The 6 Best Knife Sharpeners of 2023

The Wüsthof Easy Edge Electric Sharpener is our top pick.

Summer is a freelance food and travel writer who began by writing about Swedish cheesemaking traditions in 2018.

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Food & Wine / David Hattan

A good knife sharpener helps keep your favorite chef's knife performing at its best. Those crisp, clean, precise cuts we all love from a brand-new knife won't last forever — not unless the blade is properly maintained. Sharp knives are much safer to work with, too. Dull knives require more force to use, which increases the risk of slipping and catching a finger instead of slicing cleanly through that pesky onion.

While knife sharpening may sound like something you should leave to the pros, it's perfectly possible to safely sharpen your knives right at home, especially since a quality sharpener can be had without breaking the bank.

Knife sharpeners come in a variety of prices and sizes, and which one you choose will largely depend on your budget, kitchen storage, and personal preferences. Our lab experts recently put 22 knife sharpeners to the test, considering their durability, grip, ease of use, and overall value. Six emerged victorious for their ease of use and excellent performance. Topping the list is our pick for best overall, the Wusthof Easy Edge Electric Sharpener. Read on to discover the best knife sharpeners on the market.

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Pros: An easy-to-use sharpener from a leading name in knives.

Cons: It's pricey.

German-made Wüsthof knives are some of the best you can buy, so it's no surprise our testers were impressed with the brand's Easy Edge electric sharpener. One tester noted that the Wüsthof "was very easy to use" with "clear, easy to follow instructions" and helpful indicator lights for each stage of the sharpening process, including shaping, sharpening, and refining the knife edge.

Sharpening with the Easy Edge significantly improved our test blade, resulting in easily passed tests slicing through paper, carrots, and tomatoes. Thanks to its ease of operation, the Wüsthof Easy Edge is suitable for both novice knife sharpeners and experienced kitchen pros.

"I think this product would be good for someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen or is a professional chef," our tester confirmed.

Price at time of publish: $200

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Amazon

Pros: An effective, affordable manual sharpener with a minimal curve.

Cons: Testers suggest doubling the pull-through strokes of the manufacturer's suggestion.

Our testers were pleasantly surprised by the Longzon 4-in-1 sharpener, reporting that it's sturdy, easy to use, and highly effective. "The sharpener did an amazing job bringing a pretty dull knife back to a very sharp blade," noted one lab expert.

Though instructions only call for 5-10 pulls of the blade, testers found that the sharpener performed even better when they doubled the strokes to 20 or more. The pull-through design of this knife sharpener means it can also be used to sharpen scissors, too, which is a nice perk. Overall, this sharpener is an excellent value and one you’re likely to actually use on a regular basis.

Price at time of publish: $14

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Amazon

Pros: A safe and sturdy device that sharpens three different edge types.

Cons: Users must understand how to check for burrs.

"I was surprised by how well this device sharpened knives and how well the knives performed after sharpening," wrote one of our testers. "This sharpener was exceptional at sharpening knives."

While this sharpener only clocks in at a few dollars more than our pick for best overall, testers consider it worth the price based on its performance. That said, the Chef'sChoice Pro didn't do as great of a job with sharpening serrated knives, and the instructions describe checking for burrs when sharpening a knife — which isn't necessarily something everyone is familiar with.

Extra homework aside, this is a fantastic option for anyone considering investing in a high-quality electric knife sharpener.

Price at time of publish: $148

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Amazon

Pros: A user-friendly, quick sharpener with clear instructions.

Cons: It takes a little more effort to sharpen the heel of a blade.

If you like the idea of an electric sharpener but are less enthusiastic about dropping $200+ on one, Chef'sChoice Model 320 may be just the thing.

Our testers appreciated how easy it was to use this sharpener, citing clear instructions that "even show what the parts of a knife are, where you should put the knife, and how many pulls you should make through the sharpener." One tester calculated that their blade was made 70% sharper, concluding that this model is a good value and is suitable for either a professional or home kitchen.

Price at time of publish: $78

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Amazon

Pros: A great, easy-to-use knife sharpener that eliminates the guesswork.

Cons: Doesn't quite bring back that "brand new" edge.

Our testers enjoyed working with the Chef'sChoice ProntoPro, reporting that its clear instructions and simple design make it easy to jump right in with sharpening your knife collection.

This sharpener performed well with serrated knives — not a claim to be made by all sharpeners — but testers did note that the blade only came back to about 50% of its original glory. Compared to never sharpening your knives, though, the ProntoPro produces great results — and is an even better value if you can buy it on sale.

Price at time of publish: $50

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

Amazon

Pros: A nice, budget-friendly option for an electric sharpener.

Cons: It may leave scratches on the knife blade.

The price point of the electric sharpener is certainly easy on the eyes, but does it perform? According to our tests, yes, it does.

"The EverSharp is quite effective in sharpening the knife," wrote one tester, adding that the instructions are very clear and offer specifics on which stage to use and how long to draw back the knife blade. One downside, however, is that the EverSharp does damage the blade a little, leaving scratches down the slides of the blade.

If this doesn't bother you, then the Presto EverSharp may be worth a closer look. Despite its fair price tag, we felt it is sturdy enough to last over time.

Price at time of publish: $35

Food & Wine / Russell Kilgore

The Wüsthof Easy Edge Electric Sharpener edged out the competition thanks to its effectiveness and ease of use. It is capable of standing up to professional environments as well as home kitchens. For sharpening on a budget, the Longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener offers an impressive price-to-performance ratio.

Choosing a manual or electric sharpener depends on personal preference and budget. Higher-end electric sharpeners can be pricey, while cost-effective manual sharpeners can produce excellent results. Consider how likely you are to use the sharpener, and don't be afraid to spring for a more costly model if it means you’re more likely to maintain your knives!

All of the knife sharpeners we tested for this list were of the pull-through variety, which tends to be easier to use. A good sharpening stone is also highly effective for maintaining your blades, but there's a steeper learning curve.

Consider the cut of the blades you’re interested in sharpening. Be sure that the sharpener you’re eyeing can accommodate those scissor blades or serrated knives, for example.

The sharpeners we’ve recommended here all come with clear instructions and were praised by testers for their ease of use. That said, don't be discouraged if it takes a moment or two to determine which angle and pressure to apply to best sharpen each blade.

The most versatile sharpeners can accommodate knife blades of different lengths and widths, and generally will offer more than one type of grit to ensure a smooth, even edge.

We tested a total of 22 knife sharpeners (10 electric pull-throughs and 12 manual pull-throughs). Using the Edge-On-Up Professional Edge Tester tool, we were able to measure initial blade sharpness.

Our tests evaluated both straight and serrated edges by slicing through sheets of paper, brunoise carrots, tomatoes, and — for serrated knives — a baguette. Knife sharpeners were evaluated according to their usability, design, effectiveness, and value.

While some pros insist on sharpening knives before each use, the more realistic option is to implement a regular sharpening schedule.

"I sharpen my knives once a month, but that might be overkill for someone cooking infrequently," says Jessica Randhawa, a chef and recipe creator at The Forked Spoon. "If cooking regularly, sharpening knives at least once a month is good practice. Otherwise, sharpening knives every two months is a safe practice to get into."

Sharpening with a stone is all about the angle — between 10 and 20 degrees, according to experts — and drawing the blade carefully across the dampened surface several times.

While ceramic knives can be sharpened, it's best to avoid tackling this one yourself.

"Ceramic knives are known to chip when sharpening at home," Randhawa says. "It's best to have a professional with experience in sharpening ceramic knives handle them accordingly."

This piece was written by Summer Rylander, a food and travel journalist who has written about food, beverage, and cooking products for Food & Wine, Allrecipes, Serious Eats, and The Kitchn. The recommended products were determined using data resulting from Food & Wine's own knife sharpener tests.