I Put 12 Knife Sharpeners to the Test—Here’s Which Ones Made the Cut

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• Save $100: Zwilling Bob Kramer Glass Sharpening Set is 25% off at Williams Sonoma.

While I have written fairly extensively about my opinions regarding knives, I have to admit that sharpening has often intimidated me. The process of sharpening your own knives can easily turn from hobby into obsession, and I find myself surrounded by peers willing to debate every last intricate detail of sharpening, weighing the various pros and cons of everything from grit to material to slurry. It’s enough to make your head spin before you’ve even picked up a stone.

Whether you’re a serious sharpening nerd or just trying to give your knives a little more care, you’re going to need a method for returning an edge to your blade. It’s like your car: It doesn’t matter how nice it is, because if you’re not willing to do the required maintenance, it won’t run. It’s the same with knives. Even the most expensive chef’s knife will become just a dull piece of steel without regular sharpening. But as with a lot of things in the culinary world, there are many ways to skin a cat. I tested 12 different knife sharpeners to find out which can work best for your goals, abilities, and lifestyle.

The Winners, at a Glance

The Best Whetstone

King Whetstone Starter Set

$50 at Amazon View on Oishya.com

This knife sharpening set stood out as the clear winner, combining beginner-level accessories, like an angle guide and a nonslip holder, with pro-level results. Its dual 1000/6000 grits sharpened my damaged knife to a razor-like finish, making it a reliable pick for home cooks and seasoned pros alike.

The Best Splurge Whetstone Set

Zwilling Bob Kramer Zwilling Bob Kramer Glass Whetstone Sharpening Set

$300 at Williams Sonoma

For a pricier option, the Zwilling kit comes with three stones, a cleaning stone, a bamboo bridge stone holder, and an informative DVD that can walk you through every step of the knife sharpening process. The adjustable holder can hold stones of varying sizes from other manufacturers and allows you to work over a sink, minimizing mess.

The Best Budget Whetstone

Amazon Basics Whetstone

$17 at Amazon

At less than 15 bucks, you can’t beat the price of this Amazon Basics whetstone, which comes with a nonslip bamboo base and a handy angle guide. This is a great intro pick that outperformed more expensive sharpeners and can help any beginner build confidence while still delivering impressively sharp results.

The Best Electric Knife Sharpener

WORK SHARP Work Sharp Ken Onion Electric Knife Sharpener

$170 at Amazon

The Work Sharp electric sharpener can handle lots of tools, including chef’s knives, scissors, and mower blades with adjustable angles and variable speed control. It comes with a bevy of belts with various grits so you can fine-tune every stroke.

The Tests

• Whetstone Test: I started with brand-new chef’s knives out of the box, taking measurements of starting weight and sharpness with an edge tester. I dulled the knives on a glass cutting board and took another measurement of the diminished sharpness. I then sharpened each knife on a different whetstone, soaking it when needed, with 50 strokes per side. I took a final measurement of the knives’ sharpness and tested performance by slicing tomatoes and carrots as thinly as possible.
• Electric and Manual Sharpener Test: I dulled knives the same way, recorded their sharpness, then ran them through each sharpener at a 20º angle (if the device allowed). I re-measured sharpness and weighed the knives to see if any measurable amount of material was taken off during the process. I also used each knife to slice carrots and tomatoes to compare my recorded data to real-world feel.

What We Learned

Why Whetstone Grit Levels Count

When I tested whetstones, grit levels proved to be more than just numbers. Sharpening with whetstones is a lot like sanding down old paint on a beat-up dresser. If you grab a super coarse sandpaper, say 80 grit, it’ll chew through the paint fast but leave the wood rough and scratchy. That’s your 400- to 1000-grit whetstone. These are great for grinding out chips or setting a fresh edge. Step up to finer sandpaper, like 400 or 600, and you’re smoothing out those scratches so the surface feels polished, just like 3000- to 8000-grit whetstones. Just like you wouldn’t refinish furniture with only rough sandpaper, you don’t want to only use a rough, 1000-grit whetstone. The whole point is to progress through grits from rough to smooth. Even some of the electric and manual sharpeners I tested employed this same principle. 

Expensive Knife Sharpeners Weren’t Always Worth It

Some of the knife sharpeners I tested cost as much as a high-end chef’s knife, which made me wonder if that could possibly equate to performance. What I found was that the premium models of both whetstones and sharpeners often came with better accessories, more versatility, or simpler ease of use. That didn’t always mean sharper knives. The budget-friendly Amazon Basics stone, for example, outperformed some of its pricier competitors in sheer sharpness. Conversely, a few expensive setups were awkward to use and limited in grit options, like the pricey Tormek.

Whetstone vs. Knife Sharpeners

If you’re the kind of cook who enjoys hands-on kitchen projects and wants total control over your knife’s edge, a whetstone is the way to go. It takes more practice and a bit more time, but the payoff is a sharper, smoother edge that you can tailor to each knife. That’s crucial if you’re working with Japanese or carbon steel blades that may have single bevel edges or atypical angles. Just know that whetstones require occasional upkeep with a lapping stone to keep the surface flat and effective. Some stones, like the King winner, are made of softer material that can wear away with time to create a valley. A lapping stone or plate will get it flat again. All knives have a set angle to the edge (usually somewhere between 10º and 20º, depending on the style and brand). Nailing this angle is crucial when using a whetstone and it can be difficult to get right at first.

On the other hand, if convenience and speed are your top priorities, an electric sharpener may make more sense. These machines may lack delicacy, but they’re fast and reliable. If it gets you to sharpen your knife at all, then it’s worth getting. All sharpeners, whetstone or otherwise, remove some tiny amount of metal to return the sharp edge, like sharpening a pencil. Whetstones are preferred amongst professional chefs because electric sharpeners are known to take off a significant amount of metal from your blade. When I tested the electric and manual sharpeners for this review, only the sole Zwilling pull-through sharpener took off a measurable amount of metal (two grams from a single sharpening). Still, when more metal is being removed, weekly sharpening with an electric sharpener will eventually shorten the life of your knife and lead to unbalanced weight as the blade is worn down. These are a good choice for infrequent sharpening.   

Pull-Through vs. Electric Knife Sharpeners

Let’s dive a little deeper into manual pull-through sharpeners and their electric counterparts. Both of these sharpeners do most of the work for you. Just pull your knife through slots or against a spinning grinder and the blade will sharpen. It’s fast and convenient, but you trade some control and precision. The manual versions need no electricity, and you simply grind your edge against a rough surface (grit varies brand to brand). These typically have a V-shaped slot that guides the blade through and are fixed at a specific angle, making them almost foolproof for beginners. The convenience is unbeatable, but the results can be inconsistent. If you value speed and don’t mind a little extra wear on your blade, go electric. If you just want something inexpensive and easy that won’t take up a ton of room in your drawer, a manual pull-through will suffice.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Knife Sharpener

When it comes to whetstones, three things matter above all else. One: grit range. A dual-stone gives you both a coarse side for dull blades and a fine side for polishing, though some whetstone sets come with a wide range of extra stones in various grits to add to your collection as needed. Second is stability and ease of use. A sturdy base to accompany your stone helps keep the stone steady, making the process easier and safer, and angle guides are very handy when learning proper technique. A few of our winners come with simple plastic angle guides, like the King and Amazon Basics models. Finally, softer, more forgiving stones can let you get good results even with imperfect strokes, though firmer stones will require less maintenance over time.

As for electric or manual sharpeners, look for adjustability, gentleness, and consistency. Models that let you set the sharpening angle or swap between grits allow for both edge repair and fine polishing. Just as important is how the sharpener treats your knife. Good ones remove only what’s necessary, leaving you with a sharp edge without shaving years off the life of your blade.

Our Favorite Knife Sharpeners

The Best Whetstone

King Whetstone Starter Set

$50 at Amazon View on Oishya.com

What we liked: The King Whetstone Set sharpened beautifully, with its dual 1000/6000 grits offering both reliable edge repair and a finer polish than competitor stones. I saw a 291% increase in sharpness on the damaged knife and an overall sharpness value of 69, the lowest of all I tested. (With our sharpness tester, lower is better.) It comes with a few handy accessories, like a simple, nonslip plastic base and an angle guide to make it easier for beginners to hold a steady stroke. I found it more forgiving than harder stones, which means you can still get excellent results even if your technique isn’t perfect. It’s approachable, effective, and delivers a razor-sharp edge without prior experience.

What we didn’t like: It’s a softer stone and doesn’t come with a lapping plate or dressing stone, so you may need to pick one up eventually. These items can restore the smooth surface of a whetstone, which can develop a valley in the center after significant use. The stone tends to work up slurry, which can be tricky for an edge-leading technique. If you start on this stone, you may struggle to adjust when you want to upgrade to a firmer, higher-quality stone.

Key Specs

• Style: Whetstone
• Material: Ceramic
• Dimensions: 7.3 x 2.5 x 1 inches
• Grit(s): 1000/6000
• What’s included: Angle guide, wiping cloth, plastic base
• Care instructions: Wipe clean and store dry

The Best Splurge Whetstone Set

Zwilling Bob Kramer Zwilling Bob Kramer Glass Whetstone Sharpening Set

$300 at Williams Sonoma

What we liked: This set is pricey but it comes with a lot to make up for that, like an instructional DVD (a version of it is available on Youtube) that walks you through using a whetstone with master knife maker Bob Kramer. The bamboo holder and sink bridge is a smart touch, allowing you to sharpen over your sink (yay, no mess) or on the counter. It’s adjustable, too, so it can accommodate stones from other brands or manufacturers. My sharpened knife had no resistance to tough carrots or soft tomatoes and was able to slice without tearing or squishing. The glass stones are more durable than other materials, so they will stay flatter longer without dishing (wearing a dip in the middle). Some knife enthusiasts (myself included) feel that the smooth feel of glass stones makes it easier to engage with the grit, which helps with control.

What we didn’t like: I only saw an 88% increase in sharpness, though I didn’t progress through all the stones in the kit. It can be difficult to master the technique with these stones, especially for those not used to glass or managing slurry. As I said, this is a pricey option for anyone wanting to wade into the world of whetstones.

Key Specs

• Style: Whetstone
• Material: Synthetic ceramic and glass, bamboo holder
• Dimensions: Whetstones: 8 1/4 x 2 3/4 x 1/4 inches, whetstone Bridge: 16 1/4 x 3 x 2 inches; expands to 24 inches
• Grit(s): 400, 1000, 5000
• What’s included: Three whetstones, bamboo holder, cleaning stone, instructional DVD
• Care instructions: Dry before storing

The Best Budget Whetstone

Amazon Basics Whetstone

$17 at Amazon

What we liked: It was honestly hard for me to believe the results I got out of this affordable whetstone, which delivers serious bang for the buck. It comes with essential, beginner-friendly extras like a silicone non-slip holder, bamboo base, and an angle guide to keep the stone steady and help you maintain consistent angles. Dual grits give you enough flexibility to handle many knives without breaking the bank. While hardcore sharpening enthusiasts may turn their nose up at the quality of this stone, at the end of the day, it sharpened my knife well. I saw a 200% increase in sharpness and overall sharpness was second lowest (remember: the lower, the better). 

What we didn’t like: The stone is soft and can dish out very quickly. Don’t expect this set to last as long or perform as well as more well-known brands. Some online reviewers are a bit dubious that the grit rating is accurate, but if you’re just looking for cheap and easy, this aspect may not concern you at all.

Key Specs

• Style: Whetstone
• Material: Ceramic
• Dimensions: 7 x 2.5 x 1.25 inches
• Grit(s): 1000/6000
• What’s included: Dual-sided stone, wooden stand, silicone base, angle guide
• Care instructions: Rinse briefly and scrub with a soft brush if necessary to remove grit, dry thoroughly, and then air dry

The Best Electric Knife Sharpener

WORK SHARP Work Sharp Ken Onion Electric Knife Sharpener

$170 at Amazon

What we liked: If you’re going to get an electric knife sharpener, go for one that at least offers you top-tier control. This unit has an angle setter that ranges from 15° to 30° in 1° increments, so you can dial in exactly what you want. Its variable speed motor, combined with flexible abrasive belts, let it move from coarse grinding to fine honing, or whatever you have a need for. To sharpen your knife, just slide the blade through the guide as the edge glides across the spinning abrasive belt. The speed can be adjusted to suit various goals. It has a great build quality and an intuitive design, with enough durability to handle more heavy-duty items like mower blades or construction tools. The included manual is a veritable encyclopedia of information, describing the process for sharpening lots of things, including scissors and serrated knives.

What we didn’t like: There’s a bit more to it than just swiping your knife through a plastic tool, but straight out of the box, I was able to get my knife plenty sharp. It can also throw some dust around, so be careful where you set it up.

Key Specs

• Style: Electric 
• Material: Plastic, metal, sandpaper belts
• Dimensions: 10 x 5.5 x 6 inches
• Grit(s): Uses interchangeable belts ranging from “extra coarse” to “extra fine”
• What’s included: Complete set of belts, sharpening guide
• Care instructions: Keep unit clean, swap and store belts carefully

Honorable Mentions

• Horl 3 Cruise Rolling Knife Sharpener: I’ve written about this sharpener before and still stand by it. It strikes a balance for home cooks who find whetstones intimidating but want sharper, cleaner edges than a standard pull-through can provide. That said, it does come with trade-offs, such as a fixed grit that won’t allow you to customize your edge. This also means that it can take a comparatively long time to sharpen a very dull knife.
• Shapton Glass Whetstone 1000 Grit: This single whetstone is a simple, compact, and no-nonsense option, though it’s probably best as an add-on to an existing kit. It doesn’t come with any extras, so you’ll need to find your own angle and grab a thick towel to hold it in place on the counter. This brand offers a wide range of grits in addition to this one if you want to fully customize your setup and is a favorite amongst really serious sharpeners.
• Tormek Kitchen Knife Sharpener: This beefy sharpener is really impressive and rivals many professional sharpening wheels. Serious Eats senior editor Grace Kelly tested it and liked it for basic, quick sharpening. During my tests, it delivered great results, but for the money, you should be able to switch out grits.

The Competition

• Presto Eversharp Electric Knife Sharpener: This one performed well and returned the knife’s edge to a sharp enough state for basic chopping. The downside is its lack of flexibility, as there is no way to fine-tune the sharpening process to suit different knives. 
• Zwilling J.A. Henckels 4-Stage Pull-Through Knife Sharpener: This is the only sharpener I tested for this review that took a measurable amount of material off of the knife (two grams). Over time, this sharpener will whittle your knife down to a toothpick.
• Chef’s Choice 1520 Professional Electric Knife Sharpener: For the ridiculously expensive price, you’d expect better results. As it is, it sharpened just as well as the cheaper Work Sharp winner, which lets you choose from a variety of grits.
• Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone: Identical in every way to the Amazon Basics model (likely a white-label procured from the same manufacturer). Save $30 and go for the generic model.
• Shapton Ha No Kuromaku Whetstone Set: I saw the least percentage increase of sharpness from this stone and it did not contain instructions in English. 

FAQs

Can you use a whetstone for single-beveled knives? Or carbon steel blades?

Yes, you can use a whetstone to sharpen both single-bevel knives and carbon steel blades.

Do you need to soak a whetstone?

Many traditional whetstones need a 10- to 15-minute soak, though some varieties only need a small splash of water. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions, as oversoaking can actually damage certain stones.

Where can you get your knives professionally sharpened?

There are a few mail-in services that we recommend and some brands (Shun, MAC, Misen) offer sharpening for their knives as well, sometimes for no charge. If you need faster service, there are a few specialty knife stores in various cities that offer hand sharpening and kitchenware stores like Sur La Table and Williams Sonoma have in-store sharpening available. Before dropping off your precious knife, inquire about the method they use for sharpening and what their turnaround time is.

Can you sharpen ceramic knives yourself?

Not easily. Ceramic is a notoriously hard and brittle material which makes it hard to sharpen without cracking. Most home sharpeners aren’t suitable, including whetstones. If your ceramic knife dulls, it’s usually best to send it back to the manufacturer or find a pro service that specializes in ceramics.

Why We’re the Experts

• Taylor Murray has worked in food and food media since 2018, at publications such as Good Housekeeping, Food52, and Food Network. Before that, she worked in some of the country’s top restaurants, including Eleven Madison Park and Frasca Food and Wine. She’s been testing products for Serious Eats since 2021 (check out her reviews of knife sets and slicers).
• For this review, Taylor tested 12 whetstones and sharpeners by sharpening dulled knives with each, measuring the edge with a tester and making notes on feel after slicing vegetables.