Our favorite random orbital sander is the Bosch ROS20VSC Palm Sander, which our product tester put through its paces at his home, evaluating it for power, ease of use, effectiveness, durability, and overall performance. Here are the best random orbital sanders for a variety of needs. Sanding is dusty work, but with the Bosch ROS20VSC Palm Sander, you won’t have as much to contend with once the job is done. This small-but-powerful random orbital sander’s built-in microfilter system traps dust particles as small as one-half micron in diameter and has a twist-off dust canister that lets you see at a glance when it’s full. There’s also a vacuum-hose adapter in case you prefer to hook the device to your wet/dry shop vacuum. But that’s not the only benefit of this handy tool. It has a 2.5-amp motor, which is plenty of power for most DIY tasks, and you can adjust the sanding speed between 7,500 and 12,000 orbits-per-minute to fine-tune the speed to your needs. Our product tester used this sander to clean up three rough-cut bookshelves with heavy grain. He applauded the sander’s easy use, powerful performance, and effective filtration system, saying, “The Bosch Palm Random Orbit Sander stands shoulders above its competition in performance, dust control, and ease of use. Its lightweight, ergonomic design makes it easy to handle all sorts of work without fatigue, the sand discs are easy to swap in and out, and the pad dampening system eliminates swirl marks. " The ergonomically shaped handle has a soft-grip top and is just long enough to allow you to grasp the sander in a variety of positions, greatly reducing strain on your hand and wrist. Plus, it weighs only 3.5 pounds and has an 8-foot cord, so you can stand comfortably while working. The sander includes a sanding pad, sanding disc, vacuum adapter, and soft-sided carrying case. The warranty is one year. Price at time of publish: $79 Power Source: Corded | Motor: 2.5 amps | Disc Size: 5 inches | Max. Orbits per Minute: 12,000 | Variable Speed: Yes But while this sander has an easy-to-clean, highly effective dust collector, it can’t trap particles quite as small as the Bosch’s filtration system, and it lacks a vacuum-hose adapter that would allow you to hook the sander to your shop vacuum. Still, with variable speed control that lets you sand as quickly or as slowly as necessary, a vibration-damping system to reduce stress on your hands and wrists, and a soft rubber grip and ergonomic design that’s comfortable to grasp even during lengthy sanding sessions, there’s a lot to love about this random orbital sander. The SKIL sander takes 5-inch discs, weighs 3.4 pounds, and is compact enough to fit into fairly small spaces. It comes with a one-year warranty and three sanding discs. Price at time of publish: $48 Power Source: Corded | Motor: 2.8 amps | Disc Size: 5 inches | Max. Orbits per Minute: 13,000 | Variable Speed: Yes The BDERO100 features a dust-sealed switch to keep grime out of the tool, a Velcro-type system for holding the 5-inch discs in place, and an easy-to-grip rubberized handle. And at 3.2 pounds, it’s quite lightweight. However, it does not come with a vacuum hose adapter or carrying case. The sander is covered by a two-year warranty. Price at time of publish: $67 Power Source: Corded | Motor: 2 amps | Disc Size: 5 inches | Max. Orbits per Minute: 12,000 | Variable Speed: No The sander doesn’t lack for power, either. It has a three-speed motor that spins the 5-inch disc at 7,000, 9,500, or 11,000 orbits-per-minute. Note, however, that it isn’t variable speed; you can’t adjust the speed beyond the three settings. There are other nice features as well, including one-touch electronic speed control, a dust-sealed switch, and an attached dust collection bag. And surprisingly, the battery doesn’t add too much weight– this sander weighs about 3.6 pounds, right in line with our top picks. Plus, it has an easy-on-your-hands ergonomic handle. However, note that this is the sander only; you’ll have to buy the battery and charger separately, unless you already own another 18-volt lithium-ion battery. The sander is backed by a one-year warranty. Price at time of publish: $93 Power Source: Battery | Motor: 18 volt | Disc Size: 5 inches | Max. Orbits per Minute: 11,000 | Variable Speed: No Note that this sander runs off a large air compressor–preferably 80 gallon or more–not batteries or your home’s AC electrical system, and you’ll need to buy the air compressor separately if you don’t already own one. This Ingersoll Rand has a ¼-inch air inlet and accepts a minimum hose size of 3/8 inch. Average air consumption is 4 cubic feet per minute. While very powerful, the sander is surprisingly easy on your hands and wrists, with low-vibration performance and an ergonomic design that’s easy to grasp even through long work sessions. It’s a heavy tool, however, at 4.7 pounds. And unlike most sanders, it lacks an integrated dust collection system, so this power tool is best used outdoors in an area that can handle some dust. It’s backed by a one-year warranty. Price at time of publish: $137 Power Source: Air compressor | Motor: N/A | Disc Size: 8 inches | Max. Orbits per Minute: Not stated | Variable Speed: No But don’t fear that you’re giving up on power or speed with this sander; it has a variable speed control dial with settings from 4,000 to 12,000 orbits-per-minute, a 3-amp motor, and a fairly large 1/8-inch orbit, allowing you to work quickly. Even better, the trigger switch has an easy-to-use lock, so no need to waste finger power keeping the power switch on while you work. There’s a vacuum-port adapter if you prefer to let your shop-vac collect the dust, or you can rely on the tool’s built-in high-capacity dust collection bag. The sander comes with a 5-inch sanding disc, case, and one-year warranty. Price at time of publish: $94 Power Source: Corded | Motor: 3 amps | Disc Size: 5 inches | Max. Orbits per Minute: 12,000 | Variable Speed: Yes But just because it’s small doesn’t mean it’s a weakling. The 2.4-amp motor has enough oomph for lightweight jobs, and with a fixed speed of 14,000 orbits-per-minute, it gets the job done just as quickly as many higher-end sanders. The comfortable, rubberized grip is easy on your hands, and the high-performance dust collection bag keeps your work area clean, although, as with any sanding device, you need to wear a suitable dust-protection mask while working. The sander is covered by a two-year warranty. Price at time of publish: $83 Power Source: Corded | Motor: 2.4 amps | Disc Size: 5 inches | Max. Orbits per Minute: 14,000 | Variable Speed: No
Dust Collection
You’ll likely kick up a lot of sawdust while sanding, which is why many people prefer a random orbital sander with a built-in dust collector. This feature sucks sawdust into an attached bag or canister that you need to empty periodically. Some higher-end sanders also have a vacuum attachment that allows you to hook the tool to your shop vac. Either way, however, you need to wear a protective dust mask and eye protection while you work to avoid injury to your eyes and respiratory system.
Disc Size
Random orbital sanders use round sandpaper discs that come in various sizes, most commonly either 5 inches or 6 inches in diameter, although heavy-duty sanders can take discs as large as 8 inches across. Note that you can’t simply swap disc sizes; sanders are designed to hold one specific disc size only. If you’re looking to tackle large jobs, you’re probably better off with sander that uses larger discs, as this will help you sand large areas faster. On the other hand, smaller disc sizes give you a little more control and fit into tighter spots.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs. For this roundup, she considered dozens of random orbital sanders, evaluating each for basic features, extras, and customer feedback, as well as product tester input. When tackling the toughest sanding jobs, such as smoothing very rough wood or removing multiple layers of paint, a belt sander will get the job done faster. And if you need to sand a delicate surface, a sheet sander is the appropriate tool. Still, for the majority of sanding tasks the typical DIYer is likely to face, a random orbital sander will get the job done quickly, efficiently, and effectively. A sheet sander, also called a palm sander, has a similar appearance to the typical random orbital sander, but instead of a round sandpaper disk, it has a rectangular piece of sandpaper that moves in a back-and-forth motion, rather than a spin. Sheet sanders are useful for detailed work, or when sanding along edges of materials. Be aware that sometimes random orbital sanders and orbital sanders are also sold under the term “palm sander,” as the most common form of all of these tools is as a fairly small device that’s shaped for easy grasp in the palm of the user’s hand, although there are also random orbital sanders that are large enough to require the use of both hands to control the tool while working. A fourth common type of sander is a belt sander, which differs from both types of orbital sanders in that instead of a vibrating sandpaper disk, you have a loop of sandpaper that’s spinning between two rotating drums. Belt sanders are very efficient for fast, rough sanding, but lack the finesse that’s possible with a random orbital sander. Eamon Lynch, director of warranty service at Power Home Remodeling, provided further tips and advice on choosing and using a random orbital sander.
