10 Best Thickness Planer Machines 2026 in the United States

The Powermatic 22-Inch Planer (Model 201HH) is a heavy-duty machine designed for professional woodworking. Its 22-inch cutting width and 0.19-inch cutting depth make it suitable for large projects. The 7-1/2 horsepower motor ensures powerful performance, and with a feed rate of up to 20 feet per minute, it can handle a high volume of work efficiently.

The helical cutterhead with 125 four-sided carbide knife inserts provides smoother and quieter cuts, which is a significant advantage for maintaining a pleasant working environment and achieving high-quality finishes. Additionally, the adjustable bed rollers and cast iron construction contribute to the machine's durability and stability, ensuring smooth operation even with rough or finished workpieces. The dust chute with a 5-inch port is a useful feature for effective dust collection, keeping the workspace cleaner and safer.

However, at 1430 pounds, this planer is extremely heavy, making portability a challenge. It is best suited for a stationary workshop setup rather than being moved around frequently. The Powermatic 22-Inch Planer is a robust and efficient machine ideal for professional woodworkers who require precision and high performance but may not be suitable for those who need a more portable solution.

The Powermatic 22-Inch Planer is a heavy-duty woodworking machine designed for serious hobbyists or professional woodworkers needing to handle wide and thick boards. Its 22-inch cutting width is quite generous, allowing you to plane large pieces of wood in one pass. The cutting depth maxes out at 0.19 inches, which is typical for planers of this size and ensures you can remove decent amounts of material efficiently.

Powered by a robust 7-1/2 HP motor running on 230V, it delivers strong, consistent performance for demanding jobs. The helical cutterhead with 125 four-sided carbide inserts is a big plus—it offers smoother, quieter cuts than traditional straight blades and the carbide material holds an edge longer, reducing blade changes. The adjustable bed rollers and segmented infeed roller improve feeding smoothness, helping to prevent snipe or uneven surfaces on your wood. Dust collection is handled through a 5-inch dust chute, which works well with a shop vacuum or dust collector to keep your workspace cleaner.

One downside is its very heavy 1430-pound cast iron construction, which means this planer isn’t portable and is best suited for a stationary workshop setup. If your projects require planing wide boards with precision and you have space for a large machine, this Powermatic model is a solid investment offering durability, power, and excellent cutting quality.

The JET Black 20-Inch Thickness Planer is a solid choice for woodworking enthusiasts who need a heavy-duty machine for smoothing and sizing wood. It offers a wide 20-inch cutting width, allowing you to work on larger boards with ease. The cutting depth is up to about 0.09 inches per pass, which is typical for planers and good enough for most woodworking tasks. Powered by a strong 5 HP motor, it has enough power to handle tough hardwoods without bogging down. The two-speed feed rates (24 and 31 feet per minute) give some flexibility depending on whether you want a finer finish or faster work.

A helical cutterhead with multiple knife inserts improves cutting quality and reduces noise and tear-out compared to traditional straight blades. The planer comes with extension tables and a dust hood to help keep your workspace clean, although you’ll need a proper dust collection setup for best results. The welded steel base and cast iron tables provide excellent stability, but this also means the machine is quite heavy at 765 pounds, making it not very portable and better suited for a fixed workshop location.

One handy feature is the large handwheel with a positive gear drive, which lets you make precise thickness adjustments in small increments. This planer is designed for serious woodworkers looking for power, accuracy, and durability, but its size and weight reduce its convenience if you need something portable or compact.