Wood routers make it easy to trim edging, to cut slots and grooves, and to make guide cuts with templates. There are many options on the market for woodworkers depending on what type of work you do. Check out our reviews to see how some of the popular wood routers stack up to each other.

Bosch GKF125CE Palm Router

Bosch GKF125CE Colt Palm Router

This little palm router from Bosch offers some nice features with variable speeds and an LED light. It has a fixed base and plunge base option for added flexibility. It can work as an edge trimmer and more.

Bosch PR20EVS Colt Palm Router

Bosch PR20EVS Colt Palm Router

This is a compact router from Bosch that offers a large range of cutting capabilities for a smaller tool. It has multiple bases available – fixed, plunge, offset and tilt. It also has a lot of other accessories available that some compact routers are lacking.

Bosch 1617EVS Router

Bosch 1617EVS Router

This is one of the better wood router options from Bosch and it has a good reputation among woodworkers. It’s larger and more capable than the palm routers we’ve looked at and has a good plunge base available.

Dewalt DW618 Router

Dewalt DW618 Router

This wood router from Dewalt is on the more powerful end of the compact router spectrum. It is a great option for woodworkers who will demand more powerful plunge cutting or dado cutting from their router.

Dewalt DW616 Router

Dewalt DW616 Router

This router is a no-frills mid-level router from Dewalt that offers more cutting capability than a smaller palm router but less than some of the other bigger routers in Dewalt’s lineup. It’s mid-range capability might be the right fit for some.

Dewalt DWP611 Compact Router

Dewalt DWP611 Compact Router

This is one of Dewalt’s better compact routers with features such as variable speeds and an LED light. It feels a little bigger than other smaller palm routers but also has strong cutting capabilities, so it’s a good option for an edge trimming workhorse.

Dewalt DCW600B Cordless Router

Dewalt DCW600B Cordless Compact Router

This cordless router from Dewalt uses 20V batteries and has features such as variable speeds and LED lights. The battery makes it a little bulky for a compact router but it has strong cutting capability and can use both fixed and plunge bases.

Makita RT0701C Compact Router

Makita RT0701C Compact Router

This compact router from Makita is designed to be both small and fully capable of all types of cutting applications with a wide variable speed range and multiple types of bases. In addition to the fixed base there is also a plunge base, offset base and tilt base available.

Milwaukee 2723-20 Cordless Router

Milwaukee 2723-20 Cordless Compact Router

This is a nice, compact wood router from Milwaukee that operates cordless with 18V batteries. It is ideal as an edge trimming router but also has a plunge base and offset base available to give it some good flexibility in the shop or on the job site.

Ryobi P601 Router

Ryobi P601 Cordless Compact Router

This router from Ryobi is a slick little lightweight and cordless tool. It is a good option for people that need something more for lighter use edge trimming, but it lacks further capabilities since it doesn’t have a plunge base option.

For older reviews check out our wood router archives. Also check out our wood router buyer’s guide and our wood router comparison chart.