Makita belt sander buying guide: match both belt sizes

Updated: 17 October 2026

You may search for a Makita belt sander expecting one familiar tool, yet the choice divides into narrow files, 76 mm machines and 100 mm sanders.

You may search for a Makita belt sander expecting one familiar tool, yet the choice divides into narrow files, 76 mm machines and 100 mm sanders. This guide starts with the job and the complete belt size, because width alone does not tell you whether a loop will fit. Our Makita belt sander comparison contains eleven saved amazon.co.uk listings, but only the 9031/2 is made by Makita. The other rows are alternatives from the same search. Know which format belongs on a door, which belongs on a tight edge, and which details to check before you pay. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Our top picks

Badge	Product	Belt	Supply	Format	Note	Price	Offer
Best overall	Bosch Bosch PBS 75 A	75 x 533 mm	Corded	Wide door sander	9.4	about £79.98	View offer
	Makita Makita 9031/2 30 mm	30 x 533 mm	Corded	Narrow file	9.0	about £312.65	View offer
Best value	Einhell Einhell TC-BS 8038	76 x 533 mm	Corded	Wide door sander	8.6	about £48.94	View offer

Best overall

Bosch Bosch PBS 75 A

9.4/10about £79.98

View offer

Rank 2

Makita Makita 9031/2 30 mm

9.0/10about £312.65

View offer

Best value

Einhell Einhell TC-BS 8038

8.6/10about £48.94

View offer

On this page

1.What a Makita belt sander search is offering
2.Pick the complete belt size
3.Cord, battery claim and the plug
4.What to check on the listing before you pay

What a Makita belt sander search is offering

Makita’s UK range covers different tools rather than one machine in several power levels. The 9031 is a 30 mm file for narrow faces and confined access. The 9911 and 9903 are 76 mm machines for broad, flat work, and the 9404 uses a 100 mm belt for large surfaces. A narrow file can reach a railing, but it can leave ridges across a door. In the saved set the genuine Makita is the £312.65 9031/2. Bosch, Einhell, GALAX PRO, SHALL and the cordless bodies are other brands. “Compatible with Makita 18 V” is a claimed battery interface, not a Makita product. For a typical door or tabletop, begin with a 75 or 76 mm corded machine. The best Makita belt sander for each job separates the picks once the format is chosen.

Pick the complete belt size

A belt has a width and a loop length, and both must match the machine. Makita’s 9911 takes 76 x 457 mm, while the 9903 takes 76 x 533 mm. A 100 x 610 mm belt for the 9404 will not fit a 76 mm machine if you trim the edge. The 9031 uses 30 x 533 mm and the cordless DBS180 uses 9 x 533 mm. A shared loop length does not make those belts interchangeable. A title that says only “76 mm belt sander” is incomplete. GALAX PRO and SHALL print 76 x 533 mm. Einhell’s amazon file omits the loop, although Einhell’s UK page confirms 76 x 533 mm. Bosch specifies 75 x 533 mm for the PBS 75 A even though the saved bullets omit it. Do not treat a maker-page price as the amazon.co.uk price. P80, common in this set, is a cutting grit, not a final finish. The working sequence is in the guide to using a belt sander.

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch PBS 75 A

9.4/10about £79.98

View offer

Cord, battery claim and the plug

A corded sander keeps output steady on a door or long board, but the cable stays near a fast belt. In the UK, look for 230 V and a BS 1363 plug, and keep the cable behind you. A wide corded machine is the simpler buy if you do not already own a battery platform. XIIW, KATSU, JOJOCY, HOIIME and Roadtime are tool-only at roughly £55 to £66. That price does not include a working pack. The DBS180Z is also body-only, and it is a 9 mm file, not a 76 mm door sander. One XIIW review reported a satisfactory fit. A Roadtime owner said a BL1850B engaged only about 85 per cent and the release button then broke. Makita warns that its batteries should be used only with products it specifies. See the Makita 18 V compatible belt sander guide. The 9031/2 title says 240 V, an attribute says 100 V, and one UK reviewer reported a non-UK plug. Confirm the nameplate and plug with the seller before use.

What to check on the listing before you pay

Check the brand, the model, both belt dimensions and what is in the box. Tool only means no battery or charger. A dust port does not mean a hose adaptor is supplied. Compare the delivered kit, not simply the body price. Several attributes print RPM where belt speed is normally given in metres per minute. JOJOCY shows 17.5 kg beside a 9 mm file, which looks like parcel data. Roadtime’s 1,300 W on an 18 V body is not comparable with the Einhell’s 800 W mains input. Where the listing conflicts with itself, ask for the nameplate rather than the more attractive number. The SHALL shows 5.0 from seven reviews, the PBS 75 A 4.7 from 1,911, and the Einhell 4.3 from 2,509. A perfect early average is not long-term evidence.

Common questions

Is the Makita 9031 the right sander for a door?

Usually not. Its 30 x 533 mm belt is designed for narrow faces and awkward access, so covering a broad door would be slow and could leave uneven tracks. A 75 or 76 mm belt sander is the more natural format for flat door stock, followed by a finer finishing sander.

Does a 76 x 457 mm belt fit a 76 x 533 mm sander?

No. The widths match, but the loop lengths differ by 76 mm, so the shorter belt will not go around the rollers of a 533 mm machine. Match both numbers on the model plate or the manufacturer manual before you order replacement abrasives.

Should I buy corded or cordless?

Choose corded for sustained work on doors, floors or long boards when a socket is practical. Choose cordless for access and short detail tasks only after checking the exact battery fit. A 9 mm cordless file does not replace a 76 mm corded sander merely because both remove wood.

Why does the 9031 listing show both 240 V and 100 V?

The saved amazon.co.uk page contains conflicting fields, so neither should be corrected by guesswork. Check the machine’s nameplate and plug with the seller before connecting it. One UK reviewer reported a non-UK plug, which makes this a purchase check rather than a harmless catalogue typo.

Is a larger wattage always better?

No. Wattage does not describe belt width, tracking, control or finish, and dubious battery-tool figures are not directly comparable with corded input ratings. A controllable 76 mm machine that suits the surface is more useful than a larger number attached to the wrong format.

What should come with a tool-only sander?

Normally the body and whatever abrasives or accessories the listing names, but no battery or charger. Check each box list carefully. In this set, some cordless listings include belts while all still require a compatible battery before they can run.

Belt sander dust extraction