Cordless Routers: Trim and Plunge Models for Woodworking

A trim router is light (1.5–2.5 kg) and handy for one-handed edge work, while a plunge router lets you lower the cutter smoothly into the material to cut grooves and recesses. Some models come with interchangeable bases. See differences between professional and household power tools.

Trim routers commonly use 6 mm, 1/4" and 8 mm collets, and powerful plunge routers also take 12 mm. The cutter shank must match the collet exactly, and its diameter must suit the tool power. Read how to check tool accessory compatibility and how to choose the correct accessory size.

Cordless routers usually run at 10,000–31,000 RPM, with lower speeds chosen for large cutters and plastics. Constant-speed electronics and fine depth adjustment give a clean, accurate result. See what is speed control and what is constant speed.

For edge work, 18 V with a 3–5 Ah battery is enough, while 36–40 V models are better for deep grooves and large cutters. A heavy battery changes the balance, so compare weight with the battery fitted. Read cordless tool voltage (V) and battery capacity (Ah).

Routers are often offered as body-only tools to run on batteries you already own. Check whether the kit includes a parallel guide, template guides, extra bases and a dust port. See what is a unified battery platform.

A brushless motor runs longer per charge, holds speed more steadily under load and makes the tool more compact. Most cordless routers today use this type of motor. Read what is a brushless motor.

Clamp the workpiece, feed the router against the cutter rotation and remove the battery before changing cutters. Wear safety glasses and connect a vacuum, as routing produces a lot of fine dust. See how to use cordless tools safely and how to choose safety glasses.