Best Cheap Wood Planers Under $500, $400, $300 [2023]
As a woodworker, having a reliable and efficient wood planer is essential for creating smooth and even surfaces on your projects.
However, high-quality planers can be quite expensive, which can be a barrier for those just starting out or working on a budget.
But fear not, as there are plenty of affordable options on the market that can still get the job done effectively.
In this article, we will delve into the world of cheap wood planers and explore some of the top options available.
So if you’re in the market for a wood planer but don’t want to break the bank, keep reading to discover the best cheap wood planers on the market.
Best Cheap Planers Under $500
- Dewalt DW734 Thickness Planer ($449)
- Ridgid R4331 ($419)
- Porter Cable PC305TP ($319)
- Wen 6550 ($349)
- Grizzly G0505 ($395)
- Delta 22-555 Thickness Planer ($519) (Also Consider)
Here is the comparison table of the above listed cheap planers under $500:
| Feature | Dewalt DW734 | Delta 22-555 | Ridgid R4331 | Porter Cable PC305TP | Wen 6550 | Grizzly G0505 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 | 3.9/5 | 4.0/5 | 4.4/5 | N/A |
| Amps | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| RPM (max.) | 10,000 | 10,000 | 9,000 | 8,000 | 9,400 | 10,000 |
| Min. cut depth | .008″ | 0″ | 0″ | 0″ | 0″ | 0″ |
| Max. cut depth | 1/8″ | 3/32″ | 1/8″ | 1/8″ | 3/32″ | 3/32″ |
| Max. board thickness | 6″ | 6″ | 6″ | 6″ | 6″ | 6″ |
| Max. planing width | 12-1/2″ | 13″ | 13″ | 12-1/2″ | 12-1/2″ | 12-1/2″ |
| Feed rate | 26 | 28 | 23.5 | 26.2 | 26 | 32 |
| Cuts per min. | 30,000 | 18,800 | 27,000 | 16,000 | 18,800 | 20,000 |
| Weight | 80 lbs | 58 lbs | 72.88 lbs | 62 lbs | 70 lbs | 78 lbs |
| Infeed/outfeed tables | Large | N/A | Large | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Cutting blades | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Depth stops | Turret | N/A | 8 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Reversible blades | Yes | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Dust port | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Warranty | 3 yr. | 5 yr. | 3 yr. | 3 yr. | 2 yr. | N/A |
| Price | Check Here | Check Here | Check Here | Check Here | Check Here | Check Here |
Dewalt DW734 Thickness Planer
The Dewalt DW734 is a reliable and powerful thickness planer that is perfect for both professional and DIY use.
With its 15 amp motor and a max RPM of 10,000, this planer can easily handle tough jobs and deliver smooth, precise cuts every time.
Its minimum cut depth of .008 inches and maximum cut depth of 1/8 inch make it versatile enough to handle a wide range of material thicknesses.
The DW734 also comes equipped with large infeed and outfeed tables, three cutting blades, and a turret depth stop for added precision and convenience.
The dust port helps keep your work area clean, and the reversible blades make it easy to maintain and extend the life of the tool.
Overall, the DW734 is a top-quality planer that comes with a generous three-year warranty.
Delta 22-555 Thickness Planer
The Delta 22-555 is a compact and lightweight thickness planer that is ideal for small shops or for those who need to take their tools on the go.
With a 15 amp motor and a max RPM of 10,000, this planer has plenty of power for most applications.
Its minimum cut depth of 0 inches and maximum cut depth of 3/32 inches make it a good choice for those who need to work with thinner materials.
The 22-555 also comes with a dust port to help keep your workspace clean, and it is covered by a five-year warranty for added peace of mind.
One downside to this planer is that it only comes with two cutting blades, which may limit its performance compared to other models with more blades.
Ridgid R4331
The Ridgid R4331 is a high-performance thickness planer that is built to handle heavy-duty jobs.
With a 15 amp motor and a max RPM of 9,000, this planer has plenty of power to deliver smooth, precise cuts.
Its minimum cut depth of 0 inches and maximum cut depth of 1/8 inches make it a versatile tool for a wide range of material thicknesses.
The R4331 also comes with large infeed and outfeed tables, three cutting blades, and eight depth stops for added precision.
The reversible blades make it easy to maintain and extend the life of the tool, and the dust port helps keep your workspace clean.
Overall, the R4331 is a reliable and capable thickness planer that comes with a three-year warranty.
Porter Cable PC305TP
The Porter Cable PC305TP is a budget-friendly thickness planer that is a good choice for those who are looking for a basic tool to get the job done.
With a 15 amp motor and a max RPM of 8,000, this planer is not as powerful as some of the other models on this list, but it is still capable of delivering satisfactory performance.
Its minimum cut depth of 0 inches and maximum cut depth of 1/8 inches make it suitable for a range of material thicknesses.
The PC305TP also comes with medium infeed and outfeed tables and two cutting blades, which may limit its performance compared to models with more blades.
Dust collection options are available for an extra cost, and the planer is covered by a three-year warranty.
Wen 6550
The Wen 6550 is a solid thickness planer that is a good choice for both professional and DIY use. With a 15 amp motor and a max RPM of 9,400, this planer has plenty of power to deliver smooth, precise cuts.
Its minimum cut depth of 0 inches and maximum cut depth of 3/32 inches make it suitable for a range of material thicknesses.
The 6550 also comes with medium infeed and outfeed tables and two cutting blades, which may limit its performance compared to models with more blades.
One unique feature of the 6550 is its granite table, which provides a stable and durable surface for your work.
The reversible blades make it easy to maintain and extend the life of the tool, and the planer is covered by a two-year warranty.
Grizzly G0505
The Grizzly G0505 is a thickness planer that is well-suited for both professional and DIY use.
With a 15 amp motor and a max RPM of 10,000, this planer has plenty of power to deliver smooth, precise cuts.
Its minimum cut depth of 0 inches and maximum cut depth of 3/32 inches make it suitable for a range of material thicknesses.
The G0505 also comes with medium infeed and outfeed tables and two cutting blades, which may limit its performance compared to models with more blades.
One unique feature of the G0505 is its 1/8-inch thick cutting blades, which provide extra durability and longevity. It is worth noting that no warranty information is provided for this planer.
Best Cheap Planers Under $300-400
- WEN PL1252 ($300)
- WEN PL1326 ($396)
- Craftsman CMEW320 ($399)
| Feature | WEN PL1252 | WEN PL1326 | Craftsman CMEW320 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Amps | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| RPM (max.) | N/A | 10,000 | 8,000 |
| Max. board thickness | 12.5″ | 13″ | N/A |
| Max. planing width | 12.5″ | 13″ | N/A |
| Feed rate | N/A | 26 FPM | N/A |
| Cuts per min. | 20,000 | N/A | 16,000 |
| Cutting blades | 2 | 26 | 2 (quick-change) |
| Depth stops | N/A | Yes | N/A |
| Reversible blades | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Dust port | N/A | Yes | N/A |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | N/A |
| Price | Check Here | Check Here | Check Here |
When it comes to choosing the right thickness planer, it’s important to consider the features that matter most to you.
The WEN PL1252, WEN PL1326, and Craftsman CMEW320 are all excellent choices, each offering unique benefits for woodworkers.
The WEN PL1252 is a powerful and reliable machine, with a 15-amp motor that can generate up to 20,000 cuts per minute.
Its two reversible blades make it easy to get the perfect finish, and the handy depth adjustment knob allows users to take off anywhere from 0 to 1/8 of an inch per pass.
The WEN PL1252 also comes with a two-year warranty, giving users peace of mind and ensuring that their investment is protected.
The WEN PL1326 offers even more precision and performance, with a spiral cutterhead that utilizes 26 staggered HSS blades to provide a perfect finish on both hard and soft woods.
The 15-amp motor rotates the cutterhead at a speedy 10,000 RPM, and the machine has a feed rate of 26 feet per minute.
The WEN PL1326 also comes with an onboard planing gauge and a depth stop, allowing users to achieve an exact workpiece thickness with maximum precision.
The Craftsman CMEW320 is another excellent choice, with a 15-amp motor that powers a cutter head speed of 8,000 RPM.
This allows the machine to generate 16,000 cuts per minute, making it a powerful and efficient choice for woodworkers.
The CMEW320 also has two-knife, quick-change, solid steel cutter head mounted on ball bearings, which ensures smooth operation and long life.
Its high-carbon steel, double-edged, reversible knives double the cutting life, making it a cost-effective option in the long run.
Overall, all three of these thickness planers offer excellent features and performance. However, if we had to choose a winner, we would give the edge to the WEN PL1326.
Its spiral cutterhead and 26 HSS blades make it the most precise and efficient choice of the three, and its onboard planing gauge and depth stop make it easy to achieve perfect results every time.
Additionally, its two-year warranty gives users peace of mind and ensures that their investment is protected.
