A knife sharpener grinds the knife's blade, creating a new, sharper edge. Knife sharpening is important because a sharpened knife does a better job at cutting and slicing food and allows for faster and safer meal prep.
There are different types of knife sharpeners. Stone sharpeners are the simplest, while more complex options include electric sharpeners, multi-feature sharpening stones and ceramic models.
To find the best one for your kitchen needs, consider whether you want a rod, stone, electric, manual or ceramic sharpener. A multi-feature option is best for a wide range of tools and blades. A rod or stone is ideal if budget is an issue.
Our team looked into hundreds of knife sharpeners listed on Amazon and chose the best models to help you pick the right product. We chose options based on customer reviews and ratings. We also considered each knife sharpener's key product features, including price, ease of use and other functions.
The AccuSharp 001C Knife Sharpener is our pick for the best overall knife sharpener. It has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 13,000 reviews on Amazon.
Featuring an ergonomic handle, the AccuSharp is user-friendly and suitable for fillet, chef's, paring and other knives. It has a diamond-honed tungsten carbide sharpener meant to last a long time.
Customers praised the product's ease of use, versatility and value for money. It has a full-length finger guard for safety. It is also dishwasher-safe but can be easily washed with soap and water. Reviews found that it only takes a couple of minutes to sharpen knives using this tool. However, they cautioned that it takes too much material from the knife's edge.
We recommend the Chef's Choice ProntoPro Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener as the best manual option. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from more than 3,800 customer reviews.
This knife sharpener features a 3-stage sharpening system to provide super sharp edges on 15- and 20-degree classes. The brand claims that all stages use 100% diamond abrasives for the best result. The first stages sharpen the knives, while the last stage polish the edge.
The general sentiment is that it's a durable tool that helps restore old knives and maintain the sharpness of newer ones. Reviews found the 3-stage system extremely user-friendly, allowing them to sharpen their favourite knives in no time. It has an ergonomic handle for easy grip, but some said it's a bit slippery. Overall, most buyers found the ProntPro to be a dependable sharpener for home and professional use.
If you're looking for an electric knife sharpener, we recommend Davis & Waddell's D1517 Essentials Multi-Functional Electric Knife Sharpener, garnering a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon.
This multi-functional electric knife sharpener features 2-stage coarse and fine grinding. It has a powerful 60W motor, allowing you to sharpen knives and other household blades with minimal effort. It features 2 built-in drawers that help collect shavings for easy clean-up too. It also has non-slip feet for stability and an overheat protection feature for added safety.
It helps sharpen basic and more professional knives in minutes. It has a bit of a learning curve, but users said that once you get the hang of it, it produces good results. Because it has a built-in drawer for shavings, clean-up is also a breeze. There were complaints about the tool's plastic casing being flimsy, but this seems to be a minor concern.
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We chose SHARPAL's 162N Diamond Whetstone in this category. It has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
This whetstone features industrial monocrystalline diamonds electroplated on a steel base. It also features a 325 grit for quick edge setting and an extra-fine 1,200 grit from honing. The brand claims its MirrorFlat technology helps with long-lasting and even contact with your favourite knives. It comes with a storage box, non-slip rubber pad and a sharpening angle guide.
Customers gave positive feedback on the tool's durability, versatility and ease of use. It has a large sharpening surface, making the process a lot faster. Its non-slip rubber pad also adds stability to the tool, allowing you to work with ease. Reviews loved that this tool can be used to hone and sharpen a wide range of knives and blades, including scissors, hatchets and even chisels. It has a break-in period where the surface appears to be rough, but it goes away over time without affecting performance.
Global's G-91/BW Ceramic Water Sharpener is our pick for the best ceramic knife sharpener. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 140 reviews.
The G-91/BW sharpener is a manual tool designed to "professionally sharpen your knives right at home with minimal pressure". It is meant for the brand's collection of knives but can also sharpen most cutlery from other brands. It features coarse and fine wheels, sharpening the blade to be razor-sharp in minutes. The water slurry helps keep wheels clean during the process.
This knife sharpener features a white, coarse wheel and a pink, fine wheel for the best results. Customers said that 7–8 strokes are enough to restore the sharpness of dull knives. It has an ergonomic handle for comfort, but a few others said it's extremely slippery.
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We recommend the Victorinox 7.8003 Sharpening Steel as the best sharpening rod. It has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
This 7-inch sharpening rod is made of high-quality steel with a middle fine cut. It is suitable for honing and polishing a wide range of knives and household blades. It also has an ergonomic slip-resistant handle to make the process more convenient. It features a loop end for easy storage as well.
Customers praised the product's ease of use, affordability and high-quality build. The handle is comfortable to grip, while the rod itself feels durable. Reviews added that it is easy to clean using soap and water. However, it's not dishwasher-safe.
For this list, we examined numerous knife sharpeners being sold on Amazon. We analysed models from the following brands:
AccuSharp
Adoric
AnySharp
Chef's Choice
Davis & Waddell
Donxote
Exquisite
Global
Japanese King
Kitchen Precision
Ruixin
Scanpan
SHARPAL
Sixology
Victorinox
Wiltshire
Work Sharp
Wusthof
We then narrowed our choices based on customer ratings and reviews from the past year. We also considered each model's key product features, including price, ease of use and other functions. We came up with what we believe are the 6 best knife sharpeners available online.
What is a knife sharpener?
A knife sharpener helps sharpen and hone the edges of knives and other blades.
What can a knife sharpener do?
It can breathe new life to dull knives and other blades. It also helps polish the edges of knives, making them easier to use for cutting your favourite ingredients.
Types of knife sharpeners
There are different types of knife sharpeners for a wide range of use:
Sharpening stone.This tool is one of the most popular methods used to sharpen a knife. It is typically made of aluminium oxide or silicon carbide mounted on a non-slip sheet for stability. This has fine to coarse grits to accommodate different knives and blades.
Sharpening rod.This type of sharpener doesn't really sharpen knives, but it hones and realigns the tool's edges to maintain sharpness. It is typically made of steel, diamond-coated metal or silicon carbide.
Ceramic sharpener.A ceramic sharpener is extremely hard-wearing and can be used dry or with water or cutting fluid.
Electric sharpener.Using a 2- or 3-stage sharpening system, this type of sharpener is the most convenient. It is motor-powered and has guides, allowing you to get the perfect angle for sharpening knives.
Manual sharpener.This also has multiple blades and a 2- or 3-stage sharpening system, just like its electric counterpart. However, it needs more elbow grease to sharpen knives. Most models have an ergonomic handle to make the process easier.
How to compare knife sharpeners
Consider the following factors when picking a knife sharpener:
Purpose
Consider where you want to use the tool for. If you want to hone your knives, go for a sharpening rod. For convenience, electric models with a 3-stage system are your best bet. If you want a large sharpening surface, stones are ideal.
Material
Choose whether you want a sharpener with ceramic blades, diamond-coated blades or a steel rod. Diamond-coated tools are great for honing and polishing, while ceramic blades are durable and can both sharpen and polish. Steel options are great for honing.
Grit
Knife sharpeners come with different levels of grit. Options with a coarse grit are suitable for restoring knives with nicks and chips. Fine grit is for honing while models with medium grit are used for sharpening dull blades.
Versatility
If you have a wide range of knives and blades at home, consider getting a multi-purpose sharpener that can restore different kinds of blades.
Convenience
If you don't mind spending 3–5 minutes sharpening a knife, a sharpening stone or rod is ideal and more affordable. If you prefer something more convenient and quick, electric or manual sharpeners with multiple blades are perfect.
How to keep your knives sharp
Check out these tips to keep your knives at their best:
Sharpen your knives regularly to keep them from getting dull. This will also help smooth out chipped edges.
Hone your knife to realign its edges. It is recommended to do this after every 2–4 uses.
While some knives are dishwasher-safe, the heat and water from the appliance may damage the edges. Wash your knives by hand instead. It might be more time-consuming, but it's gentler than a dishwasher.
Store your knives in a knife block. Storing your knives in a drawer can dull their edges because they are rubbing with other utensils. Using a knife block can maintain their sharpness and minimise nicks and chips.
Use a wooden or plastic cutting board to keep your knives from being damaged. Wooden and plastic cutting boards are softer and easy to wash.
Frequently asked questions
In general, it is recommended to sharpen knives at least every 2 weeks. You can also hone them after 2–4 uses to keep their edges aligned and sharp in between sharpening.
Sharpening is the process of removing material from your knife's blade to produce a new, sharp edge. It is done using a sharpening stone, electric sharpener or manual sharpener. On the other hand, honing is keeping that new blade sharp by realigning the edges back to the centre. This is typically done using a sharpening rod, but there are sharpeners that have honing features for convenience.
You can check if your knife is sharp by flecking the blade against your thumb. You can also try slicing a tomato. If the knife slides effortlessly through the tomato's skin, it's razor-sharp and ready to use.
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Ericka Pingol is a writer for Finder specialising in reviews. She has previously written articles about property investment, finances, and health. She’s a huge fan of Tina Fey, bubble teas and dogs. Ericka has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the East, Manila and is currently writing her thesis for a Master’s degree in Communication
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