Best Electric Hand Planers In 2021

We’re taking a look at a portable power planer next from Dewalt, and it’s their  3 1/4-inch Brushless Max DCP580B to get the review treatment. This 20V high-performance planer from the Dewalt family has the users best interests at heart with an ergonomic handle designed to minimize operator fatigue. The molded grip fits comfortably and securely in hand to provide power and reliability even in the toughest of working environments.

The DCP580B features twin blade drums with reversible carbide blades with a smooth, adjustable knob which makes a reassuring audible clicking sound whenever those settings are increased or decreased. Besides the power planer itself, this device also features other handy on-board tools including a tort key and Torx wrench storage plus a convenient kickstand which protects the planer when it’s resting and not being used. If you are looking for are portable yet powerful planer then this is a smart investment, capable of providing 32,000 cuts per minute for fast and smooth results. A ploy V drive further provides belt durability and enhances the overall reliability of this portable Dewalt planer. Unfortunately, no dust extraction is supplied with this particular unit although one can be purchased separately. Love tools? Check out our review of the best bench grinders for our top picks.

Makita is known for their industrial quality power tools and their leading cutting edge technology and innovation so it should come as little surprise that they feature on our best electric hand planers list and are today’s Premium Choice recommendation. This power tool, just like most of the professional devices they manufacture is precise and accurate, powerful and reliable too. Although this is, of course, an excellent choice for DIY enthusiasts, it is also highly recommended for use by professional trades including construction framing, window, and door installation companies as well as fine woodworking professions.

The Makita 1912B may well have a compact design, but it’s certainly not short on cutting capacity and overall power. With an all bearing construction, they pretty much guarantee this beast for life. It’s easy to control and well balanced to operate with front and rear grips positioned for better operator control, and with a precision machined aluminum base, it delivers accurate planning results every time.  While it might not include a dust bag, it does come with a host of other useful accessories including a sharpening holder, blade gauge, wrench, guide rule as well as a blade set. Better still, the 2-blade cutter head can make an incredible 32,000 cuts per minute which certainly impressed us. For more great tools like this check out our guide to the best screw guns.

The VonHaus 7.5 Amp Electric Wood Hand Planer Kit is one of the cheapest electric planers on the market. If you’re a professional carpenter, you should steer clear of this tool – it doesn’t have the power or versatility you’ll need for professional applications. However, if you’re just experimenting with carpentry or reclaiming old wood at home, this should have everything you need. 

The planer has a 7.5-amp motor that delivers 33,000 cuts per minute, has a cutting width of 3.25”, and has a depth adjustment dial for different finishes. It also comes with two replacement blades, a kickstand, and a dust extraction bag that can be fitted on either side of the tool. In short, it ticks all of the boxes for DIY use but it’s not going to last a lifetime and you can’t be super accurate with it. 

Another highly affordable and powerful option up next from Porter Cable, their PC60THPK offers excellent value for money and overall functionality. Besides the hand planer itself which is certainly robust and sturdy looking, you also receive  2 carbide curing blades along with a wrench, edge guide, a dust bag and a kit bag to keep your planer safe when not in use. The depth of those cuts can be controlled by 10 positive stops which are positioned every 1/16-inch plus there are also three chamfering grooves and accurate control thanks to that 11.5-inch cast aluminum shoe. The 6-amp motor slivers 16,500 RMP of power which make it more than adequate for tackling a range of jobs from planing wood planks, to chamfering and profiling edges, as well as tackling doors and joists.

There’s also dual dust extraction on either side of the planer which helps to keep your workplace tidy and clean as you plane away. Porter Cable offers a generous 3 years manufactures warranty with your purchase which should provide you with good peace of mind, and the device comes with a long 6-foot cable so there should be plenty of flexibility to work on projects both indoors and outside too. Our handy guide to the best angle grinders features more great products like this.

It would be hard to imagine drafting any kind of power tools recommended list without something from Bosch featuring in the top ten, so it should come as no surprise that we’re reviewing one of their hand planer’s today.  The Bosch PL2622K conveniently comes with its own carry case and while not the most budget friendly on our review, still represents a reasonable price point given its functionality. Included with your purchase besides the hand planer are 2 wood razor mini micro grain blades, one dual-mount guide fence, a shavings collection bag, that carrying case we already mentioned along with a straight no-mar plastic overshoe.

The planer provides excellent power and performance and is also relatively lightweight to deliver a good amount of flexibility too. It’s apparently the first ever power tool to feature ambidextrous lol-off release and besides that function, also has further protection features including a spin loaded stand to elevate the device, protecting the blade when not in use. That powerful 6.5-amp motor provides 16,5000 rotations per minute which means smooth and consistent results and with both front and rear aluminum shoes and a dual-mount fence guide, you get good precision too. It’s a quality product, from a well-respected brand and receives excellent reviews and feedback from consumers. It’s durable, reliable and performs well. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best rolling tool boxes.

If professional quality power is the name of the game, then this Triton TPL180 triple blade planer has it in spades! It’s perfect for even the most heavy duty of planning duties, and cuts from all hardwood surfaces like a hot knife through butter! That’s because it’s made constricted from magnesium to give it superior strength and durability and is fitted with a hard working and powerful 1500 W motor and a 3-blade drum that can cut up to 45,000 times per minute. With that power, also comes plenty of precision with a 10-position depth control dial alongside an adjustable bail handle for ergonomic support and comfort.

This Triton TPL180 also comes with a guide fence, dust extraction port and includes a wrench as well as featuring an ultra-wide 7-inch planing surface to get those big jobs done in record time. From a safety perspective, Triton has included a power-on neon light indicator plus there’s a safety lock which has to be actively depressed to activate the trigger. For professional woodworkers and enthusiastic amateurs DIY’ers alike, if you can stretch the budget, then this Triton is a reliable and robust choice. If you love DIY projects, check out our guide to the best digital calipers.

There’s plenty to love about this Tacklife electric hand planer, not least that incredible price. The manufacturer is all about developing well made, useful and portable professional-style products for the modern DIY enthusiast so if that’s got your name written all over it, then read on! This is a 3 1/4-inch hand planer that packs 900 watts of power and comes with a reliable and robust 7.5-amp high-quality copper motor. It can deliver up to an impressive 32,000 cuts per minute providing smooth and efficient, consistent cuts and thickness.

When it comes to safety features, this Tacklife electric hand planer is fitted with a double controlling switch which helps to minimize unwanted accidents caused by operated carelessness. There’s also an ergonomic, soft grip handle which helps to reduce user fatigue over long periods of work plus an extra long 3-meter power cord that delivers plenty of flexibility for moving around your work area both indoors and out. Various accessories and features are included with your purchase including a chamfer groove, parallel fence bracket, convenient dust collection bag as well as a hex key and open wrench. You really do get a lot of value for your money and don’t forget that it also comes with 12 positive stop incremental increases so that you can adjust the depth from 0 all the way up to 3mm according to the application. If you need new tools, check out our guide to the best stud finders.

Compact, powerful, and instantly recognizable as a Ryobi power tool thanks to that bright lime finish, our final product selection in this best electric hand planers review is reserved for their HPL52K, a reversible double-edged blade device with a 6-amp motor. Included with your purchase you also receive a blade wrench, rabbet edge guide plus dust bag as well as a tool bag. It runs at up to 16,500 RPM with a maximum cutting width of 3 1/4-inch and a rabbet depth of 1/2-inch. The unit features dual exhaust ports on either side of the planer so that you can blow chips out from whichever side is most convenient depending upon your workspace. When your Ryobi hand planer is not in use, it can be rested on the rear-mounted kickstand which prevents it from scuffing and damaging any of your work surfaces.

A handy safety lock button prevents this corded hand planer from accidentally being activated and with adjustable depth options from 1/8-inch to 1/96-inch increments, it certainly delivers plenty of versatility. Also worth a mention is the rubber oversold which limits friction between your hand and the tool itself, ensuring comfortable and smooth operation. You may also like our guide to the best crowbars so check it out.

WEN makes some of our favorite power tools. If you’re looking for powerful, reliable, and affordable tools, their product line is always a good place to start. That’s why, when we were researching the best electric hand planers, we knew where to look. The WEN 6528 3.8-Amp Electric Hand Planer is one of the most powerful options on this list. The 3.8-amp motor provides up to 32,000 cuts per minute (530 cuts per second), removing any irregularities in the surface, making your boards perfectly smooth. 

It has nine positive stops in increments of 1/128 of an inch, allowing you to gradually work the surface. Plus, it has a cutting width of 2-3/8” and a maximum cutting depth of 1/16”, giving you enough versatility of fitting and squaring boards. Other features include a side-mounted dust chute for clean working and an automatic kickstand to protect your blades and workpiece. 

The electric hand planers on this list vary in price from around $50 to $200 and more. The SKIL PL201201 Electric Hand Planer is towards the cheaper end of this scale, which makes it perfect for DIY enthusiasts. If you’re not planing every day, you don’t need anything more than this machine. It has a 3.5-amp motor allowing it to move at 16,000 RPM, which is enough for squaring boards, flattening pieces of wood, and reclaiming old wood. 

One of the main reasons we like the SKIL PL201201 Electric Hand Planer is that it’s super easy to use. It has an ergonomic handle and is designed with clean sight lines, so you can easily see what you’re doing. It also has a dual-chip exhaust that removes debris as you’re planing, so your work surface isn’t messy. On top of that, it has a lock-off switch to prevent unintended startups and a 1.8m cord for maneuverability.