Whether you are a serious woodworker or just a hobbyist, you will not get very far without a quality table to mount your woodworking router on.
We have compiled a list of the best benchtop router tables so that both amateur and professional woodworkers will be able to find the best product choice for them and their needs.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Benchtop Router Table
- OUR TOP PICK: Bosch Benchtop Router Table Ra1181
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Dremel 231 Router Shaper/Table
- Skil RAS900 Router Table
Comparison of the Best Benchtop Router Tables
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How to Choose a Benchtop Router Table
Size
For many amateur or hobbyist woodworkers, you may not have access to an actual woodshop, so you will need a table that is on the smaller side and can easily be tucked into the back corner of a garage or outdoor shed space.
Sturdiness
This is potentially the most important quality a router table can have. Woodworking can become really dangerous really quickly when you are working on a table that is wobbly or shifts around underneath any weight.
Cleanliness
As any carpenter could tell you, woodworking results in a large amount of sawdust. You want a router table with a dust cleaning mechanism or at the very least an additional outlet so you can plug in your shop vac and have it handy for when things start to get a little dusty.
Review of the Best Benchtop Router Tables
So now that you have a bit of a better idea what to look for in a well-made benchtop router table, let’s take a look at examples of some products themselves:
PROS
CONS
The Bosch Benchtop Router Table RA1181 is an awesome router table for those users who are looking for a bit of versatility in their router usage.
It is compatible with even more routers than advertised since its plastic components allow for greater adaptability and the table itself is easily drilled and manipulated to fit multiple different kinds of routers. It is on the smaller side, so it could easily fit into whatever your woodshop situation is, even if your “shop” is the tiniest imaginable corner of your garage.
The Bosch table comes with a helpful instruction manual that can save a ton of time when first assembling it and will make you realize how quickly and easily it actually is to put this table together. Additionally, the table comes with extra guides on some typical Do It Yourself projects that are extremely helpful for rookies and those users who are entirely new to the world of woodworking.
Bottom Line
The Bosch Benchtop Router Table RA1181 is a great option for a small router table that you will able to fit anywhere and easily adapt to multiple different kinds of routers, not just the ones advertised as compatible with this table. The only drawback is that you may have to tighten the leveling screws more often than you would like.
PROS
CONS
The Dremel 231 Router Shaper/Table is an adaptable little table that can be fit on top of any work table and will save you significant time, energy, and money that you would otherwise have spent on constructing a full router table.
Because this table provides a smaller surface area for working, it is recommended that users only invest in this table if they plan to use it for hobby woodworking, not serious, consistent woodworking such as the kind necessary to make a living.
But for hobbyists, the table provides everything you will need and more., including an adjustable fence and four different kinds of edges (slot, groove, sand, and trim edges). Edge cuts can be made beautifully using this machine.
Bottom Line
The Dremel 231 Router Shaper/Table is a good router table for those interested in woodworking at the hobby level. If you plan on doing any woodworking that is more serious than that, you may want to invest in a router that is made of more high quality material than you will be able to find in this Dremel.
PROS
CONS
The Skil RAS900 Router Table is a fantastic option for a user who does not do a lot of consistent woodworking and consequently is most interested in a table that can be easily folded up and stored away when not in use. All user reviews extolled the easy storage ability of the Skil table.
Additionally, users report that is super easy to break this table down and to build it back up when you are assembling and disassembling it to place into storage.
Because it is easily broken down and is not intended to be left standing constantly, it is a little bit less sturdy than some of the other router table models you can find on the market today and make require some additional bolting to your work table’s surface as an extra safety precaution. But all in all, this is a great router table for someone who is interested in occasional woodworking using high quality tools.
Bottom Line
The Skil RAS 900 Router Table is an excellent router table that can easily be broken down and stored. Just know that you are going to need to take some extra time when it first arrives to trim down the table’s edging.
PROS
CONS
The Kreg PRS2100 Bench Top Router Table is a great table for use with hobby woodworkers. It is simple to set up, although users report that if you do not pay close attention to the provided directions and take your time to set it up properly, you will pay for it later – but of course, that is true for any tool.
One of the most awesome qualities about this Kreg table is that it is light enough to be transported fairly easily, so if you are woodworking on the go or if you anticipate moving around a lot, this table is a great choice for you.
Bottom Line
The Kreg PRS2100 Bench Top Router Table is a fantastic table that will enable you to get any woodworking job done, even if you have to stop in the middle, pack up the table, and resume again later. The one thing to consider is that the fence clamps will give if you apply enough pressure, so watch out for fence movement and consider reinforcing the clamps themselves if possible.
PROS
CONS
Forget all of the hassle of buying a top quality router and then searching the market for a router table that is compatible with the expensive router you just bought – or finally giving up, buying one that is not compatible, and needing to take the extra time to drill holes in the table that allow the router to be steady and be hooked up to a power outlet! Those days are long behind you when you go with the Craftsman Router and Router Table Combo.
Because this combination comes from the reliable Craftsman brand, you know you are getting a high quality router, and in that regard, this product certainly does not disappoint. If you are looking for a smaller router table with an included high quality router to get basic home improvement woodworking tasks done, you will not be able to find something that better suits your needs than this Craftsman combo.
Bottom Line
The Craftsman Router and Router Table Combo are ideal as an all in one, inclusive package that will be able to fit into any woodworking shop with ease. Just be aware that the router table top is made of particle board, so it may need to be reinforced at some point down the line.
Conclusion
Benchtop router tables are an essential component of any woodworker’s repertoire, whether they are a professional or just casually woodworking as a hobby. The products on this list will be sure to not disappoint – get woodworking today!
People Also Ask
You have questions, we have answers:
What is a Benchtop Router Table?
A benchtop router table is a means of connecting your router to a stable woodworking surface. The router itself is attached to the base of the table (which is why a sturdy table is so incredibly important) and the router’s spindle will then protrude from the table to be used in woodworking.
What is a Benchtop Router Table Best Used For?
A benchtop router table is best used for Do It Yourself woodworking craft work. Users have reported that benchtop router tables can be ideal for fixing any issues involving wood around the house, such as a broken cabinet door, or for doing comprehensive projects, like actually shaping a piece of wood into a beautiful design.
Can a Plunge Router Be Used in a Table?
Yes, although it can be complicated. We recommend buying a separate base for using a plunge router if that is what you want to do.
What is the Difference Between a Router Table and a Sharper?
Both router tables and sharpers are effective woodworking tools, although they accomplish this effect in different ways. Router tables are obviously intended to be paired with a router, which uses router bits to cut and shape wood. Sharpers use a different system, a motor powered by a belt drive.
Benefits of Investing in a Great Benchtop Router Table
As with all major purchases, it is always tempting to go cheaper rather than upscale. But you do not want to compromise on quality when purchasing a router table. This is primarily for safety reasons: if you get a router table that is wobbly, or a router table that is intended to be easily folded up and put away but in actuality just has really weak leg joints that collapse easily, you could end up in a situation where the spinning router blade is moving around rapidly and unpredictably. It is important to avoid this situation by investing in a high quality router system that will ensure your safety when using woodworking tools.