The best hand planes, compared.
Top pick: Suizan SK-003 kanna Best value: Spear & Jackson CTP3 – Best value: score 70 at £10.99, the highest score per pound among listings with at least 100 reviews after the top pick. Updated 22.10.2026.
A hand plane takes a thin shaving off wood. In the UK you buy one to smooth a face, trim an edge, or ease a door that sticks in its frame. The suitable plane is the one whose type matches the stroke. A No. 4 is a two-handed bench plane, about 245 mm long, with an iron near 50 mm. A block plane is shorter, often used with one hand, and usually bevel-up, for end grain and small edges. A chamfer plane only cuts an arris. A Japanese pull plane has a wooden body and is drawn towards you. A mini plane narrower than the edge needs more than one pass. Check that the cutter width, the length and the weight describe the same tool. A cutting-depth line that repeats a blade width is not a depth of cut. A weight of a few tens of grams is not a metal bench plane. The split between a No. 4 and a block plane is set out in [No. 4 or a block plane](/hub/hand-tools/hand-plane/sub/hand-plane-no4-vs-block).
A hand plane takes a thin shaving off wood. In the UK you buy one to smooth a face, trim an edge, or ease a door that sticks in its frame. The suitable plane is the one whose type matches the stroke. A No.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you planing?
The Suizan SK-003 is a 60 mm Japanese pull plane at £64.80, with an oak body, a listed size of 260 by 75 by 68 mm and a weight of 880 g. Country of origin is Japan. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 from 41 ratings, the highest star line in this set, and the file holds 13 review texts. The bullets say you pull it towards you, so it is not a Bailey No. 4. The title says double blade, and one review says the iron is single-layer and well ground, so that point is unsettled. There is no depth wheel in the listing. Reviews describe fitting the iron rather than turning a screw. Forty-one ratings is a small file next to the No. 4s with thousands. It is the pull plane if that is the stroke you want, and it is the wrong only plane if you want a wheel for depth.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a Japanese pull plane with an oak body and you are ready to fit the iron by tapping.
Less suitable: You want a No. 4, a depth screw, or a first plane for a sticking door.
Specifications
Common questions
Do you push this plane?
The bullets say you pull it towards you. It is a Japanese kanna, not a Bailey No. 4.
Is the blade double?
The title says double blade. One review says the iron is single-layer and well ground. The listing does not settle that.
What is the body made of?
The material line says Japanese steel and oak. The size line is 260 × 75 × 68 mm and 880 g. Country of origin is Japan.
The Spear & Jackson CBP65 is listed at £16.20 as a No. 6½ block plane. The bullets give a 35 mm low-angle cutter, a fully adjustable mouth and a brass adjusting screw, and they say it is for single-handed work and end grain. They do not print a degree, so this page does not call it a 12 degree plane. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 728 ratings. One review found the mouth parallel and the sole almost flat. The usual complaint is the iron: one review says the body is fine and the iron is poor, so you should expect to hone it. Another review found it heavy for one hand. The weight line says 700 g and a unit-count line says 640 g, and the rank sits under Hand Plane Blades. It is the block plane in this set when the other hand is holding the wood, and it will not replace a No. 4 on a wide face.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a block plane around £16 for end grain, with an adjustable mouth, and you will hone the iron.
Less suitable: You need a two-handed No. 4 for a face, or a printed bed angle rather than the words low angle.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the mouth adjustable?
The bullets say fully adjustable. One review found the mouth parallel and the sole almost flat.
What angle is printed?
The bullets say low angle. They do not print a degree figure. The cutter is given as 35 mm.
What do reviews say about the iron?
Sharpening comes up often. One review says the body is fine and the iron is poor. The star line is 4.5 from 728.
The Jorgensen 70730 is titled a No. 4 and listed at £56.99, with a beech handle, a ductile-iron body and a weight of 2.24 kg. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 307 ratings. The highlight says a 58 mm iron, the cutting-width line says 10 inches, and the dimension line only prints 6.5 cm of width, so you cannot read a cutter width off this page with confidence. It is ranked under Block Planes. One review sets the mouth by moving the frog, which is ordinary Bailey practice. Several English reviews report shavings out of the box or after a short setup, and one reports a cut from the side of the iron. The cutting-depth line says 7 inches, which is not a shaving thickness. At more than three times the price of the Amazon Basics No. 4, the conflicting width lines are why it does not lead this table.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a heavier bench plane with a wooden handle and you will confirm the iron width on the item in your hand.
Less suitable: You need a listing whose cutter width agrees with itself, or a No. 4 around £17.
Specifications
Common questions
How wide is the blade?
The highlight says 58 mm. The cutting-width line says 10 inches. The dimension line only prints 6.5 cm width.
Is the mouth adjustable?
One review says the mouth is set by moving the frog, as on a Bailey-pattern plane.
What do reviews say about first use?
Several English reviews got shavings out of the box or after a short setup. One reports a cut from the side of the iron. The star line is 4.5 from 307.
The Amazon Basics DS-WPAMZ001 is a No. 4 bench plane at £16.20, with a 51 mm blade, an adjustable mouth, a cast-iron body and a listed weight of 1.21 kg. The dimension line is 24.9 by 6.4 by 12.2 cm, which sits in the usual No. 4 length. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 4,007 ratings, the largest review file in this comparison. Reviewers used it on a bathroom door, a gate and oak-veneer edges, and several say the iron was sharp on arrival. One review calls keeping the cut even a faff, so the screws and the lever cap still need a careful set. The cutting-depth line says 5 cm, which is neither a shaving thickness nor the 51 mm iron. It is the top pick here for a two-handed face or a door stile, and it is the wrong plane if you need one hand free on end grain.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one No. 4 around £16 for faces, long edges and a door stile, and you will still set the iron.
Less suitable: You need one hand free for end grain, or you wanted a block plane with a low-angle cutter in the bullets.
Specifications
Common questions
What blade width is stated?
The title and the bullets say 2 inches (51 mm). The cutting-depth line says 5 cm.
Is the mouth adjustable?
The bullets say the mouth and the depth are adjustable, with screws and a lever cap.
What do door reviews say?
Reviewers used it on a bathroom door, a gate and oak-veneer edges, and several say the iron was sharp on arrival. The star line is 4.4 from 4,007.
The Jorgensen 70748 is a chamfer plane at £26.99, with four heads at 45 degrees, 3 mm, 5 mm and 6 mm, plus a slicer. The bullets say depth up to 6 mm, with storage in the body. The body line is 16.7 by 2.5 by 5.5 cm and 500 g. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 703 ratings. The listing is for edge chamfers on MDF, plywood, solid wood and chipboard, not for flattening a face. One review returned the plane because the storage cover was jammed. Another notes that unsealed metal leaves a residue. The material lines disagree: the blade is claimed as 9CrWMn or O1, the base as cast iron or alloy steel, and another line says high carbon steel. The 45 degree head is a chamfer angle, not the common pitch of a bench plane. It earns its place when the job is an arris, and it will not take the place of a No. 4.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want repeatable chamfers on board edges, up to 6 mm, and you will check that the storage cover opens.
Less suitable: You want to smooth a face, trim a door, or plane end grain with a block plane.
Specifications
Common questions
What heads are in the box?
The bullets and the included line say four interchangeable cutting heads and one slicer: 45°, 3 mm, 5 mm and 6 mm.
Where do the spare heads go?
The bullets describe storage in the body. One review returned the plane because that cover was jammed.
Will it flatten a board?
The listing is for edge chamfers on MDF, plywood, solid wood and chipboard. It is not a No. 4.
The WZHHDM door plane is listed at £9.59, with bullets that give 16 by 4.5 cm, a stainless-steel body and two spare blades. The weight line is 150 g. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 11 ratings, and the file holds five review texts. One reviewer took shavings off a sticking door. Another says the plane sticks in the cut at different settings, so the depth is not a settled control. The bullets do not name a screw or a nut, and a product question asks how to set the depth without an answer on the page. The included-components line prints 1 while the bullets promise two spare blades. Eleven ratings is a thin file next to the No. 4s that have passed a thousand.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a small door plane around £10 and you will test the depth on a scrap before the door.
Less suitable: You want a named adjuster, a wide sole for a door stile, or a review file larger than a handful of texts.
Specifications
Common questions
What comes in the box?
The bullets say the plane and two spare blades. The included-components line only prints 1.
How do you set the depth?
The listing asks the question and does not name a screw or a nut in the bullets.
What do the reviews say about doors?
One review took shavings off a sticking door. Another says the plane sticks in the cut at different settings. The star line is 4.4 from 11, with five texts in the file.
The Spear & Jackson CSP4 is a No. 4 at £17.20, with a 50 mm high-carbon iron, a brass adjusting screw, a cast-iron body and a listed weight of 1.8 kg. The dimension line is 24.8 by 6.3 by 4.2 cm, and the country of origin is India. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 1,310 ratings. Several reviewers say the instructions tell you to sharpen before use, and that the iron was blunt on arrival. A published setup note on this same model follows the same pattern: hone the iron and check the sole before you judge the plane. The mouth is not described as adjustable. The cutting-depth line repeats 50 mm, which is the blade width, and a case is not in the box. It is the heavier No. 4 in this capture if you will spend time on the iron, and it is a poor first afternoon if you wanted shavings with no hone.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a heavier No. 4 around £17 and you already plan to hone the iron and look at the sole.
Less suitable: You want shavings on the day it arrives, an adjustable mouth, or a one-handed block plane.
Specifications
Common questions
How wide is the blade?
The bullets say 50 mm high carbon steel. The cutting-depth line also says 50 mm.
Does it come with a case?
The included-components line is the plane only. A case is not listed.
Do reviewers use it straight away?
Several say the instructions tell you to sharpen first, and that the iron was blunt on arrival. The star line is 4.3 from 1,310.
The Jorgensen 70700 is a mini block plane at £14.99, about 9 by 3.2 by 5 cm and 250 g, with a ductile-iron base and an O1 blade claimed in the bullets. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.2 from 2,258 ratings, the second-largest review file in this comparison. Reviewers use it on door edges and say it is narrower than the door, so one edge takes more than one pass. One review says the blade does not sit square in the housing and projects on one side. Another found the sole flat. The included-components line says Saw blades, and the cutting-depth line says 3.5 inches, which is not a depth of cut. A thumb-sized body will not cover a door stile in one stroke.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a small plane for tight edges and you will check that the iron sits square before you start.
Less suitable: You want one pass across a door edge, or a listing whose included-components line names a plane.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this big enough for a door edge?
Reviews use it on door edges and say it is narrower than the door, so it takes more than one pass. The body line is 9 × 3.2 × 5 cm.
Does the iron sit square?
One review says the blade does not sit square in the housing and projects on one side. Another found the sole flat.
What does the included-components line say?
It says Saw blades. The bullets describe a mini plane and an O1 blade.
The Spear & Jackson CTP3 is a 3 inch trimming plane at £10.99, with a 25 mm low-angle cutter, a cast-iron body at 220 g, and India as the country of origin. Amazon.co.uk shows 4.2 from 189 ratings. Reviewers call it very small, and small enough to sit in one hand, though the bullets do not claim single-handed use. One review sets the iron by tapping rather than relying on the brass screw the bullets name. The cutting-depth line and the cutting-width line both say 1 inch, so the depth field is repeating the cutter. The material field is printed in German. It is the best value in this set for a narrow edge, and it is the wrong plane if the job is a door face.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a branded trimmer under £11 for a narrow edge, and you accept a 25 mm cutter.
Less suitable: You need a No. 4 for a face or a door stile, or a mouth the listing describes as adjustable.
Specifications
Common questions
What cutter width does the listing state?
The bullets say a 1 inch (25 mm) low-angle cutter. The cutting-depth line also says 1 inch.
Is it a full-size block plane?
Reviews call it very small. The weight line is 220 g. It is a trimming plane, not a No. 4.
Where is it made, according to the listing?
Country of origin is India. The material field is printed in German.
The ChongYue CYAPDGJ is listed on amazon.co.uk at £7.69 as a mini block plane, and the bullets describe a screw for blade depth. The same bullets give 13.5 by 4 cm, while the dimension line says 10 by 2 by 1 cm and the weight line says 20 g beside a cast-iron base. Those figures cannot describe one metal plane you would set on a door edge. The saved listing has no customer-review line and no review text, so there is no star count behind the row. The included-components line prints Block, and a spare iron is not listed. A 20 g weight next to a cast-iron claim is why this listing scores at the bottom. Open it only if you already treat the page as unreviewed, and leave it if you need a plane other buyers have used.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are only browsing an unreviewed mini listing and you will not trust the weight or the size lines.
Less suitable: You need a plane with amazon.co.uk reviews, or a body heavy enough to register as cast iron.
Specifications
Common questions
What size does the listing give?
The bullets say 13.5 × 4 cm. The dimension line says 10 × 2 × 1 cm and the weight line says 20 g.
Does the listing include an adjustable blade?
The bullets describe a screw for blade depth. A spare iron is not listed. The included-components line says Block.
Is there a review count?
The saved listing has no customer-review line and no review text.
The Terilamy HN0490101AM is listed at £9.59, and the bullets say a 35 by 90 mm alloy-steel body with an adjustable blade depth. The weight line says 10 g, which is not a believable mass for an alloy-steel plane of that length. There is no customer-review line and no review text in the saved listing, so the depth adjuster is a claim without a buyer behind it. The included-components line is a slash, so the box contents are not stated. Best Sellers Rank is 161,472 in DIY and Tools, well behind the reviewed planes in this set. You cannot tell from this capture whether the blade holds a shaving. Leave it if you want a star line before you pay.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are comparing unreviewed mini listings and you will ignore the 10 g weight line.
Less suitable: You want a reviewed plane, a stated box contents line, or a body that can weigh more than a few coins.
Specifications
Common questions
How big is this plane in the listing?
The bullets say 35 × 90 mm. The weight line says 10 g.
Is the blade depth adjustable?
The bullets say the blade depth is adjustable. They do not name a screw or a nut.
Are there any reviews in the file?
There is no customer-review line and no review text.
Eleven hand plane listings on amazon.co.uk, from the files dated 19 October 2026, were scored in four parts that add up to 100. There was no lab test. Stanley, Record and Clifton shop prices are context and are not scored. A missing review line scores 0 for stars and for review count. The top pick is the highest total. Best value is the highest score per pound among listings with at least 100 reviews, once the top pick is set aside.
Stars
40%The amazon.co.uk rating divided by 5, then multiplied by 40, and rounded to the nearest whole number. The maximum is 40. A listing with no review line scores 0. A thin review count is not given extra stars.
Review count
25%2,000 or more scores 25. 1,000 or more scores 22. 500 or more scores 18. 200 or more scores 14. 100 or more scores 10. 40 or more scores 6. 10 or more scores 4. Anything thinner scores 0. The maximum is 25.
Fit
22%A No. 4 whose blade width, weight and length agree scores 22. A block plane with a named cutter and an adjustable mouth scores 20. A specialty tool that states its own job scores 18. A small trimmer with a real weight scores 16. A reviewed mini with a conflicting included-components line scores 14. A titled No. 4 whose width lines conflict scores 10. An unreviewed listing whose weight line is 10 g or 20 g beside a metal-body claim scores 6. Conflicting spec lines lower this part. They are not a second penalty. The maximum is 22.
Price band
13%£15 to £20 with at least 4.3 stars and a coherent bench or block plane scores 13. Under £15 with at least 4.2 stars and a believable weight scores 10. Under £12 with a review line, or £21 to £30 for a specialty tool, scores 8. £50 or more scores 5. Under £12 with no review line scores 3. The maximum is 13.
Match the type to the stroke, then check that the cutter, the length and the weight describe one plane, then read the review line. In the 19 October 2026 listing files the entry prices run from £7.69 to £10.99, the mid band from £14.99 to £26.99, and two rows sit at £56.99 and £64.80. Stanley, Record and Clifton shop prices are context and are not rows here. A star line is an amazon.co.uk average, not a lab score.
A hand plane is a blade held in a body so that it takes a shaving. On a UK bench the usual choice is a No. 4, a block or trimming plane, a chamfer plane, or a Japanese pull plane. A bench plane of Bailey pattern is bevel-down. The frog bed is the cutting angle, commonly 45°. The cap iron curls the shaving. One published setup sets that cap iron about 2 mm behind the edge. A block plane is bevel-up, so the cutting angle is the bed plus the bevel.
A mini narrower than the edge needs several passes, and it will not cover a door stile in one stroke. A No. 4 is the two-handed plane for a face. A chamfer plane only cuts an arris.
That amazon field often repeats a body length or a blade width. It is not a measured depth of cut. Use the bullet that states the cutter in millimetres, and treat a conflicting inch line as unsettled.
Check the hinges and the season before you take a shaving off a door, then seal the bare edge. On a certified fire door, ask a professional before you take more than a small amount off. A blunt iron needs more force, and planing against the grain tears the surface.
A No. 4, about 245 mm long with an iron near 50 mm, is the two-handed smoother. A block plane is one-handed and bevel-up, for end grain and small edges. The cutting angle on a bevel-up plane is the bed plus the bevel. A bed near 20° with a 25° bevel cuts at about 45°. A bed near 12° with a 25° bevel cuts at about 37°. If the bevel creeps towards 30°, that end-grain advantage mostly goes. The words low angle, with no degree printed, are not a 12° claim. A chamfer plane only cuts an arris.
The iron and the setup decide whether the plane works on the day it arrives. The CSP4 is documented as needing a hone and a look at the sole before you judge it. Some Amazon Basics reviews say that iron was already sharp. Do not treat one batch as every brand. The amazon.co.uk review line is the next part. Two listings in this set have no review line, and a missing line scores nothing for stars or for review count. A thin count stays in its band. It is not given extra stars.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a real No. 4 for a face, a long edge or a door stile, and you will still set the iron. The Amazon Basics No. 4 has a 51 mm blade, an adjustable mouth and a 1.21 kg body, with 4.4 from 4,007 ratings. It is a two-handed plane.
You want a block plane while the other hand holds the wood. The Spear & Jackson CBP65 lists a 35 mm low-angle cutter and a fully adjustable mouth. The bullets do not print a degree, and reviews say the iron needs a hone.
You want a Japanese pull plane with an oak body, and you will fit the iron by tapping. The Suizan SK-003 is a 60 mm plane at 880 g, made in Japan. It is the wrong only plane if you want a depth wheel.
The highest total is the Amazon Basics No. 4, the top pick, at 95: a 51 mm iron, an adjustable mouth, 1.21 kg, and 4.4 from 4,007 amazon.co.uk ratings. Best value is the Spear & Jackson CTP3 at £10.99, score 70, the highest score per pound among listings with at least 100 reviews once the top pick is set aside. It is a 25 mm trimmer at 220 g, and reviewers call it very small, so it is the wrong plane for a door face. The Spear & Jackson CSP4 scores 91 and is the heavier No. 4 if you will hone the iron first.
Spear & Jackson CTP3
Best value: score 70 at £10.99, the highest score per pound among listings with at least 100 reviews after the top pick.
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.
Sources from the research digest. Listing figures are from the amazon.co.uk files dated 19 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The notes come from amazon.co.uk listings, review text and public UK sources, not from a lab test.
