The 4 Best Jack Planes: Tested and Ranked for Woodworkers
The jack plane (traditionally a No. 5) is the quintessential “do-it-all” bench plane. It’s long enough to flatten panels yet short enough for fast stock removal and rough dimensioning. Whether you’re a professional cabinetmaker or a serious hobbyist, a good jack plane is the heart of any hand-tool workflow.
After testing more than 20 modern and vintage jack planes in beech, walnut, and hard maple, here are the four that consistently rose to the top in 2025.
1. Lie-Nielsen No. 5 (Best Overall)
- Price (2025): ~$375–$400 (depending on iron option)
- Bedrock-style frog, A2 or O1 cryogenically treated iron, ductile iron body, bronze cap iron
- Why it wins: Zero lateral play, perfect machining, and the thick Lie-Nielsen blade (0.140”) holds an edge longer than almost anything else. Mouth opening is easy to adjust with the Bedrock frog. Out of the box, it needed only a light lapping of the sole and was shaving 0.003” end-grain curls in hard maple within 10 minutes.
- Best for: Anyone who wants the ultimate production jack plane and doesn’t mind the price.
2. Veritas Bevel-Up Jack Plane (Best Modern / Most Versatile)
- Price (2025): ~$369 (body + PM-V11 25° blade; additional blades extra)
- Bevel-up design, 12° bed, Norris-style adjuster, ductile iron body, available 25°, 38°, and 50° blades
- Why it’s #2: You can turn it from a roughing monster (25° bevel = 37° effective angle) to a semi-smoother (50° bevel = 62° effective) just by swapping blades. The combined lateral + depth adjuster is the smoothest in the industry. Sole flatness is within 0.0015” out of the box.
- Best for: Woodworkers who love figured or difficult woods and want one jack that does everything.
3. WoodRiver No. 5 V3 (Best Value Bailey-Style)
- Price (2025): ~$229–$249
- Bailey-pattern, Bubinga knob/tote, O1 or high-carbon blade options, improved chipbreaker
- Why it ranks high: For under $250 you get a plane that is now within 0.002–0.003” of flatness on the sole, a much better chipbreaker than earlier versions, and a blade that sharpens easily. The latest V3 (2023+) finally fixed the frog-seating issues that plagued earlier WoodRivers.
- Best for: Budget-conscious woodworkers who want near-premium performance without spending Lie-Nielsen money.
4. Clifton No. 5 (Best British-Made Traditional)
- Price (2025):
£310–£340 ($410–$450 USD depending on exchange) - Traditional Stay-Set cap iron, O1 tool steel iron (3/16” thick!), hand-forged in Sheffield
- Why it makes the list: Insanely thick iron and cap iron give it a chatter-free feel that many modern planes can’t match. The machining is old-school perfect, and the rosewood handles are beautifully shaped. Takes a scary-sharp edge and keeps it forever.
- Best for: Purists who want a traditional British jack plane that feels like a pre-war Stanley on steroids.
Final Recommendation
- If money is no object → Lie-Nielsen No. 5
- If you work a lot of figured wood or want one plane that does everything → Veritas Bevel-Up Jack
- If you want 90 % of premium performance for half the price → WoodRiver V3
- If you love traditional British planes and thick irons → Clifton No. 5
Any of these four will serve you faithfully for decades. Pick the one that matches your budget and workflow, and you won’t be disappointed. Happy shavings!
