10 Best Router Tables of 2024 – Reviews & Buying Guide
Your work's quality depends on your skills, as well as on the tools you use. It's therefore important that you always use the best possible tools you can in the shop, including the router and its table.
With a router securely mounted on its table, you'll have your two hands completely free, enabling you to produce your best works with maximum concentration and effort.
All router tables are not equal though, so this best router table review will take you through the router table offers in the market and show you as well, how to make the best choice for your shop.
Image | Product Name | Dimensions | Accessories | Rating | Current Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table | 22.8 x 18.0 x 14.5 in | Yes | 4.3 | |
 | 2. Bosch RA1171 Cabinet Style Router Table | 25.5 x 15.0 x 14.5 in | Yes | 4.3 | |
 | 3. Kreg PRS2100 Benchtop Router Table | 20.0 x 28.2 x 20.2 in | Yes | 4.2 | |
 | 4. Bench Dog Tools ProMax Table Saw Extension | 18 x 29 x 4 in | No | 4.4 | |
 | 5. Dremel 231 Router Table | 8 x 6 x 10 in | No | 4.2 | |
 | 6. Skil RAS900 Compact Router Table | 28 x 18 x 9 in | Yes | 4.0 | |
 | 7. Rockler Compact Trim Router Table | 18 x 12 x 4 in | No | 3.8 | |
 | 8. Kreg PRS1045 High-Performance Router Table | 37 x 25 x 36 in | Yes | 3.9 | |
 | 9. XtremepowerUS Deluxe X5051 Router Table | 13 x 34 x 11 in | Yes | 3.8 | |
 | 10. Grizzly T10432 Router Table | 37 x 25 x 5 in | No | 3.7 |
You can also read other product reviews such as Rockler Pro Phenolic router table, Bosch RA1181 router table, wood router, router bit, router lift.
10 Best Router Tables - Reviews
#1. Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table
Editor's Rating: 
(4.3 / 5)
- Dimensions: 22.8 x 18 x 14.5 inches
- Weight: 34 lbs
Bosch built this RA1181 to accept a variety of routers while providing a high-quality router table. It comes with an aluminum tabletop for stability and durability, as well an aluminum fence.
The fence is tall and can handle tall stock with ease. It has MDF face plates to make the work smoother, as well as 2 adjustable feather-boards for guidance and precision.
You get a dust port for a clean work surface, plus accessories like an adjustable clear guard, a starter pin, and mounting hardware for mounting both Bosch and competitor's routers.
The RA1181 also includes 2 15-Amp outlets for your convenience, plus a 6-inch power cord, a lockout key, and an overload protection. Bosch backs it with a 30-day money back guarantee and a 1-year warranty.
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#2. Bosch RA1171 Cabinet Style Router Table
Editor's Rating: (4.3 / 5)
- Dimensions: 25.5 x 15.5 x 14.5 inches
- Weight: 44.8 lbs
The Bosch RA1171 is another benchtop router table with nearly the same features as the RA1181 above, except for its cabinet style base. It's almost the same size as well, but it weighs a little more.
The RA1171 comes with the same aluminum fence plus the adjustable MDF face plates for smoother routing. The two feather-boards are also present, one for the fence and the other for the miter track.
Bosch adds two standard 2.5-inch dust ports as well, 3 insert rings for the mounting plate and other hardware for mounting different routers, including most of Bosch's routers.
You also get the dual outlet switch plus the lock to prevent unauthorized use of the power. Bosch backs this table with a 30-day money back guaranty and a 1-year warranty.
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#3. Kreg PRS2100 Benchtop Router Table
Editor's Rating: 
(4.2 / 5)
- Dimensions: 20 x 28.2 x 20.2 inches
- Weight: 26 lbs
The Kreg PRS2100 is a benchtop router table designed for a rugged and long life. It features a frame made from steel, with an edge-banded and reinforced MDF tabletop.
The tabletop measures 16 x 24 inches and includes an anodized aluminum fence which features independent sliding faces. A vacuum shroud covers the workspace and connects to a dust port for cleanliness.
Although made from steel, the frame rests on rubber feet so to dampen the vibrations of the router when working. This makes this precision benchtop a very quiet table to work with.
Kreg includes a 9.1 x 11.7 precision insert plate made from a tough phenolic material with this package and you also get three rings for installing your router. You'll find laser engravings beneath the insert plate. These are there to help you with a better installation of different routers.
The tabletop also features a micro-dot skin, and it allows you to slide workpieces easily across it for a smoother working experience. This skin comes from a high-pressure laminate.
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#4. Bench Dog Tools ProMax Cast Iron Table Saw Extension
Editor's Rating: 
(4.4 / 5)
- Dimensions: 18 x 29 x 4 inches
- Weight: 60 lbs
Designed as an attachment to table saws, this Bench Dog ProMax router table is different from the previous router tables on this list, with the first difference being that it has no stand of its own.
It's meant to get attached to one side of any contractor grade table saw and thereby save the shop owner some space. It comes with a fence for improved accuracy and features T-Slots as well.
This fence features an easy removal mechanism, for when you need to use the table saw. You can quickly dismantle and hang it to make enough room for your table saw needs.
The table surface is cast iron, providing you with the best router tabletop possible. Its fence, however, is made from aluminum and MDF sub-fences, plus a heavy-duty bit guard and a dust collection port.
One disadvantage of this router table is the lack of a router plate in the package. You'll need to buy this plate additionally and its dimensions are unique. This means you just can't use any plate you feel like.
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#5. Dremel 231 Router Table
Editor's Rating: (4.2 / 5)
- Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 10 inches
- Weight: 2 lbs
If you have a corded or cordless rotary tool and would like to work with it on a router table, then you should take a look at this offer first. It's a great budget and compact router table.
This table is so small, it's only 6 inches long and 8 inches wide. Then it even comes with a fence and everything necessary for mounting it on any work table.
On the underside, you'll get the tool holder where the rotary tool goes. The system is simple and easy to understand, so anyone can quickly install a rotary tool and get working in no time.
One disadvantage of this table though, is that it's designed exclusively for Dremel tools. It's compatible with all Dremel corded tools and with some of the cordless ones as well.
Another disadvantage of this table is that you'll have a hard time using it for large pieces. Its small size makes it ideal for smaller pieces, allowing you to sand, groove and trim edges easily.
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#6. Skil RAS900 Compact Router Table
Editor's Rating: 
(4 / 5)
- Dimensions: 28 x 18 x 9 inches
- Weight: 32 lbs
The Skil RAS900 is a top-rated router table because of its compactness. Packed with all the necessary features one can need during routing, this table is additionally beautifully designed and looks great.
You get a pre-assembled table with an accessory storage bag, which makes up the self-contained and compact structure. The top is an MDF board which is additionally laminated for smoothness and durability, plus the legs fold inside to make it compact for storage.
The included fence features laminated MDF faces, as well as a dust port, a miter gauge, bit inserts, and lots of other accessories, which all pack neatly into the included accessories bag.
One issue with this router table is its plastic parts. Although it looks very stylish and trendy, many of its parts are plastic and this weakness makes it incapable of handling heavy-duty jobs.
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#7. Rockler Compact Trim Router Table
Editor's Rating: 
(3.8 / 5)
- Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 4 inches
- Weight: 6.7 lbs
The trim router has become a staple of many wood shops because of its compact size and versatility, so Rockler created this trim router table to offer a flexible and quick table solution for trim routers.
What you get is a table with pre-drilled holes that allow you to easily attach it almost anywhere using a clamping strip. So, whether it's on your workbench, on any piece of wood, or on the tailgate of your truck, there's nothing to worry about.
Another interesting feature is Rockler's addition of a 1/4” thick acrylic base to the package. This allows you to do freehand work with the trim router as you would with a standard router. This acrylic base also comes with many pre-drilled holes so it can fit lots of routers easily.
The tabletop itself is MDF, which is then wrapped in vinyl for a long service life. It includes a fence, which also includes a provision for a dust port, but you'll have to buy the dust port separately and that's the biggest disadvantage of this table.
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#8. Kreg PRS1045 High-Performance Router Table System
Editor's Rating: 
(3.9 / 5)
- Dimensions: 37 x 25 x 36 inches
- Weight: 70 lbs
Like most Kreg products, here comes a well made and high-quality router table with all the features you need to create a router table customized to your specific needs.
The stand got constructed using heavy-gauge steel, guaranteeing a reliable and long service life. You can adjust the stand to grow from 31 to 39 inches and the stands also come with pre-drilled holes so you can easily mount accessories to it.
For the tabletop, you also get a heavy-duty and 1-inch thick MDF top with a precision insert plate system. The MDF tabletop includes a skin from a high-pressure laminate, which allows easy sliding of workpieces across the table.
For the fence, you get a multi-purpose precision fence made from anodized aluminum. This fence system works just like a standard table saw T-Square system and this guarantees that your work will always stay parallel to the table's miter gauge slot.
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#9. XtremepowerUS Deluxe X5051 Aluminum Router Table
Editor's Rating: (3.8 / 5)
- Dimensions: 13 x 34 x 11 inches
- Weight: N/A
If you need a good router table that you can securely attach to your benchtop, this aluminum router table from XtremepowerUS fits the bill. At just 11 inches high and 34 inches wide, it's perfect for carrying out small routing jobs.
It's made from aluminum, so this makes it relatively strong and lightweight at the same time. The table's surface has grooves so it's easy to keep up a clean workbench.
There's a fence which has a push-out feature, a 2.5-inch dust collection port, and a built-in scale for accuracy.
The Deluxe X5051 is also reasonably priced and will make a good entry router table for any beginner. The only little advantage it has is that aluminum will never be as sturdy as steel.
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#10. Grizzly T10432 Router Table
Editor's Rating: 
(3.7 / 5)
- Dimensions: 37 x 25.5 x 4.8 inches
- Weight: 61.7 lbs
Offering you everything you need in a complete commercial router table, this Grizzly T10432 should interest you if you are searching for the best router table for the money.
It starts off with a strong steel stand, designed in an A-frame for stability. Then comes the tabletop, which features an MDF core, plus polyethylene edges and a melamine laminate skin for smoothness and long life.
You also get a universal mounting plate with this router table and it comes with a starting pin and 2 removable inserts.
On the fence, you'll find a measuring tape which reads on both sides for better measurements. This fence is built from MDF but it includes an aluminum mounting bracket and a dust port to help keep the tabletop clean while working.
This is a great router table for the money. It combines the best of materials to offer you a stable and precise working station for your routing jobs. It could, of course, be made better, but then it'll also cost more.
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How to Buy the Best Router Tables
Going through the list of the best router tables above, there are certain important features you'll need to keep your eyes on to make the right choice. These are the features that either make a router table valuable, or not, and they are as follows:
#1. The Type of Router Table
The first issue to ponder is the type of router table that you want. There are 3 major types of router tables and they each have their advantages and disadvantages. They are as follows:
- Benchtop. As their name implies, benchtop router tables are fully functional router tables with all the standard features of a router table, but which are miniature in size and can easily fit on a workbench. Benchtop router tables are ideal for mini-jobs.
- Floor Standing. These are full-sized router tables that stand firmly on the shop's floor and have the height of any other standard workbench. This kind of table is ideal for large shops where space is not a problem. You can use them for all kinds of projects.
- Extension. This type of router table is usually in the form of an extension, which gets attached to the table saw. Its advantage is that it saves space, which is a huge relief for people who fall short of space.
#2. The Table Surface
Your second consideration should be the table's surface. Different materials are often used for the tabletop, but remember that they each have their advantages and disadvantages. The four major materials you'll find are cast iron, aluminum, phenolic, and MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard).
- Cast Iron. Whether you are a DIY hobbyist or a professional woodworker, there's no better top for your tools, including your router table, than a cast iron top. The only issue with cast iron is the higher cost.
- Aluminum. If you plan on working more often with your router table, then an aluminum top will be your second best option after a cast iron surface. It has most of cast iron's properties, but it's cheaper.
- Phenolic. This is a very hard resin, which makes good and dependable tabletops. Since it's not a metal, it will only get compared to wooden tops, in which case it wins for strength and stability. Its one downside is that it's expensive.
- MDF. One advantage of having a router table with an MDF surface is its vibration absorbing property. Since routers are loud tools, any effort to dampen the noise is a plus. On the other hand, MDF is not as durable as aluminum. It sags over time and will swell if water gets into it.
#3. Dust Collection
Woodwork creates a lot of wood dust, so a good router table should offer you a means of managing this dust. Many router tables will come with a dust port of one kind or the other. It's left for you to make sure that the system is right for you.
#4. The Fence
This is the vertical structure to one side against which you press the work that you're working on to keep up some level of precision. Without a fence, you'll probably end up with an irregular workpiece or one which doesn't align with other pieces.
When deciding on a router table, it's important to pay attention to the type of fence on the table and what it can additionally offer. Router tables often come with split fences, which move independently of one another. You can also watch out for feather-boards and other attachments to spice up the deal.
#5. Miter Slot
You may not immediately need a table with a miter slot, especially if you're doing basic jobs with your router. When you need to step things up though, then you'll find that a router table with a miter slot is often invaluable.
You do not only need a miter slot for a miter gauge, you'll also need it when you're working with feather-boards and you need to keep things tight and aligned.
#6. Precision Level
What the router table does is to simply offer your router a mounting point, which allows its bit to protrude above the tabletop. While this is enough for most people, it can always get better.
Some router tables offer you the opportunity to easily adjusting the router bit, while others go even further and offer precision mechanisms for those adjustments.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of this router table review and you've seen the best router tables out there and what they have to offer.
It's obvious that no single router table can beat the rest, because each table on this list offers a set of features that are unique to it.
The final choice of a router table, therefore, is yours alone to make, because the exact type of table you need to buy, depends on your exact needs.
References: familyhandyman.com, dengarden.com
Last Updated on August 7, 2020 by Tom Bradly