Top 5 compared
The best orbital sanders
A tabletop stripped, cabinet doors smoothed or a picnic table taken back to bare wood, without hours of sanding by hand.
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The top 5 at a glance
An orbital sander is the tool for big flat surfaces. A random orbit sander has a round pad that spins as it moves in tiny circles, so it takes wood down fast without leaving swirl marks, even across the grain. A sheet sander has a square pad that takes a cut-down sheet of ordinary sandpaper and reaches right into corners.
Most plug in; DEWALT’s cordless one runs on its 20V MAX batteries instead. Every one has a dust bag, and most also take a vacuum hose, which pulls away more of the dust. For window frames, stair spindles and tight edges, a detail sander with a pointed pad is the better tool.
What matters
- Variable speed, to slow down for paint, varnish and plastics.
- A hook-and-loop pad, for quick changes between grits.
- A counterweight or counterbalance, for less vibration on long jobs.
- A lock-on switch, for long passes without holding a trigger.
#1DEWALT DWE6423K Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander Kit (5 in)
$75–$100
Built for long sessions: a 3-amp motor with a speed dial from 8,000 to 12,000 orbits a minute, a separate counterweight so less vibration reaches the hands, and a switch sealed against dust. The kit adds a carrying bag, so the sander, its dust bag and a stack of discs stay together.
What owners say: Owners are impressed by how much sawdust it collects and how comfortable it stays over a long job, and some turn the speed down to keep from rounding over corners. They find it quick and solidly built.
A closer look: Keep the pad flat and moving: tipping it onto an edge is what digs dips and swirls into a tabletop. For a floor or a whole door, the port fits DEWALT’s DWV010 and DWV012 dust extractors directly, or a shop vac with a 1-1/4 in hose through DEWALT’s DWV9000 connector.
- Separate counterweight cuts vibration
- Dust-sealed switch
- Fits DEWALT dust extractors
- Carrying bag included
Best for: Sanding doors, floors and tabletops
- Type
- Random orbit
- Power
- 3A corded
- Sanding pad
- 5 in disc
- Variable speed
- 8,000–12,000 OPM
- Dust collection
- Locking bag, vacuum port
- Warranty
- 3 years
#2DEWALT 20V MAX XR Cordless Random Orbit Sander Kit (DCW210D1)
$150–$200
The same 8,000 to 12,000 orbit speed dial as DEWALT’s corded sander on a brushless 20V MAX motor, so it goes out to the deck, the fence or the far end of the yard with no cord to drag. The kit comes with a 2.0Ah battery, a charger and a carrying bag.
What owners say: Owners count it among the best cordless sanders going, praising its power, its speed control and how easily it works into tight spaces. Battery life splits them, from hours to 30 or 40 minutes, and so does the dust bag.
Heads up: The 2.0Ah battery in the box is DEWALT’s compact one: for a long job, a second battery or a bigger 20V MAX pack keeps it going.
A closer look: Any DEWALT 20V MAX battery fits, so a drill’s battery can double up as a spare. The pad is a replaceable 8-hole hook-and-loop one, so line the disc’s holes up with the pad’s and the dust bag can do its job.
- Brushless motor
- Fits DEWALT 20V MAX batteries
- Replaceable 8-hole pad
- Dust-sealed switch
- Carrying bag included
Best for: Jobs away from an outlet
- Type
- Random orbit, cordless
- Power
- 20V battery (2Ah)
- Sanding pad
- 5 in disc
- Variable speed
- 8,000–12,000 OPM
- Dust collection
- Locking bag, vacuum port
- Warranty
- 3 years
#3Makita BO3710 1/3 Sheet Orbital Sander
$75–$100
A square pad instead of a round one, so it runs right up into the corners of panels, shelves and cabinet doors, with a counterbalance to keep vibration down. Makita started out in Nagoya in 1915, selling and repairing electric motors.
What owners say: Quiet and smooth, owners say, with little vibration, quick paper changes and a finish with hardly a swirl mark. The dust bag catches less than some would like.
A closer look: Paper is cheap: cut a standard 9 x 11 in sheet into three, fit one strip, and press it onto the punch plate to make the holes that let dust through to the bag. For indoor jobs, the bag’s built-in adapter takes a vacuum hose and catches more of the dust.
- Takes cut-up standard sandpaper sheets
- Lock-on two-finger trigger
- Counterbalance cuts vibration
Best for: Corners and flat panels
- Type
- 1/3 sheet
- Power
- 1.7A corded
- Sanding pad
- 3-5/8 x 7-1/4 in
- Variable speed
- No
- Dust collection
- Bag with vacuum adapter
- Warranty
- 1 year
#4Dong Cheng 6-Speed Random Orbital Sander (5 in, DSA02-125)
$30–$50
Six speeds from 8,000 to 12,800 orbits a minute on a 3.2-amp motor, with 20 discs from 80 to 320 grit, a spare pair of motor brushes and a nylon tool bag in the box, and a three-year warranty behind it.
What owners say: Paper changes are quick, owners say, and they’re pleased with the dust collection, the heavy-duty build and the speed control. Opinions on how long it lasts are mixed, and a few found the supplied discs wear fast.
A closer look: Start on a low setting with the 80-grit discs to strip an old finish, then step up through the grits and the speeds for a smooth surface. The spare carbon brushes are for when the motor’s originals wear down, which keeps an older sander running.
- 20 discs, 80–320 grit
- Spare motor brushes included
- Nylon tool bag
- Dust-sealed switch
Best for: Taking old finishes back to wood
- Type
- Random orbit
- Power
- 3.2A corded
- Sanding pad
- 5 in disc
- Variable speed
- 6 speeds, to 12,800 OPM
- Dust collection
- Dust bag, vacuum port
- Warranty
- 3 years
#5BLACK+DECKER BDERO100 Random Orbit Sander (5 in)
$30–$50
A light, compact random orbit sander for refinishing a dresser, a door or a stair tread: 12,000 orbits a minute, a dust bag on the back and a lock-on paddle switch for long passes. It slips easily into tight spots.
What owners say: A good little machine for small jobs around the house, owners say. Dust collection, durability and power all get mixed reports, from plenty to not quite enough.
Heads up: Only one sanding sheet comes in the box, so pick up a mixed pack of 5 in hook-and-loop discs before starting.
A closer look: Hook-and-loop discs change in seconds, so stepping from coarse to fine grit doesn’t slow a job down. Empty the dust bag often, since it works better before it’s packed full, and wipe the wood between grits so loose grit from the coarser paper doesn’t scratch the finer finish.
- Lock-on paddle switch
- Dust-sealed switch
- Discs change in seconds
Best for: Tight spots and small furniture
- Type
- Random orbit
- Power
- 2A corded
- Sanding pad
- 5 in disc
- Variable speed
- No
- Dust collection
- Dust bag
- Warranty
- 2 years
How they compare
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| Feature | #1DEWALT DWE6423K | #2DEWALT DCW210 cordless | #3Makita BO3710 | #4Dong Cheng DSA02-125 | #5BLACK+DECKER BDERO100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best cordless | Best sheet sander | Best budget | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Price | $75–$100 | $150–$200 | $75–$100 | $30–$50 | $30–$50 |
| Type | Random orbit | Random orbit, cordless | 1/3 sheet | Random orbit | Random orbit |
| Power | 3A corded | 20V battery (2Ah) | 1.7A corded | 3.2A corded | 2A corded |
| Sanding pad | 5 in disc | 5 in disc | 3-5/8 x 7-1/4 in | 5 in disc | 5 in disc |
| Variable speed | 8,000–12,000 OPM | 8,000–12,000 OPM | No | 6 speeds, to 12,800 OPM | No |
| Dust collection | Locking bag, vacuum port | Locking bag, vacuum port | Bag with vacuum adapter | Dust bag, vacuum port | Dust bag |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years | 1 year | 3 years | 2 years |
| Best for | Sanding doors, floors and tabletops | Jobs away from an outlet | Corners and flat panels | Taking old finishes back to wood | Tight spots and small furniture |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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