Delta sander vs orbital sander
Updated: 21 October 2026
The skirting still has an internal corner that a round pad cannot enter. A delta sander vs orbital sander choice is about that shape. The triangle reaches the joint. The round random-orbital pad levels the door and the tabletop. This page does not re-rank every mouse in our [delta sander comparison](/hub/sanders/delta-sander). Peter F. used UK seller guides and the amazon.co.uk delta listings on 19 October 2026. There was no lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The skirting still has an internal corner that a round pad cannot enter. A delta sander vs orbital sander choice is about that shape. The triangle reaches the joint.
The skirting still has an internal corner that a round pad cannot enter. A delta sander vs orbital sander choice is about that shape. The triangle reaches the joint. The round random-orbital pad levels the door and the tabletop. This page does not re-rank every mouse in our delta sander comparison. Peter F. used UK seller guides and the amazon.co.uk delta listings on 19 October 2026. There was no lab test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Pad | Stroke or speed | Weight | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Metabo Metabo FMS 200 Intec | Triangle on a multi-sander | Not stated | 1.2 kg | 9.0 | about £38.99 | View offer |
| Best value |  DEKOPRO DEKOPRO 180 W corded | Mouse triangle | 13,000 per min | 1.61 kg | 8.4 | about £21.99 | View offer |
 Einhell Einhell TC-DS 20 E | Triangle, 3 positions | 2 mm | 0.84 kg | 8.2 | about £33.95 | View offer |
On this page
What the triangle does and what the round pad does
A delta, detail or mouse sander carries a triangular plate. The tip fits skirting against architrave, a window bead or a stair return. In this set the Einhell lists a 2 mm circuit and the MAXXT title claims a 3 mm orbit. That is detail removal, not a floor finish. A random orbital carries a round pad, commonly 125 mm or 150 mm, that spins and orbits so the scratch breaks up. It suits door faces and tabletops. The MAXXT title and components text disagree. Read the pad photo. Flat panels are the 150 mm orbital sander comparison.
Skirting first, door faces second
On skirting, architrave and window frames, the triangle is the primary tool. The tip does the joint and a light hand keeps the arris crisp. A 150 mm disc bridges the corner or rounds the edge. B&Q’s guidance separates corner work from the other types. ITS lists internal corners and stairs among detail-sander jobs. A triangle is slow and easy to dish on a door face. Use the random orbital on the wide flat, then the delta on the moulding, if both are on the bench. Grit and tip pressure are on how to use a detail sander.
When the round pad is the only tool you need
Buy only the random orbital when the work is large panels and there are no crisp internal corners. A tabletop, a flush door or a furniture board matches a 125 mm or 150 mm pad, and a block can pick up the spots the disc rolls off. That choice stops fitting on skirting or a glazed window. Hand-sanding every internal corner on a landing is slow, and a tired block still rounds the arris.
When a triangle is the wrong only sander
A triangle is the wrong only sander for floors, whole stair treads or kitchen worktops. Corded mice in this set start at £21.99 and reach £137.40. The price does not turn the pad into a floor machine. The Metabo FMS 200 Intec at £38.99 is the exception: a multi-sander with a triangular plate and other plates in the range, 4.5 stars from 411 reviews. Confirm the bases in the carton. The components text mixes languages, and the stroke is not stated. A floor still wants a 150 mm orbital.
Adding the second tool to a kit you already have
If a random orbital is already on the shelf and the new work is trim, add a delta. A corded mouse under £40, DEKOPRO at £21.99, Einhell at £33.95 or Metabo at £38.99, is the usual second tool for a hallway. If you own only a delta and the new work is doors, add a random orbital, or use the Metabo’s extra plates when they are in the box. Mostly skirting: buy the delta. Mostly doors and tops: buy the round pad and hand-sand the corners.
Common questions
Can an orbital sander reach internal corners?
A round pad can come close, and then it bridges the joint or rounds the arris. The line where two pieces of trim meet stays unsanded until you use a block or a triangular tip. A rectangular sheet sander has the same limit. For a crisp internal corner, use a delta and keep the pressure light so the tip does not cut a groove.
Is a delta sander enough for doors?
It will sand a moulded edge and the corners. Flattening a door face with a triangle is slow and easy to leave patchy. Use a random orbital on the flat and the delta on the detail if you have both. A 150 mm pad would finish that face sooner.
Which tool should I buy first?
If the visible work is skirting, architrave and window frames, buy the delta first. If the visible work is doors, tops and wide panels, buy the random orbital first and hand-sand the few internal corners. A hallway that is mostly trim is a delta job. Floors belong with the larger round pad from the start.
Do I need both for skirting and for doors?
Both tools earn their place if you want the corner crisp and the door face flat in the same weekend. The delta does the trim. The orbital does the wide flats. A Metabo-style multi-sander narrows the gap only when the box includes more than the triangle. Two machines also mean two abrasive shapes. For skirting alone, the orbital can wait.
Is the Metabo multi-sander enough on its own?
Sometimes, for furniture and trim. The FMS 200 is not a single-purpose delta. At £38.99, with 4.5 stars from 411 reviews on 19 October 2026, it can carry more than one plate. Check the plates on delivery. A triangle on its own still leaves tops to a round pad. Floors stay outside either setup.
What does it cost to own both?
A corded mouse in this set starts at £21.99 on amazon.co.uk on 19 October 2026. Triangular sheets do not fit a 125 mm pad. Keep the round pad for panels and add the delta when corners are the slow part. That is the simpler bill if the other path is rounding the arrises and coating them again.
Related pages
Sources
Sources taken from the research digest. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk listing figures as of 19 October 2026.
- B&Q — planer and sander buying guide (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- ITS — detail sanders (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- MyToolShed — delta sanders (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Tooled-Up — delta sanders (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- HSE WD7 — hand-held sanders (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- HSE — cutting and sanding wood (retrieved 19.10.2026)
- Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 35 (retrieved 19.10.2026)