DeWalt 20V MAX* XR 2-1/4 Peak HP Plunge Router (Tool Only)

First impressions and setup

I reached for DeWalt’s 20V cordless plunge router because I wanted corded power without managing a cord across a bench full of jigs and hoses. Out of the box, the router feels compact and dense in a good way—about 8 pounds with no battery and roughly 11.5 inches tall. The handles are placed naturally, and the balance is surprisingly neutral for a cordless unit once a battery is installed.

The included kit is generous: 1/4 in and 1/2 in collets (each with their own nut), a sub-base, a 30 mm guide bushing, dust port components, chip collector, dust shields, a centering cone, and a wrench. I like that I didn’t have to immediately hunt down a 1/2 in collet, and the centering cone is useful for dialing in the base to the collet. One caveat: the documentation could be clearer about what’s what. The manual uses a few different names for the base pieces and dust covers, and it took me a few extra minutes to sort which plastic plate was intended for day-to-day routing versus guide-bushing or dust-collection setups. Once sorted, everything fits and locks in as expected.

Battery and charger aren’t included. I ran it on a 5.0Ah PowerStack pack for most of my testing.

Power and speed under load

This router carries a 2.25 peak HP brushless motor with a variable speed range of 11,000 to 23,000 RPM. In practice, it has the legs to run big profiles. I pushed a 2 in panel-raising bit in poplar with sensible feed rates and had no bogging, just the expected need to feather speed down on the dial for the larger diameter. With more typical tasks—a 5/8 in roundover in pine and a 1/2 in flush-trim pass on plywood—the motor maintained speed convincingly. The constant-speed electronics do their job; you can lean in a bit without hearing that telltale sag.

The speed dial is easy to reach mid-pass, and detents help you return to a known setting. For large cutters (up to the 2.5 in max), I stayed on the low to mid range; smaller straight bits and trim work lived at the upper end. No drama, no weird vibration—just a steady, confident cut.

Plunge action and depth control

The plunge mechanism is the highlight here. It’s smooth, with just enough resistance to feel controlled rather than sprung. The tool-free plunge lock lever lands naturally under the thumb of your right hand, and the router returns to the set depth without hunting. I set up a sequence of stopped dados and mortises and found the plunges repeatable across the board.

Depth adjustment is quick to gross-set and genuinely micro-fine to dial in. The three-position turret stop is simple but effective for stepped passes. If you cut repetitive mortises, shelf pin holes, or need to sneak up on a final depth for a tenon cheek, those three stops save time. Once I had the micro adjustment calibrated to my bit, I could take precise, shallow passes to clean up the bottom of mortises with very little guesswork.

Dust collection and visibility

DeWalt’s integrated dust collection is well thought out and works best when paired with their AIRLOCK hose. With the dust port and chip collector installed, chip evacuation from roundovers and straight grooves is very good, and visibility is helped by the clear shields. On heavy plunges in dense hardwood, you still get some chips escaping, but the cleanup is far less than with an open base.

Of note: there are a couple of dust shield parts, and the manual isn’t crystal clear about orientation during the first install. Once you’ve done it once, it’s straightforward. The dual LEDs are a little thing that becomes a big thing fast—great for seeing lines on dark woods and spotting a pencil mark at the bottom of a dado before you overshoot.

Safety and ergonomics

This model includes DeWalt’s PERFORM & PROTECT anti-rotation system, which senses a sudden stall or aggressive bind and stops the motor. I intentionally provoked a bind on a climb cut against the grain, and the router shut down instantly. I prefer that behavior to getting spun off a line. You do need to power back up and reset, so be mindful that overly aggressive feed rates or tight pattern routing can trigger it if you’re ham-fisted.

Handle geometry is excellent. The grips are large without being bulky, and the stance keeps your wrists neutral. The switch placement is intuitive, and the base rides flat and true. Even with a higher-capacity battery, the router doesn’t feel top-heavy; the mass is centered between your hands.

Accuracy and cut quality

With the supplied sub-base and a correctly centered collet, bit runout was minimal and cut quality was as clean as my bits allowed. Flush-trim work on laminated panels came out crisp with minimal fuzz. Bearing-guided profiles tracked cleanly, and straightedge-guided dados were dead on. The included 30 mm guide bushing is handy for template routing; just confirm your jig uses metric bushings—many do, but a lot of North American template sets expect a 1-3/16 in style, so you may need an adapter plate if you’re invested in those systems.

The router accepts both 1/4 in and 1/2 in shanks. If you’re running larger profiles or deep mortises, stick to 1/2 in bits when you can. The extra stiffness pays off, especially on a cordless unit where keeping the cut smooth lets the electronics maintain speed without frequent intervention.

Runtime and battery considerations

Cordless routers rise or fall on runtime. With a 5Ah PowerStack battery, I routed a series of 5/8 in roundovers in pine around a large built-in and covered roughly a couple hundred linear feet on a single charge, with short breaks between runs. Light trim and hinge mortising tasks barely dented the pack. Aggressive, wide-diameter profiles draw more power as expected. For a day of cabinet work, I’d keep a second battery on the charger, but I didn’t feel tethered to an outlet or a charging schedule.

The motor’s constant-speed control helps with efficiency; you’re not wasting energy fighting bogged cuts. Noise is typical for the class, and vibration is low—your hands don’t feel rattled after a few hours.

What could be better

• Documentation: The manual needs a cleanup pass. Terminology for the base, sub-base, and adapter pieces is inconsistent, and some diagrams don’t show every included part. You’ll figure it out, but setup takes longer than it should the first time.
• Accessory clarity: Including a 30 mm guide bushing is great; it would be even better if the manual clearly addressed compatibility with common imperial template systems and which plate to use out of the box.
• Edge guide: An edge guide isn’t included. That’s common in tool-only kits, but it’s worth noting if straight grooves along edges are a regular part of your workflow.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they are the areas where the experience could be smoother.

Everyday usability

In use, this router earned its keep quickly. I used it to:
- Flush-trim window and door openings after paneling
- Cut 3/8 in dados with a straightedge for cabinet carcasses
- Rout hinge mortises with a template and the included bushing
- Add roundovers to a porch handrail in long sequences

Across those tasks, the plunge action stayed true, the depth settings didn’t drift, and dust collection made indoor work much cleaner. Being able to walk around a large assembly without a cord draped over my work was more than a convenience; it reduced setup time and let me focus on cut quality.

Warranty and service

DeWalt’s 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service, and 90-day satisfaction period add some peace of mind, especially for a cordless tool that’s going to see heavy shop and jobsite use.

Final recommendation

I recommend this cordless plunge router for carpenters, cabinetmakers, and serious DIYers who want corded-class performance with the freedom of a 20V platform. It delivers strong, consistent power, excellent plunge mechanics, thoughtful safety, bright LEDs, and effective dust collection—key features if you’re routing all day or working in finished spaces. The documentation is the weak link and may slow your first setup, and you’ll want to confirm accessory compatibility if you rely on specific template systems. But once you’re up and running, the tool’s balance, control, and cut quality make it a dependable primary router rather than a compromise for cordless convenience.