5 Best Wood Routers For The Money Reviewed In 2023

A wood router is the essential tools you need when it comes to woodworking. You will hardly find a wood crafting project which does not require the use of wood routers. The best wood routers assist you to provide a nice shape to the edges of wood, create a certain and accurate design, and hollow out grooves.

The invention of the first handheld wood router took place in 1915. As a result of continuous improvements, the plunge router got into the market in around 1949. From the 1960s, the power tool routers became the most common form of wood routers. Still today, they are in vogue. Modern routers work in a high speed, perform a variety of tasks, and they are more durable than ever. The Best Plunge routers are used for cutting, trimming, and making the edges better. You can follow the plunge router reviews also to know the features and specifications exactly.

It might seem to be a herculean task to find out the best wood router from the huge number of cool wood routers available on the market. With a view of assisting you in this task, we have brought together the best wood routers here, that we believe stand head and shoulders above the competition. We discussed each of them shortly, so that you can know them in detail, and make the best choice according to your fair judgment.

A Quick View of Our Reviewed Wood Routers

Pick Name	Thumbnail	Product Name	Price
1st		PORTER-CABLE 7518 5-Speed Router	$349
2nd		Hitachi-KM12VC-Base-Router-Kit	$140
3rd		Bosch 1617EVS Variable-Speed Router	$149
4th		DEWALT DWP611PK Router Combo	$183
5th		Festool 574692 EQ Router	Check Price

How Do We Pick The Wood Routers For The Money?

While choosing the best router for woodworking, our first preference was the power. Also, we had to consider if the size is perfect for you or not. We picked the ones that provide you the maximum level of flexibility, control, and reliability.

We did not neglect the basic characteristics, such as the design, material, and durability. We care about your money, so we did not include any wood router in this overview that is not reasonably priced. We hope that our judgment was good enough to lead you to the wood router that can lead you to satisfactory performance.

Our Top 5 Best Wood Routers Reviews

01 PORTER-CABLE 7518 5-Speed Router

PORTER-CABLE 7518 5-Speed Router helps to improve the productivity by saving your time and effort. Even when you are dealing with big bits or need to make heavy cuts, it provides you a delighting performance. It was the best wood router 2017 due to its shaping and cutting wood for utility and decorative purposes.

This router is able to operate at five speeds between 10,000 and 21,000 RPM, which allows you to tackle different types of jobs easily and conveniently. There is an auto-release collet system for easy bit removal after use, which saves your time and effort. PORTER-CABLE 7518 5-Speed Router comes with dust sealed switch and sealed ball bearing construction which enhance the lifetime of the tool. The five-year warranty is indeed a statement of the manufacturer’s assurance of its long-lasting performance.

Specifications

Pros

• Five different speeds
• Soft start motor
• Auto-release collet system
• Sealed ball bearing design saves major components from dusk
• Integrated cast handles for improved stability

Our Remarks

PORTER-CABLE 7518 5-Speed Router is quite popular for its tremendous performance and versatility. It comes with a five-year warranty, and the price is quite reasonable as well, so overall consideration, PORTER-CABLE 7518 5-Speed Router can be a pretty good option for you.

02 Hitachi-KM12VC-Base-Router-Kit

Hitachi KM12VC Base Router Kit is designed for users who value an ergonomic design. This wood router comes with a powerful yet silent motor, a two-state release clamp for the motor, simple depth adjustments, and simple base changes.

The 11 amp motor of Hitachi KM12VC Base Router Kit is quite powerful and includes a nickel plated housing. You can adjust the speed anywhere between 8,000 and 24,000 RPM which means you can match any task at the right pace. Electronic speed control is featured in the motor as well so that the RPM is kept constant under load which helps you to get the best cuts.

Specifications

Pros

• Powerful and quiet motor
• Two-stage motor release clamp enables quick and precise adjustments
• Ergonomic design ensures added comfort
• Lightweight and portable
• Durable design

Our Remarks

The only strange fact regarding Hitachi KM12VC Base Router Kit is the location of the power switch which might seem a little bit hard to access. Still, considering the overall features, Hitachi KM12VC Base Router Kit is a quiet and performant router that is fully worth the money. When you go for this wood router, you get a complete woodworking package that too in an affordable price.

03 Bosch 1617EVS Variable-Speed Router

If you are looking forward to going for a solid kit which is focused on quality and reliability, you need to look no further than the Bosch 1617EVSPK router kit. This router allows you to tackle some of the most difficult woodworking projects with ease and convenience.

Bosch 1617EVS Variable-Speed Router comes with a powerful 2.25HP/12 Amp motor, which provides you a versatile speed range that is suitable for a wide variation of tasks. With this amazing wood router, getting a clean and accurate result has become easier than ever.

The design of Bosch 1617EVS Variable-Speed Router has been built to tolerate years of intense woodworking. The bases or the center of operations and the housing of the motor are built out of high-quality aluminum. Moreover, the power switch has got a special sealing treatment which prevents the accumulation of dust, and thus ensures a long life for the router.

Specifications

Pros

• Powerful performance
• Versatility
• Advanced speed control technology
• Accurate fixed base cuts
• Long lasting performance

Our Remarks

Bosch 1617EVS Variable-Speed Router makes adjustments conveniently and provides hard for matching performance that leads you to an accurate result almost effortlessly. If you have a big budget, you will love this wood router kit for sure as it seems to get everything right.

04 DEWALT DWP611PK Router Combo

DEWALT DWP611PK Router Combo Kit is the best selling routers in the market. This wood router is quite easy to use which makes it convenient for a beginner to perform his or her wood crafting. Moreover, its advanced features make this woodcutter a versatile tool for any kind of woodworking.

DEWALT DWP611PK Router Combo Kit comes with a 1.25 HP motor which can deliver the appropriate power needed for the toughest applications. The router is aesthetically pleasing, and its ergonomic features lead you to a perfect combination of control, visibility, and performance. Moreover, there is LED light and clear plastic fixed base to provide you with better visibility.

Specifications

Pros

• Durable motor
• Variable speed control feature
• Soft-starting motor
• Dual LEDs and clear sub-base for maximum visibility
• Multiple shaft-lock detents for fast and easy bit changes
• Spring-loaded release tabs ensure quick base removal
• Comfortable and secure grip

Our Remarks

DEWALT DWP611PK Router Combo Kit is one of the best wood routers in the market in terms of quality. The price is not out of your hand, and the best thing is this wood router comes with three years warranty, which makes DEWALT DWP611PK Router Combo Kit even a better option for you.

05 Festool 574692 EQ Router

Festool has been delivering craftsmen around the world with innovative, professional grade precision tools for more than 90 years, and Festool 574692 EQ Router is no different to that.

Ergonomic handle with full grip is provided in this router with a view to increase control and reduce fatigue. No matter if you are going to trim laminate, make heavy cuts, or put a decorative edge on a solid surface material, Festool 574692 EQ Router is there to provide you the best assistance. Versatility, accuracy, and an ergonomic comfort delight you when you go for this amazing wood router.

Specifications

Pros

• Ergonomic handle
• Dust extraction feature
• Swiveling chip deflector
• Constant speed
• Fast and easy bit changes

Our Remarks

Festool 574692 EQ Router is the most expensive wood router that we have selected for this review. If you are not much worried of the budget rather looking for the best quality wood router, you will not regret going for Festool 574692 EQ Router as it excels in quality and performance.

Final Verdict

We are about to finish our overview now, and it is time to consider yourself knowledgeable about all the wood routers that we have discussed above. We hope that by now you are confident enough to choose the best wood routers without any doubt. We have already presented you with realistic and unbiased woodworking router reviews, but we still have some insights to share with you, so that you can take your decision more appropriately.

If quality is the first thing that you consider, best woodworking router for you can be DEWALT DWP611PK Router Combo Kit as it satisfies you with the highest quality.

Searching for the most budget-friendly wood router? Then, the best option for you can be a Hitachi KM12VC Base Router Kit as it is the cheapest wood router in our overview.

If you are not worried about the price at all, then going for Festool 574692 EQ Router would not disappoint you. Searching for a good quality wood router but want it to be budget friendly as well? Bosch 1617EVS Variable-Speed Router would not let you down. Happy woodworking!