By Timothy Dale | Updated Sep 10, 2021 1:30 PM

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Bench sanders are designed to sand down large surfaces quickly and easily, so you can finish a woodworking project faster than you would with a handheld tool. They’re essentially a power sander with a weighted base for stability. Made to sit on a workbench, they are not portable, but are high powered and have the ability to handle an array of materials.

The best bench sanders include additional sanding tools, like a disc sander, belt sander, and spindle sander; some may also include a grinding or sharpening tool. When searching for the right one for your workshop, consider the type of projects you work on, how much power the sander offers, and the adjustability of the sander.

From belt sanders to disc sanders, this guide describes important features to consider when shopping for the best bench sander. Read on to learn about the workings of bench sanders and why the models below are some of the best on the market.

There is a lot to consider when searching for the right bench sander. From the space available to the type of sander, the following are some things to think about when looking for the best benchtop sander for a workshop.

One of the best features of a bench sander is that many different types of sanders fall under the category of bench sander, giving tool users a range of options for their woodworking projects. Bench sander types include belt and disc, drum, and oscillating spindle sanders.

The amount of power a bench sander needs depends on how it will be used. Large projects benefit from a sander with a powerful motor that can rip through a lot of material in a short period of time. Smaller, delicate projects need a less powerful sander, as too much force can ruin a design or tear the material apart.

Additionally, a powerful sander is harder to control, which is not ideal when working with a small piece of wood. A bench sander with a ⅓- to ¾-horsepower motor (HP)—or about 1 to 5 amps—should be sufficient for most DIY sanding projects.

The best bench sanders can be adjusted to customize motor speed, sanding angle, and sanding surface, which gives the tool the ability to handle a wider range of projects and materials. A bench sander with speed controls lets users throttle its power output.

The sanding angle on some belt sanders can be adjusted to horizontal or vertical. There are also bench sanders that can be set to use a range of sandpaper types for smoothing materials other than wood.

If the goal is to find a tool that’s easy to use, look for a sander with intuitive controls, clearly indicated measurements, and clear instructions for use. It’s important for a bench sander to be heavy enough to remain steady as wood is pushed against it, but light enough to move around as needed in the workshop. A tool in the weight range of 30 to 40 pounds is usually ideal. Even with sufficient heft, it’s helpful for a sander to have a nonslip base so that it remains stable on the workbench during use.

Make sure to choose the right kind of bench sander for the work that’s planned. If the plan is to do fine work, a bench sander with a spindle sanding tool is the best bet. If a wide range of projects are planned, a sander with a belt sanding tool, disc sander, or grinding wheel may be the better choice.

Bench sanders can come with several different accessories or built-in features to help make it easier to control the sander and achieve the best finish possible on projects.

After reviewing some of the important features bench sanders offer, you may have decided on the best type for the work that’s planned. To help with the tool search, this list of some of the best bench sanders on the market is organized by type. You may find that one of the tools below is exactly what you need in the workshop to create that goal finish.

This Bucktool bench sander is a high-quality tool with a powerful 6.5-amp (¾-HP) direct-drive motor and a pair of sanding tools. It’s powerful and versatile enough to handle a variety of sanding jobs, with an 8-inch disc sander and 36-inch belt sander mounted on a cast aluminum base and stabilized by nonslip rubber feet.

There are two ports for attaching a dust collector or shop vac to make cleanup easier. Each sanding tool has an adjustable aluminum table. The belt sander adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees, and there’s a miter gauge included for angle sanding.

The Rockwell Belt/Disc Combo Sander can get a lot of work done fast, thanks to its wide belt sander and 4.3-amp (½-HP) motor. The Rockwell tool also has a 6-inch disc sander and an adjustable sanding table that can be set from 0 to 45 degrees for optimal material positioning. This belt sander can be adjusted from a horizontal position to a vertical sanding position.

The Rockwell has a safety switch for preventing accidental starts. For convenience, both the belt and disc sandpaper are easy to change. The Rockwell sander also comes with a dust collection system. It weighs 41 pounds, which is light enough for most to move it around or store it away.

This Bucktool bench sander has a 2-inch by 42-inch belt sander that can be adjusted from 0 degrees to 90 degrees, so it can be set up to run horizontally or vertically, depending on needs. There’s also a 6-inch bench grinder that can be used for sharpening and a brush wheel for removing rust from tools.

The combination belt sander/bench grinder has a 3.5-amp (⅓-HP) motor and a cast-iron base for better support while working. The grinder also comes with an adjustable eyeshield and a built-in LED light, which illuminates the work area while the wheel is in use.

Woodworkers in search of a highly functional benchtop belt and disc sander may want to check out this tool by JET that has a powerful 6.5-amp motor. This ¾-HP motor drives the vertical 2-inch by 42-inch belt sander at up to 3,100 SFPM and the 8-inch disc sander at up to 3,450 RPM, helping to ensure a smooth finish on woodworking projects.

The high level of power and the heavy-duty steel and cast-iron construction adds to the weight of the sander, sitting at a hefty 60 pounds, so it may not be a good choice for users who want to pack it up and take it to multiple job sites. However, the 45-degree sanding table does come with a removable miter gauge to help users produce a smooth, accurate finish while sanding at an angle.

This WEN bench sander comes with two sanding tools—a 4-inch-wide belt sander and a 6-inch-diameter disc sander—so it can handle a range of projects. It weighs a portable 39 pounds, which is heavy enough to not easily wobble or slide during use. The sander has a durable, heavy-duty cast iron base. Both sanding tools have adjustable sanding angles.

The WEN belt and disc sander is powered by a 4.3-amp (1/2-HP) motor and has a simple tension release lever for changing the sandpaper. The belts on this sander are designed for easy replacement as well. Its dust collection port doesn’t direct the flow of sawdust on its own but provides an available place to connect a dust collector.

While palm, detail, and rotary sanders are portable sanding tools commonly found in woodworking workshops, a bench sander is a stationary tool ideal for sanding and smoothing large projects or adding precise details to smaller woodworking projects.

These tools have a weighted base, ensuring that they won’t move while in use, and they come in several different types including drum, oscillating spindle, and belt disc sanders. Choose the type that suits your work, or invest in more than one type in order to broaden your sanding options in the workshop.

Choosing this selection of the best bench sanders was possible through researching some of the key features that are essential to shaping and carving wood successfully. Many of the options above have been designed to function effectively through a variety of projects.

High-power motors, adjustability, portability, and safety features like eyeshields and safety switches are the most important aspects that should be included with bench sanders. But, many of the options above also include storage slots, dust collectors, and LED lights for precision and accuracy.

Our list of top picks includes some options that have multiple sanders within one bench for versatile sanding and come in different sizes depending upon the space you have available in your current workshop or construction site. Finally, many of the options above also come in varying price ranges, so there’s a choice for every budget.

Safety is important when working with a bench sander. It’s crucial to use personal protective equipment (PPE) including: safety gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection, and a dust mask.

Operate the sander with a slow, deliberate pace to avoid accidental oversanding of the material. Like any benchtop power tool, a bench sander should be operated on a flat, stable surface so it  doesn’t slip, wobble, or fall over. To recap:

With so many bench sander options and features, it’s understandable to have some lingering questions. If you still aren’t sure how to choose the best bench sander, the following helpful answers to common questions about bench sanders may help.

Bench sanders may have several different sanding tools built into them, including disc, belt, and spindle sanders. Each type of sanding tool on the bench sander has a different purpose. Disc sanders are good for sanding a lot of surface area in a hurry or stripping paint from old furniture.

Belt sanders can handle rough surfaces, and you can use them to round and shape wood. Spindle sanders are designed to produce a smooth finish on detailed edges and curves, so they’re good for fine carpentry and refinishing furniture.

Belt sanders have a horizontal or vertical adjustable belt of sandpaper that runs through the tool like a conveyor belt. This type of sander can trim edges, level surfaces, and shape materials.

Spindle sanders have a single vertical oscillating spindle with a piece of sandpaper wrapped around it. They’re good for shaping edges, adding curves, and doing detailed work.

Bench sanders can handle a range of tasks, from smoothing long boards to beveling the edge of a dowel. They can handle big jobs or smaller jobs that would normally be done with a rasp or hand plane. The size of materials a bench sander can handle depends on the type of sanding tools it has and the size of the sanding surface.

Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series, including This Old House and Bob Vila’s Home Again, he popularized and became synonymous with “do it yourself” home improvement.

Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each day—a tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.

Timothy Dale is a freelance writer, specializing in the home repair and construction niche. He spent his post-secondary years working in the plumbing trade, while completing degrees in English Literature and Psychology, before taking on a Project Management position that ended up lasting 10 years. Mr. Dale has worked in residential plumbing and carpentry over his time as a Project Manager and also spent a year of his career in the commercial and industrial sector.

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