Wood planers have many uses and come in a variety of different styles.
They can be used to finish rough lumber to a desired thickness, remove high spots from wood boards and are perfect to fix a sticking door!
List of the 5 Best Battery Powered Planers
Ditch the cord and give battery powered a try.
In our list below we will get into some of the best options available by the biggest names in the industry.
1. DEWALT DCP580B 20V Max Brushless Planer (tool only)
DEWALT DCP580B 20V Max Brushless Planer (tool only)
by DEWALT
The DCP580B by Dewalt offers the most powerful brushless motor of all the planers on this list.
See it in action, Video Below:
At 32,000 cuts per minute it has just about as much power as the corded D26677K model (coming in at 34,000 cuts per minute).
- High powered Brushless motor capable of 15,000 RPM (no-load speed), delivering 32,000 cuts per minute
- Working width capacity of 3-1/4″
- Adjustable depth settings with a max cut of 5/64″ or roughly 2mm
- Part of the popular Dewalt 20V line of tools (battery sold separately)
- Replacement Blades: DW6654
- DCP580B Instruction Manual
2. Makita XPK01Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Planer, (tool only)
Makita XPK01Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Planer, (tool only)
by Makita
- Tool features a 14,000 RPM motor for fast material removal
- Working width capacity of 3-1/4″
- Adjustable “click depth” knob, ranging from 0″ to 5/64″ depth
- Part of the LXT 18V Lithium-Ion Series
- XPK01Z Instruction Manual
3. Skil PL593802 Brushless 20V Planer with 4.0Ah Lithium Battery and PWRJump Charger
Skil PL593802 Brushless 20V Planer with 4.0Ah Lithium Battery and PWRJump Charger (bundle)
by Skil
Bundle includes the planer, 4.0Ah Lithium battery, PWRJump Quick Charger, Parallel guide, dust bag, spanner and rebate fence.
Fast Battery Charging
Skil advertises you can charge the battery in as little as 5 minutes (full charge in 50 minutes).
- Tool features a brushless motor, delivering up to 14,000 RPM
- Dual sided chip exhaust allows you to choose which side wood chips exit from (handy feature)
- Smooth kickstand, prevents blade from marring finished surfaces when not in use
- 4.0Ah Lithium Battery and PWR Jump Charger included
- PL593802 Instruction Manual (download)
4. Bosch PLH181B Lithium-Ion Cordless Planer, (tool only)
Bosch PLH181B Lithium-Ion Cordless Planer, (tool only)
by Bosch
Best in class size and weight, less than 6 lbs.
Fully featured with a user selectable chip ejection switch and adjustable fence.
*Fence – the metal guide that is used to keep the tool a specific distance from the edge of the material you are working on. The helps ensure consistency from one board to the next.
- 14,000 RPM motor
- Edge-guide fence keeps the tool lined up with your work surface for consistent planning
- Chip-Ejection switch. Switch between left or right side exhaust.
- Features Woodrazor brand micrograin carbide blades. Part# PA1202
- PLH181B Instruction Manual (pdf)
5. Milwaukee 2623-20 M18 Battery Operated Planer, (tool only)
Milwaukee 2623-20 M18 Battery Planer, (tool only)
by Milwaukee
The M18 features a 20-position adjustment knob to dial in just the right depth setting.
On-board allen key storage makes changing blades a snap. To learn more about how to change the blades, see the link to the complete Owners Manual below.
- 14,000 max RPM motor
- Max Planing Depth – 5/64″
- Max Planing Width – 3-1/4″
- Online User Manual Available here
- Part of the M18 Milwaukee system
What are wood planers used for?
Planers are used for a variety of wood-working tasks. They can be used to fix a sticking door, smooth surfaces and process rough lumber to size.
Looking to reclaim old barn lumber for your next project inspired by Joanna Gaines? There is no better tool for the job.
Reclaimed wood can be used in a variety of projects!
Here are just a few examples:
- Furniture building
- Cabinets
- Flooring
- Shelving
- Creating a unique fireplace mantel
Why is a planer an essential tool when working with Reclaimed Wood?
Well for starters, wood is a natural material. Subject to shrinkage, cracking, swelling and discoloration.
A planer can help breath new life into this wood by stripping the top surface and “correcting” some of these imperfections. This is especially useful when combining boards to form a table top that is nice and flat.
Types of Planers
- Hand Held – very effective for small jobs, generally the least expensive option
- Corded Electric – powerful but limited to the length of your cord
- Battery Operated – powerful and extremely portable
- Table Top – most powerful option, great to process large amounts of lumber
Which option is the best?
Well the short answer is…it really depends on what you are looking to do.
For quick material fitting, a cheap pocket planer can save alot of time vs sanding. Typically inexpensive and small, this is a must-have item for every tool belt.
Corded vs Battery?
In this debate, my choice would be to go with the battery powered version as it offers more flexibility.
The only downside here is the cost. Expect to pay a premium for the luxury of being completely mobile.
Conclusion
Hopefully you found this list helpful. These are some of the best battery powered planers available from the top tool manufactures in the business.
My pick is the Dewalt DCP580B as it has the most power of all the options on this list and is part of the popular Dewalt 20v line of tools.
What do you think?
If you use any of the models on this list we would love to hear from you in the comment section below.
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Hello,
Excellent article with an in-depth review of cordless planers.
Sometimes we wouldn’t be able to use a corded or benchtop planer in the job site. In that case, having such a cordless tool would provide great versatility. Lately, I was looking for an expert opinion, and now I know which one to choose.
Off to share.
I used a hand planer for a long time. I had some high-falutin idea that it allowed me to plane with more precision, how wrong I was! I bought the Dewalt planer on your suggestion and it has worked beautifully. Perfectly smooth planes and in a quarter of the time! Thank you for taking the time to write this article.
I’m glad you found this article helpful. Based on my research the Dewalt DCP580B is one of the best battery powered planers currently available and it is also the one I personally own. It is especially handy if you already own other Dewalt 20V battery powered tools. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!