As someone who spent many years working in a professional kitchen, I know how important a good kitchen knife is. It can make food preparation considerably easier, and can even make cooking safer.
Fortunately, you don’t need to send your knives out to a professional every time they become dull. A good home knife sharpener can restore the edge and make everyday cooking much more enjoyable. Plus, you’ll save money on knife sharpening and you won’t need to buy new knives as often.
But there are a lot of sharpeners out there, and they don’t all work the same way. I took a closer look at five popular options. Here’s how they compare.
1. RAZORSHARP Adjustable Knife Sharpener
The RAZORSHARP Adjustable Knife Sharpener is an interesting option for cooks who want more control without committing to a traditional whetstone. Its biggest advantage is its adjustable sharpening angle, which can be set between 14 and 24 degrees.
That flexibility makes it useful for different types of kitchen knives. Instead of being locked into a single sharpening angle, you can adjust the sharpener depending on the blade you’re working with.
It also uses diamond-coated ceramic sharpening surfaces and includes separate sharpening stages, along with a slot for scissors.
What I Like
The adjustable angle is the standout feature. If you have several different knives in your kitchen, it’s nice to have the ability to change the angle rather than treating every blade exactly the same.
It’s also a good compromise if you want more precision than a basic pull-through sharpener but you don’t want the learning curve of a whetstone. Since I tend to cut more soft items that need sharpness (such as sourdough bread or mushrooms) than tough cuts of meat, I need an in-between level of knife sharpener, and this one does the trick well for me.
What to Consider
More control means a little more effort. If your goal is simply to sharpen an inexpensive chef’s knife every few months, a simpler sharpener may be easier.
Best For
Home cooks who want adjustable sharpening angles without using a whetstone.
Rating: 4.5/5
See the RAZORSHARP Adjustable Knife Sharpener
2. Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone
The Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone is the traditionalist’s choice in this group. Unlike the handheld and rolling sharpeners, this is a waterstone-style sharpening system, which means you’ll need to learn a little technique. But it also gives you much more direct control over the sharpening process.
That’s both the appeal and the potential drawback.
With a whetstone, you’re controlling the angle, pressure and movement of the blade yourself. Once you get comfortable with the technique, you can achieve an extremely sharp edge and better understand how your knives actually work.
What I Like
The biggest advantage is control. Rather than relying on a fixed sharpening slot or mechanism, you’re working directly with the blade and stone.
It’s also a good choice for cooks who have invested in higher-quality knives and want to take a more hands-on approach to maintaining them. A whetstone can be used for regular sharpening as well as restoring a knife that has become significantly dull.
There’s also something satisfying about the process. If you enjoy cooking and like taking care of your kitchen tools, sharpening with a stone can become a useful skill rather than just another kitchen chore. The sound of it is also relaxing, it helps me realize I’m doing something important that will help me in the kitchen later.
What to Consider
This is definitely not the easiest sharpener for a complete beginner.
For instance, there’s no simple slot to guide your knife. You’ll need to learn how to maintain a consistent angle as you move the blade across the stone. Plus, knowing how to prepare the stone properly can take a little more time.
For someone who simply wants to sharpen a knife in a few minutes, that may be more work than necessary. But if you’re willing to practice, the extra effort can pay off.
Best For
Home cooks who want to learn traditional knife sharpening and have maximum control over the edge.
Rating: 4.5/5
See the Sharp Pebble whetstone
3. HENCKELS Handheld Knife Sharpener
The HENCKELS Handheld Knife Sharpener takes a much simpler approach. It’s a compact manual sharpener with an ergonomic handle. This makes it particularly appealing if you don’t want to spend a lot of time learning a sharpening technique.
One of its biggest advantages is its simplicity. There’s no complicated setup and no need to worry about maintaining the exact angle by hand.
What I Like
The best thing about this knife sharpener is its convenience. This is the kind of sharpener you can keep in a kitchen drawer and pull out whenever your knives start feeling dull.
It’s also relatively inexpensive, making it an appealing option for someone who doesn’t want to invest heavily in knife maintenance.
The compact size is another advantage. It doesn’t require the counter space of a larger sharpening system. I keep one of these in my drawer for a quick sharpening if I don’t have time to sharpen all my knives.
What to Consider
This is more of an everyday maintenance solution than a precision sharpening system. If you’re working with expensive Japanese knives or want very specific control over the blade angle, you may want something more sophisticated.
It’s also worth remembering that aggressive pull-through sharpeners can remove more metal from a blade than gentler honing methods, so they shouldn’t necessarily be used every time a knife feels slightly less sharp.
Best For
The everyday home cook who wants a simple, affordable sharpener from a familiar cutlery brand.
Rating: 4.5/5
4. AnySharp Knife Sharpener
The AnySharp takes simplicity a step further. Its most distinctive feature is its PowerGrip suction base. This allows the sharpener to attach to a countertop or other smooth surface while you use it.
That hands-free design is appealing because you don’t have to hold both the sharpener and the knife at the same time. The sharpener is designed for kitchen knives, including serrated and hardened-steel blades, and uses a preset 20-degree angle.
What I Like
This sharpener is really easy to use and can bring a dull knife back to life pretty quickly. One particularly appealing feature is the suction base, which gives the sharpener a stable platform rather than requiring you to hold it in your hand. It’s also small enough to store almost anywhere.
What to Consider
The fixed 20-degree angle means you don’t get the flexibility offered by the RAZORSHARP. That’s not necessarily a disadvantage for the average home cook who’s cutting up raw chicken for bulgogi or tenders. But it’s something to consider if you have knives with different edge geometries.
I’d also be cautious about using any aggressive pull-through sharpener on a particularly expensive knife without checking the manufacturer’s recommendations first.
Best For
Anyone who values speed, simplicity, and a hands-free design.
Rating: 4/5
5. TUMBLER Original Rolling Knife Sharpener
The TUMBLER Original Rolling Knife Sharpener is the most different option in this group.
Instead of pulling your knife through a sharpening slot, the TUMBLER uses a rolling sharpening disc and a magnetic knife holder. It offers 15- and 20-degree sharpening angles, giving you more control while still making the process considerably easier than freehand sharpening.
It’s also considerably more substantial than the small handheld sharpeners. The wood version weighs about 1.4 pounds and uses a diamond sharpening disc along with a stainless-steel honing surface.
What I Like
The magnetic holder helps take some of the guesswork out of maintaining the proper angle, while the rolling motion feels intuitive once you get the hang of it. It’s also very effective at creating a very sharp blade.
I used it to prep my knife so I could cut really thin slices of tomato and mozzarella for a caprese stacker and it did the job perfectly.
What to Consider
The TUMBLER isn’t necessarily the fastest option. Getting the best results can take some patience, particularly when sharpening a very dull knife.
There are also limitations with smaller knives. The magnetic holder and design can make it difficult to work with very small blades such as paring or some steak knives.
Best For
Home cooks who want greater control and a more precise sharpening experience without learning to use a whetstone.
Rating: 4.5/5
Chart: Which Is Best for You?
These five sharpeners are aimed at somewhat different users.
Best Knife Sharpener for Kitchen Knives
If you’re looking for the easiest option, I’d go with the HENCKELS. It’s compact, straightforward, and designed for the home cook who doesn’t want to spend much time thinking about sharpening.
If speed and convenience are your priorities, the AnySharp is a particularly appealing choice. Its suction base makes it easy to stabilize while sharpening.
If you want adjustability without learning to use a whetstone, the RAZORSHARP is a good middle ground. You get more control over the sharpening angle while keeping the process relatively straightforward.
The TUMBLER is another excellent choice for cooks who want more control. Its rolling design and magnetic positioning system offer a nice compromise between a traditional sharpening stone and a simple pull-through sharpener.
And finally, if you’re willing to learn a new skill and want the most hands-on approach, the Sharp Pebble whetstone is the one I’d choose. It has the steepest learning curve of this group, but it also gives you the greatest amount of control over the sharpening process.
Prices, ratings, availability, and review counts can change over time. The Amazon links are affiliate links, so the site may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.