We’ve selected the best plane for doors based on value for money, build quality, reliability, and of course being able to get the job done to a satisfactory standard.
So whether your a professional or just keen on DIY and just need a hand plane to trim or shave a small amount of wood from the side of a sticking door or perhaps you are fitting a new door where you need to remove bigger amounts of wood, this handy guild will help you choose the right plane for the job in hand.
We’ve selected the best hand planes, ranging from the traditional (manual) person powered type hand plane, through to powerful electric corded planes. We’ve also included cordless battery powered planes in this review because battery powered hand planes offer greater freedom of movement compared to corded planes when working as there are no cords to get in the way as you work.
| Editor’s Award | Best Performer | Full Review |
|---|---|---|
| Best Manual Hand Plane for Doors | STANLEY Hand Planer, No.4 |  |
| Best Electric Plane for Doors | BOSCH 3-1/4 Inch Woodworking Hand Planer with Carrying Case, PL2632K |  |
| Best Cordless Plane for Doors | DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer (Tool Only) |  |
| Best Small Trimming Plane | STANLEY Hand Planer, Black/Red (12-220) |  |
Click to jump straight to each topic.
The Best Planes for Doors Reviewed
Best Manual Hand Plane for Doors: STANLEY Hand Planer, No.4
Best Manual Hand Plane for Doors
This manual hand plane from Stanley is high quality through and through. It really is the ideal woodworking tool for those of you that like to work with wood and do things in the traditional way.
The Stanley No.4 is classed as a smoothing bench plane and as such makes it the perfect choice for either big or small jobs, from heavy stock removal to just taking off a few shavings from a door this classic tool is a firm favourite with DIYers and professionals alike that work with wood.
This hand plane really is a great choice for big or small jobs, so even if you are just taking off a few shavings to ease a sticking door or removing thicker amounts of wood from a new door that is to be fitted, then this plane will help you to get the job done.
With an overall length of 13.1 inches and weighing in at 5.79 pounds this smoothing plane is ideal for working on doors and long pieces of wood.
The Stanley No.4 smoothing plane has a thick cutting blade that’s super sharp, the blade is made from A2 grade steel, this gives increased edge retention and also helps to greatly reduce chatter when working.
Boasting a beautiful cherry wood handle and knob, and with solid brass adjustments completing the look, this hand plane not only looks the real deal, it also gets the job done extremely well, and in the traditional way.
Included is a limited lifetime warranty with this hand plane, and if you were wondering if this plane is good to go right out of the box? then the answer is ‘yes it is‘.
Of course some folks like to, and enjoy getting new tools set up to their own preferences, such as a little extra honing of the blade or setting the cutting blade depth, and that’s great, you can still do that with this bench plane, but if you want to just get it out of the box and start working, then this is set up to do just that.
What We Like:
- Traditional Woodworking – This is how it was always done before modern electric and battery powered hand planes came along.
- Oozes Quality – This smoothing plane looks amazing, so if you are into not only how well the tool performs but also how good it looks then this is the hand plane for you.
- Classic Hand Tool – Ask any woodworker that is into tools and chances are that they will have a Stanley No.4 wood plane in their collection of workshop tools.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Electric Plane for Doors: BOSCH 3-1/4 Inch Woodworking Hand Planer with Carrying Case, PL2632K
Best Electric Plane for Doors
BOSCH 3-1/4 Inch Woodworking Hand Planer with Carrying Case, PL2632K
This lightweight, yet super powerful hand planer from Bosch is good for both big or small jobs.
Featuring a 6.5 amp motor that produces 16,500 RPM, stock can be removed fast if that is what you need, leaving an impressively smooth surface.
If you prefer to let the tool do all the work then this is a really great choice to go for. This powerful woodworking hand planer weighs in at just 6.3 lbs and will make short work of door trimming and shaving jobs.
Precision machined aluminium front and rear shoes ensure this hand planer produces quality results time and time again, there is even a machined groove that is there for you if you need to chamfer wood.
A really cool feature I’d just like to mention here is the spring loaded stand, this gives blade protection when the tool is at rest, which helps to keep the cutting blade from getting damaged and also protects the tool resting spot from accidental damage from the blade.
Talking about the blades, these blades are super sharp Bosch Woodrazor micrograin carbide blades and they are reversible too. Precise adjustment of the cutting blade depth is easily achieved via the handy positioned front control knob.
Included with this kit is a dual mount fence, this can be mounted on either side of the tool for ease of work. Also provided is a plastic overshoe, this is perfect for protecting the work piece from surface damage as the tool moves along.
This Bosch planer boasts being the first power tool to have an ambidextrous lock off release button, this release button is to help avoid accidently starting the planer, and if you are using the tool for longer periods then there is a lock on button too.
As for getting those wood shavings out of the way while you work, and this is another great feature, you can select whether the shavings are discharged from the left or the right side of the tool via the chip ejection switch, this really does help you to keep the workpiece clear of wood debris as you work.
Attention to detail is second to none, this impressive Bosch planer even features a ball joint cord swivel to help with positioning of the tool on the workpiece and there are dust ports available on either side of the planer so that any wood shavings can be directed into a suitable shavings bag, which means less tidying up to do when the job is done.
What We Like:
- Feature Packed Tool – Great attention to detail, this Bosch hand plane has great user options to help you get the job done efficiently.
- Lightweight And Powerful – This powerful 6.5 amp motor delivers an amazing 16,500 RPM, ensuring fast stock removal from a tool weighing in at just 6.3 lbs.
- Real Bang For Your Buck – A really decent price for a high quality tool.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Cordless Plane for Doors: DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer (Tool Only)
Best Cordless Plane for Doors
DEWALT DCP580B 20V MAX Brushless Planer (Tool Only)
For those of you that like to let the machine do all the hard work without any of the hassle of power cords getting in the way, then for sure, this is the hand planer to go for.
DeWalt has an impressive reputation for making great power tools, and this cordless hand planer is a really great power tool. This powerful cordless planer has a no load speed of 15000 RPM and features a brushless motor which not only helps to maintain speed when working under load conditions, but also helps to provide maximum work efficiency too.
This battery powered, cordless planer has a 3-1/4″ width working capacity combined with 1/256″adjustments, if you need a rebate function on your planer then you’ll be pleased to hear that this planer has a rebate capacity of 5/64″.
Depth adjustment of the cutting blade is via the front positioned knob calibrated to 5/64″, precision machined aluminium shoes to the front and back of the tool helps to make sure that cuts are perfectly parallel.
You also get the very handy tool kick stand that protects the tool blade when the planer is not in use and at rest on a surface.
Size wise this DeWalt cordless planer measures 8 x 6.94 x 16 inches, the planer handle has been ergonomically designed ensuring comfort to the user and weighing in at only 6.8 lbs this cordless planer will work hard for you all day long if you need it to.
Remember, that this DeWalt cordless planer is sold as tool only, so you will need to buy a DeWalt 20V MAX battery pack and DeWalt battery charger to get you working, we recommend that you go for a high Ah rated battery to help keep you working for longer. (It’s always best to have a spare battery or two as well so that you can carry on working while one battery is charging up.)
Check out the Amazon price for the DeWalt 20V MAX 6.0 Ah double battery pack, and if you need a DeWalt battery charger then there are plenty of options to choose from, such as the DEWALT 20V MAX Charger (DCB115) available from Amazon.
Of course if you already have DeWalt cordless power tools that use the 20V MAX battery pack system then you could use those batteries with this planer too.
What We Like:
- Quality Tool From DeWalt – As you’d expect from DeWalt this cordless planer is built to work hard and give great results.
- Works With DeWalt 20V MAX Batteries – If you have other DeWalt tools that use the 20V MAX battery system then you can use those batteries in this cordless planer too.
- Brushless Motor – Keeps the motor running efficiently ensuring speed is maintained even under load.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Best Small Trimming Plane: STANLEY Hand Planer, Black/Red (12-220)
Best Small Trimming Plane
STANLEY Hand Planer, Black/Red (12-220)
This is a great small trimming plane which is ideal for those times when you only need to plane a small area of the door.
Measuring in at just 7.7 x 4.4 x 2.1 inches this small hand plane is perfect for those times when you just need to remove a small area of wood from a door.
If the small area of wood to be removed is on the side or edge of the door then you possibly won’t even need to remove the door to plane it.
This super handy little trimming plane weighs in at just 1.6 lbs so it’s really easy to use in tight or awkward places and because it’s made by Stanley, you can be assured of it’s quality.
With machined sides, cast iron base and an adjustable cutter blade (depth and alignment) that is angled at 21° this manual hand plane is perfect for cross grain planing jobs too.
As this is a small hand plane you generally only use one hand to work the plane. Stanley have designed in a finger rest at the front of the plane, this not only adds to a more comfortable feeling as you are using the plane, but it also helps you to control the plane as you work.
What We Like:
- Small Trimming Plane – Perfect for small area trimming of doors.
- Quality Tool – Made by Stanley, this plane really is good to go right out of the box.
- Great Price – This planer certainly won’t break the bank, check out the price, you get real bang for your buck with this one.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Other Worthy Mentions
Here are some more great planes that we thought were worth mentioning.
Taytools 469607 Jack Smoothing Bench Hand Plane
Classed as a No 5 Jack plane, this 14-1/4″ long plane is the perfect choice for flattening and smoothing wood.
Key Features:
- Weighs 5.45 lbs.
- Width of 2-1/2″.
- Bed angle of 45 degrees.
Bench Dog Tools No. 4 Smoothing Plane
This fantastic looking smoothing plane has a precision ground flat sole, ensuring a nice smooth finish when working.
Key Features:
- Blade made from 1/8” hardened carbon steel.
- Solid Sapele used to make the tote and knob.
- Storage case included.
Makita KP0800K 3-1/4-Inch Planer Kit, Blue
This Makita corded electric plane packs real power and is good for hard working jobs as well as light work.
Key Features:
- Powerful 6.5 amp motor delivers the power.
- This planer is good for long periods of work and weighs in at only 5.7 lbs.
- Two blade cutter head spinning at 17,000 RPM.
DEWALT Hand Planer Kit, 5.5-Amp, 3-1/4-Inch (D26677K)
This corded electric planer from DeWalt is a real worker, capable of producing 34,000 cuts per minute providing a fine smooth finish to your work piece.
Key Features:
- The overall size of this DeWalt corded planer is 7.8 x 17 x 10 inches.
- Weighing in at a nice and sturdy 10 lbs.
- Increased blade life, thanks to the reversible carbide blades.
This battery powered planer from Makita is perfect for cord free working, it packs real power with a high power to weight ratio
Key Features:
- Two bladed cutter head with carbide blades.
- 15,000 RPM motor supplying the cutting power.
- Weighs in at just 7.4 lbs including the weight of the battery.
Bosch 12V Max Planer (Bare Tool) GHO12V-08N
This Bare tool, Bosch cordless planer offers fast, smooth removal of stock thanks to it’s efficient brushless motor.
Key Features:
- Long runtime, this planer can give you up to 33 ft of planing per battery Ah.
- Efficient motor provides 14,500 RPM.
- 2.2 inch planing width is great for working on door edges.
Milwaukee 2623-20 M18 3-1/4″ Planer (Tool Only)
Great for working on sort and hard woods, this powerful cordless planer will remove stock fast.
Key Features:
- 18 Volt battery system.
- Removing up to 5/64″ of stock in a single pass.
- 20 lockable depth positions offers great work control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tool do you use to shave a door?
The best tool to use to shave a door is called a wood plane, wood planes of various shapes and sizes are available to help you with the task.
Traditional wood planes are human powered, the plane would be held with one hand if it is a small plane or both hands if it is a large plane. An ideal choice of a traditional wood plane that can be used to shave a door is called a smoothing plane, or also know as a No 4 wood plane.
Electric or corded wood planes are also a popular choice of power tool to help with the removal of excess wood from a door. These electric powered wood planes can run at very high speeds and remove stock very quickly.
Battery powered or cordless wood planes are a great choice of tool to help shave or trim a door. Cordless power tools offer greater freedom of movement when working as there are no electric cords to get in the way while working.
Whichever method you choose to use always make sure that you wear PPE (personal protective equipment) relevant to the job that you are doing.
Wearing safety glasses or goggles in dusty work areas is a must as is making sure you have good foot protection in the form of safety boots or safety shoes.
Make sure you are wearing suitable clothing for the job in hand, as loose or baggy clothing may hinder your ability to work safely.
And very importantly, only carry out the work if you are competent enough to do so.
How long does it take to trim a door?
The answer as to how long does it take to trim a door depends on many factors. For instance, the type of tool used plays a big part as to the amount of time it takes to trim a door.
Using traditional hand tools that require human power to obtain the desired results usually take longer than electric or battery powered power tools.
Does the door need to be removed from the frame to enable trimming or can it be worked on in situ? Removing a door from its frame to enable work to be carried out takes more time than working on the door in its fixed position.
Removing large amounts of stock will obviously take a longer time than just taking a few shavings off a door.
Competence also plays a big part when assessing as to how much time it takes to carry out a task. An experienced person that has done the job many times before should probably be able to work quicker than someone who hasn’t had any previous experience with doing the job in hand.
As a guide, for a professional woodworker such as a carpenter or joiner, or an experienced DIYer, then trimming or shaving a door is often a common job for them, they would usually have all the tools and experience needed to complete the job in a quick and efficient manor. I would expect a new door be trimmed and fitted in a time range of between 2 and 4 hours.
How do you shave the side of a door?
Shaving the side of a door is an easy task for a professional woodworker such as a carpenter or joiner. Even DIYer’s with wood working experience should have little trouble completing the task as long as they have the correct tools for the job in hand.
Before working with any kind of tools make sure that you feel competent enough to do the job, that you have the correct PPE (personal protective equipment) for the job in hand. Safety glasses or if it’s a dusty job then safety goggles should always be worn. Dust masks, safety footwear and suitable clothing are also essential in helping you to work safely.
Firstly determine by measurement how much wood needs to be shaved from the side of the door and mark on the door using a pencil.
If the door is already in situ then you will need to remove the door from its fixing hinges so that it can be put into a stable position enabling it to be safely worked on.
Then once the door is securely held in a stable working position, using a wood plane, this could be a traditional hand plane such as a smoothing plane, a corded powered wood plane or a battery powered cordless wood plane.
Whichever of the previously mentioned tools you choose to use, the method used to remove shavings is to run the tools cutting blade over the area of wood to be removed. It’s always best to remove small amounts of the area by running the tool along it numerous times rather than trying to remove large depths of wood in one pass.
Shavings should continue to be taken until you get to the pencil line that you marked on the side of the door before you started.
Then it’s just a matter of refitting the door to the hinges in the door frame and testing the door to make sure that it has been trimmed enough.
How do you stop a door from scraping the floor?
If you find that your door has recently started to scrape along the floor as it is being opened or closed firstly check to make sure that debris hasn’t become lodged under the door. Quite often a small stone or piece of grit is often the cause of a scraping door.
If the door is free of debris but still scrapes when being used then check to make sure that the door fixings have not worked loose. Door hinges over time can work loose and if you’re lucky then a quick tighten up of the fixing screws might just be the answer.
If you have tried the previously suggested methods to fix a scraping door and still have the problem then you will have to shave a section of wood from the bottom of the door to eliminate the problem.
This can be done by using a wood plane, wood planes such as a traditional smoothing hand plane, a powered corded wood plane or a cordless battery powered wood plane are such tools that could be used to do the job.
Remember when working with any tools make sure that you use the correct PPE (personal protective equipment) relevant to that job.
Safety glasses or goggles if it’s a dusty environment, dust masks, safety footwear and suitable clothing are all essential. Only work with tools that you are competent with so that the job can be done correctly and safely.
We hope this list of the best manual hand plane for doors has been helpful.
If there’s anything good that you think we’ve missed, or if you have any questions about anything, then let us know down in the comments below.
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