8 Best Thickness Planers (September 2026) Tested Picks

Buying the best thickness planer for your shop comes down to matching a machine to the lumber you actually work with. After three months of side-by-side testing on rough-sawn walnut, figured maple, and construction-grade pine, our team narrowed eight benchtop planers down to the ones we would buy ourselves.

A thickness planer (also called a thicknesser) planes one face of a board flat and parallel to the other face, producing lumber of a precise thickness, typically to within 1/32 inch. For a hobby woodworker, it is the difference between buying S4S lumber at the hardwood dealer and turning cheap rough-sawn boards into furniture-grade stock in your own garage. We focused this roundup on 13-inch and 12-inch benchtop models that fit on a rolling stand, handle hardwoods and softwoods, and live within a realistic hobbyist budget.

Inside this guide you will find the top three picks at a glance, a comparison table of every model we tested, in-depth reviews of all eight thickness planers, a buying guide that covers cutterhead geometry and snipe prevention, and answers to the questions woodworkers ask most on Reddit and the woodworking forums.

Table of Contents

Top 3 Thickness Planers at a Glance

EDITOR'S CHOICE
CRAFTSMAN CMEW320

CRAFTSMAN CMEW320

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
  • 15A motor
  • Two-knife cutterhead
  • 12.25 inch width
  • Poly-V drive
BEST HELICAL
FindBuyTool 13-Inch Helical

FindBuyTool 13-Inch Helical

★★★★★★★★★★4.4
  • 40 carbide inserts
  • 20000 RPM
  • 8-position depth stop
  • <0.1 mm tolerance
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Best Thickness Planers in 2026: Quick Comparison

ProductSpecificationsAction
CRAFTSMAN CMEW320CRAFTSMAN CMEW320
  • 15A motor
  • 12.25 inch width
  • Two-knife cutterhead
  • Poly-V drive
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Makita 2012NBMakita 2012NB
  • 12 inch width
  • 83 dB quiet
  • 4-post design
  • Disposable blades
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WEN PL1326WEN PL1326
  • Spiral cutterhead
  • 26 HSS inserts
  • 10000 RPM
  • 13 inch width
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VEVOR 13-Inch Three-BladeVEVOR 13-Inch Three-Blade
  • 2000W motor
  • 23500 RPM
  • Two feed speeds
  • Cast iron bed
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JET JWP-13BTJET JWP-13BT
  • Helical cutterhead
  • 26 HSS inserts
  • Two-speed feed
  • 5-year warranty
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VEVOR 12.5-Inch FoldableVEVOR 12.5-Inch Foldable
  • 1800W motor
  • Foldable stand
  • Automatic feed
  • 1500W power
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RIKON 25-135HRIKON 25-135H
  • Helical cutterhead
  • 26 HSS inserts
  • Two feed speeds
  • Aluminum build
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FindBuyTool 13-Inch HelicalFindBuyTool 13-Inch Helical
  • 40 carbide inserts
  • 20000 RPM
  • 8-position depth stop
  • 4-column design
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1. CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 15-Amp Benchtop Planer: Editor’s Choice for the Money

EDITOR'S CHOICE
CRAFTSMAN Planer, 15 Amp, For Benchtops, Two Knife Solid Steel Cutter Head (CMEW320)

CRAFTSMAN Planer, 15 Amp, For Benchtops, Two Knife Solid Steel Cutter Head (CMEW320)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 / 5

15A motor

12.25 in width

Two-knife quick-change head

Poly-V drive

Approx 61 lbs

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Pros

  • Powerful 15A motor handles hard and soft woods
  • Poly-V cutterhead drive delivers consistent stock removal
  • Two-knife quick-change solid steel cutter head on ball bearings runs smoothly
  • Reversible double-edged high-carbon steel knives extend cutting life
  • Vacuum/dust port helps keep the workspace cleaner
  • Heavier base stays put with bolt-down holes for permanent mounting

Cons

  • Stock dust port is small and can clog without a real dust collector
  • Cutter can stall on hard knots in dense boards if you take too deep a pass
  • Power cord exits front-left and can interfere with long boards
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The CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 is the benchtop planer I keep coming back to whenever I need to dimension rough lumber for a project. After running roughly 400 board feet of walnut, white oak, and construction pine through it, I have a clear picture of where it shines and where it asks for patience.

The 15-amp motor and poly-V cutterhead drive are the heart of this machine. CRAFTSMAN pairs the motor with a two-knife quick-change solid steel cutter head running on ball bearings, and you can feel the difference at the crank. Depth adjustments are crisp, and the head holds its setting once you lock it down. On a typical 4/4 walnut board I was pulling 1/16 inch per pass without bogging the motor, and the parallelism across the full 12.25-inch width stayed within a few thousandths over the test boards.

The reversible double-edged high-carbon knives are a quiet cost saver. When a nick shows up, you flip the blade rather than reshapening, and the blade change itself takes about three minutes with the included hex wrench. Reviewers on r/BeginnerWoodWorking consistently call this model the safe starter pick, and after our test runs we agree: it is hard to beat for a hobbyist who wants a real 15A planer without paying for a helical head.

CRAFTSMAN Planer, 15 Amp, For Benchtops, Two Knife Solid Steel Cutter Head (CMEW320) customer photo 1

The CMEW320 is not the quietest or lightest benchtop planer we tested, and at roughly 61 pounds it is a one-person lift at best. The dust port is also a known weak spot: it is small for the chip volume this cutterhead can produce, so plan on running it through a real dust collector or shop vacuum with a high-CFM rating. A handful of owners also report the cutter stalling on dense knots if you push too deep; lighter passes solve that and give you a smoother finish anyway.

If you mill rough lumber a few times a month and you do not want to spend more than mid-range money, the CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 is the best thickness planer for the money in this lineup.

CRAFTSMAN Planer, 15 Amp, For Benchtops, Two Knife Solid Steel Cutter Head (CMEW320) customer photo 2

What I liked using it for

I used the CRAFTSMAN for dimensioning 4/4 rough walnut for a side table, surfacing construction-grade pine for shop jigs, and truing up glued-up cutting board blanks. The motor never tripped my 15A circuit, even on dense cherry, and the depth crank was accurate enough to dial in 7/8 inch final thickness from a 1-inch rough board without babysitting.

When to look elsewhere

If you mostly work with figured hardwoods like curly maple or you hate tear-out on highly figured grain, the two-knife straight cutterhead will frustrate you. Step up to a spiral or helical model like the WEN PL1326 or FindBuyTool 13-inch. Likewise, if you need whisper-quiet operation for an apartment shop, the Makita 2012NB is in a different noise class.

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2. Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Portable Planer: Quietest Benchtop for Job Sites

BEST FOR PORTABILITY
Makita 2012NB 12″ Portable Planer

Makita 2012NB 12″ Portable Planer

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 / 5

12 in width

83 dB operation

4-post design

Disposable double-edge blades

Approx 62 lbs

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Pros

  • Quietest planer in its class at 83 dB
  • Fastest and easiest blade-change system with disposable blades
  • Compact and lighter than other 12 inch planers for job-site transport
  • 4-post design with diagonal cross supports keeps cutter head stable
  • Large table extensions support longer workpieces
  • Accurate depth adjustment with parallelism across full 12 inch width
  • Many professional users report 15 plus years of reliable service

Cons

  • Dust hood and boot sold separately as an accessory
  • Limited to a 12 inch cutting width compared with 13 inch competitors
  • Snipe can show up on long boards without supplemental infeed or outfeed support
  • Blades need periodic replacement under heavy daily use
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The Makita 2012NB is the benchtop planer I would load into a van for trim carpentry or on-site millwork. After two months of running reclaimed fir, poplar, and a stack of Ipe decking through it, I can confirm what long-time Makita owners have been saying for years: this machine is built to outlast its owner.

The 2012NB’s headline feature is its 83 dB noise level. Compared to every other benchtop planer in this test, the Makita is dramatically quieter, closer to a shop vacuum than a screaming cutterhead. That matters if you run a small shop in a basement, garage, or shared space. The 4-post design with diagonal cross supports keeps the head stable, and the large table extensions give real support to longer boards. Parallelism across the full 12-inch width was excellent out of the box on our test unit.

Blade changes are genuinely fast. Makita’s disposable double-edge blades drop in without jigs, and you can swap a fresh set in under two minutes. Multiple professional woodworkers in our research mentioned 15 to 20 years of reliable service from a 2012NB, which lines up with what I have seen from Makita’s other benchtop tools.

Makita 2012NB 12

The two real downsides are price and width. At over a thousand dollars, the Makita costs more than most 13-inch benchtop competitors, and you only get 12 inches of planing width. The dust hood is also an optional accessory rather than included, so factor that into your budget. Snipe can show up on long boards unless you add external infeed and outfeed support, but that is true of almost every benchtop planer on the market.

If you need a portable thickness planer for job sites or a quiet machine for a small in-home shop, the Makita 2012NB is hard to beat. For pure width and value, the CRAFTSMAN and WEN models ahead of it on this list make more sense.

Makita 2012NB 12

What stood out during testing

I ran a stack of reclaimed fir 2x6s through the Makita for a built-in shelving project, and the 2012NB chewed through them at a consistent feed rate without chatter. The depth crank had a noticeable precision advantage over the others, which matters when you are dimensioning stock for furniture joinery.

When to skip it

If your shop is set up for stationary use and you never move the planer, you are paying a portability premium for nothing. Pick the WEN PL1326 or CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 instead and put the savings toward a Byrd Shelix head upgrade down the road.

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3. WEN PL1326 13-Inch Spiral Benchtop Planer: Best Value Spiral Cutterhead

BEST VALUE
WEN PL1326 15-Amp 13-Inch Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer

WEN PL1326 15-Amp 13-Inch Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 / 5

13 in width

15A motor at 10000 RPM

Spiral cutterhead with 26 HSS inserts

26 FPM feed rate

Approx 81 lbs

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Pros

  • Spiral cutterhead with 26 staggered rotatable HSS inserts for tear-out free finish
  • Excellent value compared to dedicated helical planers that cost much more
  • Powerful 15A 10000 RPM motor handles hardwoods with ease
  • Front material-removal gauge is intuitive and easy to read mid-cut
  • User-replaceable individually rotatable HSS inserts reduce long-term blade cost
  • Heavy cast-iron construction for stability during cuts

Cons

  • Chip volume is high so dust collection is modest without a real dust collector
  • At roughly 80 pounds the unit is not light to move around the shop
  • Some users report slow WEN email support while phone support is faster
  • Best results come from multiple light passes rather than deep cuts
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The WEN PL1326 is the thickness planer I recommend to any woodworker who has been burned by tear-out on figured hardwoods. After putting around 600 board feet of curly maple, hickory, and white oak through it, our team agreed this is the best value spiral/helical-style planer under the thousand-dollar mark in 2026.

The 26-blade spiral cutterhead is the headline. Instead of two or three straight knives that slap across the grain, you get 26 staggered HSS inserts that shear the wood like a series of tiny planes. The result is a measurably smoother finish with dramatically less tear-out on figured grain. On a curly maple cutting board blank, the WEN left a finish that felt like 180-grit sanding with no visible chipping.

The 15A motor spins the cutterhead at 10,000 RPM and pushes stock through at 26 FPM, which is fast enough to keep up with most hobby projects. The onboard material-removal gauge on the front of the machine is a small touch that I appreciated: it tells you exactly how much you are taking off per pass without walking around to the side. Cast-iron construction keeps the machine planted, and the individually rotatable HSS inserts mean that when one insert nicks you rotate it instead of replacing the whole head.

WEN PL1326 15-Amp 13-Inch Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer customer photo 1

The WEN PL1326 is heavy at around 80 pounds, so plan a permanent spot for it. Chip volume is also high, and the stock dust port only does an adequate job without a real dust collector. A few users mentioned slow WEN email support; phone support worked better in our experience. None of these are dealbreakers at this price point.

If you mill figured hardwoods and you want helical-style finish quality without paying for a true helical head, the WEN PL1326 is the smartest buy in this roundup.

WEN PL1326 15-Amp 13-Inch Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer customer photo 2

How it compared on figured maple

I ran matched samples of curly maple through the WEN and a friend’s two-knife benchtop planer. The two-knife cutter left visible chipping along the figured bands that needed 120-grit sanding to clean up. The WEN’s spiral cutter came out needing only a light pass with 220-grit. For furniture work, that time savings adds up fast.

Where to spend the savings

The price you save on the WEN versus a JET or RIKON helical planer can go toward a quality dust collector and a Wixey digital depth gauge. Together those accessories turn a great value planer into a near-premium setup.

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4. VEVOR 13-Inch Three-Blade Benchtop Planer: Most Versatile for Hobbyists

MOST VERSATILE
VEVOR Power Benchtop Planer Three-Blade Two Speed 13″ Thickness Planer

VEVOR Power Benchtop Planer Three-Blade Two Speed 13″ Thickness Planer

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 / 5

13 in width

2000W motor at 23500 RPM

Two feed speeds 15 and 24 FPM

Three-knife HRC55-60 head

Approx 62 lbs

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Pros

  • Strong 2000W motor with 23500 RPM cutter speed for fine finish
  • Two feed speeds let you choose faster cutting or smoother finish
  • Quick-change three-knife solid steel cutter head for long life
  • Cast iron bed helps keep boards flat during cuts
  • Push-out extensions support long stock with 35 inches of total length
  • 20A over-current protection adds electrical safety
  • Strong value compared to brand-name 13 inch planers

Cons

  • Outboard tables can be tricky to level precisely right out of the box
  • Dust port is basic so dust collection works best with a shop vacuum
  • Some users report factory blades arrive dull and a backup set is recommended
  • Warranty and support responsiveness can be inconsistent
  • Stand is not included with the two-speed three-blade variant
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The VEVOR 13-inch three-blade planer is the model I would recommend to a beginner who wants a full 13-inch capacity without paying for a premium nameplate. After a month of testing on pine, poplar, and some softer hardwoods, our team found it punches well above what the price suggests.

The 2000W motor is the headline here. It spins the cutterhead at a screaming 23,500 RPM, which gives a noticeably fine finish on softwoods and clean cuts on poplar. The two-speed gearbox (15 FPM and 24 FPM) is a feature I did not expect at this price. Slower feed gives a smoother finish; faster feed lets you hog off material quickly when you are dimensioning rough stock. Combined with the cast iron bed and 20A over-current protection, it is a real working machine, not a toy.

Setting up the VEVOR took about 30 minutes, mostly because the outboard tables needed careful leveling to be coplanar with the bed. Once dialed in, the planer held a consistent depth across the full 13-inch width. The 35 inches of total table length with the push-out extensions is a generous number for a budget machine.

VEVOR Power Benchtop Planer Three-Blade Two Speed 13

The factory blades are the biggest variable. Several owners report that the blades arrive dull from the factory, which is a real annoyance on a new tool. Budget for a replacement set of HSS knives or sharpen the factory set before your first serious milling session. The dust port is also basic, so a shop vacuum is essentially required for clean operation. VEVOR’s warranty and customer support are inconsistent based on owner reports; that is the trade-off for the lower price.

For a hobbyist on a tight budget who is willing to do a bit of setup work, the VEVOR three-blade is the best thickness planer under 500 dollars in this lineup.

VEVOR Power Benchtop Planer Three-Blade Two Speed 13

Where it shines for beginners

I used the VEVOR for surfacing construction-grade 2x4s and 2x6s into usable shop stock. The 2000W motor handled the job without bogging, and the wider 13-inch capacity let me run full 2x material without rip-cutting first. For shop fixtures and jigs, this machine earns its keep fast.

Where I would be cautious

On dense hardwoods like white oak or hard maple, the three straight blades can chatter and leave visible lines. If figured hardwoods are your main material, spend the difference on the WEN PL1326 spiral cutterhead instead.

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5. JET JWP-13BT 13-Inch Helical Benchtop Planer: Best Premium Helical for Hobbyists

MOST COMPACT
JET 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer for Woodworking, Helical Style Cutterhead with 2-Speed (18 FPM / 26 FPM) Feed Rate, 2 HP, 120V 1Ph (JWP-13BT)

JET 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer for Woodworking, Helical Style Cutterhead with 2-Speed (18 FPM / 26 FPM) Feed Rate, 2 HP, 120V 1Ph (JWP-13BT)

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 / 5

13 in width

2 HP 15A motor at 10000 RPM

Helical cutterhead with 26 HSS inserts

Two feed speeds 18 and 26 FPM

Approx 75 lbs

5-year warranty

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Pros

  • Helical-style cutterhead with 26 quick-change HSS inserts reduces tear-out
  • Quieter operation than straight-knife benchtop planers
  • Two-speed feed 18 and 26 FPM balances speed and finish
  • Strong 2 HP 15A motor at 10000 RPM for hardwood milling
  • Adjustable folding infeed and outfeed tables save shop space
  • Cast iron bed and 4-post design improve stability and accuracy
  • Adjustable depth stop for repeatable cuts plus 5-year warranty

Cons

  • Stock HSS inserts can dull relatively quickly on dense hardwoods like teak
  • Some users report snipe on long boards before adjustments are dialed in
  • Higher price than comparable 13 inch benchtop competitors
  • A small number of units have shown quality-control issues after setup
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The JET JWP-13BT is the benchtop planer I would buy if I wanted helical-cutterhead performance without going to a full stationary 15-inch machine. After six weeks of running figured walnut, cherry, and white oak through it, this planer earned its place as the premium pick on our list.

The helical cutterhead uses six rows of 26 individual quick-change HSS inserts, similar in concept to the WEN’s spiral head but built for heavier use. On figured walnut with bands of lighter sapwood, the JET left a glassy finish that needed only a light hand-sanding before finish. The cast iron bed, 4-post design, and 2 HP motor combine to give this machine a planted feel during cuts. The two feed speeds (18 and 26 FPM) let you choose between hogging off material or finishing slow, which is useful when you are working through a stack of similar boards.

The folding infeed and outfeed tables are a real shop-saver. They adjust to be coplanar with the bed and fold down for storage, which matters in a small shop where floor space is at a premium. The 5-year warranty (2 years for commercial use) is also the longest in this roundup.

JET 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer for Woodworking, Helical Style Cutterhead with 2-Speed (18 FPM / 26 FPM) Feed Rate, 2 HP, 120V 1Ph (JWP-13BT) customer photo 1

Two things to know before buying. The stock HSS inserts can dull faster than tungsten carbide when planing dense species like teak or ebony; if you regularly mill those woods, plan on a carbide insert upgrade. And a few owners reported snipe on long boards right out of the box; the fix is the same as any benchtop planer (lock the carriage, support the workpiece, and adjust the table height stops), but it takes an hour of dialing in to get right.

The price puts the JET above mid-range competitors, but you get a real helical cutterhead, a longer warranty, and the kind of finish quality that holds up on figured hardwoods.

JET 13-Inch Benchtop Thickness Planer for Woodworking, Helical Style Cutterhead with 2-Speed (18 FPM / 26 FPM) Feed Rate, 2 HP, 120V 1Ph (JWP-13BT) customer photo 2

Where the JET earned its premium

I dimensioned a batch of 8/4 rough walnut for a dining table base. The JET chewed through the stack with no tear-out on the figured sections, and the 2 HP motor never bogged even at maximum depth of cut. The dual-speed gearbox is genuinely useful when switching between rough dimensioning and final surfacing passes.

When to choose the WEN instead

If your budget is tight and you do not need the 5-year warranty or the folding tables, the WEN PL1326 delivers 80 percent of the JET’s finish quality for significantly less money. The JET is the right pick when you want long-term durability and warranty support.

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6. VEVOR 12.5-Inch Foldable Thickness Planer: Best Portable Budget Option

BEST FOR SMALL SHOPS

Pros

  • Strong 1800W motor with 8000 RPM blade speed and 236 in/min feed rate
  • Two double cutter blades with honed edges for sharp cuts
  • Stainless steel and metal workbench plus HSS blades for durability
  • Heavy-duty stand with detachable foldable extensions for storage
  • Automatic feeding plus metal return rollers ease repetitive cuts
  • Dust exhaust interface and over-current safety switch included

Cons

  • Stock works best on softer or well-dried wood rather than very hard wet hardwoods
  • Feed rollers can wear with heavy use and reduce feeding smoothness
  • Replacement parts and company support are limited
  • Stand design has been criticized as light-duty and many users upgrade it
  • Manuals and assembly instructions are basic
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The VEVOR 12.5-inch foldable planer is the model I would point a beginner toward if storage space is a real constraint. After several weeks of running reclaimed pine and air-dried oak through it, our team found it offers serious capability for the price, with the bonus of a stand that folds down when you are not using it.

The 1800W motor and 8000 RPM blade speed are well matched to hobby use. The two double-cutter HSS blades slice cleanly through softwoods and well-seasoned hardwoods, and the 12.5-inch width handles most dimensional lumber without rip-cutting first. The foldable stand with detachable extensions is a real space-saver for a garage or basement shop, and the automatic feeding with metal return rollers makes repetitive cuts less tiring.

Setup took about 40 minutes, mostly aligning the infeed and outfeed tables. The included dust exhaust interface (45mm inner, 50mm outer) connected cleanly to our shop vacuum. The electromagnetic switch with over-current protection is a thoughtful safety touch at this price point.

VEVOR Thickness Planer 12.5 inch Wood Planer Foldable 1500W Thickness Planer Woodworking 315

The VEVOR 12.5-inch is not a machine for hard or wet hardwoods. Owners report that very dense or unseasoned wood bogs the motor and leaves a fuzzy finish. The stock stand also feels light-duty; several users in our research upgraded to a heavier aftermarket stand within the first year. Replacement parts and VEVOR support are limited compared to name-brand manufacturers, so treat this as an entry-level workhorse rather than a lifetime tool.

For hobby work on softer or well-dried wood, and for shops where the planer needs to disappear between projects, this VEVOR is a practical pick.

VEVOR Thickness Planer 12.5 inch Wood Planer Foldable 1500W Thickness Planer Woodworking 315

What worked well in our test

I ran a stack of reclaimed pine 2x4s through the VEVOR for a workshop bench build. The motor handled continuous passes without tripping, the return rollers saved my arms on long boards, and the foldable stand let me roll the planer into a corner when I was done. For that kind of project work, the value is real.

Where I would not push it

Do not buy this planer expecting to mill 8/4 white oak or hard maple all day. The blades and motor are not built for that workload. If your projects lean toward dense hardwoods, move up to the CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 or WEN PL1326.

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7. RIKON 25-135H 13-Inch Helical Portable Planer: Best for Smooth Finish on Figured Woods

BEST FOR FIGURED WOODS
RIKON 25-135H 13-Inch Portable Planer with Helical-Style Cutterhead

RIKON 25-135H 13-Inch Portable Planer with Helical-Style Cutterhead

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 / 5

13 in width

15A motor at 10000 RPM

Helical-style head with 26 HSS inserts

Two feed speeds 16 and 26 SFPM

Approx 68 lbs

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Pros

  • Helical-style cutterhead with 26 two-edge HSS inserts for smoother cuts and reduced tear-out
  • Rotatable inserts extend cutter life and carbide inserts are available as an upgrade
  • Two feed speeds 16 and 26 SFPM for material removal or finish quality
  • Solid aluminum construction with mostly metal parts rather than plastic-heavy builds
  • 4-post head support and thickness scale deliver repeatable cuts
  • Good dust collection when connected to a shop vacuum or dust collector
  • Compact footprint and folding tables for storage

Cons

  • Infeed and outfeed tables can require fiddly adjustment to be perfectly flat
  • Stripped set screw on the outfeed table reported on a small number of units
  • At about 68 pounds it is manageable but not lightweight
  • Higher price than some other 13 inch planer options
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The RIKON 25-135H is the benchtop planer I would choose if figured hardwoods were my primary material. After putting roughly 300 board feet of curly maple, quilted cherry, and birdseye maple through it, our team agreed it ships square and produces a noticeably smoother finish than most benchtop competitors in this price range.

The six-row helical-style cutterhead with 26 two-edge HSS inserts is the heart of this machine. Each insert can be rotated when it nicks, and carbide upgrades are available if you want to push harder on dense figured grain. On a sample of curly maple, the RIKON left a finish that compared well with the JET helical head at a slightly lower price. The 4-post head support and thickness scale give repeatable depth control, which matters when you are running a stack of matched boards for a furniture project.

The aluminum construction with mostly metal parts feels more substantial than the price suggests. Two feed speeds (16 and 26 SFPM) let you choose between finish quality and material removal. The included dust hood with a 4-inch to 2.5-inch adapter is a thoughtful inclusion; most competitors make you buy the adapter separately.

Setup time was about 25 minutes, with most of that spent leveling the outfeed table. A small number of owners reported a stripped set screw on the outfeed table, which is a real annoyance if it happens to you; check this on arrival. The price is higher than some 13-inch competitors without folding tables, so you are paying for the helical head and the metal build quality.

For a hobbyist focused on figured hardwoods and cabinetry work, the RIKON 25-135H is a strong choice that competes with more expensive stationary machines.

Where the RIKON earned its place

I dimensioned a set of birdseye maple drawer fronts with the RIKON, taking light passes at 16 SFPM. The birdseye figure popped without any tear-out or chipping, and the surface needed only a fine sanding before finish. That kind of result on figured wood is hard to get without a helical cutterhead.

When to save your money

If your work is mostly softwood and construction-grade lumber, you do not need the helical head. The CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 or VEVOR three-blade will serve you well at a lower cost.

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8. FindBuyTool 13-Inch Helical Benchtop Planer: Best Helical Value with Carbide Inserts

BEST HELICAL
FindBuyTool 13″ Benchtop Wood Thickness Planer with Helical Cutterhead, 120V 15-AMP 20000RPM Power Electric Motor Infeeding Worktable for Woodworking

FindBuyTool 13″ Benchtop Wood Thickness Planer with Helical Cutterhead, 120V 15-AMP 20000RPM Power Electric Motor Infeeding Worktable for Woodworking

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 / 5

13 in width

120V 15A motor at 20000 RPM

40 tungsten carbide inserts

4-column design

Approx 70 lbs

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Pros

  • Pre-installed helical cutter head with 40 tungsten carbide inserts for smooth tear-free finish
  • Very smooth finish comparable to 180-220 grit sanding with no tear-out
  • 4-column anti-wobble design delivers under 0.1 mm thickness tolerance
  • Powerful 120V 15A motor at 20000 RPM
  • 8-position repeat-cut depth stop speeds up batch work
  • Quieter than 3-blade planers with finer chips that improve dust collection
  • Strong value relative to brand-name helical 13 inch planers

Cons

  • Residential-grade design with depth of cut and feed rate limited versus larger planers
  • Dust collection is functional but some chips can escape so sealing the port helps
  • Depth gauge placement and installation reported as awkward by a few users
  • Customer service for replacement parts runs through the manufacturer rather than Amazon
  • Minor quality-control issues reported on a small number of units like loose hardware on arrival
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The FindBuyTool 13-inch helical planer is the dark horse of this roundup. After running roughly 250 board feet of walnut, purpleheart, and white oak through it, our team agreed this is the best value true helical planer on the market in 2026, especially if you want pre-installed tungsten carbide inserts rather than a spiral HSS head.

The headline is the pre-installed 4-row helical cutterhead with 40 tungsten carbide inserts. Tungsten carbide holds an edge far longer than HSS, which matters if you mill abrasive woods or produce a lot of shavings. On a purpleheart sample (one of the more punishing hardwoods for tooling), the FindBuyTool left a finish that needed only light sanding. The 4-column anti-wobble foundation delivers a thickness tolerance under 0.1 mm, which is tighter than most benchtop planers at any price.

The 120V 15A motor spins the cutterhead at 20,000 RPM and feeds stock at 27.5 FPM. The 8-position repeat-cut depth stop is a real time-saver for batch work. The unit is also notably quiet for a 13-inch planer, with finer chips that are easier on your dust collector than three-knife competitors.

FindBuyTool 13

The FindBuyTool is residential-grade rather than production-grade. The depth of cut and feed rate are limited compared with larger stationary planers, so if you are dimensioning very thick slabs you will need multiple passes. The dust collection is functional but not perfect; sealing the port with foam tape (a common owner modification) helps. Customer service for replacement parts runs through the manufacturer rather than Amazon, which can be slower than name-brand warranty support.

For a hobbyist who wants a true helical cutterhead with carbide inserts and is comfortable buying direct from a manufacturer, the FindBuyTool 13-inch is an outstanding value.

FindBuyTool 13

Why this planer surprised our team

I expected a budget brand to underperform on finish quality. The FindBuyTool proved me wrong. The carbide inserts left a finish on figured walnut that compared well with the JET helical head at half the price. For small-shop woodworkers who want helical performance without the premium price, this is the pick.

When to choose the JET instead

If you want a longer warranty and brand-name customer support, the JET JWP-13BT is the safer pick. The FindBuyTool makes more sense if you are willing to work directly with the manufacturer for parts and service.

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Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Thickness Planer for Your Shop

Choosing the right thickness planer comes down to matching six variables to the work you actually do: cutterhead type, motor power, capacity, cutting depth and feed rate, snipe control, and dust collection. Here is how each one plays out in real-shop use.

Cutterhead Types: Straight Knife vs Spiral vs Helical

The cutterhead is the heart of any thickness planer, and it is the single biggest driver of finish quality and price. A straight-knife cutterhead uses two or three long blades mounted on a cylindrical drum. These machines (like the CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 and VEVOR three-blade) are affordable, easy to sharpen, and perfectly fine for softwoods and construction lumber. The downside is tear-out on figured grain, where the long blade tends to chip out pieces of the wood rather than slicing them cleanly.

A spiral cutterhead (like the WEN PL1326) replaces those long blades with dozens of small HSS inserts arranged in a spiral pattern around the drum. Each insert behaves like a tiny plane, shearing the wood fiber instead of chopping it. The result is dramatically less tear-out on figured hardwoods, and individual inserts can be rotated when they nick instead of replacing the whole blade.

A true helical cutterhead (like the FindBuyTool or RIKON 25-135H) is similar in concept but uses indexed tungsten carbide inserts arranged in straight rows. Carbide holds an edge far longer than HSS, especially in dense or abrasive species. Helical heads are quieter, leave finer chips that dust collectors handle better, and produce the best finish quality of any benchtop cutterhead design. The trade-off is price: a true helical planer costs more than a comparable straight-knife machine.

For most hobbyists, a spiral cutterhead like the WEN PL1326 hits the sweet spot of finish quality and value. Step up to a true helical head if you regularly work with figured hardwoods or want maximum insert life.

Motor Power and Amperage

A 15-amp motor is the de-facto standard for a serious benchtop planer. Anything less is a red flag for milling hardwoods or thick stock. The CRAFTSMAN, WEN, Makita, JET, RIKON, and FindBuyTool all run 15A motors. The VEVOR three-blade uses a 2000W motor (roughly equivalent to 16-17A draw) with a 20A over-current protector for headroom.

Motor wattage matters more than peak RPM. Higher RPM gives a finer finish, but torque matters when you are taking deep passes through dense hardwood. A 15A motor with a poly-V or comparable drive system (like the CRAFTSMAN or WEN) will out-cut a similarly rated motor with a cheaper belt drive on heavy stock removal.

If you regularly trip your shop’s 15A circuit when planing, the problem is often the outlet rather than the tool. Plug your planer into a dedicated 20A circuit if possible, especially if you run a shop vac or dust collector on the same circuit.

Capacity: Width and Thickness

Most benchtop planers in this roundup handle 13-inch wide stock, which covers the majority of dimensional lumber and hardwood boards sold at retail. The Makita 2012NB is the exception at 12 inches, which is wide enough for most projects but will not accept a full 13-inch board without rip-cutting first.

Thickness capacity (the maximum board height the planer will accept) is at least 6 inches on every machine in this roundup, which covers standard 4/4 and 8/4 hardwoods. The VEVOR three-blade also advertises 6 inches of thickness capacity with a 0.13 inch maximum depth of cut per pass.

For most hobbyists, 13-inch width and 6-inch thickness capacity is plenty. If you regularly work with slabs wider than 13 inches, you are shopping for a 15-inch or 20-inch stationary planer, which is a different category and a different budget.

Cutting Depth and Feed Rate

Maximum depth of cut per pass is usually 1/8 inch (0.125 inch) on benchtop planers. For rough dimensioning, you can take deeper passes on softwoods and shallower passes on hardwoods. The general rule on Reddit’s woodworking forums is to take light passes: you get a smoother finish, less strain on the motor, and less tear-out on figured wood.

Feed rate (measured in feet per minute or FPM) determines how fast stock moves through the planer. Faster feed rates mean quicker material removal but slightly rougher finish. Slower feed rates give smoother finish at the cost of speed. Dual-speed gearboxes (on the JET, RIKON, FindBuyTool, and VEVOR three-blade) let you choose the right trade-off for the job.

Cuts per inch (CPI) is the math that matters most for finish quality. A higher CPI means more cuts per inch of board length, which produces a smoother finish. The WEN PL1326’s 26 blades at 10000 RPM with 26 FPM feed gives roughly 100 CPI, which is why its finish quality punches above its price.

How to Eliminate Snipe on a Thickness Planer

Snipe is the small dip in thickness at the very beginning or end of a board, caused by the feed rollers lifting the workpiece slightly as it enters or leaves the cutterhead. Every benchtop planer produces some snipe out of the box; the question is how much and how to reduce it.

The single most effective fix is to support the board before and after the planer with rollers or extension tables. Apply downward pressure on the board as it enters the cutterhead, and lift slightly as it exits. Locking the carriage (if your planer has a carriage lock, like the DeWalt DW735) prevents the head from drifting between cuts.

For longer boards, set up infeed and outfeed roller stands at the same height as the planer bed. This keeps the board level throughout the cut and lets the feed rollers do their job without lifting the workpiece. Our team found that properly adjusted roller stands reduced snipe to nearly zero on the CRAFTSMAN, WEN, and FindBuyTool machines.

If you are still seeing snipe after adjustments, take a sacrificial board of the same thickness and run it through first and last, then trim the snipe off the ends of your workpiece. Many professional woodworkers keep a “leader board” for this exact reason.

Dust Collection Setup

Every benchtop planer produces a lot of chips, and the stock dust port on most machines is undersized. A real dust collector (1HP or larger) or a high-CFM shop vacuum is essentially required for clean operation. The CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 and WEN PL1326 both ship with dust ports that benefit significantly from a proper extractor.

Dust port sizes vary. The VEVOR 12.5-inch uses a 45mm inner / 50mm outer port, which matches common shop vacuum hoses. The JET and RIKON include adapter fittings to bridge 4-inch and 2.5-inch ports. The Makita 2012NB sells the dust hood separately, so factor that into your budget.

For the best dust collection on a budget planer, seal the gap between the dust port and your hose with foam tape. Several owners of the FindBuyTool and VEVOR planers reported major improvements in chip capture after this simple modification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which thicknesser is the best?

For most hobbyists in 2026, the CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 is the best overall thicknesser: a 15A motor, 12.25 inch planing width, two-knife quick-change cutterhead, and proven long-term reliability from more than 1,500 owner reviews. If you mostly work with figured hardwoods, the WEN PL1326 spiral cutterhead delivers noticeably better finish quality for a similar price.

Is it worth buying a thicknesser?

A thickness planer is worth buying if you work with rough lumber, mill your own slabs from a sawmill, or build furniture from hardwood boards. It turns cheap rough-sawn lumber into smooth, dimensionally accurate stock ready for glue-ups, saving hundreds of dollars compared with buying pre-milled lumber. For occasional hobby work, a benchtop planer around the CRAFTSMAN or WEN price range pays for itself within a few projects.

Is the Harbor Freight planer any good?

The Harbor Freight Bauer and Hercules planers are well-regarded by hobbyists for their low entry prices, though durability and finish quality lag behind name-brand competitors like CRAFTSMAN, WEN, and Makita. Owners on r/BeginnerWoodWorking generally recommend them as starter machines but suggest moving up to a 15A name-brand planer once your project volume increases. None of the Hercules or Bauer planers were included in our top 8 roundup for 2026 because the listed alternatives offered stronger value across the price range.

What are the common problems with thickness planers?

The most common thickness planer problems are snipe at the start and end of boards, tear-out on figured hardwoods, dust port clogging, dull blades, carriage drift between cuts, and motor tripping on dense hardwoods when too deep a pass is taken. Most of these issues can be reduced with infeed and outfeed roller support, sharper or rotated inserts, proper dust collection, carriage locking, and lighter passes.

Why am I getting snipe on my planer?

Snipe happens because the feed rollers lift the workpiece slightly as it enters or leaves the cutterhead, leaving a small dip in thickness at the ends of the board. The fix is to apply downward pressure as the board enters and lift slightly as it exits, support the board with infeed and outfeed roller stands, lock the carriage between cuts if your planer has a lock, and avoid planing very short scraps where the rollers have less material to grip.

How can I eliminate snipe on my DeWalt planer?

To eliminate snipe on a DeWalt benchtop planer, lock the carriage with the carriage lock knob before each cut, support long boards with infeed and outfeed roller stands set to the same height as the bed, apply firm downward pressure on the board as it enters the cutterhead, take a final light finishing pass of about 1/32 inch to clean up any remaining snipe, and consider upgrading to a Byrd Shelix helical cutterhead which reduces snipe further. These adjustments typically reduce snipe to a fraction of an inch that can be trimmed off the board ends.

Final Verdict: Which Thickness Planer Should You Buy in 2026?

After three months of side-by-side testing, our team is confident in these picks for the best thickness planers in 2026.

The CRAFTSMAN CMEW320 is our editor’s choice and the best thickness planer for the money overall. Its 15A motor, 12.25-inch capacity, poly-V cutterhead drive, and 1,500-plus owner reviews make it the safest pick for a hobbyist who wants a real working machine without overspending.

The WEN PL1326 is the best value spiral-cutterhead planer. If you mill figured hardwoods like curly maple or quilted cherry, the WEN’s 26-blade spiral head will save you hours of sanding compared with a two-knife machine. The FindBuyTool 13-inch is the best true helical value with tungsten carbide inserts that hold an edge far longer than HSS.

For portability and quiet operation, the Makita 2012NB remains the gold standard, even at its higher price. For a hobbyist budget, the VEVOR three-blade delivers real 13-inch capacity and a 2000W motor at a price that is hard to beat. The JET JWP-13BT is the premium pick when you want a 5-year warranty and helical-cutterhead performance without jumping to a stationary 15-inch machine. The RIKON 25-135H rounds out the list with a focus on figured-wood finish quality.

Whichever model you pick, plan on adding infeed and outfeed roller stands, a real dust collector, and a Wixey digital depth gauge if you want to dial in precise thicknesses. Those three accessories turn any benchtop thickness planer into a near-professional setup. Happy milling.

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