Best power tools for woodworking

Start with the DeWalt 20V MAX XR brushless drill/driver. It's the tool you'll reach for on every project — drilling pilot holes, driving screws, running pocket-hole jigs — and the brushless motor gives you more runtime and a longer life than a brushed drill. Add a second battery and you're set for a whole afternoon.

Then build around it:

• DeWalt 20V MAX XR jigsaw — curved cuts, sink cutouts and trimming; the same battery platform as the drill.
• Makita random orbit sander (5") — the tool that makes a project look finished; variable speed keeps you from burning veneers.
• Compact trim router — edge profiles, roundovers and grooves; a palm router is the easiest way into routing.
• Hyper Tough 20V brushless circular saw — breaking down sheet goods and crosscuts on a budget.

Who each suits: the DeWalt pair for anyone starting a cordless kit they'll grow; the Makita sander for someone whose priority is a clean finish; a trim router for edge work once you're past basic joinery; the Hyper Tough saw for occasional cuts where a track saw or table saw isn't in the cards yet.

Worth knowing: a table saw or track saw is what turns rough lumber into square, repeatable cuts — none of these replace that, so plan for one as your next big purchase.