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Compact router buying guide
For edge profiles and flush trimming, start with a fixed base; keep your current router if it already suits the bit and cut. For controlled entry into stopped grooves or mortises, consider a fixed-and-plunge kit. Makita RT0701CX7 supplies both bases; RT0701CX3 adds tilt and offset bases, dust attachments and a bag. Pay for those extras only if you need them. DEWALT DWP611PK is another fixed-and-plunge option. Cordless DCW600B and Milwaukee 2723-20 favor existing battery owners; a new-platform purchase also needs a compatible battery and charger.
Prepared October 7, 2026 from maker specifications, included-parts lists and manuals. We have not performed routing, runout or finish tests.
If you only round over a few edges, a hand plane or sanding block may be enough. These choices compare published speed, bases and contents; they are not a ranking of tested cut quality.
| Your requirement | Model to consider | Useful difference | Check or skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corded, edge work, lowest speed | Makita RT0701C | 6.5 A, 10,000–30,000 RPM dial, fixed base and straight guide. Makita lists the router at 3.9 lb, not the whole kit. | No plunge base in this package. If you need one, compare a matching extra base with the complete kit. |
| Corded, plunge cuts too | Makita RT0701CX7 | Same motor; fixed and plunge bases, 1/4-inch collet, straight guide and wrenches. Listed plunge capacity: 1-3/8 inches. | Choose it if you need the plunge base. For extra bases and dust attachments, compare RT0701CX3 below. |
| Corded kit with tilt and offset bases | Makita RT0701CX3 | Fixed, plunge, tilt and offset bases, two dust attachments, guides, wrenches and a bag. | Same router motor as CX7; extra bases do not establish better cut quality. Skip the larger package if those accessories will sit unused. |
| Corded, fixed and plunge bases with a bag | DEWALT DWP611PK | 7 A, 16,000–27,000 RPM, fixed and plunge bases, carry bag; 1/64-inch depth ring on the fixed base. | Higher minimum speed than Makita. The DWP611 alone has only the standard base. |
| Cordless on DEWALT 20V MAX | DEWALT DCW600B | Seven speeds, 16,000–25,500 RPM, electronic brake, fixed base. | Tool only: no battery or charger. Narrowest speed range here. |
| Cordless on Milwaukee M18 | Milwaukee 2723-20 | 10,000–31,000 RPM, two sub-bases, dust shroud and edge guide. Manual lists a 1-1/2-inch bit maximum, with a narrower dust-shroud limit for plunge cutting. | Tool only. Plunge and offset bases are sold separately. |
The bottom of the range matters for bigger bits. Both DEWALT manuals tell you to follow the bit maker's speed recommendations. If a large profile bit calls for a speed below a router's minimum, that pairing does not suit the tool. Published minimums: Makita and Milwaukee 10,000 RPM, both DEWALT models 16,000 RPM.
Maximum bit diameter is a hard limit. DEWALT's manuals say not to use bits larger than 1-3/8 inches in cutting diameter in the DWP611 or DCW600. Milwaukee's manual lists a 1-1/2-inch maximum bit size, but warns against plunge cutting with its dust shroud when the bit is larger than the 1-3/8-inch port opening. A tool maximum does not override a smaller base, template-guide or dust-attachment clearance. We did not establish a universal maximum cutting diameter for Makita from the documents read; verify the exact bit and base combination before buying.
Shank size: the US packages covered here supply a 1/4-inch collet. DEWALT's manuals specify matching 1/4-inch shanks. Makita's RT0701C-family manual also lists a 3/8-inch collet cone as an optional accessory; it is not in the US CX7 or CX3 included-parts lists. Use only an approved matching collet and bit. None of these package specifications establishes support for 1/2-inch shank bits.
A low minimum RPM is useful only when the bit maker permits that speed and the router, base and attachment clearances also fit. It does not make a compact router suitable for any large bit.
A fixed base holds the bit at a set depth, which suits edge profiles and flush trimming. A plunge base supports controlled entry for stopped grooves, dadoes and mortises, and can also be used for edge work. Base choice is a buying decision; follow the exact tool and bit instructions for the cut.
Makita lists a 1-1/4 maximum HP, 6.5 A motor, 10,000–30,000 RPM variable speed, a fixed base, a 1/4-inch collet, 7-7/8-inch length and 3.9 lb net weight. The box includes the collet, a straight guide and wrenches.
Choose it for edge work when you want the lowest starting speed of the corded models.
Makita's included-parts list explicitly supplies the RT0701C router, fixed base 196613-4, plunge base 196094-2, 1/4-inch collet 763637-1, straight guide and two wrenches. The published 3.9 lb figure describes the router, not all kit contents. Plunge capacity is listed as 1-3/8 inches. Choose this kit for fixed and plunge work when you do not need the extra bases in CX3.
CX3 uses the same RT0701C router. Makita lists the fixed and plunge bases above plus tilt base 198987-9, offset base 196093-4, fixed-base dust attachment 195559-1, plunge-base dust attachment 194733-8, straight and trimmer guides, two wrenches and a tool bag. It also supplies the 1/4-inch collet; a 3/8-inch cone is not listed in this US box.
Choose it if the tilt or offset base and included dust attachments meet your planned work. It adds package contents rather than a different motor. The attachment does not guarantee dust-free work; check the hose, base and bit clearances. If you only need a plunge base, CX7 is the narrower package to compare.
DEWALT markets a 1.25 maximum HP, 7 A motor, an extended 8-slot 1/4-inch collet, soft start with electronic speed feedback, dual LEDs and a clear sub-base. The manual gives infinite speeds between 16,000 and 27,000 RPM. The DWP611 includes the motor, standard base, wrench and manual; DEWALT says the standard base allows up to 1.5 inches of depth travel and its ring adjusts depth to within 1/64 inch.
The DWP611PK adds a plunge base with a fine-tune adjustment rod, plus a fixed base, collet wrench and carry bag. The current product pages list a 3-year limited warranty, 1 year free service and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. Eligibility and exclusions still depend on the maker's terms; those labels do not establish coverage for every failure.
DEWALT lists a 20V MAX XR brushless motor, variable-speed dial, depth adjustment ring, soft start and an electronic brake that slows the motor faster after shut-off. The manual gives seven speeds between 16,000 and 25,500 RPM. The box has the router, fixed base and wrench; it is tool only. Its product page also lists a 3-year limited warranty; consult the applicable terms rather than assuming every tool and accessory has identical coverage.
Milwaukee lists 10,000–31,000 RPM, a micro-adjust dial and macro-adjust button, a 4-inch sub-base and dual LEDs. The manual gives a 1/4-inch collet and a 1-1/2-inch maximum bit size. Its 1-3/8-inch dust-shroud opening creates a separate limit when plunge cutting, as explained above. In the box: the router, 1/4-inch collet, 4-inch round sub-base, 5-3/4-inch template sub-base, collet and spindle wrenches, dust shroud, fixed base and straight edge guide. Battery and charger are separate purchases. Published speed and included parts do not establish actual runtime or cut finish.
Choose another router if your bit requires a 1/2-inch collet, a diameter these tools or attachments do not permit, or a speed outside the tool's range. A full-size router still needs the correct bit, collet, base and speed limits. For a few simple edge breaks, a hand plane or sanding block may avoid buying a router. For drilling holes rather than shaping edges, see our benchtop drill press guide.
The packages covered here supply 1/4-inch collets, and their specifications do not establish 1/2-inch shank support. Makita's manual lists an optional 3/8-inch cone, which is a different size and is not included in the US CX7 or CX3 kits. Match the approved collet and bit exactly.
Consider one for controlled entry into stopped grooves or mortises. A plunge base can also do edge work, while a fixed base may meet an edge-only need. Makita RT0701CX7, RT0701CX3 and DEWALT DWP611PK include fixed and plunge bases.
DEWALT's manuals cap DWP611 and DCW600 cutting diameter at 1-3/8 inches. Milwaukee lists a 1-1/2-inch tool maximum but restricts plunge cutting with the dust shroud to its 1-3/8-inch opening. Other attachments may impose smaller clearances. We have not established a universal Makita cutting-diameter limit from the documents read; check the exact bit and base before purchase.
No. The DEWALT DCW600B and Milwaukee 2723-20 are sold as tool only.
The Amazon links select the exact RT0701CX7 and RT0701CX3 kits. New Amazon.com offers and the ordinary product-page buy controls were checked October 7, 2026; seller, stock and package contents can change. We have not established a qualifying purchase link for every other model discussed, so those comparisons have no Amazon button. Match the full model and kit suffix before ordering.
These documents establish published specifications and contents. They do not establish tested runout, power under load or cut quality. No price or review-score ranking is made.