DeWalt DW735X vs DW734: the two-speed 13 inch DW735X and the single-speed 12-1/2 inch DW734 share the same motor and cutterhead but differ on feed speed, chip ejection, width and about $110 in price. Here is which one to buy.
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DeWalt DW735X vs DW734 is the most common benchtop planer decision in home woodworking, and the two machines are closer than the price gap suggests. Both use a 15 amp, 20,000 RPM motor driving a three-knife cutterhead at 10,000 RPM. Both handle stock up to 6 inches thick and take up to 1/8 inch per pass. The differences come down to a second feed speed, a chip ejection fan, a half inch of width, twelve pounds, and about $110 on Amazon as of September 1, 2026.
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
Prices change often. Check the live listing before you decide, because the whole recommendation hinges on the gap between them.
On paper this category is a tie, and in practice owner feedback agrees. Both planers use the same 15 amp universal motor spinning at 20,000 RPM, geared down to a 10,000 RPM cutterhead with three straight knives. Both will take a full 1/8 inch pass on a 12 inch wide oak board without bogging, though most owners take 1/16 inch passes on hardwood to reduce tearout and knife wear.
The DW735X pulls ahead on finish quality because of the gearbox. In speed one, both machines produce 96 cuts per inch. Shift the DW735X into speed two and the feed slows so the knives make 179 cuts per inch. Owners consistently describe the result as a surface that can start sanding at 150 or 180 grit, versus 120 grit from the DW734. On a large project, that saves real time. If you plane construction lumber or softwood, the gap is smaller and much easier to ignore.
Build Quality and Snipe Control
Snipe, the shallow dip at the ends of a board, is the main complaint about any benchtop planer. DeWalt attacks it differently on each machine. The DW734 uses a four-column carriage with a manual lock lever and extra-long infeed and outfeed tables that add up to 33-1/2 inches of support. Lock the carriage before each pass and support the board, and owners report snipe is minor.
The DW735X moves the lock to an automatic system that engages on every pass without touching a lever, and it sits on a 19-3/4 inch cast aluminum base that DeWalt rates as twice as rigid as a standard 10 inch base. The X package adds bolt-on infeed and outfeed tables. Across owner reviews the DW735X is described as the lower-snipe machine of the two, and it is the one people recommend when snipe is the deciding factor. Neither planer eliminates it entirely, so plan to leave a few inches of extra length and trim.
Chip Ejection and Dust Collection
This is the difference owners talk about most after buying. The DW734 has a standard dust port and relies on your vacuum or collector to pull chips away. If the hose clogs or the vacuum cannot keep up, chips pack around the cutterhead and get pressed into the board, leaving dents.
The DW735X has an internal fan that actively blows chips out of the cutterhead and down the port. It will throw chips across the shop without a bag attached, which tells you how much air it moves, and it means the planer keeps itself clear even with a modest shop vacuum. For a home shop without a real dust collector, this feature alone can justify the price gap. Our dust collector guide covers what to pair with either machine.
Size, Weight and Shop Fit
The DW734 weighs 79.8 pounds and the DW735X about 92 pounds with its tables removed. Twelve pounds does not sound like much until you are lifting a planer onto a bench alone. If your planer has to live on a shelf and come out for each project, the DW734 is noticeably easier to manage. If it gets a permanent spot on a stand, the weight is irrelevant and the wider base becomes an advantage.
Capacity is 13 inches on the DW735X and 12-1/2 inches on the DW734. That half inch matters for glued-up panels, which frequently land between 12 and 13 inches wide for cabinet sides and small tabletops. If you only plane individual boards, it does not.
Knives, Consumables and Long-Term Cost
Both planers use double-edged, reversible disposable knives, and both take a three-knife set. The DW735X includes a spare set in the X package, which is worth around its current retailer price to $60 on its own. Knife life is similar since the cutterhead speed and knife count match. Both machines also accept aftermarket helical cutterheads, though those upgrades cost several hundred dollars and make more sense on the DW735X given its wider capacity and stronger base.
Warranty is the same on both: DeWalt's three-year limited warranty, one-year free service contract, and 90-day money-back guarantee. Parts availability is also equal, since both planers have been in production long enough that knives, belts, rollers and brushes are stocked by DeWalt service centers and third-party sellers. Neither machine is going to strand you on a consumable, which is one reason both hold their resale value unusually well for a benchtop tool.
Price and Value
On September 1, 2026, Amazon listed the DW735X at the current retailer price and the DW734 at the current retailer price. That $110 gap buys the second speed, the chip fan, the automatic carriage lock, the wider base, the extra half inch, the extension tables and the spare knives. Priced item by item, the tables and knives alone recover most of the difference.
The math changes when the DW734 goes on sale. It has historically dropped into the $400 range during holiday and spring tool promotions, and at a $250 gap the DW734 becomes the better value for anyone who does not need the finish speed. Watch the listing if you are not in a hurry.
Who Should Buy the DeWalt DW735X
- You plane hardwood for furniture or cabinetry and want the smoothest finish before sanding
- You do not have a large dust collector and need the planer to clear its own chips
- You plane glued-up panels wider than 12-1/2 inches
- The planer will live on a stand rather than a shelf
Who Should Buy the DeWalt DW734
- You find it on sale at the current retailer price or more below the DW735X
- You plane mostly softwood, poplar or construction lumber
- You need to lift the planer on and off a bench regularly
- You already own a dust collector that can keep up
Final Verdict
The DW735X is the better planer and, at current pricing, the better value. The DW734 is a proven machine with the same motor and cutterhead, and it wins only when a discount widens the gap. For a wider look at the category, including the spiral-head WEN PL1326 and the budget Craftsman CMEW320, see our best benchtop planers roundup. If you still need to flatten one face before planing, our guide to hand planes versus power planers covers that step.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the DW735 and the DW735X?
The planer itself is identical. The X package adds the infeed and outfeed extension tables and a spare set of knives. Since those accessories cost close to the price difference when bought separately, the DW735X is usually the better buy.
Does the DW734 have two speeds?
No. The DW734 has a single feed speed that produces 96 cuts per inch. The DW735X adds a second, slower finish speed at 179 cuts per inch.
Can the DW735X and DW734 run on a regular outlet?
Yes. Both are 15 amp, 120 volt machines. A dedicated 20 amp circuit is ideal, and you should avoid running a shop vacuum on the same circuit while planing.
Which planer has less snipe, the DW735X or DW734?
Owner reviews consistently give the edge to the DW735X because of its automatic carriage lock and wider, more rigid base. The DW734 controls snipe well when its manual carriage lock is engaged and long boards are supported, but it requires more attention.
