5 Best Palm Sander Reviews: Our Favorite Handheld Tools

Best Palm Sander

Palm sanders make one of the most tedious woodworking chores go much faster. They are small, one-handed sanders for finish sanding flat surfaces, edges and corners.

Below are five favorites, from quarter-sheet finishing sanders to detail sanders, plus what to look for.

Picture	Name	Our Rating	Price
	DeWalt 2.4-Amp Orbital Quarter Sheet	4.4	$$$
	WEN 6301 Electric Detailing	4.4	$
	Black and Decker Mouse Detail	4.4	$$$
	HICO 2-Amp 6-Inch Orbital	4.2	$$
	Porter Cable Orbital Finish	4.4	$$$
	DeWalt Random Orbit Kit	4.8	$$$$
	Skil 2-Amp Quarter Sheet	4.1	$$$
	Porter Cable 382 5-Inch Orbit	4.4	$$$
	Genesis GPS080 Corner	4.1	$$
	DeWalt Quarter Sheet Kit	4.4	$$$$
Picture	Name	Our Rating	Price
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Best Palm Sander Reviews

1. DeWalt

This 2.4-amp unit offers a dust cloth bag and consistent movement up to 14,000 OPM, which gives a smooth finish. The anti-slip top and body grip give you comfort and control. It collects dust well, so you will empty the bag often. It costs more than the budget models here, but it is a solid, durable choice.

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2. WEN

This is the unit you’re going to want when there is detailing work that needs to be completed. The motor is a little undersized at 1-amp, but you’ll still receive 13,500 OPM to produce a fine finish. The Velcro-based pad requires some care in order to keep holding the papers. Take advantage of the sanding port to minimize your dust. We appreciated the angled tip to reach those difficult spaces. For its low price, it is worth the small investment.

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3. Black and Decker

This compact detail model gives you a finger attachment and three-position grip so that you have an ultimate level of control. We’d like more power from the 1.2-amp motor, but the 14,000 OPM does tend to get the job done pretty well. This sander won’t handle rough sanding needs, but it will produce a fine finish if you’re willing to be patient with its performance. The micro-filtration process is somewhat effective in dust collection, though you’ll need to brush off your working surface from time to time. It gets the job done – sometimes that’s the best compliment a tool can receive.

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4. HICO

You will get fewer OPM (12,000) with this sander than others, but it has a larger 6-inch sanding pad and a 2-amp motor, so it covers more area per pass. The non-slip grip top does get a little slimy when you’re in a dusty environment, but it still provides the support you want to have. A controlled startup helps prevent gouging, and the fan-cooled motor handles long sessions. It is a capable entry-level sander.

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5. Porter Cable

This quarter-sheet model leaves one of the best finishes of the sanders here. Its counterbalanced design reduces vibration and user fatigue. Its switch is dust-sealed, so it keeps working in dusty conditions. The sanding process is also less aggressive than similar models, so you don’t have to worry about over-sanding. Its square pad reaches into corners easily.

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A palm sander is an affordable tool that saves you time on every project.

Our Favorite Palm Sanders

Palm sanders are portable power tools for finish sanding surfaces and easing edges. Pair them with the right grit for the job.

What Is a Palm Sander and Why Do I Need One?

HICO

Quarter-sheet and orbital palm sanders usually have motors of about 2 to 3 amps. Detail sanders get by with about 1 amp because they sand small areas.

You’ll also want to look for designs that have sealed switches and permanently lubricated ball bearings to minimize the maintenance the tool needs. Sanding makes a lot of fine dust, so wear eye protection and a dust mask. OSHA notes that breathing wood dust can cause allergic and other respiratory symptoms.

If you are sanding old paint in a home built before 1978, test it for lead first. The EPA says pre-1978 homes are more likely to have lead-based paint and that sanding can create lead dust.

You might find some units coming with these additional features as well.

Dust Collection Bag

Some models will funnel a majority of the sawdust you make into a small collection bag. Others have the option to directly connect to a shop vacuum. A vacuum connection captures far more dust than a bag.

Palm Support

This tool tends to vibrate a lot, so the best tools in this category provide padding and support for the palm to reduce fatigue. Look for textured grips for total control over the sanding experience.

Variable Speeds

By controlling the speed, you can take care of rough sanding needs or produce a fine finish.

Most palm sanders here are orbital (sheet) sanders, not random orbit sanders. Orbital sanders can leave small swirl marks. Move slowly with the grain in overlapping passes, let the tool's weight do the work and step through the grits.

Finally, our top pick for best palm sander is the HICO model for its large pad and easy operation.

What will it cost me to buy the Best Palm Sanders?

Palm sanders are among the least expensive power tools, and even professional-grade corded models are affordable. Corded designs cost the least, since you do not have to buy a battery and charger.