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WoodworkingJune 28, 2026Updated June 28, 202616 min read

The Best Thickness Planers & Jointers of 2026

Turn cheap rough lumber into flat, square, perfectly-dimensioned boards — benchtop planers and jointers from $274 to $1,099, with spiral-vs-straight explained and the accessories that tame snipe and dust.

By Justin Park · How we research

Tested in This Guide · Our Top Picks

DEWALT DEWALT DW735X 13" Thickness Planer

DEWALT

DEWALT DW735X 13" Thickness Planer

$699.00 →

WEN WEN 6552T 13" Thickness Planer

WEN

WEN 6552T 13" Thickness Planer

$384.99 →

Cutech Cutech 40800H 13" Spiral Planer

Cutech

Cutech 40800H 13" Spiral Planer

$649.99 →

WAHUDA WAHUDA 10" Spiral Benchtop Jointer

WAHUDA

WAHUDA 10" Spiral Benchtop Jointer

$699.99 →

Quick Picks

DEWALT DW735X 13" Thickness Planer

Our Pick

DEWALT DEWALT DW735X 13" Thickness Planer

Best Planer Overall · $699.00

Makita 2012NB 12" Planer

Makita 2012NB 12" Planer

$1,099.00

WEN JT630H 6" Spiral Benchtop Jointer

WEN JT630H 6" Spiral Benchtop Jointer

$273.83

A planer and a jointer are how woodworkers turn cheap, rough lumber into flat, square, perfectly-dimensioned boards — and once you can mill your own stock, your projects get better and your wood gets cheaper. Rough lumber often costs half what surfaced boards do, and big-box "S4S" pine can't compare to dimensioning your own hardwood. The pair is the engine room of a serious shop.

This guide covers the best benchtop thickness planers and jointers of 2026 — from a $274 jointer to a $1,099 premium planer — plus spiral-vs-straight cutterheads explained and the accessories that tame snipe and dust. We make the planer-vs-jointer relationship clear (you want both, and in what order), so you build the right milling setup. Every pick is verified and linked to Amazon.

In a Hurry?

The 4 picks that cover most readers. Tap to read the full review or buy direct.

Our Pick

DEWALT DW735X Planer

DEWALT DW735X Planer

$699.00

The benchtop-planer standard — least snipe.

Check Amazon →Read review

Best Budget

WEN 6552T Planer

WEN 6552T Planer

$384.99

A real 13" planer for under $400.

Check Amazon →Read review

Best Jointer

WAHUDA 10" Jointer

WAHUDA 10" Jointer

$699.99

A rare 10"-wide benchtop jointer.

Check Amazon →Read review

Best Finish

Cutech 40800H Spiral

Cutech 40800H Spiral

$649.99

Spiral carbide — quiet, tear-out-free.

Check Amazon →Read review
Best Planer OverallOur Pick
DEWALT DW735X 13" Thickness Planer by DEWALT

DEWALT DW735X 13" Thickness Planer

DEWALT$699.00
4.8(6,000)
Shop on Amazon

Available at Amazon

Width

13"

Knives

3

Speeds

2

Best for

Most woodworkers

Pros

  • The cleanest cut and least snipe of any benchtop planer
  • Three-knife head and two speeds (fast hog / fine finish)
  • Powerful 15-amp motor handles hardwood
  • The community's default — proven for years

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Throws chips fast — use the dust hood
The DeWalt DW735X is the benchtop thickness planer everyone else is measured against. Its three-knife cutterhead and two-speed gearbox give you a fast hogging pass and a slow finishing pass, and its design minimizes snipe better than any rival. Add the in/out-feed tables and it's near-flawless. If you're buying one planer, buy this — it's been the right answer for a decade.

Our Pick

The benchtop planer standard — cleanest cut, least snipe, and proven reliability.

Check Price on Amazon →$699.00 · DEWALT
Best Budget PlanerBest Value
WEN 6552T 13" Thickness Planer by WEN

WEN 6552T 13" Thickness Planer

WEN$384.99
4.6(7,000)
Shop on Amazon

Available at Amazon

Width

13"

Power

15 amp

Blades

3

Best for

Dimensioning on a budget

Pros

  • A genuine 13" planer for under $400
  • 15-amp, 3-blade — real capability
  • Lets you buy rough lumber (much cheaper)
  • Huge happy-owner base

Cons

  • More snipe than the DeWalt
  • Louder
The WEN 6552T proves you don't need $700 to plane your own boards. A real 15-amp, 3-blade 13-inch planer for under $400, it opens up buying rough lumber (often half the price of surfaced stock) and dimensioning it yourself. A touch more snipe and noise than the DeWalt, but tremendous value — the budget gateway to milling your own wood.
Check Price on Amazon →$384.99 · WEN
Best Spiral CutterheadBest Finish
Cutech 40800H 13" Spiral Planer by Cutech

Cutech 40800H 13" Spiral Planer

Cutech$649.99
4.7(600)
Shop on Amazon

Available at Amazon

Width

13"

Cutterhead

Spiral carbide

Noise

Lower

Best for

Figured wood & clean finish

Pros

  • Spiral carbide inserts = smoother cut, far less tear-out on figured grain
  • Much quieter than straight knives
  • Rotate carbide inserts instead of changing knives
  • Finish-quality surfaces

Cons

  • Pricier than straight-knife planers
  • Inserts cost more to replace eventually
A spiral (helical) cutterhead is the upgrade serious woodworkers crave, and the Cutech 40800H brings it at a benchtop price. Dozens of small carbide cutters shear the wood instead of chopping it — quieter, with dramatically less tear-out on curly or interlocked grain. When a board comes out glassy-smooth, you'll understand the appeal.
Check Price on Amazon →$649.99 · Cutech
Best Jointer (Widest)Best Jointer
WAHUDA 10" Spiral Benchtop Jointer by WAHUDA

WAHUDA 10" Spiral Benchtop Jointer

WAHUDA$699.99
4.6(500)
Shop on Amazon

Available at Amazon

Width

10"

Cutterhead

Spiral

Type

Benchtop

Best for

Flattening wide boards

Pros

  • A rare 10"-wide benchtop jointer (most are 6")
  • Spiral cutterhead for smooth cuts
  • Flattens boards too wide for a 6" jointer
  • Portable footprint, big capability

Cons

  • Premium for a benchtop jointer
  • Still benchtop-class power
Most benchtop jointers max out at 6 inches, forcing you to rip wide boards down to flatten them. The WAHUDA 10-inch is the rare exception — a spiral-cutterhead jointer that flattens boards up to 10" wide on a benchtop. For anyone working with wide stock who can't fit a full cabinet jointer, it's a genuinely special tool.
Check Price on Amazon →$699.99 · WAHUDA

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Head-to-Head

How the top picks compare

The two decisions that shape a milling setup.

DeWalt DW735X vs. Cutech Spiral Planer

Proven straight-knife standard vs. quiet spiral finish.

DW735X (Straight)

DEWALT

Winner

DW735X (Straight)

Least snipe, proven, powerful

$699.00
Check Price →
40800H (Spiral)

Cutech

40800H (Spiral)

Quieter, cleaner on figured grain

$649.99
Check Price →

Our verdict

Winner: DEWALT DW735X (Straight). Both are great 13" planers. The DeWalt is the proven standard — the least snipe, a powerful two-speed head, and a decade of trust — and most woodworkers should buy it. The Cutech's spiral cutterhead wins on quiet and on tear-out with figured/curly wood, and it's slightly cheaper. Get the DeWalt for the all-around best (and best snipe control); get the Cutech if you work a lot of figured grain and want the quiet, glassy finish a spiral head delivers.

Buy the DEWALT

Buy the DeWalt for the proven, least-snipe, do-everything benchtop planer.

Buy the Cutech

Buy the Cutech spiral if you work figured wood and want quiet, tear-out-free cuts.

Planer First or Jointer First?

Which to buy when you can only get one.

DW735X Planer

DEWALT

Winner

DW735X Planer

Consistent thickness, most useful first

$699.00
Check Price →
JT630H Jointer

WEN

JT630H Jointer

True flat faces & square edges

$273.83
Check Price →

Our verdict

Winner: DEWALT DW735X Planer. Buy the planer first. You can get a flat reference face other ways (a planer sled, a hand plane, or a board with one good edge) and then the planer gives you consistent thickness — the more visibly useful result, and it works with material a jointer can't (wide boards). The jointer is the essential second purchase for true flat faces and square edges. Ultimately you want both; start with the planer, add the jointer next.

Buy the DEWALT

Buy the planer first for consistent thickness and the most immediate utility.

Buy the WEN

Buy the jointer next (or first, if you already have a way to get a flat face).

How we
chose

Every planer, jointer, and accessory here is genuinely available on Amazon with verified live pricing and real product imagery, chosen for cut quality, snipe control, and value. (Full-size cabinet planers/jointers are mostly dealer-sold; we focused on the strong benchtop machines you can order: DeWalt, WEN, Makita, Cutech, and WAHUDA.)

  • Planer and jointer together — they're a pair, and we explain what each does and why most milling setups need both.
  • Spiral vs. straight knives — spiral (helical) cutterheads cut quieter and far cleaner on figured grain; we flag which machines have them.
  • Snipe and dust are real — we weight snipe control (the DW735's strength) and recommend the support tables and dust hoods that matter.
  • Honest on capacity — benchtop jointers are mostly 6" wide (the WAHUDA's 10" is the standout); we're clear about what each handles.

Austin Gallery may earn a commission from purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. It never changes our rankings.

Quick Shop

All Products at a Glance

Every product in this guide, with direct links to current prices.

1DEWALT DW735X 13" Thickness PlanerBest Planer Overall · DEWALT$699.00Shop on Amazon →2WEN 6552T 13" Thickness PlanerBest Budget Planer · WEN$384.99Shop on Amazon →3Cutech 40800H 13" Spiral PlanerBest Spiral Cutterhead · Cutech$649.99Shop on Amazon →4WAHUDA 10" Spiral Benchtop JointerBest Jointer (Widest) · WAHUDA$699.99Shop on Amazon →5Makita 2012NB 12" PlanerBest Premium / Quietest · Makita$1,099.00Shop on Amazon →6WEN JT630H 6" Spiral Benchtop JointerBest Budget Jointer · WEN$273.83Shop on Amazon →

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Common Questions

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The Full Guide

The Complete Milling Setup Guide

Every planer, jointer, and accessory we recommend — sorted by tool, cutterhead, budget, and snipe/dust gear. Build your milling station.

Best Thickness PlanersBest Benchtop JointersBest Spiral-Cutterhead MachinesBest Budget MillingSnipe & Dust Accessories

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