Best Value, giving first-time buyers a genuinely capable 12.5-inch planer for the least money.

Hardwood specialists should look hard at the helical Cutech 40200H-CT, and busy shops at the floor-standing Powermatic 15HH. Use the decision tree above to route yourself from your wood type, budget, and width needs to the exact numbered pick that fits your bench.

Sources

• Fine Woodworking — Review of the Makita 2012NB Benchtop Planer
• Bob Vila — The Best Benchtop Planers, Tested
• Tool Box Buzz — Best Benchtop Thickness Planer Head-to-Head
• One Project Closer — 13-inch Ridgid Thickness Planer Review
• Mostly Tools — Triton TPT125 Planer Review
• DeWalt — DW735X 13-inch Three-Knife Two-Speed Thickness Planer spec sheet
• Makita USA — 2012NB 12-inch Portable Planer product details
• WEN Products — 6550T 12.5-inch Benchtop Thickness Planer
• Cutech Tools — 40200H 13-inch Spiral Cutterhead Benchtop Planer
• Powermatic — 15HH 15-inch Planer with Helical Cutterhead
• Delta Machinery — 22-590X 13-inch Portable Planer

*Thickness planer review — thickness planer reviews, rating, best thickness planer 2027, and a review of the top woodworking picks for buyers.*