Best Belt Sanders Reviews 2021 – Experts Guide and Top Picks

1. PORTER-CABLE 352VS Belt Sander - Top Overall Pick

Anyone who is looking for a belt sander that has a variable speed control needs to consider getting the Porter Cable 352VS as soon as possible. We rated this as the best belt sander because it is versatile and powerful. Why is that? Well, this belt sander has an 8 amp motor that can produce a belt variable speed that ranges between eight hundred and fifty and thirteen hundred feet a minute, so you can adjust it based on the materials you need to sand.

The belt size is three by twenty one inches in size and if you want to flush furniture pieces, trim or vertical walls, then you can easily do that thanks to the body clearance the 352VS has. In terms of comfort, the Porter Cable 352VS is very easy to grip, thanks to its ergonomic front handle that gives you good control over the tool’s operation no matter the belt variable speed. Lastly, for unhindered sanding, the dust bag which is mounted on top of the belt sander can be rotated to any position you want.

While this belt sander comes with a dust bag, it just doesn’t collect the dust as it should and it will generally shoot it in your face.

2. Skil 7510-01 Handheld Belt Sander - Best Value

With six amps of power and a three by 18-inch sanding belt included, this belt sander can help with most tasks around the house. The belt uses 80 grits, which is suitable for coarse sanding. With the pressure control system, the sander can warn you when you use too much pressure and let you add an optional sanding pad.

The vacuum attachment on the back works with a separate vacuum system to remove dust particles. Skil added a clear dust canister that shows you when you need to empty it.

3. Makita 9403 Belt Sander - Premium Choice

Some people don’t need very powerful belt sanders, since they may only have a few surfaces to sand at home, but when you need a very capable power tool that can sand a wide variety of surfaces, then you cannot go wrong with the Makita 9403. This model is our best belt sander for premium choice, it features a massive eleven amp motor that can pull the belt sander at a whopping 1,640 feet a minute. It comes with a four by twenty four inch belt that covers a large surface area which allows users to easily sand large surfaces in a short period of time.

To improve comfort while using this belt sander, the Makita belt sander features a big knob style front grip, while the cord (which is mounted on top) provides less interference for a job well done. Make sure the working environment is as clean as possible is the priority of many of us, since no one likes to spend another 30 or 60 minutes to clean up the work area after they’re done belt sanding.

In this regard, the Makita 9403’s dust bag can swivel at a full 360 degrees, allowing for unrestricted operation. Lastly, the 9403 is designed in such a way that you can position its nose and sand flush to a trim panel or a wall.

While this may not happen to anyone, it’s good to know that some of the people who used this Makita model said the dust bag elbow failed in just ten seconds of use.

4. Black & Decker DS321 Belt Sander 

In order to make it very quick and easy to use even by those who have never used belt sanders before, the Black and Decker DS321 has a very interesting features that will make using it a sheer pleasure. For example, you’ll find that you can easily adjust the top handle to 3 different positions that increase user comfort, while the belt’s front hood can be retracted so that you can easily access the top of the sanding belt. Lastly, the DS321 is designed in such a way that it can be used to operate flush to a vertical surface.

When it comes to the sander’s engine, it has seven amps and it’s capable of running at a speed of eight hundred feet per 60 seconds. And if you want to replace the belt, you can easily do that thanks to the single action lever the DS321 features. Overall, this budget model is a great piece of hardware that can easily be used for home improvement, since it delivers amazing results without getting you exhausted. In addition it's dust collection system features an  easy-empty dust bag for a tidy work area.

Everything about the DS321 is exceptional, but some users found that they need to center the belt all the time, because its tracking is just not that great.

5. Makita 9903 Belt Sander

Makita 9903 delivers the same power that larger sanders have in the compact design of this belt sander. It has an 8.8-amp motor that runs so quietly that you can barely hear it. The auto-tracking belt system keeps the belt moving without requiring that you adjust it.

With the variable speed dial on the front, you can adjust the speed from 690 to 1,440 ft per minute to move across the wood faster. Makita also created a new design that lets you use the sander flush on a surface.

6. Wen 6321 Budget Belt Sander

The best mini belt sander is the 6321 from WEN, which has a 7-amp motor that helps the belt move by 13 feet every second. At only six pounds, it doesn't cause the hand fatigue that other belt sanders can. You can change the belt as needed without any tools too.

A dust bag on the side pulls in the sawdust from the wood and is easy to empty. It also has an extended roller on the front that can get into tight spaces that other sanders can not.

7. Tacklife PSFS1A Belt Sander

8. WEN 6502T Belt Sander

This two-in-one sander from WEN functions as both a belt and a disc sander and comes with the sanding supplies that you need. You get both a six-by-six-inch sanding disc and a four-by-36-inch sanding belt. The cast iron base is sturdy and adds extra stability to the sander.

It comes with a 4.3-amp motor that can produce up to 3600 revolutions per minute and a 90-degree tilting feature for angled sanding. A tension release lever lets you switch out the sandpaper too.

9. Ridgid R2740 Belt Sander

Some people may be willing to invest in an economical variable speed belt sander and if that is the case with you, then you’re going to find the Ridgid R2740 to be exactly what you’re looking for. Ridging fitted their belt sanders with a six point five amp motor, allowing you to adjust sanding speed from 400 feet and up to nine hundred and fifty feet per minute on a three by eighteen inch sanding belt.

In order to pick up dust and especially cool the motor off, the Ridgid R2740 variable speed comes with twin fans that drastically improve the belt sander’s ease of operation and of course, efficiency. Holding the R2740 is simplified thanks to the soft grip handles that greatly minimize vibration and allow you to get the job done without getting your arm sore. If you always find yourself doing something around the house that has involves sanding, then the R2740 is undoubtedly one of the best choices you can currently consider.

The R2740 variable speed belt sander is a great choice to consider when you need to use it for home improvement, but after a few hours of use, some people said the belt sander started to slow down.

10. Ryobi ZRBE319 6 Amp Belt Sander

If you value a space saving design and a belt sander that doesn’t require a lot of dexterity to handle, then you are going to find the Ryobi ZRBE319 to be a very good choice no matter the types of woodworking projects you want to consider. It features a three by eighteen inch sanding belt that is pulled at eight hundred twenty feet a minute by its powerful 6.0 amp motor. On top of that, the ZRBE319 features a belt tension system that comes with a tool-less tracking knob and belt tension release, allowing you to change the belt anytime without any hassle.

Locking the ZRBE319 in place is very simple when doing so, you can easily keep the belt in line while using the sander. And while this model is fitted with a dust bag, you can remove it if you want to attach the dust bag port to a shop vacuum. This way, you’re going to greatly minimize the spread of sawdust.

No one can disagree to the fact that the ZRBE319 is a great belt sander, but some people felt like it was too hard to control. On top of that, some users said that the vacuum attachment is cheaply made and cannot be hooked onto this belt sander securely.

Buyer's Guide: Choosing the Right Belt Sander

A belt sander is a type of power tool that features a belt made of sandpaper that moves as a motor inside powers it. These tools are great for small and large projects, including sanding the floors in your home and restoring old furniture. 

Here are the features you must consider:

Cost

Though you can look for the best belt sander under 100, you might find that you need something a little more expensive more jobs. The cheaper models work well for a few weeks but tend to overheat and suffer from motor failures later. You can find both affordable belt sanders for less than $100 as well as those that cost $300 or more.

Corded or Cordless

With a corded belt sander, you can only work if you are close to an outlet. They tend to have more power than cordless models do and can tackle bigger jobs. You might dislike the cord and how it can get in your way though.

Cordless belt sanders come with a removable battery that you can charge between jobs. Some companies make batteries that are compatible with other power tools, which can save you some money too. The best cordless belt sander can run for 60 minutes or longer.

Combo Units

WEN makes the best belt disc sander combo unit, which you can read about in our product reviews. A combo unit comes with both a belt sander and a disc sander that you can use when making spindles and railing posts as well as chess pieces and molding. Combo units typically have a durable base or table too.

Other Things to Consider When Buying a Belt Sander

Whether you need the best handheld belt sander or a combo unit, some of the other things you should consider include: