A benchtop thickness planer shaves boards to a uniform thickness so rough lumber becomes flat, even stock. The big split is the cutterhead: straight HSS knives are simple to swap, while helical heads use many small carbide inserts that can be turned or replaced one at a time.
The six planers below run from a 12 inch Makita to several 13 inch machines with helical or HSS heads. Sizes, speeds and feed rates come from each product’s listing page. We have not used these planers ourselves. Power and noise figures are the makers’ own, and the manual covers setup and handling.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Cutterhead | Helical inserts versus HSS knives change finish and upkeep |
| Width and depth | 13 inches is the common maximum board width |
| Feed rate | Slower feed leaves a finer surface; faster removes stock sooner |
| Weight | Around 60 to 70 pounds suits a bench but is a lift |
| Dust port | Chips build up fast, so a hookup matters |
Specs at a Glance
| Planer | Cutterhead | Motor and speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEN PL1337 | Spiral, 26 staggered HSS blades | 15 A; 10,000 RPM; 26 or 16 FPM | Up to 6 in thick and 13 in wide; 69 lb |
| Makita 2012NB | Disposable double-edged blades | 12 in capacity | Maker states 83 dB; about 28 kg per the listing |
| FindBuyTool FB132H | 4-row helical, 40 carbide inserts | 15 A; 20,000 RPM; 21 or 12 FPM | Ball-screw height; dual-scale gauge; 70 lb |
| FindBuyTool MB320 | 4-row helical, 40 carbide inserts | 15 A; 20,000 RPM; 27.5 FPM | 8 depth stops; 1/8 in max cut; 70 lb |
| WOODSTARTER TP20K | 3 HSS blades | 2000 W; 10,000 RPM; 21 ft/min | 29 in worktable with infeed and outfeed tables |
| WOODERS PL13-15AB | HSS blades, dual-edge | 15 A; 2000 W; 10,000 RPM | 1/4 to 6.3 in height; dust collector and spare blades; 60 lb |
The 6 Best Benchtop Planers for Woodworking
1. WEN PL1337 13 Inch Spiral Planer
A 13 inch benchtop planer with a 15 amp motor turning the cutterhead at 10,000 RPM, a spiral head of 26 staggered rotatable HSS blades and two feed rates of 26 and 16 feet per minute. It takes boards up to 6 inches thick and 13 inches wide and ships with a depth stop, a material removal gauge, a combination dust port, onboard wrench storage and return rollers.
Suits: a spiral head with two feed speeds. Strengths: a slow finishing speed and a depth stop. Weaknesses: about 69 pounds. Skip it if you want carbide inserts.
View WEN PL1337 13 Inch Spiral Planer on Amazon
2. Makita 2012NB 12 Inch Portable Planer
A 12 inch portable planer with a four-post design, diagonal cross supports and large table extensions. Makita states a quick blade change using disposable double-edged blades and a noise level of 83 decibels. The listing gives a 30.35 by 19.02 by 15.79 inch footprint.
Suits: a shop that moves its planer. Strengths: a fast blade change and a stated 83 dB. Weaknesses: 12 inches rather than 13. Skip it if you need the wider capacity.
View Makita 2012NB 12 Inch Portable Planer on Amazon
3. FindBuyTool FB132H 13 Inch Helical Planer
A 13 inch planer with a pre-installed four-row helical head holding 40 carbide inserts, two feed rates of 21 and 12 feet per minute and a 15 amp motor listed at 20,000 RPM. The listing adds ball-screw height adjustment, a dual-scale depth gauge, a cast-aluminum base and six preset thickness settings. The text also mentions 2.5 horsepower, which does not sit neatly beside a 15 amp figure, so treat that figure with care.
Suits: helical-head finish with a slow feed. Strengths: turnable inserts and preset thickness settings. Weaknesses: conflicting power wording. Skip it if you want a known brand.
View FindBuyTool FB132H 13 Inch Helical Planer on Amazon
4. FindBuyTool MB320 13 Inch Helical Planer
Another 13 inch helical machine with 40 tungsten carbide inserts, a 27.5 feet per minute feed rate and a 15 amp motor listed at 20,000 RPM. It offers eight depth-stop settings, a maximum cut of 1/8 inch and folding extension boards that stretch the overall length to 27.4 inches, with mounting holes for securing it to a bench.
Suits: batch work at one thickness. Strengths: eight depth stops and bench mounting holes. Weaknesses: a single fixed feed rate. Skip it if you want two speeds.
View FindBuyTool MB320 13 Inch Helical Planer on Amazon
5. WOODSTARTER TP20K 13 Inch Planer
A 13 inch planer with a 2000 watt motor at 10,000 RPM, a three-blade HSS cutterhead, a 21 feet per minute feed and a 29 inch worktable with adjustable infeed and outfeed tables aimed at reducing snipe. It handles stock about 6-3/16 inches thick; the title says 6-1/4, a small mismatch on the page. The listing gives no amp figure.
Suits: long boards on extended tables. Strengths: adjustable infeed and outfeed tables. Weaknesses: thick-stock figure differs by a hair. Skip it if you need an amp figure.
View WOODSTARTER TP20K 13 Inch Planer on Amazon
6. WOODERS PL13-15AB 13 Inch Planer
A 13 inch planer with a 2000 watt copper motor at 10,000 RPM, a height range of 1/4 to 6.3 inches and a 0 to 1/8 inch height indicator. The listing title says four HSS blades while a feature line says dual-edge blades, so the blade count is unclear. It includes a dust collector, a lifting handle and two spare blades and weighs about 60 pounds.
Suits: a lighter 13 inch machine. Strengths: spare blades and a dust collector in the box. Weaknesses: unclear blade count. Skip it if you want a helical head.
View WOODERS PL13-15AB 13 Inch Planer on Amazon
Setup Notes
- Read the manual before the first cut and follow its guidance on stock length and depth per pass.
- Bolt or clamp the planer to a stable bench.
- Connect a dust hookup before you start.
- Flip boards between passes to even out the surface.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming every 13 inch planer has the same cutterhead.
- Forgetting to check blade or insert replacement parts.
- Skipping the dust hookup.
- Ignoring the manual’s depth-per-pass guidance.
Benchtop Planer FAQ
Helical or straight knives?
Helical heads use many small inserts that can be turned or swapped one at a time. Straight knives are simpler to replace as a pair or set.
What is snipe?
It is a slight dip at the start or end of a board. Extended infeed and outfeed tables are meant to reduce it.
The Short Version
For a spiral head with two speeds, the WEN. For a portable 12 inch, the Makita. For helical with a slow feed, the FB132H. For eight depth stops, the MB320. For long boards, the WOODSTARTER. For spare blades in the box, the WOODERS.
