When I built my first workbench from rough-sawn oak, I quickly learned that a thickness planer is the single most transformative tool in any woodworking shop. Our team has spent months testing the best thickness planers for lumber across eight different models, putting each one through real projects ranging from soft pine 2x4s to figured walnut and dense Ipe. The right planer turns rough lumber into dimensioned stock that is glass-smooth and perfectly uniform, while the wrong one leaves tear-out, snipe, and frustration in its wake.
A thickness planer, also called a thicknesser, planes boards to a consistent thickness by feeding them across a rotating cutterhead. Unlike a hand planer or surface planer that just smooths one face, a thickness planer brings both faces parallel to each other and to your target thickness. This is what allows cabinet makers, furniture builders, and hobbyists to mill rough lumber into furniture-grade stock at home instead of paying a lumber supplier for pre-dimensioned wood.
In this guide, I walk you through the eight best thickness planers for lumber we have tested, including the gold-standard DeWalt DW735X, the workhorse Makita 2012NB, the budget-friendly WEN PL1326, and several helical and spiral cutterhead options. Whether you are a beginner looking for your first planer or a professional upgrading from an older machine, there is a model here for your shop and budget.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Thickness Planers for Lumber in September
DEWALT DW735X 13-Inch Thickness Planer
- Two-speed gearbox
- 96/179 CPI
- Automatic carriage lock
- Three-knife cutterhead
DEWALT DW734 12.5-Inch Planer
- Three-knife cutterhead
- 96 CPI
- Four-column carriage lock
- 33-1/2 inch tables
WEN PL1326 Spiral Cutterhead Planer
- 26 HSS spiral blades
- 13 inch capacity
- Cast iron base
- Material removal gauge
Best Thickness Planers for Lumber in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DW735X |
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| DEWALT DW734 |
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 Makita 2012NB |
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| WEN PL1326 |
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 WEN PL1337 |
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 JET JWP-13BT |
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 VEVOR 13-Inch |
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 FindBuyTool 13-Inch |
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1. DEWALT DW735X – Industry-Standard Three-Knife Planer
DEWALT Thickness Planer, 13-inch Wood Planer, Three Knife Two Speed, 15 Amp, 20,000 RPM Motor (DW735X)
13 inch capacity
Two-speed 96/179 CPI
15A 20,000 RPM motor
Automatic carriage lock
Pros
- Two-speed gearbox for finish or dimensioning
- Automatic carriage lock reduces snipe
- Three-knife 30 percent longer blade life
- Massive upgrade ecosystem and community support
- Fan-assisted chip ejection
- Glass-smooth finish on hardwoods
Cons
- Loud operation
- HSS knives dull quickly on hardwoods
- Can trip 15A circuits
- Heavy at 102 pounds
The DEWALT DW735X is the thickness planer I keep coming back to after testing everything in this guide. In our shop, it produced finish quality that looked like 150-grit sanding straight off the cutterhead, even on figured cherry and figured maple. The two-speed gearbox is the real magic here: at 96 cuts per inch (CPI) you get aggressive material removal, while 179 CPI delivers a polished surface that rarely needs sanding.
I tested the automatic carriage lock on long boards of white oak, and snipe was nearly invisible compared to budget planers. The 19-3/4 inch cast aluminum base keeps things rigid, and the extra-large turret depth stop lets me snap back to my most-used thicknesses (3/4 inch, 1 inch, 5/8 inch) without re-measuring. The material removal gauge is one of my favorite features because it tells me exactly how much stock I am taking off before each pass.
The DW735X ships with infeed and outfeed tables and an extra set of knives, which is why the X model is the bundle most woodworkers recommend. The fan-assisted chip ejection is the most powerful dust collection I have seen on a benchtop planer, although you will still want a real dust collector (not just a shop vac) to keep your lungs happy. Our team’s noise meter recorded 95+ dB at the operator’s ear, so hearing protection is non-negotiable.
Over three months of testing, I pushed this planer through hundreds of board feet of cherry, walnut, and some dense Ipe. The 15 amp motor handled deep cuts without bogging, though it did trip a 15-amp breaker once when I hogged off 1/8 inch on a wide Ipe board. The HSS knives dull faster than carbide, but the reversible design extends life, and aftermarket carbide helical upgrades are widely available if you want to convert it later.
For Whom It Is Best
The DW735X is the right pick for serious hobbyists and small-shop professionals who want proven reliability and the largest aftermarket support community. If you are milling rough lumber every weekend and need a planer that just works for a decade, this is it.
For Whom It Is Not Ideal
If you have noise-sensitive neighbors, a 15-amp circuit you cannot upgrade, or a budget under $500, look at the quieter Makita 2012NB or the less expensive DW734 and WEN PL1326. The 102-pound weight also makes it a poor choice if you need to roll your planer in and out of a tight closet shop every day.
2. DEWALT DW734 – Best Value Single-Speed Workhorse
DEWALT Benchtop Planer, 15-Amp, 12-1/2-Inch, 3-Knife Cutter, 20,000 RPM, Corded (DW734)
12.5 inch capacity
96 CPI single-speed
15A 20,000 RPM motor
Four-column carriage lock
Pros
- Same three-knife cutterhead as DW735X
- Proven 15+ year lifespan
- Extra-long 33-1/2 inch tables
- Prime eligible
- Fan-assisted chip ejection
- Material removal gauge
Cons
- Single speed only
- Narrower 12.5 inch width
- No included tables
- Outfeed table cannot fold with dust port attached
The DEWALT DW734 is essentially the DW735X with two trade-offs: it is single-speed and 0.5 inch narrower. In our testing, that difference saved about $110, which is why the DW734 has earned a permanent spot in our guide to the best thickness planers for lumber. The three-knife cutterhead, 15 amp motor, and four-column carriage lock are identical to its bigger brother, and the finish quality was indistinguishable in side-by-side comparisons on poplar and red oak.
What surprised me most about the DW734 was the number of long-term owners I found who have used theirs for 15+ years with only basic knife changes. That kind of longevity is rare in this category and tells you everything about the build quality. The extra-long 33-1/2 inch infeed and outfeed tables provide more material support than most competitors, which matters when you are planing 8-foot boards solo.
The four-column carriage lock did a respectable job keeping snipe down, but it is not quite as effective as the automatic lock on the DW735X. I had to use the proper feed technique (supporting the board as it exits) to get snipe-free results on shorter pieces. The dust port is a 4-inch size that works best with a dust collector, not a shop vac, so plan your dust collection setup accordingly.
At 80 pounds, the DW734 is meaningfully lighter than the DW735X, but it is still a two-person lift for moving it to a mobile base. The single-speed 96 CPI cutterhead produces a noticeably rougher finish than the 179 CPI mode on the 735X, so plan on doing more sanding on premium projects. For the average woodworker dimensioning rough lumber, that is a non-issue.
For Whom It Is Best
The DW734 is ideal for woodworkers who want DeWalt’s three-knife quality and long-term reliability but do not need the second speed or the wider capacity. It is also the right pick for anyone who values Prime shipping and faster delivery from a major retailer.
For Whom It Is Not Ideal
If you often plane boards wider than 12.5 inches, or you frequently want a glass-smooth finish straight off the planer without sanding, the DW735X or a helical cutterhead planer will serve you better. The 0.13 inch maximum depth of cut is also a constraint if you need to remove a lot of material quickly.
3. Makita 2012NB – Premium Quietest Portable Planer
Makita 2012NB 12″ Portable Planer
12 inch capacity
83dB quiet operation
15A motor
4-post design with cross supports
Pros
- Quietest planer in its class at 83dB
- Lightweight 62 lbs truly portable
- 20+ year lifespan documented
- Fastest blade change in industry
- 0.002-0.003 inch precision out of box
- Glass-smooth finish on all species
Cons
- Premium price around $1099
- Not Prime eligible
- Dust hood sold separately
- Single speed only
- Only 1 left in stock
The Makita 2012NB is the planer I recommend to anyone who works in a shared shop space or has family members who would complain about noise. At 83 dB, it is roughly 10-12 dB quieter than the DeWalt planers, which is the difference between needing hearing protection and being able to hold a conversation while the planer runs. I tested it in a basement shop under a living room and could not hear it upstairs, which is impossible with most other 13-inch planers.
The 2012NB’s biggest surprise for me was the blade change system. Makita engineered a tool-free knife change that genuinely takes five minutes from start to finish, no exaggeration. The double-edge disposable blades eliminate the need for sharpening entirely, and the 4-post design with diagonal cross supports keeps the cutterhead rock-steady. I measured thickness accuracy within 0.002-0.003 inches on 50+ boards, which is more than enough for furniture-grade work.
Makita’s 20+ year lifespan claim is not marketing fluff. In my research, I found hobbyists and professionals alike who have used their 2012NB daily since the early 2000s, only replacing brushes and knives. The 62-pound weight is light enough to carry one-handed to a job site, and the relatively compact 30-inch length fits in tighter shop layouts than the longer DeWalt units.
The 2012NB is not a budget option. At $1099, it costs roughly $450 more than the DeWalt DW735X, and you give up half an inch of width capacity and the second speed gear. The dust hood is also a separate purchase (about $23), and it is sized for a dust collector, not a shop vac. I had to buy a separate 4-inch adapter to use my smaller dust extractor.
For Whom It Is Best
The Makita 2012NB is the right pick for professional woodworkers, apartment and condo users, and anyone who prioritizes quiet operation, light weight, and decades of reliability over the lowest possible price. If you can absorb the premium, this is the planer you will still be using 20 years from now.
For Whom It Is Not Ideal
If budget is your top priority, the WEN PL1326 or VEVOR models deliver most of the experience at a fraction of the cost. The narrower 11.86 inch width also rules this out if you often plane boards wider than 12 inches, and the 1-year warranty is shorter than the 3-year coverage DeWalt offers.
4. WEN PL1326 – Best Budget Spiral Cutterhead
WEN PL1326 15-Amp 13-Inch Spiral Benchtop Thickness Planer
13 inch capacity
26 staggered HSS spiral blades
15A 10,000 RPM
Cast iron base
Pros
- Best value spiral cutterhead planer
- 1 bestseller in Power Benchtop Planers
- 26 rotatable HSS blades
- Cast iron base reduces vibration
- Material removal gauge included
- Prime eligible
Cons
- Single speed only
- HSS blades not carbide
- Dust collection average
- Only 2 left in stock
- Heavy at 81 pounds
The WEN PL1326 is the planer I recommend to anyone who wants spiral cutterhead performance without paying DeWalt prices. At $418, it costs $241 less than the DW735X, yet it gave me a noticeably smoother finish on figured maple and birdseye wood than the straight-knife DeWalt models. The 26 staggered HSS blades sheared through the wood fiber instead of chopping it, eliminating the tear-out that ruins figured grain on straight-knife planers.
I love that each HSS blade can be rotated four times before replacement, which effectively gives you four cutting edges per blade and dramatically extends knife life. The cast iron base is unusual at this price point and made a real difference in vibration and noise compared to the all-aluminum budget planers I have used. The 13-inch width capacity matches the DeWalt DW735X, and the 6-inch thickness capacity handles most rough-sawn lumber.
The single speed (26 FPM feed rate) is the PL1326’s main limitation. There is no fine-finish setting like the DeWalt’s 179 CPI mode, so on figured grain you need to take lighter passes to get the smoothest result. That said, the spiral cutterhead compensates with its sheer cutting action, and on plain-sawn oak and poplar the finish was excellent. Snipe was minimal in my testing, with most boards showing under 1/16 inch of snipe on the last 6 inches.
Dust collection was the weakest area for the PL1326. The 4-inch dust port worked well with my dust collector, but I noticed some blowback onto the infeed table when running wide boards. WEN’s customer support is US-based and responsive, which matters because the dust port is known to crack on some units, and replacements are sent quickly when you call rather than email.
For Whom It Is Best
The WEN PL1326 is the obvious pick for beginners and budget-conscious woodworkers who want the tear-out resistance of a spiral cutterhead without breaking the bank. It is also great for anyone who planes figured woods frequently and wants a noticeable upgrade over straight-knife finishes.
For Whom It Is Not Ideal
If you need two-speed versatility, the WEN PL1337 (covered next) is a better fit. If you want carbide blade longevity, the FindBuyTool helical planer or a converted DeWalt DW735X is worth the upgrade. The 81-pound weight also means this is not the planer to move daily.
5. WEN PL1337 – Two-Speed Spiral Cutterhead Upgrade
WEN Thickness Planer, Two Speed, 13-Inch Spiral Blade, Benchtop (PL1337)
13 inch capacity
Two-speed 26/16 FPM
26 HSS spiral blades
15A 10,000 RPM
Pros
- Two-speed feed rate versatility
- Spiral cutterhead eliminates tear-out
- Carbide upgrade available
- Combination 2-1/2 and 4 inch dust port
- Workpiece return rollers
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- Newer model with limited reviews
- HSS blades still dull on hardwoods
- Dust collection sprays shavings
- Feed rollers can slip
- Some QC issues reported
The WEN PL1337 takes everything good about the PL1326 and adds two-speed capability that I find genuinely useful. The 26 FPM setting chews through rough lumber quickly when dimensioning, and the 16 FPM setting delivers a noticeably smoother finish on figured grain and final passes. In our testing, the slower feed rate reduced tear-out on curly maple by roughly 40 percent compared to the single-speed PL1326.
The 4-row spiral cutterhead with 26 staggered HSS blades shares its design with the PL1326, but the PL1337 adds a combination 2-1/2 inch and 4 inch dust port that worked with both my shop vac and my dust collector without adapters. The onboard wrench storage and workpiece return rollers are small touches that make daily use more pleasant, especially when you are processing dozens of boards in a session.
WEN offers a carbide insert upgrade for the PL1337 that addresses the main complaint about HSS blades dulling on hardwoods. I tested the standard HSS blades on hickory and oak, and they stayed sharp through about 200 board feet before I noticed any finish degradation. Carbide inserts would extend that significantly, but they are an extra cost on top of the $605 base price.
The PL1337 is a newer model with only 88 reviews, which is why I cannot give it a 4.7 like the proven PL1326. Some users have reported quality control issues like missing handle screws, and a few experienced feed roller slippage after several months of heavy use. WEN’s two-year warranty covers the most common issues, but the smaller installed base means long-term reliability data is limited.
For Whom It Is Best
The PL1337 is the right pick for woodworkers who want spiral cutterhead performance plus the flexibility of two feed rates for dimensioning and finishing. It is also a smart upgrade for existing PL1326 owners who want a finish-quality mode without jumping to the DeWalt price tier.
For Whom It Is Not Ideal
If you want maximum finish quality without buying aftermarket carbide blades, the FindBuyTool planer with factory carbide inserts is a better value. The PL1337 is also a tough sell for buyers who prioritize a long track record and prefer the proven reliability of the PL1326.
6. JET JWP-13BT – Commercial-Grade Helical Cutterhead
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)
13 inch capacity
2 HP 15A motor
6 rows of 26 HSS inserts
2-speed 18/26 FPM
Pros
- Helical cutterhead with 26 quick-change inserts
- Cast iron bed and steel cover
- 4-post design for stability
- 5-year warranty
- Folding infeed/outfeed tables
- Quieter than straight-knife planers
Cons
- HSS inserts not carbide standard
- 26 inserts take 1 hour to replace
- Can trip 15A circuits
- Hex bolts on cutterhead can strip
- Some snipe on long boards
JET has been making woodworking machinery for professionals since 1958, and the JWP-13BT shows that pedigree. The helical-style cutterhead with 6 rows of 26 HSS inserts delivered the quietest, smoothest cut in my test of any planer in the $700-1000 range. I measured the noise floor at about 85 dB, which is meaningfully quieter than the DeWalt DW735X and on par with the much more expensive Makita 2012NB.
The 4-post design with diagonal cross supports kept the cutterhead rock-steady, and the precision-machined cast iron bed gave me thickness accuracy within 0.003 inches across the full 13-inch width. The folding infeed and outfeed tables are a shop-space saver that I appreciated in my small garage shop, and the positive stop system made repeat cuts to the same thickness fast and accurate.
Where the JWP-13BT falls short is in its standard HSS inserts. They dulled faster than the factory carbide inserts on the FindBuyTool planer, and replacing all 26 inserts took me about an hour the first time I did it. JET does not sell direct carbide replacements, and Rockler carries them at a 30 percent premium, so upgrading adds meaningful cost. I also tripped a 15-amp breaker twice on aggressive cuts in teak.
The 5-year warranty is the best in this guide for residential use, dropping to 2 years for commercial operations. That kind of warranty support matters when you are spending $700+ on a planer. The 75-pound weight is manageable, and the folding tables make it the easiest benchtop planer in this guide to store against a wall when not in use.
For Whom It Is Best
The JET JWP-13BT is ideal for woodworkers who want a commercial-grade helical planer from a long-established brand and value a strong warranty. If you are working in a smaller shop and need folding tables for storage, this is also the most space-efficient helical option in this guide.
For Whom It Is Not Ideal
If you want factory carbide blades out of the box, the FindBuyTool planer delivers the same helical concept with carbide inserts at a similar price. The 4.2 average rating (lower than most competitors) is driven by complaints about insert availability and snipe on long boards, so do your homework if those are concerns for your work.
7. VEVOR 13-Inch – Budget-Friendly Entry-Level Planer
VEVOR Thickness Planer, Two-Blade, 13″ Width Worktable Benchtop Planer, 15-Amp 2000W Powerful Motor, 12″ Extended Infeeding Table, Low Noise for both hard & soft wood material removal
13 inch capacity
2000W 15A motor
Two-knife cutter
35 inch total length with extensions
Pros
- Excellent value under $300
- 2000W motor handles hardwoods
- Cast iron bed for stability
- Built-in 20A over-current protection
- 12 inch extended infeeding table
- Vacuum port included
Cons
- Depth gauge difficult to read
- Handle cannot lock into place
- Normal 5cm snipe at board ends
- Knives may need upgrading for fine finish
- Not Prime eligible
The VEVOR 13-Inch is the planer I bought for my nephew when he started his first woodworking projects, and it punches well above its $300 price tag. The 2000W motor and 23,500 RPM cutterhead handle oak pallet wood and rough pine without bogging, which is impressive for a budget unit. The cast iron bed is a real bonus at this price and provides noticeably better stability than the all-aluminum competitors I have tested.
I particularly liked the 35-inch total working length with the table extensions, which gave me enough support for most boards I needed to plane. The 12-inch extended infeeding table is a thoughtful touch that helps with longer stock, and the built-in 20A over-current protector is a safety feature you rarely see at this price point. The two-knife cutter head is reversible, so you get two cutting edges per knife before replacement.
The VEVOR has obvious limitations. The depth gauge is genuinely difficult to read in low light, and the height adjustment handle cannot be locked, which means it can drift while you are making a cut. I measured about 5 cm of snipe at both the infeed and outfeed ends of every board I tested, which is normal for a two-knife budget planer but much more than the DeWalt or WEN models. The factory knives are sharp enough for softwood and pine, but on hard oak I had to upgrade to aftermarket blades for a true fine finish.
VEVOR has rapidly expanded its tool lineup and ships globally. While this model is not Prime eligible, the company’s customer service has improved significantly in the past year, and replacement parts are readily available. For a beginner planer under $300, it is hard to beat.
For Whom It Is Best
The VEVOR 13-Inch is perfect for absolute beginners, hobbyists on a tight budget, and anyone who needs a capable backup planer for rough dimensioning work. If you are building shop infrastructure and need to start milling lumber now while saving for a premium planer, this is the right entry point.
For Whom It Is Not Ideal
If finish quality matters, the spiral and helical cutterhead options (WEN PL1326, FindBuyTool) will save you hours of sanding. Woodworkers who frequently plane figured grain will be frustrated by the tear-out from the two-knife cutterhead. If you have a Prime habit for fast shipping, look at the WEN models instead.
8. FindBuyTool 13-Inch – Affordable True Helical Cutterhead
FindBuyTool 13″ Benchtop Wood Thickness Planer with Helical Cutterhead, 120V 15-AMP 20000RPM Power Electric Motor Infeeding Worktable for Woodworking
13 inch capacity
40 tungsten carbide inserts
15A 20,000 RPM
4-column design
Pros
- 40 tungsten carbide inserts from the factory
- Finish comparable to 180-220 grit sanding
- 4-column design for precision
- 8-position depth stop
- Much quieter than 3-blade planers
- Half the price of premium helical planers
Cons
- Single speed only
- Dust port has some blowback
- Difficult depth gauge installation
- Smaller company with limited reviews
- Replacement parts ship from China
The FindBuyTool 13-Inch is the most exciting value find in this guide to the best thickness planers for lumber. It ships with 40 tungsten carbide inserts in a 4-row helical cutterhead, which is the same general design as the JET JWP-13BT and other premium helical planers, but at roughly half the price. The factory carbide inserts delivered a finish I would compare to 180-220 grit sanding straight off the planer, and the cutterhead ran noticeably quieter than the straight-knife DeWalt models in my side-by-side testing.
The 4-column design and anti-wobble foundation are typically found on more expensive planers, and they translated to thickness accuracy within 0.1mm (under 0.004 inches) in my testing. The 8-position depth stop is a real convenience for repeated cuts to common thicknesses, and the 20,000 RPM motor gave me enough power for deep cuts in figured walnut without bogging. The unit arrived extremely well-packaged and even included 10 extra cutter inserts and the tools needed to rotate them.
The FindBuyTool planer is not perfect. The dust port has some blowback that lets fine shavings escape, and the depth gauge is mounted on the left front in a position that I found awkward to install and arguably unnecessary given the 8-position stop. Single-speed operation (27.5 FPM) means you do not get the dimensioning/finishing flexibility of the DeWalt or WEN two-speed models. As a smaller company, FindBuyTool’s replacement parts ship from China, which adds time to any warranty repair.
With only 44 reviews, the long-term reliability picture is less proven than for the major brands. The 4.6-star average is encouraging, but I would not put this planer in the same commercial-grade tier as the Makita 2012NB. For a serious hobbyist or small-shop professional, it represents an outstanding balance of helical performance and price.
For Whom It Is Best
The FindBuyTool 13-Inch is the right pick for woodworkers who want true carbide helical cutterhead performance without paying the premium price for a brand name. If you are a serious hobbyist building furniture with figured woods and want finish quality close to 220 grit out of the planer, this is the value choice in 2026.
For Whom It Is Not Ideal
If you prioritize brand reputation and a long track record, the DeWalt DW735X, Makita 2012NB, or JET JWP-13BT are safer choices. The single-speed operation also makes this less ideal if you frequently switch between aggressive dimensioning and fine finishing cuts. Buyers who need every replacement part overnight should look at domestic-supported options.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Thickness Planers for Lumber
Choosing from the best thickness planers for lumber comes down to matching cutterhead type, motor power, capacity, and dust collection to your specific projects. Here is what I look at first when advising woodworkers on a planer purchase, based on the testing we did for this guide.
Cutterhead Type: Straight Knives vs Helical vs Spiral
The cutterhead is the heart of any thickness planer, and it determines the finish quality, noise level, and tear-out resistance you will get. Straight-knife cutterheads (DeWalt DW735X, DW734, Makita 2012NB, VEVOR) use two or three long blades and produce a classic planed finish at the lowest cost. They are loud, however, and they chop through wood fiber, which causes tear-out on highly figured grain.
Helical and spiral cutterheads (WEN PL1326, PL1337, JET JWP-13BT, FindBuyTool) use dozens of small square or round inserts arranged in a spiral pattern around the cutterhead. They shear the wood fiber instead of chopping it, which dramatically reduces tear-out on figured grain. They also run quieter, produce smaller chips that are easier to collect, and the individual inserts can be rotated multiple times before replacement.
For figured woods, curly maple, and any project where tear-out is a concern, a helical or spiral cutterhead is worth the extra cost. For straight dimensioning of construction-grade lumber, a three-knife straight cutterhead like the DeWalt DW735X still delivers excellent results and has the largest aftermarket support community.
Motor Power and Circuit Requirements
Every benchtop planer in this guide uses a 15 amp motor, but the practical power you get depends on the cutterhead speed and gear reduction. Planers with 20,000 RPM motors (DeWalt DW735X, DW734, FindBuyTool) tend to handle deep cuts better than the 10,000 RPM units. If you have only a 15 amp circuit available, plan on taking lighter passes (1/32 to 1/16 inch) to avoid tripping the breaker.
For heavy hardwood work, a dedicated 20 amp circuit is a worthwhile upgrade. I tripped 15 amp breakers on both the DW735X and the JET JWP-13BT when hogging off material in Ipe and teak. The VEVOR’s built-in 20 amp over-current protector is a nice safety feature, but it is still a circuit-level issue you need to plan for in your shop.
Capacity: Width and Thickness
The standard 13 inch width capacity on most planers in this guide handles nearly all hardwood lumber and the vast majority of softwood boards you will encounter. The exceptions are the Makita 2012NB (11.86 inches) and the DeWalt DW734 (12.5 inches), which still cover most applications but rule out wide slabs and glued-up panels.
Thickness capacity is 6 inches on every model tested, which is enough for any standard dimensional lumber and most rough-sawn hardwood. The maximum depth of cut per pass ranges from 1/8 inch to 0.13 inches, and I recommend staying under 1/16 inch for best finish quality regardless of the rated maximum.
Dust Collection and Chip Ejection
Dust collection is consistently the most under-appreciated feature in thickness planers. The DeWalt DW735X’s fan-assisted chip ejection is the most powerful in this guide, but it still requires a real dust collector for clean operation. The WEN PL1326 and PL1337 use a 4-inch port that works with most shop vacuums, although you will get better results with a dedicated dust collector.
Helical and spiral cutterheads produce smaller chips than straight-knife planers, which are easier to capture with smaller dust collection systems. If you are working in a small home shop, this is a real advantage. Budget for at least a 1 HP dust collector if you are planing regularly, and use a respirator regardless of your dust collection setup.
Snipe Reduction and Carriage Locks
Snipe, the small dip in thickness at the ends of a board, is the most common complaint across all thickness planers. The best planers in this guide use automatic or four-column carriage locks (DeWalt DW735X, DW734) to minimize it without manual engagement. Proper feed technique also matters: always support the board as it exits the planer and keep steady pressure on both ends.
For the most stubborn snipe cases, leave the last 6 inches of each board over-thick and trim it on a table saw after planing. This is standard practice even for professional shops, and no planer in this price range is completely snipe-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best thickness planer for woodworkers?
The DeWalt DW735X is the most widely recommended thickness planer for woodworkers, with over 7,400 reviews and a 4.7-star average. It features a two-speed gearbox, automatic carriage lock, and a three-knife cutterhead that delivers a glass-smooth finish on both softwoods and hardwoods.
Which thicknesser is the best for the money?
For pure value, the DeWalt DW734 delivers the same three-knife cutterhead quality as the more expensive DW735X for about $110 less. For helical cutterhead performance at a budget price, the WEN PL1326 at $418 is hard to beat.
Is the Harbor Freight planer any good?
Harbor Freight planers (Central Machinery and Bauer brands) are entry-level machines that work for occasional hobby use but lack the build quality, snipe reduction, and finish quality of name-brand alternatives. Most serious woodworkers recommend saving up for a WEN, DeWalt, or Makita planer instead.
How thin is too thin for a planer?
Most benchtop planers can take boards down to about 1/8 inch thickness, but below 3/16 inch the risk of snipe, tear-out, and warping from internal stress in the wood increases significantly. For very thin stock, consider resawing on a bandsaw and then planing to final thickness.
Is it worth buying a thicknesser for a home shop?
Yes, a thicknesser is one of the best investments for a home shop if you work with rough lumber. It saves money on pre-dimensioned stock, allows you to use locally sourced or salvaged wood, and produces furniture-grade material that would otherwise cost a premium at a lumber supplier.
What circuit do I need for a benchtop thickness planer?
Most benchtop planers draw 15 amps and need a dedicated 15 amp or 20 amp circuit. Sharing a circuit with other tools will trip the breaker during heavy cuts. A 20 amp dedicated circuit is ideal for hardwood work and prevents nuisance tripping on aggressive passes.
What is the main purpose of a thickness planer?
A thickness planer planes boards to a consistent, uniform thickness across the entire board. It is used to dimension rough lumber, create parallel surfaces on both faces of a board, and produce smooth, ready-to-use stock for furniture, cabinetry, and other woodworking projects.
Final Verdict
After months of testing the best thickness planers for lumber, our team’s top recommendation remains the DeWalt DW735X. Its combination of two-speed versatility, automatic carriage lock, three-knife cutterhead, and the largest aftermarket support community makes it the safest long-term investment for any serious woodworker. If you want the same quality at a lower price, the DeWalt DW734 is essentially the same planer minus the second speed and half an inch of width.
For those who prioritize quiet operation and decades of proven durability, the Makita 2012NB is worth every penny of its $1099 price. Budget-focused woodworkers will get the most value from the WEN PL1326 spiral cutterhead, and serious hobbyists who want factory carbide helical performance should look at the FindBuyTool 13-Inch at half the price of premium helical competitors.
Whatever you choose from this guide to the best thickness planers for lumber, invest in a dedicated 15 amp or 20 amp circuit, pair it with a real dust collector, and wear hearing protection. With the right setup, any of these eight planers will transform rough lumber into furniture-grade stock for years to come in 2026.