With so many types of sanders available and a plethora of brands to pick from, buying a sander can prove to be a minefield. Should you use a detail or orbital sander? Should you choose a cordless or corded sander? Are DeWALT sanders worth the price tag? You’ll have plenty of questions whether popping into a local store or browsing our range of sanders online.

In this guide to buying a sander, we’ll be answering these questions and more. Allowing you to pick the right sander for you, whether you’re a busy tradesperson who demands reliability or handy homeowners who needs an easy-to-use option.

Types of Electrical Sanders

Before you delve into the features found on a sander and the brands to choose from, let’s explore the type of sanders available. This will ensure you get the right sander for you, whether you need the control of a detail sander or speed of a belt sander.

Detail Sanders

Whether you’re needing to get into a tight corner of your worktop or finish the edges of your skirting board, you’ll want a detail sander to hand. With their compact size and triangular pad, they are ideal for getting into small areas or finishing woodwork with more control. Like many other sanders on this list, the pad is either vibrated rapidly or moved in an orbital motion to achieve a smooth finish.

Random Orbital Sanders

The larger brother of the detail sander, an orbital sander is one of the most versatile sanders to have in your toolbox. Whilst still compact, they are ideal for larger surfaces such as tabletops or doors as well as being suitable for smaller areas such as skirting boards or windowsills. As the name suggests, the circular pad on these sanders rapidly moves in an orbital motion to delivery a smooth finish.

Belt Sanders

With a single piece of sandpaper that’s moved in a back-and-forth motion, belt sanders are perfect for sanding large areas such as floorboards or panelling. Due the combination of power and weight they provide, they can be used to finish rough surfaces or even levelling surfaces. Whilst detail and orbital sanders can be held in a single hand, belt sanders are weighty and require two hands.

Drywall Sanders

Whilst the other sanders on this list are designed for small to medium sized surfaces, the large diameter of a drywall sanders makes it suitable for sanding entire walls. With a large pad at the end of an extendable arm, a drywall sander is great at tidying up the joints between plasterboard as well as preparing the gypsum surface for decorating.

Common Sander Features

With your newfound knowledge of the types of sanders, let’s look at the key features. Knowing which you will and won’t benefit from will ensure you get a sander that’s able to handle the tasks you’ll be throwing at it.

Variable Speed

The ideal speed will depend upon the material you’re sanding and finish you’re hoping to achieve. Thankfully, many sanders allow you to adjust the speed to suit the task at hand. As well as providing you with more control, this will maximise the lifespan of your sandpaper. This is useful for both tradespeople and DIYers.

Anti-vibration

Whilst minor vibration when using a sander is unavoidable, severe vibration can cause a lot of discomfort. To combat this, some brands have introduced anti-vibration technology that minimises vibrations to limit hand, wrist, and arm fatigue. This is a must for tradespeople who may be using a sander for long periods of time.

Dust Extraction

When sanding a surface indoors, dust can prove to be a real menace. As well a making a mess of your space, this dust can be hazardous if ingested. That’s why it’s a good idea to buy a sander that helps to capture the dust created whilst sanding. This could be an integrated dust box on smaller sanders or even a larger dust extraction unit for larger sanders.

Corded vs Cordless

As with most power tools, sanders can operate by battery or mains. Whilst a cordless sander provides superb mobility and avoids you getting ‘tangled up’, a corded sander provides consistent power and won’t die midway through your project. If tackling a small and quick job, a cordless sander is ideal. But if you’re taking on a larger project or are a tradesperson, consider a corded sander.

Top Electrical Sander Brands

Now that you know the type of sanders that’s right for you and the features to keep an eye out for, let’s explore the brand available to you. Whilst this list isn’t exhaustive, it includes a handful of our favourite power tool brands.

DeWALT Sanders

A favourite amongst tradespeople is American brand DeWALT. Their range of sanders is extensive with orbital sanders, belt sanders, and palm sanders to name but a few. Many of DeWALT’s sanders feature their AirLock Dust Connection System, which makes using integrated dust boxes and dust extraction systems a breeze. Because of their 100+ year heritage and typical 3-year warranty, DeWALT sanders have a mid-high price tag. Browse our range of DeWALT power tools.

Bosch Sanders

Few brands have achieved the crossover success with both pros and DIYers as Bosch. As you may expect from a German brand, Bosch make durable tools that are made to last. Plus, due to their broad popularity both accessories and spares are widely available. Although being low-mid priced, Bosch is a respectable brand that covers most tooling.

Milwaukee Sanders

A great alternative to DeWALT is Milwaukee, another American brand that’s loved by tradespeople. Whilst they offer a range of orbital sanders, belt sanders, and spot sanders, their selection isn’t as extensive as other brands. Like their other power tools, Milwaukee sanders are rich in features such as their long lasting REDLITHIUM batteries and ONE-KEY system. But most importantly, they create premium tools that come with a warranty of up to 5 years. Browse our range of Milwaukee power tools.

Ryobi Sanders

The only Japanese brand to make the list is Ryobi, who have become wildly popular in recent years amongst DIYers. This is due to them offering a range of feature-rich yet easy-to-use power tools at the fraction of the cost of other brands. What’s more, most of their power tools utilise their ONE+ battery that can be easily switched between their sanders, drills, saws, grass cutters, and more.

Which Sander Should You Buy? 

With knowledge of the types of sanders available, features to look for, and brands to trust; we hope that you now feel ready to buy your new sander. As with most purchases, the key is to find one that suits your needs and budget. So, don't get caught up spending more money on features you're unlikely to use. Equally, don't spend less only to find that your sander isn't suitable for your projects. 

If you're planning to buy more tools or need a little advice on how to best use your existing tools, take a look at our selection of tool guides. You can also browse hundreds of power tools from brands such as DeWALT, Milwaukee, Faithful and more. This includes drills, power saws, routers, planers, and more.