Best knife sharpeners: Our 6 best picks to keep your kitchen sharp

We found 6 of the best knife sharpeners to help maintain a sharp edge in every kitchen

 best knife sharpeners

Looking for the best knife sharpeners on the market? It doesn't matter if you're an expert cook or budding chef, it's imperative to know how to take care of your knives. 

However, if you’re a newbie to the culinary world, you may be wondering why chopping the veg has become such a chore recently. If you’re considering throwing your knives away because they’re blunt as anything, don’t do anything hasty. All they need is a good sharpening.

We’ve picked out some of the best knife sharpeners for all types of knives, so whether you fancy yourself the next Gordon Ramsay or you just want to spruce up an old set of silverware, there’s something to suit everyone – and all budgets.

If you're on the hunt for a good set of knives, we've got the best in our buyer's guide.

WHY BUY A KNIFE SHARPENER?

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Knife sharpeners are what all the professionals use to keep their primary kitchen tool looking and working its best. They are the reason you get such pleasure from watching cooking shows where the knives glide effortlessly through the ingredients, and they ultimately make cooking a whole lot easier. 

WHAT IS THE BEST KNIFE SHARPENER YOU CAN BUY?

We think the best knife sharpener is the Smart Sharp by Lantana. It's easy to use, offers quick results, and most of all, it's safe.

Haven't got time to read the entire guide? We've listed our top three rated knife sharpeners below, as well as their cheapest prices right now.

HOW TO BUY THE BEST KNIFE SHARPENER

Which knife type can it sharpen?

There is a varied range of products on the market, and you certainly don’t have to go with anything too fancy to get excellent results. Some will be designed for a specific type of knife, whereas others will be versatile and able to sharpen any knife that needs sharpening.  

Manual or electric?

Sharpeners are the most commonly manual devices, however, If you’re worried about how safe these products are, opt for an electronic sharpener to reduce the risk of cuts and scrapes.

THE BEST KNIFE SHARPENERS 

Best knife sharpeners

1. Smart Sharp by Lantana

Best knife sharpener you can buy: an easy to use 3-step sharpener for all types of knives

Specifications

Best for: Ease of use
Material: Plastic
Color: Black
Knife type: All steel kitchen knives and serrated blades

Reasons to buy

+
 Easy to use 
+
 Quick results 

Reasons to avoid

-
 Doesn’t sharpen ceramic  

This Smart Sharpener by Lantana is an excellent purchase for both high-quality and inexpensive knives. Many users praised this sharpener for its quick results in as little as three strokes, and the 3-step process makes sure all knives are rounded off and polished so that there are no uneven edges. 

The ergonomic handle makes it easy and comfortable to hold, and allows you to get a sturdy grip on it for easy and safe knife sharpening. This knife sharpener doesn’t work with ceramic knives, but it’s made our top spot for its versatility in sharpening steel knives and even works on serrated knives just as well, which is why it's our top pick of the best knife sharpener you can buy.

Best knife sharpeners

2. Global Combination Whetstone MS-471

Best knife sharpener for repairing knives: repair and maintain your knife set with this semi-professional knife sharpener

Specifications

Best for: Repairing or maintaining knives
Material: Rough/medium stone
Color: Blue & Black
Knife type: Any knives

Reasons to buy

+
 Can completely restore blunt knives 
+
 Teaches good technique 

Reasons to avoid

-
 Expensive 

If you’re proud of your knife set, then keep them looking and working their best with this water whetstone that has a rough and a medium side for catering to all sharpening needs. The rough is designed to revert blunt knives back to their former sharp selves, and the medium size is to maintain their sharp blade in between usage.

 It’s a little expensive, but users find this knife sharpener to produce excellent results on a number of different types of knife, and it makes good practice for those budding chefs out there.

Best knife sharpeners

3. AnySharp Knife Sharpener with PowerGrip

Best knife sharpener for safety: a hands-free knife sharpener for safe usage

Specifications

Best for: Safety
Material: Plastic
Color: Silver, Blue, Black
Knife type: All steel knives and serrated blades

Reasons to buy

+
 Suction base for easy grip 
+
 Doesn’t require much effort 

Reasons to avoid

-
 Shaves quite a bit off 

This suction-based knife sharpener is designed to make knife sharpening simple and easy for anyone to do in their home. Users like the hands-free design as it doesn’t require much pressure in order to get decent results. 

However, using this sharpener won’t teach you any proper technique if you’re looking to do it the traditional way. It’s a quick fix for any of your knives that have become blunt, and it’s small enough to store away in a drawer or cupboard. Our pick of the best knife sharpener for those who are concerned about safety.

best knife sharpeners

(Image credit: Kohls)

4. Presto Professional Electric Knife Sharpener

Best traditional knife sharpener: Get to grips with your knife with this traditional sharpening tool

Specifications

Best for: Keeping your knifes in tip-top shape
Material: Stainless Steel
Color: Black
Knife type: All knives

Reasons to buy

+
 Produces fantastic results 
+
 Makes you feel like a pro 

Reasons to avoid

-
 Super sharp so you could cut yourself easily

This stainless steel electric sharpener is one of the easiest ways to sharpen knives. It takes a little bit of practice, but users were very impressed with the results. The most favorable aspect of this tool was the 3-stage sharpening system to easily accommodate whatever knife you are looking to sharpen. 

Select thick for hunting knives, medium for chef's knives and standard kitchen knives, and thin for light blades like fillet and paring knives. Plus, it even includes a blade guide hold for no-guess sharpening at a perfect angle. 

best knife sharpeners

(Image credit: Amazon)

5. Narcissus 60W Electric Knife Sharpener

Best electronic knife sharpener: an electronic sharpener for safe and reliable results every time

Specifications

Best for: Electronic
Material: Stainless steel
Color: Black & Red
Knife type: All straight edge knives

Reasons to buy

+
 Automatically sharpens 
+
 Includes 10-minute overheat function to ensure safety 

Reasons to avoid

-
 Will not sharpen thin knife or for longer than 4-minutes 

This Narcissus electric knife sharpener is designed for both small and compact kitchen use and will bring professional results from the convenience of your home. Designed with a smart 2-stage sharpening system — for crude and fine knives — this tool can satisfy every last knife need and the model even leaves room for your scissors and screwdrivers, too.

In addition to that, this sharpener provides 5-minute overheat protection and a 10-minute rest period in-between uses to assure maximum results every single time. 

Best knife sharpeners

6. AnySharp Pro Chef Metal Knife Sharpener

Best compact knife sharpener: a compact, hands-free knife sharpener for any kitchen

Specifications

Best for: Compact
Material: Plastic
Color: Many, including copper and purple
Knife type: Serrated knives, bread knives, hunting knives and kitchen knives

Reasons to buy

+
Available in different colors
+
Hands free as it sucks to your worktop
+
Compact design

Reasons to avoid

-
None

For use on serrated knives, bread knives, hunting knives, and kitchen knives, this compact knife sharpener is the kitchen gadget you never knew you needed. To use, simply place on any smooth, hard surface, and twist to ensure it can't move. Insert your knife and begin sharpening using easy, light strokes. In terms of storage, it can easily fit in your cutlery draw, or you can stick it to your tiles so it's on-hand for whenever you need it. The best knife sharpener if you're after something compact, we think.

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Brittany Romano

Brittany Romano is a Shopping Editor, based in New York City. From her start as a fashion market assistant at Marie Claire to building a highly profitable commerce vertical at Us Weekly and AMI brands, Brittany has produced award-winning content covering everything from celebrity beauty hacks to must-have items from online sales. She is a graduate of New England College. When she isn’t writing, you can find Brittany indulging in yet another DIY project or cheering on her beloved Boston Bruins.