The best Stanley planes, compared.
Top pick: Hychika chamfer plane, CP45 Best value: Stanley Surform, 5-21-399 – Best value among rows scoring 60 or more, on star points and review volume per pound. A pierced-blade rasp, not a fine face. Updated October 2026.
A Stanley plane is a hand plane: usually a bench plane or a block plane that takes a shaving. You buy one to smooth a face, trim end grain, or ease a sticking door. The amazon.co.uk results also include a rasp, a mini door plane, a chamfer tool, and a pull plane, so the search name is not the job. Quality shows up as a sole you can make flat, an iron that will take a hone, and adjustments that stay put. A new plane in this price band often needs that work before a fine shaving. The [Stanley plane buying guide](/hub/diy-supplies/stanley-plane/sub/stanley-plane-buying-guide) sorts a 4, a block plane, a rasp, and a bullnose by the cut you need. Stanley UK lists a 50 mm iron and a 250 mm body for the 4. The amazon.co.uk listing prints 45 mm and 245 mm, and those lines are not merged here. A 4-size bench plane suits a flat face.
A Stanley plane is a hand plane: usually a bench plane or a block plane that takes a shaving. You buy one to smooth a face, trim end grain, or ease a sticking door.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you cutting?
The Hychika CP45 is a chamfer plane at about £21.49 with four cutter heads, for 45°, 3 mm, 5 mm, and 6 mm, plus horizontal and vertical bubble levels and a weight of 610 g. The star line is 5.0 from 4 amazon.co.uk ratings, and the file contains one review text, which calls it a very good tool and does not describe a fault. The bullets describe chamfering and trimming wood edges, including edge banding, with an auxiliary armrest. They do not claim a flat sole for surfacing a board. The material cell says alloy steel while the bullets also name an aluminium-alloy frame and ABS parts. The body size on the dimension cell is 18 x 9 x 5 cm. Four reviews cannot carry a ranking against planes with hundreds of ratings. It is for a 45° edge if you accept that tiny file, and it is the wrong tool for a door stile or a cabinet face.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A 45° chamfer or a narrow edge band, if four reviews are enough for you.
Less suitable: A door stile, a flat face, or any ranking that needs a larger review file.
Specifications
Common questions
What cutters are in the box?
Four milling heads: 45°, 3 mm, 5 mm, and 6 mm, plus the chamfer plane. The bullets say the depth of cut is adjustable. The weight cell says 610 g.
Is this a face-smoothing plane?
No. The listing describes it for chamfering and trimming wood edges, including edge banding, with horizontal and vertical bubble levels. It does not claim a flat sole for surfacing a board.
What do reviews say?
The star line is 5.0 from 4 ratings. The saved listing contains one review text, which calls it a very good tool and does not describe a fault.
The Suizan SK-002 is a Japanese pull plane at about £47.80, made in Japan, with a 50 mm blade, an oak body the bullet sizes at 240 x 63 x 62 mm, and a weight of 650 g. The rating is 4.8 from 58 amazon.co.uk reviews, a short file next to the Stanley block planes. You pull it towards you, and reviews say the blade is set by tapping rather than a screw, with the first setup as the difficult part. One reviewer preferred a cut around 0.05 mm, while the cutting-depth cell says 0.05 cm, so those two figures are not the same. The included-components cell names an instruction manual, and a spare blade is not listed. The bullet size and the dimension cell agree, which is rare in this set. It suits a pull stroke on a face if you will learn the tap, and it is the wrong first tool if you want a Bailey-style wheel.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A pull stroke on a face, once you accept that the first setup is tapping the blade.
Less suitable: A first plane if you want a wheel adjuster, or a buyer who needs a large review file.
Specifications
Common questions
Do you push or pull this plane?
You pull it towards you. The bullet says that is the Japanese method. The body size in the bullet is 240 x 63 x 62 mm, with a 50 mm blade and a weight of 650 g.
How is the blade set?
The listing does not describe a screw adjuster. Reviews say you set the blade by tapping, and that the first setup is the difficult part. One reviewer preferred a cut around 0.05 mm. The cutting-depth cell says 0.05 cm.
What is in the box, according to the cell?
The included-components cell names an instruction manual only. The plane is sold with its blade. A spare blade is not listed. The material field says Japanese steel and oak, and the country cell says Japan.
The Stanley Surform 5-21-399 is a die-cast metal-body rasp at about £7.99, with 4.5 from 4,317 amazon.co.uk reviews, and a thumb screw that the bullet says releases the fine-cut blade without tools. Reviews describe a pierced blade that works like a rasp and leaves a rough surface, so it is not a knife-edged smoother. The title says 155 mm, the included line says 150 mm, the cutting-width cell says 140 mm, and the weight cell says 10 g, which does not match a palm-sized body. The dimension cell says 6.3 x 2.2 x 3.9 cm, which does not match the 155 mm title. Reviews also say the screw can seize after a quarter turn, or that the body spreads if it is over-tightened. On the price-and-review measure used here it is the best value in the set, for a curve or a rough edge, and it is the wrong tool when you want a shaving you can see through.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Curves, tight spaces, and a rough edge where a rasp surface is acceptable.
Less suitable: A fine face, a door stile you want smooth, or anyone who would trust the 10 g weight cell.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a bladed bench plane?
The listing calls it a Surform block plane with a replaceable fine-cut blade. Reviews describe a pierced blade that works like a rasp and leaves a rough surface. It is not a knife-edged smoother.
Can you change the blade without tools?
The bullet says a thumb screw releases the blade and that no tools are required. Reviews also say the screw can seize after a quarter turn, or that the body spreads if it is over-tightened.
Which size figures are on the listing?
The title says 155 mm. The included-components line says 150 mm. The cutting-width cell says 140 mm. The dimension cell says 6.3 x 2.2 x 3.9 cm and the weight cell says 10 g.
The Stanley 220, model cell 1-12-220, is a light-duty block plane at about £29.43, and the bullet sets the cutter at 21° for cross-grain, craft, and model work. It carries 4.5 from 2,567 amazon.co.uk reviews and a weight cell of 862 g. In the first 50, several people flattened a concave sole, and one still had a hollow at the mouth after hours of lapping, while others used it on doors and chamfers after a hone. The cutting-width cell says 77 mm and the included-components line says 1.5/8 inch, and those two figures do not match. The mouth is not stated. One review says the handle is solid metal. It is a lower-priced block plane in this set for light edges if you can live with that width clash, and it is not a No. 4 for a cabinet face.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light-duty cross-grain, craft, and small chamfers, after a hone and a sole check.
Less suitable: A measured cutter width you must know before you buy, or a wide face in two hands.
Specifications
Common questions
What angle does Stanley state?
The bullet says the cutter rests at 21°, for cross-grain planing, and that the plane is manually adjustable. It is described for model making, craft, and light-duty work.
How wide is the cutter on this listing?
The cutting-width cell says 77 mm. The included-components line calls it a 1.5/8 inch block plane. Those two figures are both printed, and they do not match.
What do reviews say about the sole?
In the first 50 reviews, several people had to flatten a concave sole, and one still had a hollow at the mouth after hours of lapping. Others used it on doors and chamfers after a hone and were satisfied.
The Stanley 5-12-020 is listed at about £50.42 as a block plane whose bullet puts the cutter at 21°, with a 40 mm width cell, a weight of 900 g, and a storage pouch in the box. It has 4.5 from 783 amazon.co.uk reviews. In the first 50, a flat sole is not a given: reviewers report bow, cup, and deep grinding marks, and a front plate that sits proud of the sole, while others say a short lap was enough. The sides are hollowed for grip, and reviews mention a plastic palm rest. The title prints 5-12-2020, the model cell says 5.12-020, and the part cell says STANLEY 5-12-020. The bullet describes it for fine work and for planing against the grain. Use it for that light work if you will check the front plate against the sole, and not as a two-handed face plane.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light work, chamfers, and cuts against the grain, after you check that the front plate sits flush.
Less suitable: A two-handed face, or a buyer who wants the sole flat on arrival.
Specifications
Common questions
What angle does the listing state?
The bullet says the cutter is positioned at 21°, for fine work and for planing against the grain. The cutting-width cell says 40 mm.
Does it come with a pouch?
Yes. The title, the item-type cell, and a bullet all include a storage pouch.
What do reviews say about the sole?
In the first 50 reviews, a flat sole is not a given. Reviewers report bow, cup, and deep grinding marks, and a front plate that sits proud of the sole. Others say a short lap was enough.
The Jorgensen 70730 is a No. 4 bench plane at about £56.99, and the highlight says a 58 mm blade with a beech handle on a ductile-iron body. The weight cell says 2.24 kg, and 307 amazon.co.uk reviews sit at 4.5. In the first 50, some buyers cut straight away and others report a sole that is not flat, an iron out of square, or a frog that will not seat the blade. Depth is set by the front knob, which is a different control from a Bailey wheel. The cutting-width cell says 10 inches and the cutting-depth cell says 7 inches, and neither figure is a measured 58 mm. The rank cell places it among Block Planes even though the type on the listing is a smoothing plane. Choose it when a wooden handle is the point you are paying for, and leave it if you need the catalogue cells to match the highlight.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A No. 4-size face plane when a beech handle is the reason to choose it over a plastic-handled Bailey.
Less suitable: A buyer who would treat the 10 inch and 7 inch cells as a measured width or depth.
Specifications
Common questions
How wide is the blade on this listing?
The highlight cell says a 58 mm blade. The cutting-width cell says 10 inches and the cutting-depth cell says 7 inches. Those catalogue cells are not a measured width.
What is the handle made of?
The bullet says a beech wood handle. The body bullet says ductile iron, and the base-material cell also says ductile iron. The material field says cast iron.
Does the listing say it is ready to use?
The bullet says the bottom is polished flat. In the first 50 reviews, some buyers cut straight away and others report a sole that is not flat, an iron out of square, or a frog that will not seat the blade.
The Amazon Basics DS-WPAMZ001 is a cast-iron No. 4 at about £16.20 with a 51 mm (2 inch) blade, ranked 1 in Smoothing Planes on this pass, with 4.4 from 4,007 amazon.co.uk reviews. In the first 50, most people bought it for a door, a gate, or a similar one-off trim, and many say the blade was sharp enough on arrival. Others say the blade was awkward to keep even, or blunt or chipped. The title and the bullets say the mouth and the depth are adjustable with screws and a lever cap. The weight cell says 1.21 kg. The cutting-depth cell says 5 cm, which the bullets do not support as a depth of cut. On the score used for this comparison it is the top pick, because the review file and the price sit well above the rest of the set, and it is still a bench plane rather than a tool made only for a door lipping.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A one-off door, gate, or furniture trim when you want a cheap No. 4 and will check the iron.
Less suitable: A buyer who would follow the 5 cm depth cell, or who wants a wooden-handled smoother for repeated cabinet work.
Specifications
Common questions
Can you adjust the mouth?
Yes. The title and the bullets say the mouth and the depth are adjustable, using adjustment screws and a lever cap. The listing does not state a blade angle.
What do reviews say about sticking doors?
In the first 50 reviews, most people bought it for a door, a gate, or a similar one-off trim. Many say the blade was sharp enough on arrival. Others say the blade was awkward to keep even, or blunt or chipped.
How heavy is it?
The weight cell says 1.21 kg. The body and the base-material cell both say cast iron. The colour cell says grey/black.
The WZHHDM mini door planer is a small body at about £9.59, and the bullet says 16 x 4.5 cm in stainless steel with two spare blades and a weight cell of 150 g. The star line is 4.4 from 11 amazon.co.uk ratings, and the file has five review texts. Two say it did a door job, one calls it sharp, one says it sticks in the cut even after a setting change, and one calls it very small. The bullets do not describe how to set the depth, and the power, model, and included cells each print 1. Eleven ratings are not a test of whether it will spare a hollow-core lipping. It is only a candidate for a small trim on an ordinary internal door after the hinges are tight, and it is the wrong tool for a fire-rated door or a face.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A very small trim on an ordinary internal door, after the hinges have been checked.
Less suitable: A fire-rated door, a hollow-core lipping you might break through, or a face.
Specifications
Common questions
What comes with it?
The bullet says two spare blades and a body measuring 16 x 4.5 cm. The weight cell says 150 g. The included-components cell only says 1.
How do you set the depth?
The listing asks the question and does not answer it. The bullets do not describe an adjuster. The power-source cell says 1, which is not a power source.
What do the five reviews say?
Two say it did a door job, and one calls it sharp. One says it sticks in the cut even after a setting change. One calls it very small. The star line is 4.4 from 11 ratings, and only five texts are in the file.
The Stanley No. 4 Bailey, model cell 1-12-004, is a bench smoother at about £59.95 whose bullet says a 245 mm body and a 45 mm cutter. Across 437 amazon.co.uk reviews rated 4.3, the first 50 keep returning to plastic handles that crack or snap, including mould lines, and to a sole that needs work before a fine cut. The bullets do not name the handle material. The base-material cell says wood while the bullet says fine grey iron, and the title prints 1-12-2004 against the cell 1-12-004. The weight cell says 1.92 kg, the origin cell says Mexico, and the bullet names a rapid fine adjuster. It will smooth a cabinet or joinery face if the sole and the handles pass a check, and it is a clumsy first buy for one sticking door or for end grain in one hand.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A flat face you will keep working, after you inspect the handles and the sole.
Less suitable: One sticking door, one-handed end grain, or a buyer who needs the base cell and the bullet to agree.
Specifications
Common questions
What size does the amazon.co.uk listing state?
The bullet says a 245 mm smoothing plane with a 45 mm cutter. The dimension cell says 25.1 x 14.4 x 6.8 cm and the weight cell says 1.92 kg. The model cell says 1-12-004; the title prints 1-12-2004.
What is the sole made of?
The bullet says a precision-cast fine grey iron base. The base-material cell says wood. Both lines are on the listing, and they do not agree.
What do UK reviews say about the handles?
Across the first 50 reviews, plastic handles are a repeated complaint. Reviewers mention mould lines, and handles that crack or snap in use or on arrival. The bullets do not name the handle material.
The Stanley 1-12-020 is a fully adjustable block plane at about £43.98, with a 40 mm cutting-width cell and a weight of 872 g, rated 4.2 from 1,539 amazon.co.uk reviews. The bullets say you can change depth, mouth width, and angle for end grain and touch-up, and they do not print a degree. In the first 50 reviews a curved or roughly machined sole comes up often, as does a lever or screw that will not stay tight. Other reviewers say it is usable after a flatten and a hone, and some report no lapping at all. The model cell says STANLEY 12-920 while the part number says 1-12-020, and the item-type cell says No. 9. The title length is 9.5 inch against a dimension cell of 20 x 7 x 13.5 cm. It suits one-handed end grain if you will set the mouth and check the sole, and it is the wrong body for flattening a wide face.
Pros
Cons
Best for: One-handed end grain and touch-up, if you will flatten the sole and keep the lever tight.
Less suitable: Flattening a wide face, or a buyer who needs a printed degree on the listing.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the mouth adjustable?
Yes. The bullets say you can change depth, mouth width, and angle, and they call the jaw opening adjustable. They do not print a blade angle in degrees.
What is it for, on this listing?
The bullets say trimming and smoothing end grain, plus touch-up and finish work. The cutting-width cell says 40 mm. The weight cell says 872 g.
What do reviews say you should expect before first use?
In the first 50 reviews, a repeated complaint is a curved or roughly machined sole, and a lever or screw that will not stay tight. Other reviewers say it is fine after a flatten and a hone, and some report no lapping at all.
The Stanley 0-12-105 is a 50 mm die-cast modelling plane at about £20.45, and the bullet says the blade can sit for ordinary use or at the nose as a bullnose. Across 431 amazon.co.uk reviews the rating is 3.4, the lowest star line in this set. In the first 50, the repeated complaint is that the depth is hard to set and the blade slips, falls out, or the adjuster thread strips. Reviews say there is one mount, which you move, not two mounts fitted at once, and they describe a yellow plastic handle on clips. The weight cell says 80 g against a dimension cell of 23.5 x 10.5 x 6 cm, so do not plan around 80 g. The origin cell says Mexico. It is for an edge or a corner only if the blade stays put on the one you receive, and it is a poor substitute for a No. 4.
Pros
Cons
Best for: An edge or a corner, if you move the single mount to the nose and the blade stays put.
Less suitable: A face, a door stile, or anyone who needs the depth setting to hold.
Specifications
Common questions
Can the blade work into a corner?
Yes, on this listing. The bullet says the blade can sit for ordinary use or at the nose as a bullnose. Reviews say there is one mount, which you move, not two mounts fitted at once.
Does the blade stay put?
The bullet says the depth of cut is adjustable. In the first 50 reviews, the repeated complaint is that the depth is hard to set and the blade slips, falls out, or the adjuster thread strips.
What width and weight does the listing print?
The title, the item-type cell, and the cutting-width cell say 50 mm. The weight cell says 80 g. The dimension cell says 23.5 x 10.5 x 6 cm.
Each of the 11 amazon.co.uk listings is scored out of 100, then shown here on a 10-point scale. Stars contribute up to 30, review volume up to 25, listing fit for the stated job up to 20, sentiment in the review notes up to 15, and the price band up to 10. A repeated fault is then deducted, and a file under 20 reviews loses 10 points, or 15 if it is under 10. Where two scores match, the longer review file is listed first. This is not a laboratory test, and no sole was lapped for this page.
Stars
30%The amazon.co.uk star average, scaled to 30. A 4.4 contributes 26 and a 4.5 contributes 27. The star line is the published rating, not a new test.
Review volume
25%Up to 25 points. A file of 4,000 or more scores 25. The steps then fall through 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 50, and 10. The largest counts in this set sit on the cheapest tools.
Listing fit
20%Up to 20 points for a type, a cutter, and sizes that agree with the job. A cell that fights the bullet, such as a width clash or an implausible weight, is cut back inside this block.
Review notes
15%Up to 15 points from the review notes already on the listing row. A repeated fault, such as a cracked handle, a sole that will not sit, or a blade that falls out, is deducted after the sum.
Price band
10%Up to 10 points on this shelf: 10 under £12, 8 from £12 to under £25, 6 from £25 to under £35, 5 from £35 to under £50, and 3 at £50 and above.
Start with the cut, not the brand. A No. 4 is for a flat face, a block plane is for end grain in one hand, a Surform stays rough, and a bullnose is for a corner. Then read the iron, the sole, and whether the adjuster stays put. Prices on this amazon.co.uk shelf run from about £7.99 to about £59.95. A new plane in that band often needs a hone and a sole check before a fine shaving.
A Stanley plane is a hand plane. For most UK shoppers that means a Bailey-pattern bench plane or a block plane that takes a shaving. You use it to smooth a face, trim end grain, or ease a sticking door. Search results on amazon.co.uk also include a Surform rasp, a mini door plane, a chamfer tool, and a Japanese pull plane. The brand does not decide the job. Match the body to the cut. A No. 4-size bench plane suits a flat face.
The Stanley 5-21-399 uses a pierced blade. Reviews describe a rough surface, not a shaving you can see through. It suits a curve or a tight space. It does not suit a door stile or a cabinet face you want smooth.
A thick cut tears. Planing against the grain does the same unless the listing is a low-angle block plane you have set for that. A hollow sole will not sit. UK reviews of new Stanley planes often start with a lap and a hone, not with a finished surface.
Check the hinge screws first. Checkatrade says most doors need only a millimetre or two at the rub. Do not plane a fire-rated door until you have read its label. Once a hollow-core lipping is gone, BuildWiz says the door is scrap. A twisted door or a dropped frame is a joiner’s job.
The first decision is the job, not the brand. A No. 4-size bench plane suits a flat face: the Stanley 1-12-004, the Jorgensen 70730, and the Amazon Basics DS-WPAMZ001 are that type in this set. A block plane suits one-handed end grain. The Stanley 1-12-020 listing says the mouth is adjustable and the cutter is 40 mm. The 5-12-020 listing says 21° and includes a pouch. The 220 listing says 21° and light duty. A Surform is a rasp for curves and stays rough.
Adjustments that stay put are the next check. Depth and lateral levers matter on a Bailey plane. An adjustable mouth matters on the fully adjustable block planes. The Stanley 0-12-105 draws repeated UK complaints that the blade will not stay put. On the block planes in this set, review notes also mention a lever or screw that loosens, or a sole that is concave at the mouth. Then look at the box. A Bailey plane includes its iron.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a millimetre or two off an ordinary internal door after the hinge screws are tight. The Amazon Basics No. 4 is about £16.20, and most of the first 50 reviews used it on a door, a gate, or a similar trim. Do not plane a fire-rated door, and stop if you would break a hollow-core lipping.
You will lap the sole and hone the iron, and you want a No. 4 for a cabinet face. The Stanley 1-12-004 is about £59.95. The bullet says 245 mm and a 45 mm cutter. The first 50 reviews mention plastic handles that crack and a sole that needs work. Stanley Tools UK states 50 mm and 250 mm for that model number. Keep the two sources apart.
You do not need a knife-edged shaving. The Stanley Surform is about £7.99, with a replaceable fine-cut blade and 4.5 from 4,317 ratings. It leaves a rough surface. The weight cell says 10 g, which is not a weight to plan around.
The top pick is the Amazon Basics No. 4 at about £16.20. It scores 82 because 4.4 from 4,007 ratings and the price sit above the rest of this set, and it is still a bench plane. Some reviews report a blunt, chipped, or uneven blade, and the depth cell says 5 cm, which the bullets do not support. The best value is the Stanley Surform at about £7.99, with 4.5 from 4,317 ratings, for a rough edge. It is a pierced-blade rasp, not a smoother.
Stanley Surform, 5-21-399
Best value among rows scoring 60 or more, on star points and review volume per pound. A pierced-blade rasp, not a fine face.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources on hand planes, workplace equipment, and faulty goods. Listing prices and star counts are the amazon.co.uk figures kept for this comparison, October 2026. Prices move.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Scores use the amazon.co.uk star line, review counts, listing fit, review notes, and the price band. They are not a laboratory test.
