The Best Biscuit Joiners, Reviewed

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Choose one of these top tools for a quicker, easier way to create strong tabletops and hidden joinery for your woodworking projects.

As a woodworker or DIYer, there are certain essential tools that, once the DIYer discovers them, help unlock their real potential. Among those tools is the trusty biscuit joiner. This power tool helps make creating strong joints and large, flat surfaces easier—and produces better results.

Whether it’s for gluing up a new worktop for a shop bench or building a bookshelf from scratch, the best biscuit joiner can help. These handy tools use small, circular saw blades to cut slices in two pieces of wood, allowing woodworkers to insert a biscuit (a small, football-shaped chunk of compressed wood) in the two slots to create a solid joint. The glue-covered biscuit then expands, locking the two boards together and creating an incredibly strong joint that glue alone can’t match.

Use this guide to learn the factors and features to consider when shopping for the best biscuit joiner and why the following tools are considered to be among the best models available.

1. BEST OVERALL: Makita PJ7000 Plate Joiner
2. RUNNER-UP: DeWalt DW682K Plate Joiner Kit
3. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Wen JN8504 8.5-Amp Plate and Biscuit Joiner
4. BEST FOR BEGINNERS: Ryobi JM83K 6-Amp AC Biscuit Joiner Kit
5. BEST CORDLESS: Makita XJP03Z 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Plate Joiner
6. BEST FOR WOODWORKING: Festool 574432 Domino Joiner DF 500 Q-Set
7. BEST FOR CABINETMAKING: Porter-Cable 557 7-Amp Deluxe Plate Joiner Kit

How We Chose the Best Biscuit Joiners

For woodworking or at-home projects, biscuit joiners offer precise and strong joints, cuts, and flat surfaces with minimal effort. Selecting the best biscuit joiners on the market depends on power output, adjustability, added attachments and accessories, and ease of use.

Our top picks come with powerful motors of 5.6 to 8.5 amps for speeds between 10,000 and 12,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). This power output is aided by adjustable angles and depths for quick and clean cutting. Many of these picks have 0- to 90-degree angles, with a select few topping out at 135 degrees. Plus, some of these top picks come with multiple preset depths.

Though the biscuit-cutter tools themselves are the most important feature, these joiners also come with dust bags, blade replacements, carrying cases, and more for convenience and safe storage. Plus, those with barrel grips and positive stops allow for maximum control while operating.

Our Top Picks

The following list includes some of the best biscuit joiners available for woodworking projects. Whether for a beginner, a pro woodworker, or someone with a skill set that lands in between, shoppers are likely to find a quality tool for their workshops here.

Best Overall

Makita PJ7000 Plate Joiner

Folks looking for an all-around biscuit-joiner tool that really holds its own will want to check out the Makita plate joiner. This barrel-handled biscuit joiner has a 5.6-amp motor, and while that is on the lower end compared to some competitors, it produces speeds up to 11,000 rpm for dense hardwoods. It weighs just 5.5 pounds, has a maximum cutting depth of ¾ inch, and includes a carrying case as well as a 4-inch carbide-tipped blade.

The PJ7000 offers lots of adjustability. The fence has a rack-and-pinion vertical adjustment that allows users to dial the joiner into the perfect height. The fence also adjusts between 0 and 90 degrees, with positive stops at 0, 45, and 90. The PJ7000 has six different depth adjustments, with one-touch stops for standard biscuit sizes of #0, #10, and #20.

Product Specs 

• Power source: Corded
• Biscuit size: #0, #10, and #20
• Handle type: Barrel

Pros

• Enough power to produce speeds up to 11,000 rpm with a weight of just 5.5 pounds
• Barrel-shaped handle allows for plenty of accuracy, ensuring biscuits align
• 6 depth adjustments let users dial in the ideal depth for their biscuits and the amount of glue they need

Cons

• 5.6-amp motor is on the less powerful side, meaning this isn’t the heaviest-duty model

Get the Makita PJ7000 biscuit joiner at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Acme Tools.

Runner-Up

DeWalt DW682K Plate Joiner Kit

The DeWalt DW628K plate joiner kit might be just the ticket for DIYers looking for a high-quality biscuit joiner with a heavy-duty motor. This barrel-handled joiner features a 6.5-amp motor that runs up to 10,000 rpm, capable of cutting through dense hardwood.

The DW682K has plenty of high-end features. The fence has dual-sided vertical rack-and-pinion adjustments, which keep the blade and fence as parallel as possible. The fence is adjustable between 0 and 90 degrees, with a positive stop at 45 degrees. It also has adjustments for #0, #10, and #20 biscuits.

The DeWalt comes with a carbide blade, Torx key (for the blade), wrench, dust bag, and soft bag for storage. It also includes a vacuum attachment, allowing users to hook up a shop vac or dust-collection system to the dust port for simple cleanup. It does weigh 6.6 pounds, so it might be a bit on the heavier end for all-day use.

Product Specs 

• Power source: Corded
• Biscuit size: #0, #10, and #20
• Handle type: Barrel

Pros

• Heavy-duty 6.5-amp motor should bore through dense hardwoods without issue
• Fence angle adjusts between 0 and 90 degrees, with a positive stop at 45 degrees for miters
• Dual rack-and-pinion fence allows for accurate height adjustments and keeps the place parallel to the blade

Cons

• It may be a bit on the heavier end for all-day use

Get the DeWalt biscuit joiner at Amazon, Ace Hardware, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Acme Tools.

Best Bang For The Buck

Wen JN8504 8.5-Amp Plate and Biscuit Joiner

DIYers looking to spend as little as possible on a new biscuit joiner might want to consider the Wen JN8504. It has an incredibly meager price tag but still boasts a powerful 8.5-amp motor with a cutting speed of up to 10,000 rpm. It comes with several biscuits, a wrench for blade changes, and a plastic carrying case.

This model features an adjustable fence as well as an angle gauge that adjusts between 0 and 90 degrees (though there aren’t any positive stops). It has an inline handle and dust extraction as well as adjustable depths that accommodate #0, #10, and #20 biscuits. Keep in mind that this is a very budget-friendly tool, so it may not have the bells and whistles or fine adjustments of more expensive models.

Product Specs 

• Power source: Corded
• Biscuit size: #0, #10, and #20
• Handle type: Barrel

Pros

• Low price point makes it accessible to almost any budding woodworker
• Features a heavy-duty 8.5-amp motor that produces 10,000 rpm for dense woods
• Also has standard features like fence angle adjustments and dust extraction

Cons

• It doesn’t have the fine adjustments, stops, or bells and whistles of premium models

Get the Wen biscuit joiner at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

Best For Beginners

Ryobi JM83K 6-Amp AC Biscuit Joiner Kit

For those on the hunt for a versatile biscuit joiner for workshop projects that’s beginner-friendly in terms of both price and usability, the Ryobi JM83K biscuit joiner is worth checking out. This kit has a tough 6-amp motor that produces speeds up to 11,000 rpm for boring through hardwoods. It comes with an assortment of biscuits, a dust bag, and a carrying case—everything to start new users off on the right foot.

The Ryobi’s angle range makes it a unique tool. While most competitors offer only 0- to 90-degree angles, the Ryobi can go up to 135 degrees for improved functionality. Within its wide range, it has positive stops at 0, 45, 90, and 135 degrees. It has depth adjustments for #0-, #10-, and #20-size wood joining biscuits, as well as rack-and-pinion vertical adjustment and a D-shaped handle. While the handle may cost it a few points in terms of accuracy, it’s comfortable for beginning biscuit cutters.

Product Specs 

• Power source: Corded
• Biscuit size: #0, #10, and #20
• Handle type: D-shaped

Pros

• D-shaped handle is comfortable for newer users, allowing them to get accustomed to biscuit cutting
• Adjustable fences with a range between 0 and 135 degrees, allowing for more versatility than most other biscuit joiners
• Comes with biscuits, a dust bag, and a carrying case to start users off on the right foot

Cons

• The D-shaped handle might lose a few points in the accuracy department

Get the Ryobi biscuit joiner at The Home Depot or Amazon.

Best Cordless

Makita XJP03Z 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Plate Joiner

Finding a high-quality cordless biscuit joiner can be tough, but most DIYers will find that the Makita XJP03Z 18V lithium-ion cordless plate joiner fits the bill. This biscuit joiner uses Makita’s 18V LXT lithium-ion battery system to produce a top speed of 12,000 rpm. It can produce up to 320 cuts (or 160 joints) on one battery, allowing for long-term biscuit cutting without a cord holding the tool back.

The XJP03Z has plenty of adjustment features as well. It has six depths with positive stops for #0, #10, and #20 biscuits. It also has rack-and-pinion vertical adjustment (though only one side) of the cast-aluminum fence and a range between 0 and 90 degrees, with a positive stop at 45 degrees. It’s available for purchase as a set with a battery or as a stand-alone tool for those who already own a battery for other Makita tools.

Product Specs 

• Power source: 18V battery
• Biscuit size: #0, #10, and #20
• Handle type: Barrel

Pros

• Despite being a battery-operated biscuit joiner, it produces motor speeds up to 12,000 rpm
• Cuts up to 160 joints on a fully charged battery
• Cordless portability means users can take it wherever they need it without a cord holding them back

Cons

• It only has rack-and-pinion height adjustment on one side, despite being a premium tool

Get the Makita biscuit joiner (tool only) at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Acme Tools.

Best For Woodworking

Festool 574432 Domino Joiner DF 500 Q-Set

The Festool 574432 Domino joiner might not be exactly a biscuit joiner, but it’s one of the best tools for similar joinery in furniture and woodworking. The Domino uses Festool-specific hardwood tenons (candy-bar-shaped inserts that take the place of traditional biscuits). Instead of a circular blade, it has a drill bit-like spiral cutter to bore the mortises. This allows users to adjust the depth to prevent it from poking through a workpiece while still getting plenty of surface area for glue.

Despite the unconventional joinery method, the Domino does have the flexibility of other biscuit joiners, with a few extras. Users can adjust the fence angle between 0 and 90 degrees, with stops at 22.5, 45, 67.5, and 90 degrees—two more stops than its competitors. It has multiple height adjustments and depth settings for fast, easy, and accurate adjustments. Festool is also known for employing effective dust extraction.

This kit comes with a carrying case and several guides and fences. Shoppers should know, however, that the floating tenons (Festool calls them Dominoes) may not be as readily available as biscuits.

Product Specs 

• Power source: Corded
• Biscuit size: Uses Dominos with 5, 6, 8, and 10 millimeter diameters
• Handle type: Barrel

Pros

• Domino mortises provide more surface areas for glue than biscuits, allowing for stronger joints
• Several depth adjustments allow users to bore deep, flat-bottomed mortises that hold well without poking through the workpiece
• It has multiple angle stops, allowing users to customize their woodworking designs

Cons

• It’s not exactly a biscuit joiner, and Festool Dominoes aren’t available everywhere

Get the Festool biscuit joiner at Amazon or Acme Tools.

Best for Cabinetmaking

Porter-Cable 557 7-Amp Deluxe Plate Joiner Kit

Cabinetmaking requires a lot of joinery, and dense hardwood plywood can be tough on a biscuit woodworking joiner. For those situations, consider the Porter-Cable plate joiner kit. It features a wide fence angle range, multiposition depth stop, and a 7-amp motor that runs at 10,000 rpm, boring through dense plywood over and over again.

This barrel-handled model is heavy duty but also has some desirable features for cabinetmaking. The fence tilts from 0 to 135 degrees, with a positive stop at 90 degrees, allowing users to create catty-corner cabinets and face frames without setting up complicated jigs or strange angles. It also has seven depth stops, handling #0, #10, and #20 biscuits. Just note that its heavy-duty size does come with some heft, so it may be a bit large for some users.

Product Specs 

• Power source: Corded
• Biscuit size: #0, #10, and #20
• Handle type: Barrel

Pros

• Heavy-duty 7-amp motor allows it to bore through dense plywood and hardwood all day
• Fence adjusts between 0 to 135 degrees, with multiple positive stops for complicated miters
• Many attachments and accessories included

Cons

• It might be a bit large for some users or lead to fatigue during long sessions

Get the Porter-Cable biscuit joiner at Amazon, Lowe’s, Acme Tools, or Rockler.

Jump to Our Top Picks

What to Consider When Choosing a Biscuit Joiner 

Once a DIYer gets their hands on a biscuit joiner, they might wonder how they ever finished woodworking projects without one. They’ll no doubt come to rely on it a lot, so choosing a quality model is key. Here’s what to keep in mind when shopping for the best biscuit joiner.

Size and Weight

Usually, the larger and heavier the wood biscuit cutter, the better the quality of its parts, and a bruiser of a biscuit joiner will likely have a heavy-duty motor and high-quality slides (which guide the blade while it cuts to provide consistent results). However, a heavy biscuit joiner or a super high-end tool isn’t necessary or even ideal for everyone. There are plenty of midrange options weighing around 5 or 6 pounds—about half the wei