A wood planer is an essential tool for reducing the thickness and smoothing the surface of any piece of wood, but some models can ruin the surface or break and injure you. That’s why our experts have tested the best electric hand planers to ensure they are up to the task.
Reviews of the Top Electric Hand Planers
1. DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer
The DeWalt DCP580B hand planer combines portability and performance. The brushless motor in this electric hand planer measures 3 1/4 inches in diameter and is powered by the company’s standard 20-volt battery line-up.
The DeWalt hand planer features a two-blade cutter head that can reach up to 15,000 revolutions per minute (30,000 cuts per minute). The integrated electronics will assist in keeping that speed constant even under heavy load.
Maximum cut depth is limited to 5/64 of an inch but can be gradually increased in 1/256-inch increments. Its ergonomic handle doubles as a kickstand to keep the blades and workpiece safe.
What We Like
- Precision-finished back and front shoe
- Fast cordless planer
- 5/64 cut depth
- Brushless motor
- Calibrated depth knob
- Reversible carbide blades
- 1/256 inches depth adjustments
What We Don't Like
- Tool-only purchase
- You can buy the dust collection bag and charger separately
2. Bosch PL1632 6.5 Amp Hand Planer
A 6.5 Amp motor runs the cutter head at 16500 rpm in the Bosch PL1632 hand planer, ensuring sufficient power to cut and plane any sort of wood efficiently.
Bosch PL1632 has a lock-off switch to avoid accidental startup and a lock-on button, both of which are beneficial for extended periods. The dust bag that comes with it does its job well, albeit soon filling up with the dust and shavings created by your work.
The fact that you can adjust the PL1632’s shavings’ trajectories is another feature we appreciate. Switching the dust port, you can guide the shavings to the left or right.
What We Like
- Lock-off button
- Dust bag included
- 16, 500 RPM
- Electric brake
- Easy-to-use depth adjustment knob
- It can steadily plane door edges
What We Don't Like
- A bit expensive
- Depth knob needs to be checked regularly
3. WEN 6530 6-Amp Electric Hand Planer
With the WEN 6530 Electric Hand Planer, you can choose a 2 3/8-inch or a 4 3/8-inch cut width and a 6-amp motor. You can have a great power-to-weight ratio with 34,000 CPM and 17,000 rpm at just 6 pounds.
This is an ideal electric hand planer with a simple trigger that will help keep your hands from getting tired when operating it for long periods. Besides, an adjustment wrench and two HSS reversible blades are included, making blade swaps a breeze.
Also, you can redirect the wood shavings and sawdust in several directions thanks to the included dust bag and flexible dust chute.
What We Like
- 0 to 1/8 inches maximum cutting depth
- 3.25-inch cutting width
- Reversible HSS blades
- Lightweight electric hand planer
- Parallel fence bracket
What We Don't Like
- Its dust collection bag fills up quickly
- It takes time to calibrate
4. PORTER-CABLE Hand Planer, 6-Amp (PC60THP)
The PORTER-CABLE PC60THP Hand Planer is a corded model powered by a 6-amp, 120-volt motor. With this model, you can lower the number of passes because of its 5/64-inch cut capacity, which works equally well on both hard and softwood.
The over-molded depth knob on this manual planer features multiple depth settings. The aluminum shoe offers superior stability, and you can choose left- or right-side dust evacuation. Three chamfering grooves are also present for easier edge chamfering.
This Porter Cable features a dust bag, a blade wrench for switching between two carbide-cutting blades, and Bluetooth connectivity that lets you listen to music as you work.
(Know more about the Porter Cable tools in this review!)
What We Like
- Three chamfering grooves
- Dual side dust extraction
- 11.5-inch aluminum shoe
- Two carbide blades
- 5/64 maximum cutting depth
- Over-molded depth adjustment knob
What We Don't Like
- No kickstand included
- A bit heavy
5. Ryobi HPL52K 6 Amp 16,500 RPM 3 1/4" Corded Hand Planer
This Ryobi HPL52K electric hand planer features an ergonomic design to reduce fatigue and has a 6-amp motor that can reach 16,500 RPM so that you may use it for various woodworking tasks.
This corded model allows you to reach far and wide without resorting to an extension cord, adding to the tool’s simplicity and ease of use. Also, this Ryobi 6-amp electric hand planer makes it simple to go from 0 to 1/8 inches in depth, with adjustments coming in 1/96-inch increments.
We like the lock-off button that safeguards against accidental activation of the machine, which could cause severe woodworking accidents or any injury to the user or destroy the wooden surface, the planer, or both.
(Know more about Ryobi tools in this brand review!)
What We Like
- Dust collection bag included
- 0 to 1/8 maximum cut depth
- 1/96 depth adjustment
- Dual exhaust ports
- Allows straight edging
What We Don't Like
- Batteries and charger sold separately
- It takes time to change the cutting blade
6. Makita XPK01Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless
Common to hand power planers, this cordless tool includes a 3.5-inch cutting capacity, depth adjustment of up to 1/8 inch, and a 12,000 rpm brushless motor. Its two blades are sleek, and the grip is comfortable to hold.
The Makita XPK016 offers some nice extras, making it an upgrade option worth considering. Auto-Start Wireless System (AWS) is a feature of this model that allows users to pair the planer with a dust collection system and have it start up automatically when the trigger is pulled.
As a result, dust is collected instantly, without additional wiring or controls, which can greatly improve the hand-planing experience.
What We Like
- Easy-to-use knob for depth adjustments
- 5/64” depth in one pass
- Cutter head with two blades
- 18V cordless model
- Ideal for window and door installation
- Double edge carbide blades
What We Don't Like
- No dust extraction bag
- Tool-only purchase
7. Milwaukee 2623-20 M18 3-1/4" Planer
The Milwaukee 2623-20 is one of the best electric hand planers for stock removal, finishing, or anything in between on hard or soft wood. This planer has a comfortable trigger and reversible carbide blades that are easy to replace. And there are 20 distinct locking positions for the various depth adjustments.
The Milwaukee motor spins at 14,000 rpm and draws five amps of power from an 18-volt supply. It can make rabbet cuts as small as 27/64 inches and weighs just over 8 pounds.
In addition, you can choose a clutter-free, rapid-fire left or right chip ejection method, and a spring-loaded kickstand and fuel gauge on board make your ride more comfortable.
What We Like
- Durable power tools
- No re-zero needed
- Dust chip ejection feature
- 14,000 RPM
- Ideal on hardwood and softwood
- Spring-loaded stand
What We Don't Like
- More expensive than most electric hand planers
- Base tool-only purchase
Electric Hand Planers Buyer’s Guide
Speed and Power
To get the best hand planers, pick one that can deliver adequate speed and power.
Likewise, think about the typical species of wood you’ll be chopping. This is due to the inability of low-powered electric planers to generate enough traction to handle denser hardwoods successfully.
As a result, the tool wears out faster, and you have to buy a new one sooner rather than later. To determine how efficient a hand planer is, consider its cuts per minute; a higher number indicates less effort required to process the wood.
Cordless Electric Hand Planers
Electric motors powered by rechargeable batteries allow speeds of up to 16,000 or 17,000 revolutions per minute. [1]
Most cordless electric hand planers can equal the heavy-duty performance of some corded models thanks to brushless motors and computerized controls, although operating at slightly lower speeds.
Corded Electric Hand Planers
There are corded electric hand planers for modest work (with five amps) and heavy work (8 amps). They can spin up to 20,000 rpm and will always be powered by any nearby outlet.
Blades: HSS or Carbide?
You can either use a carbide blade or high-speed steel (HSS).
Compared to other blade materials, the carbide is swifter when cutting. It may also be heated to higher temperatures. It will last longer on store shelves than similar products. The price tag is higher.
The HSS has a lower price tag but a shorter lifespan. It is not as fast or as strong as a carbide blade, but excellent for detailed work.
Cutting and Material Capacity
Cut widths of 3.25 inches or more are standard on modern models. Each pass with a broader blade will remove more material. In the same vein, you can adjust the depth of the cut on an electric hand planer, which should be no less than 1/8 inch.
Handle and Weight
Vintage or old electric hand planers weighs roughly 20 pounds. Because of this, they could be quite a handful, making it tough to maintain control over the cut as it progressed toward the edge of the board.
Modern compact variants weigh around 5 and 10 pounds, making them much simpler to carry for repeated passes than their heavier ancestors.
In addition, the top handles of today’s electric hand planers are ergonomically designed to keep the user’s wrist in a natural position and avoid fatigue.
The best electric hand planers have controls on the front that let you tweak the cutting depth and keep your pressure consistent as you work. Many hand planers have rubber coatings on either or both handles to reduce vibration and enhance grip.
Comfort
The electric hand planer’s ergonomics and weight will significantly impact how well you perform your planing tasks.
A portable design is good for hand planers since it allows you to take it with you wherever you go, thus increasing the likelihood of its regular use and improving your comfort.
This, however, is impossible with a cumbersome electric hand planer because of the wear and tear it places on the user’s arms and shoulders. In addition to temperature control, waste management is an important factor in your level of ease.
Since electric hand planers tend to generate a great deal of waste, including wood dust and chips, keeping this debris under control is vital for ensuring comfort and safety.
Because of this, choosing an electric hand planer that properly disposes of its debris is important, as this will make your workspace more pleasant.