These Are The Best Router Tables
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Best benchtop router table - Kreg PRS2100 Router Table[ SAVE 29% ]
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Best all-round router table for DIYers - Trend CRT/MK3 Craft Pro Router Table[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
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Best for large routers - Trend WRT Workshop Router Table[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
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Best all-in-one router table - Lumberjack Tools RT1500 Bench Top Router Table[ CHECK FOR DEALS ]
Read Our Expert Router Table Reviews
- This is a sturdy little benchtop router table. The legs are solid, the rubber feet help with grip, and the router table is thick and stable. It’s a really well-engineered piece of equipment.
- The four levelling tabs that sit under the router table insert are simple and ingenious. The grub screws under each corner allow you to make fine adjustments easily.
- This benchtop table is light enough to move out of the way when you need to. It’s especially useful if you’ve got a small workshop and table space is at a premium.
- To attach your router to this table requires drilling holes in the insert plate. As it’s plastic, you don’t need special tools, but it does take a steady hand. You only get one chance!
- Compared with the Lumberjack router table, there’s a fair bit of assembly required before you can get to work. The instructions are easy to follow, luckily.
- Unlike Trend CRT router tables, this one doesn’t include feather boards. Kreg sell compatible ones, but they’re expensive.
- Type
- Benchtop
- Integrated Router
- No
- Worktop Material
- MDF
- Table Size
- 610x406mm
- Table Height
- 406mm
- Insert Diameter
- unknown
- Insert Rings
- 3
- No Volt Release
- No
- Feather Boards
- 0
- Weight
- 12.9kg
- Build Quality
- 5
- Performance
- 5
- Ease of Use
- 4
- Value for Money
- 4
Famous for inventing the infamous pocket hole jig, Kreg have been making innovative woodworking tools since 1989. I tried out their PRS2100 precision benchtop router table, and I rate it for its simplicity and excellent sliding fence.
The base is made from steel, and its rubber feet go a long way to reduce vibration and stop the table from sliding around during use. On top of the stand is a quality laminated MDF work table that’s designed to absorb vibration and allow workpieces to slide across the surface easily.
What makes this one of the best router tables around though is the table saw style fence. Experienced woodworkers will be familiar with the T-square style sliding aluminium fence that can be locked off with four screws, to quickly adjust on the fly. It’s a clever system that makes table routing a breeze.
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- Using a coated MDF table is perfect for this type of woodworking tool. It’s heavy enough reduce vibrations down to a minimum and isn’t affected by changes in humidity or temperature.
- The no-voltage release switch is an essential safety accessory for a tool like this. If the power goes off for some reason, you need to reset a switch before it will operate again.
- I like the measurements that Trend have included on the sides of the table. It means you can slide the fence backwards and forwards without reaching for the tape measure every time.
- Compared with the Trend WRT router table, you don’t get anywhere as much space to work with. Running long pieces of timber through this table can get tricky.
- If you’re not that confident drilling through the mounting plate, you’re limited to the type of router you can use with this table. With a few modifications, it’ll accept most though.
- Don’t expect to comfortably use this router table on the floor. Unless you like kneeling down a lot, you need to attach it to a workbench. Bolt it on directly to avoid excess wobble.
- Type
- Benchtop
- Integrated Router
- No
- Worktop Material
- MDF
- Table Size
- 610x405x26mm
- Table Height
- 410mm
- Insert Diameter
- 80mm
- Insert Rings
- 2
- No Volt Release
- Yes
- Feather Boards
- 2
- Weight
- 13.6kg
- Build Quality
- 5
- Performance
- 5
- Ease of Use
- 5
- Value for Money
- 4
US tool brand Trend have been making router tables and the like since 1955. Their CRT/MK3 pro router table is a stripped-down, solid bit of kit that should make light work of all table routing tasks.
The kit comes ready to assemble, with a rigid frame that bolts together and a sturdy laminated MDF tabletop. The rubber feet are adjustable for uneven surfaces, and you can lock them down with foot brackets for an incredibly stable base. They’ve included a separate power switch for added safety as well.
The plate that receives the router itself is made from thick aluminium, and it’s perforated with different holes to fit various router types. But if it doesn’t fit yours, you can drill it yourself quite easily. Trend have a handy compatibility list on their website if you want to check.
The fence is solid and has two MDF “cheeks” that slide to fit different size workpieces. They’ve included a side pressure plate and push stick as well for added safety. It’s one of the best table routers around, I just wish the tabletop were a little larger.
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- You get an unrivalled amount of table space for working on large objects. The large aluminium table is rigid, flat, easy to work on, and can accommodate most objects.
- Standing at 890 mm high, this table router is at a comfortable working height without needing to attach it to a bench. It’s ideal for setting up a dedicated routing station.
- The extruded aluminium fence is really sturdy. It’s easy to adjust the clearance cheeks, the fixings have large handles, and it’s reliably set to 90°.
- Be prepared for a rather lengthy setup operation. Although the components are of a good quality, the instructions aren’t great and there are lots of steps to follow before you can get to work.
- It’s great that you can adjust the router bit height from the surface of the table, but with the supplied handle it’s hard work. I’d swap out the handle for another one with more leverage.
- Like so many power tools with sliding fences, the channel is too wide for a reliable fit. There’s a bit of slop that will put the adjustable fence out of alignment, which is rather annoying.
- Type
- Floor
- Integrated Router
- No
- Worktop Material
- MDF
- Table Size
- 804x604x35mm
- Table Height
- 890mm
- Insert Diameter
- 86mm
- Insert Rings
- 2
- No Volt Release
- Yes
- Feather Boards
- 2
- Weight
- 27.5kg
- Build Quality
- 5
- Performance
- 5
- Ease of Use
- 5
- Value for Money
- 4
Another entry from the router experts at Trend is the bigger brother to the excellent CRT/MK3. The Trend WRT workshop router table is a big machine. It’s capable of working with the biggest bits of timber that you have, and it stands up on its own four feet as well.
With all their experience, Trend know what makes the best router table for professionals as well as keen DIYers. The WRT is a free-standing table that comes as a flat pack when delivered, but once it’s up it’s really solid. The adjustable feet are a bonus if you’ve got an uneven or sloping floor.
The large insert plate comes ready drilled to receive most Trend routers, but if you’re confident enough you can drill holes to receive any router you like. The included feather boards help to keep the stock pressed up against the fence, and you get a push stick to help keep your fingers out of the way.
This is an ideal router table if you’ve got a little bit more space in your workshop and you need to accommodate larger pieces of timber. The micro height adjustment feature is probably one of my favourites on any table, and the separate ON/OFF switch is an essential bit of safety gear. It’s a fantastic and solid piece of routing gear that will help you unlock the potential of your plunge router.
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- The initial spend on this router table really isn’t much when you take the integrated router into account. You don’t need to modify an existing router to make it fit, it’s built to work together.
- Compared with any of the router tables on my list, this one has the best system for raising and lowering the cutting height. The large wheel is easy to use and keeps things accurate.
- I’m a fan of using feather boards in table routers. They help to keep the stock up tight to the fence, which improves the finish and helps to keep you safe during use.
- More than a few users have complained about the fence. It’s not rigid enough to be completely accurate and should have been made from heavier gauge aluminium.
- The overall build quality of this table router is quite variable. It’s absolutely fine for light DIY work but don’t expect it to keep up with a professional, and more expensive, piece of kit.
- The table suffers from a less than perfect tee slot. The channel that receives the mitre attachment is a bit rough and allows for a bit of slop.
- Type
- Benchtop
- Integrated Router
- Yes
- Worktop Material
- MDF
- Table Size
- 597x457mm
- Table Height
- 355mm
- Insert Diameter
- 75mm
- Insert Rings
- 2
- No Volt Release
- Yes
- Feather Boards
- 3
- Weight
- 19.6kg
- Build Quality
- 4
- Performance
- 4
- Ease of Use
- 4
- Value for Money
- 5
West-Midlands based Lumberjack Tools specialise in woodworking equipment and have made one of the best benchtop routers that I’ve tried out. Rather than making a simple stand to attach your own router to, this is a full kit that includes a powerful 1500 Watt router already set up and ready to work.
The first thing you’ll notice about the RT1500 is the size of the box – this isn’t a flatpack set you have to put together as most of the assembly has been done for you. You get a beefy pressed steel work table and chunky ABS plastic legs that feel like they’ll last forever. The fence is steel as well, which adds extra strength and rigidity where you need it the most.
What makes this one of the best table routers in my eyes is the depth adjustment wheel – it’s accurate and easy to raise and lower the router bit – an operation that can be a pain with a regular router turned upside down on another router table.
There are three feather boards, two collets, a handy clear plastic dust extractor cover and even a handy mitre gauge that slides in its own trench for accurate angle work. They’ve even built in a series of holes in the body of the table to store ¼” and ½” bits.
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Harry's Smart Buying Tips
How to Choose The Best Router Table
If you already own a router, you don’t need me to tell you how versatile they are, but when you combine one with the best router table setup, it becomes an awesome tool that any proper woodworker should learn to use.
All About the Base
The best table-mounted router needs a solid and flat base to allow timber to pass smoothly and accurately along it. My preferred material is cast metal like aluminium: it’s hard-wearing, not too heavy and reliably flat. Don’t discount laminated MDF though, it’s a reliable flat surface that might not be as hard-wearing as metal, but it’s a lot cheaper.
On the Fence
The fence is the most important part of a router table, apart from the router that is, because it’s the thing that will keep everything running smooth and straight. Some of the best table routers have sliding “cheeks” that help to keep any width workpiece in line and ensure the dust is sucked away from the router bit.
Feather Boards
If you’re not familiar with those large, usually yellow, plastic combs on the table and fence, they’re a handy and safe feature that helps to keep the workpiece tight to the fence without you having to push it too hard.
You simply adjust the size and width of the feather boards to allow your piece of timber to sit snugly against the fence, then use your push stick to guide the piece through. It also means you can always keep your fingers away from the router bit too.
Router Table FAQs
This is a dilemma faced by anyone who wants to get into table routing – do you mount your favourite router to a standalone table, or buy into a whole table router setup? If you want to mount an existing router to a table, you need to make sure it fits – but most mounting plates can be drilled to fit almost any router.
If you use your own router, bear in mind that it’s not a five-minute job to switch between a table router and palm or plunge base – you’ll need to level the mounting plate each time, so a lot of woodworkers end up leaving the router in place once installed.
Buying into a whole router table kit like the Lumberjack Tools RT1500 is ideal if you’re planning on doing a lot of table work and you like the idea of a depth adjustment wheel. Unless you want to buy another router for freehand work, you’re a bit limited though.
You should check the manufacturer’s specifications on the router you plan to attach to your table – if it can take a ½”, you can probably use it.
The best router tables come with several reducing rings that alter the size of the hole your router sits in. If you’re using wide dado or moulding bits, you’ll need a much bigger hole than a straight-cut bit.
If you mount your own router to a router table, the chances are you’ll have some trouble getting to the power switch. By connecting your router to a switch on the body of the router table, you can safely control it without fumbling around under your table.
The best router tables feature two plugs underneath to control your dust extraction at the same time. Be aware that some routers have safety devices that must be bypassed to use a separate on/off switch.
Compare Product Features
Use the dropdown to sort the table by the feature you want to see.
Kreg PRS2100 Router Table
- 4.5
- Benchtop
- No
- MDF
- 610x406mm
- 406mm
- unknown
- 3
- No
- 0
- 12.9kg
Trend CRT/MK3 Craft Pro Router Table
- 4.8
- Benchtop
- No
- MDF
- 610x405x26mm
- 410mm
- 80mm
- 2
- Yes
- 2
- 13.6kg
Trend WRT Workshop Router Table
- 4.8
- Floor
- No
- MDF
- 804x604x35mm
- 890mm
- 86mm
- 2
- Yes
- 2
- 27.5kg
Lumberjack Tools RT1500 Bench Top Router Table
- 4.3
- Benchtop
- Yes
- MDF
- 597x457mm
- 355mm
- 75mm
- 2
- Yes
- 3
- 19.6kg
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