Best Electric Hand Planers Under $75 (2026)

The WEN 6530 is the classic 3-1/4-inch planer. A 6-amp motor drives the cutter drum at up to 34,000 cuts per minute, which is the highest cut rate in this lineup, and a high cut rate leaves a smoother surface because the blades pass the wood more often per inch of travel. Sixteen positive stops adjust the depth from 0 to 1/8 inch.

A rabbeting guide lets you cut rabbets up to 1 inch wide and 5/16 inch deep, which is useful for door and frame work. Compared with the WEN 6528, it has more motor current and a wider cut. Against the WEN 6534, it is lighter and cheaper.

Ownership notes: planer blades are the main cost, and a dull blade tears out grain and chatters. Plan to buy replacement blades or resharpen. Keep the shoe flat and the work clamped. It is the sensible choice for most homeowners. Set the depth to 1/32 inch for the first pass on a stuck door, and work toward the hinge side, because trimming the latch side first can leave a gap.

The WEN 6534 is a wide planer with an 8-amp motor and a 4-3/8-inch cutting width, which the maker says suits 2x4s and 4x4s. Sixteen depth stops run from 0 to 1/8 inch, and the cutter drum runs at 32,000 cuts per minute.

Width means fewer passes across a board face, and fewer passes means a flatter surface. Compared with the WEN 6530, the 6534 has 2 more amps and over an inch more width, but runs a slightly lower cut rate. It is heavier and harder to control in one hand.

Ownership notes: a wide planer is better for framing lumber and rough stock than for fitting a door. Use two hands and keep the front shoe flat. It is the choice for larger jobs. A wide cut also needs a wide, flat support surface, so clamp the board to a bench, and run the planer in one continuous pass without stopping.

The WEN 6528 is the small planer: a 3.8-amp motor, a 2-3/8-inch cutting width and a weight of 4.3 pounds. Nine depth stops cover 0 to 1/16 inch, and the cutter runs at 32,000 cuts per minute. It is a small tool for a small job.

Its lower depth range means light passes, which is a good thing for door trimming and edge fitting, since the usual mistake is taking off too much. Compared with the WEN 6530, it is lighter and gentler, but slower on rough stock.

Ownership notes: use light passes, check the fit often and keep the shoe flat. For small jobs, it is easy to control. It is the pick for door trimming and craft work. A narrow planer is the safe choice for beginners, because it makes it hard to take off too much in a single pass.

The WOODSTARTER is a 7.7-amp, 15,000 RPM corded planer with 20 depth settings, up to 5/32 inch. It has a 3-1/4-inch width, three chamfering grooves, a 1-inch rabbeting capacity and an edge guide and dust bag in the box. Twenty depth steps give finer control than 16.

At 15,000 RPM, the drum spins at about half the RPM of the 34,000 cuts per minute of the WENs, but the figures are not comparable, because cuts per minute counts each blade pass and RPM counts rotations, so a drum with two blades turning at 15,000 RPM would make about 30,000 cuts per minute. The motor current is highest among the 3-1/4 inch planers.

Ownership notes: the chamfer grooves cut a quick bevel, the dust bag catches most chips and the edge guide keeps cuts straight. A lesser-known brand means thin parts support. It is a good tool for people who want fine depth control. The three chamfer grooves are a quick way to put a bevel on an edge in one pass, saving a separate router or sanding step.

The WOODSTARTER cordless planer is a bare tool designed for Makita batteries. A brushless motor spins at 15,000 RPM, and it offers 20 depth settings up to 0.08 inch. It weighs about 6.5 pounds.

Its maximum cut of 0.08 inch is shallower than the corded model's 5/32 inch. Cordless planers are convenient for door fitting on site without an outlet. It is a third-party tool, so there is no Makita warranty, and compatibility depends on the battery electronics.

Ownership notes: use fully charged batteries, keep the blades sharp and check the return policy. If you own Makita 18V batteries, it is a convenient add-on. Without batteries, add their cost. On a cordless planer the weight of the battery sits behind the cutter, so keep pressure on the front shoe at the start of the cut.