The Top 10 Best Random Orbital Sanders on Earth

Sanders come in many different shapes and sizes. As we continue our quest to perfect the greatest toolbox of all time, today we review the top 10 best orbital sanders for the money. Which sander is best for you depends on not only the projects you have at hand currently but what you foresee needing down the road. Nothing beats a random orbital sanders ability to sand and polish effectively and efficiently. Let’s see what 10 best we found today.

What is a random orbital sander?

A random orbital sander (or also known as random orbit sanders) is a hand-held power tool that is used for sanding. It has a sanding blade that offers random-orbit action. This is the angle of the rotation, and it has a variable disk and head.  The random sanders combine speed with the aggressiveness of a belt sander, with the ability to produce a finer finish, which is available as the standard for the slow speed orbital finishing sander.

They are available in different types, including orbital floor, air powered and electric powered sanders. The electric and air powered orbital sanders are normally hand-held, while the floor orbital sanders are normally large machines that have to be rolled.  It is ideal for sanding, polishing, marine and automotive projects — but any sanding task you feel it can be necessary for will do. We know many who grab a random orbital sander to accompany their disc sander if they need to cover more ground alongside of it.

How to choose the best random orbital sander

• Budget – Most of these are relatively affordable. Unlike some other power tools out there that have a surprsingly high cost, the range you’ll be seeing these won’t vary much, so it may be wise to spend a few extra bucks on a higher-end model to invest long-term.
• Size of the pad – The average size of the most popular random orbit sanders is around 5″ to 7″. Some can go lower and others higher, but if you stick in the middle (most if not all are 5″), you should be good to go for most projects.
• Additive features – Built-in vacuum, dust collection with dust bag, a handy polishing/sanding pad included in the box and more — these are some examples of additional features the popular random orbital sanders include. Which are you interested in?

The top 10 best random orbital sanders

Porter-Cable 7424XP

This random orbit sander is swirl free with some great polishing and sanding action. It has an electronic variable with a variable speed dial and features the proprietary counter balance, which is used for the 6 inch polishing and sanding pad. It can be used with different thread accessories, features 2 positions (right and left) and has a removable side handle that offers convenient control and comfort. It is the ideal tool for marine and sanding projects but most commonly found applications will suffice. It has high overload protection with the random orbit. It is pretty versatile and compact coming right in at 5 1/2 pounds. In the box, it comes with an orbit polisher with a polishing pad, a wrench, a side handle, and operating instructions. The Porter-Cable 7424XP is one of the best random orbital sanders for the money due to the overall quality it provides and affordable price point.

Bosch ROS20VSC

This 5 inch model delivers fast removal and an ultra-smooth finish that is well blended so that carpenters and wood workers may sand faster to reach the standards they want. It has been designed to eliminate swirl marks on the work piece, and this is capable of doing so because of the integral pad dampening braking system. The signature hook and loop disk that is attached ensures that there is a firm grip on the disc while being used.  The micro-cellular backing pad can be plied to ensure that there is a fine and smooth finish on either a flat or contoured surface. With a comfortable soft-grip and body design, the Bosch ROS20VSC random orbital sander comes with different speed controls varying between 7,500 to 12,000 OPM in order to match the speed needed for the task. It comes with a travel bag as well so if you want to keep it safe or intend on traveling this may be the one for you.

Black & Decker BDERO100

This product is ideal for many sanding options. The sander has a random orbital action meant to be used for a high removal rate and quality finish. The dust sealed extends the tool life and random action on this one is 12,000 OPM. In terms of additional features, it includes the hook and loop paper change, a dust bag as well as sanding sheet. This product is the right option for both the experienced woodworkers and weekend DIYers and it’s pretty affordable when it comes to price point, so if you were looking to save some money this may be the perfect 5 inch random orbital sander for you. The Black & Decker BDERO100 offers the great maneuverability, performance and power. It is compact and one of the shortest sanders that can be found in this class.

DeWalt D26453K

In terms of random orbital sander kits, here’s one of our favorites. It is used as a grinder, sander and a pneumatic tool.  The speed motor adjusts from 7,000 -12000 OPM, and in this way it offers the ideal sanding speed for a smoother finish. It is textured and has an anti-slip top and body grip that offers the ultimate comfort and control during its use. It has a high-quality finishing system and maintains a controllable pad speed steadily. It minimizes the gauging in the startup as well. It has a dual sealed switch that protects against dust ingestion to prolong the life of its switch and is sealed with a 100 percent bearing construction that offers an even longer tool life. The DeWalt D26453K 5″ sander has a high capacity dust back with a built-in vacuum adapter, and it offers the best dust collection with or without a vacuum. If you have the money and want to invest in a higher-quality sander, here’s a great one to choose.

Makita XOB01Z

This random orbit sander has three speed settings that have been engineered to offer fast material removal. It works up to 40 minutes run time with the low speed and 20 minutes for high speed with just one single charge. Although that doesn’t seem like a lot, it’s decent for these types of sanders. A one touch electronic speed control switch offers medium, fast or low settings. It has been designed ergonomically designed for its grip and body and is generally meant to be used for an improved overall finish. The pad control system offers controlled pad speed after the start-up and there is an efficient dust collection system for a cleaner work environment. The dust sealed switch and over-sized sealed ball bearing construction prolongs the tool’s life. Lastly, the Makita XOB01Z is equipped with star protection computer controls that protect from overloading, over-heading and over-discharging. This one is a top notch 5″ sander if you have the cash.

SKIL 7492-02

This is the right random orbital sander to have regardless if you want to start a large improvement project or if you just want to put the finishing touches on your workshop hobby. Like the others, its pad is 5″ — this is the perfect solution if you want to grab a standard model that’s still super easy on the wallet. In terms of features, the pressure control indicator can be used to let the user know when the right pressure is being used and it warns when the pressure is too high. This product ensures a swirl free finish with the pad brake that eliminates the gouging. The micro-filtration captures and contains the fine dust particles which keeps the working surface very clean and the sealed switch is used to keep the dust out of this tool for a long period. Lastly, the SKIL 7492-02‘s The dust canister is clear and it minimizes the guess work about when it has to be emptied.

Festool 571817

This one by Festool is known to be one of the most popular sanders out there. It is a versatile tool that is good for sanding strokes and an ideal one-handed machine for the maximum surface quality when finishing or pre-sanding. Although it’s a bit more expensive than most, you’re getting what you pay for. The compact tool weighs only 2.4 lbs so if you were for looking for one of the listed random orbits, here it is. With a standard 5 inch pad, this is the perfect option to use for sanding vertical surfaces and for doing overhead work. The technical features like the sanding pad brake or the vibration-stop balancing are meant to put the item in its own category. It has been ergonomically formed in order to fit any size of hand, and it is compact and lightweight to help with extended vertical or overhead use. It has a step-less variable speed that can be adjusted according to the requirements of various applications. The Festool 571817 also has a balanced vibration stop design and it delivers even better finish results with smooth operation while offering great comfort. If you have the money, here’s one of the best random orbital sanders in the market. The reviews back that claim up as well.

Makita BO5041K

This is a random orbit sander which has a variable speed tool case. It combines performance, speed and power with a well-built and adjustable front handle to ensure superior grip with the right control. It is the ideal tool for most woodworkers, general contractor and finish carpenter. It has a 3-Amp motor and over-sized sealed ball bearing construction that offers a long tool life. Like the others, there is a variable speed control dial that has 4000 up to 12000 OPM, which allows the user to match the sanding speed to the material that they are working on. Lastly, you have a pad that is 5″ big and large 2 finger trigger switch has been located conveniently on the lock-on button. Take a look at the Makita BO5041K if you want a solid kit to add to your repertoire.

Porter-Cable 382

Porter-Cable makes another appearance in here for a good reason. This one is the ideal tool for surface preparation, cleaning the seams and removing the old coating, varnish and paint. It has a 5″ pad and 1.9 Amp motor which provides over 12,000 OPM for the maximum sanding speed for smooth finishes. The sander is lightweight and easy to use with a dual plane, and the counter balanced fan reduces user fatigue with longer jobs. The controlled finishing system keeps the controllable pad speed and it is meant to minimize the gauging with the startup while the dust sealed switch is meant to protect the sander so that it does not ingest the dust. You are going to get a long switch life with added durability in the Porter-Cable 382.

Bosch ROS20VSK

Here’s the kit version of the previously listed Bosch random orbit sander. As stated previously, this product has a dampening braking system that is meant to eliminate swirl marks on the finished piece. The tool offers a 5″ pad with rapid removal with an ultra-smooth finish and is able to do the job to the exact standards and in a swift manner. In order to ensure the strong grip of the disc when it is being used, it uses the ‘HookTight’ disc attachment. Also, the micro-cellular backing pad can be pliant in order to ensure a smooth and fine finish on contoured and flat surfaces. It has been designed with an ergonomic soft-grip on the top of its body.  It comes with a speed control between 7,500 up to 12,000 OPM in order to match the speed to the task at hand. Take a look at the Bosch ROS20VSK if you want the kit-version of the series.