Blog

Oct 21, 2024

The Best Knife Sharpeners of 2024, Tested by Allrecipes

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. A sharp knife is a cook’s best friend. In This Article Allrecipes / Nick Simpson

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

A sharp knife is a cook’s best friend.

In This Article

Allrecipes / Nick Simpson

Knives are, perhaps, the most important tool in a cook’s kitchen. However, even the best knives can dull with use and time. To hone a knife back to proper cutting shape, you’ll need a dependable knife sharpener. There are several kinds of sharpeners available, including classic whetstones, manual sharpeners, and even electric models.

To find the best knife sharpeners, we put 40 different models to the test and found eight fantastic options for keeping your kitchen blades in ideal condition.

In order to properly test the effectiveness of the knife sharpeners, we first needed to dull our kitchen knives on 100-grit sharpening stones to simulate worn-down blades. Once dulled, we tried cutting a piece of paper, a carrot, and a tomato with the blunted blade. Then the blade was sharpened per the manufacturer’s instructions and put through the same cutting tests—paper, carrot, tomato. At each stage, we measured the blade’s tip, middle, and heel using the Brubacher Edge Sharpness Scale (BESS), a standardized method of quantifying knife sharpness.

Each knife sharpener was ranked on the following criteria:

Why It’s Great: Sharpens straight-edge and serrated knives; easy to use; cordless

Grain of Salt: Can’t sharpen scissors or ceramic knives; a bit bulky

Electric knife sharpeners use modern convenience to solve the age-old dulling problem. Of all the electric versions we tested, the Chef’s Choice AngleSelect model was our favorite. It may not win any beauty contests, given that it looks like a bulky office supply relic from the 80s, but what truly matters is the effectiveness of the sharpener.

After sharpening, the test knife was able to slice through paper, carrots, and tomatoes with ease, although we did notice a few small scratches on the blade. Speaking of ease, it was also incredibly simple to use. The sharpener has three slots—one for sharpening Western blades (sometimes called standard or European blades), one for sharpening Asian-style blades, and one for honing either blade to a finer point. The device sharpens one side of the blade at a time. If you’re new to sharpening blades or just new to using an electric sharpener, you’ll be happy to know that the included instructions are wonderfully thorough.

Many manual and electric sharpeners can’t be used to sharpen specialty knives, however the Chef’s Choice AngleSelect can handle serrated blades—such as bread knives—though it is not recommended for ceramic blades or kitchen shears.

The Details: 3 stages; 2 angles (15 and 20 degrees); 4.15 pounds; 10 x 4.25 x 4.25 inches

Why It’s Great: Works for Asian and Western-style knives; fine and coarse grits; compact

Grain of Salt: Sparse instructions

Since Zwilling J.A. Henckels is well-known for making knives, it only makes sense that the company also manufactures knife sharpeners. This handheld tool has an ergonomic handle for gripping, a long flat base for stability, and some non-slip grips on the bottom to stay in place. It is designed to handle both Eastern and Western knives, with two slots dedicated to each style—one with a coarse grit and the other with a finer grit. A sliding plastic cover will block whichever slot isn’t in use for added protection.

During testing, we appreciated the simplicity of the design. Just place the blade in the desired slot and pull through, heel to tip. It’s incredibly beginner friendly, which is fortunate because the instructions were very bare-bones. Regardless, we were able to cut wafer-thin slices of tomato once sharpened. It produced high-end results on par with machines three times its price.

The Details: 4 stages; 2 angles (10 and 15 degrees); 14 ounces; 7.63 x 1.81 x 10.5 inches

Why It’s Great: Beginner friendly; sharpens both sides; includes safety glove

Grain of Salt: May make minor abrasions on blade

A good set of knives can get pricey, and a good knife sharpener can also cost a pretty penny, but not all models will break the bank. Take this 4-in-1 sharpener from Kitchellence, for example. The handheld sharpener has three slots with varying grits—a diamond rod to repair and straighten blades (or sharpen ceramic knives), a tungsten steel blade to sharpen and restore, and lastly a ceramic rod to hone and polish.

You’ll need a good grip and some downward pressure to keep the sharpener from wobbling during use, but fortunately it has a non-slip base on the main part of the body. We pulled our dull tester blade through each slot ten times, and it didn’t take too long. The results were pretty great for such a budget-friendly option. The knife didn’t have any trouble with the paper, carrots, or tomato, though it did need a tad bit more pressure for clean julienne cuts. We did notice some abrasions left over on the blade after sharpening, so this may not be ideal for fixing higher-end knives.

The Details: 3 stages; 6.35 ounces; 8.3 x 2.2 x 3.4 inches

Why It’s Great: Magnet holds knife in place while sharpening; compact; attractive

Grain of Salt: Diagram-only instructions; pricey

“Roll” and “sharp” are not two words that often go together—until now, that is. This clever two-piece sharpener is fantastic for beginners and knife-enthusiasts alike. For newbies, it’s incredibly straightforward to use—which is nice because the instructions are just simple picture diagrams. Enthusiasts will appreciate the fact that the sharpener can handle smooth-edged specialty blades (including cleavers, boning knives, and even granton slicers).

Here’s how it works: Place a knife against either the 20-degree or 15-degree side of the magnetic block, then roll the tumbler along the edge of the blade. The diamond-grit side of the tumbler will sharpen your blade, while the side with the stainless steel helix disc will refine and polish. During our tests, the sharpened knife cut through paper, carrots, and tomatoes like, well, like a hot knife through butter—silky and effortless.

The Details: 2 stages; 2 angles (15 and 20 degrees); 1.4 pounds; 3.5 x 2.25 x 2.25 inches

Why It’s Great: Ideal for touch-ups; impressive results; includes angle holder and wiping cloth

Grain of Salt: May tilt slightly; a little short for chef’s knives

Whetstones are a traditional method of sharpening blades, so you know we had to test some out (actually, we tested 20). This beautifully simple starter set has a double-sided whetstone, a stable plastic base, an angle holder grip, and a convenient wiping cloth. Since the materials are synthetic, water should be used to lubricate the stone, not oil.

We found that this higher-grit whetstone is ideal for regularly maintaining knives, not necessarily repairing them from nicks or chips (you’ll want a lower-grit stone for that). While the stone itself remained stable during use, the base did tilt a little bit, so be sure to keep your eye on that and use steady strokes. It’s also a stone meant for smaller knives. We found it a bit tricky to sharpen a chef’s knife in a single stroke. With that being said, we can’t deny the impressive results. The blade turned out sharper than we expected. In fact, it was among the sharpest of all the tested results.

The Details: 2 stages; 1.8 pounds; 9 x 3.1 x 2.2 inches

Why It’s Great: Comprehensive set; stable; includes storage case

Grain of Salt: A little short for chef’s knives

This whetstone set has quite a few bells, whistles, and bonus accessories. The seven-piece bundle includes a double-sided whetstone, a sturdy acacia-wood base, a sharpening guide, blade oil, a leather strop, fine grit polish, a microfiber cleaning cloth, a pair of cut-resistant gloves, and a bonus hard-shell case to store everything.

Like the King Whetstone, the Cangshan set is best for regular upkeep of your knives, not repair. Also like the King, the stone is a bit too short for an 8-inch chef’s knife, so the belly of the blade ended up being sharper than the heel or tip—so you may need to put a bit more effort into either end. All that being said, the results were impressive, and the set is comprehensive. It would be a great gift for an enthusiastic home cook who is interested in quality knife care.

The Details: 2 stages; 1 angle (15 degrees); 6 ounces; 10.1 x 15.2 inches (in storage case)

Why It’s Great: Straightforward and simple; sturdy non-slip base; ergonomic grip

Grain of Salt: Best for generic knives

If you prefer tools with a bit of style, let us bring your attention to the Cangshan Shark. Like the titular animal, this sharpener is sleek, streamlined, and even shaped like a fin. Of course, a good tool needs to be functional, not just fashionable. Luckily, we found the Cangshan Shark to be a solid choice.

The long and flat base has a non-skid bottom, so the sharpener stayed in place while we used it. We appreciated the Shark’s ergonomic grip, ensuring everything was nice and secure. There are four slots total—two for Western knives and two for Eastern. The V-shaped blades sharpen both sides of the knife at once, which is a big time saver.

The Details: 4 stages; 12.6 ounces; 10 x 1.7 x 3.4 inches

If you’re looking for a dependable sharpener with modern electric convenience, the Chef’s Choice AngleSelect Sharpener has diamond abrasives that can handle straight-edge and serrated blades. Those who prefer a more traditional and manual approach will appreciate the Zwilling J.A. Henckels 4-Stage Knife Sharpener for its simplicity, effectiveness, and approachable price point.

Both manual and electric knife sharpeners have their pros and cons. Many people prefer manual sharpeners because they are simple to use, offer more control over angles, are typically safer, and tend to be more affordable. On the other hand, manual sharpeners can take more time to sharpen and may not be able to handle specialty blades, such as serrated knives.

Other home cooks prefer electric models due to their speed, versatility, and low physical effort; they also typically come with handy angle guides. With all that said, electric sharpeners can be pricier and take some time to master.

This may sound like a silly question at first, but: Why do you need a knife sharpener? Do you want to regularly maintain your knives? Do you need to repair little nicks on the blade? Your reason may determine what level of grit you need.

Grit refers to the abrasive material used to sharpen a knife. The level of grit varies from extra coarse to extra fine. Coarser grit, typically categorized as 300 grit or lower, is for bigger jobs like repairing chips on the blade since the coarse material takes more metal off. Finer grit, typically rated as 600 or higher, is for honing and polishing a blade to a sharp point.

The material of the grit also plays a role in sharpening knives. Here are a few of the most common materials:

When dealing with knives, safety is paramount—you are making them sharper, after all. While browsing for sharpeners, look for safety features like non-slip grips, comfortable handles, covers, angle guides, or the inclusion of cut-resistant gloves.

We tested forty sharpeners and whetstones to come up with this list, and some models didn’t quite make the cut (if you’ll forgive the pun). The HORL 2 Rolling Knife Sharpener, for example, had a nice magnetic siding that kept blades in place at 15 or 20 degrees, but it was just too pricey for the mediocre results it produced. We also tested the Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener, which was too unstable and honestly didn’t improve the dull knife that much. The Narcissus Professional 2-Stage Electric Knife Sharpener looks great and can handle multiple blade types, but we didn’t find it that effective, and the device left scratches behind.

The exact method of sharpening a knife will depend on the model of sharpener you purchase. Most are quite simple—draw a knife through a sharpening slot from heel to tip in one fluid motion. It may take several pulls to fully sharpen.

As always, be sure to fully read the instructions before using your knife sharpener for the first time. Better safe than sorry!

Before we answer that question, we need to answer another: What is the difference between sharpening and honing? Honing a knife realigns the blade so it’s perfectly straight. With time and use, the edge may warp a little, leading to uneven cuts. Honing a knife may make it feel sharper, but it doesn’t actually shave metal off the edge to make the blade sharper. You should hone your kitchen knives once every three uses, or a few times a month. It’s great for maintaining the health of your blade.

Sharpening, on the other hand, is the act of removing material to make the blade sharper. This should be done less frequently than honing, maybe one to two times per year.

The type of sharpener you choose largely depends on preference. Many home cooks believe that electric and manual sharpeners (sometimes known as pull-through sharpeners) are more approachable than whetstones. Pull-through sharpeners are straightforward, require little prep, and come in a wide variety of sizes or materials.

Whetstones, on the other hand, are often preferred by professional cooks or big knife enthusiasts. Whetstones are gentler on blades and are the more traditional sharpening method. However, whetstones do require a bit more finesse than other models. Whetstones need either oil or water for sharpening, and the cook must find and maintain the correct angle through the process.

Allison Wignall is a writer whose cooking game changed entirely when she received her first chef’s knife as a birthday gift. To write this roundup, Allison reviewed the thorough testing results of over 40 different knife sharpeners. Her work has been featured in publications including the Spruce Eats, Food & Wine, Southern Living, and more.