A rabbet plane is a woodworkers’ best friend. This essential tool helps to smooth and shape wood, making it into the various pieces that make up a project. They are typically used in joinery to create T-shaped grooves for door and window frames, as well as housing dados and rebates.
While there are many different types of rebate planes available on the market, not all of them are worth the price.
In this article, we’ll discuss the 8 best rabbet planes in today’s market. We’ll also provide a few tips on how to choose a rebate plane for your woodworking project.
Top 5 Rabbet Plane Comparison Table
Product Name | Image | Weight | Material | Price |
Stanley 12-978 Bullnose Rabbet Plane |   | 2.7 Pounds | Alloy Steel | |
Faithfull No.778 Rebate Plane |   | 5.15 Pounds | Cast Iron | |
Walfront Wooden Rabbet Plane |   | 13.6 Ounces | Steel and Wood | |
Woodstock Bull Nose Rabbet Plane |   | 1.25 Pounds | Cast Iron | |
Faithfull Rebate Plane "No-10 " |   | 1.98 Pounds | Metal and Hardwood |
Best Rabbet Plane – Quick Summary
In a hurry? If you have a hectic schedule, you don’t need to read the whole article. Here is a super- succinct overview of the 8 rabbet planes.
Overall Best Plane: Stanley 12-978 Bullnose Rabbet Plane
“This tool is perfect for carpenters, woodworkers, and DIYers alike. If you are looking for an average rabbet plane with affordability, precision, and ease of use, the Stanley rabbet plane should be at the top of the list.”
Best Rebate Plane: Faithfull No.778 Rebate Plane
“This top-quality plane is precision-engineered to give you accurate, consistent results with every pass. It features a two-position cutter and a comfortable ergonomic design that makes it easy to use, even for long periods. Plus, the manufacturer, Faithfull, has a 5-year warranty on it.”
Best Budget-Friendly Rabbet Plane: Walfront Wooden Rabbet Plane
“It’s an affordable wood cutting tool that delivers top-quality results. The Plane Killer can tackle even the most difficult jobs because of its precision engineering and long-lasting construction. Plus, it costs a fraction of the price of other popular rabbet planes.”
Best Versatile Plane: Woodstock D3750 Bull Nose Rabbet Plane
“This plane is great for creating mortises and tenons, rabbets, dadoes, and chamfers. It is also perfect for trimming and shaping wood, jointing boards, and even creating grooves. The best part is that you can easily convert it to a chisel plane.”
Best for Hardwood & Softwood: Faithfull Rebate Plane “No-10”
“This plane can handle both hardwoods and softwoods, and it has a precision-machined sole for accurate results.”
Best for Professional Woodworker: YAOBAO Wooden Rabbet Plane
“The YAOBAO rabbet plane with 5 planer blades is one of the best hand planes for professionals on the market. With its durable construction and five interchangeable planer blades, this rabbet plane can handle any project you throw at it.”
Great Rabbet planer with a two-position cutter: Stanley 78 Duplex Rebate Plane
“The Stanley 78 Duplex rebate plane offers one of the most accurate two positions cutters. With it, you can create either a wide or narrow precise rabbet.”
Best for DIYers: Robert Larson Side Rebate Plane #79
“When it comes to woodworking planes, the Robert Larson side rebate plane #79 is a great choice for DIYers. This plane is well-made and easy to use, making it perfect for projects of all levels of difficulty.”
Best Rabbet Plane Reviews
1. Stanley 12-978 Bullnose Rabbet Plane
The Stanley 12-978 bullnose rabbet plane is a great, affordable tool to have in your woodworking arsenal. It is perfect for different tasks, including rabbeting, trimming, and shaping woodworking joints.
However, it doesn’t support tongue and groove applications. The Stanley bullnose rabbet plane is sure to be a favorite with carpenters and woodworkers of all levels of expertise because of its one-piece cast-iron body and handle.
The Stanley bullnose plane has a blade with a width of 1½” and 10” overall length to easily cut through wood. Plus, its overall height of 10” makes it easy to handle.
Furthermore, it comes with a cutter with two positions (back and front). The back positioning is for ordinary work with accurate depth adjustment. While the front positioning is for bullnose work.
Stanley equipped this rabbet plane with a spur for working across the wood grain, a detachable depth gauge, and a movable fence that you can use on either side of the plane. However, the machining on it has nothing to write home about.
Not only that, the fence post is not at a right angle to the plane’s body, so the fence is not parallel to the side of the plane. This defect can’t be corrected easily.
On the brighter side, you won’t have any issues making adjustments that stay where you set them with this plane. Also, Stanley has a lifetime limited warranty on it, giving buyers like yourself, peace of mind in its longevity.
Benefits
- You won’t have any issues making adjustments
- It is very durable, featuring a single-piece body & handle cast-iron construction.
- Stanley has a lifetime limited warranty on it.
- It has two cutter positions.
Drawbacks
- It doesn’t support tongue and groove applications.
- There’s an error with its machining.
- The fence post is not parallel to the plane.
2. Faithfull No.778 Rebate Plane
The Faithfull No.778 plane is a great option for those looking for an affordable, quality rebate plane. This plane has a die-cast alloy body with machined sides and bottom, making it durable and easy to use. It cuts rebates effortlessly up to 1½”.
With its adjustable fence supported on two movable guide rods, you can use it on either side of the plane to create accurate recesses every time. It also comes with a rotatable disc-style spur for cross-grain cutting.
This rebate plane features a two-position cutter that enhances its versatility. Place the cutter in the center position to cut rebates and use the fine screw adjuster to control the depth of cut.
The plane cuts into corners when the cutter is shifted to the front position (bullnose work). Note that you’ll need to hone the blade before use. Faithfull has a 5-year warranty on it.
Benefits
- It is a very sturdy rebate plane with a die-cast alloy body.
- It comes with a two-position cutter.
- The manufacturer has a 5-year warranty on it.
- It is accurate.
Drawbacks
- You’ll need to sharpen the blade.
3. Walfront Wooden Rabbet Plane
The Walfront Wooden Plane is efficient at cutting through even the hardest woods without getting stuck. It is perfect for carpenters, woodworkers, or DIYers that make handmade woodwork.
The plane’s design makes it easy to use, saves time & energy, and ensures it doesn’t harm you. Its blade has a long lifespan, meaning you won’t constantly replace it as you might with other blades. However, you’ll need to sharpen it before use.
You can use it to plane plasterboard, planks, fibreboard, inverted edges, etc. Thanks to its high-quality construction of wood & steel, the Walfront plane killer will last a long time in your toolbox. One downside to the plane is that its blade isn’t square with it, but you can easily correct this defect by using a flat surface and 100 grit sandpaper.
Overall, this is an excellent choice for any carpentry project. Plus, for the price, you can beat it.
Benefits
- The plane design makes it easy to use without harming yourself.
- It features a high-quality construction of wood & steel.
- Its blade has a long lifespan.
- For the price, you can’t beat it.
Drawbacks
- The blade isn’t square with the plane.
- You’ll need to sharpen the blade.
4. Woodstock D3750 Bull Nose Rabbet Plane
The Woodstock D3750 bullnose plane is another affordable tool for refining, shaping, and smoothing the edges and surfaces of boards. Its adjustable throat lets you customize the depth of cut to provide a clean finish. Plus, it is easy to control. Whether you’re a professional carpenter or a DIYer, this plane is sure to come in handy.
Woodstock made it with cast iron and nickel-plated construction to ensure it provide many years of service. Its unique low-angle design makes it capable of handling both straight and end grain.
This plane 1” width with ⅛” thickness iron blade is oriented flush to the side of the plane body, allowing for perfect trimming of rabbets, mortise, and tenon joints. The blade is sharp, but you’ll need to sharpen it yourself to get unparalleled results.
One of the best features of this rebate plane is that you can easily convert it to a chisel plane to remove glue, trim plugs & dovetails flush, and for working into hard-to-get-at corners. Plus, its 1″ x 4″ sole helps remove imperfect surfaces. To boost buyers’ confidence in its durability, Woodstock has a one-year warranty on the plane.
Benefits
- This rabbet plane is affordable and offers excellent value for money.
- It comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty.
- It has cast iron and nickel-plated construction that ensures it’s durable.
- It can handle both straight and end grain and converts to a chisel plane.
Drawbacks
- It needs some fine-tuning and sharpening.
5. Faithfull Rebate Plane “No-10”
The Faithfull No 10 rebate plane is a professional-grade tool perfect for carpentry and woodworking. It is well-crafted and easy to use, making it a great choice for any DIYer.
With its rebate function and 12” cutter, this plane can easily create wide rebates and shoulders or large joints. It is perfect for general bench joinery where a full-width cutter is required.
Thanks to its high-quality grey cast iron construction, the No 10 rebate plane is sure to provide you with years of reliable service.
Plus, you can use this rebate plane on both hard and softwoods. Its base and sides are precisely ground for uniformity & squareness. Plus, the blade seating is machined to reduce movement and blade judder.
The manufacturer, Faithfull, included a lever cap with a brass locking screw that secures the blade assembly while allowing for simple sharpening. Thanks to the hardwood grip & knob, you’ll have maximum user comfort. Although you’ll need to tune it to get the most out of it, this rabbet plane is solid.
Benefits
- All parts of this plane have been carefully machined for accuracy.
- It can be used on both hard and softwoods.
- Its ergonomic hardwood grip and knob provide excellent user comfort.
- It offers excellent value for money.
Drawbacks
- It requires some fine-tuning.
6. YAOBAO Wooden Rabbet Plane
The YAOBAO rabbet plane is a versatile woodworking tool for many kinds of wood slotting, grooving, jointing, and connecting. It has 5 blades (3mm, 5mm, 6mm, 10mm, 13mm) making it perfect for both standard and detailed work.
Each blade is made from durable yet lightweight premium HSS construction, well-polished for smooth surface and corrosion resistance. While the plane itself is made from solid rosewood to ensure durability.
This plane is portable, so you can take it with you everywhere you go. YAOBAO equipped it with a smart wedge and double adjustable screws that can fix the blade and plane securely, to produce clean, consistent results.
You can also adjust the plane from 0cm up to 8.5cm to accommodate different cuts on doors, windows, furniture, and instruments. Be informed that it is an advanced-level tool, so we don’t recommend it for DIYers.
Benefits
- This plane is well-built and comes with 5 different sized blades to make a variety of cuts.
- It is handy and can make cuts on doors, windows, furniture, and instruments.
- It will last for years, thanks to its sturdy construction.
Drawbacks
- It’s for professionals only.
7. Stanley 78 Duplex Rebate Plane
Stanley tool makes our list again, this time around with their 78 Duplex rebate plane. This plane is a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of tasks in the workshop. It’s well-constructed and easy to use, making it a great option for professionals and do-it-yourselfers.
Stanley made it out of fine grey iron and machined all of its working surfaces to ensure precise results. Hence, it can handle a wide range of rebate jobs and won’t hurt your hand thanks to its comfortable grip.
This rebate plane features two positions cutter for standard and bullnose work. The cutter makes a 1½” width cut, and you can adjust it to get your desired depth of cut in the rear position.
Stanley equipped this plane with an adjustable fence and depth gauge to accurately control the dimensions of the rebate. They also provided a cutting spur for cross-grain work.
Unfortunately, this Stanley rabbet plane has shipping and quality control issues. Several buyers complained about it arriving broken and having poor quality control, with the blade and plane not being squared. If you’ll be buying this rebate plane, ensure you check it properly before the return window closes.
Benefits
- This duplex rebate plane has all its working surface machined.
- It is constructed from fine grey iron.
- Its comfortable grip handle makes it easy to use.
- It comes with a depth gauge for accurate depth of cut.
Drawbacks
- This plane has shipping and quality control issues.
8. Robert Larson Side Rebate Plane #79
Woodworkers have long trusted the quality and precision of Kunz planes for their woodworking projects. This #79 5″ long side rebate plane is no exception. It is designed for cutting quick and precise side rabbets in boards, making it perfect for several woodworking projects.
With its adjustable fence and depth stop that allows cuts down to 9/16”, you can get the most precise results every time.
The ambidextrous design of this plane provides a comfortable grip for both righties and lefties. It features opposite-facing blades that allow you to initiate a cut from two directions, eliminating end grain blowout.
You can use this rebate plane to cut long-grain rabbets and grooves to improve the fit of cabinet backs and drawer bottoms. It will also broaden cross-grain dados if you use care and finesse.
Benefits
- It comes with two opposite-facing blades that allow you to initiate a cut from any direction.
- The plane has an adjustable depth stop that cuts deep up to 9/16”.
- You can use it to broaden cross-grain dados.
- Its overall length is 5”.
Drawbacks
- None.
How to Choose the Rabbet Plane
When it comes to rabbet planes, there are a lot of different factors that you need to consider before making your purchase. In this buying guide, we will outline and explain these factors thoroughly. By taking them into account, you will buy the best rabbet plane for your needs. So without further ado, take a read!
Blade
The blade on a rabbet plane is one of the most important parts. It’s what shapes your cuts and grooves, so it has to be tough enough for any task- whether you’re making an edge joint or removing material. Before you hand over any cash for a rabbet plane, double-check that the tool’s blade is of high quality to withstand regular use.
The thickness of the blade should ideally be taken into account. This is important because it is what will determine how wide a rabbet you can cut and the blade’s ability to cut without shattering. Go for a rabbet plane with a thick blade. Working with an extremely flexible blade will only create a sloppy, ragged finish on your workpieces.
Also, consider the blade width. This tells you how wide a rabbet you can cut. If you buy a rabbet plane with a wide blade, you can make broader cuts. However, the cuts will be more precise with a smaller blade.
Depth of Cut
Secondly, think about the depth of cut. This will determine how deep the rabbet will be. If your project requires a deeper cut, you will want to look for a rabbet plane with a higher depth of cut.
Size of the plane
You’ll also want to think about the plane’s size. This is important because it will determine how comfortable it is to use. Larger planes may be harder to control, while smaller planes may not have enough power to get the job done.
If you are a DIYer, go for a small-sized rabbet plane because you’ll be able to handle it with ease. As for the professionals, choose a rabbet plane with a size that suits your line of work or project at hand.
Woden or Metal Body
Metal and wooden rabbet planes have their own set of pros and drawbacks. Metal-bodied planes are heavier and more durable, especially if you deal with abrasive woods regularly. Wooden planes are lighter, which reduces hand fatigue when working for long periods.
Additionally, rabbet planes with hardwood bottoms will give any wood a beautiful finish, unlike metal-bodied planes, which may make scratches on your work.
Construction Quality
The construction quality of the plane is also important. You will want to choose a rabbet plane made of high-quality materials so it can be durable and long-lasting.
Adjustable Features
You will also want to consider how easy it is to make adjustments to the plane. This may include an adjustable fence, adjustable blade, and cutting depth, etc.
Budget
Finally, the price is always an important consideration when making a purchase. Think about how much you are willing to spend on a rabbet plane and find one that fits within your budget. By following these tips, you can be sure to choose the rabbet plane for your needs!
Final Thought
The best rabbet plane for you is the one that has all of the features and qualities you need. Each of the eight rabbet planers on our list has been extensively examined, and we’ve covered all you need to know about them.
We also included a buying guide for those of you who are still hunting for your first rabbet plane or want more information on what to look for when buying one.
Now that you know what to consider before buying a rabbet plane, you can now confidently select from our list and purchase one of these tools for your own needs. Don’t forget to consider all of the factors listed in the buying guide so that you can find the perfect tool for your needs. Happy shopping!