If you want to refinish cabinets then you need a sander. You can use the sander to get an even surface, strip paint, or get a smooth finish before applying paint to the kitchen cabinets. Your kitchen needs to have a smooth surface before you apply the paint to get the best results.
There are many different sanders available with many different features. That’s why finding the best sanders for kitchen cabinets can be challenging sometimes.
To help you save some time we have decided to do the heavy-lifting for you and make a list of recommendations for the sanders you should buy.
Table of Contents
| Products | Product Name | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Professional  | Professional |
| View On Amazon |
Fewer Vibrations  | Fewer Vibrations |
| View On Amazon |
No Swirl Marks  | No Swirl Marks |
| View On Amazon |
Very Powerful  | Very Powerful |
| View On Amazon |
Pressure Light  | Pressure Light |
| View On Amazon |
What Kind of Sander Is Best for Kitchen Cabinets?
There are different types of sanders that you can use for kitchen cabinets. The sheet sanders, random orbital sanders, and belt sanders are the ones that are used the most.
Depending on your cabinet condition you can use one or the other. Belt sanders are very powerful, so if you have to sand old cabinets they are your best friend. But, these types of sanders are bulky and hard to control.
Random orbital sanders and sheet sanders are good for normal cabinets, they also offer variable speed settings and you can easily control them.
Make sure to avoid using detail sanders, those types of sanders are not made to remove materials from cabinets.
Best Sanders For Kitchen Cabinets
1. Bosch OS50VC – Best Sander for Cabinets
Best Features 
- Variable Speed Settings
- Paper Clamping System
- Professional
My Overall Rating
(5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
If you are experienced enough with sanders then you should check the Bosch OS50VC. I have used this sander many times, especially for kitchen cabinets. It delivers a smooth finish and it can be used for different projects as well. But, it’s harder to use than most of the sanders.
The feature that I like and use most is the variable speed settings. This feature allows me to adjust the speed, you can change the speed from 8,000-11,000 OPM. This allows me to use the same sander for different surfaces. It comes with a 3.4 amp motor.
Although you won’t need to change the sandpaper a lot because of the variable speed feature, still, this sander makes the changing process easy if you compare it to other professional sanders.
It comes with a paper clamping system that makes the sandpaper fit perfectly, you can even add stick-on paper. Because of the flush sanding, this sander is able to sand vertical surfaces on 3 sides.
What makes this sander special is that it comes with a vibration control (Bosch-made) that reduces the vibrations a lot. I find this system very effective and I have noticed a big change.
On the downside, as mentioned earlier, this sander is harder to use.
What We Liked:
- Powerful Motor –The Bosch OS50VC features a 3.4 Amp motor.
- Variable Speed Settings – You can change the speed. The speed is 8,000 – 11,000 OPM.
- Dust Collection System – Transparent dust canister that is easy to empty.
- Good Paper Clamping System
- Fewer Vibrations
- Harder To Use
2. DEWALT DWE6423K – Best Sander for Kitchen Worktops
Best Features 
- Variable Speed Settings
- Dust Collection System
- Fewer Vibrations
My Overall Rating
(5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
If you are looking to sand only your cabinets then you probably don’t need a big sander, a medium one will do just fine. One of the best DIY sanders for kitchen cabinets is the DEWALT DWE6423K.
The things that make this sander special are the speed and its power. It features a very powerful motor (3.0 Amp). The motor comes with variable speed settings meaning that you will be able to change the speed to match your project. The motor spins the pad at 8,000 – 12,000 OPM.
Since you probably don’t have a lot of experience with sanders then you are going to need a sander that doesn’t vibrate a lot. The DWE6423 comes with a great feature that most of the sanders have; a separate counterweight that reduces the vibrations a lot.
In comparison to our first, this sander is easier to work with. Plus, the height of the sander is reduced and therefore you can easily control the sander.
This orbit sander has a very good dust collector. It features a one-hand lock system, plus the size of the bag is big enough if you are working on medium-sized projects ( sanding cabinets ).
If you have other DeWalt sanders then you can use their dust collectors ( DWV010 or DWV012 only). If you don’t then you need an adapter to connect the sander with another dust collector.
What We Liked:
- Variable Speed Settings – You can change the speed to match your project; 8,000 – 12,000 OPM.
- Powerful – Features high-quality motor (3.0 amp).
- Dust Collection System – One-hand lock system, plus a big enough dust bag.
- Fewer Vibrations – Separate counterweight feature to reduce the vibrations.
- Needs an extra adapter to connect to other vacuums.
3. Bosch ROS20VSC – Best Sander for Refinishing Cabinets
Best Features 
- Variable Speed Settings
- Dust Collector
- No Swirl Marks
My Overall Rating
(4.5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
This sander is fast enough to remove paint, and at the same time, it gives you a very smooth finish, a big reason for that is because this tool allows you to change the speed settings.
The Bosch ROS20VSC comes with a 2.5 amp motor that delivers 7,500 – 12,000 OPM. Since this tool allows you to change its speed, then you can use the fastest speed to remove materials, and then you can use a lower speed to get a good finish. At least that’s what I do when I use this sander.
This finishing sander has a great dust collection system. The dust collection system comes with an in-built microfilter system, this system is able to collect even the finest dust, it collects dust as small as 1/2 micron in diameter. I find it very effective. Moreover, the dust canister shows dust level and is easily detached.
A big reason why I recommend this sander before other random orbit sanders is because the Bosch ROS20VSC comes with a feature that eliminates swirl marks. This is a very common problem with random orbit sanders, but luckily Bosch has figured a way to get rid of it.
On the downside, the cleaning process is harder if you compare it to our other picks.
What We Liked:
- Useful – Can be used to remove materials and get a high-quality finish at the same time.
- Good Motor – Comes with a good motor (2.5 amp).
- Variable Speed Settings – This allows you to change the speed from 7,500 to 12,000 OPM.
- Dust Collector – It has an in-built microfilter system that collects the finest dust.
- No Swirl Marks
- Takes time to clean the dust canister.
4. Bosch GET75-6 – Best Sander for Stripping Cabinets
Best Features 
- Very Powerful
- Dual-Mode
- Durable
My Overall Rating
(4.5 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
If you are dealing with old and rusted wood then you need a powerful sander to get through it. One of the most powerful sanders that I use for old rusted kitchen cabinets is the Bosch GET75-6.
This random orbit sander comes with a dual-mode setting. You can change the mode depending on the project you are working on. The first mode is the “normal” mode, I use this mode when I’m dealing with normal cabinets and when I want a high-quality finish.
The second mode is the “turbo” one, I mostly use this mode when I’m dealing with very old and rusted cabinets, the turbo mode is 5 times faster than the normal mode. The switching process is pretty easy.
The Bosch GET75-6 features a powerful 7.5 amp variable speed motor. The first-speed setting is: 290 to 640 RPM and the second one is 3300 to 7300 OPM.
It comes with an auxiliary handle that mounts on each side and it helps a lot with controlling the tool, especially when the tool is on turbo mode. This random orbit sander features a braking system that helps to get rid of the swirl marks ( a very common problem with random orbit sanders).
What I don’t like about this random orbital sander is that it comes with a passive dust collector, meaning that you need to connect another vacuum to get rid of the dust. Except for this, the sander works very well, it is durable and very powerful.
What We Liked:
- Very Powerful – It has a powerful motor (7.5 Amp).
- Variable Speed Settings – I: 290 – 640 RPM, II: 3,300 – 7,300 OPM.
- Dual Mode – Normal mode and Turbo Mode. Turbo mode is 5 times faster than the normal mode.
- No Swirl Marks
- Fewer Vibrations
- It requires a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the dust.
5. SKIL 7492-02 – Best Sander for Removing Paint from Cabinets
Best Features 
- Budget Pick
- Pressure Light
- Fast
My Overall Rating
(4 / 5)
More detailed review ↴
If you are a beginner and you don’t want to spend a lot of money without having enough experience then the SKIL 7492-02 is the perfect choice for you. This sander is our budget pick, meaning that it costs less than the other tools but still does a great job, not as good as the others though.
A feature that makes this random orbit sander special is the pressure indicator light feature. This feature lets you know when you are applying too much pressure. As you may know, low-quality sanders tend to bog down if you apply too much pretty, this feature will help you avoid that.
The sander accepts universal orbital Velcro sandpaper without any problem. Actually, we got a very good finish with this one, that’s the main reason why we added this tool to this list. The SKIL 7492-02 comes with a good motor (2.8 Amp)that operates at 12.500 OPM.
We didn’t like the dust bag of this tool. It’s low-quality and if you are not careful enough you will break the tabs. The bag itself is not strong either. Except for this, you will get a nice sander for its price.
What We Liked:
- Motor – 2.8 Amp motor that delivers 12.500 OPM.
- Pressure Indicator Light – Lets you know when too much pressure is applied.
- Accepts universal Velcro Sandpapers.
- Budget Pick
- Low-quality dust bag.
- Not recommended for rusted cabinets
What Kind of Sander Do I Need for Cabinets?
Sanding sometimes can be difficult; that’s why it is always important to have the right tools so you can get the right results. A wrong sander can make the whole sanding cabinets project go to work without you even noticing.
You may not know, but kitchen cabinets are different from other cabinets. The kitchen cabinets are specially made air-tight to keep the inside bug-free and to have more space. If you incorrectly sand it then you can destroy its air-tight features. To avoid that, you need to know what features a sander should have.
Weight and Size
Kitchen cabinets come in various sizes, you have small ones and big ones. You need to reach the inner sides and the corners while sanding.
That isn’t possible with every sander. Small sanders are suitable when it comes to dealing with corners, but because they are small that means that it will take you more time to complete the project. You should find a medium-sized sander.
When it comes to weight, the sander should be lightweight especially when dealing with cabinets. You will have to hold the sander vertically for a long time. A heavy sander will cause fatigue and make the whole project harder for you.
Variable Speed Sanders
Some sanders come with variable speed and some don’t. This feature isn’t necessary, but it does help a lot. You don’t need to use a lot of sandpapers or change them frequently, you can just change the speed and you are good to go.
This isn’t only helpful when dealing with cabinets, buying a variable speed sander means that you can use the same sander for different tasks. Most of the sanders we have listed here come with a variable speed feature. They might cost more, but they are always worth it.
Power
When looking for a suitable sander, one of the first things you should look at is power. You should look at the motor specifics to know how much power a sander has. Usually, the motor power is quantified in amps; lookup for numbers such as 2.5 Amp, 3.0 Amp, etc.
Most of the low-quality sanders come with a low motor such as 2.0 Amp, 1.5 Amp, etc. When dealing with cabinets, the amount of power you need is 2.5 Amp +.
As you can see in our best sander for cabinets list, all of the tools we have chosen come with more than 2.5 Amp. Although the motor power doesn’t determine if a sander is good or bad, it is still a thing you should always check.
Dust Collection System
As you may know, sanding produces a lot of dust. You have to get rid of the dust before you inhale it. Dust can be very bad for your health. Most of the sanders come with a dust collection system, meaning that the sander gets rid of the dust itself.
I recommend you choosing sanders that come with this system plus have the option to connect another vacuum. Some of the sanders even come with a micro-filter system that gets rid of even the finest dust. If the sander you are looking to buy doesn’t have a dust system collector then I highly recommend you to not buy it and buy one that has this system.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cabinets Sanders
1: What Should I Use to Remove Dust After Sanding?
A: Most of the sanders come with a dust collector system, meaning that the sander will get rid of most of the dust, if not all. But if for some reason the sander doesn’t get rid of the dust, then you can always use a vacuum cleaner or even water to remove dust.
2: Should I Sand Kitchen Cabinets Before Painting?
A: Not necessarily, the rule of thumb is to make the surface even before painting, you can do that manually with sandpaper or with a sander. I’d recommend you using a sander to get the best results possible.
3: What Do I Need to Clean the Cabinets After Sanding?
A: As we mentioned earlier, sanding produces a lot of dust, so once you are done you need to get rid of the dust or any other unwanted material. You can start by using water to remove the unwanted materials, if that doesn’t work then you can use a wet towel and a dish soap that cuts through.
Conclusion
DIY projects can be hard and easy, it all depends on your experience and your tools. It’s always a good idea to get the best tool for the project you are working on, that’s how you get the best results.
One of the hardest projects a DIY can do is sanding their own cabinets, there is no room for mistake because after all, your work determines how your kitchen will look.
That’s why when looking for the best sanders for kitchen cabinets you should always pay attention to the features you will get, and if you are getting a good or bad sander. We have done all the hard work for you, and now it’s your turn to decide if you are going to buy one of them or not.
-Sorry, I haven’t posted last week, I’m doing renovations on my house and I didn’t have enough time to write an article. See you next week guys, and like always, if you have a question make sure to comment or send me an email so I can answer.
