Sanding hardwood floors isn’t hard, but you definitely have to know what type of tools you need. Since there are a lot of different units and most of them are expensive we have decided to make a list of the best sanders for hardwood floors so we can save you the trouble of researching sanders.
Everyone isn’t wealthy enough to hire a professional, and that’s the main reason why people decide to do this process by themselves. The process isn’t hard but it will take you some time to complete it, and having the wrong tools will make the process even longer. But no worries, with our best floor sander list and our buyers guide I’m sure you will find the right sander.
Sanding the floor is the main thing you have to do when you decide to renovate your home, getting good results from this process will make your home look very good, trust me I have done it, and that’s why I recommend you getting the best tools so you can get the best results.
| Products | Product Name | Details | Price |
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Known Brand  | Known Brand |
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Professional  | Professional |
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Durable  | Durable |
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Powerful  | Powerful |
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Fast  | Fast |
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Different Types of Floor Sanders and Their Uses
You have probably noticed that on our list we have different sander types. The main reason for that is because to sand a hardwood floor you need different sanders.
Usually, to complete this project you need a drum sander to sand the floor, an edge sander to remove the stains or paint from the floor, and an orbital sander to give the floor a smooth finish.
Depending on your budget and your project size you can get all these three types of sanders, or if your budget is low and your project isn’t that big then you can just choose an orbital sander.
Drum Sander
These types of sanders are mostly used by professionals. I recommend you use drum sanders if you are dealing with a big space. They are not recommended for beginners, they are heavy so you need someone to help you carry them and move them, plus it requires a lot of experience in order to use them. Unless you have enough experience and a big mansion to sander I don’t recommend you to buy them.
But, if for some reason you decide to buy them, then make sure to buy one that is easier to move and make sure to have someone to help you move it. Drum sanders with variable speed settings are the best, so make sure to check if the sander has this feature or not.
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Edge Sanders
Since drum sanders can’t reach corners then edge sanders are your best choice if you are dealing with them. Edge sanders are easy to use and they do a good job when it comes to corners. They are not recommended to be used for the whole project unless the surface isn’t that big and you have enough experience.
Orbital Sanders
After you remove the paint from the floor, the orbital sanders are used to give the floor a smooth finish. They are very good when it comes to finishing, but they can also be good at removing paint. If you don’t have the money to buy a drum sander, or if for some reason you only want to use an orbital sander then you can use put coarse sandpaper to the orbital sander and use it to remove the paint.
Then you can use other sandpaper to give the floor a smooth finish. This process will take longer than using drum sanders, but you will save a lot of money. This trick can only be used for small and medium projects, if you are dealing with a big surface then I recommend you buying a drum sander.
Table of Contents
Best Sanders for Hardwood Floors
1. Lagler Hummel – Best Floor Sander
Best Features 
- Known Brand
- Fast
- Easy Belt Changing
My Overall Rating
(5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
The HUMMEL® is a very known company when it comes to making sanders for floors. This company has been making sander for a while, and their products are always known to be good. This is the sander that I mostly use for floors.
What sets this sander apart from the others is that it uses a combination of three things to get the best results possible; it uses an aggressive drum sander, a three-phase drum pressure and a belt tensioning device. This combination is very effective and it always brings quality results. This machine is also very fast, its speed goes up to 2880 RPM.
This is a belt sander, which means that you may need to change the belt while working. This process is very easy with this one, it literally takes few seconds to completely change the belt. Moreover, it comes with an effective and optimized dust extraction which helps to keep the area clean. This sander is very good for floors, especially hardwood floors that haven’t been touched for a few years.
On the downside, this sander is heavy, it’s the heaviest product on this list. You might need an extra hand to help you move it.
What We Liked
- Known Brand – This company has been making sanders for floors for decades.
- Fast – The motor delivers up to 2880 RPM.
- Easy Belt Changing – You can change the belt in seconds.
- Dust Extraction – Effective, helps to keep the environment clean.
- It’s very heavy, approximately 175 pounds.
2. Bon HT8 HireTech – Best Electric Floor Sander
Best Features 
- Professional
- Can be Disassembled
- 8-inch Sandpaper
My Overall Rating
(5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
If you are serious about woodworking and you have your own business then you need a professional sander. One of the most used sander by professionals is the Bon HT8.
A big reason why we use this unit is because the tool can be easily disassembled and transported. Unlike other floor sanders that weigh a lot, this one only weighs around 100 pounds. If you put it head to head with the first sander in the list, this one weighs 75 pounds less.
The Bon HT8 is very easy to use, it comes with 8-inch sandpaper which helps you sand larger surfaces, such as the kitchen floor very fast. Moreover, it comes with a very effective dust extractor system that can be very helpful if you are working indoors, it keeps the dust inside the sander.
The thing we didn’t like about this sander is that it’s expensive. We as a team can make the price worth it, but if you are planning to use it once, then you should see other options.
What We Liked:
- Professional – Offers a high-quality finish, especially if used for large floors.
- Easy to Transport – I can assemble and disassemble this sander within a few minutes.
- Good Dust Collector System: Very helpful if you are working indoors.
- It is a very expensive product. Think twice before buying it.
3. Powr-Flite C202 – Best Orbital Floor Sander
Best Features 
- Made from Steel
- 20″ Pads/Brushes
- Durable
My Overall Rating
(5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
If you are looking for a very durable sander then the Powr-Flite C202 is your perfect choice. This unit is fully made from steel, it is very durable and it can be used even on the most challenging floor projects such as untouched old floors.
It features a 1.5 HP dual-speed motor. You can choose the speed depending on the project. I usually use the first speed (175 RPM) when I’m dealing with a normal floor, and I use the second speed (320 RPM) when I’m dealing with a very old rust floor. If you put it head to head with our first pick, then this one is way slower.
You can use the 20″ brushes with this unit, which means you will be able to complete large surfaces a lot of times faster. What I like about this sander is that it comes with a thumb activation switch, meaning that the chances of an accidental start-up are very low.
The thing that I don’t like about this tool is its weight. This tool weighs 110 pounds so it may be challenging to move for some people. The reason why this unit weighs so much is that the tool is rugged and it’s made of steel.
What We Liked:
- Durable – Made from Steel
- Good Motor – Features a 1.5 HP motor.
- Dual-Mode – Two Speeds (175/320 RPM).
- Thumb Activation Switch – Prevents accidental start-ups.
- Heavy
4. Bosch GET75-6N
Best Features 
- Powerful
- Fast
- Durable
My Overall Rating
(5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
Although orbital sanders are not recommended for very large surfaces (big mansions floor), they are still pretty good when it comes to normal-sized floors. One of the best orbital sanders for a hardwood floor is the Bosch GET75-6N.
The main reason why I use this sander for floors is that it’s very powerful. This sander comes with a powerful 7.5 Amp Motor. The motor is dual-mode meaning that you can choose the mode depending on your project size. The first mode is the “normal” mode, I use the normal mode when I’m dealing with normal floors that don’t require extra power, very effective if the floor isn’t that old.
The second mode is the “turbo” mode, I usually use this mode when I’m dealing with a very old wood floor (such as abandoned house floors), the turbo mode is 5 times faster than the normal mode and it is very aggressive. The normal mode speed is from 290 to 640 RPM, and the turbo mode speed is from 3300 to 7300 OPM.
The only thing that I don’t like about this sander is that it comes with a passive dust collector, meaning that you need to connect another vacuum so you can get rid of the dust.
What We Liked:
- Motor: Features a 7.5 Amp Motor
- Dual Mode: You can choose between the normal and the turbo mode.
- Variable Speed: You can change the speed to match your project size.
- Fast – Up to 7300 OPM.
- Passive Dust Collector
5. Bosch OS50VC – Best Handheld Sander for Floors
Best Features 
- Fast
- Good Dust System Collector
- Comfortable
My Overall Rating
(5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
This is another good orbital sander that you can use to sand your floor. This isn’t as powerful as the other one, but still, it has enough power to get through a normal floor ( not recommended for floors that are over a decade old ).
The Bosch OS50VC comes with a 3.4 amp motor, it comes with a variable speed feature, which means that you can change the speed to match the project you are working on. This sander fast, its speed it’s from 8,000 to 11,000 OPM.
If you compare it to our #4 sander in our list, then this one is faster (5500 OPM faster), but it doesn’t have the same power as the Bosch GET75-6N.
What makes this sander special is that it comes with a vibrations control feature (Bosch-exclusive), which means the tool will vibrate much less than the other ones. This is very helpful especially if you are dealing with a large surface because you won’t get tired very fast.
To prevent fatigue, this sander also comes with an ergonomic soft grip. Moreover, it has a very good dust collection system that I find very effective, it comes with a micro-filter system that collects the finest dust, plus the dust bag is very easy to detach.
Pros:
- Good Motor – Features a 3.4 amp motor.
- Fast – It comes with a variable speed feature. You can choose the speed from 8,000 to 11,000 OPM.
- Fewer Vibrations – It has a Bosch Exclusive feature that makes the tool to vibrate less.
- Dust System Collector – Micro-filter system and the dust bag is very easy to clean-up.
- To be added.
Best Floor Sander – Buyers Guide
All the sanders we have listed here are not the same. Some of them are more expensive. These expensive sanders also require an extra hand to move around and they are mostly used by professionals.
We have listed some budget-friendly sanders too, these types of sanders are mostly for beginners or DIYs. Before going through our list of the best sanders for hardwoods floor you need to have some knowledge about sanders; how they work, what are the best features, and so on. This buying guide will help you buy or rent the right sander for you.
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Floor Size
The size and the type of wood you are going to sand are very important. If you are dealing with a big surface, then a small sander won’t do it, you will have to spend a lot of time sanding the entire surface.
The type of wood is also important if it’s a very old floor then you will have to sand it a lot more, if the floor is old then you need to check for nails or anything else that can harm the sander.
Rent or Buy?
Now that you can decide which sander to pick it’s time to also decide if you want to buy the sander or rent it. It all depends on you. The drum sanders are very hard to find in local stores, also its sandpaper is also hard to find. So, if you go for a drum sander always make sure to buy extra sandpaper so you don’t have to stop your project to get more. The other types of sanders are easier to find. I recommend you buy an orbital sander, you can use them for almost everything.
Be Careful
You will have to be careful when you are dealing with the floors. Always make sure to make straight motions, try to not move the sander on the sides because you may not notice it now, but once you paint the floor you will see the lines you made and it won’t look good.
If you have enough time, then it is recommended to not touch the floor for a few days, let it heal and dry so you can get the best results possible.
Final Words
And this is it folk – we have made a list of the best sanders for hardwood floors and we also have made a buying guide. This will help you get to choose a better sander and therefore get better results.
Sanding your floor is the first thing you need to do when you decide to renovate your home, with this process you can give your home a better look, but in order to do that, you need good tools and a little experience. This whole process may take some time, but trust me, in the end, it is all worth it!
