Baxter vs Thor
Side-by-side comparison of Baxter (Rethink Robotics) and Thor (Standard Bots) — specs, pricing, Robolist Product Score, and verified deployments. Updated daily.
Optimize comparison for buyer
Optimized for Cleaning & Facilities buyers. Priority specs lifted to the top and marked with a target.
Layer 1: Identity & Trust
Manufacturer Country
- BaxterUnited States
- ThorUnited States
Year First Available
- Baxter2012
- Thor—
Verified Deployments
- Baxter0 Deployments
- Thor0 Deployments
Layer 2: Operational
Price Range (USD)
- Baxter$22,000
- Thor$49,500
Availability Status
- BaxterACTIVE
- ThorACTIVE
Arm Mechanics
Robot Weight
- Baxter75 kg
- Thor79 kg
Max TCP Speed
- Baxter1 m/s
- Thor3 m/s
Payload
- Baxter2.2 kg
- Thor30 kg
Reach
- Baxter1,210 mm
- Thor2,000 mm
Degrees of Freedom
- Baxter7
- Thor6
Repeatability
- Baxter±0.2 mm
- Thor±0.025 mm
Mounting Options
- Baxter—
- Thorfloor
IP Rating
- BaxterIP50
- ThorIP69K
Safety
Safety Rating
- BaxterISO 10218-1 Cat 3 PLd
- Thornot stated
Force/Torque Sensing
- Baxternone
- Thornone
Ease of Use
No-Code Capable
- BaxterNo
- ThorYes
Offline Programming
- BaxterNo
- Thor—
Programming Interface
- BaxterROS SDK
- Thorno-code visual programming
Software & Connectivity
ROS Compatible
- BaxterYes
- Thor—
Fieldbus Protocols
- Baxter—
- ThorTCP/IP, Modbus TCP, EthernetIP
Commercial
Price (USD)
- Baxter$22,000
- Thor$49,500
Lead Time
- Baxter—
- Thor4 wks
| ||
|---|---|---|
| Layer 1: Identity & Trust | ||
| Manufacturer Country | United States | United States |
| Year First Available (values differ) | 2012 | — |
| Verified Deployments | 0 Deployments | 0 Deployments |
| Layer 2: Operational | ||
| Price Range (USD) (values differ) | $22,000 | $49,500 |
| Availability Status | ACTIVE | ACTIVE |
| Layer 3: Category Specific | ||
| Arm Mechanics | ||
| Robot Weight (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 75 kg | 79 kg |
| Max TCP Speed (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 1 m/s | 3 m/s |
| Payload (priority for Cleaning & Facilities buyers) (values differ) | 2.2 kg | 30 kg |
| Reach (values differ) | 1,210 mm | 2,000 mm |
| Degrees of Freedom (values differ) | 7 | 6 |
| Repeatability (values differ) | ±0.2 mm | ±0.025 mm |
| Mounting Options (values differ) | — | floor |
| IP Rating (values differ) | IP50 | IP69K |
| Safety | ||
| Safety Rating (values differ) | ISO 10218-1 Cat 3 PLd | not stated |
| Force/Torque Sensing | none | none |
| Ease of Use | ||
| No-Code Capable (values differ) | No | Yes |
| Offline Programming (values differ) | No | — |
| Programming Interface (values differ) | ROS SDK | no-code visual programming |
| Software & Connectivity | ||
| ROS Compatible (values differ) | Yes | — |
| Fieldbus Protocols (values differ) | — | TCP/IP, Modbus TCP, EthernetIP |
| Commercial | ||
| Price (USD) (values differ) | $22,000 | $49,500 |
| Lead Time (values differ) | — | 4 wks |
Insufficient data for full comparison
The following fields had no data for any of the selected robots: Battery / Shift Runtime, TCP Speed (Collaborative), Power/Force Limiting, Safety I/O Pairs, Duty Cycle, Setup Time, Time to Redeploy, Tool Flange Standard, Tool Changer Support, Integrated F/T Sensor, Wrist Power Supply, SDK Languages, Digital Twin Support, MTBF, Path Accuracy, CaaS / Month, Warranty
best in categoryweakest in categoryvalues differ
Trade-offs at a glance
Frequently asked
Who makes Baxter and Thor?
Baxter is made by Rethink Robotics, based in US. Thor is made by Standard Bots, based in US.
How much does Baxter cost compared to Thor?
Baxter is listed at $22,000. Thor is listed at $49,500.
How do Baxter and Thor compare on the Robolist Product Score?
Baxter scores 98/100. Thor scores 80/100. The Product Score blends specs, pricing transparency, verified deployments, and independent media coverage — see methodology for the full breakdown.
How does the reach of Baxter compare to Thor?
Baxter has a reach of 1210 mm. Thor has a reach of 1300 mm.
Are Baxter and Thor in the same category?
Both robots are classified as Cobot on Robolist. Filters and ranking treat them as direct alternatives.
What is the realistic total cost of ownership for Cobot robots?
Hardware cost is one input. Cobot TCO also includes integration, training, downtime, and end-of-life. Our breakdown: Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings.
What should a buyer ask vendors when choosing between Baxter and Thor?
Spec sheets only show part of the story. Useful vendor questions cover support, lifecycle, integration cost, and references. We have a buyer-focused checklist: Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing.
Going deeper — picking the right robot
Cobot TCO and Payback Math: Hardware, EOAT, and Zero-Fencing Savings
6 min readCollaborative Robots
Cobot Vendor Red Flags: Questions That Filter Out the Marketing
9 min readCollaborative Robots
Running a Cobot Pilot in a Manual Production Line
9 min readCollaborative Robots
Build vs buy vs lease: which model fits a first deployment
8 min readChoosing Your First Robot
The hidden specs vendors hope you'll miss
10 min readReading the Spec Sheet
About this comparison
Baxter vs Thor compares two robots in the cobot category. All data is sourced from manufacturer spec sheets, verified deployments, and third-party filings; see our methodology for how the Robolist Product Score is calculated.