Best electric shaver 2020: 13 buys for a close, clean shave

Treating yourself to the best electric shaver? Whether your current one is slowly packing up or you've only ever owned a manual model, you are in for a treat. We've done a lot of research and have rounded up the very best electric shavers on the market for 2020. For a clean shave, a tidy face and a hair-free bathroom. 

Whether your face is filled with a thick, voluminous beard or you prefer to rock the stubble – perhaps you only like to be clean-shaven? Either way, one of these 13 electric shavers below will suit your needs. We've found everything from the best electric shaver for sensitive skin – is there anything worse than shaving rash? – to an electric shaver for women and even something for bald heads. 

When choosing which electric shavers to feature in this ultimate guide, we considered everything from performance to price. As well as whether each model is foil or rotary – foil ones have a straight head to cut hair, rotary ones have a circular head to lift and cut hair – and whether they can be used wet or dry, or even both ways. Choosing an electric shaver that's waterproof will prove handy, too, so that you can use it in the shower, and of course, picking a cordless model is a no-brainer for ease of use. Just make sure it has a long enough battery life to last for a good few shaves.

Looking for something to leave a little more length? Give our best beard trimmers guide a read.

Best electric shaver 2020

A wet and dry integrated precision trimmer, the Braun Series 7 is rechargeable and cordless, as well as easy to use and it boasts a smart design. A great, all-round electric shaver that's more than worthy of the price tag.

A smart electric design, this shaver is 100 per cent waterproof. Responsive Intelligence automatically adapts to the contours and features of your face, for a personal shave every time. It boasts four synchronised shaving elements to achieve in one stroke, what others do in two. It has five personalised shaving modes so you can adjust the power to suit your skin type and shaving style. Use dry or with water, foam or gel. Perfect for holidays, travelling or just the odd overnight stay, this shaver gives you up to 50 minutes of cordless shaving on just an hour’s charge, and it comes with a travel case. Also in the box comes an advanced procession clip that intelligently responds to the unique contours and features of your face, for a close and gentle shave. A four-action alcohol-based Clean & Charge station chooses a cleaning function then cleans, lubricates and charges all at the touch of a button.

A rotary electric shaver is the best option if you're after the best electric shaver for your head. Why? It works with the curves and contours of your head so as not to miss a single strand of hair while ensuring an ultra-close shave at the same time.  

The Remington XR1410 Flex360 Rotary Electric Shaver features built-in Active Contour Technology to offer optimum shaving performance on both your head and neck. It's also waterproof for less mess and it can work for 45 minutes from one 4-hour charge. Thanks to its ergonomic design, it fits in the palm of your hand making it easier to use, even easier to store and a breeze to pack in a suitcase – it comes with a travel pouch. Not to mention that it also comes with three accessories: a charcoal-infused deep cleansing brush; a pre-shave massage brush and a grooming styler attachment which features five lengths from 2mm to 6mm to suit clean-shaven and stubble lovers alike – this also allows full control over shaping sideburns and more.

The cordless Remington R5000 wet and dry rotary shaver gives a well-groomed finish with dual track blades and flexing cutters that are good for use on the chin, cheeks and jawline. Thanks to its anti-microbial head, we rate this the best electric shaver for sensitive skin.

The Remington R5000's pivoting neck copes easily with tricky hairs, while the tools that come with it allow you to create a clean, close shave as well as rugged stubble when you fancy a change. The styler attachment is also good for shaping regrowth. You can also use this electric shaver for nose and ears too and as it’s cordless, you can take it with you for travelling or overnight stays. It runs for 50 minutes on a two-hour charge. Use the pop-up trimmer to trim sideburns and more, while the flexing cutters make accessing tricky areas a breeze. For those who prefer a more rugged look, the 3 Day Stubble Styler attachment simply attaches to the shaver head and can be run over your beard to create a tidy, groomed, three-day stubble look.

Looking for the best electric shaver for women? The Braun LS5560 Lady Shaver is it. It's cordless, comes with a range of attachments for your bikini line, underarms and legs and it exfoliates your skin while shaving – what more could you want?

Thanks to the Braun Lady Shaver's rounded head, this electric shaver will adapt to the contours of your body being sure to reach every single hair. This also makes it harder for you to cut yourself. Charge this women's electric shaver for just one hour to use it for 40 minutes cord-free. It's also fully waterproof so you can use it in the shower. This women's electric razor comes with three attachments included: a trimmer cap for your bikini line and sensitive areas; an exfoliation attachment; and a glide cap. This makes life easier when it comes to targeting harder-to-shave areas, while it also guarantees a close shave.

A great design for basic use, the Remington AQ7 Men' Tech Wet and Dry Rotary Electric Shaver is fully waterproof and is our best pick of electric shaver if you're elderly. 

Improved flexing heads offer 33 per cent more movement vs previous Remington rotary shavers, and it comes with three floating heads as well as steel blades. With two close-cut tracks and 21 low profile cutters, this shaver gives quick and clean results, with steel blades for a better finish. This design uses lithium power for longer-lasting performance and battery life. You’ll get 60 minutes use after 90 minutes charging and once you’ve charged it for the first time, you can then pop it on for a five minute charge when you’re in a hurry. Use in the shower with water or with foam or shaving gel for a shaving solution that suits your skin and daily routine. You’ll also get a charging stand and travel pouch included in the box, so you can easily take this electric razor on holiday or with you on overnight trips.

A hardwearing, durable and budget-friendly cordless shaver, the Braun Series 3 includes three pressure-sensitive shaving elements for a comfortable close shave. While it can only hold 20 minutes worth of battery, it does have a handy five-minute quick charge that gives enough power for one shave.

This shaver's pressure-sensitive blades automatically retract to protect your skin, making it ideal for a smooth, gentle shave that’s kind on your face. It’s 100 per cent waterproof up to five metres so you can safely use the electric razor in the shower and rinse under running water for easy, hygienic cleaning. You can use it dry or wet, with water, foam or gel and you won’t need to go over the same area twice, as all Braun shavers are designed to flow in straight, intuitive strokes. The cutting elements are also protected by a patented SensoFoil metal mesh for a comfortable finish. Braun’s Series 3 has a built-in super thin head, which enables you to reach those awkward, hard to reach areas with ease.

This would usually be our top rated electric shaver for bald heads, but it's currently sold out. Check back soon to see if it's back in stock.

The Skull Shaver Pitbull Gold PRO is the best pick for when it comes to shaving your head. This electric razor has a rotary shaving head that can glide over irregularities – birthmarks, freckles, scars – and it's both easy and safe to use. Not only that but It can hold 90 minutes of power before it needs to be recharged.

This electric shaver is water-resistant so that you can use it in the shower. It offers an extremely close shave and can be used with shaving foam or without. With an illuminated LCD display to show battery level, you'll never unknowingly run out of charge. Its PRO blade can actually be used for both head and face shaving, while we prefer it for the former. With premium Japanese Stainless Steel blades, you can expect flawless results. Shave in small circular motions and in any direction you like – up, down, left or right. For an extremely close yet still comfortable head shave, this is the best electric razor around.

A great design for basic use, the Braun Series 5 5140s shaver has two SensoFoil blades with skin sensitive technology to offer a close yet comfortable shave.

This electric shaver boasts an eight direction comfort flex head for constant skin contact. Use it wet or dry since it's 100 per cent waterproof. It also features an autosensing motor for super-efficient shaving no matter the density of your beard. This cordless shaver takes one hour to charge and will then last up to 50 minutes. It has a three-level battery display for your peace of mind. With a pop-up trimmer to create fine lines around your sideburns or moustache, this electric shaver has it all.

The Remington R4001 Style is the best electric shaver on the market for under the £50 price mark. It's worth us noting that it can only be used dry. However, it does feature anti-microbial head surrounds to help protect your skin. A bargain.

This electric shaver benefits from a pivoting neck which allows the head of the shaver to adjust and maintain closer contact with your skin, ensuring an even closer shave. On top of this, dual-track blades and flexing cutters work together to help capture every hair so that you're not left with any strays. Since this model is cordless, it can work for 40 minutes after a full 16-hour charge. It has an LED battery indicator to tell you when it's running out, too. In the box comes a three-day stubble styler guard that attaches to the head of the electric shaver. This guard helps gives a groomed appearance to a rugged look, if you do like to rock your stubble that is.

Use the Philips Series 5000 Wet and Dry for a comfortable shave for under the £100 mark. It's cordless, can be used wet or dry and it comes with a trimmer attachment. 

Built-in Aquatec technology makes for a comfortable shave whether wet or dry and it protects your skin 10 times better than a regular blade would. Turbo+ mode helps the electric shaver cut through dense stubble by giving it 20 per cent more power, while its 5-direction flex heads follow the curves of your face for a close shave. This electric razor needs to be charged for one hour and then it can be used for a long 50 minutes – that's around 17 shaves. It also features a one-touch open for easy cleaning and it's fully waterproof. It also comes with a trimmer attachment to make shaping your moustache and sideburns a lot easier. Not only does this electric shaver benefit from a battery low indicator, but also a charging indicator, a cleaning indicator, a replace shaving heads indicator and a travel lock indicator.

If you're looking for an electric shaver for a teenager, perhaps they've just started shaving and you're after something that's both safe and easy to use? The Philips QP2520/20 OneBlade is it.

The Philips OneBlade can tackle all types and lengths of hair. It also doesn't shave too close so as to keep your skin free from shaving rash. You can use it to trim your beard, edge your sideburns or shave your moustache. All of which can be done wet or dry for your convenience. True to its name, the OneBlade really only needs one blade to do its job. The head's fast-moving cutter works at 200 times per second to give a quick, comfortable shave that's close enough to give good results but not too close to cut you. Once fully charged, this shaver can work for 45 minutes. The heads last an average of four months, and, to make things even better, three different size heads come in the box – a 1mm head, 3mm and 5mm.

The Philips Series 9000 Prestige Edition is hands down the best Philips electric shaver out there. Not only is it bursting with smart features, but it's easy to use and ensures an extremely close shave every single time. 

This electric shaver features extra-strong NanoTech blades that are both gentle and efficient, with a multi-direction ContourDetect head that can reach any area, no matter how difficult. Even better? The BeardAdapt Sensor adapts the electric shaver based on your beard density – whether you are shaving off a seven-day beard or two-day stubble. There are three settings to choose from – sensitive, normal and fast – so that you can customise your shave. Not only can you also use this electric shaver wet or dry, but it's effortless to clean since it opens up. Our favourite part? It comes with a Qi Charging Pad – pop it on here after use, and it takes three hours for a full charge or 18-minutes for a quick charge. After that, it'll last for 60 minutes of constant use. A click on facial cleaning brush and beard styler also comes in the box.

For the best of both worlds, try the Philips Philishave S3561 out for size. This handy device can both shave and trim your face, saving you the job of buying and storing two different products. Brilliant.

Shaving is a breeze thanks to this electric shaver's four-directional shaving heads – it follows the curves of your face and neck for a quick, comfortable shave. Once that's done, you can use the pop-up trimmer to maintain your moustache or sort out your sideburns. This electric shaver is waterproof, making it super easy to clean and it means you can use it in the shower if you like. The Philips Philishave S3561 is cordless and can last for around 60 minutes – or 20 shaves – from one charge. In the box also comes a protective cap and soft pouch.

How to buy the best electric shaver

Foil or rotary?
When choosing an electric shaver, you want a close shave that’s kind on your skin. Some cost a lot of money so you want to be sure you’re investing in the right model for you. A foil shaver has straight heads that use oscillating blades underneath a perforated foil to cut the facial hair. Rotary designs, on the other hand, have three circular heads that rotate to lift and cut stubble. It’s really personal preference as to which you opt for.

Wet or dry?
Some electric shavers need to be used wet while others can be used dry. This is down to your preference and whether you prefer to use shaving foam or cream.

Waterproof
As well as being able to do a dry shave, you also want to look for a 100% waterproof electric shaver, which is cordless and can be used in the shower as well as with shaving gel or foam. Make sure you check that it can be taken into the shower before you buy if this is something that’s important to you, as not all designs can.

Cordless
The majority of electric shavers these days are waterproof for ease of use. But, with that comes battery life. Make sure your electric shaver can hold enough battery for at least a few uses or you may find yourself constantly recharging it.

What is the best electric shaver?

The Braun Series 7 is our best-rated electric shaver since it ticks all our boxes. This foil electric shaver is cordless – 50 minutes of use from one charge – it's waterproof, boasts a smart design and it's easy to use. The price tag may be a tad high but we think it's more than worth it.

Also see...

• The best hair clippers – for an easy DIY haircut 
• The best hair dryers – don't leave your hair to air dry