Router Bit Speed Chart
Type your bit's diameter and get the safe maximum RPM — plus the full reference table your router manual buried on page 37.
By bytesCaleb
24,000 RPM maximum
rim speed at max ≈ 54 mph
| Bit diameter | Maximum speed |
|---|---|
| up to 1″ (25 mm)your bit | 24,000 RPM |
| 1″ – 2″ (25–50 mm) | 18,000 RPM |
| 2″ – 2½″ (50–64 mm) | 16,000 RPM |
| 2½″ – 3½″ (64–89 mm) | 12,000 RPM |
| over 3½″ (89 mm) | ≤ 10,000 RPM |
These are the standard bands from router manuals and bit makers. If the number printed on your bit disagrees, the bit wins. Large bits belong in a router table, never freehand.
The rule behind the table
Router speed limits keep rim speed — how fast the cutting edge actually travels — inside a safe, clean-cutting window. Edge speed is π × diameter × RPM: double the diameter and you double the rim speed at the same RPM. That’s the whole story of the chart — small bits can take full throttle, big bits can’t.
Speed is only half the cut
Burning usually means too much speed or too slow a feed; chatter means the opposite. Pair the chart’s ceiling with sensible feed: keep the router moving, take big profiles in two or three passes, and let the finished pass be a light one. Carbide likes to cut, not rub.
Frequently asked questions
Why do big router bits need slower speeds?
Rim speed. A 3″ panel-raising bit at 24,000 RPM would have its edge moving well over 200 mph — far past what carbide brazing and balance tolerate safely. Slowing to 12,000 RPM brings the rim back to roughly the speed a 1″ bit sees at full throttle. Same physics as lathe blanks: diameter × RPM is what matters.
My router dial goes 1–6. What do the numbers mean?
Each maker maps the dial differently, but a common spread on a 10,000–24,000 RPM router is roughly: 1 ≈ 10,000 · 2 ≈ 12,000 · 3 ≈ 14,000 · 4 ≈ 18,000 · 5 ≈ 21,000 · 6 ≈ 24,000. Check the manual’s table once and write it on the router with a paint pen — future you says thanks.
Can I run a bit slower than the chart says?
Yes — the chart gives maximums, not targets. Slower can reduce burning in cherry and maple, and helps with figured grain. Too slow invites chatter and fuzzy cuts because each flute takes too big a bite; if the cut degrades, speed back up or slow your feed.
Do these speeds apply in a router table?
The same maximums apply — but bits over about 2″ should only be run in a table, never freehand. Big bits also want multiple shallow passes and a fence with proper guarding; the speed limit is necessary, not sufficient.
Sources & further reading
- Standard router speed bands published across router manuals and major bit manufacturers (Freud, Bosch, CMT guidance)
- Always defer to the maximum RPM printed on the bit itself