2.25 HP / 12 amps — plenty for hardwood furniture and cabinetry.
Fixed + plunge bases — essentially two routers in one.
Variable speed — useful when changing between small and large router bits.
1/4" and 1/2" collets — accommodates a much wider range of bits.
Excellent choice for dadoes, rabbets, mortises, edge profiles, inlays, and general furniture work. Multiple current woodworking roundups also put the 1617EVSPK at or near the top.
It's currently around $230, making it particularly attractive for a first serious router.
One important distinction: if you're primarily doing furniture/cabinet work, I'd get the Bosch 1617. If you're mostly rounding edges, trimming, making small signs, or working on smaller projects, a compact router such as the Makita RT0701C is easier to handle.
If you tell me your budget (e.g. $150, $250, $400+) and what you're building, I can narrow it down to the best router and the bits you should buy with it.
Because "the best" router depends entirely on what you are trying to accomplish, most woodworkers don't just own one—they own two or three. Routers generally fall into three distinct categories: Compact/Trim Routers for light profiling and joinery, Mid-to-Large Combination Kits for general shop work, and Heavy-Duty/Table Routers for permanent mounting or heavy stock removal.
The top-rated routers for woodworking are organized below by category:
Best Overall / Mid-Size Combination Kit:Bosch 1617EVSPK (2.25 HP)
Widely considered the gold standard for a do-it-all shop router. It comes with both fixed and plunge bases, a robust 12-amp motor with soft-start, and variable speed control. It is reliable, powerful enough for 90% of handheld tasks, and its wood motor housing fits easily into many router lifts and tables.
Best Premium Handheld Plunge Router:Festool OF 1400 EQ-F-Plus
If budget isn't a barrier and you value pristine dust collection, ergonomic micro-adjustment, and incredible plunge smoothness, Festool is unmatched. It is the ultimate choice for fine furniture makers doing precise joinery and template work.
Best Dedicated Router Table Unit:Triton TRA001 (3-1/4 HP)
A legendary heavy-hitter for the router table. It features a built-in winder for above-table height adjustment, an automatic spindle lock (so you only need one wrench to change bits), and a removable plunge spring that makes manual adjustments a breeze under a table.
Best Compact / Trim Router:Makita RT0701C (1-1/4 HP)
An absolute favorite for light edge-profiling, hinge mortising, and small joinery. It is lightweight, vibration-resistant, highly balanced, and inexpensive enough that many woodworkers keep multiple bases permanently configured for different tasks.
Best Cordless Router:DeWalt 20V MAX XR (DCW600B / DCW620)
If you want the freedom of cordless convenience without sacrificing power on job sites or quick shop round-overs, DeWalt’s brushless compact and plunge configurations deliver smooth variable speed and excellent line-of-sight.
To help narrow down which one is right for you, tell me:
Will this be handheld or mounted in a router table?
What kind of projects do you mostly plan to build (e.g., signs, cabinetry, fine furniture)?
