Top 5 compared
The best knife sharpeners
A dull kitchen knife brought back to a clean edge that slices tomatoes instead of squashing them.
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The top 5 at a glance
A knife sharpener grinds a fresh edge back onto a dull blade. Handheld and pull-through sharpeners are the quickest fix for everyday knives; electric ones do a whole block with no skill at all; and guided clamp systems hold an exact angle, set to the degree, for good Japanese and Western chef’s knives.
Most kitchen knives are duller than their owners realize. Most of these sharpeners take serrated bread and steak knives as well, though not every one; the comparison shows which. Many have two or three stages: a coarse one to grind a new edge and a fine one to polish it.
What matters
- An angle that matches your knives: about 20° Western, 15° Japanese.
- A non-slip base or clamp that stays put.
- A finger guard or a handle that shields your hand.
- Reversible or replaceable sharpening parts, for years of use.
#1AccuSharp Knife Sharpener (001C)
$10–$20
A palm-sized sharpener you draw along the blade, rather than pulling the knife through a slot, with diamond-honed tungsten carbide edges set at about 21°. It takes straight and serrated kitchen knives, and the finger guard runs the full length of the handle.
What owners say: Owners like how fast it brings an everyday knife back, about half a minute each, serrated ones included; serious cooks with high-end chef’s knives tend to want something finer.
A closer look: Rest the knife on a table near its edge, cutting edge up, and draw the sharpener along it from heel to tip a few times with light pressure. When the carbide stops biting after years of use, turn the sharpening blades around instead of buying a new one.
- Draw it along the blade
- Reversible sharpening blades
- Full-length finger guard
- Works in either hand
- Dishwasher safe
Best for: A quick edge before dinner prep
- Type
- Handheld (carbide)
- Stages
- 1
- Angle
- 21°
- Serrated knives
- Yes
- Base
- None (handheld)
#2Chef’sChoice 15XV EdgeSelect Electric Knife Sharpener
$150–$200
Spring guides hold the angle for you while the motor and diamond wheels do the work: about a minute for a first sharpening, ten seconds to refresh it after. It turns a 20° factory edge into a finer 15° one, and its third stage polishes serrated blades too.
What owners say: Edges come back sharp enough to slice paper in under a minute, owners say, and the instructions for each kind of knife are clear; a few noticed light scratches on their blades, and opinions on the price are split.
A closer look: Draw the knife through at a slow, steady pace and alternate the left and right slots so both sides get the same number of passes. At over 4 lb it lives on the countertop, which suits a kitchen with a full knife block better than one with a single favorite knife.
- Spring guides hold the angle
- First sharpening: about a minute
- 10-second touch-ups after
- Final stage polishes the edge
- 3-year limited warranty
Best for: A whole knife block
- Type
- Electric (diamond)
- Stages
- 3
- Angle
- 15°
- Serrated knives
- Yes
- Base
- Electric countertop
#3Presto EverSharp Electric Knife Sharpener (08800)
$30–$50
Plug it in and draw the knife through: precision guides hold the blade at the angle while two Sapphirite wheels, the first to grind a fresh edge and the second to hone it, do the rest. A straightforward electric sharpener for a drawer of everyday kitchen knives.
What owners say: Even the dullest knives come back razor sharp in a couple of minutes, owners report, and setting it up takes no time at all.
A closer look: Pull each knife through the left and right slots in turn, three times each, allowing about a second for every two inches of blade, and ease off the pressure if the motor slows. Wipe the blade with a damp cloth before slicing food, and empty the filings tray underneath about once a year.
- Grinds, then hones the edge
- Kitchen and sport knives
- Filings tray underneath
- 1-year limited warranty
Best for: No-fuss electric sharpening
- Type
- Electric (Sapphirite)
- Stages
- 2
- Angle
- Fixed (guides)
- Serrated knives
- Stage 2, one side
- Base
- Electric countertop
#4Work Sharp Precision Adjust Elite Knife Sharpener
$100–$150
A clamp holds the knife while you sweep diamond stones across the edge at any angle from 15° to 30°, set in single degrees, so a Japanese santoku, a Western chef’s knife and a hunting knife each get the edge they were made with. Work Sharp designs and calibrates its sharpeners in Ashland, Oregon.
What owners say: A consistent edge, knife after knife, and a setup most people work out quickly; the weak spot some mention is the clamp, which can let a blade shift during a long session.
A closer look: The first sharpening takes a while, as you set the angle and work through the coarse plate; after that, a few strokes on the fine plate and the strop bring the edge back. Check the knife is seated firmly in the clamp before each pass. It suits someone with a block of good knives and some patience.
- Diamond plates, coarse to fine
- Finishes on a leather strop
- Carry case included
- 3-year warranty
Best for: Knife enthusiasts
- Type
- Guided (clamp)
- Stages
- 5 abrasives
- Angle
- 15–30°
- Serrated knives
- Yes
- Base
- V-block clamp
#5Henckels Handheld Knife Sharpener (2-stage)
$10–$20
Two ceramic slots, coarse and fine, on a handle that keeps your fingers clear of the blade and a rubber base that stays put on the counter. Zwilling, which owns Henckels, says it sharpens at 15°, so it suits thinner modern and Asian-style knives.
What owners say: Owners say it makes sense from the first go, puts an edge back quickly and stays steady on the counter, with some still using theirs after a couple of years.
Heads up: Henckels says it’s for straight-edged knives, so bread knives need another sharpener.
A closer look: Save the coarse slot for a knife that feels truly dull, then finish with a few light strokes in the fine slot, pulling heel to tip. Wipe the ceramic with a damp cloth afterward, as it isn’t dishwasher safe. At about 9 in long, it fits in a kitchen drawer.
- Coarse and fine ceramic slots
- Handle keeps fingers clear
- Left- or right-handed
- Fits in a kitchen drawer
Best for: 15° kitchen knives
- Type
- Pull-through (ceramic)
- Stages
- 2
- Angle
- 15°
- Serrated knives
- No
- Base
- Rubber, non-slip
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1AccuSharp 001C | #2Chef’sChoice 15XV | #3Presto EverSharp | #4Work Sharp PA Elite | #5Henckels handheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best electric | Most adjustable | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Price | $10–$20 | $150–$200 | $30–$50 | $100–$150 | $10–$20 |
| Type | Handheld (carbide) | Electric (diamond) | Electric (Sapphirite) | Guided (clamp) | Pull-through (ceramic) |
| Stages | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 abrasives | 2 |
| Angle | 21° | 15° | Fixed (guides) | 15–30° | 15° |
| Serrated knives | Yes | Yes | Stage 2, one side | Yes | No |
| Base | None (handheld) | Electric countertop | Electric countertop | V-block clamp | Rubber, non-slip |
| Best for | A quick edge before dinner prep | A whole knife block | No-fuss electric sharpening | Knife enthusiasts | 15° kitchen knives |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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