Best Wood Routers for Woodworking and Carpentry 2025

If you’re into woodworking and carpentry, having the best wood router for the kind of work you do is a core part of your tool set. Whether you’re working on-site on a remodel, you’re building your own jigs for production work in your shop, or you’re an aspiring DIYer, our team of experts rounded up their favorites for you to consider.

Here’s the deal: Many power tool brands make routers, and the majority of them work well. In this article, I’m going to highlight the models that stand out from the crowd and offer something special.

Best Wood Routers

• Best Router: Festool OF 1400 EQ-F-Plus
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• Best Cordless Router: DeWalt 20V Max XR DCW620
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• Best Trim Router: Bosch Colt GKF125CEN
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• Best Cordless Trim Router: Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2723
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• Best Router for the Money: Skil 14-Amp Combo RT1322-00
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Also in this Article

• More Routers that Stand Out From the Crowd
• Need Router Bits? Here Are Some Recommendations
• What to Look for When You’re Buying a Wood Router
• Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

You Might Also Be Interested In…

• Best Cordless Wood Routers
• How to Use a Router
• Different Types of Wood Routers
• Selecting Router Bit Speed

Best Router Overall: Festool OF 1400 EQ-F-Plus Plunge Router

Why It Stands Out

Choosing the best wood router isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of selection. However, if you’re looking for one that’s the most useful to the most people, you want performance, features, and ergonomics wrapped up in a router that oozes precision.

Meeting those requirements, the Festool OF 1400 ED-F-Plus is the router we’d pick if we could only have one. The handle design is different than most, with a pommel on one side and a trigger handle on the other. Rest assured, Festool knows ergonomics, and despite the odd look, it works well and supports extended use.

The router’s 1400-watt motor pairs with a smooth plunging system with 1/256-inch micro depth adjustments and excellent sight lines. Plus, the cord insertion on the handle kicks it out of the way and there’s an excellent dust collection design.

Best Cordless Router: DeWalt 20V Max XR 2 1/4 HP Plunge Router DCW620

Why It Stands Out

DeWalt impressed us with their cordless plunge router for several reasons that make a compelling argument for it to be the best overall cordless router.

First, they kept it on the 20V Max battery system rather than opting to go with a 60V design. This keeps it on the same system as DeWalt’s popular 20V Max trim router and avoids the weight of a bulkier battery.

They also shifted the controls to the plunge handles. DeWalt isn’t unique in that design, but it’s an incredibly convenient feature that our whole crew likes.

The product team thought outside the box for dust collection. For most wood routers, a clear plastic shroud holds the vacuum connection to the side. DeWalt’s pulls from the top, where it’s both effective and makes hose management easier while you’re working.

Finally, this model has an anti-rotation system. Similar to kickback control on a cordless drill, it stops the motor if it senses a bind-up. That’s technology we haven’t seen from other cordless competitors so far.

As a bonus, DeWalt’s 20V Max XR trim router is usually at or near the top of the best-seller lists at major retailers. Having both models at your disposal gives you two of the most popular cordless routers on a battery system that’s constantly expanding its woodworking and carpentry offerings.

Best Trim Router: Bosch Colt 1.25 HP Variable Speed Palm Router GKF125CEN

Why It Stands Out

Bosch’s Colt Palm Router is like the Toyota Camry of routers. It may not be flashy, but it’s well-designed, performs great, is as reliable as the day is long, and doesn’t cost a fortune. Even though it shares similar design characteristics with other brands’ trim routers, when you put it in your hand, it just feels right. Ergonomically, it’s like an extension of your hand. Combined with the smooth performance its high top speed creates, it’s no wonder why many Pros and woodworking enthusiasts continue to praise the Colt year after year.

Best Cordless Trim Router: Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Router 2723

Why It Stands Out

While there were several cordless trim routers on the market when Milwaukee launched the 2723, it set a new benchmark for performance and still impresses us with its muscle and thoughtful design every time we use it. Even today, with every major power tool brand offering at least one cordless option, the M18 Fuel Compact Router is the one most of the industry is trying to catch up with.

Paired with the equally impressive M18 Fuel Plunge Router, Milwaukee offers a completely cordless one-two punch that knocks out your job lists in short order.

Best Router for the Money: Skil 14-Amp Router Combo RT1322-00

Why It Stands Out

If you’re looking to get into routing on a budget, it is possible to find a quality build with solid performance at a price that saves significant money compared to premium models. While there are some high-value cordless options, the corded class can give you more bang for your buck, and you don’t have to worry about the cost of batteries.

Looking at the range of possibilities, I really like what the Skil 14-amp router combo has to offer. Its 14-amp variable speed motor offers plenty of power at 2.5HP and doubles as an excellent motor to pair with a router table (which Skil also offers). The combo comes with fixed and plunge bases, giving you a ton of bang for your buck when you consider its $169 price tag. That’s more than $100 less than options like Bosch’s 1617EVSPK combo.

More Wood Routers that Stand Out From the Crowd

Metabo HPT 36V Plunge Router M3612DAM

Why It Stands Out

Metabp HPT had the first cordless plunge router in the 2HP class. While several other brands have joined it, including Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita, Metabo HPT is still unique. As part of the 36V battery system, it’s capable of running cordless or corded using an AC adapter. This hybrid capability sets it apart from any other router we’ve used.

Flex 24V 1.5 HP Variable Speed Trim Router FX4221-Z

Why It Stands Out

While most brands target 1 1/4 HP for their trim routers, Flex upped the ante by pushing it to 1.5 HP. Do you really need the extra power? Not really, but when you’re aggressively edging hardwoods, you’ll notice the difference in how much more quickly you can create that edge without worrying about chattering it up and wasting material.

Better still, Flex wrapped their brushless motor up in a feature-rich design that resonated with our crew and many other users.

Makita 40V max XGT 2 1/4 HP Cordless Plunge Router GPR01

Why It Stands Out

Makita is solid in the router department, and while their 18V LXT XTR01 trim router is probably their most popular cordless model, it’s the GPR01 from the 40V max XGT lineup that really stands out. Part of it is the 2 1/4HP performance and refined ergonomics you expect from Makita. However, this model features AWS capability: Auto-start Wireless System.

When you add the AWS chip to this router and pair it with an AWS-enabled vacuum, it automatically turns the vac on or off with the tool. If you’re a completely cordless crew, it helps extend how long the vacuum’s batteries run with the added bonus of reducing jobsite noise.

Check Out These Routers for Even More Options

• Greenworks 24V Cordless Trim Router
• Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless Trim Router Review
• Ridgid 18V Cordless Trim Router Review
• Skil PWRCore 20 Cordless Trim Router
• Craftsman V20 Brushless RP Trim Router Review

Wood Router Bit Recommendations

There are a lot of choices when it comes to the best router bits, and we lean toward several brands. Which one you decide to go with may be as simple as which retailer you prefer to shop at. There are some differences between brands, though, and some are higher quality with longer life than others. Here are a couple of brands we turn to often:

Bosch Router Bits for Wood

Bosch router bits offer an excellent upgrade when you’re looking to move from inexpensive entry-level bits to ones that are higher quality. Bosch’s range is exceptional, and the pricing tends to be a bit lower than high-end options.

Freud Router Bits for Wood

Freud is highly regarded in the woodworking industry for the quality of their premium accessories. Their router bits are some of the best you can buy, and there’s a phenomenal range, but they tend to be expensive.

What We Look For When You’re Shopping for a Wood Router

Corded vs Cordless

As cordless routers become more prominent, it’s certainly understandable to draw toward their convenience. However, they’re not a good fit for everyone. At least not yet. Routers are power-hungry, and the battery life is usually measured in linear feet based on a roundover in softwood. Brushless compact models might cut up to 250 feet on a charge. If you’re in a production situation, you can easily outwork your charger’s ability to keep one battery charged while the other one is in use. In that case, a corded model is the better choice. Cordless models are often the best choice for DIYers, jobsite carpenters, and remodelers who are working in smaller batches.

The other big consideration is price. Corded routers are less expensive once you add the cost of batteries and chargers.

Power used to be more of a conversation, but with brushless motors and advanced batteries, cordless models really can keep up with their corded counterparts. While there are plenty of compact palm routers that use battery power, the choices are limited in the plunge router space, maxing out around 2.25 HP. For anything stronger than that, you only have corded options.

Power and Speed

Routers typically come with an HP rating to give you a relative idea of their power. The collet also gives you a clue—compact palm routers often won’t accept the larger 1/2-inch shank router bits to keep you from overworking the motor.

For the top speed, 22,000 is a good baseline, and higher than that is even better. The big thing is to make sure you get a model with variable speed, so you can dial down that speed when you’re working with materials that require it.

Depth Adjustments

Routers have two main adjustments—macro and micro. The macro adjustment gets your depth in the neighborhood and your micro adjustments dials it in perfectly. No matter which model is the best wood router for you, you’re going to be using both adjustments frequently.

Our favorite models have a quick release clamp or lever for the macro adjustments to make lightning-fast changes (or to swap bases) paired with a smooth micro adjustment dial.

High-contrast markings on the depth ring are another nice bonus.

Sight Window

While some routing is a simple roundover across the edge, other jobs require a significant amount of precision on your part. Having an excellent line of sight to the router bit is critical to ensuring you cut everything you need to while avoiding cutting into what you don’t.

Look for a large viewing window that keeps the bit visible while you’re holding it, along with LED lights to help you keep an eye on things.

Ergonomics

The physical design of your router can help make the tool an extension of your hands when it all comes together just right. Most compact palm routers have a simple barrel design, but they can vary in diameter and the placement of rubber overmold. Plunge and fixed router bases have a bit more variation in their designs.

Whatever model you’re considering, see how the grip feels in your hand from a working position to see what’s going to be the most comfortable for you.

Available Accessories

There are a number of accessories you may want right out of the gate or in the future, so take a look at what’s available for the models you’re considering. Many third-party accessories are also available, so it’s not necessarily critical that your brand has them all. Some of the top accessories we use include:

• Fixed bases
• Plunge bases
• Fences and edge guides
• Vacuum adapters

Price and Value

Nearly everyone starts their search for the best wood router with some kind of budget in mind. Price isn’t everything, though. Take a look at the router as a whole to see which one offers the best bang for your buck. Start with the performance level you need for the kind of work you’re doing. Then consider what must-have features are on your list. From there, see which one feels the best in your hands. At that point, you should have narrowed it down to a couple of models at the most and it’s a much easier choice.

If you’re shopping for a cordless router, you can get the bare tool for a lower price than buying a kit if you’re already stocked up on batteries. However, kits are a great way to add a fresh battery or two for much less than buying them individually, and there are also some woodworking bundles that bump the value proposition even higher.

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

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