For any type of finishing project, the orbital sander is an essential power tool. The orbital sander can create a professional silky smooth finish that is ready for painting or varnishing.
The 7 Best Orbital Sanders
- Skil Random Orbit Sander
- BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander
- DEWALT Random Orbit Sander (Our Top Pick)
- Makita Random Orbit Sander Kit
- BOSCH Palm Sander
- Ryobi P411 One+ Cordless Random Orbit Power Sander
- PORTER-CABLE Random Orbit Sander
Our Top Pick for the Best Orbital Sander
Our top pick for the best orbital sander is the DEWALT Random Orbit Sander.
With powerful performance and the ability to create a professional silky smooth surface, the DEWALT Random Orbit Sander is an excellent choice for any professional or home-based workshop. From material removal up to the final polish, this incredibly versatile orbital sander is the ultimate finishing tool and it is a pleasure to work with.
Check the price on AmazonVersatile Sanding and Finishing Power Tools
Power tools help us to work smarter, whether it is a circular saw, a table saw, or a nail gun. If you love your power tools and you work with wood, you need an orbital sander in your workshop.
The orbital or orbit sander is the perfect combination of the aggressive power and speed of a belt sander and a unique ability to sand and polish surfaces to a professional standard.
A highly versatile sanding and finishing tool, the orbital sander is designed for a wide range of projects.
- Basic woodworking tasks such as sanding back a piece of wood
- Removing tough material such as stripping paint or varnish
- Furniture making, antique furniture restoration, or DIY home improvement
- Detailed finishing work such as smoothing rounded corners on a chair, table, or cabinet
- Boat or automatic body repairs
- Working with stone, ceramics, or glass
Why You Need A Random Orbital Sander
The random orbital sander is one of the most popular sanding tools. It features newer technology that allows the sander to perform random, elliptical, and small circular movements on a surface. This unique sanding pattern allows you to sand with the wood grain, against the wood grain, or diagonally to the wood grain.
A random orbital sander will create a perfect finish without leaving any marks or swirls as a belt sander can create.
How to Choose the Best Orbital Sander
To find the best orbital sander for your woodworking project, here are 10 important features to consider:
1. Size
A random orbital sander comes in 2 sizes, 5-inch or 6-inch. These sizes are perfect for a sander as they give you good control over the sander and deliver a nice smooth finish.
2. Transmission and Speed
The sander’s gear speed is determined by oscillations per minute (OPM). The OPM specification shows you the range and maximum speed that the sander is capable of performing. Most orbital sanders have speeds that range from 2,500-13,000 OPM, which are sufficient speeds for most general sanding tasks.
3. Variable Speed
There are 2 types of speeds: single-speed or variable speed. Single-speed sanders, such as the BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander and the Ryobi P411 One+ Cordless Random Orbit Power Sander, are great choices for basic finishing tasks.
Orbital sanders that have variable speeds, such as the Skil Random Orbit Sander give you extra sanding versatility. The variable-speed function allows you to set the sanding speed to suit your work application. Slow the sander down for delicate tasks such as furniture restoration or speed it up to remove stubborn material such as old paint.
4. Trigger Lock
The trigger lock feature allows you to keep the sander’s button locked in the “on” position so that you do not have to constantly press your finger down on the power button. This frees up your other hand to guide and control the sander over your workpiece.
5. Ergonomic Design
A power tool can cause a lot of strain on your hand and arm, so an ergonomic design will make all the difference to your overall sanding experience.
Orbital sanders have different types of handles or gripping designs. There are pistol-grip sanders or a jug-handle sander, which is a combination of a palm-grip and pistol-grip handle. The most common type of handle is a palm grip which gives you better control over the sander.
6. Minimal Vibrations
One of the problems that are associated with power tool usage is vibrations. As well as causing user fatigue, too many vibrations can leave scratches on your workpiece. Even though it is impossible to completely eradicate all vibrations, an orbital sander that produces minimal vibrations, such as the DEWALT Random Orbit Sander, is comfortable to use, ensures greater precision and a better finish.
7. Portability
Orbital sanders can be corded or cordless. These days manufacturers are lifting the bar on the length of their power cords. Power cords are usually 6.5-feet in length which gives you good portability. For even more maneuverability, the PORTER-CABLE Random Orbit Sander has an extra-long 10-feet power cord.
If you need to travel from home to your worksite or you do not want to worry about the power cord while you work, a cordless battery-operated sander provides the ultimate portability. However, you will need to make sure that the battery is fully powered for longer jobs.
A sturdy travel bag is a great idea. You can easily carry the sander around and also use the bag to store the orbital sander, which helps to maintain its long-term working performance.
8. Safety Features
Safety is paramount with power tool usage. So look for safety features such as an ergonomic handle, an effective dust collection system, or a sealed switch that stops sawdust from affecting the on/off switch. Pad brakes provide a cushioned effect and prevent any gouging when the sander touches the surface of your workpiece.
9. Vacuum Options
An effective dust filtration system will collect any dust particles into a clear dust container or bag until you are ready to empty the debris.
A dust-collection port is an excellent feature as you can attach a shop vac to keep your workspace super clean and tidy.
10. Fast Sandpaper Changes
Changing the sandpaper grits should be effortless. One of the most common methods of sandpaper attachment is called the “hook and loop” method. This innovative feature is extremely easy to use and makes sandpaper changes super quick.
7 Best Orbital Sanders – Reviews
1. Skil Random Orbit Sander
If you have light-duty DIY renovations or a small furniture restoration project planned, the Skil Random Orbit Sander is a great choice.
The 5-inch orbital sander has a strong 2.8 amp, 13,000 OPM motor, which provides powerful performance, and the 6 variable speed dial can be adjusted to suit a variety of sanding applications.
Sturdy and solid, the Skil sander has good durability and its black and red colored housing is easy to locate in a messy workshop.
The ergonomic soft rubber palm grip is very comfortable to hold and you can easily activate the dust sealed on/off switch which is located on the side of the unit.
You will be able to easily maneuver the sander in a tight spot as it has a compact, well-balanced design, and a good-sized 7-feet power cord.
Although Skil has designed its orbital sander to produce minimal vibrations, the sander can still wobble a bit on some surfaces.
To help maintain a clean workspace, the x-flow dust collector uses cyclonic force to collect dust in its easy-to-empty transparent container.
The orbital sander comes with a 3-piece medium grit sanding sheet pack and the sheets are very easy to attach to the sander.
Skil offers a 1-year limited warranty on the orbital sander.
Pros
- High quality
- Very affordable price
- Great value for money
- Ideal for new DIY enthusiasts or home decorators
- Versatile
- Six variable speeds
- Strong motor
- Solid and compact design
- Good noise level
- Compact
- Well-balanced
- Easy to use in a tight workspace
- Ergonomic rubberized palm grip handle
- Dust sealed on/off switch is easy to access
- Good sized 7-feet power cord
- Red and black color is easy to locate
- Transparent dust container
- Three-piece grit pack
- Sand papers are easy to attach
Cons
- Lid of the dust collection container is a little hard to remove
- Produces some vibrations
- Not ideal for heavy-duty tasks
2. BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander
If you are new to sanding or have small furniture restoration or renovation repairs planned, the single-speed BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander is the perfect tool for you.
The orbital sander may have a small, compact size but it packs a punch with a motor speed of 12,000 OPM which provides efficient material removal and a high-quality finish. The ergonomic palm grip design fits comfortably in your hand and gives you a good solid grip.
The hybrid dust canister and dust sealed switch keep your workspace clean and extend tool life.
The BLACK+DECKER comes with a 150-grain sanding pad, and its convenient hook-and-loop system allows for quick paper changes.
The orbital sander comes with a good-sized 6.5-feet power cord. BLACK+DECKER offers a 2-year limited warranty.
Pros
- High quality
- Extremely affordable price
- Very good value for money
- Ideal for light-duty DIY projects such as paint removal and polishing flat areas
- Fast and efficient material removal rate
- Compact, ergonomic, and versatile
- Convenient hook and loops system for fast sandpaper changes
- Hybrid dust canister bag
- Dust sealed switch
- Good sized 6.5-feet power cord
- Two-year limited warranty
Cons
- Dust bag fills up very quickly
- Not ideal for large projects
- No variable speed dial
- Only comes with one sanding sheet
- Not ideal for tight corners
3. DEWALT Random Orbit Sander
A powerfully smooth operator, the DEWALT Random Orbit Sander is the ideal power tool for light to medium sanding, paint stripping, and finishing tasks.
Delivering reliable and powerful performance, the strong 3.0 amp motor has electronic variable speeds up to 12,000 OPM, which gives you a lot of task versatility.
For fast material removal, smoothing, and polishing, DEWALT’s innovative orbit sander allows you to easily control pad speed and minimize gouging during startup, and it produces a clean, consistent finished surface.
The orbital sander has a lightweight design that reduces vibration and a rubber over-mold grip, which provides ultimate comfort during extended use.
DEWALT has also designed a user-friendly sander with a convenient hook-and-loop system that allows the sanding disks to be switched back and forth quickly.
Dust management is critical when performing sanding and paint stripping tasks. DEWALT makes it possible to have a clean workspace as the sander has a one-handed locking dust bag and the dust port can be attached to a shop vac with a 1¼-inch hose. For long-term tool durability, the sander also has a sealed switch to protect it from dust.
The DEWALT Sander Kit includes a sturdy tool bag. DEWALT offers a 3-year limited warranty, a 1-year free service contract, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Excellent quality
- Great value for money
- Powerful and smooth working performance
- Ideal for light to medium projects
- Variable speed motor
- Lightweight design reduces vibration
- Comfortable rubber over-mold grip
- Convenient hook-and-loop sandpaper changing system
- Sealed switch
- One-handed locking dust bag
- Dust port can be attached to a shop vac
- Sturdy toolbag
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- Three-year limited warranty
- One-year free service
Cons
- Expensive
- Not ideal for sanding hardwood
- Air-flow is slow
4. Makita Random Orbit Sander Kit
The Makita Random Orbit Sander Kit is an excellent choice for light to medium DIY renovations, cabinet-making, furniture restoration, wood boat construction, deck installation, and general carpentry. The orbit sander combines power, speed, and performance with better grip and control and lots of user-friendly features.
Makita has designed a superb sander that has plenty of power with that famous Makita-built 3.0 amp motor and oversized sealed ball bearing construction for longer tool life. The variable speed (4,000-12,000 OPM) control dial allows you to match the sanding speed to your particular project.
The ergonomic rubberized palm grip and adjustable pistol-grip front handle give you great control especially for sanding in hard-to-reach areas.
The large 2-finger trigger switch has a conveniently located lock-on button that allows for continuous use and increased operator comfort. The swirl-free finish pad control system provides a beautifully smooth surface right from startup.
Changing the sandpaper grits is easy as Makita sander features a quick-change 8-hole hook-and-loop disc system.
You will enjoy a dust-free working environment as the sander has a high-capacity dust collection bag and a built-in vacuum port adapter to attach a shop-vac.
The Makita kit includes an abrasive disc, a dust bag, and an extra-strong and durable hard tool case.
The orbital sander is covered by a 1-year warranty.
Pros
- High quality
- Great price
- Superior working performance
- Powerful motor
- Fast and efficient and super smooth sanding ability
- Excellent variable speed control dial
- Large 2-finger trigger switch
- Conveniently located lock-on button
- Pad brake engineered for increased performance and reduced gouging
- Pistol-grip style handle
- Adjustable front handle
- Strong and durable hard tool case
Cons
- Dust vac port is rather small
- Only 1-year warranty
- Includes only 1 sandpaper disc
5. BOSCH Palm Sander
With proven reliable performance, the BOSCH Palm Sander is a great choice for hard-core DIY renovators, professional carpenters, or cabinet makers.
The BOSCH sander features an extremely powerful 2.5 amp 120-volt motor and the constant response circuitry maintains the speed under load, which means any type of project will be completed in a flash.
You can optimize the right speed for each task as the variable speed control is adjustable between 7,500-12,000 OPM.
The 5-inch sander has an orbit diameter of 3/64-inch, and as it only weighs 3.5 pounds, it is the perfect sander for working on large surfaces, in tight corners, and completing detailed sanding jobs.
The BOSCH has an innovative integral pad dampening system, which features a micro-cellular backing pad that prevents swirl marks, and ensures a smooth finish on both flat and contoured surfaces.
Changing sandpaper is made easy with BOSCH’s signature HookTight hook-and-loop disc attachment.
The ergonomic soft-grip top is comfortable to hold and allows you to use multiple grip positions for ultimate control over the sander. Also, the sander produces a low-vibration operation which gives you good comfortability for extended periods of use.
An optimal onboard dust collection system includes a built-in micro-filter that traps particles as small as ½ micron in diameter and prevents any spill-back into the sander. The dust canister shows the dust level and it can be easily detached for mess-free cleanups.
The orbital sander is compatible with standard 1¼-inch and 1½-inch vacuum hoses or any BOSCH vacuum cleaner hose, and it features a dust-sealed switch.
The BOSCH orbit sander comes with a soft backing pad, a sanding disc, a vacuum hose adapter, and a large-sized professional-looking sturdy contractor bag.
BOSCH offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
If you prefer a pistol-grip style orbital sander, BOSCH also makes one of these as well.
Pros
- Superior quality
- Excellent value for money
- Great price
- Ideal for sanding and polishing
- Loads of power
- Constant response circuitry maintains speed and control
- Variable-speed dial
- Adjustable speed and single speed options
- Reliable, fast, and effective
- Ideal for sanding rounded edges and in tight corners
- Effective micro-filter dust collection system
- Sealed switch
- Durable and compact
- Dust canister shows dust level and easily detaches
- Lightweight
- Comfortable ergonomic soft-grip top allows for multiple grip positions
- Low-vibration operation and low noise
- Provides smooth swirl-free finish on both flat and contoured surfaces
- Sturdy large-sized contractor bag
Cons
- Only 1-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Can be hard to control at higher speeds
6. Ryobi P411 One+ Cordless Random Orbit Power Sander
If you would like some extra portability in your orbital sander, the Ryobi P411 One+ Cordless Random Orbit Power Sander allows you to work anywhere, indoors or outdoors.
It may be small but the Ryobi is powerful for its size with a strong single-speed motor that produces 10,000 OPM. So whatever type of finishing projects you have planned, the Ryobi will help you to complete them fast and efficiently.
The Ryobi orbital sander has a compact and lightweight design so it is ideal for working in tight corners or when you need to work at an angle while you sand and polish furniture.
The rubber palm grip has notches, which makes the sander comfortable to hold during extended use, and the sander has a lock-on switch.
You do not have to struggle to attach the sanding pads as the Ryobi sander features a hook-and-loop connecting system for optimal user convenience.
The cordless sander uses a Ryobi One+ lithium-ion battery, which has good battery life from 1-2 hours. You have the extra versatility to work anywhere without having to worry about having to use a power cord or an extension cord. As the sander is compatible with the Ryobi One+ 18-volt battery system, you can use the same battery for other One+ tools.
Once you take the tool out of the box, you can use it straight away as Ryobi includes an assortment of sanding pads.
To keep your workspace clean, the onboard dust bag is securely attached to the tool and it is very effective at collecting any dust.
The Ryobi orbital sander is covered by a 3-year warranty.
Pros
- High quality
- Very good value for money
- Extremely affordable
- Powerful
- Excellent finishing performance
- Portable
- Compact and lightweight design
- Very good battery life
- Lock-on switch
- Hook-and-loop sandpaper connecting system
- Comfortable rubber palm grip has notches
- Effective dust bag
- Battery compatible with other Ryobi One+ tools
- Three-year warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for large sanding projects or for material removal
- Single-speed only
- Battery has to be purchased separately
7. PORTER-CABLE Random Orbit Sander
A highly versatile power tool, the PORTER-CABLE Random Orbit Sander is a great sanding tool for automotive and marine repairs and furniture restoration projects.
The PORTER-CABLE orbital sander has a powerful 4.5 amp motor that features special overload protection. The electronic variable speed dial can be adjusted from 2,500-6,800 OPM to suit your projects. The sander’s durable design also includes a full ball and roller bearing construction which ensures its smooth running ability under industrial-type workloads.
The compact sander features a lightweight and counter-balanced design, and the removable, 2-position (left or right) side handle is comfortable to hold.
Sand and buff away those unsightly swirls and scratches with the large 6-inch polishing pad. The orbital sander also comes with a sanding disc and it accepts 5/16-24-inch spindle thread accessories.
One of the stand-out features of the PORTER-CABLE orbital sander is its extra 10-feet power cord, which provides freedom of movement.
The PORTER-CABLE random orbit sander also comes with a wrench, and the sander is covered by a 1-year free service and a 3-year limited warranty.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Highly versatile
- Ideal for general sanding tasks, automotive and marine projects, and polishing
- Random orbit, swirl-free sanding/polishing action
- Strong motor with overload protection
- Electronic variable-speed dial 2,500-6,800 OPM
- Accepts 5/16-24-inch spindle thread accessories
- Durable construction
- Compact and lightweight
- Counter-balance design
- Removable 2-position handle
- Includes 6-inch sanding disc and a polishing pad
- Extra-long 10-feet power cord provides freedom of movement
- Three-year limited warranty; 1-year free service
Cons
- Expensive
- Not ideal for heavy-duty use
Our Top Pick for the Best Orbital Sander
Our top pick for the best orbital sander is the DEWALT Random Orbit Sander.
With powerful performance and the ability to create a professional silky smooth surface, the DEWALT Random Orbit Sander is an excellent choice for any professional or home-based workshop. From material removal up to the final polish, this incredibly versatile orbital sander is the ultimate finishing tool and it is a pleasure to work with.
Check the price on Amazon
