A router is the tool that turns a square-edged board into furniture: it rounds edges, cuts dados and rabbets, flush-trims laminate, hollows mortises and, bolted under a table, becomes a small shaper. The choice is mostly about size and base. A full-size 2.25 HP router with a fixed base is the shop workhorse; a plunge base lets the same motor drop a spinning bit into the middle of a board; a compact trim router is the one-handed tool for edges and hinges; and the new cordless compacts cut the cord for site work. We ranked the routers in our tools catalog by motor power and speed range, which bases come in the box, collet sizes, depth-adjustment and soft-start features, table mounting, and what thousands of owners report after years of use.
We have not run every router through a stack of oak; the verdicts rest on the published specs and the owner review history, and we score each pick ourselves rather than repeating the figures on the listing. Prices are not printed because they change daily and kit contents vary; every button opens the live Amazon page. Bits and tables are excluded here on purpose. For finishing what you route, our sanding discs for orbital sanders guide covers the next step. Do Best Deal readers wanted the routers themselves, and here they are.
How we picked
- Routers only. Bits, tables, edge guides and bare plunge bases were excluded even when well reviewed.
- Power and speed stated. Every pick lists its amps or horsepower and a speed range, and all but one have variable speed.
- Base and collet noted. Fixed, plunge or both, and whether the collet takes 1/4 inch only or 1/2 inch as well.
- Owner history. Every pick has a large base of owner reviews with a positive overall sentiment, several in the thousands.
- Range of sizes. Two full-size combo kits, two full-size fixed-base routers, three compacts and one budget pick.
The picks
Bosch 1617EVSPK 2.25 HP Combination Plunge- and Fixed-Base Router
The Bosch 1617EVSPK is the router most woodworkers recommend to the next woodworker, and the kit is why: one 12-amp, 2.25 HP motor with variable speed from 8,000 to 25,000 RPM, soft start and Bosch’s Constant Response circuitry that holds the speed when a bit meets oak, plus a fixed base, a plunge base and a case. The one-piece armature shaft cuts vibration, the rounded hardwood handles are a Bosch signature that owners genuinely like, and the threaded three-hole base pattern bolts to most router tables without an adapter, so the fixed base can live under a table while the plunge base does handheld work. Owners widely praise it as the router they bought years ago and never replaced. It is a full-size tool and heavy for trimming a laminate edge, above-table bit changes want a lift, and the most common owner complaints mention a stiff plunge lock that frees up with use. For a first serious router, it is the one. Our score 9.6/10.
- Two bases and a case; the most complete full-size kit here
- Constant Response circuitry keeps the bit speed steady in hardwood
- Widely praised by owners as the router they still own a decade later
- Three-hole base pattern mounts straight to most router tables
- Heavier than a compact for edge work
- Above-table height adjustment needs a separate lift or fixed-base access
- Most owner complaints mention a stiff plunge lock on a new unit
Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL compact router is the cordless router that made cordless routers normal. It is a bare tool on the 18 V M18 platform with a brushless motor that spins from 0 to 31,000 RPM at up to 900 W, which is in the same range as a corded compact, in a tool that weighs 2.9 pounds with a 4-inch base. That combination is why owners widely praise it for trim carpentry, hinge mortises, flush-trimming on site and deck edges where a cord is a hazard, and why it has one of the strongest owner histories on this page. The catch is the word bare: there is no battery or charger in the box, so it only makes sense if you already run M18 tools or are prepared to buy into them. The listing is terse, with the useful specs buried in the description, and like every compact it takes 1/4-inch bits and is not a table router. For a cordless shop or a jobsite, it is the pick. Our score 9.6/10.
- No cord; the pick for site work, cabinet installs and decks
- Brushless motor to 31,000 RPM with up to 900 W, close to a corded compact
- Light at 2.9 lb, and widely praised by owners
- Shares batteries with the M18 tools many owners already have
- Bare tool: you need an M18 battery and charger
- The listing is thin on detail; most specs come from the description
- Compact 1/4 in collet only; not a table router
The Makita RT0701C is the corded compact that professionals keep in the truck. It is a 6.5-amp, 1.25 HP motor with variable speed from 10,000 to 30,000 RPM, electronic speed control that holds the speed under load and a soft start, in a slim aluminum body that owners widely praise for how naturally it sits in one hand along an edge. The depth adjustment is rack and pinion rather than a twist ring, which makes fine settings repeatable, and a cam lock releases the motor from the base in seconds. This listing is the fixed-base tool; Makita sells plunge, tilt and offset bases that fit it, which turns a trim router into a small system. It is 1/4-inch collet only, it has no plunge base in the box, and the listing is light on images, so confirm what ships. If you want a corded compact for edges, hinges, inlay and laminate, it is the one. Our score 9.4/10.
- Rack and pinion depth adjustment is the most precise of the compacts
- Slim body that owners widely praise for one-handed edge work
- Electronic speed control and soft start at compact size
- Accepts Makita plunge, tilt and offset bases sold separately
- Fixed base only in this listing
- 1/4 in collet only
- Three product images; check which accessories are included
The 1617EVS is the fixed-base half of the kit above, sold on its own, and it is the right buy for two kinds of people: anyone who will mount a router permanently under a table, and anyone who already has a plunge router and wants a second motor for edge work. The motor is the same 12-amp, 2.25 HP unit with variable speed from 8,000 to 25,000 RPM, Constant Response circuitry to hold the speed under load, a dust-sealed power switch and the rounded hardwood handles. The threaded three-hole base pattern mounts to most router tables and plates without drilling, which is why owners widely praise it as the dedicated table router that runs for years. There is no plunge base and no case, and as a handheld tool it is as heavy as any full-size router. If you want both bases, the 1617EVSPK is better value; if you want one good motor under a table, this is it. Our score 9.6/10.
- The same 12 amp motor as the combo kit, for less, if you only need a fixed base
- Three-hole pattern bolts straight to a router table
- Dust-sealed switch and Constant Response circuitry
- Widely praised by owners as a dedicated table router
- No plunge base; add one later if you need it
- No case
- Heavy for handheld edge work
SKIL’s RT1323-00 is the budget full-size router that owners keep being surprised by. For roughly what a trim router costs, you get a 10-amp, 2 HP motor with a speed control dial, soft start, a live-tool indicator that lights when the router is plugged in, LED lights on the motor base that illuminate the cut, and both 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch collets, which lets it run the big bits the compacts cannot. The housing is die-cast and the handles are shaped for grip, and depth is set with three coarse positions and a micro-adjust. Owners widely praise it as more router than the price suggests and as a sensible first full-size tool. It is a fixed-base router, the plunge base is only in SKIL’s table kit, the depth adjustment is less refined than the Bosch or DeWalt rings, and the brand has a shorter record in routers than the others here. For a beginner or a second shop router, it is the value pick. Our score 9.6/10.
- 2 HP with both 1/2 and 1/4 in collets at a trim-router price
- Soft start, LED work lights and a live-tool indicator
- Owners widely praise it as far more router than the price suggests
- Die-cast housing and shaped handles
- Fixed base only; the plunge base comes in the table kit, not here
- Less refined depth adjustment than the Bosch or DeWalt
- Shorter track record than the big-brand routers
BOSCH PR20EVS Colt 1.0 HP Variable-Speed Palm Router, Quick-Clamp System
The Bosch Colt is the palm router that defined the category: a 5.6-amp, 1.0 HP motor with variable speed from 16,000 to 35,000 RPM, the fastest top speed on this page, which is exactly what a small flush-trim bit in laminate wants. It has Bosch’s Constant Response circuitry, a quick-clamp that releases the motor from the base, macro and micro depth adjustment, and an aluminum base with finger support pockets that let you steer it with one hand along an edge; a straight edge guide is in the box and the cord exits at an angle to stay out of the way. Owners widely praise it for roundovers, chamfers, hinge mortises and laminate work. It is a one-horsepower tool with a 1/4-inch collet, so it is not for large profile bits or deep passes, and the most common owner complaints mention a depth adjustment that takes a few uses to get the hang of. For edge work in a shop with a full-size router already, it is the pick. Our score 9.2/10.
- The highest top speed here at 35,000 RPM for clean laminate trimming
- Finger support pockets in the base that owners praise for stability
- Includes a straight edge guide
- Constant Response circuitry at palm-router size
- 1.0 HP; not for big bits or deep cuts
- 1/4 in collet only
- Most owner complaints mention the depth adjustment being fiddly at first
DEWALT Router, Fixed Base, 1-3/4-HP, 11.0 Amp Motor (DW616)
The DeWalt DW616 is the mid-size router for people who care about depth more than power. Its 11-amp, 1.75 HP motor routs hardwood without strain, and the depth ring adjusts in 1/64-inch increments, the finest control here, with a tool-free steel cam lock that holds the setting solid and quick-release latches that drop the motor out for bit and base changes. DeWalt includes a sub-base concentricity gauge, a small tool for centering the base to the bit that matters for template work and that nobody else here ships. Owners widely praise the build and the precision. The one thing it lacks is a variable speed dial; the DW616 runs at a single speed, which is fine for bits up to about 1.5 inches and the reason DeWalt sells the variable-speed DW618 below for bigger ones. It is fixed base only and less powerful than the 2.25 HP kits. For joinery and template routing where a sixty-fourth matters, it is the pick. Our score 9.2/10.
- Micro-fine depth ring in 1/64 in steps, the most precise on this page
- Steel cam lock and quick-release latches make base swaps fast
- Concentricity gauge for centering the sub-base to the bit
- Widely praised by owners for build quality
- Single speed; no variable speed dial on this model
- Fixed base only
- Less power than the 2.25 HP Bosch and DeWalt kits
DEWALT Router Fixed/Plunge Base Kit, Variable Speed, 12-Amp, 2-1/4-HP (DW618PK)
The DW618PK is DeWalt’s answer to the Bosch 1617EVSPK: the same 12-amp, 2.25 HP class of motor with electronic variable speed from 8,000 to 24,000 RPM, full feedback control to hold speed under load, soft start, and both a fixed and a plunge base. Where it pulls ahead is dust: the plunge base collects through the column and DeWalt claims 95 percent of the chips, which also keeps the bit visible, and the micro-fine depth ring adjusts in 1/64-inch steps while the switch and cord stay in one place as the depth changes. Owners widely praise the dust collection and the precision. It is the most expensive router on the page, it is heavy, and its owner sentiment sits just below the Bosch kit, with the most common complaints mentioning a stiff plunge action and a switch position some hands dislike. If dust collection matters, especially on a plunge base in a small shop, it is worth the extra over the Bosch. Our score 9/10.
- Integral through-the-column dust collection on the plunge base, which the Bosch kit lacks
- Micro-fine depth adjustment and a switch that stays put as depth changes
- Soft start and full-feedback speed control
- Steel cam lock and quick-release latches
- Most expensive router here
- Owner sentiment is a touch below the Bosch kit; some complaints mention plunge base stiffness and switch placement
- Heavy
Compare the picks
| Product | Type | Power | Speed | Bases | Our score | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch 1617EVSPKBosch | Full-size combo kit | 12 A, 2.25 HP | 8,000-25,000 RPM variable | Fixed and plunge, case | 9.6/10 | 9.6 | See price |
| Milwaukee M18 compactMilwaukee | Cordless compact | 18 V brushless, 900 W | 0-31,000 RPM variable | Compact fixed, bare tool | 9.6/10 | 9.6 | See price |
| Makita RT0701CMakita | Corded compact | 6.5 A, 1.25 HP | 10,000-30,000 RPM variable | Fixed | 9.4/10 | 9.4 | See price |
| Bosch 1617EVSBosch | Full-size fixed | 12 A, 2.25 HP | 8,000-25,000 RPM variable | Fixed | 9.6/10 | 9.6 | See price |
| SKIL RT1323-00Skil | Full-size fixed, budget | 10 A, 2.0 HP | Variable dial | Fixed | 9.6/10 | 9.6 | See price |
| Bosch Colt PR20EVSBosch | Palm router | 5.6 A, 1.0 HP | 16,000-35,000 RPM variable | Fixed, edge guide | 9.2/10 | 9.2 | See price |
| DeWalt DW616DEWALT | Mid-size fixed | 11 A, 1.75 HP | Single speed | Fixed | 9.2/10 | 9.2 | See price |
| DeWalt DW618PKDEWALT | Full-size combo kit | 12 A, 2.25 HP | 8,000-24,000 RPM variable | Fixed and plunge, dust port | 9/10 | 9.0 | See price |
Fixed base, plunge base or both?
A fixed base sets the bit depth before the cut and holds it, which is what you want for edge profiles, rabbets along an edge, flush trimming and anything done in a router table; it is simpler, lighter and the base to bolt under a table. A plunge base lets you start the cut with the bit above the work and lower it in, which is essential for mortises, stopped dados, inlays and sign lettering that begin in the middle of a board. Combination kits like the Bosch 1617EVSPK and DeWalt DW618PK give you one motor and both bases, and most hobby shops run that motor in the plunge base handheld and leave the fixed base under a table. If you already own a plunge router or will never cut a mortise, a fixed-base router like the Bosch 1617EVS, SKIL or DeWalt DW616 saves money.
Full-size or compact?
A full-size router with a 1/2-inch collet and 2 HP or more runs large bits, raised-panel and big roundover profiles, deep dados and router-table work, and it is the one to buy first if you build furniture. A compact or palm router with a 1/4-inch collet and around 1 to 1.25 HP is for edges, hinge mortises, small roundovers, laminate trimming and inlay, and it is the one you reach for most often once you own both because it is light and one-handed. The Makita RT0701C and Bosch Colt are the corded compacts here; the Milwaukee M18 is the cordless one, and it matches the corded tools in speed and power at the cost of a battery. Variable speed matters more as bits get larger: a big bit must run slower, which is why the single-speed DW616 is best kept to bits under about 1.5 inches.
Collets, speed and the first bits to buy
Collets are the sleeves that grip the bit shank. Full-size routers here take both 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch shanks; compacts take 1/4-inch only. Buy 1/2-inch shank bits whenever a full-size router will run them, because the thicker shank vibrates less and cuts cleaner. Speed follows bit diameter: small bits at the top of the range, 30,000 RPM and up for a trim bit in laminate, and large bits down toward 8,000 to 12,000 RPM, which is why every pick but the DW616 has a dial. Soft start, on all the Bosch, Makita, SKIL and DeWalt kit routers, stops the tool twisting in your hands at switch-on. A sensible starter set of bits is a 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch straight bit, a flush-trim bit with a bearing, a 1/4-inch roundover and a 45-degree chamfer; add a rabbeting set and a dovetail bit as the projects demand. And wear hearing protection; a router is one of the loudest tools in a shop.
What is the best wood router for a beginner?
The Bosch 1617EVSPK if the budget allows, because the fixed and plunge bases cover every job and it will last. On a tighter budget, the SKIL RT1323-00 gives 2 HP, both collets and soft start for much less.
Do I need a plunge router?
Only for cuts that start in the middle of a board: mortises, stopped dados, inlays and lettering. Edge profiles, rabbets, flush trimming and router-table work are all fixed-base jobs.
Is a cordless router as good as a corded one?
For compact work, yes. The Milwaukee M18 FUEL compact runs to 31,000 RPM at up to 900 W, which matches corded compacts like the Makita RT0701C. Full-size cordless routers exist but corded 2.25 HP kits remain the better value for a shop.
Which router is best for a router table?
The Bosch 1617EVS: a 12 amp, 2.25 HP variable-speed motor with a threaded three-hole base pattern that bolts straight to most tables and plates. The 1617EVSPK kit includes the same fixed base.
What is the difference between a trim router and a full-size router?
A trim or compact router is around 1 HP with a 1/4 inch collet and is used one-handed for edges, hinges and laminate. A full-size router is 1.75 to 2.25 HP with a 1/2 inch collet for big bits, deep cuts and table use.
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