The best knife sharpener for most people is the Chef’sChoice 15XV — a professional electric sharpener that puts a razor edge on even neglected knives in minutes. A dull knife is slow and dangerous; a sharpener is the cheapest way to make every knife you own cut like new again. Below are the best knife sharpeners we’d actually use, from a premium electric to a $17 manual — every one confirmed in stock.
How we chose the best knife sharpeners
Every pick was scored against the same criteria, and we confirmed each product is currently in stock on Amazon before including it:
- Real-world quality — materials, construction, and durability, not marketing claims.
- Fit for purpose — sound design and the right fit for the job each product is meant to do.
- Value across budgets — from a solid budget pick to a premium best-in-class option.
- Owner consensus — thousands of verified reviews and Amazon’s Choice standing, cross-checked against known failure points.
Knife sharpeners: the 5 best, compared
The 5 best knife sharpeners, ranked
1Chef'sChoice 15XV EdgeSelect Best overall
A professional 3-stage electric sharpener with 100% diamond abrasives and precision angle guides that puts an ultra-sharp 15-degree edge on straight AND serrated knives — and revives even badly dulled blades. The gold-standard home sharpener. If you want restaurant-sharp knives with no skill required, this is it.
- Electric Knife Sharpener
- CONVERT YOUR KNIVES: Ideal for converting traditional 20-degree factory edges of household knives into high performance Trizor XV 15-degree edges
- DIAMONDS: Advanced stropping stage and 100 percent diamond abrasives for sharpening straight edge and serrated blades
- EASY TO USE: Advanced, patented flexible spring guides for automatic adjustment and accurate control of the sharpening angle and feature simple on/off switch
- THREE STAGES: 3-Stage EdgeSelect sharpening system for optimum versatility in providing the perfect edge for each cutting task. Stages 1 and 2 are plated with 100-percent diamond abrasives to sharpen and hone the edge and stage 3 uses a patented flexible abrasive system to polish and help prolong the life of serrated knives
2Work Sharp Culinary Electric Best all-around electric
Flexible abrasive belts that sharpen and hone to a keen edge, and it handles serrated knives, kitchen scissors, and poultry shears too — in a compact body that fits in a drawer, for around sixty dollars. Fast and forgiving. The pick for versatile, easy electric sharpening at a mid price.
- WITH A PUSH OF A BUTTON: Our sharpener is a fully guided sharpener that automates the sharpening of your knives for an even angle and perfectly sharpens your knife every time.
- PROFESSIONAL & PREMIUM: Sharpen dull knives with premium abrasives and maintain sharp edges daily with the built-in ceramic hone wheel.
- FOR THE PROFESSIONAL: The E2 is designed to sharpen the highest-quality knife steels, including all kitchen knives, serrated edges, scissors, and shears.
- 3-YEAR WARRANTY: All Work Sharp sharpeners come with a comprehensive 3-year warranty. Each knife & tool sharpener is meticulously designed and quality-checked at our Oregon facility. We proudly stand behind our products.
- DESIGNED, ENGINEERED, & CALIBRATED IN OREGON: We design, engineer, and calibrate our sharpening machines all under one roof in Ashland, Oregon & ensure our products are sourced from the highest caliber manufacturers, both in the USA and globally.
3Presto 08810 Professional EverSharp Best value electric
A 3-stage electric sharpener with sapphirite wheels and precision blade guides that create a thin, razor edge — the extra coarse stage rescues very dull knives — for around seventy dollars. Simple, effective, hugely popular. The value pick for full 3-stage electric sharpening.
- Easy 3-stage sharpening system for professional results at home, anytime.
- Sharpens kitchen and sport knives, even Santoku knives.
- Blade thickness selector adjusts guides to optimum sharpening angle.
- Select thick for hunting knives, medium for chef's knives and standard kitchen knives, and thin for light blades like fillet and paring knives.
- Blade guides hold knife at the perfect angle for no-guess sharpening.
4Presto 08800 EverSharp Best budget electric
The classic 2-stage EverSharp — a sharpening stage and a honing stage with guides that hold the angle for you, tens of thousands of happy reviews, for under fifty dollars. Not for heavily damaged blades, but excellent for everyday touch-ups. The pick for cheap, foolproof electric sharpening.
- Plastic
- Made in the USA
- Sharpen kitchen and sport knives to a razor-sharp edge fast and economically.
- Easy 2-stage sharpening system for professional results at home on most any non-serrated blade.
- Sapphirite sharpening wheels grind a precisely angled edge then fine hone and polish for a razor-sharp edge.
53-Stage Manual with Safety Glove Best manual / cheapest
A handheld 3-stage pull-through — a diamond rod to repair, tungsten for coarse sharpening, and ceramic to polish — with a non-slip base and a cut-resistant glove, for under twenty dollars. No power, no counter space. The pick for simple, portable, dirt-cheap sharpening that actually works.
- 3-Step Knife Sharpener: With our incredible 3-slot system, we’re revolutionizing the art of knife sharpening! The 1st diamond sharpening rod repairs and straightens damaged blades before the 2nd slot sharpens to restore its V-shape. Finally, the 3rd slot fine tunes for a clean polish.
- Easy to Use: Whether you’re right or left-handed, the ergonomic handle allows you to restore your cooking knives in a matter of seconds! Simply place the blade in each of the slots and gently pull the knife through a few times for fast, effective sharpening.
- Cut-Resistant Glove Included: At Kitchellence, we put the safety of our customers above all else. Designed with a non-slip base, our kitchen knife sharpener offers comfortable control while you work. We’re even including a cut-resistant glove for added safety!
- Premium Quality: With our professional knife sharpener kit, you don’t have to be a chef to cook like one! Crafted from solid ABS plastic, it’s strong, durable and designed to last a lifetime. Made with high quality materials, knives will look and work like new.
Knife sharpeners: buyer’s guide & FAQ
Electric or manual knife sharpener — which should I get?
Will a sharpener ruin or remove too much of my knife?
What's the difference between sharpening and honing?
Can these sharpen serrated or Japanese knives?
How often should I sharpen my kitchen knives?
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I’ve spent years writing about and recommending the products people actually live with — the kitchen gear, home goods, and beauty finds that earn their place on a shelf. At Golden’s List I lead editorial across Home, Kitchen, Beauty, and Fitness, digging through reviews, specs, and real owner feedback to separate the genuinely great from the merely popular — and making sure every pick is in stock with a live price before it makes a list. Meet the whole team →