My main users are similar to what Colin listed.
#4 smoother
#7 jointer
#5 with blade ground for use as a scrub plane
Low angle block
For shooting plane I use one of the bench planes.
A shoulder plane or rabbet plane is also handy to have on hand depending on the joinery.
If you are mainly using skip planed lumber you don't need to thickness you could get by with just a #7 for jointing and flattening, and a #3 or 4 for smoothing. If using rough cut lumber, a scrub plane or one with a radiused blade is needed. All this is predicated on the fact I don't have a planer or a jointer, and use hand planes for these jobs.
I've got a lot more planes than this, some for specialty use and some just duplicates, but to get started, the 3 or 4 listed above will do a majority of the work.
The key to buying planes that you will use is to first define what jobs you want to perform, and buy the plane(s) for that purpose. Everyone is a little different in how they work, and you'll get a dozen different answers if you just ask which should be your first plane.
#4 smoother
#7 jointer
#5 with blade ground for use as a scrub plane
Low angle block
For shooting plane I use one of the bench planes.
A shoulder plane or rabbet plane is also handy to have on hand depending on the joinery.
If you are mainly using skip planed lumber you don't need to thickness you could get by with just a #7 for jointing and flattening, and a #3 or 4 for smoothing. If using rough cut lumber, a scrub plane or one with a radiused blade is needed. All this is predicated on the fact I don't have a planer or a jointer, and use hand planes for these jobs.
I've got a lot more planes than this, some for specialty use and some just duplicates, but to get started, the 3 or 4 listed above will do a majority of the work.
The key to buying planes that you will use is to first define what jobs you want to perform, and buy the plane(s) for that purpose. Everyone is a little different in how they work, and you'll get a dozen different answers if you just ask which should be your first plane.