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Best router for most woodworkers
A 2-1/4 HP motor with fixed and plunge bases, 1/4″ and 1/2″ collets and a 3-year warranty.
- Budget kit SKIL RT1322-00
- Trim router Makita RT0701CX7
A wood router shapes edges, cuts grooves, dadoes and rabbets, trims to templates and cuts most of the joinery in a furniture shop. For most woodworkers, the best router is the DEWALT DW618PK: a 2-1/4 HP motor with a fixed base and a plunge base, both collet sizes and a 3-year warranty. The SKIL RT1322-00 is the budget pick with the same two bases, the Makita RT0701CX7 is the best trim router for one-handed edge work, and the Triton TRA001 is the router to buy for a router table.
Below are eight picks across full-size kits, plunge routers, compact, palm and cordless models, a comparison table, short reviews from the makers’ specifications, and how to choose power, bases, collets and speed. If you’re new to the tool, my guide on how to use a router covers setup, feed direction and your first cuts.
Best Routers for Woodworking: Comparison
Specs come from the makers’ product pages and, for the SKIL warranty, its owner’s manual. I don’t print prices: each review gives a market tier, and the Amazon buttons show the live price.
| Product | ⭐ DEWALT DW618PK 🏆 EDITOR’S CHOICE |
SKIL RT1322-00 | Bosch MRC23EVSK | Triton TRA001 | Makita RP2301FC | Makita RT0701CX7 | Bosch Colt GKF125CEN | Makita XTR01Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Power | 12 A, 2-1/4 HP | 14 A, 2.5 HP | 15 A, 2.3 HP | 3-1/4 HP (2,400 W) | 15 A, 3-1/4 HP | 6.5 A, 1-1/4 HP | 7 A, 1.25 HP | 18V LXT brushless |
| Speed | 8,000-24,000 RPM | 10,000-25,000 RPM | 10,000-25,000 RPM | 8,000-21,000 RPM | 9,000-22,000 RPM | 10,000-30,000 RPM | 16,000-35,000 RPM | 10,000-30,000 RPM |
| Bases | Fixed + plunge | Fixed + plunge | Fixed + plunge | Plunge, with fixed mode | Plunge | Trimmer + plunge | Fixed (palm) | Trimmer (others extra) |
| Collets | 1/4″ and 1/2″ | 1/4″ and 1/2″ | 1/4″ to 1/2″ | 1/4″ and 1/2″ | 1/4″ and 1/2″ | 1/4″ | 1/4″ | 1/4″ |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year | 1 year | 3 years | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 3 years |
| Availability | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon | Shop Now at Amazon |
Best Routers for Woodworking: Reviews
Every pick could be ordered on Amazon when I checked it. The DeWalt DWP611PK compact kit, a popular trim router, wasn’t sold new by Amazon or a known seller when I checked, so it’s not on the list; the Makita RT0701CX7 takes its place.
Editor's Choice2-1/4 HP fixed and plunge router kit
DEWALT DW618PK
DEWALT DW618PK 2-1/4 HP Fixed and Plunge Base Router Kit
2-1/4 HP motor, fixed and plunge bases, both collets and a 3-year warranty: the router most shops need.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: DEWALT
Best for
A first serious router that handles edges, joinery, templates and a router table.
- Two bases and both collet sizes in one kit
- 1/64" depth ring and soft start
- 3-year warranty
Skip it if
You only trim edges and laminate: a compact router is lighter and cheaper.
- Not the most powerful for big panel bits
- Dust hood for the fixed base is extra
Read full review
Best Router for Woodworking Overall
If you buy one router for furniture, cabinets and shop jigs, a mid-size kit with two bases covers the most work, and the DW618PK is the one I’d point most people to. DeWalt lists a 12 A, 2-1/4 HP motor with electronic variable speed from 8,000 to 24,000 RPM, full feedback control to hold speed under load, and a soft start. The kit pairs the motor with a DW6184 fixed base and a DW6182 plunge base, both with 1/4″ and 1/2″ collets. Depth adjusts on a micro-fine ring in 1/64″ steps, a steel cam lock clamps the motor without tools, the plunge base has a five-position turret stop and through-the-column dust collection, and the clear sub-base takes standard template guides. The warranty is 3 years, with a year of free service. It sits in the mid-range tier.
Best budget14 A fixed and plunge router combo
SKIL RT1322-00
SKIL RT1322-00 14 Amp Plunge and Fixed Base Router Combo
Two bases, a 14 A motor and a speed guide on an LCD, at the lowest price tier of the full-size kits.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: SKIL
Best for
Beginners and occasional users who want both bases on a tight budget.
- Lowest price tier for a two-base kit
- LCD speed guide by bit and material
- Parallel guide and dust adapters included
Skip it if
You'll run it for hours every week: the DeWalt has the longer warranty.
- 1-year warranty
- Less proven than DeWalt or Bosch kits
Read full review
Best Budget Router
The RT1322-00 gives you two bases and a big motor in the lowest price tier here. SKIL lists a 14 A, 2.5 HP motor running from 10,000 to 25,000 RPM, electronic feedback to hold speed, a soft start, and an LCD speed display that suggests a speed once you select the bit type and material. Depth setting uses three coarse stops plus a micro adjustment. The box includes the fixed and plunge bases, 1/4″ and 1/2″ collets, a parallel guide and dust adapters for both bases, and a light shows when the router is plugged in. It weighs 12.2 lb. The owner’s manual gives a 1-year warranty, the shortest of the full-size kits.
Most powerful kit2.3 HP fixed and plunge router kit
Bosch MRC23EVSK
Bosch MRC23EVSK 2.3 HP Electronic Modular Router System
15 A, 2.3 HP, trigger switches in both bases and above-table adjustment for a router table.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: Bosch
Best for
Woodworkers who will use the router hand-held and in a table with larger bits.
- 15 A motor, the strongest of the kits
- Trigger switch in the handles
- Above-table depth adjustment
Skip it if
You want the lightest kit to carry around: the DeWalt is easier to handle.
- Heavier than the DeWalt kit
- Higher price tier
Read full review
Most Powerful Fixed and Plunge Kit
Bosch’s modular kit has the biggest motor of the two-base kits here: 15 A and 2.3 HP, from 10,000 to 25,000 RPM, with Constant Response circuitry and a soft start. Both bases have the power switch in a trigger in the handle, so you never let go to turn it off. The fixed base gives 1-5/8″ of micro-fine depth range and adjusts from above when it’s mounted in a router table; the plunge base reaches 3″ and uses Bosch’s Afterlock depth adjustment. The fixed base is threaded for the common three-hole table pattern, and the motor moves between bases with a two-stage quick clamp. Bosch lists 12.6 lb, a 2″ sub-base opening and a case. It sits in the upper mid-range tier.
Best for a router table3-1/4 HP dual-mode plunge router
Triton TRA001
Triton TRA001 3-1/4 HP Dual Mode Precision Plunge Router
3-1/4 HP plunge router with a built-in table winder and through-table bit changes: a lift without buying a lift.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: Triton
Best for
A router that stays in a table for raised panels, big profiles and joinery.
- Built-in above-table height winder
- Single-wrench bit changes through the table
- 3-year guarantee
Skip it if
You'll mostly use it hand-held: a 2-1/4 HP kit is far easier to control.
- Heavy for hand-held work
- Premium price tier
Read full review
Best Router for a Router Table
The TRA001 is built to live upside down in a table. Triton lists a 3-1/4 HP (2,400 W) electronically controlled motor with variable speed from 8,000 to 21,000 RPM, a soft start, and 1/4″ and 1/2″ collets. One button switches it from a normal plunge router to a fixed-base mode with rack-and-pinion height adjustment, and a winder handle turns that from above the table, which Triton says removes the need for a separate router lift. The spindle locks automatically for single-wrench bit changes through the table, the plunge spring comes out for easier adjusting when mounted, and a three-stage turret sets repeat depths. Plunge range is 0 to 68 mm. The guarantee is 3 years once registered. It is a premium-tier router and is heavy to use hand-held.
Best plunge router3-1/4 HP plunge router
Makita RP2301FC
Makita RP2301FC 3-1/4 HP Plunge Router with Variable Speed
15 A plunge router with an electric brake, LEDs and a smooth 2-3/4" plunge for deep and template work.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: Makita
Best for
Deep plunge cuts, mortises and template routing with big bits.
- Electric brake and twin LED lights
- 2-3/4" plunge on ball bearings
- 15 A motor for large bits
Skip it if
You want one router for everything: a two-base kit does more for less.
- Plunge base only
- 1-year warranty
Read full review
Best Plunge Router
For mortises, stopped grooves, template work and deep cuts, a dedicated plunge router with power to spare is the tool, and the RP2301FC is Makita’s big one. Makita lists a 15 A, 3-1/4 HP motor from 9,000 to 22,000 RPM with electronic speed control and a soft start, plus an electric brake that stops the bit quickly when you let go. The plunge reaches 2-3/4″ on linear ball bearings, with a quick-release depth adjustment, micro control and three preset stops. Twin LEDs light the cut, the template guide system is tool-less, and it takes 1/4″ and 1/2″ collets. It weighs 13.4 lb and carries Makita’s 1-year warranty. It’s a premium-tier tool.
Best trim router1-1/4 HP compact router kit
Makita RT0701CX7
Makita RT0701CX7 1-1/4 HP Compact Router Kit
Compact 1-1/4 HP router with trimmer and plunge bases: the one-hand router for edges and small work.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: Makita
Best for
Roundovers, chamfers, hinge mortises, flush trimming and small joinery.
- Plunge and trimmer bases in the kit
- Light 3.9 lb motor, up to 30,000 RPM
- Rack-and-pinion fine depth
Skip it if
You need 1/2" shank bits: get a mid-size kit.
- 1/4" shank bits only
- Not for large panel bits
Read full review
Best Trim (Compact) Router
A compact router does most edge work with one hand, and many woodworkers end up using it more than their big router. The RT0701CX7 kit gives you Makita’s 6.5 A, 1-1/4 HP compact motor with variable speed from 10,000 to 30,000 RPM, electronic speed control and a soft start, in a slim aluminum housing that weighs 3.9 lb. It comes with a trimmer base with rack-and-pinion fine depth adjustment, a plunge base with a 1-3/8″ range, a straight guide and a 1/4″ collet, and the quick-release cam lock swaps bases fast. Makita’s warranty on it is 1 year. It’s in the mid-range tier.
Best palm router1.25 HP palm router
Bosch Colt GKF125CEN
Bosch GKF125CEN Colt 1.25 HP Variable-Speed Palm Router
1.25 HP palm router with an LED, wide aluminum base and fine depth adjustment for one-handed edge work.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: Bosch
Best for
One-handed edge profiles and trimming, especially on site and on decks.
- LED and wide-bit aluminum base
- Up to 35,000 RPM
- Centerable sub-base for templates
Skip it if
You want a plunge base in the box: the Makita kit includes one.
- Fixed base only in this package
- 1/4" shank bits only
Read full review
Best Palm Router
The Colt is Bosch’s palm router, and Bosch pitches it as far more than a laminate trimmer: roundovers on deck boards and rails, hinge mortises, slot cutting, inlays and edge profiles. It has a 7 A, 1.25 HP motor with a variable-speed dial from 16,000 to 35,000 RPM, soft start and Constant Response circuitry, an LED at the bit, and a one-piece aluminum base that takes bits up to 1-5/16″ wide. The PR101 fixed base has macro and micro depth adjustment over 1-3/16″, with inch and metric scales, and a round sub-base you can center for template work. It weighs 4.4 lb and takes 1/4″ bits. This listing is the router with its fixed base only; Bosch sells plunge and offset bases separately.
Best cordless18V brushless compact router
Makita XTR01Z
Makita XTR01Z 18V LXT Brushless Cordless Compact Router (Tool Only)
Brushless 18V compact router with LEDs and fine depth adjustment that takes Makita's corded compact bases.
Shop Now at AmazonSpecs: Makita
Best for
Makita 18V owners who trim and profile edges on site.
- Brushless, up to 30,000 RPM
- Fits Makita's compact router bases
- 3-year warranty
Skip it if
You don't own Makita batteries: the corded RT0701CX7 kit costs less.
- Battery and charger sold separately
- 1/4" shank bits only
Read full review
Best Cordless Router
A battery router makes sense for edge work away from an outlet and for trimming where a cord drags across the finish. The XTR01Z is Makita’s brushless compact router on the 18V LXT platform, with variable speed from 10,000 to 30,000 RPM, electronic speed control, a soft start, rack-and-pinion fine depth adjustment and dual LEDs. Makita lists 4.6 lb with a battery, a 1-9/16″ capacity, and it accepts the bases of Makita’s corded RT0700C and RT0701C compact routers. It ships as a bare tool with the trimmer base: battery, charger and other bases are sold separately. Makita’s lithium-ion tool warranty is 3 years.
How I Chose These Routers
I looked at the wood routers sold on Amazon today from established tool brands and picked one for each kind of buyer: the best all-round kit, the cheapest kit worth owning, the most powerful kit, a router for a table, a dedicated plunge router, a compact trim router, a palm router and a cordless model. I left out unbranded routers with no maker specifications, renewed units and routers sold only through resellers at inflated prices. I don’t show customer ratings or prices. For how I pick products across the site, see how I choose.
How to Choose a Router for Woodworking
Full-Size, Compact or Palm
Routers come in three sizes. Mid-size routers of about 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 HP, like the DW618PK, take 1/2″ shank bits and handle almost everything: edge profiles, dadoes, rabbets, joinery and a router table. Large routers of 3 to 3-1/4 HP, like the Triton and the Makita RP2301FC, are for big panel-raising bits and deep cuts, mostly in a table. Compact and palm routers of about 1 to 1-1/4 HP, like the Makita RT0701CX7 and the Bosch Colt, take 1/4″ bits and do edge work with one hand. If you can only have one, buy a mid-size kit; most woodworkers add a compact router second.
Fixed Base, Plunge Base or a Kit With Both
A fixed base holds the bit at a set depth and is simpler and steadier for edge profiles and table work. A plunge base lowers the spinning bit into the middle of a board for mortises, stopped grooves and template work. A kit with both bases, like the DeWalt, Bosch and SKIL here, costs a little more than one router and covers both jobs with one motor. My plunge vs fixed base router comparison explains when each base wins.
Power
Makers rate routers in amps and in “maximum” horsepower. Amps are the more useful number for corded tools. For 1/2″ shank bits and hardwoods, look for 11 to 15 A; 6.5 to 7 A is plenty for a compact router running 1/4″ bits. More power lets you take deeper passes and run large bits without bogging down, but it adds weight, and you’ll still take several light passes for a clean cut.
Variable Speed and Soft Start
Large-diameter bits must run slower than small ones, so variable speed matters as soon as you use anything bigger than a roundover. Every router here has it, along with a soft start that stops the router twisting in your hands at switch-on, and electronic speed control that keeps the RPM up under load. The SKIL goes a step further with an LCD that suggests a speed for the bit and material.
Collets: 1/4″ and 1/2″
Bits come with 1/4″ or 1/2″ shanks. A 1/2″ shank is four times stiffer, chatters less and is safer for big bits, so a full-size router should come with both collets, as every kit here does. Compact and palm routers take 1/4″ bits only. If you’re buying bits at the same time, start with my guide to types of router bits.
Depth Adjustment
Fine depth adjustment makes the difference between a joint that fits and one that’s loose. Look for a micro-adjust ring or knob (DeWalt’s ring moves in 1/64″ steps), a turret stop on the plunge base for repeat depths, and, if the router will go in a table, above-table adjustment like the Bosch MRC23EVSK and the Triton TRA001 offer.
Dust Collection
Routers throw chips everywhere. A dust port on the base or through the plunge columns, as on the DW618PK’s plunge base, catches much of it when it’s connected to a shop vacuum. For the whole shop, see my guide to dust collection for woodworking tools.
💡 Pro Tip: Buy the Kit, Then the Table
A two-base kit hand-held covers most projects. When you start making doors, drawers and lots of molding, bolt the fixed base under a router table and keep the plunge base for hand-held work: one motor, two setups. My best router table picks show which tables fit which routers.
Best Router for Beginners
A beginner gets the most from a two-base kit with variable speed and both collets, because it handles every project in a beginner’s book. The DEWALT DW618PK is the one I’d buy first; the SKIL RT1322-00 is the budget alternative and adds an on-board speed guide. Start with a small set of good bits rather than a 50-piece box, and learn feed direction and shallow passes before anything else.
Router vs Trim Router: Do You Need Both?
A trim router is a compact router with a small base. It’s light enough to hold in one hand, so it’s easier to control on edges, hinge mortises and laminate. It can’t take 1/2″ shank bits or run big profiles, and it struggles in deep cuts. A full-size router does the heavy work and table work. Many woodworkers own both and keep a roundover bit in the trim router permanently.
🏆 The Verdict
The best router for woodworking for most people is the DEWALT DW618PK: a 2-1/4 HP motor, fixed and plunge bases, both collets and a 3-year warranty. On a budget, the SKIL RT1322-00. For the most power in a kit, the Bosch MRC23EVSK; for a router table, the Triton TRA001; for deep plunge work, the Makita RP2301FC. For edges and small work, add the Makita RT0701CX7, the Bosch Colt or, cordless, the Makita XTR01Z.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the best router for home use?+
Which router is better, Bosch or DeWalt?+
Is a trim router good enough?+
How deep will a plunge router cut?+
What is the best router for beginners?+
What can I use instead of a wood router?+
Conclusion
Buy the router for the work you’ll do most. For furniture and general woodworking, a mid-size kit with fixed and plunge bases like the DEWALT DW618PK does nearly everything; add a compact router for edges, and a table when you start making doors and molding. Keep passes shallow and feed against the bit’s rotation, as explained in how to use a router. Questions about your project? Ask in the comments.
