Skil Brushless 20V 3-1/4 in. Planer Kit

Why I reached for this planer

I first put the Skil 20V planer to work on a kitchen install where cabinet doors needed a hair taken off, a couple shelves wanted a clean chamfered edge, and a back panel called for a shallow rabbet. It was a good spread of tasks to see what a cordless planer can do beyond quick edge cleanups. Over the next few days it lived on my bench and in the van, and I came away impressed with how much capability Skil packs into a compact, reasonably light 3-1/4 in planer.

Build quality and ergonomics

With the 4.0 Ah pack on board, the tool feels balanced rather than nose-heavy—important for controlled, flat passes. The grip is comfortable and secure, with rubber overmold in the right places. The trigger and safety are easy to use without contorting your fingers, and the soft start means the tool doesn’t twist or lurch when you pull the trigger. That makes a big difference when you’re starting a pass on a delicate edge.

The machined shoe feels solid and true. I like that Skil includes a deep V-groove along the front shoe; it makes quick, consistent chamfers straightforward, and I got clean 45-degree edges without fuss. A spring-loaded kickstand at the rear protects the work if you set the planer down before the drum fully stops. There’s also a “park” position on the depth dial that drops the front shoe relative to the blades so you can safely set the tool down between passes. Together, those features did a lot to prevent accidental marks on finished faces.

At 5.12 lb bare (a bit more with the battery), it’s easy to control one-handed when the cut is shallow, yet planted enough with two hands for deliberate, flat passes.

Cutting performance

The brushless motor spins up to a claimed 14,000 rpm, and the power shows in the cut. On pine and poplar, I could take moderate-depth passes with a steady feed rate and get a consistent finish. On oak, I backed off the depth and aligned with the grain; the result was a clean surface that needed minimal sanding. As with any handheld planer, sharp blades and respecting the grain make all the difference. The tool ships with standard 82 mm blades, and I appreciate that Skil didn’t lock this into a proprietary format—replacements are easy to source. Blade access is straightforward, and the onboard spanner is a thoughtful touch that keeps setup tools with the planer.

Depth adjustment is positive and predictable. The dial offers fine control and held its setting; I didn’t notice any drift or play. My only gripe is visibility: the markings could use higher contrast. In low light I had to pause and tilt the tool to see exactly where I was set. It’s a small thing, but it slows you down on a busy install.

Rabbeting capability is rated to 5/16 in (8 mm). Using the included fence, I cut consistent rabbets for cabinet backs without chasing the line. The fence and guide feel more substantial than the “throw-in” accessories you often see on entry-level kits. For deeper joinery you’ll still go to a router, but for case backs, shiplap edges, and fitting panels, this planer’s rabbet setup is quick and effective.

Dust and chip control

Skil’s selectable left or right chip ejection is more useful than it might sound. Being able to flip the port away from your body (or away from a wall) keeps the work area clearer and makes the tool friendlier to both left- and right-handed users. The included bag works fine for quick passes and touch-ups, though it fills quickly—no surprise for a planer moving real material. Hooking up a vacuum makes a big difference. With extraction, chip control is very good and your line of sight stays clear.

Battery, runtime, and charging

The kit includes a 20V 4.0 Ah lithium-ion pack and an automatic fast charger. The charger’s “get-me-finished” feature—about five minutes for a quick top-up—proved handy more than once when I misjudged a job. From empty, my charges landed around the claimed ~50 minutes to full. Skil talks about a cell cooling wrap that improves runtime and life; I can’t verify the engineering, but I didn’t hit thermal throttling during a series of moderate cuts and chamfers. For extended thicknessing passes on harder woods, any cordless planer will drain a battery faster; plan on a second pack if you’re doing long sessions of material removal.

Brushless efficiency helps, and I appreciated that the tool didn’t feel like it was laboring under a sensible workload. For trim fitting, door edges, scribing, chamfering, and shallow rabbets—the typical cordless planer use cases—the included 4.0 Ah battery got me through a good chunk of the day with smart charging breaks.

Setup and included accessories

Out of the box, you get the planer, 4.0 Ah battery, fast charger, parallel guide, dust bag, spanner, and a rebate fence. The accessories fit snugly and do what they should. The parallel guide is square, and adjustments lock down without wandering. On-tool storage for the spanner means blade changes and belt checks don’t send you hunting for a wrench. Using standard 82 mm blades keeps long-term maintenance simple and affordable.

Where it shines

• Everyday site work: Fitting doors, easing cabinet panels, and scribing fillers is where this tool pays for itself. The soft start, precise depth dial, and stable shoe make consistent passes easy.
• Chamfering: The deep V-groove gives you fast, repeatable edge breaks and decorative chamfers without swapping tools.
• Clean rabbets: Within the 5/16 in depth limit, the fence and ejection control yield neat edges and tidy work areas—especially with a vac attached.
• Mobility: Cordless freedom and a light, well-balanced body make it a natural grab-and-go planer.

What could be better

• Depth marking visibility: The dial works well; the markings are just hard to read at a glance. A higher-contrast scale would be an easy usability win.
• Dust bag capacity: Useful for quick corrections, but it fills fast. If you’re doing more than a couple passes, plan on extraction or frequent empties.
• Rabbeting depth: 5/16 in covers many tasks, but some users will want more. Not a deal-breaker, just a limit to note.
• Battery ecosystem availability: The kit includes a battery and charger, but depending on your region, stocking extra batteries may take planning. If you work away from mains power all day, budget for a second pack and make sure you can source it where you live.

The bottom line

The Skil 20V planer hits the right notes for a cordless tool in this category: solid cut quality, a true shoe with a useful V-groove, practical safety touches (kickstand and park setting), left/right chip ejection, and a kit that includes a 4.0 Ah pack and a genuinely fast charger. The brushless motor and 14,000 rpm headroom keep it from bogging in typical jobsite tasks, and the ergonomics encourage control rather than fighting the tool. It’s not trying to replace a jointer or thickness planer; it’s built to make the fitting, trimming, and finishing work go faster and cleaner—and it succeeds.

I recommend this planer to installers, trim carpenters, and serious DIYers who want a capable cordless planer with thoughtful features and a good accessory bundle. It’s particularly attractive if you’re already in Skil’s 20V lineup or you’re starting fresh and want a sensible, value-forward kit. Pick up a second 4.0 Ah pack if you have long planing sessions on hardwoods, pair it with a vacuum for best dust control, and you’ll have a compact planer that punches above its weight without straining your budget.