Porter-Cable · Updated July 2026
Porter-Cable 382: price & specs
The Porter-Cable 382 costs $66.99, the cheapest random orbital sanders (median $112). It earns a Gold Deskmark — 68/100 pay-blind standing, #2 of 8 in class.
Verified Jul 11, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
- Best for Excellent dust collection — bag lets out little dust, almost no cloud when paired with a shop vac; Smooth, easy-to-control operation good for longer sanding sessions.
- Skip if Flat, uncontoured top handle is uncomfortable to hold long-term is a dealbreaker.
Porter-Cable 382. Every price and spec below is linked to its source and dated — no guesses.
Source: portercable.com verified ✓ corroborated verify in ledger
Is the Porter-Cable 382 a good buy?
At $67, the Porter-Cable 382 is the cheapest of the 8 random orbital sanders we track, where the median is $112. On the spec sheet, its pad diameter of 5 in is the lowest of the 9, its amperage of 1.9 is the lowest of the 7, and its oscillations per minute max of 12000 is at the median of the 9.
Evidence of Record
Our data- Independent labsmeasured it
- 1
- Physical metricsrecorded
- 1
- Outlets on recordall tested
- 1
One independent lab measured this product across 1 physical metric — time to strip. These numbers rest on a single hands-on source so far.
Review consensus · sourced & dated
What reviewers say about the Porter-Cable 382
Only one whitelisted tester — Reviewed (USA Today) — hands-on tested the Porter-Cable 382, naming it best for dust collection. It praises near-cloudless dust capture with a shop vac and smooth, easy control (~5 min to strip a painted board), but flags the flat, uncontoured top handle as uncomfortable for long sessions. Single source; no cross-tester corroboration.
Tested by Reviewed (USA Today)
Consistently praised
- Excellent dust collection — bag lets out little dust, almost no cloud when paired with a shop vac
- Smooth, easy-to-control operation good for longer sanding sessions
Commonly flagged
- Flat, uncontoured top handle is uncomfortable to hold long-term
Where reviewers disagree Only one whitelisted tester (Reviewed) covered this exact model; Pro Tool Reviews, TechGearLab and Popular Mechanics have no hands-on 382 review, so no cross-source agreement or conflict could be established.
The sources (1)
Time to strip paint from a 12x8-inch pine board (80-grit): ~5 min
The shining success of this sander is the dust collection, which was one of the best among all that we tested.
the Porter Cable random orbital sander fell right in the middle, coming in around the five minute mark to strip the board of all its paint
It’s flat and not contoured to a hand, so holding from the top long-term is difficult.
Specifications
| Price (US) | $66.99 Tool Nut retailer page for model 382 lists "Regular price $66.99 / Sale price $66.99" (US retail; the official PORTER-CABLE page shows only "Where to Buy" with no MSRP). |
|---|---|
| Brand | Porter-Cable |
| Released | — |
| Power source | corded |
| Pad diameter (in) | 5 |
| Orbit diameter (mm) | — |
| Oscillations per minute max | 12000 |
| Variable speed | No |
| Amperage | 1.9 |
| Voltage | — |
| Dust collection type | bag |
| Weight (lb) | 3 |
| Vibration ms2 | — |
| Noise level (dB) | — |
Source: portercable.com (verified 2026-07-11) · corroborated by toolnut.com. The official PORTER-CABLE page (portercable.com/product/382) confirms the exact model identity — "382, 5 in. Random Orbit Palm Sander" under Sanders > Random Orbital Sanders — describing its Controlled Finishing System, dual-plane counter-balanced fan, dust-sealed switch, and acceptance of 5 in. 8-hole hook-and-loop paper, but it publishes no numeric spec table and no price (only "Where to Buy"). The Tool Nut retailer page for the same model 382 supplies the verbatim specs — Corded Electric, 120 V, 1.9 A, 5 in. pad, 12,000 orbits per minute no-load, 3.0 lb, non-variable (single-speed) with an included dust bag — and lists the price at $66.99. Voltage is left null because the methodology reserves that key for cordless battery voltage while the 382 is a corded 120 V mains tool; orbit diameter, vibration, and noise are not disclosed on either page.
Is the Porter-Cable 382 worth it vs cheaper random orbital sanders?
Porter-Cable 382 against its closest cheaper and pricier random orbital sanders on the specs that matter — every value sourced. See all 8 ranked →
| Product | Price | Power source | Pad diameter (in) | Oscillations per minute max | Variable speed | Amperage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porter-Cable 382 this | $66.99 | corded | 5 | 12000 | No | 1.9 |
| Ryobi RS290G | $69 | corded | 5 | 12500 | No | 2.6 |
Frequently asked questions
What do reviewers say about the Porter-Cable 382?
Only one whitelisted tester — Reviewed (USA Today) — hands-on tested the Porter-Cable 382, naming it best for dust collection. It praises near-cloudless dust capture with a shop vac and smooth, easy control (~5 min to strip a painted board), but flags the flat, uncontoured top handle as uncomfortable for long sessions. Single source; no cross-tester corroboration. Praised: Excellent dust collection — bag lets out little dust, almost no cloud when paired with a shop vac; Smooth, easy-to-control operation good for longer sanding sessions. Flagged: Flat, uncontoured top handle is uncomfortable to hold long-term. (From 1 tester review, 1 lab-tested.)
How much does the Porter-Cable 382 cost?
The Porter-Cable 382 has a US price of $66.99 (Tool Nut retailer page for model 382 lists "Regular price $66.99 / Sale price $66.99" (US retail; the official PORTER-CABLE page shows only "Where to Buy" with no MSRP).), as of 2026-07-11.
How does the Porter-Cable 382 compare on price?
At $67, the Porter-Cable 382 is the cheapest of the 8 random orbital sanders we track, where the median is $112.
What are the Porter-Cable 382's key specs?
Porter-Cable 382 (Porter-Cable): powerSource corded, padDiameterIn 5, oscillationsPerMinuteMax 12000, variableSpeed No, amperage 1.9. Full sourced spec sheet verified 2026-07-11.
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