The best Palm routers, compared.
Top pick: Trend T1EPS dual-base – Only listing sold with trim and plunge bases, at 710 W and 240 V, and the highest star line at 4.6 from 51 reviews. Best value: KATSU 710W trimmer – Lowest shelf price in the set, about £41.99, with 4.5 from 3,892 reviews. It does not take the top-pick badge. Updated October 2026.
A palm router, also called a trim router, is a one-handed woodworking router with a compact body, a collet and usually a fixed trim base. You buy one to round an edge, flush-trim laminate or cut a hinge recess. Wattage alone does not tell you whether the shank fits, whether the depth lock holds, or whether a speed range is actually stated. If the cut has to start in the face of the board, the [fixed base or plunge base](/hub/routers/palm-router/sub/palm-router-vs-plunge-router) guide sets that fork before you treat a trimmer as a plunge router. A fixed base follows an edge or a template.
A palm router, also called a trim router, is a one-handed woodworking router with a compact body, a collet and usually a fixed trim base. You buy one to round an edge, flush-trim laminate or cut a hinge recess.
34 products checked · 47 hrs invested · +16,200 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Where does the cutter need to start?
The Trend T1EPS is the only tool in this set sold with both a trim base and a plunge base, at £116 with 4.6 from 51 reviews, 710 W, and 240 V stated. The bullets claim 37 mm of trim depth and 60 mm of plunge, a 1/4 inch double-locking collet, and an offset dust spout. UK reviewers use the two bases for hinge jigs on doors and mention dust extraction with a Henry vacuum. Bits are not on the included-components line, and a UK review notes that no starter bits were supplied. Plunge handles feel large to one reviewer, and one says this model cannot be used in a router table. One unit arrived broken and was replaced, and another review says a loose cutter damaged the base. The item-weight line of 5.33 kg is the kit figure as printed. It is the top pick when you need a plunge start on a named 240 V compact Trend, and it is the wrong spend if a fixed-base edge at about £42 is the whole job.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Hinge jigs and other cuts that need a plunge, on a compact 1/4 inch 240 V tool, with cutters bought separately.
Less suitable: Edge trimming only, a router table, or a 1/2 inch workshop plunge router.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a full-size plunge router?
No. It is a 1/4 inch, 710 W compact tool. The listing claims a trim base to 37 mm and a plunge base to 60 mm. The 2,200 W and 2,300 W Trend plunge routers are a different class.
Are bits included?
The included-components line names the 240 V UK router. It does not name a bit set. A UK review notes that no starter bits were supplied.
Can it go in a router table?
One UK review says this model cannot be used in a router table. The listing does not claim table use.
The KATSU 710 W trimmer is the lowest shelf price in this set at £41.99, and amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 3,892 reviews. UK reviewers describe hinge seats, signs, rebates, and guitar binding channels, and several treat it as a weekend tool rather than a site router. One review says the base can interchange with a Makita RT0700 base, which is a fit note about the base and not a claim that this is a Makita. The highlight says 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch collets, while one UK review says a 1/4 inch bit would not fit. Variable speed is claimed, and the specification table does not give an rpm range. Rough castings, fan noise, and a bit that slipped outward in one of two samples come up in the UK reviews. One unit died on the second light cut after the return window. On these scores it is the best value for occasional fixed-base work if you confirm the collet before you buy cutters.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Occasional fixed-base trimming, hinge seats, and rebates when you can check the collet on the tool.
Less suitable: A cut that must start with a plunge, or a shank that has to be 6 mm rather than 1/4 inch or 3/8 inch.
Specifications
Common questions
Which collets does this KATSU listing claim?
The item highlight says 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch collets. One UK review says a 1/4 inch bit would not fit, so check the collet on the tool before you rely on the highlight.
Does the listing give a speed range?
It says variable speed. The specification table does not give a minimum or maximum rpm.
What is the shelf price and review count?
The captured amazon.co.uk price is £41.99, with 4.5 from 3,892 reviews.
The Anesty palm router is £49.20 with 4.5 from 729 reviews, and the listing states 240 V. UK reviewers describe it as a first router for occasional DIY, balanced if you build the depth in passes, and adequate on softwood with the kit bits. The specification line says 2 horsepower while a bullet stays in the 710 W class, and the page does not reconcile them. The base diameter is listed at 64 mm, with a claimed speed range of 10,000–30,000 rpm and a 15-piece 1/4 inch set. The repeated UK comment is that the bits are the weak part. Reviewers also say dust goes everywhere unless a hose is connected, and one could not see the cut without extra light through the plastic. At 3.12 kg it is heavier than the KATSU 710 W, and rank 1 in Power Routers is a sales rank, not a test result. It is the corded kit to consider when you want 240 V printed and a large review file, and you still budget for a better cutter and extraction.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Occasional fixed-base DIY when you want 240 V on the page and a review file larger than the £116 Trend’s 51 reviews.
Less suitable: A plunge start, a day of trade work, or a cut that depends on the boxed bits and no extractor.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the horsepower figure the same as 710 W?
No. The specification line says 2 horsepower. A bullet describes a motor in the 710 W class. The page does not reconcile them.
What do UK reviews say about dust?
Reviewers say dust goes everywhere unless the tool is connected to extraction, and one says the cut is hard to see without extra light.
Are the included bits praised?
The repeated UK comment is that the bits are the weak part, though some softwood jobs were finished with them.
The Avhrit 21 V cordless kit is £89.99 with 4.5 from 112 reviews, and the included line lists two batteries, a charger, 15 bits, guides, and a toolbox. UK reviews describe DIY chamfers, a cedar bench, and an oak edge after the buyer changed the kit bit. One reviewer said the batteries lasted a session and that the tool was quieter than their corded router. The speed lines do not agree: a bullet says 0–3,300 rpm and the specification line says 33,000 rpm. One review title calls the depth cutter poor. Wattage is not stated, and the item weight is 4.28 kg, which is heavy for a palm tool. The charger plug type is not described. It is a cordless option for light DIY if you treat the two speed figures as unresolved and you change the kit bit before an oak edge.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light cordless DIY, such as a chamfer or a softwood bench, if you can accept the unresolved speed figures.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs one agreed rpm range, or an oak edge cut with the bit that arrived in the case.
Specifications
Common questions
Which speed figure should you trust?
You should not pick one. A bullet says 0 to 3300 rpm and the specification line says 33000 rpm. The listing does not explain the clash.
What is in the box?
The included line lists the router, two batteries, a charger, 15 bits, a roller guide, a straight guide, a wrench, and a toolbox.
How have UK reviewers used it?
Reviews describe DIY chamfers, a cedar bench, and an oak edge after the buyer changed the kit bit. One title calls the depth cutter poor.
The KATSU 101742 is £42.99 with 4.5 from 75 reviews, and the bullets claim 6 mm, 8 mm, and 1/4 inch collets. One UK reviewer noticed the claimed soft start in use, and others describe latch plates, a guitar cavity, and pockets cut with an 8 mm spiral bit. One reviewer put the body in a small table after being surprised by it. Depth is not settled on the page: one bullet says about 20 mm with a quick lock and another claims a 0–40 mm scale. UK reviews say the manual has no diagrams and that the quick-release lock nut will not stay tight. One reviewer said the body is not earthed and modified it, and the same review says it does not restart if power returns while the switch is left on. Voltage is not stated, and one reviewer could not fit any bit they already owned. It is the KATSU to open when those three collet sizes are the reason to buy, after you have tried a bit in the collet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A fixed-base job that needs the three claimed collet sizes, including an 8 mm spiral, after a fit check.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a stated voltage and a depth figure that the listing agrees with itself.
Specifications
Common questions
How is this KATSU different from B00LVVJ99U?
This listing, model 101742, claims 6 mm, 8 mm, and 1/4 inch collets, soft start, and about 20 mm of depth. The other KATSU claims 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch collets and does not state that depth.
Does it include many bits?
The bullets say three router bits, plus collets, a trimmer base, wrenches, and guides. It is not a 15-piece kit.
What do UK reviews say about the manual?
One UK review says the manual has no diagrams. Another says a locking nut works loose.
The DEWINNER DET321PRO is £45.89 with 4.4 from 88 reviews, and the bullets claim six speeds from 13,000 to 33,000 rpm plus 1/4 inch, 6 mm, and 8 mm collets. UK reviewers used it for shelf lighting channels, round-overs, 18 mm MDF curves, edge tape, and an oak worktop edge they called clean. A 15-bit case and a bag are claimed, though the included-components line is thinner than the bullet list, and voltage is not stated. One UK review says the height adjuster is awkward and the rubber palm grip started to detach after a few days. Another says the guide will not hold depth. Two review texts describe an SDS drill, so they are not evidence about this cutter. A bullet that mentions low speed for metal is not a verified metal-cutting rating. It suits a first round-over or rebate if the height lock holds on scrap.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A first round-over, rebate, or edge-tape pass when you want three collet sizes and a stated speed band.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a stated mains voltage, or a height lock that UK reviews already describe as unreliable.
Specifications
Common questions
Which collets are claimed?
The bullets say 1/4 inch, 6 mm, and 8 mm spring collets, plus straight and curved guides.
What have UK reviewers used it for?
Reviews mention shelf lighting channels, round-overs, 18 mm MDF curves, rebates, edge tape, and an oak worktop edge.
What wore first?
One UK review says the height adjuster is awkward and the rubber palm grip started to detach after a few days.
The CtopoGo CT-370 is £42.99 with 4.3 from 694 reviews, an 800 W claim, a 220 V specification line, and a 12-piece 1/4 inch bit set. UK reviewers have cut oak hinge recesses and door frames, and several say the transparent case makes the cut easier to see. The specification block gives 30,000 rpm as a maximum and does not list a variable-speed range. The repeated criticism is the kit: bits and bearings fail quickly, spanners are too soft or the wrong size, and guides and the guard come loose. Several reviews say a bit dropped mid-cut and ruined the work, and one says the collet later refused bits it had accepted. The fine adjuster is called cheap plastic. A 220 V line does not say that a BS 1363 plug is fitted. It can take a first hinge recess after practice on scrap, and the boxed cutters are the part you should replace before an oak door.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A first fixed-base hinge recess or edge, after practice on scrap and with a cutter you trust.
Less suitable: A job that needs a speed dial, or anyone treating the 12 boxed bits as cutters for oak.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a speed dial listed?
The specification block gives a maximum of 30000 rpm. It does not list a variable-speed range.
What do UK reviews say about the bits?
Reviews say the tool cut oak hinge recesses, and also that kit bits burn on MDF and that the fine adjuster is plastic.
What voltage is printed?
The specification line says 220 V. The plug type is not stated on the listing.
The SINGTIP listing is £43.99 with 4.2 from 58 reviews, an 800 W claim, and a stated maximum of 30,000 rpm. UK reviewers say it is strong enough for small jobs, that hinge rebates were possible after practice on scrap, and that the depth setting was easy. The specification block does not list a speed range, and one UK review says there is no speed control. The title says 6.35 mm bits, while one UK review says the bits would not enter the collet and suspects a 6 mm collet. Included bit bearings are reported to burn. The printed dimensions of 10 x 10 x 10 mm are not a usable size for this tool. One review measured the body nearer 63 mm than the 65 mm a table lift expects. It is a low-price fixed trimmer if you check the collet with a real bit and you do not need a dial.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small fixed-base rebate when you have checked that a 1/4 inch bit enters the collet.
Less suitable: A wider cutter that needs a slower speed, or a 65 mm router-lift body.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this SINGTIP have a speed dial?
The specification block does not list a speed range. One UK review says the tool has no speed control.
Will the included bits fit?
The title says 6.35 mm bits. One UK review says the bits would not enter the collet and suspects a 6 mm collet.
Can the printed size be used?
The item dimensions say 10 x 10 x 10 mm. That figure does not describe a palm router, so it is not a size you can use.
The BATOCA 12 V cordless router is £69.99 with 4.1 from 17 reviews, a stated 19,500 rpm, and a listed weight of 792 g. The box claim is two 2.0 Ah batteries, a USB-C cable rather than a separate charger brick, two straight bits, one cove bit, and a vacuum hose connector, with a claimed depth of 0–40 mm. The listing limits it to laminate, plywood, MDF, softwood, and PVC, and says it is not for structural cutting or hard dense materials. None of the stored review texts is marked United Kingdom, so the 4.1 line is not a UK record. Non-UK reviews call it small for tight places, and they also say the on/off switch is awkward, the base plastic feels cheap, and the height moved after lock-down. One of those reviews found it underpowered for 1/8 inch MDF. A variable-speed dial is not claimed. It is a light cordless option only for a short shallow cut in soft material, and only if you accept that the written reviews are not from the UK.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A short, shallow trim in softwood, MDF, or laminate where a lead is the problem and UK review texts are not required.
Less suitable: Oak, a deep recess, or anyone reading the 4.1 line as United Kingdom opinion.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the 17 reviews from the UK?
The star line is 4.1 from 17 on the amazon.co.uk listing. The review texts stored with this listing are not marked United Kingdom.
How does it charge?
The listing says two 2.0 Ah batteries and a USB-C cable, not a separate charger brick. The plug on that cable is not described.
Is variable speed listed?
The speed line is 19500 rpm. A variable-speed dial is not claimed.
The INMOZATA MT-0017 is £45.99 with 3.6 from 25 reviews, the weakest star line in this set. Two UK reviews say the tool gave an electric shock at switch-on. Several UK reviews say the metal body becomes too hot to hold during a longer cut. The listing claims 800 W, six speeds from 10,000 to 33,000 rpm, a transparent base, a dust hood, and a 15-piece 1/4 inch case, and voltage is not stated. Some reviewers did cut hinge recesses and curved edges, and one describes about two days on window routing. Those jobs do not cancel the shock reports. More than one UK review says instructions were missing, a trim guide would not stay tight, an included bit failed on a softwood groove, and one unit stopped within about 30 minutes. This is the listing to leave, not a budget stand-in for the KATSU at a similar price.
Pros
Cons
Best for: No routine job in this comparison, until a shock report has been dealt with by the seller and you have stopped using that unit.
Less suitable: Any buyer comparing it with the corded kits near £42–£49 that do not carry UK shock reports.
Specifications
Common questions
Do UK reviews mention an electric shock?
Yes. Two UK reviews say the tool gave an electric shock at switch-on. Those reports are a reason to stop using it and speak to the seller, not a measured fault rate.
Does the body stay cool?
Several UK reviews say the metal body becomes too hot to hold during a longer cut.
What speed does the listing claim?
A bullet says six speeds from 10000 to 33000 rpm, and the maximum speed line says 33000 rpm.
We compared ten amazon.co.uk palm-router listings kept for this set. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the UK lines on those listings. The 0–100 score on each card is the star rating multiplied by 20, so 4.6 becomes 92 and 4.5 becomes 90. The review count is not added on top of the stars. It stays in the label, so 4.6 from 51 reviews is not the same evidence as 4.5 from 3,892. Collets, speeds, voltages and box contents are listing claims unless a sentence names a UK review. This is not a laboratory test.
Amazon star rating
100%The whole 0–100 score is the amazon.co.uk star rating multiplied by 20. The Trend T1EPS at 4.6 scores 92. The KATSU 710 W at 4.5 scores 90. The INMOZATA at 3.6 scores 72. Review volume does not change that number. It is stated beside the stars so you can judge the evidence.
A palm router is the compact tool you pick up for an edge, a hinge recess or a small cavity, not for a deep mortice. This set is ten amazon.co.uk listings, from about £41.99 to £116. The top pick is the Trend T1EPS because it is the only row with a trim base and a plunge base. The best value is the KATSU 710 W, the lowest shelf price, with 4.5 from 3,892 reviews. Scores are the star rating times 20. Collets, speeds and voltages are listing claims unless a sentence names a UK review.
A palm router, also called a trim router, is a one-handed woodworking router with a compact body, a collet and, usually, a fixed trim base. A fixed base follows an edge or a template. A plunge base starts a cut in the face of a board. In this amazon.co.uk set, only the Trend T1EPS is sold as both trim and plunge. The bullets claim 37 mm of trim depth and 60 mm of plunge. The other nine listings are fixed-base palm tools, corded or cordless.
A fixed trim base follows an edge. It does not replace a workshop plunge router for a deep mortice. In this set only the Trend T1EPS claims a plunge base, and that claim is 60 mm, not a full-size half-inch machine.
A printed 220 V or 220–240 V is not proof of a BS 1363 plug, and it is not a 110 V site tool. Home use is a 230 V supply. UK construction often uses 110 V from a centre-tapped transformer, which is a different product.
Take shallow passes and feed against the cutter rotation. One full-depth cut is a common way to burn the timber or drop the bit. Practise the depth on scrap before a door or an oak edge.
The Avhrit bullet says 0 to 3,300 rpm and the specification line says 33,000 rpm. The listing does not explain the clash. Do not buy it on the assumption that one of those figures is the settled speed.
The base decides whether you can start the cut. A fixed trim base follows an edge, a bearing or a template. A plunge base is what a hinge jig and many stopped cuts need. In this set only the Trend T1EPS is sold with both. The bullets claim 37 mm of trim depth and 60 mm of plunge, on a 1/4 inch collet, at 710 W and 240 V, for about £116. Bits are not on the included-components line, and one UK review says it cannot go in a router table.
The Trend claims six levels and a 30,000 rpm maximum. The DEWINNER claims 13,000 to 33,000 rpm. The Anesty claims 10,000 to 30,000 rpm. The older KATSU says variable speed and gives no rpm range. The CtopoGo specification gives 30,000 rpm as a maximum only. One UK review of the SINGTIP says there is no speed control. The Avhrit bullet says 0 to 3,300 rpm and the specification line says 33,000 rpm. Corded tools here claim 710 W or 800 W. That is not a 2,200 W half-inch plunge router.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You need the cutter to enter the face of a door, not only follow an edge. The Trend T1EPS is the only listing here sold with a trim base and a plunge base, at about £116, 710 W and 240 V, with 4.6 from 51 reviews. Bits are not in the included line. One UK review says it cannot go in a router table.
You want a corded fixed base for hinge seats, rebates or edge work, and the lowest shelf price in this set. The KATSU 710 W is about £41.99, with 4.5 from 3,892 reviews. Variable speed is claimed and no rpm range is given. One UK review says a 1/4 inch bit would not fit, so check the collet on the tool.
You want 240 V printed and a larger review file than the Trend’s 51 reviews, for occasional fixed-base DIY. The Anesty is about £49.20, with 4.5 from 729 reviews, a claimed speed of 10,000–30,000 rpm and a 64 mm base. The 2 horsepower line conflicts with a 710 W-class bullet. Included bits are the repeated weak point in UK reviews.
The top pick is the Trend T1EPS at about £116. It is the only listing in this set sold with a trim base and a plunge base, at 710 W and 240 V, with 4.6 from 51 reviews, so the score is 92. Bits are not on the included-components line, and one UK review says it is not for a router table. The best value is the KATSU 710 W at about £41.99, with 4.5 from 3,892 reviews, the lowest shelf price in the set. One UK review says a 1/4 inch bit would not fit, and the specification table gives no rpm range. The other eight listings have no badge. The scores are the star rating times 20. They are not a laboratory test.
Trend T1EPS dual-base
Only listing sold with trim and plunge bases, at 710 W and 240 V, and the highest star line at 4.6 from 51 reviews.
KATSU 710W trimmer
Lowest shelf price in the set, about £41.99, with 4.5 from 3,892 reviews. It does not take the top-pick badge.
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 used for the dust, noise, electrical and consumer-rights points on this page. Prices, stars and review counts are from the amazon.co.uk listings in this set, as in the digest of 16 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk lines used for this set. We did not run a laboratory test.
