The Best Orbital Power Sanders of 2025 - Power Sander Reviews

Jun 06, 2025

Some are perfect for heavy-duty refinishing tasks, while others are more suited for wood projects with fine details. These are my picks from top brands including DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Bosch.

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Whether you’re prepping a rough wood surface or stripping an existing finish, an orbital sander achieves smooth, polished results. Unlike belt sanders that only move in one direction, these handheld power sanders use a circular sanding pad that both rotates and incorporates a slightly oval orbit. The combination of these motions reduces the chances of unintentional swirls on the wood surface.

Orbital sanders are built with a hook and loop pad that uses removable sanding discs, so as long as you have a wide enough range of sanding discs on hand, the tool is versatile enough for heavy-duty material removal, as well as fine finishing tasks, like furniture restoration.

I personally tested each of the five orbital sander options below and ran them through a comprehensive testing and evaluation process. In addition to recommending the best orbital sanders for specific users and applications, I’ve also outlined the basic considerations to keep in mind when selecting one for yourself and your needs.

Corded sanders offer unlimited runtime in exchange for limiting your mobility. Choose a corded sander if you spend long sessions at a workbench, such as when you sand a piece of furniture and you simply need to work your way down through each grit, slowly perfecting the sanded surface.

If that doesn’t sound right for you, cordless orbital sanders can be used practically anywhere. Their portability really comes in handy when working away from home, or even in the backyard, driveway, or wood shed, and you don’t want to drag around an extension cord (which easily becomes a potential tripping hazard).

Cordless sanders are also invaluable when you’re on a ladder or scaffold because you don’t have to contend with the weight of a cord hanging down. These sanders are typically more expensive than corded varieties, but if you already have a power tool collection of the same brand (and a supply of batteries on hand), you can save money by purchasing a “tool-only” option.

Orbital sanders measure their speed in orbits per minute (OPM), which typically ranges from 7,000 to 13,000. The faster the pad spins, the more material the sandpaper removes, and the faster it works. High speeds are great when your priority is efficiency and speed, like sanding solid wood, but lower speeds make it much easier to sand delicate woods (plus polyurethane or plywood veneer) that require a finer touch. That’s because lower-speed sanders remove minimal material with each pass and minimize the chances of accidentally sanding too deep and removing too much. In order to get the most functionality out of your sander, look for a model with a wide range of speeds.

Orbital sanders naturally generate a lot of sawdust, so all models include some kind of dust collection system. This is typically either a soft or hard-sided canister attached to the side of the unit, which can be emptied out when full.

While these built-in accessories are somewhat convenient and cut down on excess dust that’s annoying to clean up, none are 100 percent effective. If dust collection is a priority, look for a sander that can be attached to your existing shop vac, which sucks up the majority of dust when turned on at the same time as your sander. To ensure your potential sander is compatible with your vacuum, the dust port must match the diameter of your vacuum hose. This isn’t always easy to find and may require a separately purchased adaptor, so it's worth taking the time to do your research.

To narrow down the list of potential orbital sanders for this guide, I limited my options to tools with five-inch sanding pads (the most common and, thus, most convenient sandpaper discs to purchase) that operated at speeds of at least 7,000 OPM. I also focused exclusively on brands I’ve come to know and trust over the years.

Then, in order to accurately determine the best overall, as well as recommend models for specific use cases, I ran all of my possible best orbital sanders through a comprehensive testing process, using the following categories to evaluate each sander against the others.

Usability: Throughout my testing, I evaluated how straightforward and convenient each sander was to operate. I noted if their design was convenient to pick up and start using if the interface was confusing to understand, or if any design features were annoying or frustrating to use.

Performance: I used each model to sand down a piece of raw pine with 60-grit , 80-grit, and 120-grit sandpaper for three minutes each. I used this Dura-Gold set to ensure consistency between sanders and then compared their stock removal speed and effectiveness along the way. To determine how well each sander’s random orbital operation fared, I then wiped down the wood and used a flashlight to reveal any remaining swirls.

Comfort and Control: I compared how comfortable each sander was to hold and operate, noting if the controls were awkward to access or if the handle was too small to get a solid grip. I also noted if the sander generated excessive vibration that made it uncomfortable to grip for long periods of time.

Versatility: By comparing each sander’s individual speed range and controls, I determined which models had the versatility to perform a range of sanding tasks and applications. For example, a variable-speed sander with a range of 8,000 to 13,000 OPM would be more versatile than a single-speed, 12,000 OPM option.

Dust Collection: I evaluated how well each sander’s dust bag captured sawdust, its capacity, and whether the attachment mechanism was simple or frustrating to operate. I achieved this by weighing each dust canister right out of the box and then again after three minutes of 60-grit sanding. I also noted if the outlet port was compatible with a shop vac for maximum dust collection.

Mobility: I also used each sander's weight, size, and power supply to determine which were more convenient to transport around a jobsite easily. It’s worth noting that “cordless” doesn’t automatically translate to superior mobility because batteries can be bulky and cumbersome and cause an imbalance that’s not worth the hassle.

Bosch orbital sanders have been a popular choice for years, and this model perfectly demonstrates why. The corded power supply offers unlimited runtime—convenient for extended sanding tasks like refinishing a desk or tabletop—and I found that the cord itself did a decent job of staying out of the way during use. Because its dust control is so good (thanks to a rubber O-ring seal on the dust port, good airflow, and an airtight dust canister), less dust stays on the surface to get ground into the abrasive pad. That means the pad stays cleaner and lasts longer.

I also appreciated the sander’s ergonomic shape, which gives you the option of choosing to hold the oblong handle on top (with an easily accessible power button) or wrap your hand around the base for more control. Its 12,000 OPM max speed and 2.5-amp output had no trouble removing material and sanding my testing piece to a stain-ready smoothness, which made it comparable to more expensive DeWalt and Milwaukee models.

Despite the almost absurdly low price, this Skil sander impressed me with both its ergonomics and performance in my testing process. At its max speed of 13,000 OPM (the highest of my testing pool), it worked well to remove rough wood quickly in my 60-grit sanding test. With a similar shape and design as the Bosch ROS20VSC, it was also comfortable to handle, although the thinner rubber coating was less “grippy” for my palm and fingers.

Because of this and its below average dust control, this sander probably wouldn’t be practical to use every day, but for someone who only tackles the occasional sanding project, this is a fine option at a great price.

If you’re interested in portability and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, I recommend the DeWalt DCW210D1. Nearly the entire exterior is covered in the same grippy rubber that makes other DeWalt power tools so comfortable to use, which gives you the flexibility to use a variety of one- and two-handed grip positions while operating it.

Its 2.8-pound weight (the lightest of all the sanders I tested) only adds to the overall portability, although this is at least partially due to the relatively low-capacity 2.0-Ah battery. It’s also missing an adapter for a 1-¼-inch vacuum hose, but somewhat makes up for this exclusion with an included charger and soft carrying bag. Overall, , this is a very solid kit to take with you anywhere.

This beefy Milwaukee sander is a high-quality option that’s suitable for heavy-duty use. I loved the circular shape and tacky rubber grips, which give you the ability to both “palm” the top and hold it around the base for tighter, more precise control. That said, the design of the dust canister and the way it sticks out over the rear of the tool is a bit cumbersome. This canister, as well as the generally bulky Milwaukee batteries, makes this model more practical for smoothing out a table top or dealing with a rough spot on wood siding—anything involving wide open spaces and big, broad surfaces—rather than sanding down the inside of a drawer, for example.

Unlike lower-quality sanders that continue to rotate for several seconds after powering off, I appreciated how the Milwaukee M18 stops almost immediately, so you can set it down quickly. While it performed well in all my sanding grit tests, I found the accessories a little inconvenient to mount and remove. The dust adapter in particular was almost impossible to remove without damaging the plastic port itself. That said, the heavy-duty feel and quality construction of this tool still make it a great choice, especially for those with an existing Milwaukee tool collection.

Sanders don’t need a lot of care, but they do need some. The best thing you can do for it is to blow the dust out of it using compressed air (or a can of compressed air purchased at an office supply store). You can also use a shop vacuum and work over its exterior, especially its air vents.

Now protect yourself, especially your lungs: Wear a dust mask when sanding. Better models have a foam strip to help the mask make a better seal to your face. They may also have a vent that reduces moisture buildup under the mask.

Clean up as you work to prevent large piles of talc-like dust from accumulating. And when you’re done sanding and ready to take a break, either brush or vacuum yourself off before going inside the house or other clean area. It’s also a good idea to wear an old shirt, coveralls, or a shop apron and leave that in the sanding area, rather than bringing dust into the house. Having a floor mat outside the shop to wipe your feet is great, too—better yet, take your work shoes off. This cuts down on tracked dirt, which is more than just a nuisance. Remnants of sanding grit on shoe soles can scratch finished floors, and tracked-in dust can form an eye-watering and throat-scratching irritant as it spreads throughout the house.

When it comes to using a sander, it’s pretty simple, and there are only these key rules

Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the Home Improvement, DIY, and Tool space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write practical buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. His work has also appeared in Business Insider's Insider Picks, and before his writing career, he was a full-time carpenter living in New York City. There, he worked as part of a team designing, building, and installing large furniture pieces, as well as performing a variety of home repair and maintenance projects. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free time exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their dog Louie.

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