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

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.

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.

Best Premium - Powermatic PJ882

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Powermatic 54HH

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Best Jointer Planer Combo - Jet JJP-8BT

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.

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.