Bench Planes vs Rabbet Planes: Key Differences
By Infinity Cutting Tools | Premium Woodworking Tools ... | Published: 2026-10-23
Category: Comparisons
Understand the distinct purposes of bench planes and rabbet planes. This comparison explains when to use each type for woodworking joinery and surface preparation.
Quick Answer
Bench planes excel at flattening and smoothing large surfaces, while rabbet planes are designed for cutting precise shoulders and rebates in joinery. Choose a bench plane for general stock preparation and a rabbet plane for creating grooves, rabbets, and tenon shoulders.
Surface Preparation vs Joinery
A bench plane's wide, flat sole and adjustable mouth make it ideal for removing material across a board's face, edge, or end grain. It's your go-to tool for flattening panels, smoothing rough lumber, and fitting joints that require a flat reference surface.
A rabbet plane, by contrast, has a narrow body and a blade that extends to the edge of the sole. This design lets you cut a precise shoulder along the edge of a board—essential for creating rabbets, dadoes, and tenons. The double rabbet style also allows you to work into corners, acting as a bullnose plane.
Blade and Adjustment Differences
Bench planes typically have a larger blade set at a standard bevel angle (around 45°) and use a chipbreaker to control tear-out. The depth adjustment is fine and precise, suited for shaving thin layers.
Rabbet planes often have a blade that cuts flush with the side of the plane, and some models lack a chipbreaker. The Infinity Tools Double Rabbet Wood Hand Plane, for instance, allows the blade to be inserted near the center of the body, giving you flexibility for different rabbet depths. Adjustment is usually simpler, prioritizing speed over micro-adjustment.
Trade-Offs at a Glance
- Bench Plane: Wide sole provides stability for flattening and smoothing large surfaces. Fine depth adjustment allows thin, consistent shavings. Less suited for cutting into corners or along edges due to blade width. Choose a bench plane when you need to prepare stock or fit joints that rely on a flat reference surface.
- Rabbet Plane: Narrow body and side-exposed blade excel at cutting rabbets, dadoes, and tenon shoulders. Often lacks a chipbreaker, which can make tear-out more likely on figured wood. Limited for surface-leveling tasks. Reach for a rabbet plane when your joinery calls for precise shoulders or when working in tight spaces.
- Combined Use: Many projects benefit from both: use a bench plane to flatten a board, then a rabbet plane to cut the joinery. The Infinity Tools Double Rabbet Plane complements any bench plane set well. Owning both types expands your joinery options without sacrificing surface quality.
Product Facts
- Kunz Plus Bench Planes 3-Pc. Set: German-made set includes #4 Smoothing, #5 Jack, and #6 Fore planes for comprehensive bench plane coverage. You get a range of sizes for different tasks: smoothing for final finish, jack for general stock removal, and fore for flattening large boards.
Kunz Plus Bench Planes 3-Pc. Set - Infinity Tools Double Rabbet Wood Hand Plane: Combines a standard rabbet plane and a bullnose rabbet plane in one tool, designed for planing slots, half slots, sills, or rabbets. One tool handles both edge rabbets and corner work, saving you from buying two separate specialty planes.
Infinity Tools Double Rabbet Wood Hand Plane
Which One Fits Your Shop?
Best For
- Woodworkers who need to flatten and smooth large panels or boards regularly.
- Joinery-focused projects that require precise rabbets or tenon shoulders.
Not For
- A bench plane is not ideal for cutting rabbets or working into corners.
- A rabbet plane is not suitable for flattening wide surfaces or general stock preparation.
