Best Jointer Today [Budget, Premium, Sizes & more]

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best overall rating★★★★★

Delta 37-071

  • Robust, inside and out
  • High-precision squaring
  • Easy to clean and maintain
best overall rating★★★★★

Powermatic PJ882

  • Enhanced safety
  • High-speed squaring
  • Works on rough lumber
best overall rating★★★★★

Shop Fox W1829

  • User-friendly
  • High-torque cutterhead
  • Easy-to-adjust

Our reviews are unbiased, fact-based, and comprehensively researched to help you make the right buying decisions.

 
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A jointer is used to smoothen and flatten the rough faces and edges of recycled or newly seasoned lumber, making the corners perfectly square and ready for planing.

Jointers come in all shapes and sizes, and today, we’ll show you what the best jointer in every category is.

We researched and compared over 45 different models, so we’re confident you’ll find the perfect planer for your shop on our list.

best overall rating

Best Jointer – Delta 37-071

The overall best jointer out of more than 100 models is the Delta 37-071.

This incredible jointer offers everything that most hobbyist and even professional woodworkers would need in a small, benchtop package, including a powerful motor and excellent jointing capacities.

Here’s what the Delta 37-071’s key specifications look like in a nutshell—

  • 12A Motor
  • 20,000 CPM
  • 6 x 28.5-inch Jointing Capacity
  • Built-in Dust/Chip Ejector

The Delta 37-071 comes in a more compact package than most benchtop models in terms of table support.

However, as a 6-inch jointer, you probably wouldn’t expect much more than 28.5 inches as it can handle commonly used board lengths with minimal trouble.

Inside of the Delta is a massive 12A motor that provides a cutting speed of up to 20,000 CPM for faster material removal and squarer corners.

This benchtop jointer was designed to be as durable as possible.

With infeed and outfeed tables made of cast iron, there’s no question that this machine can handle drops and bumps.

There’s also a built-in chip and dust ejector to remove harmful particles from getting trapped in the cutterhead. Delta also backs up every 37-071 with a generous 5-year-warranty.

Pros

  • Robust, inside and out
  • High-precision squaring
  • Easy to clean and maintain
  • Adjustable fence, 45° and 90° positive stops

Cons

  • Replacement components could be easier to find

The Delta 37-071 is the ideal benchtop jointer for novice and semi-pro woodworkers. Even though it’s undersized compared to other jointer models, it’s last way, way longer.

Top jointer  in the Market Compared

Product ImageProduct NameFeaturesPrice
Best Overall -Delta 37-071
  • Motor Size: 12A
  • Cutting Speed 20,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 6 x 28.5 in
  • Built-in Dust/Chip Ejector
Best Premium -Powermatic PJ882
  • Motor Size: 2 HP
  • Cutting Speed 21,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 8 x 82 in
  • Power Switch Above Worktable
Best Jointer for the Money -PORTER-CABLE PC160JT
  • Motor Size: 1.4 HP
  • Cutting Speed 12-22,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 6 x 30 in
  • Built-in Cutterhead Lock
Best Jointer Under $1,000 -JET JJ-6CSDX
  • Motor Size: 1 HP
  • Cutting Speed 18,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 6 x 56 in
  • Handwheel Table Adjustment
Best Budget Jointer Under $500/Best 6-inch Jointer/Best Benchtop Jointer -CRAFTSMAN CMEW020
  • Motor Size: 10A
  • Cutting Speed 12-22,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 30 in
  • 3-Year Warranty
Best 8-inch Jointer -Powermatic 60HH
  • Motor Size: 2 HP
  • Cutting Speed 21,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 73 in
  • 3-Knife or Helical Cutterhead
Best Jointer Planer Combo -Jet JJP-8BT
  • Motor Size: 13A
  • Cutting Speed 8 x 33.5 in
  • Jointing Capacity 0.08 in
  • 18,000 CPM/19.5 FPM
Shop Fox W1829
  • Motor Size: 1.5 HP
  • Cutting Speed 20,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 6 x 28.5 in
  • Fine-Adjust Infeed Table KNob
Cutech 40160H-CT
  • Motor Size: 10A
  • Cutting Speed 22,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 6 x 30 in
  • 12-Knife Spiral Cutterhead
Powermatic 54HH
  • Motor Size: 1 HP
  • Cutting Speed 18,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 6 x 66 in
  • Helical Cutterhead
RIKON Power Tools 20-600H
  • Motor Size: 10A
  • Cutting Speed 22,000 CPM
  • Jointing Capacity 6 x 30 in
  • Front On/Off Switch
Wahuda Tools 50180CC-WHD
  • Motor Size: 10A
  • Cutting Speed 12,000 RPM
  • Jointing Capacity 8 x 34 in
  • Built-In Table Extensions

Reviews of Best jointer

Best Premium - Powermatic PJ882

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 2-HP Motor
  • 21,000 CPM
  • 8 x 82-inch Jointing Capacity
  • Power Switch Above Worktable

The Powermatic PJ882 is easily one of the best 8-inch jointers on the market.

This Powermatic-made jointer uses a standard 3-knife cutterhead that delivers up to 21,000 cuts per minute at ½-inch depths, allowing you to flatten boards and square corners more efficiently.

As a parallelogram jointer, you can easily adjust the height-adjustment knows to raise or lower the infeed and outfeed tables when needed.

One fantastic feature that you’ll find in this and other Powermatic jointers is the location of the on/off switch.

Instead of being located underneath the table, the power button can be found above the worktable to let you turn the cutterhead on and off quickly when things get out of hand.

Pros

  • Enhanced safety
  • High-speed squaring
  • Works on rough, seasoned lumber
  • Durable cast-iron bed and stand

Cons

  • Outfeed table could be flatter
  • Con 2

Check the Powermatic’s infeed and outfeed tables o make sure that they sit flat and perfectly parallel with each other before using.

If there are any problems, give Powermatic a jingle to see what they can do (great after-sales services, by the way.

Shop Fox W1829

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 1.5-HP Motor
  • 20,000 CPM
  • 6 x 28.5-inch Jointing Capacity
  • Fine-Adjust Infeed Table Knob

The Shop Fox W1829 might not look any different from most 6-inch planers on the market, but what’s underneath the hood will surprise you.

First of all, you’ll find a sizable 1.5-HP motor, which is unheard of for its size category.

The cutterhead spins at a rate of up to 10,000 RPM while the dual-knife setup delivers twice as many cuts per revolution.

Every pass over the 6-inch-wide cutterhead can remove as little as 1/8 of an inch easily.

The 28.5-inch-long worktables add plenty of support to keep most common-sized boards still, and the cast-iron material that goes into them ensures longevity and a smooth surface.

Pros

  • User-friendly 6-inch jointer
  • Comes with 2.5-inch dust port
  • Easy-to-adjust infeed table height
  • High-speed and high-torque cutterhead

Cons

  • Could arrive with missing screw bolt

Your W1829 will most likely come fully intact and ready to shave 1/8-inch of material with every pass right out of the box.

Cutech 40160H-CT

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 10A Motor
  • 22,000 CPM
  • 6 x 30-inch Jointing Capacity
  • 12-Knife Spiral Cutterhead

The Cutech 40160H-CT is another great 6-inch jointer that supports boards of up to 30 inches in length.

The cutterhead spins at a rate of up to 11,000 RPM while slicing a thin layer off of the workpiece by delivering 22,000 cuts per minute.

With the 12-knife spiral cutterhead, you can worry less about cutting accuracy and joy flatter boards in fewer passes.

To set up the Cutech jointer, all it takes is about 15 minutes from start to finish. It’s an excellent portable jointer that works well in all kinds of environments.

The strong guard ensure that your workpiece stays in place while resting flush against the fence for perfect squaring with every pass.

Pros

  • Easy to transport
  • Powerful motor
  • User-friendly
  • Accurate cuts, thanks to spiral cutterhead

Cons

  • Could be easier to adjust the table height

The user-friendly, compact Cutech jointer travels well and makes for the perfect addition to any woodworker’s hobby shop.

Powermatic 54HH

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 1-HP Motor
  • 18,000 CPM
  • 6 x 66-inch Jointing Capacity
  • Helical Cutterhead

The Powermatic 54HH is highly regarded as one of the most premium-quality 6-inch jointers you could get.

It’s beefy 1-HP motor drives the cutterhead to deliver up to 18,000 cuts every minute while removing as much as half an inch of material per pass.

Each of the worktables measure in at 33 inches, offering tons of support for longer workpieces.

This 6-inch jointer uses a helical cutterhead, which delivers more accurate cuts compared to standard straight cutterheads.

The slight angle at which the inserts protrude from the cutterhead allows it to create super-flat surfaces and edges, leaving sharper, squarer corners with less snipe.

Pros

  • Accurate machine
  • Quiet operation
  • Robust cast iron construction
  • Positive fence tilt at 45° and 90°

Cons

  • Fence could be flatter

As a professional-grade 6-inch jointer, the Powermatic 54HH handles the toughest small-scale jobs easily and in fewer passes.

RIKON Power Tools 20-600H

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 10A Motor
  • 22,000 CPM
  • 6 x 30-inch Jointing Capacity
  • Front On/Off Switch

Next up is the benchtop RIKON Power Tools 20-600H. When compared to other benchtop jointers, this one doesn’t look particularly unique from the outside, but it’s what’s inside that counts.

You’ll find a 10A motor that drives cutterhead to deliver as many as 22,000 cuts per minute.

With a 12-HSS-knife insert along six tows, this heavy-duty yet compact machine flattens boards as wide as six inches in no time.

The company opted use construct the jointer’s infeed and outfeed tables with aluminum instead of cast iron, which isn’t entirely bad since it does drop its weight significantly.

However, because it uses a softer metal, there have been problems with the tables and fence’s durability, but you can easily overcome them by leaving it stationary and not taking it with you to various job sites.

Pros

  • Long worktables
  • Lightweight 6-inch jointer
  • High-speed cutting performance
  • Safe front-facing on/off paddle switch

Cons

  • Steel tables and aluminum fence could be more durable

The front-facing paddle switch increases the safety of this jointer, making it a user-friendly option for new and semi-pro woodworkers.

Wahuda Tools 50180CC-WHD

best overall rating

Key Specifications

  • 10A Motor
  • 12,000 RPM
  • 8 x 34-inch Jointing Capacity
  • Built-In Table Extensions

The final alternative to the Delta 37-071 is the Wahuda Tools 50180CC-WHD.

It’s one of the most affordable 8-inch benchtop jointers you can get, and its 10A motor provides enough cutting power and speed to square uneven boards safely and quickly.

The jointer uses carbide-tipped inserts that last longer than HSS while also having four reversible sides.

The 35-inch infeed-outfeed tables come with built-in extensions to support boards of up to 51 inches in length.

However, there’s a tiny dip between the main tables and their extensions, which can lead to snip if you don’t account for it.

Pros

  • Compact 8-inch jointer
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Uses carbide-tipped inserts
  • Decently quiet for a benchtop jointer

Cons

  • The worktable extensions could be flatter

The Wahuda is the most affordable 8-inch jointer that will grow with you as you mature into a more experienced miller.

Best Jointer for the Money - PORTER-CABLE PC160JT

best overall rating

If you want a jointer that offers the best bang for your buck, then we’d highly recommend getting the PORTER-CABLE PC160JT.

Despite its lightweight, this benchtop machine offers a tremendous amount at a fraction of the cost of similarly-sized alternatives.

Take a look at the PC160JT’s key specifications below—

  • 1.4-HP Motor
  • 12-22,000 CPM
  • 6 x 30-inch Jointing Capacity
  • Built-in Cutterhead Lock

The PORTER-CABLE PC160JT is arguably one of the most user-friendly 6-inch jointers on the market.

The 1.4-HP motor offers an amazing level of cutting power and precision, and you can even adjust the cutting speed from anywhere between 12,000 and 22,000 CPM.

Use a lower speed to shape and square rough, green wood without causing it to split.

This jointer’s cutting depth is adjustable to up to 1/8 of an inch. To set the depth, unfasten the jackscrews on the cutterhead and reposition the knives.

It takes some getting used to, but beginners will hardly ever have to do this. Backed by a 3-year warranty, you can feel confident that your jointer will last you for many, many seasons.

Pros

  • Decent table lengths
  • Extra-fast cutter speed
  • Generous 3-year warranty
  • Super-beefy motor for its size

Cons

  • Fence could be sturdier

Considering what the PC160JT offers, it’s obvious that it’s the best in its budget-friendly class. Although the fence can be stubborn at times, its squaring performance more than makes up for this tiny fault.

Best Jointer Under $1,000 - JET JJ-6CSDX

best overall rating

If you’re shopping for a jointer on a $1,000 budget or less, the best jointer you can get is Jet JJP-10BTOS. It’s not a standalone jointer but rather a jointer planer combo that performs both jobs beautifully.

Here’s what the Jet JJP-10BTOS’ key specs are at a glance—

  • 13A Motor
  • 18,000 CPM
  • 10 x 36-inch Jointing Capacity
  • 19.5-FPM Planing Rate

The Jet JJP-10BTOS is unlike anything on this list so far. It’s rocking a 13A motor that produces a cutting speed of up to 18,000 cuts per minute on boards as wide as 10 inches.

Its infeed and outfeed tables have a combined length of 36 inches, which isn’t half-bad for a mid-range jointer.

You’ll also enjoy the planer function that takes in boards of around 20 inches in length. It moves boards at a rate of 19.5 feet per minute, which isn’t the fastest feeding rate out there but decent for a 2-in-1 combo tool.

Every pass through the planer’s cutterhead can remove 0.08 inches of material, giving you fine-tunable control over the final thickness of your workpiece.

Pros

  • Virtually 0 vibrations
  • Backed by a 3-year warranty
  • Durable cast-iron worktables
  • Outstanding jointing and planing performances

Cons

  • Jointer fence can arrive bent out of shape

If the fence comes banged up, just give Jet a call and see if they’ll replace it for you, FOC (experience varies from customer from customer).

Best Budget Jointer Under $500 - CRAFTSMAN CMEW020

best overall rating

From our analysis, the CRAFTSMAN CMEW020 is the best budget-friendly jointer priced below $500 and also the best 6-inch jointer you can get.

It’s a mighty machine producing up to 22,000 cuts per minute while removing up to 1/8 of an in per pass.

Take a look at the CRAFTSMAN CMEW020’s key specifications below—

  • 10A Motor
  • 12-22000 CPM
  • 30-inch Infeed + Outfeed Tables
  • 3-Year Warranty

The CRAFTSMAN CMEW020 features a robust 10A motor and dual-knife cutterhead.

This is a variable speed jointer that delivers between 12,000 and 22,000 CPM, allowing you to work with soft and hardened, seasoned lumber without chipping the knives or splitting your workpieces.

To adjust the cutting depth, loosen the cutterhead’s jackscrew and reposition the knives based on the desired cutting depth.

The infeed and outfeed tables measure in at 30 inches, giving you the maximum support that you can get from a 6-inch jointer.

The table is constructed out of heavy-duty cast iron that won’t warp or bend under extreme pressure.

Pros

  • Dual-knife cutter head
  • Variable spend up to 22,000 CPM
  • Generous manufacturer warranty
  • Easy to adjust and replace knives

Cons

  • Could come with a dust/chip collection bag

The CMEW020 is the ideal jointer for aspiring woodworkers. It’s easy to use, it’s relatively maintenance-free, and it’s incredibly affordable for a 6-inch jointer.

Best 8-inch Jointer - Powermatic 60HH

best overall rating

If you want a slighter wide jointer, then the 8-inch Powermatic 60HH is your best option. The dovetail jointer comes with all of the hardware that you’d expect from a pro-grade jointer while also being built like a rock.

Here’s what to 60HH’s key specs look like at a glance—

  • 2-HP Motor
  • 7,000 RPM
  • 73-inch Infeed + Outfeed Tables
  • Helical Cutterhead

The Powermatic 60HH is a sizable jointer that sits on 32-inch-tall, cast-iron stands.

With the 8-inch cutterhead and 2-HP motor, there’s a lot less cutting down boards down to size prior to passing them over the helical cutterhead.

With 54 carbide-tipped inserts along the cutterhead’s surface, this jointer chops all kinds of wood quickly and cleanly.

The 38-inch-long steel fence has three stops at 45°, 90°, and 135°, allowing you to square the corners of more complex-shaped boards for fancier furniture and molding.

This unit is not what you’d call beginner-friendly, but experienced woodworkers will get a kick out of this heavy-duty jointer.

Pros

  • Durable construction
  • Long, sturdy worktables
  • Cuts up to half an inch per pass
  • Powerful motor, high-speed performance

Cons

  • Could be easier to assemble

Make sure your garage has a 230V power supply ready before picking up the Powermatic 60HH.

Best Jointer Planer Combo - Jet JJP-8BT

best overall rating

Even though the Jet JJP-8BT isn’t the first jointer planer on our list, its 13A motor and outstanding jointing and planing performances will impress the most seasoned woodworker sout there.

The following are the JJP-8BT’s key specs—

  • 13A Motor
  • 8 x 33.5-inch Jointing Capacity
  • 0.08-inch Planer Cutting Depth
  • 18,000 CPM/19.5 FPM

The Jet JJP-8BT features a beefy 13A motor that drives the cutterheads to deliver up to 18,000 cuts per minute on boards as large as 8 x 33.5 inches.

The planer accommodates 17.5-inch-long boards while moving them at a 19.5-FPM rate for quick yet clean material removal.

Since both crucial milling functions are combined into one heavy-duty machine, you’re going to save a ton of floor space by getting this combo tool.

Also, it weighs just 60 pounds, so transporting it from job site to job site is certainly not out of the question.

Just make sure you care for the unit during transport since it comes with more plastic components than metal.

Pros

  • Space-saving design
  • Durable steel outfeed tables
  • Easy to adjust height settings
  • Comes with integrated cord wraps

Cons

  • Could come with more metal parts

Durability is the Jet JJP-8BT’s greatest problem, but the money you’ll save from getting both milling tools in one is worth the slight risk.

Best Jointer Buying Guide

Even though we’ve provided you with all of the best options for every jointer category, there’s still a lot you might now know about choosing the ideal jointer for your workshop. In this guide, we’ll help you determine which jointer will suit your needs the best.

Jointer width

While shopping for a jointer, one of the first things you should consider is the jointing width or the width of the cutterhead.

Budget-friendly models typically fall in the 6 to 8-inch range, while costlier jointers start from 10 inches.

Only you can determine what size you need based on the width of your workpieces, but on average, a hobbyist can easily get by with a 6 or 8-inch model.

Cutterhead style

There are three main cutterhead style options: straight, spiral, and helical. Straight cutterheads are the classic version that cost less, but their knives deteriorate much more quickly than the other two.

As for spiral and helical, they use multiple inserts instead of long knives, which deliver cleaner cuts and also have reversible sides.

You can’t sharpen them, and they cost quite a bit more, but they outlast straight knives by a wide margin.

Bed length

You should have an idea of the average length of your boards before choosing a jointer based on its bed length.

Longer infeed and outfeed tables are ideal since they’ll let you work with a wider range of board lengths, but if you don’t have enough space in your workshop, then a 30 to 60-inch jointer table will work fine.

Motor size

The higher the motor’s power rating, the better it will be at shaping rougher logs and the costlier it becomes.

Most beginner-friendly jointers come with 1 to 1.5-HP motors while pro-grade machines sport 5-HP motors or higher.

Choose the jointer based on the types of wood you work with and how rough they are.

Power requirements

Beginner-friendly jointers can plug into any standard 110/120V outlet and produce maximum power output, whereas beefier jointers need a dedicated 220/230V receptacle to operate.

Although a 230V jointer is ideal for more challenging squaring and shaping jobs, novice woodworkers can make a 110V jointer work to their advantage without investing in 230V outlet.

Read our detailed jointer reviews here>

Jointer Types

Jointer planer combo

Jointer planer combos are great for a number of reasons, but their space-saving design is what is most appealing to semi-pro woodworkers.

Although its planing capacities can be limited, it can certainly get the job done.

hat said, if you have the means to invest in a jointer and a planer/thicknesser, we’d highly recommend getting two separate tools instead.

Benchtop vs. freestanding

By their size difference, you can tell that a benchtop jointer is the more beginner-friendly option.

Freestanding jointers are larger, sport more powerful motors, and square corners of oddly-shaped boards more evenly and quickly.

However, freestanding jointers are several times more expensive than a benchtop machine.

Dovetail vs. parallelogram

The longer you use a jointer, the more out-of-place the infeed and outfeed tables become.

Inexpensive jointers follow a sliding dovetail design that lets operators shimmy the tables back into place, whereas a parallelogram jointer lets you adjust the four corners of each table independently.

The latter option is costlier but a lot easier to maintain.

FAQ’s

Is a benchtop jointer worth it?

In this best jointer guide, most of the options we provided are benchtop models. They’re user-friendly, affordable, and durable within reason. They also require space to install than freestanding models, but aren’t as powerful or as long-lasting. When choosing between a benchtop or a freestanding jointer, you should consider three things: how much space you can allocate to your jointer, your jointing capacity needs, and your budget.

Are parallelogram jointers better than dovetail jointers?

Parallelogram jointers are objectively better than dovetail jointers in terms of adjustability. However, beginner woodworkers may never feel the need to constantly adjust the infeed and outfeed tables’ heights, and realigning the tables only needs to be done one in a while. That said, if you can spring for a parallelogram jointer, we’d highly recommend it.

Should I get a jointer or a planer first?

This is a debate that’s as old as time itself. Even though both tools are crucial in the wood milling process, flattening a board and squaring its corners by hand is arguably more difficult than using a hand planer to reduce its thickness. Although we’d recommend investing in both tools at one point (or kill two birds with one stone by getting a jointer planer combo), we suggest investing in a jointer before a planer.

Is an 8-inch jointer big enough?

That depends on what size boards you normally work with. For the most part, 8-inch jointers are the largest any beginner woodworker might need, and you can easily rip a board down to size using a circular saw or table saw. However, larger is always better when it comes to woodworking tools, and if you can get it, try to aim for a 10-inch-plus jointer. If that’s out of the question, 6 or 8-inch jointers will definitely work just fine.

Summary

In today’s guide on jointers, we’ve offer you a dozen different of the best jointer models, many of which are the best in their respective categories.

You can refer to our best jointer buying guide to determine which jointer is the one your workshop needs. If you need assistance, we’d be more than happy to lend a helping hand in the comments section.

About Michael Adams

Michael has been providing handyman services for the last 14 years. He also contributes as a writer sharing his experience and experience for design projects.

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