Best Knife Sharpeners in 2023 Tested and Reviewed
We spent more than a year testing and rating dozens of models so you can have the best knife sharpener for your home kitchen.
With time and use, even the finest knives will eventually become blunt. One option is to throw the dull knives away and get new ones, but a more economical strategy may be to invest in a good kitchen knife sharpener and enjoy your trusty blades for decades.
To find the best knife sharpener, we spent more than a thousand dollars buying dozens of devices and used piles of lemons, ripe tomatoes, chicken breasts, and beef tendons as test subjects. And now, with all that experience under our belt, we can tell you exactly which ones perform best.
How We Test Knife Sharpeners
We designed a unique series of tests for each category of sharpeners. Each device is rated for Performance, Ease of Use, and Design. However, the exact composition of the tests differ to reflect the nature of each type.
With manual sharpeners, for example, sharpening time — or how long it takes to make a dull knife sharp again — is a major deciding factor. Most electric sharpeners, on the other hand, do their work quickly, so the rating depends more heavily on safety features and ease of use.
Our testing methods improve as we test more devices, too.
We started out sharpening our dull blades as instructed by the user manual. After a few months, we tweaked the sharpening process so we could achieve sharpness more quickly while maintaining knife edge integrity. This, of course, means we ended up adjusting the tests, repeating them for all of the devices, and putting out a new version of the testing methodology.
All those discoveries and tips are mentioned and explained both in the test methodology and reviews so you know what you can expect out of your sharpener.
Check out full how we test our knife sharpeners for more information.
How We Picked the Best Knife Sharpeners
Our Best Knife Sharpener to Buy pick is the one with the highest rating across all product types. Following that, the devices that got the highest ratings in each category are chosen to represent their respective categories.
As new products hit the market, our testing efforts expand. As such, our best picks change as we discover better products or better ways to measure their effectiveness.
Reviews of the Best Knife Sharpeners in 2023
After testing a bunch of knife sharpeners, we compiled a list of the best performers in each category.
Here are our picks for the Best Knife Sharpener in 2023.
1. Best Overall: Chef’s Choice Trizor XV Electric Knife Sharpener
Things We Like
- Strong, solid build, great stability
- Excellent sharpness
- Long operation time without overheating
- Sleek design
- Easy setup and cleanup
- Long warranty (3 years)
Things We Don’t Like
- No grind angle options
- Shaves off a lot of knife material
The Chef’s Choice Trizor XV gained top spot for the best knife sharpener for two reasons. It delivered great results every time while requiring minimal time and effort. Additionally, the practical (and attractive) design made it safer than most to use in a kitchen area.
The Trizor XV sharpens at a more unusual 15 degree angle which results in clean and precise cutting. This reduced angle is not its only advantage. The unique stropping disks effectively removed little chips and microscopic grooves from the blades.
We couldn’t quite call the results ‘razor sharp’. The test knives did, however, emerge keen enough to effortlessly slice a thick string of raw beef tendon—the toughest food on our Sharpness Scale.
Since each slot grinds only one side of the knife’s edge, the Trizor XV works on single-bevel blades as well as double-bevel ones. It creates a multi-facet edge with good height contributing to better edge retention. It removes quite a bit of knife material, but the knife stays keen for a longer time requiring less sharpening.
Typical of electric sharpeners, you can’t adjust the grind angle with the Trizor XV. It scored lower here compared to WorkSharp Ken Onion, which allows adjustments between 15 and 30 degrees. On the other hand, the Trizor XV is a lot more straightforward to set up and use.
The Trizor has built-in spring-loaded guides which help you sharpen at the correct angle. The guides work with a magnetic plate underneath to prevent metal residue from flying around.
This is the reason why we chose the Trizor over the Work Sharp as the best knife sharpener for a home kitchen. While the latter is more flexible and can create a smoother edge, it throws off metallic dust particles which is not safe for a food prep area.
If you’re a home cook who wants a professional level of sharpness without sweating over the process, the Chef’s Choice Trizor XV is for you.We thought to reserve it for scheduled sharpening. However, it’s just as good for quick honings between cook sessions if you have a spacious counter and an electric socket nearby.
Price at time of publish: $161.88
Key Specs
2. Best Manual: Cubikook CS-T01 Knife Sharpener
Things We Like
- Strong, solid build, great stability
- Excellent sharpness
- Long operation time without overheating
- Sleek design
- Easy setup and cleanup
- Long warranty (3 years)
Things We Don’t Like
- No grind angle options
- Shaves off a lot of knife material
The Cubikook CS-T01 is quick, effective, well-balanced, and gentle on the knife edge. We’ve repeatedly tested and rated a bunch of manual knife sharpeners and this one has maintained its place at the top of the rating table without fail.
The Cubikook CS-T01’s working section features Coarse, Medium, and Fine slots, all working at a 20-degree angle (on both sides of the blade). It struck a fine balance between sharpness and edge integrity. The device received some of the highest ratings in our edge smoothness and material retention tests, and was also among the top tier in both speed and effectiveness.
The sharpener took only one and a half minutes to restore factory sharpness on a useless dull knife. In normal conditions, it will prep your knife for any challenging cutting task in less than 30 seconds.
With wide sharpening slots placed in a natural progressive order, the sharpener is intuitive to use. Its working section is tightly fastened to a wide, flat, and solid base, further stabilized with two strips of silicone underneath. This design lowers the center of gravity and effectively eliminates the risk of flipping during sharpening.
Its weak points include a brand label that starts to peel off after a few months. We’ve used two Cubikook sharpeners and both have this same problem. This doesn’t affect the device’s functionality, but if it annoys you, a little glue is all you need to fix it. Also, make sure you’re gentle on the white ceramic rods—they tend to become loose more quickly than the other abrasives.
Despite its drawbacks, the Cubikook CS-T01 is an all-round quality handheld sharpening device. We highly recommend it for home cooks who are looking for an effective sharpener that’s also safe, affordable, and doesn’t require too much effort to use.
Price at time of publish: $17.50
Key Specs
3. Best Value: Presto EverSharp Knife Sharpener
Things We Like
- Quick sharpening without removing too much metal
- Simple design
- Intuitive working section
- Affordable price
Things We Don’t Like
- Slippery grip
- Flimsy base pad
The Presto 08800 EverSharp is a practical choice for a home cook on a budget of less than $50. It’s fast, effective, durable, and easy to use.
It took less than five minutes to bring a keen edge to the sandpaper-destroyed blade. While it didn’t produce as fine an edge as the Trizor XV or the Ken Onion, it was much easier to get even edge bevels with this one. The edge height was substantial for a 20 degree grind angle. Therefore, the knife should stay keen for a long time between sharpenings.
With a basic design, the Presto 08800 EverSharp is simple to use. As long as you don’t apply too much pressure or push the knife too far into the slit, the machine can sharpen several knives in succession.
The Presto is actually among the few sharpeners that passed our 25-minute continuous working time test without issue. It did get quite hot, but dust control was much better compared to the Ken Onion.
While the materials appear very average, the sharpener as a whole is sturdy and solid. We haven’t noticed any sign of wear and tear on the stones nor the exterior after more than a year.
The Presto 08800 EverSharp isn’t exceptional, but it does a great job.. If you’re on a budget and don’t need to sharpen every knife to its original angle or have a mirror-like finish, we highly recommend the Presto 08800.
Price at time of publish: $38.65
Key Specs
4. Best Electric System: Work Sharp Ken Onion Electric Sharpener
Things We Like
- It accommodates different edge angles and blade types
- You’re in control of the speed
- It can produce a mirror-like finish
- It works on various tools other than kitchen knives
Things We Don’t Like
- It throws dust into the air
- There’s a learning curve
- It’s tricky to get even bevels
If you want the convenience of an electric sharpener but are also particular about your blades, the Work Sharp Ken Onion is the perfect answer. Even though it requires more effort to use and is costlier than some, no other can beat it in terms of effectiveness and versatility.
The Work Sharp Ken Onion is equally adept at fixing severely damaged knives and polishing fine edges to a mirror-like finish. We used it to reset the edges of all the test knives after the testing of manual sharpeners. While such heavy-duty tasks required more time, sharpening a dull kitchen knife to highly serviceable levels took mere minutes.
An improvement from the original Work Sharp, which only offered two angle choices, the Ken Onion sharpens to any angle between 15° and 30°. Japanese blades, German blades, single bevel, double bevel—it will cover your whole knife collection, save for perhaps some specialty knives with actual razor-level grind angles. In fact, you can even sharpen those if you have a steady hand and the skills to work without the guides.
Even the sharpening speed is adjustable.
Of course, such versatility comes at a cost: The learning curve is steeper on this device than most. It requires more hand stability and self-confidence than the Chef’s Choice Trizor XV does. Setup can be a bit of a hassle, though it does get easier with time. We could use it on autopilot after the first four or five sessions.
We haven’t experienced blade scratches while sharpening with the Ken Onion like some other users have reported. However, we found that keeping the edge even is more an art than a science. For some reason, it’s very easy to end up with a bevel that’s broader on one side than the other. This might be preventable if you pay close attention and keep the knife straight and parallel to the guide at all times.
Even with that, we can’t truly complain about the Work Sharp Ken Onion. The belts, delicate as they look, still work just fine ten months and more than 20 knives later.
As many users have admitted, this machine will make you obsessed with sharpness and you’ll find yourself looking for more opportunities to use the tool. We surely have.
Price at time of publish: $126.77
Key Specs
5. Best Manual System: Lansky Deluxe 5-Stone Kit Sharpening System
- Does both sharpening and honing
- Works for various knife types and edge angles
- Affordable
- Fun to work with
- Not suitable for large knives or Asian knives
- Can be dangerous
We picked the Lansky kit as the best manual knife sharpening system even though it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. It takes time, but if you enjoy the process of giving your blades a smooth edge, you may grow to like this versatile tool.
The kit comes in a neat box with, among other things, five stones of different grits and colors that make it look like a playkit.
With guide rods and a knife clamp, it allows you to sharpen your knives to various angles with satisfying precision. The bottle of honing oil conveniently covers more than a few sharpening sessions.
The kit can handle a wide variety of kitchen knives: chef’s, butcher’s, filet, and even knives for hunting and outdoor uses. It works on one side of the blade at a time, and is thus compatible with single-bevel knives. Its coarsest stones are strong enough to fix minor burrs and chips, while the finer ones can give a shiny finish to your knife’s edge.
In fact, you even create an entirely new edge with this set of stones, although that might take too much time to be practical.
Setup is a lot simpler than we expected. However, the rods’ modest length is best suited for medium-sized blades. We also had difficulty securing the test knife on the device’s small clamp. That shortcoming presents a possible hazard, especially considering the fact that the knife edge faces you during sharpening. A quick fix is to cover the clamp with some duct tape.
With the smallest angle being 17 degrees, the guide rods won’t be so useful on Asian knives, which usually come with 13- to 15-degree edges. Of course, you can sharpen them without the angle guides, but that takes steady hands and some practice.
Price at time of publish: $47.32
Key Specs:
- Type: Manual system
- Abrasives: Aluminum oxide, ceramic stones
- Grit size: Extra Coarse, Coarse, Medium, Fine, Extra Fine
- Dimensions: L10.25 x W9.75 x H1.5 inches
- Suitable for: Precision sharpening, hobbyist sharpening
Nearest Competitors
Here are some other decent sharpener options if you're looking for more.
- Manual Knife Sharpener: Kitchellence 3-stage Sharpener
This one is not excellent and certainly not the best manual knife sharpener, but it is reliable enough. It's above average in speed and enjoys a robust construction, with more substantial diamond and ceramic rods than the Cubikook's. Don't expect surgically sharp knives from this one, but you can get consistent and well-rounded results with it.
- Manual Knife Sharpener With Scissor Slot: Wamery 4-Stage Sharpener
This is a fast and efficient manual knife sharpener, although its shoddy build means good performance isn't always guaranteed.
- Budget Electric Sharpener: Presto 08800
While it doesn't have supportive features like the Trizor XV, the Presto Eversharp electric knife sharpener is also a fraction of the price, and it can still bring your knife back to life within minutes. It's not the best knife sharpener on the market, but you can almost always get sharp knives with it.
Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Knife Sharpener
What Grind and Angle is Your Knife Edge?
In terms of edge angle, most chef's knives are either Western or Asian style.
Western/European style knives, designed for dealing with animal-based foods and tough vegetables, typically have a large, strong blade with a 20- or 22-degree edge. Asian/Japanese knives, meanwhile, are intended more for fish and softer vegetables, and have finer angles (13 – 15 degrees). Wider-angle blades are stronger, while finer angles allow for more precision.
Some chef's knives are hybrids, with edge angles between 15 and 18 degrees.
The knives can also be categorized based on their blade grinds or the shape of their blade. These edge styles get the names flat, hollow, taper, convex, and chisel. It is impossible for a single sharpener to fix and polish all of the types. However, the best sharpener for you is one that can handle the majority of your knives.
If all your knives belong to a single knife set, it will be easy to find the right sharpener. Determine if yours are Western or Japanese style knives, as well as the type of blade grind, and buy a sharpener with the same angle.
If you have all the different kinds of knives, which is often the case, your search for the best knife sharpener can be a bit more complicated. You will either have to get more than one pull-through sharpener, or learn how to work a semi-manual or fully-manual tool (think waterstones, oilstones, or full sharpening systems) to keep your knives sharp and in tip-top shapes.
A Word on Serrated Knives
You don't need to sharpen serrated blades regularly, but when you do it's often difficult to find a device that does the job well. The most that a typical pull-through sharpener, stone, or sharpening band can do is remove some burrs from the pointed teeth, which only goes so far. The many teeth on a serrated knife require a tiny device to get in between them.
There are a select few options for sharpening serrated knives, which we will point out as we get to them.
The Most Popular Types of Knife Sharpeners
The four most popular types of sharpening devices for kitchen knives include honing rods, pull-through sharpeners, electric knife sharpeners with abrasive belts, and whetstones.
In the graph below, we compare them in terms of ease of use, the maximum level of sharpness each device can offer, and their prices.
How Long Should It Take to Sharpen a Knife?
The amount of time it takes to sharpen a knife depends on various factors. Per our estimation, here's the time it typically takes to bring a chef's knife to the maximum level of sharpness that the sharpening device allows:
- Sharpening rod (for honing): 30 seconds
- Pull-through knife sharpener: 1 – 3 minutes
- Electric pull-through sharpener: 3 – 4 minutes
- Electric sharpening machine with abrasive belts: 7 – 10 minutes
- Sharpening stones: 15 – 30 minutes
FAQ
A new knife usually comes reasonably sharp. Before putting it on the shelf, the factory has sharpened it to a specific angle and given it bevels that are suitable for the tasks it's intended for. When sharpening the knife by yourself, you potentially change the bevel(s) and alternate the edge angle.
If you have little experience in knife sharpening, it's best to use a new knife until it becomes dull before sharpening it.
A knife enthusiast may have specific preferences for the knife edge. However, you may want to try using your new knife for a few days to have a better feel for the knife and know what, if any, adjustments are needed.
If the difference in the edge angle or bevel affects your cutting experience, it's not too late to take it to the stones. This sharpening typically involves reprofiling the factory edge to a particular angle, altering the bevel, or creating/removing secondary edges.
When sharpening on a stone, the push stroke is also referred to as the edge-leading stroke, and the pull stroke, the edge-trailing stroke.
Each of these styles has its own pros and cons. The edge leading stroke compacts the steel and removes more material. It is the more effective style when you want to fix a damaged edge, but it also causes chipping. The trailing stroke creates a keener edge, but because it stretches the steel, it tends to create foil burr.
You can either push or pull, or combine the two strokes when sharpening a knife.
We recommend the edge leading stroke for edge rejuvenation. You can finish the sharpening session with the edge trailing stroke, but stop after about 30-40 laps before the foil burr forms.
If you're using a manual or an electric sharpening device, always use pull the knife starting at the heel. Never push or you may risk destroying the knife's edge.
After sharpening a knife, you can polish it with very fine sandpaper or stropping leather. This step is optional.
Once the sharpening and honing is complete, it's crucial to handwash your knife in soapy water and wipe it dry immediately with a soft cloth. Do not leave it wet or dirty, as rust and discolorations can appear really fast in those conditions.
If you have a high-carbon knife, you may also want to coat the knife with vegetable oil to prevent rust.
Why Trust Us
At HealthyKitchen101, we let the products speak for themselves via rigorous testing. No sponsored content, no unsubstantiated claims, only evidence-backed reviews.
- Unbiased: We purchase all the products of our own accord and for testing purposes only. We do not procure sponsorship or donations and have no stake in the reputation of the brands.
- Verifiable: Our testing procedures are data-driven. Each test is rigorous and transparent; we detail the process, provide the data, and present evidence.
- Objective: Our tests are collaboratively developed. We establish most testing procedures in house and consult with outside experts when necessary. To ensure accuracy, culinary aspects of our procedure, such as cooking and taste-testing processes, are consulted with professional cooks.
Why Our Ratings Are Reliable
We purchased all of the sharpeners in this review out of our own pocket. Our ratings and reviews are based purely on testing; we don't get kickbacks from any brands or marketers.
Relevant Tests, Verifiable Results
Some products—the Smith 50264 and Chef's Choice EdgeSelect sharpeners being easy examples—seem like great ideas on paper and even in person until we actually sharpen a knife with them and find out their flaws.
That's why, instead of subjective ratings based only on inspection, we designed hands-on tests that mimic real sharpening scenarios to give you an idea of how the sharpeners perform in a home kitchen.
Every time we update a test methodology, it's applied to all the devices under that category. We keep our sharpeners for years and can confidently report on their quality and effectiveness over time.
The tests are conducted and the products rated by at least two reviewers with different levels of previous exposure to knife sharpeners. The ratings are agreed upon by both. The whole testing process is recorded in videos or photos and posted for the reader to check and verify. It's one way we tried to minimize personal bias.
Our Expertise
Anh Ngo and Luna Regina have been researching and reviewing knives and sharpeners since 2019. They have honed their knife knowledge and skills with numerous visits to knife forums, conversations with professional chefs, sharpening workshops, and most importantly, tons of food.
Along with the Test Lead, Lap Vo, Anh and Luna developed the test methodologies for manual and electric knife sharpeners after a total of 2 months drafting and trial testing the sharpeners. The team spent an additional 30+ hours at the lab destroying 25 knives on sandpaper, then restoring them and testing them out on different food ingredients. They also disassembled and reassembled every of the 20+ sharpeners reviewed on HealthyKitchen101, inspecting the devices thoroughly and rating their design and durability. The team has sliced countless pounds of lemons, tomatoes, and beef tendon, among other foods, before they found the best knife sharpeners.
About your guide
Luna Regina is an accomplished writer and author who dedicates her career to empowering home cooks and making cooking effortless for everyone. She is the founder of HealthyKitchen101.com and HealthyRecipes101.com, where she works with her team to develop easy, nutritious recipes and help aspiring cooks choose the right kitchen appliances.
Anh Ngo is a writer with 9 years experience at different media outlets, covering from public news and events to product testing and analysis. At HealthyKitchen101, she works across different departments, communicating closely with its network of writers, editors, and health, tech, and search engine experts to provide a meaningful and pleasant reading experience for visitors.
Lap is Head of the Research, Testing, and Review Team (RTR Team) at HealthyKitchen101.com, where he directs and supervises the testing of kitchen gadgets and appliances.
