The best electric foot files
Smooth heels without the salon: five electric foot files compared on power, speeds, rollers and whether they can be rinsed under the tap.
An electric foot file spins a small roller coated in abrasive crystals, buffing away hard, dry skin on the heels and the balls of the feet with far less elbow grease than a pumice stone or a manual file. Most now charge by USB and run for an hour or two; Scholl’s still takes AA batteries, which some people prefer for a gadget that lives in a bathroom drawer.
The rollers matter most. Coarse ones shift thick hard skin and finer ones finish off, and they wear down, so spares in the box or easy-to-find refills save a trip later. After that, check whether it’s waterproof, which makes rinsing it clean much simpler, and keep it moving over the skin rather than holding it on one spot, following the maker’s leaflet.
What matters
- Rollers: coarse for thick hard skin, finer ones to finish, and spares.
- Rechargeable or batteries, and how long a charge lasts.
- Waterproof models rinse clean under the tap.
- An auto-stop that cuts out if pressed too hard.
#1 of 5
Best overall
SHORAN SR01 Rechargeable Electric Foot File
£10–£20 Price range
Two speeds, gentle for regular upkeep and faster for stubborn patches, a big 2000mAh battery with a display showing what’s left, and a small LED light that picks out every rough spot on the heel.
What owners say: Owners say it gets both feet done in about ten minutes with no discomfort, and like seeing the battery level while they work.
A closer look: All three heads are coarse, so start on the lower speed with a light touch and move up only for the thickest patches. SHORAN doesn’t claim it’s waterproof, so brush the dust off the roller rather than rinsing the body under the tap; its own three-pack of refills fits when the heads wear.
- 2 speeds
- 2000mAh battery with charge display
- LED light you can switch off
- 3 coarse roller heads
- USB charging in about 2–3 hours
Best for: Everyday hard skin, with a light
- Power
- USB rechargeable, 2000mAh
- Speeds
- 2
- Rollers
- 3 coarse
- Waterproof
- No
- Also has
- LED light, battery display
#2 of 5
Runner-up
Essy Rechargeable Electric Foot File with 5 Replacement Rollers
£10–£20 Price range
Five replacement rollers come in the box, so refills won’t be needed for a good while, and the 120-minute battery charges by USB in about an hour and a half. It’s fully waterproof, for wet or dry feet.
What owners say: Owners find it quick on tough calluses and simple to get going, and like how long it runs between charges.
A closer look: Once or twice a week is Essy’s suggestion, which keeps heels smooth once the worst of the hard skin has gone. Being waterproof, it rinses clean under the tap after each session, and it’s small enough to pack in a wash bag for holidays.
- 5 replacement rollers
- 2 speeds
- 120-minute battery, USB charging
- Fully waterproof, wet or dry
- Stops under heavy pressure
Best for: Plenty of spare rollers
- Power
- USB rechargeable, 120 min
- Speeds
- 2
- Rollers
- 5 replacements
- Waterproof
- Yes
- Also has
- Stops if pressed too hard
#3 of 5
Least mess
Vusoset Foot Scraper Pro Electric Foot File with Vacuum
£10–£20 Price range
A built-in vacuum pulls the skin dust into the file as it works, so there’s far less to sweep off the bathroom floor afterwards. It’s IPX7 waterproof, with two speeds and a display for the speed and charge.
What owners say: Owners say the heads are rough enough to shift calluses properly and leave their feet noticeably softer.
Heads up: Hold the button for two seconds to start it: the safety lock stops it running if it’s knocked on by accident.
A closer look: Rinse the heads under running water after each session, which the IPX7 rating allows, and clear out the collected dust at the same time. The faster of the two speeds is for thick patches, and it cuts out by itself if pressed too hard, so a light touch works best.
- Built-in dust vacuum
- 2 speeds
- 3 quartz crystal roller heads
- Up to 120 minutes per charge
- IPX7 waterproof
Best for: Less dust on the floor
- Power
- USB rechargeable, 120 min
- Speeds
- 2
- Rollers
- 3 quartz crystal
- Waterproof
- IPX7
- Also has
- Vacuum, display, pressure stop
#4 of 5
No charging needed
Scholl Velvet Smooth Electric Foot File with Cracked Heel Roller
£23.89 RRP
Runs on four AA batteries, included, so there’s never a charger to find, and comes with a cracked heel roller as well as the coarse crystal one. Scholl began with an arch support that its founder, William Scholl, invented in the early 1900s.
What owners say: Owners say it buffs rough patches away without any pain and leaves their feet feeling soft.
Heads up: Scholl’s own advice: it isn’t suitable for people with diabetes or poor circulation, shouldn’t be used on broken skin, and should stay on one area for only 3–4 seconds at a time.
A closer look: Keep it out of the bath: Scholl says not to use it while bathing or immerse it in water, so brush the roller clean after each session. Other Scholl foot file rollers fit it too, and a spare set of AA batteries in the drawer means it’s always ready to go.
- 4 AA batteries, included
- 360° self-rotating crystal roller
- Cracked heel roller included
- Pressure sensor stops the roller
- Takes all Scholl foot file refills
Best for: Battery power, no charging
- Power
- 4 × AA (included)
- Speeds
- Variable
- Rollers
- 2: crystal and cracked heel
- Waterproof
- No
- Also has
- Stops if pressed too hard
#5 of 5
Best budget
Ratukall Rechargeable Electric Foot File Kit
£10–£20 Price range
Everything for a home pedicure in one storage bag: the electric file with fine, regular and coarse rollers, plus nail clippers, a nail file, a cuticle pusher and a foot scraper. It’s IPX7 waterproof, so it can go in the shower.
What owners say: Owners are pleased with how smooth it leaves their heels and find the extra pedicure tools in the bag genuinely useful.
A closer look: Ratukall suggests drying the feet before use for the best results, then rinsing the rollers under the tap afterwards. The fine roller is gentle enough for rough patches on hands, the maker says, while the coarse one is for the thickest skin; a full charge takes about three hours.
- 3 rollers: fine, regular and coarse
- About 60 minutes per charge
- IPX7 waterproof, shower-safe
- LED light and charge display
- 16-in-1 kit with storage bag
Best for: A full pedicure kit
- Power
- USB rechargeable, about 60 min
- Speeds
- 1
- Rollers
- 3: fine, regular, coarse
- Waterproof
- IPX7
- Also has
- LED light, 16-piece kit
How they compare
| Feature | #1SHORAN SR01 | #2Essy | #3Vusoset Foot Scraper Pro | #4Scholl Velvet Smooth | #5Ratukall kit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Least mess | No charging needed | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Price | £10–£20 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £10–£20 Price range | £23.89 RRP | £10–£20 Price range |
| Power | USB rechargeable, 2000mAh | USB rechargeable, 120 min | USB rechargeable, 120 min | 4 × AA (included) | USB rechargeable, about 60 min |
| Speeds | 2 | 2 | 2 | Variable | 1 |
| Rollers | 3 coarse | 5 replacements | 3 quartz crystal | 2: crystal and cracked heel | 3: fine, regular, coarse |
| Waterproof | No | Yes | IPX7 | No | IPX7 |
| Also has | LED light, battery display | Stops if pressed too hard | Vacuum, display, pressure stop | Stops if pressed too hard | LED light, 16-piece kit |
| Best for | Everyday hard skin, with a light | Plenty of spare rollers | Less dust on the floor | Battery power, no charging | A full pedicure kit |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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