8 Best Hand Planes (Covering 4 Essential Types)

Hand planes are a vital part of any woodcrafter’s set of tools. But while there are a wide range of hand plane types out there, you will rarely need more than three or four.

Hand planes are often also called bench planes, although they are different from an actual bench-mounted wood plane. What follows are eight of the best hand planes for almost every task, with our picks for the best model and an affordable alternative for that same type.

Hand Planer Reviews

	Product	Style	Type	Length	Weight
	WoodRiver 150875	#5	Jack	13-7/8"	6.75 lbs
	Taytools 469607	#5	Jack	14-1/4"	5.45 lbs
	WoodRiver 153104	#7	Jointer	22"	9.78 lbs
	Taytools 469584	#7	Jointer	22"	8.30 lbs
	WoodRiver 150874	#4	Smoothing	9-7/8"	5.35 lbs
	Jorgensen 70730	#4	Smoothing	10"	4.20 lbs
	WoodRiver Low Angle	Low angle	Block	7"	2.04 lbs
	Stanley 12-960	Low angle	Block	6-1/4"	1.60 lbs

Best Jack Plane

Often called the “jack of all trades”, jack planes measures 12 to 17 inches long are are probably the most versatile of all hand planers. This is often the first plane you will reach for before any finer work. If you were to only own one type of hand plane, this would generally be the best option.

TOP PICK – WoodRiver 150875 No. 5 Bench Plane (V3)

BUDGET PICK – Taytools 469607 No. 5 Bench Plane

Made from ductile cast iron precisely machined to within .003 inches along both sole and sides, this 14-1/4 inch jack plane is a perfect addition for those looking for quality, affordable tools.

Polished brass adjusting wheels, solid yoke, and carefully crafted Sapele knob and tote add extra quality to this tool. With a bed angle of 45 degrees, the 469607 can hold its own against many more expensive hand planers.

The tool comes ready for use with minimal adjustments necessary. It makes great cuts and has an almost perfectly flat sole. However, the design can make it a little finicky to adjust, and the included blade isn’t stainless steel, so you may wish to change it out.

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Best Jointer Plane

Also known as the try plane, these long tools measure over 18 inches. They’re used for truing the edges of long planks and other areas that will be glued into place. Their length also makes them a perfect followup to the jack plane when working on large surfaces, as the long foot helps ensure a level cut.

TOP PICK – WoodRiver 153104 No. 7 Jointer Plane (V3)

Much like their #5 jack plane, the #7 is based on the famous Stanley Bedrock line. The 22-inch long plane weighs a hefty 9.78 pounds for extra stability on uneven surfaces.

The castings and lateral adjustment lever have both been improved in recent runs. With stress-relieved, ductile iron castings, carbon steel blades, and carefully machined, adjustable frogs, this is one of the best hand planes you’ll find on the market.

These well-crafted jointer wood planes are made by a company which takes feedback seriously. As a result, the design is regularly tweaked to improve both handling and cutting power. They may require some adjusting before the first use and include an anti-rust coating.

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BUDGET PICK – Taytools 469584 No. 7 Jointer Plane

The 22-inch long #7 from Taytools is a great addition for any workshop, not just those on a budget. Made of ductile cast iron and polished brass, its sides and sole have been machined to within .0006 inches.

A Sapele knob and tote add to the overall quality, while the adjustable frog and solid yoke make this bench plane one of the best for your truing needs.

The careful machining of this tool makes it quite accurate, although some adjustments may be needed out of the box. You may also wish to replace the included blade with a stainless one.

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Best Smoothing Plane

The third and final member of the wood plane trifecta you will use is the smoothing plane. Measuring at 10 inches or less, these little guys work along the grain to produce results so smooth you won’t even need to grab the sandpaper or sander once you’ve mastered cutting with this essential addition to your hand tool collection.

The #4 plane is usually considered the most versatile size, although the #1 is so small it could be used to craft such small surfaces as doll house furniture in the right hands.

TOP PICK – WoodRiver 150874 No. 4 Smoothing Plane (V3)

As with the other bench planes in this line, WoodRiver’s #4 is based on the classic Bedrock series. This 9-7/8 inch smoothing plane has the same precise machining and stress-relieved ductile steel castings as the previous tools.

Unlike many smoothing planes, WoodRiver has included an adjustable frog for more precise tuning.

As mentioned previously, WoodRiver is constantly improving their designs. This is evident in the current V3 model, which addresses many of the criticisms regarding the V2. It may require a bit of fine tuning, but is generally ready to use out of the box.

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BUDGET PICK – JORGENSEN ‎70730 No. 4 Smoothing Plane

Mid-tier pricing doesn’t always mean sacrificing quality, as the 70730 easily proves. Measuring 10″ x 2.54″, this beautiful smoothing plane is made with a beech wood and ductile iron body, professional level O1 tool steel blade, aluminum alloy lever cap, and zinc alloy frog body.

The 25 degree blade angle is perfectly set for 45 degree cuts, removing paper-thin shavings. Alternatively, it’s easy to adjust the blade for deeper cuts, allowing the plane to perform additional functions including larger scale removal.

The beech wood handle is ergonomically designed and polished (as is the sole) for a smooth, comfortable grip.

For the price point, it’s really hard to find anything negative to say about this plane. Perhaps the only potential issue is that while the blade comes pre-sharpened, you may wish to sharpen it again before use. Daily sharpening is standard practice for Japanese craftsmen, but not so common here in the US, so doing so right out of the box may be a bit off-putting for some.

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Best Block Plane

Block planes come in two main flavors: standard and low angle. Standard angle planes have a 20-degree bed, allowing a 25 degree blade to cut at 45 degrees.

However, the low angle planes are easily the more useful of the two, with a 12 degree bed for a 37 degree cutting angle. This allows the low angle block plane to shave off end grain more efficiently.

Another advantage to using this type of plane is that the resulting cuts are quite smooth and leave exposed ends presentable. Note that the blade for a block plane faces downwards, whereas the bevel faces up in regular bench planes.

TOP PICK – WoodRiver 151125 Low Angle Block Plane

Taking note of Stanley’s famous “knuckle cap” design, this block plane features a chrome-plated knuckle lever cap and improved castings for the base and bedding areas.

A rear adjustment knob allows precise blade tuning, while the mouth may be adjusted to create a range of shaving thicknesses. As with all of WoodRiver’s planes, it’s made of stress-relieved ductile iron castings that are precision machined to a uniform smoothness.

The included high carbon steel blade may be used out of the box, although it’s recommended to sharpen it prior to use.

Sharpening the included blade is quick and easy, and the overall quality of this tool has net with very little complaint. As with all WoodRiver tools, feedback is regularly reviewed, so the tool is always improving.

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BUDGET PICK – Stanley 12-960 Bailey Low Angle Block Plane

The latest block plane from Stanley is the 12-960. It measures a mere 6 1/4 inches long and has a precision ground gray cast iron base complete with a protective epoxy coating for quick, efficient movements.

The blade has a width of 1-7/8 inches and is made from hardened, tempered tool steel. Its 1-3/8 inch cutter rests at 21 degrees and can be adjusted to a 13-1/2 degree low angle for precision work. Finger grips have been machined into the sides to aid in single-handed use, and a quick release cam makes blade removal quick and easy. 

Don’t expect this plane to be perfect out of the box, but with a little initial tuning, it’s surprisingly good for the cost. You’ll want to sand down the shoe with progressively finer sandpaper and sharpen the blade. This little bit of extra time investment really pays off and turns a decent block plane into a good one.

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