The 7 Best Knife Sharpeners of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

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Cutlery

We Tested 22 Knife Sharpeners—These 7 Made Our Blades Look Like New

Don't let a dull blade hold you back in the kitchen

By

Donna Currie

Donna Currie

Donna Currie is a food writer and blogger specializing in recipes and kitchen gadgets. She covers kitchen tools and gadgets for The Spruce Eats and is the author of Make Ahead Bread.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'

Editorial Process

and

Jason Horn

Jason Horn

Jason Horn has been writing about food and drinks for more than 15 years and is a Commerce Writer for The Spruce Eats. He once convinced Matthew McConaughey that a hot dog is indeed a sandwich.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'

Editorial Process

Updated on 03/12/24

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

It doesn’t matter which knives you buy—they'll all need to be sharpened periodically. Besides making it easier to cut and chop, keeping knives sharp is also safer for your fingers: Dull knives can drag or skip while cutting, which can increase your chance of injury. How often you need to use a knife sharpener depends on exactly how often you use the knife, what you cut, and what surface you cut on, but professionals typically recommend sharpening once or twice a year.

To discover the best knife sharpeners on the market, we collected an array of dull knives—plus several boxes of Band-Aids—and tested their performance slicing through paper, carrots, and tomatoes (and a baguette, for serrated blades), both before and after sharpening. We also measured each knife's sharpness scientifically, using an Edge-on-Up tool to record the exact amount of force needed to cut through a standard material.

Everything from professional models and more affordable options to manual and electric sharpeners were included in the test, along with various types of blades. Each sharpener was rated on ease of use, design, effectiveness, and value.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall, Electric:

Chef’sChoice Professional Electric Knife Sharpening Station at Amazon ($180)

Jump to Review

Best Overall, Manual:

Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener at Amazon ($13)

Jump to Review

Best Budget Electric:

Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener at Amazon ($40)

Jump to Review

Best Compact:

Priority Chef Kitchen Knife Sharpener at Amazon ($13)

Jump to Review

Best for Serrated Knives:

Chef'sChoice 320 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener at Amazon ($73)

Jump to Review

Best Splurge:

Wüsthof Easy Edge Electric Sharpener at Amazon ($170)

Jump to Review

Best for Beginners:

Chef'sChoice Manual Knife Sharpener at Amazon ($47)

Jump to Review

In This Article

Expand

Our Picks

How We Tested

Other Options We Tested

What to Look For

FAQs

Sources

Best Overall, Electric

Chef’sChoice Professional Electric Knife Sharpening Station

Amazon

View On Amazon

$180

View On Williams-Sonoma

$180

View On Home Depot

$170

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

4/5

Design

5/5

Effectiveness

5/5

Value

4/5

What We Like

Gets knives extremely sharp

Easily sharpens all parts of the blade

Works with straight or serrated blades

What We Don't Like

Complicated instructions

If you're the kind of person who has an opinion on the proper angle for knife sharpening and knows what a burr is, you'll want a Chef'sChoice 130. Its three stages use a diamond abrasive to prepare the blade, steel to set the cutting edge, and lastly a flexible stropping disc for final perfection of the knife. This model significantly improved sharpness in our tests.

It works with serrated knives—something many other sharpeners can't do—but we found the instruction manual a bit lengthy and dense. However, if you follow it properly, including looking for a burr (which, for the record, is a very thin lip of metal that hangs over the cutting edge and indicates it's time to sharpen the other side of the blade), you'll have great success.

Style: Electric | Abrasive Materials: Diamond, steel | Dimensions: 12 x 6 x 6.25 inches | Best For: Straight or serrated edge blades

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

Best Overall, Manual

Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener

Amazon

View On Amazon

$13

View On Walmart

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5

Design

5/5

Effectiveness

4/5

Value

5/5

What We Like

Non-slip grip and extended handle are very stable

Simple design and clear instructions

Budget-conscious

What We Don't Like

Cannot sharpen serrated knives

We did not expect a knife sharpener at this low of a price to work as well as it does, but the Longzon 4-in-1 really delivers. As the name suggests, the manual sharpener has four slots—three successively finer ones for standard knives and an extra-wide one especially for sharpening scissors and shears. Some manual sharpeners take a little practice to use correctly, but the Longzon's design and included directions make things simple. There's even a QR code link to video instructions if you're more of a visual learner.

During testing, we were also impressed with this sharpener's safety features. Its non-stick bottom won't slide around on the counter, and the attached handle lets you steady the device with your off-hand for even more control. It also comes with a pair of cut-resistant gloves for ultimate safety. It doesn't work for serrated knives (few sharpeners do), but it's a great value nonetheless.

Style: Manual | Abrasive Materials: Steel, ceramic | Dimensions: 9 x 1.75 x 3 inches | Best For: Straight edge blades

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

Best Budget Electric

Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener

Amazon

View On Amazon

$40

View On Wayfair

$45

View On Home Depot

$45

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5

Design

4/5

Effectiveness

4/5

Value

4.5/5

What We Like

Inexpensive compared to other electric models

Works with straight or serrated blades

Easy to use

What We Don't Like

Only two different sharpening stages

Can leave scratches on blade

Electric sharpeners are typically easier to use than manual ones, but they're also quite a bit more expensive. The Presto EverSharp is one of the most affordable electric knife sharpeners we tested, but it still did a fantastic job of honing dull knives—straight and serrated—to a nice, sharp edge; It even performed better on our tests than its slightly-more-expensive cousin, the Professional EverSharp, despite only having two sharpening stages.

Although we did find that it left small scratches on the side of the blade, which could lead to a damaged knife with repeated use, an easy-to-use design combined with performance makes this a more than fair value.

Style: Electric | Abrasive Material: Sapphirite | Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.2 x 4.8 inches | Best For: Straight or serrated edge blades

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

Best Compact

Priority Chef Kitchen Knife Sharpener

Amazon

View On Amazon

$13

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

4/5

Design

3/5

Effectiveness

3/5

Value

3/5

What We Like

Budget-conscious

Versatile

Sturdy construction

What We Don't Like

Back-and-forth sharpening motion might be less safe

PriorityChef Diamond Coated Knife Sharpener Review

The Priority Chef Knife Sharpener features two sets of diamond-coated wheels that do a good job of restoring the edge of even a heavily dulled knife, and unlike the Longzon, it can handle serrated knives in addition to straight ones. We found it to be sturdy and simple to use, and it was able to restore a significant amount of sharpness, though not quite as much as other, pricier models. Still, it's a great deal for under 20 bucks.

Most of the manual sharpeners we tested work by pulling the knife through the slot in only one direction, while this one has you "saw" back and forth. That doesn't interfere with its function, but we worried that it might make the knife more likely to slip out. We appreciated the design, however, as it has a compact size you could store anywhere in your kitchen.

Style: Manual | Abrasive Material: Diamond | Dimensions: 7.5 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches | Best For: Straight or serrated edge blades

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The 6 Best Japanese Knives of 2024

Best for Serrated Knives

Chef'sChoice 320 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener

Amazon

View On Amazon

$73

View On Chefschoice.com

$115

View On Sur La Table

$120

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5

Design

4/5

Effectiveness

4.5/5

Value

4.5/5

What We Like

Slots hold the knife at the perfect angle

Easy to use

Simple instructions

What We Don't Like

Only two different sharpening stages

Sharpening a knife to the finest possible point is a true art that takes a lot of practice and technique. The Chef'sChoice 320 takes out a lot of guesswork, thanks to its firm-fitting sharpening slots that hold the knife at just the right angle. This machine uses just two different textures of diamond abrasive to hone blades and works with standard or serrated knives, but we missed a third, coarsest abrasive that other models use to make sharpening faster.

Overall, the Chef'sChoice 320 made light work of sharpening the knife and creating a good edge during our tests. Directions were very specific and told you which knives to sharpen at which stage and how long to sharpen them.

Style: Electric | Abrasive Materials: Diamond, steel | Dimensions: 10.6 x 6.4 x 6.3 inches | Best For: Straight or serrated edge blades

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

Best Splurge

Wüsthof Easy Edge Electric Sharpener

Amazon

View On Amazon

$170

View On Williams-Sonoma

$170

View On Crate & Barrel

$200

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5

Design

4/5

Effectiveness

5/5

Value

3/5

What We Like

Easy to use

Significantly improved sharpness

Anti-slip base is very stable

What We Don't Like

Knife doesn't fit snugly

German company Wüsthof has been making world-famous knives for more than 200 years, so it makes sense that its sharpening tools are also high-quality. The Easy Edge features a spinning belt that runs at three separate speeds for coarse honing up to final polishing, along with a one-touch program with indicator lights for each stage. An integrated suction fan also keeps dust out of the way.

The flexible belt helps accommodate knives of all different sizes, though we found that it also leaves a lot of wiggle room for the blade, making it somewhat difficult to keep knives at the exact correct angle through the entire sharpening process. The Easy Edge theoretically can sharpen a serrated knife, but it only sharpens the flat edge and not the serrations themselves, so we recommend against it. This knife sharpener is simple to use and sharpens very well, but with its high price, it's probably best for someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen or is a professional chef.

Style: Electric | Abrasive Material: Steel | Dimensions: 9 x 4.5 x 5.5 inches | Best For: Straight edge blades

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

We Tested Over 20 Knife Sets—Here are the 9 Winners

Best for Beginners

Chef'sChoice Manual Knife Sharpener

Amazon

View On Amazon

$47

View On Wayfair

$42

View On Walmart

$29

Our Ratings

Ease of Use

5/5

Design

3/5

Effectiveness

4/5

Value

3/5

What We Like

Simple to use

Sharpens both sides simultaneously

Three-stage sharpening process

What We Don't Like

Expensive for a manual sharpener

Can't sharpen thicker knives

The Chef'sChoice ProntoPro has the most advanced technology of any of the manual sharpeners we tested. Its diamond abrasive wheels sharpen both sides of the blade at the same time, and its three-stage sharpening process creates a two-facet, arch-shaped edge that the brand says will stay sharper for longer.

In our tests, the ProntoPro was absolutely able to improve the sharpness of both straight and serrated blades, though its slots were too narrow to accommodate a thicker knife (like a cleaver). Overall, we love how easy the ProntoPro was to operate, and the instructions were very clear on what sharpener section to use and how to use it.

Style: Manual | Abrasive Material: Diamond | Dimensions: 9.25 x 2 x 2 inches | Best For: Straight or serrated edge blades

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

The Spruce Eats / Russell Kilgore

We Researched the Best Forged Knives—These Are Our Top Picks

Final Verdict

The electric Chef'sChoice 130 Professional Sharpening Station is simple to use and works well on many different sizes of blades, while the manual Longzon 4-in-1 offers similar quality with a low price tag.

How We Tested

We purchased and tested 22 knife sharpener models—10 electric and 12 manual—to figure out which ones did the best job at restoring dull knife blades and which didn't. All were tested by our Lab team, which consists of testers with decades of experience in both professional and home kitchens, to compare their performance directly.

We Observed

How easy or difficult the sharpeners were to operate: We tested both manual and electric sharpeners, noting their learning curve and ease of control. We also appreciated the models that came with easy-to-follow directions and video instructions. How sharp the knives turned out: We analyzed sharpness using a scientific tool called the Edge-on-Up, which measures the force needed to cut a standard reference material.How well the sharpened knives performed: We examined their ability to slice through paper, tomatoes, and carrots both before and after sharpening. For models that claim to accommodate serrated knives, we tested their slicing performance using a baguette.

We Rated

Usability: Safety is always a concern when you're working with knives, so we focused on safety features like non-stick bases to keep the devices from slipping on the table and designs that keep the knives secured in place while sharpening.Design: We highlighted sharpeners that featured multiple stages for maximum efficiency or different slots for different blade sizes. Knife sharpeners can be bulky, so we also focused on compact sizes that you could store easily in your kitchen.Effectiveness: The Edge-on-Up tool helped give us an idea of each sharpener's efficiency, but we also tested our knives immediately before and after sharpening to gauge any noticeable differences.Value: Considering obvious price differences between electric and manual models, we looked at both budget-conscious and pricier knife sharpeners, assessing them on quality compared to cost. However, the best price will largely depend on your personal needs, such as how often you use your knives or how much you've already invested in your knife collection.

Learn More About How We Test Products

Other Options We Tested

Work Sharp Electric Culinary E2 Kitchen Knife Sharpener: This sharpener is easy to use and has an excellent price for an electric model, but you get what you pay for. We found that it did just an OK job at sharpening, while its feet let it slide around on the countertop, which is a definite safety hazard.

Brod & Taylor Professional Knife Sharpener: It looks like a piece of contemporary sculpture, and its maker claims that its spring-loaded design is foolproof to use, but we had to manually hold the unit open to insert the knife and weren't able to get very good sharpening results at all. Add a hefty price tag, and you've got a sharpener we wouldn't recommend.

Smith's CCKS 2-Step Knife Sharpener: This pocket-sized manual sharpener can be had for less than $5, and it actually did a decent job of sharpening knives—after 50 or more pulls through the abrasive—but it's very unstable, prone to slipping and potentially cutting hands and fingers.

What to Look for in a Knife Sharpener

Grit

Whether you’re working with a manual or electric sharpener, there are typically at least two grit options that go from coarse to fine. Coarser grit will shave off more metal to remove nicks, chips, and other damage, and it will get a very dull knife ready for finer sharpening. Finer levels of grit further refine the edge, giving it a high level of sharpness. Some sharpeners offer only two different grits, while others have a third (or even a fourth) level, which is similar to a honing steel used for a gentle touch-up. To sharpen a blade effectively, it’s ideal to use at least two different grits.

Size

Electric sharpeners are typically bigger than manual ones, and the number of grit options that any sharpener offers will also affect its size—one with two slots will be smaller than one with three or four. The slot width also matters, as narrower ones can't handle thicker blades, while wider ones might offer too much wiggle room to hold the perfect angle. One thing you don't have to worry about is blade length: Any of the slot-style sharpeners we tested can handle a short paring knife or 12-inch chef's knife with equal ease.

Material

The material a knife sharpener's abrasives are made out of is the main thing that affects how well it can sharpen knives. It might include steel, ceramic, or even diamond. Essentially, the harder the material used, the more effective the sharpener will be. If you have a ceramic knife, a ceramic abrasive won't be able to sharpen it. You'll need to look for a diamond sharpener. (Diamond also works well on steel blades but does tend to increase cost.)

Safety

The material the sharpener's body is made from makes a difference, as well. Nonstick rubber or plastic on the bottom helps keep the unit in place while you're using it; if the blade or sharpener slips, you could end up cutting yourself. Cheaper sharpeners also tend to be made of thin plastic, which is more likely to break if it drops off the counter. Some models even come with cut-resistant gloves as an additional safety element.

FAQs

How does a knife sharpener work?

A brand-new knife has (in theory) a perfectly straight blade, ground down to a precise cutting edge at a specific angle. As you use it, the metal on the edge gets damaged on a microscopic level, causing uneven spots that can get caught on foods and create a ragged tear rather than a clean cut. A sharpener does for a metal knife basically the same thing that sandpaper does for a wooden board: It shaves off a layer of uneven material to make the surface smooth and even again. Different models of sharpener use different materials and methods to remove metal, along with different methods of holding the knife in the correct position while doing so.

How do you use a knife sharpener?

Each knife sharpener will have its own specific directions, and you should always follow those, but in general, you insert the blade into the slot and pull it through with even pressure several times. It's important to make sure the full blade passes over the abrasive, all the way from heel to tip. Then, you repeat the process on the other side of the blade (though some sharpeners work on both sides at once), first using the coarsest slot and then each of the finer ones.

This process is essentially the same with both a manual and electric sharpener, but the motorized abrasives in an electric model will do more of the work for you. The most important thing is to try to use the same amount of pressure and the same angle with each pull through the slot—different models of sharpener make this easier or harder, depending on their design. Unless the directions specify otherwise, it should take three to five pulls through the coarse slot, and then just a couple through each finer slot, to sharpen the knife. If it's not as sharp as you like, try a few more pulls through the finest grit slot, and if that doesn't work, try the whole process over again.

What's the difference between a sharpener and a honing steel?

A honing steel is a long rod, often included in knife sets, along which you run both sides of the blade before you start slicing and dicing. It helps maintain the integrity of the blade, straightening out some of the microscopically uneven spots on the edge without actually removing any metal. Used regularly—as in every few times you use the knife—it can help stave off dullness, but you'll still need to sharpen your knife on occasion.

According to Blake Hartley, Executive Chef at Lapeer Seafood Market, a sharpening steel removes material from your knife by moving the edge alongside the steel to restore the V-shape of a blunt edge. A honing steel is not used to sharpen but to restore the bent edge so that it's straight again.

How often should you sharpen your knives?

It really depends on how much you use them and how much abuse they take, but knives generally need sharpening once or twice a year. If a knife feels dull or has trouble cutting, sharpen it. Just note that every time you sharpen a knife, it removes a little bit of metal. After many repetitions, there won't be enough left to sharpen, and it'll be time to replace your knife.

"Keep knives in a covered, safe environment when not in use," says Hartley. "Do a weekly light hone with steel or stone, always wiping away particles with a clean dry towel. Don't feel like you have to work fast—with a process like this, form is everything. Work out the proper form first, and then the speed will come."

Can you sharpen kitchen shears with a knife sharpener?

It depends on the size! Kitchen shears are essentially two knives linked together, and like any other knives, they'll lose their edge after repeated use. Shears tend to have thicker blades than kitchen knives, but if your sharpener can accommodate them, it'll sharpen them. (This is easier if you can separate the blades of your shears, but it can even work with non-separable shears, if you're careful.) Take a close look at the blade edge, though: Many shears have a subtly serrated edge, which will be damaged by a sharpener that's only designed for straight blades.

How do you clean a knife sharpener?

Sharpening a knife blade removes tiny bits of metal, and those will need to be removed from the sharpener once in a while. Many models have a compartment in the bottom to collect metal filings, which you can simply dump into the trash and wipe clean with a wet cloth. (If there's no compartment, turn the unit over and lightly tap to get the filings out.) You can also clean the abrasive parts with a cloth or a soft brush dampened with water; make sure to let everything dry completely before using again. Unless the directions say otherwise, it's not a good idea to use soap or any kind of oil to clean a knife sharpener, as you can damage the abrasive.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Donna Currie is a food and recipe writer, cookbook author, and product tester for The Spruce Eats. She spends a great deal of time in the kitchen chopping, slicing, and dicing. Her kitchen is stocked with knives ranging from budget-friendly to high-end picks, and she knows how to keep them sharp.

Jason Horn, a commerce writer for The Spruce Eats, updated this roundup to include data from our extensive tests of 22 sharpeners—10 electric and 12 manual—by both freelance testers and in our Lab in Birmingham, Alabama.

Carrie Honaker, who updated this roundup, is a food writer who has wielded many knives over the years. As a restaurateur and avid home cook, she knows the importance of caring for your knives to maintain steady, sharp edges. Her work has appeared in many publications, including Bon Appetit, Allrecipes, and Wine Enthusiast.

Rebecca Treon, who also updated this piece, is a food writer, experienced home cook, and mother of two. Her work has been featured in BBC Travel, Huffington Post, Hemispheres, and Thrillist.

Sources

Blake Hartley, Executive Chef at Lapeer Seafood Market

We Tested the Best Serrated Bread Knives to Get the Perfect Slice

Additional reporting by

Carrie Honaker

Carrie Honaker

Carrie Honaker is a freelance writer specializing in food, wine, travel, and culture. Her work has appeared in Bon Appetit, Wine Enthusiast, Allrecipes, and more.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'

Editorial Process

and

Rebecca Treon

Rebecca Treon

Rebecca is a freelance writer specializing in food, travel, and lifestyles. Her work has appeared in BBC Travel, Huffington Post, Hemispheres, and Thrillist. She is the Denver & The West Correspondent for Time Out and is writing a book about Colorado's foodways.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'

Editorial Process

Continue to 5 of 7 below.

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Best Knife Sharpener of 2024 - CNET

Best Knife Sharpener of 2024 - CNET

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Article updated on January 1, 2024 at 3:00 PM PST

Best Knife Sharpener of 2024

A sharper edge means easier meal prep. Whether you want a top-of-the-line or budget model, we've reviewed the best knife sharpeners on the market.

Our Experts Written by 

David Watsky

David Priest

Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.

Reviews ethics statement

David Watsky Senior Editor / Home and Kitchen David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips. Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now, he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or researching the best way to make bacon. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week. Expertise Kitchen tools, appliances, food science, subscriptions and meal kits. See full bio David Priest Former editor David Priest is an award-winning writer and editor who formerly covered home security for CNET. See full bio

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How we test

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. Our Picks $180 at Amazon Chef's Choice Trizor XV Best knife sharpener

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$180 at Amazon

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$9 at Amazon KitchenIQ 2 Stage Knife Sharpener Best knife sharpener on a budget

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$9 at Amazon

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Knife sharpeners aren't typically at the top of the list when it comes to stocking your kitchen with tools. But if you're a home chef, your knives will seriously benefit from being sharpened at least once a month. A dull knife is inefficient, slows down your meal prep and can easily lead to mishaps or injury.  A super sharp knife, on the other hand, feels great to use and can up your cooking game. You can cut tomatoes without wrinkling the skin, or chiffonade leafy herbs without bruising the leaves. I've used a number of chef's knives over the years and come to appreciate each of them for their unique feel -- the heavy-duty Wusthof (my first chef's knife) is great for cubing squash, whereas I love my Global knife for more delicate knife work. But even a premium chef's knife will dull over time, and $150 (let alone higher-priced options) can feel like a waste when your Mac cuts as well as a $10 generic knife after only a few months. The best knife sharpener will help you extend the longevity of your investments and keep a blade edge sharp for years. David Priest/CNETThe good news is a kitchen knife sharpener doesn't have to be a huge investment. As with any kitchen tool, what you put in is often what you get out: A little over 10 bucks can get you measurable improvements to your blade, while spending a lot more will get you a knife sharpening system that keeps your chef's knife's edge as sharp as new in perpetuity. How to keep your kitchen knives razor sharp See at Cnet There are lots of tools out there for knife maintenance -- I'm sure you're all familiar with the honing rod and knife sharpening stone or whetstone -- but I wanted the knife sharpening process to be a little easier. So CNET tested the heck out of some sharpeners to figure out which ones will always result in a sharp knife. With these recommendations, you won't have to worry about the angle or anything else, and you'll still get a razor-sharp edge from a formerly blunt knife. Here are CNET's picks for the best knife sharpeners for your chef's knife. We're going to update it as we test more products. A note, though: This list is just for chef's knives. Other types of knives, like a hunting knife or a serrated knife, will need a different kind of sharpening kit or sharpening tool to combat a dull blade. See More Kitchen Tools See at Cnet Best knife sharpeners

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$180 at Amazon

$180 at Amazon

Chef's Choice Trizor XV

Best knife sharpener

$180 at Amazon

The best electric knife sharpener I used while testing was the $160 Chef's Choice Trizor XV, a bulky device with three separate tracks for bringing dull knives to a super-sharp 15-degree edge (many American knives are sharpened to a 20-degree angle). The Trizor also comes with thorough and helpful directions for use -- explaining unfamiliar terms and processes in straightforward ways. Plus, magnets on the sharpening tracks ensure the correct sharpening angle, so the risk of making mistakes while sharpening a dull blade on the diamond abrasives is pretty minimal.The results of this professional electric knife sharpener testing were impressive. The sharp blade and smooth edge produced by the device meant I could slice through a tomato without squashing it or tearing the skin because of inconsistencies across the length of the edge.The one downside of the Trizor electric sharpener is its premium cost ($159 is more than most people pay for a chef's knife, let alone the tool that sharpens it) and its bulky profile. But if you have plenty of counter space or don't mind storing it in a cabinet, the Trizor is the best-performing device around. Photo Gallery 1/1

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$9 at Amazon

$9 at Amazon

KitchenIQ 2 Stage Knife Sharpener

Best knife sharpener on a budget

$9 at Amazon

If you're less interested in maintaining a perfect edge on your knife blade, and instead want an affordable, "good-enough" alternative, the $6 KitchenIQ 2 Stage Knife Sharpener might be for you. No, it won't fully resurrect an old, dull blade, but this sharpener can help keep up a better edge than usual with just a few passes through this manual knife sharpener's sharpening tracks each day.The KitchenIQ sharpening system includes two tracks: a coarse sharpener (carbide blades) for setting the edge, and a fine sharpener (ceramic rod) for finishing it. When compared to other compact, non-electric products, like the $25 Anysharp Pro with only a coarse sharpener or the poorly performing $8 Kadell 3 Stages sharpener, the KitchenIQ manual sharpener stands out. Photo Gallery 1/1

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How we test

To test our knife sharpeners, we acquired eight identical chef's knives and dulled them using a Dremel. They still could cut tomatoes and pineapples (our two testing fruits), but not cleanly; essentially, we wanted our knives to behave like chef's knives that have seen years of use without much upkeep. I tested the knives before sharpening them to be sure they all performed about as poorly as we wanted them to, paired each with a sharpener and labeled accordingly. I then followed the directions for each sharpener. Some sharpeners suggested passing the blade through "until sharp," and I did so until the improvements seemed negligible. Other sharpeners were more prescriptive, and I followed the directions precisely. After sharpening, I tested each knife, looking at how much it squashed a ripe tomato and tore its skin while slicing, as well as how easily it sliced skin from a ripe pineapple. I rated the cut with each fruit out of 10, noting my specific observations. The primary goals here were to see how sharp the edge became and how smooth it was across its length: a sharp blade shouldn't squash a tomato, and a smooth blade shouldn't tear its skin. A pineapple would test the same effects in a higher stress context -- cutting through a robust fruit in a non-straight pattern. Which is the best knife sharpener for you?

The most important element of a knife sharpener is its ability to sharpen an edge across the length of a blade. That said, plenty of other factors might make other devices a better fit for you. Here are some of those factors: Ability to sharpen different types of knivesCleanlinessSoundGenerally, sharpening a serrated blade specifically requires a serrated knife sharpener, but you still may want to sharpen straight paring knives, boning knives, a fillet knife, cleavers or utility blades (or even a pocket knife or hunting knife). While the Chef's Choice sharpener is the best for chef's knives, both the Presto Three Stage and Work Sharp devices offer a little more flexibility for different blades. Presto, for instance, can adjust its slots to guide different blades more effectively. Work Sharp uses attachments and belts of varying coarseness for kitchen knives, pocket knives or scissors -- a modular approach that may put off casual cooks, but will likely appeal to DIY enthusiasts. Despite fair results, the Work Sharp looks much more at home in a garage than on a kitchen counter. David Priest/CNETAnother consideration is how clean your sharpener is: if you're sharpening in your garage, then you might not sweat the steel filings that sprinkle out of some sharpeners, like the Work Sharp or the Presto sharpeners. In a kitchen setting, cleanliness is a must, and Chef's Choice Trizor and the $25 AnySharp Pro sharpener were the cleanest. That said, all the above recommendations required minimal cleanup, if any at all. Finally, sound is a concern for some -- and some of these devices are significantly louder than others. The Chef's Choice Trizor is slightly quieter than the Presto sharpeners, but none were silent. If you want a quiet option, non-electric sharpeners will be your best bet. Out of all the testing, the only device that seemed to have no upside was the $8 Kadell 3 Stages Sharpener, which wasn't as affordable as the KitchenIQ sharpener and also performed worse than any other sharpening tool I tested. Besides that one, it seems pretty much any knife sharpener is better than no knife sharpener. So invest in the high end or pick up a $6 tool. Either way, food prep will get a lot easier when you do.

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The 9 Best Knife Sharpeners 2023 - Electric Knife Sharpener Reviews

In addition to the actual material, many abrasives come with different levels of grit. Grit is measured by overall coarseness and particle size. The higher the number, the smaller the particle size and therefore the finer the overall feel is. Low grit means the particles are bigger and are much more coarse to the touch. Medium grit options between about 1,000 and 3,000 grit work to sharpen the blade, while higher levels of grit are better for fine-tuning and bringing the edge of the blade to a point.

Sub-1,000-grit abrasives are designed to reshape damaged blades and shouldn’t be used for normal sharpening purposes.

Some sharpeners, like our best overall pick from Chef’s Choice, come with multiple abrasives and grit levels to shape, then sharpen the blade.Electric Versus MechanicalElectric sharpeners have abrasives on motorized wheels or belts for quicker, more efficient use. Manual models have either a pull-through design with V-shaped sharpening slots, or a more traditional whetstone design.

Electric sharpeners are fast and easy to use but are more expensive and have more parts that can break. Pull-through manual sharpeners are more affordable but require more effort on your part than their electric counterparts.Sharpening AngleThe angle of the sharpener refers to the angle of the blade’s edge. Most blades have an edge between about 15 to 17 degrees, so if you like how it cut when you first bought the knife, you should buy a sharpener that has a similar angle.

If you wish to try a narrower angle for a thinner, sharper blade, many sharpeners offer it. Other sharpers come with adjustable settings, so you can use them for a wide variety of knives without issue. Open GalleryHow We SelectedTo find the best knife sharpeners, we identified popular models for kitchen and other small knives; compared the cost, build, and features of each; and called in the most promising options to test their performance ourselves. First, we dulled the knives by scraping them against 80-grit sandpaper for two minutes. At this point, they barely manage to make more than a knick on a piece of paper, let alone slice into it. We then used the sharpeners per the manufacturer instructions to return sharp edges to the blades. Repeating the paper test and slicing ripe tomatoes gave us a good impression of how effective each sharpener is. We didn’t saw into the fruit, but rather let the knives rest on the tomato as we slowly apply force to the handle until the blades cut through. Look SharpHow to Sharpen a KnifeThe 11 Best Pocket Knives to Buy NowThe Right Way to Use a Chef's KnifeIn our testing, eight sharpeners impressed us enough to earn recommendations. For those we haven’t put through our tests, we made our selections based on thorough research on what we already know makes a good knife sharpener, and relied on the experts that we have in-house here at Popular Mechanics. Best OverallChef’s Choice Trizor XV knife SharpenerBest OverallChef’s Choice Trizor XV knife Sharpener$180 at Amazon$180 at Walmart$180 at WayfairCredit: CourtesyProsProduces a very sharp edgeThree-stage design includes a stropConsProbably overkill for mostKey SpecsSharpening Angle15 degreesAbrasivesDiamondWe tend to agree with the sharpening purists of the world who tout the benefits of using whetstones—but we found ourselves questioning our allegiance after we used the Trizor. Its electric design is undeniably convenient and proved very effective. In just nine passes per side, our chef’s knife smoothly tore a long slit into the piece of paper. The knife needed more force to break the tomato’s skin, but once it did, it sliced through the fruit cleanly. By comparison, the knife required ten times as many strokes on one of the sharpening stones we tested before it was usable. Credit the Trizor’s diamond abrasives, which shave the metal easily, and its acute sharpening angle. Chef’s Choice also thoughtfully includes a third stage designed for stropping, which removes any microscopic bumps or pits on the edge of the blade—this is pretty rare to see on an electric knife sharpener. The obvious hangup with this model is cost, but if you’re committed to an electric option, your money will be well spent here.Best ValuePresto EverSharp Knife SharpenerBest ValuePresto EverSharp Knife Sharpener$40 at Amazon$49 at Walmart$45 at WayfairProsAffordable for an electric sharpenerRuns quietConsAuto-stall function triggers easilyKey SpecsSharpening AngleNot specifiedAbrasivesSapphiriteThe EverSharp is an electric sharpener with a price so far below the going rate of most competitors that our skepticism kicked in, but we were pleasantly surprised at its quiet motor and proficiency. The machine and its synthetic ceramic abrasives, which Presto calls Sapphirite, did a fine enough job of honing our knife once we had adjusted to its peculiarities. Chief among those oddities is the EverSharp’s auto-stall function, which stops the sharpening wheel if you’re applying too much force. It’s a smart feature for not accidentally ruining your knives, but it’s touchy—we tripped it more than once before getting the right pressure. Ultimately, the EverSharp wasn’t as easy to use as our top electric pick, but it’s still a great deal if you’re willing to spend slightly longer on the sharpening process.Most EfficientWüsthof Easy Edge Electric SharpenerMost EfficientWüsthof Easy Edge Electric SharpenerNow 15% Off$170 at AmazonProsInternal dust suctionInterchangeable partsConsBelt may break and require replacementsKey SpecsSharpening Angle14 degreesAbrasivesGrit belt, diamondIf you’re impatient or particular about the most consistent sharpness, the Easy Edge electric sharpener from Wüsthof may be the right choice for you. This knife sharpener has a non-slip rubber base for added sturdiness, but you’ll need to find a plug to use it. The sharpener is built with an internal dust suction mechanism, so you don’t have to worry about metal particles getting stuck on your kitchen counter. It’s a splurge, but for consistent and efficient sharpening, it’s a great pick.Best ManualSharpal 191H Knife & Scissors SharpenerBest ManualSharpal 191H Knife & Scissors SharpenerNow 25% Off$15 at Amazon$15 at WalmartProsSmall design is easy to storeSharpens scissorsConsNot best for very dull knivesKey SpecsSharpening AngleNot specifiedAbrasivesCarbide and ceramicWhen your paring knife needs a quick tune-up, grab this pint-size manual sharpener. It’s small enough to fit inside your silverware drawer or sit discreetly on your countertop, meaning you’ll spend less time setting it up than a bulkier electric machine that you have to fish out from the cabinet above the refrigerator. Clamping down the lever behind the sharpening slots activated the suction cup base, and once that was engaged, the 191H didn’t budge on countertops. This design allows for one-handed operation. As for sharpening ability, it took north of 70 passes between the two stages to restore a good cutting edge to our dull test knife. Still, this was faster than other manual models we tried, and if you’re mostly using it for twice-monthly touch-ups, you’ll need considerably less elbow grease. We appreciated the addition of the leftmost abrasive that’s built for sharpening scissors. It quickly cleaned up the edges on a pair we’ve had for several years that hadn’t been sharpened before. Useful and inexpensive, the 191H is a good choice for regular light-duty blade maintenance.Best for Various BladesWork Sharp Benchstone Knife SharpenerBest for Various BladesWork Sharp Benchstone Knife SharpenerNow 17% Off$50 at AmazonProsThree-stage sharpenerIncludes angling guidesWater-free operationConsAbrasives are too coarse for routine maintenanceA bit smallKey SpecsSharpening angle:20- and 25-degree guides includedAbrasives:320- and 600-grit diamond and ceramicFor one sharpening system to tackle every dull blade in your house, pick the Benchstone. The tool has three sides, each with a different abrasive that’s designed for dry sharpening. It was nice to avoid soaking or dousing anything with water, like traditional whetstones require. Instead, we simply rotated it to our desired sharpening surface and got to work. We also appreciated the Pivot Response feature, which allows the stone to tilt with our strokes. Although it was less of a concern with our very dull test knife, beware of removing more metal than necessary on the coarse diamond abrasives, and consider regularly honing your undamaged blades on the ceramic face to extend the length of time between more rigorous sharpenings. If you’re just learning how to sharpen by stone (or it’s been awhile since you last used one), the removable angle guides are helpful and beginner-friendly. Work Sharp also makes a set of 15- and 17-degree angle guides that are appropriate for Japanese-style kitchen knives. It’s worth noting that the abrasives are smaller than some stones, which might make it more difficult to sharpen anything larger than a 10-inch kitchen knife.Most AffordableSmith’s 2-Step Knife SharpenerMost AffordableSmith’s 2-Step Knife SharpenerNow 17% Off$4 at Amazon$9 at Walmart$6 at Dick's Sporting GoodsCredit: CourtesyProsGreat for camping or fishingEasy to carry or storeConsDoesn’t work well for expensive chef knivesKey SpecsSharpening AngleNot specifiedAbrasivesCarbide and ceramicAt a glance, Smith’s two-step sharpener seems too small and too simple to warrant consideration. Surprisingly, it’s actually quite effective. In less than a minute, we were able to cut a new edge on abused kitchen knives with the carbide side of the sharpener and finish them up on the ceramic side. This made them sharp enough that we could slice through paper, although not perfectly cleanly. Still, we were impressed that we could make knives that had bounced around the dishwasher sharp and useful so quickly with this sharpener. Using a tomato to gauge how sharp we got our test knife, we sliced into it with moderate pressure, without sawing. While we wouldn’t necessarily use the Smith’s diminutive sharpener on expensive chef’s knives, it is certainly a handy sharpener to quickly tune up an assortment of run-of-the-mill knives. If you often find your pocket knives or gutting blades dulling while you’re out fishing or hunting, this is a great item to add to your kit.Best for Touch-UpsLongzon 4-Stage Knife Sharpener Best for Touch-UpsLongzon 4-Stage Knife Sharpener $13 at AmazonCredit: CourtesyPros3 stages for knife sharpening1 stage for scissorsConsMight not reach heel of larger kitchen knivesKey SpecsSharpening AngleNot specifiedAbrasivesTungsten, diamond, and ceramicLongzon’s four-stage knife sharpener has coarse, medium, and fine options for knives, as well as a dedicated sharpener for scissors. We honed our test knife just a little sharper than with some of the other two-stage sharpeners, cutting cleaner through paper. We also found that we could tune up the edge on a blade using the medium and fine stages, without taking as much material off. The non-slip base worked well for us, with no slippage in testing, and the longer handle kept our hands well away from the blade during sharpening. This Longzon takes up more room than some of the smaller models here, but it still fits easily in a drawer. The only drawback of this model is the sharpening channels, which are too deep to get the heel of some kitchen knives with big handles onto the sharpening elements.Best for Serrated and Straight BladesPriority Chef Knife SharpenerBest for Serrated and Straight BladesPriority Chef Knife SharpenerNow 25% Off$15 at AmazonProsHandlebar for better grip and leverageMultiple abrasive typesConsDifficult to keep blade perfectly straight when in useKey SpecsSharpening Angle17 degreesAbrasivesDiamond, ceramicFor an inexpensive and effective model to keep in your kitchen drawer, the PriorityChef knife sharpener more than lives up to the job. This knife sharpener is a manual model designed for lighter, less intensive work that keeps your knives in solid shape for longer.The handlebar on the side gives you the leverage and grip to pass through your blade effectively without slipping or going too light. What’s unique about the PriorityChef model is that it has two different openings built to with a course diamond wheel and a finer ceramic wheel. As a result, you can sharpen both your flat knives and your serrated knives using the same device. Best Professional-LevelWORK SHARP Precision Adjust Elite Knife SharpenerBest Professional-LevelWORK SHARP Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener$120 at AmazonProsSeven abrasive gritsAdjustable sharpening angleConsMore time consuming to operateKey SpecsSharpening Angle15 to 30 degreesAbrasive220, 320, 400, 600, and 800 diamond, fine ceramic, leather strop, and small ceramic rodThe Work Sharp Precision Adjust knife sharpener kit is not for everyone. If you just want to keep your blades relatively sharp and perform maintenance on occasion, this kit is not for you. However, for the knife aficionados out there, the Work Sharp precision sharpener has everything you need.The sharpener itself is more intricate than many other devices and requires a bit of assembly to work right, but the end result is a sharper, more precise knife. You can work with seven different types of abrasive grits to fine tune each knife to your exact preferences, and the sharpening angle can be adjusted anywhere between 15 and 30 degrees.The knife sharpener also comes with its own carrying case as well as additional sharpening stones, so you can keep your sharpener working in peak condition for longer without the need for replacement items.Tom PriceAssociate Reviews EditorTom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.Bradley FordTest EditorBrad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Growing up he worked on a farm, where he learned to weld, repair, and paint equipment. From the farm he went to work at a classic car dealer, repairing and servicing Rolls Royces, Bentleys, and Jaguars. Today, when he's not testing tools or writing for Popular Mechanics, he's busy keeping up with the projects at his old farmhouse in eastern Pennsylvania.

Adrienne DonicaEditorAdrienne Donica tested hiking, camping, and other adventure gear as Popular Mechanics' outdoors editor, before going on to edit gear reviews for Popular Mechanics, Runner's World, and Bicycling as Expert Reviews editor. Find her on the trail, working on her latest cocktail project, or eating mint chocolate chip ice cream.Watch Next Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowBest Product Reviews of 2024The 6 Best Wood Chisels The 8 Best Wheelbarrows of 2024The Best Smokeless Fire Pits for Backyard BonfiresSave 40% on This Roomba Robot Vacuum at AmazonAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowThe 7 Best Slim Wallets to Keep Necessities SecureThe 5 Best Cordless Power WashersThe 8 Best Tool Chests for Storing Your EquipmentThe Best Solar Viewing and Eclipse GlassesSave 38% on This DeWalt Handheld Vacuum at AmazonStand-by Power: Eco Flow’s Smart Home Panel 2The Best Fertilizer Spreaders for Your YardSave 30% on the Arlo Pro 4 Security Cam at AmazonAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowNewsletterAbout UsMedia KitWriter GuidelinesPress RoomContact UsCommunity GuidelinesAdvertise OnlineCustomer ServiceSubscribeOther Hearst SubscriptionsGive a GiftA Part of Hearst Digital MediaWe may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.©2024 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.Privacy NoticeCA Notice at CollectionYour CA Privacy Rights/Shine the LightDAA Industry Opt OutTerms of UseSite MapCookies Choi