Ryobi 5 in. Random Orbit Sander
By Ryobi · Orbital Sanders · Power Tools · More from Ryobi
- 2.6 Amp motor
- 12,500 OPM single speed
- 5-inch hook and loop pad
- 4.5 lbs weight
- 6 ft cord
Price not listed
- RyobiView at Ryobi
- eBayView at eBay
- AmazonView at Amazon (paid link)
- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
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Summary
A $69 corded 5-inch random orbit sander for occasional finishing work, backed by a three-year warranty. It has no variable speed, so check whether one speed covers the grits you actually use.
Strengths
- 2.6-Amp motor and 12,500 orbits per minute cover 5-inch finishing work.
- Three-year warranty from the manufacturer.
- A dust bag and a sandpaper assortment come in the box.
- The scooped dust port leaves room to grip the waist, even with a shop vacuum attached.
- Two woodworking magazines tested this exact tool and came away positive.
- Owners report smooth handling and easy hook-and-loop grit changes.
Weaknesses
- Single speed only; most current 5-inch random orbit sanders are variable-speed.
- Fine Woodworking rated stock removal and dust collection fair, not excellent.
- A dust bag that fills quickly limits long sessions without a vacuum.
- Ryobi’s replacement-parts store lists no RS290 or RS290G parts, so serviceability is unproven.
- One owner reported losing power and a wobbling base after about three months.
- With a vacuum hose attached, the rear of the sander can tip when you rotate it.
Verified specifications
| Model | RS290G (current listing); RS290 is the discontinued listing. |
|---|---|
| Type | corded random orbit sander. |
| Motor | 2.6 Amp. |
| Orbit speed | 12,500 orbits per minute, stated without a no-load qualifier. |
| Pad | 5-inch hook and loop; Ryobi sells a 5-inch backer pad. |
| Speed control | single speed; no variable-speed dial. |
| Switch | on/off switch next to the grip. |
| Dust collection | on-board dust bag included. |
| Included | sander, sandpaper assortment, dust bag, operator’s manual. |
| Warranty | three years. |
| Electrical | US 120 V corded. |
| Weight | about 4 pounds, from a buying guide; Ryobi’s page does not publish weight. |
Full research notes and sources
Testing and handling
Fine Woodworking tested eleven 5-inch random orbit sanders on poplar boards, running each three times for five minutes, once with a shop vacuum and once on its own dust bag, using 100-grit paper and weighing the board to measure stock removal. The Ryobi came out fair on stock removal and dust collection, with two notes in its favour: the scoop in the dust port leaves room to grip the waist even with a vacuum attached, and it handles smoothly. A Craftsman at $54 and a Festool at $549 took the two top awards, and a DeWalt was rated poor on stock removal. Fine Woodworking priced the Ryobi at $65.00 in 2018.
Family Handyman’s editor tested the RS290G on hardwoods and hardwood-veneer plywood, working through grits to check scratch removal and watching for the pulling feel that causes gouges. He called it comfortable in the hand, well-made and easy to use, and gave it a strong recommendation at about $60. His two limitations are that it is not cordless and that it lacks variable speed.
Dust collection and running costs
The biggest performance lever is a shop vacuum. In the Fine Woodworking test every sander, including this one, worked significantly better with a hose attached and removed stock more aggressively. The trade-off is handling: with a hose on, the rear of the sander can tip when you rotate the tool. The on-board dust bag fills quickly, which is a limit for long sessions.
Consumables are the real running cost. Ryobi sells a 5-inch backer pad for $16.97 and a seven-piece sandpaper assortment for $6.47. There is no battery, no charger and no platform lock-in. Electrical cost is trivial.
Repairs, parts and warranty
The warranty is three years, taken from Ryobi’s own product field. Ryobi’s recall page lists no recall for RS290 or RS290G. The official replacement-parts store returned no products for RS290, so there is no visible channel for a replacement motor, switch or dust bag, and no manual PDF could be located. Third-party parts sites do list RS290 and RS290G in their compatibility data. Dust bag replacement cost is unknown.
Is it worth it?
Ryobi sold the RS290G for $69.00 on 2026-10-20. At that price it is a fair-to-good buy for someone who sands occasionally and a poor buy for anyone who needs variable speed or serious dust collection. Below about $65 the independent testing supports a positive verdict; above $90 a buyer can step up to variable-speed machines. The street price at big-box stores is unknown, because Home Depot, Lowe’s and Acme Tools blocked access.
Which model this is
This page covers the US corded 5-inch random orbit sander Ryobi sells as RS290G. The RS290 listing is the discontinued version, with identical description text and the same three-year warranty; no document explains the suffix.
The Amazon listing is ASIN B00DV2DKUQ.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- Ryobi 5" Random Orbit Sander RS290G product page
- Ryobi 5" Random Orbit Sander RS290 (discontinued) product page
- Ryobi search results for “random orbit sander”
- Ryobi warranties
- Ryobi recall notices
Independent reviews:
- Fine Woodworking: the best 5-in. random-orbit sanders
- Workshopedia: Best Random Orbital Sander 2021
- Pro Tool Reviews: Best Orbital Sander
Owner reports:
Parts and stores:
