The right planer depends on how your shop works
For most small shops, the DEWALT DW735X is the best overall benchtop thickness planer. Its 13-inch capacity, two feed settings, included support tables, and extra knife set make it a strong fit for regular furniture work or batches of repeat parts.
A thickness planer brings boards to a consistent thickness. It does not create the first flat reference face the way a jointer does. If you buy rough lumber or process reclaimed boards, that distinction matters before you choose any machine.
Small-shop buyers should look beyond the headline width. Consider how often you will use the planer, the cutterhead and replacement consumables, room for long infeed and outfeed support, chip collection, and whether the machine must be lifted off the bench between jobs.
Best overall: DEWALT DW735X
The DEWALT DW735X fits the small shop that regularly dimensions furniture parts, cabinet stock, or repeat components. DEWALT specifies a 15-amp motor, a 13-inch capacity, a three-knife cutterhead, and two feed settings rated at 96 or 179 cuts per inch. The package also includes infeed and outfeed tables plus an extra knife set.
Those features make it the most complete conventional-knife package in this guide. The two feed options give a buyer a documented choice between faster stock removal and a finer cuts-per-inch setting. DEWALT also lists fan-assisted chip ejection and an automatic carriage lock, practical features for a machine that will see frequent use.
Best for: A woodworker who needs 13-inch capacity and will use the planer often enough to value the expanded feature set.
Skip it if: Your priority is a spiral-style cutterhead for occasional work, or you need the lightest machine to store and move.
Pros: 13-inch capacity; two documented feed settings; support tables and extra knives are included; three-year limited warranty from DEWALT.
Cons: It is not the compact pick in this group, and its three-knife setup may not suit a buyer who specifically wants insert-style cutterhead maintenance.
Best value: WEN PL1326
The WEN PL1326 is the value-focused choice for a beginner or occasional maker who wants 13-inch capacity and a documented spiral cutterhead. WEN lists 26 staggered, rotatable HSS blades, a 15-amp motor, a 6-inch maximum thickness, a 26-FPM feed rate, a depth stop, adjustable dust port, and height-adjustable infeed and outfeed tables.
This is not a claim that it produces a better finish or less snipe than the DEWALT. It is the right alternative for someone who prefers the published cutterhead design and wants 13-inch capacity without buying every feature in the top pick. WEN backs the machine with a two-year warranty.
Best for: First-time planer buyers and occasional furniture makers who want a 13-inch machine with rotatable cutterhead blades.
Skip it if: You want two selectable feed settings, an included extra knife set, or need proof of a particular surface-quality advantage.
Pros: 13-inch capacity; 26 rotatable HSS blades; depth stop and adjustable tables; two-year warranty.
Cons: It has one published feed rate, and the available evidence does not support broad performance comparisons with the other picks.
Best for a portable setup: Makita 2012NB
The Makita 2012NB is the better fit when the planer shares space with other tools or needs to come off the shelf for each session. Makita lists a 12-inch capacity, a 61.9-pound net weight, an 8,500-RPM motor, an Interna-Lok automated head clamp, an adjustable depth stop, and a 6-3/32-inch maximum thickness.
That lower published weight is the reason to consider it. A small shop only benefits from a planer that has a workable home and enough room to feed boards safely. Makita also publishes an 83 dB operating figure, but use that as a model-specific specification, not as a claim that this is the quietest option available.
Best for: Garage, shared, or mobile shops where lifting, storage, and a 12-inch capacity fit the work.
Skip it if: You need 13-inch capacity or want an insert-style spiral cutterhead.
Pros: 61.9-pound published net weight; compact 12-inch format; adjustable depth stop; one-year warranty.
Cons: One inch less width than the DEWALT and WEN picks; dust hood is optional; published noise specifications are not a cross-model comparison.
How to choose between these three planers
Choose the DEWALT DW735X if regular production work makes 13-inch capacity and two feed settings worth prioritizing. Choose the WEN PL1326 if you want 13-inch capacity with its documented 26-blade spiral cutterhead for occasional or entry-level use. Choose the Makita 2012NB if the machine must be moved, stored, or used in a tight shop.
Before ordering, confirm the machine will fit your bench, board-support setup, and dust-collection plan. Then use the current operator manual from the manufacturer for setup, maintenance, and safe stock preparation.