The best chef knife sharpeners in 2026: Consumer Reports
A dull chef knife turns every cutting board task into a struggle. Consumer Reports tested electric, manual and stone sharpeners for sharpness
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A dull chef's knife turns dicing onions into a slow, frustrating chore instead of a quick task. Pushing down harder on a dull blade raises the odds of a slip and a kitchen injury.
Consumer Reports tested electric, manual and stone sharpeners on dulled German and Japanese chef's knives to find the models that restore a genuinely sharp edge.
1 / 4
Chef's Choice Model 15XV 3-Stage Professional Electric Knife Sharpener
Credit: Chef's Choice
The Chef's Choice Model 15XV electric sharpener costs $137 and earned the top overall pick in Consumer Reports' testing. CR found it removed much of the guesswork from sharpening and consistently maintained a precise angle across every knife tried, including serrated bread knives and one-sided sushi blades. The sharpener locks in a 15-degree edge that suits many newer knives, and it offers three settings for sharpening, honing and polishing. CR noted the process required no setup or cleanup, making it a low-effort option for home cooks.
2 / 4
Chef's Choice Model 4643 AngleSelect Professional Manual Knife Sharpener
Credit: Chef's Choice
The Chef's Choice Model 4643 costs $48 and took the top spot among manual sharpeners in Consumer Reports' testing. Unlike its electric sibling, this model offers a choice between 15-degree and 20-degree settings, along with a third stage that polishes the edge regardless of angle. CR sharpened a German-style knife on the broader 20-degree setting and still achieved an exceptionally sharp result, thanks to grooves that hold the blade steady at the chosen angle. The manual design suits shoppers wary of electric sharpeners or looking to save counter and cabinet space.
3 / 4
KitchenIQ Deluxe Diamond Edge Grip 2-Stage Knife Sharpener
Credit: Walmart
The KitchenIQ Deluxe Diamond Edge Grip costs just $10 and earned Consumer Reports' top pick among budget manual sharpeners. CR used its coarse stage on a seriously dulled blade and its fine stage for a quick touch-up, restoring a sharp edge on both German and Japanese knives tested. The pocket-sized tool can sit flat on a countertop or hook onto its edge using a built-in notch, and it stores easily in a drawer between uses. CR flagged one caveat: the compact size keeps fingers close to the blade during sharpening, so shoppers concerned about that risk may prefer the manual Chef's Choice model instead.
4 / 4
Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone
Credit: Sharp Pebble
The Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone costs $38 and earned Consumer Reports' top pick among sharpening stones. This double-sided stone pairs a 1,000-grit side for moderate dulling with a 6,000-grit side for polishing, and Sharp Pebble sells a separate 400-grit stone for reshaping severely damaged edges. CR found the stone offered more control than any electric or manual sharpener tested, letting users dial in an exact angle with the help of a separately sold bevel gauge. The process demands a 10- to 12-minute soak before use and a bit of patience, but CR rated the resulting edge sharper than what any other sharpener in these tests could produce.
