The UK's bestCordless and Electric Planers2022 Review

If you want to spend a bit extra for a planer without annoying power cables, the Makita DKP180Z is for you. Making use of the Japanese tool masters’ brilliant LXT 18V technology, you can go “off grid” when you need to. It performs as well as most corded planers too.

The DKP180Z looks like the KP0800. It features the same comfortable anti-vibration grip and accurate depth adjustment. The build quality is what you’d expect from Makita: tough, refined, and easy to use.

The brushed motor delivers 14,000 rpm and can cut to a maximum depth of 2mm per pass. It has a maximum rebate depth of 9mm and can cut up to 82mm wide. Thanks to a pair of quality double-edged carbide blades, it cuts smooth. It even performs well when you drop the depth down past a few tenths of a millimetre.

The only downsides I can think of when it comes to the DKP180Z are the weight and battery life. Coming in at a formidable 3.2 kg without the battery, it’s not exactly light. And as anyone who’s familiar with battery-powered planers will tell you, they eat batteries! I’d recommend using a high Ah battery, but it will only add to the heft. Apart from that, it’s the best cordless electric planer.

Forming part of Bosch’s “blue” line of professional quality tools, the GHO 26-82 D is one of the best electric planers you can get.

As you’d expect from a Bosch Professional tool, this 2.8 kg tool is built to last the knocks and drops expected on a building site. It comes with some brilliant ergonomic features too. Favouring both left and right-handed users, the lock off switch can be operated from both sides.

The ergonomic features don’t stop there though. One of the most useful bits of design by Bosch is the switchable sawdust port. You can change which side the chips eject from with the flick of a lever. It means the bag or vacuum hose can always be positioned out of the way.

The large 710 Watt motor spins up the single cutting blade to an impressive 18,000 rpm. You can adjust the planing depth down to 2.6mm. The spring-loaded “parking foot” keeps the fixed rear shoe up off the workpiece. This helps to avoid taking chunks out of your workbench when you put it down.

All Bosch electric planers feature a single blade cutting system. It might seem counterintuitive, but Bosch reckon their blade is the sharpest in the industry. It’s also much simpler to adjust than a multi-blade system.

Bosch have even given you three choices of chamfer in the adjustable front shoe. A shallow, medium, and deep groove to work with. It’s the user-friendly touches like this that make it one of the best electric wood planers available right now.

The Makita KP0800 is a dependable workhorse that is packed with useful features. Japanese tool masters Makita make some of the best rated and most reliable power tools. They’re found on job sites and in workshops around the world, and this planer doesn’t let them down.

Starting with the build quality. It’s a nicely put together bit of kit that’s heavy enough at 2.8 kg to feel solid in the hand. But it’s not so weighty that it’ll slow you down. The handle is at the best angle and rubberised for a positive, comfortable grip. The trigger and safety button work smoothly, and the depth adjuster is easy to read and turn.

The 620 Watt motor spins up the twin cutting blades up to 34,000 cuts per minute (CPM) at 17,000 rpm. You can adjust the planing depth down to 2mm. The adjustable front shoe has a neat “V” groove for chamfer cuts. And the rear fixed shoe features a spring-loaded catch to help avoid damaging the workpiece.

Overall, this is a professional-level electric plane that boasts low vibration levels, and the double insulated body ensures extra safety. It’s made from the sort of build quality that fills me full of confidence. It’s one of the best electric planers and I love it.

Forming part of Bosch’s “green” line of DIY level tools, the PHO 1500 is a formidable bit of kit. It won’t take as much of a bite out of your wallet either.

I was excited about getting my hands on this planer to see how it stacked up against the “blue” professional series. I was rather impressed by the build quality and comfortable handle setup. Compared with the GHO 26-82 D, you can’t change the chip ejection direction or plane off as much material per pass. However, for the price, it’s one of the best electric planes out there right now.

Surprisingly, the adjustable front shoe comes complete with three different depth V-shaped chamfer grooves. You might think this feature only exists on the best electric planers, but here it is on a relatively inexpensive tool. And at just 2.4kg, it’s a lightweight power tool to use as well.

The 550 Watt motor spins up the single cutting blade to an impressive 19,500 rpm and you can plane up to 1.5mm per pass. There’s a “parking rest” on the rear shoe to avoid damaging the workbench as well. Just like the “blue” professional Bosch planer, there’s just one Woodrazor cutting blade to worry about. Adjusting it with the included hex key is a simple operation.

Unless you’re doing a lot of planing or you need a professional tool, this is a contender for the best electric planer. it’s lightweight, easy to use and comfortable. It’s everything you want from a woodworking power tool.

US tool heroes DeWalt are the go-to brand for tradespeople and keen DIYers all over the world. The DeWalt DCP580N is a brilliant addition to their popular series of 18V XR cordless power tools. It’s a mighty yet lightweight cordless planer that packs a serious punch.

Making use of a powerful brushless motor, you can get up to 15,000 rpm from the cutting blades. It really squeezes out every last drop of torque, and all without needing to change brushes. The rubberised handle is comfortable and helps to keep your hand at the optimum working angle.

It can cut up to 2mm per pass in softwood and up to 1mm in hardwood. There’s a cutting width of 82mm and a maximum rebate depth of 9mm. It also has a 0.1mm increment depth adjustment, controlled by a chunky front dial that doubles up as a grippy handle.

One of my favourite features of this planer is the blade and tool storage compartment. Simply twist the black dial on the side and there’s room for spare blades. This is ideal if you happen to snag on a bit of metal and need to quickly change blades on the job.

The other big Japanese tool brand, Ryobi, make one of the best DIY level electric planers I’ve tried out. Famous for their ONE+ series of tools that all share the same battery, it’s a great system to invest in.

I’ve always been a fan of Ryobi’s GripZone technology, the rubber over-moulding won’t slip out of your hand easily. It’s always comfortable to hold and helps to keep some of the vibrations down as well.

Ryobi’s 18V battery powers the cutting head up to a reasonable 11,000 rpm. It’s not the fastest but should be adequate for most DIY jobs. The tool has an adjustable depth cut from 0 – 1.6 mm and a planing width of 82mm.

Where this planer really comes into its own is the rebate depth. You can cut down to an impressive 12.5mm with the handy guide. That’s a lot deeper than any of the professional-level competition. It’s the best rebate plane I’ve tried out so far.

German brand Einhell have been making tools since 1964, but only recently got into the cordless tool market. Their Power X-Change 18V system means you can power a whole range of tools with just one type of battery. I tried out the TE-PL cordless planer and think it’s one of the best budget planers for the money.

Starting with the ergonomics, Einhell have done a good job with the handle. It’s built at a comfortable angle and has plenty of soft rubberised plastic to help keep vibrations to a minimum. The front handle is rubberised as well and doubles up as the fine adjustment dial.

The motor spins up the cutting blades to 15,000rpm, and you can take off up to 2mm with each pass. The blades are 82mm wide, and you can cut 9mm rebates with the fence included in the set. It’s one of the best budget cordless planers available right now.

Although they’re probably better known for their battery-operated power tools, Japan’s Ryobi make one of the best corded planers, the RPN780-S. It’s a powerful tool that can remove a serious amount of material when it needs to.

The first thing to note about this planer is the handle. It’s comfortable and uses Ryobi’s signature rubberised GripZone found on most of their tools. It makes up for the fact that this is a heavier planer than some on my list at 3.1kg. It’s not too heavy, but you can feel the difference over longer sessions.

The big 780 Watt motor spins the pair of blades up to 17,000rpm, but the real surprise is the cutting depth. You can take off up to 3mm per pass, which is one of the deepest I’ve come across on my list. The single chamfer “V” groove is of a reasonable size, and there’s a kickstand to help protect the workpiece.

Surprisingly for an electric planer in this price bracket, there’s a reversible chip ejection port and the trigger lock-off works on both sides. You can use it in both directions without blasting yourself with shavings. It’s a nice touch that makes this one of the best planers for the price.

Another handy inclusion is the side fence. Normally it’s an added extra but Ryobi have included one here for when you need to cut a rabbet or step into the workpiece. It’s of a decent quality. I’m impressed!