Top 15 Best Electric Hand Planers To Buy in 2020

It does not matter if you are a professional woodworker or you are doing this activity from time to time, the best electric hand planer will always be helpful. Since some years ago, these hand planers were powered by 120V motors, which meant too little power for some complex projects.

Luckily, today, thanks to the advancement of battery technology 20V systems, these tools have enough power. As such, as long as you know how to purchase the best models, you will enjoy great flexibility and cordless design.

However, it depends only on your needs to choose the hand planer you need. For instance, if you are working very far from the single available outlet, it will be very annoying to have a corded electric hand planer.

As such, you should go for the cordless models. On the other hand, you will have to deal with always recharging the batteries, which means you might encounter interrupted energy.

Considering all these features, this is why we have compared 15 different hand planers, based on different criteria, such as feel, power, dust management, warranty, as well as the value for money. As such, by scrolling down, you will find our list of top electric hand planers on the market, with full reviews, pros, cons, and some final experience.

What Are Electric Planers Used For?

Ok, but is it worth buying an electric planer? Well, considering the good work it does, the answer is yes. You can use it for easily smoothing wood and its edges, as well as creating great wood projects.

For instance, if you have a door that is too wide, you can make some changes using a power planer. Also, you can adjust the depth of the gauge and give a cut as deep as you wish.

What Is The Best Electric Hand Planer?

Before going to the full best electric hand planer reviews, let’s take a look at the highlights of each of them.

• Best Overall: DEWALT Electric Hand Planer
  “Cuts hardwood; for professional users; ergonomic design; powerful motor.”
• Best Price: WEN 6530 Electric Hand Planer
  “Affordable; 16 positive stops; powerful motor; lightweight.”
• Best Cordless: Bosch GHO12V-08N 12 Volt Electric Hand Planer
  “Cordless and lightweight; EC Brushless motor; ergonomic design; longer runtime.”
• Best for Beginners: TACKLIFE Electric Hand Planer
  “Easy-to-handle tool; beginner-friendly; strong motor; adjustable cut depth.”
• Best for Doors: PORTER-CABLE Electric Hand Planer
  “Easy to use; lightweight; strong motor; 10 positive steps; heavy duty.”
• Best for Woodworking: Bosch PL1632 6.5 amp Electric Hand Planer
  “Smooth and fine finishes; optimally-angled handle; dual-mount guide fence; soft grip.”
• Best Power: POWERTEC HP1005 Electric Hand Planer
  “Very powerful, portable and easy to maneuver; dual action; ergonomic design.”
• Best for Jointing: BLACK+DECKER Electric Hand Planer
  “Easy to carry around; versatile and powerful; front depth adjustment handle.”
• Best to Start With: Bosch PLH181B 18 Volt Electric Hand Planer
  “Left-handed people feature; lightweight and easy to use; strong motor; dual-mount guide fence. ”
• Best Cutting Board: Goplus Electric Hand Planer
  “Good for outdoor constructions; easy to use; versatile; blade sharpener included.”
• Best for Home Hardware: Ryobi Electric Hand Planer
  “Adjust depth easily; precise handling; dual exhaust ports; versatile.”
• Best Set: VonHaus Electric Hand Planer
  “Comfortable electric hand planer; adjustable base plate; extra auxiliary handle and ergonomic design.”
• Best Portable: Makita KP0800K Electric Hand Planer
  “Easy to carry around; smooth finishes to the wood; guide fence; depth adjustment dial.”
• Best Corded: TACKLIFE EPN01A Electric Hand Planer
  “Great power, comfortable grip, and great power; versatile and durable.”

Electric Hand Planer Comparison Chart 2020

Before going straight to product reviews, here is a chart that will help you notice the main features and information about all the best electric hand planer models.

Top 15 Best Electric Hand Planer Reviews in 2020

Here they are. The final verdicts for each of the tools selected for today. After I did the research, here are the pros, cons, as well as my personal experience with the best electric hand planer models.

1. DEWALT Electric Hand Planer

(Best Overall)

The DEWALT D26676K 3-1/4-Inch Portable Hand Planer kit is what you really need. It cuts great, can finish even the hardest wood, and has great precision while using it.

It has a powerful 5.5 amp motor and makes 34000 cuts in a minute. You can work very easily with this model because it has an ergonomic design. Furthermore, its reversible carbide blades will help in obtaining a better finish.

Last but not least you will receive a 3 years warranty. This way Dewalt stands by the quality they offer.

Key Features:

• Reversible carbide blades;
• Ergonomically designed handle;
• Fast removal rate;
• Poly-V drive belt.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

If you are looking for the best experience while cutting and designing wood, consider this model. The blades are very powerful, as well as the cuts per minute, which will allow you to obtain a faster removal rate.

Here is a video review for more information.

2. WEN 6530 Electric Hand Planer

(Best Price)

The best budget hand planer comes from Wen, and it is the 6530 model. It obtains smoother results, without the user having to make an uneven board flush. It helps you get a perfect cutting width, and it is the perfect companion for fitting and fixing the wood boards.

This model not only does it come at a very good price, but it also has a powerful motor that lets you make 34000 cuts per minute. When you get this model, you also get a dust bag, a kickstand and a parallel fence bracket. All these are supported by a 2 years warranty.

Key Features:

• 16 positive stops;
• Rabbeting guide;
• Retractable Kickstand.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

The design of this affordable electric hand planer impressed us, as it comes with a plate base, that includes even a v-shaped groove. This will allow you to easily flatten sharp those board corners.

3. Bosch GHO12V-08N 12 Volt Electric Hand Planer

(Best Cordless)

If there is one best cordless hand planer to have, that one is from Bosch. This cordless hand planer is a 12-Volt max planer on the market, and it is also very easy to handle, even by the very new ones.

This model comes with a EC Brushless motor that permits 14,500 RPM. You can do the planing at 0.04 inch depth. Moreso, it has an ergonomic design that will help you use it with ease.

Lastly, you don’t have to worry about this model being cordless when it comes to the runtime. You can do 33 ft. of planing/battery amp hour.

Key Features:

• Tracking window;
• 12 in. resaw capacity;
• Retractable blade guard;
• Cast iron frame.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

If you are looking for a cordless hand planer, that you can take anywhere in the house, then consider this EC brushless motor from Bosch. It is compact, comes with batteries, and provides the easiest planning experience.

Watch this video review for more details.

4. TACKLIFE Electric Hand Planer

(Best for Beginners)

The Tacklife Electric Hand Planer represents a great model for what it means as a modern tool. The producer promises to have taken care of each detail of their product, and develop a high-quality, well-made, as well as a nice portable hand planer.

It lets you adjust its cutting depth and has a very user friendly design. This is why it is the perfect model for beginners. To make it even better, you receive 65 Manganese double blades. They are hard enough, making them suitable for all your wood works.

Key Features:

• Soft rubber handle;
• No motor overload feature;
• Parallel fence bracket;
• 12 positive stops.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

We enjoyed the fact that this hand planer helps you adjust the cutting depth, and promises to offer the user the chance to use it for a lifetime. The motor is strong enough, while the flat bottom plate is anti-rust and anti-corrosion.

5. PORTER-CABLE Electric Hand Planer

(Best for Doors)

The planer’s uses are multiple, and this Porter-Cable electric hand planer will help you do all your jobs. The 6 amp motor will provide smooth cutting, even though the hardest materials.

It has a dual side extraction that allows you to work on either side of the tool. Furthermore, it has 10 positive steps and a really heavy duty motor.

On another note, it has 3 chamfering grooves that will permit you different options for edge chamfering.

Last but not least, you will get 3 years of warranty.

Key Features:

• 10 positive steps;
• Dual side dust extraction;
• Flexibility feature.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

Allow you to finally use a smart tool, with multiple depth control and better finish quality, and choose this electric hand planer from Porter-Cable.

6. Bosch PL1632 6.5 amp Electric Hand Planer

(Best for Woodworking)

Bosch strikes again, and it comes with this model PL1632, which offers an industry-like tool for processing the wood.

With a speed of 16,500 RPM, this model not only is great for fast stock removal but also for smooth finish when it comes to any kind of wood type.

Another aspect that I want to talk about is its dual-mount guide fence that also has a protective shield. This prevents marring of the door face.

Lastly, for a very easy setting of the planing depth, you also get separate in. and metric depth scales.

Key Features:

• Spring-loaded stand;
• Dual-mount guide fence;
• Optimally-angled handle;
• Plastic overshoe.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

If you love working with wood, you need this tool to enhance your DIY jobs. Although it’s a corded electric hand planer it is a great tool.

7. POWERTEC HP1005 Electric Hand Planer

(Best Power)

If you are looking for an honest Powertec Hand Planer review, well, this is the truth. This electric hand planer is for professionals, as it is quite heavy-duty, designed to offer a lot of power and precision, and the results are easy to see.

You can adjust its depth due to its 16 positive stop settings. But that’s not all. It is a portable and lightweight model that comes at the best power you can find. It has an 8 amp motor that lets you make 32,000 cuts/minute.

Key Features:

• 16 positive stop setting;
• 2 V-shaped grooves;
• Ergonomic grip.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

If you want your results to be high-quality, you should look for this tool from Powertec. The 8-amp motor delivers great power and the professional blade cutters will give you only smooth cuts.

8. BLACK+DECKER Electric Hand Planer

(Best for Jointing)

Considered one of the best hand planes, this Black+Decker model will offer 16,500 revolutions per minute. This is huge, so your work in creating smooth doors, window frames, and other projects will be by far easier and faster.

This is a very versatile model that allows you to make 16,500 revolutions per minute and has a 5/64-in. deep-cutting capacity. Furthermore, it has 10 positive stops and a great rabbeting depth capacity.

Key Features:

• 10 positive stops;
• Reversible HSS Blades;
• Front depth adjustment handle.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

Make your work easier with this 5.2 Amp hand planer. You have a variety of uses for it, and let its cutting capacity make your projects way better.

9. Bosch PLH181B 18 Volt Electric Hand Planer

(Best to Start With)

Don’t spend fortunes on some tools, when you can buy an affordable electric hand planer. The best way to start a new passion, this tool offers smooth finishes and provides a spring-loaded stand.

This Bosch model is a great one to start working with. It has a great cutting feature that will make you smooth your cuts. Furthermore, you can cut at an ideal angle due to its capacity of reducing the drag.

As for the shavings, you can do them either on left or right.

Key Features:

• Chip-Ejection Switch;
• Smooth cutting feature;
• Reducing drag features.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

The two-blade system, as well as the high-speed steel blades, will offer perfect cuts. We are also surprised that finally, a brand has thought about creating a tool for both left and right-handed.

10. WEN 6534 Electric Hand Planer

(Best for Edges)

As long as you need smooth out joists, consider this Wen hand planer. It is perfect even for fixing some stubborn doors, or if you need a perfect cutting width.

This model is actually a two-ways dust post that shoots loose shavings on both directions. This means you can decide if you want to go on right or left.

Also, you will get two fully reversible HSS blades, 2 V-shaped chamfer grooves and a parallel fence bracket. Furthermore, it has an automatic kickstand.

When buying this hand planer, you also get 2 years of warranty.

Key Features:

• 16 positive stops;
• Spacious cutting capacity;
• Rabbeting guide;
• Two-Way Dust Chute.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

If you have stubborn corners you need to easily flatten, this hand planer comes with two v-shaped chamfer grooves. The motor is powerful enough, so cutting the edges will become easier and smoother.

11. Goplus Electric Hand Planer

(Best Cutting Board)

Do you have to cut lots of boards? Then make sure you check this Goplus Electric hand planer. It is suitable for multiple projects, has a sturdy foot on the planer base and it is a very efficient tool to have at home.

This is a very easy to use hand planer that will be suitable for any kind of project you might think of. It has a very sturdy foot that is located on the planer base. This has the purpose of protecting the workpiece but also the blade.

Key Features:

• Convenient trigger switch;
• Lightweight design;
• Smooth cutting feature.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

If your jobs of cutting wood happen indoors, outdoors, even on a construction site, then this tool will be very versatile to suit any job.

12. Ryobi Electric Hand Planer

(Best for Home Hardware)

If you know you will be working with large construction projects, which will also require processing great quantities of wood, the Ryobi Electric hand planer will be your help.

This model comes with a lock-off button that will help you to prevent possible accidents. You will see that this hand planer has ports on both sides of its unit. What this means is that you can actually decide on which side you want to blow chips out.

Lastly, it has a plastic piece on its back that will prevent possible scuffing or marring the work surfaces.

Key Features:

• Lock-off button;
• Rubber molding;
• Maximum precision.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

This tool is fully adjustable, which means you can adjust the depth, the cut, even the blades.

13. VonHaus Electric Hand Planer

(Best Set)

The VonHaus Electric Hand Planer works for many of the daily jobs a handyman might have. As such, you can fix the doors, correct splinters, as well as other edges somebody else has misshapen.

You get 2 replacement blades, so this will come very handy in time. However, you receive a kickstand that will protect its blade, so you won’t need to change it very soon.

It works at a very high speed of 33,000 cuts/minute and a 16,000 drum speed. Furthermore, it can make a cutting width of 3 ¼” and a planing capacity of 0 – 1/16”.

Key Features:

• Adjustable base plate;
• Left/ right dust extraction;
• Guide fence;
• Depth adjustment dial.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

The cut is impressive, due to the 33,000 cuts per minute. You also have the left/right dust extraction, and a very ergonomic handle to help you maneuver the tool.

14. Makita KP0800K Electric Hand Planer

(Best Portable)

The Makita hand planer has great power, is easy to use, and ideal for professional construction framing. It does fine woodworking, and the results are smooth and high-quality.

It has a 2 blade cutter head that will permit you to work at a high speed of 17,000 RPM. Due to this you can give your workpiece a very smooth aspect.

Due to its precision machined aluminum base you will be sure to have the best planing accuracy. Lastly, it has double edge carbide blades that will increase the performance.

Key Features:

• Precision machined aluminum base;
• Double edge carbide blades;
• Two-blade cutter head.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

The blades are easy to install, the cut is very precise and the tool weighs only 5.7 lbs. Also, the two-blade cutter head delivers a very smooth finish.

15. TACKLIFE EPN01A Electric Hand Planer

(Best Corded)

The Tacklife EPN01A is an electric tool that will help you fix the wood doors, and also make some other adjustments when it comes to wood projects.

This is a very versatile hand planer that is powerful and highly accurate. Its ratcheting depth knob will allow you to do pool-proof settings of depth increments that start from 0 and go up to 5/16 inch within 1 revolution.

This will eliminate the necessity to re-zero the depth, offering you the possibility of having the maximum precision when working.

Key Features:

• Dual exhaust ports;
• Dual-mount guide fence;
• No-mar plastic overshoe;
• Rubber drive belt.

Product Specifications:

Personal Experience:

Forget about those uncomfortable tools, as now you have this tool with a comfortable grip, that will reduce any fatigue you had before while working with wood.

Best Electric Hand Planer Buyer’s Guide

Ok, now that you have an introduction to the best electric hand planer models, it’s time for keeping in mind some of the most important criteria in purchasing your first electric hand planer. As such, here are some handy tips to guide you when going shopping.

Pair It With Your Job

The first step you need to take is pairing the tool with the job you are planning to do. So, ask yourself about what you are going to do with your electric hand planer.

If you are going to build some nice shelves, maybe repair the old frames of your pictures, it is safe to say that you will need a small, portable tool.

On the other hand, if you are planning to repair some antique heavy furniture, and you need more power, then you should invest in a large, powerful planer. In a nutshell, you should ask yourself if the electric hand planer is a tool you really need.

Should you choose a corded or a cordless electric hand planer? Would a portable tool be more suited to you or not?

User Skills

Before going to the main features, speed, power, and knives, well, it’s important to talk about the users’ patience and skills in using such a tool. Well, the best way to guarantee yourself the best results is by evaluating the skills you have.

Luckily, most of the new electric hand planers are smart enough to immediately understand the job they need to do, so all you need to do is push a button. Now, most electric hand planers will be able to handle most of the tasks you will ask.

They might be heavy and very powerful, but they are way more comfortable than using only your hands.

Power And Speed

Usually, hand planers should be powerful enough to provide a higher cutting speed, as well as a great power for smooth results. But this aspect is only important when the finished product is very sensitive.

Of course, there is a very wise saying, which says that the easier is the job for the tool, the longer it will last. If you know you will have some heavy jobs to do, then invest in an extra electric hand planer, for more power and speed.

For instance, if you have to cut wood and hardwoods, it’s important to consider the additional stress that will stand on your tool. In this instance, consider the number of cuts per minute. The higher will be this number, the easier it will cut and work with the wood.

Constant Power

The quality of the cut and the final results stand on the user’s ability to stay patient, but most of all, on the constant power of the electric hand planer.

Now, if you want your hand planer to cut at the very same rate, then maybe you should consider a corded hand planer, as the cordless tools can lose some of the battery’s juice.

If you will have heavy jobs to do, then you should consider a more consistent output, that comes as soon as you will buy a corded electric planer.

Of course, the cordless ones have multiple advantages, they are easy to use, easy to carry around and more than that, you don’t have lots of cords plugged into the tool. Of course, don’t forget that you might need to swap the batteries during the work you are doing.

Comfort

Of course, the skills of the users are very important, but the electric hand planer should have an ergonomic design, should be not that heavy, and come with lots of features too.

If we are talking about stationary planers that are set up on the wood, then the weight is not that crucial. But when it comes to hand planers, they should be easy to handle and have a good quality design and portability.

Of course, heavy electric hand planers are not that comfortable and they induce fatigue. You don’t want to use heavy, clumsy, bulky electric hand planers, as you will soon get tired of them.

Waste Management

Now, part of the comfort is waste management. Maybe you don’t know yet, but electric hand planers create lots of waste, meaning lots of wood chips, and dust.

So, in order to avoid all this waste, you should look for a model that will direct the waste in a precise way, without letting these particles spray all over the place.

Precision Features

Consistency is very important when it comes to planing wood. You don’t want your work to be always interrupted by the electrician hand planer. You should make sure the fencing is precise and the building will stay in place.

These features refer to the depth gauges too. The higher-quality depth gauge, the desired depth you will obtain. Now, look at the hand planer’s ability to cut as good as it can the chamfers and rabbets too.

Durability

Of course, it is very important how much time you will be using your electric hand planer. By their nature, these tools are very rough-and-tumble. During their operation, they will remain constant and will keep in contact with the working surface.

This means they will be kind of different from a saw or a drill, which are in contact only at the tip of the cutting edge. You don’t want this tool to hear, and tear. Imagine there will be thousands of cuts per minute if we talk about a good electric hand planer.

As such, we would recommend you to look for an electric hand planer that comes with cast metal plates, which are able to maintain the shape way better and that can work even through rough environments.

Price And Value

Last but not least, we should talk about the price you need to pay for the electric hand planer. Look for the best money based on your needs and wills. Don’t go for the cheapest model, either for a tool that it’s too expensive for the jobs you are doing.

You just need to do some math: keep in mind the money you want to pay, the upgrades and features you are looking for, and also how much you will use the tool.

FAQs

Here are some of the most frequent questions about the electric hand planer models, along with some answers to help you understand more.

My Top Pick

It depends on your personal needs and preferences in choosing the right electric power planer. Now that you know the main criteria in buying these tools, you are ready for making your own projects.

My top pick of the topic of the day is definitely DEWALT Electric Hand Planer but I would like to know about your preferences.

Are you already using an electric power planer that you are satisfied with? Let me know in the comment below.