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  • 10 Best Knife Sharpeners 2024 | UK Chef Reviewed 1
  • 10 Best Knife Sharpeners 2024 | UK Chef Reviewed 2
  • 10 Best Knife Sharpeners 2024 | UK Chef Reviewed 3
  • 10 Best Knife Sharpeners 2024 | UK Chef Reviewed 4
  • 10 Best Knife Sharpeners 2024 | UK Chef Reviewed 5

10 Best Knife Sharpeners 2024 | UK Chef Reviewed

There’s nothing more frustrating in the kitchen than when a blunt blade turns the joy of cooking into a gruelling chore. Whether your knife is sliding off those onions you're dicing or it forces you to hack away at an expensive piece of meat, a knife sharpener can restore a dull blade’s edge and make cooking easier, more efficient and even more fun. In this article, we share the ten best manual, electric and stone sharpeners to buy online in the UK on Amazon, Argos and John Lewis. 


We’ll take you through the different types of knife sharpener on the market and explain why it’s important to have one in your kitchen for cooking or in your workshop when crafting. Moreover, we have partnered with chef Ryan Yen for reviewing and fact-checking the article to deliver you the best information.

Last updated 27/03/2024

Quick List - Top Knife Sharpeners

1

GLOBAL

Combination Whetstone Knife Sharpener
Combination Whetstone Knife Sharpener

A Worthy Investment if You're a Keen Cook After the Best Results

2

TOG Knives

Ceramic Honing Rod / Sharpening Steel
Ceramic Honing Rod / Sharpening Steel

A Truly Reliable Sharpening Rod From a Chef-Loved Brand

3

SHARPAL

Knife and Scissors Sharpener
Knife and Scissors Sharpener

With a Tungsten Carbide Blade to Bring Even the Dullest Knives Back to Life

4

AnySharp

World's Best Knife Sharpener
World's Best Knife Sharpener

A Great Budget Beginner Buy That Won't Slip During Use

5

Lantana

Smart Sharp 3 Stage Knife Sharpener
Smart Sharp 3 Stage Knife Sharpener

Features a Foolproof Three-Stage Process to Restore Western Knives

Ryan Yen
Expert
Chef Tutor/Formal Restaurant Chef
Ryan Yen

Ryan is a trained chef with experience in several restaurants (with various kitchen supplies across the restaurant experience) and hotels, he also attended le cordon bleu to further his training in cuisine and patisserie and focus on creating simple and delicious dishes. Ryan is now formally working as a chef tutor.

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Table of Contents

Fact-Checked & Approved by Chef Ryan Yen

Fact-Checked & Approved by Chef Ryan Yen

Ryan is a trained chef with experience in several restaurants (with various kitchen supplies across the restaurant experience) and hotels.


He also attended le cordon bleu to further his training in cuisine and patisserie and focus on creating simple and delicious dishes. Ryan is now formally working as a chef tutor.

How to Choose a Knife Sharpener in the UK

Key Points to Consider
  1. Choose a Knife Sharpener Based on Usability, Convenience and Your Skill Level
  2. Make Sure the Sharpener Is Compatible With Your Knives
1

Choose V and Electric Sharpeners for Usability and Convenience or Stones and Rods if You're a Pro

Choose V and Electric Sharpeners for Usability and Convenience or Stones and Rods if You're a Pro

Pick Easy-to-Use, Affordable V-Sharpeners If You’re a Beginner

These types of knife sharpeners are named due to the two plates set in a V shape which you run a knife through. Each pass through the V will shear a little metal off each side of the knife, creating an even point. Often very affordable, these are great entry-level sharpeners and will work on most metal knives.


V sharpeners are ideal for beginners as there isn’t any special technique or method required to use them. You simply place the knife in the point and pull it through (you won’t be able to go the wrong way!) and you’d really have to be very forceful to cause any damage to the knife itself.


If you're looking for a great knife set to start out with, try our Best Kitchen Knives!

Opt for Steel Rods to Sharpen a Variety of Knives – But Only if You’re Confident Using One or Learning How

This may be what you imagine when you think of a knife sharpener – a chef holding the sharpening rod on one hand and flashing a knife around it in the other with graceful movement. These are often the choice of those in professional kitchens as they’re able to sharpen most types of knives, even serrated blades.


While rod sharpeners can provide an excellent finish in the hands of someone who knows what they’re doing, they can also tear large strips of metal from the blade in the hands of a novice; the wrong angle can cause irreversible damage to a blade, potentially even chipping it. 


Plus, the technique will vary from knife to knife, so you should only choose this style if you know how to use it properly. Each steel rod is used for different stainless steel knives such as the Japanese knife uses a flatter rod, whereas a European knife uses a more rounder rod.

Go For Whetstones for the Sharpest Edge but Know That They Too Will Take Time to Master

If you’re looking for the absolute sharpest edge you can achieve, it may be worth investing the time and effort into learning how to use a whetstone as these are the choice of those who require the sharpest blades. Like sharpening rods, these are suitable for many different types of knives.


While we don’t want to understate the difficulty in using one of these, they're not an impossibly difficult thing to learn how to use; the difficulty often comes with the expense of purchasing one and fear of damaging premium knives. If you’re serious about cooking or crafting, and are patient and willing to learn, whetstones will give you the best results.

Select Electric Sharpeners for the Ultimate in Speed and Convenience

You may think that you can’t go wrong with an electric sharpener, but you still have to be aware of a few things when using them; it isn’t the case that you can just put in a knife and switch on a button, as you’ll still have to keep the blade at the right angle.


While they take a lot of the physical effort out of sharpening, electric sharpeners are fast, meaning that they can save you a lot of time but can quickly shear off a lot of metal from your knives if you’re not paying attention. If you're looking for a quick and easy solution, however, an electric knife sharpener could be the way to go.


Stock up on other kitchen essentials with our Best Kitchen Scissors!

2

Make Sure the Sharpener Is Compatible With Your Knife Blades and Their Materials

Make Sure the Sharpener Is Compatible With Your Knife Blades and Their Materials

Get a Capable Sharpener If You Want to Hone Both Straight and Serrated Blades

Not all knife sharpeners are universal in the types of blades they work with, so it is important to be aware of what your knives are made from and the type of knives they are. As we mentioned before, sharpening rods will work with serrated blades, but whetstones can also be used to sharpen serrated and ceramic knives as well.


If you try to sharpen a ceramic or serrated knife a V or electric sharpener, however, you’re just going to break both the knives and the sharpener itself. These are only really designed for straight, steel kitchen knives. Whichever style you go for, check beforehand that it is compatible with the tools you need to sharpen. 

You'll Also Have to Check the Suitability if You Have Japanese Knives

When browsing knife sharpeners, you may see the term "not suitable for Japanese knives" cropping up and wonder what it's referring to. It may be obvious to say that Japanese knives are made in Japan, but they have some key differences from western, or German, knives that make them unsuitable for some sharpeners.


Firstly, Japanese knives are made from a harder steel than western knives, so in turn, they require harder sharpening materials to hone. They are also curved at a different angle and only sharpened on one side, meaning that western V sharpeners will damage the blade rather than sharpen it.


Complete your cooking kit with our Best Chopping Boards!

Was the Buying Guide helpful?

10 Best Knife Sharpeners in the UK

This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
Popularity
Products
Image
Click to purchase
Key features
1

GLOBAL

Combination Whetstone Knife Sharpener

GLOBAL Combination Whetstone Knife Sharpener 1

A Worthy Investment if You're a Keen Cook After the Best Results

2

TOG Knives

Ceramic Honing Rod / Sharpening Steel

TOG Knives Ceramic Honing Rod / Sharpening Steel 1

A Truly Reliable Sharpening Rod From a Chef-Loved Brand

3

SHARPAL

Knife and Scissors Sharpener

SHARPAL Knife and Scissors Sharpener 1

With a Tungsten Carbide Blade to Bring Even the Dullest Knives Back to Life

4

AnySharp

World's Best Knife Sharpener

AnySharp World's Best Knife Sharpener 1

A Great Budget Beginner Buy That Won't Slip During Use

5

Lantana

Smart Sharp 3 Stage Knife Sharpener

Lantana Smart Sharp 3 Stage Knife Sharpener 1

Features a Foolproof Three-Stage Process to Restore Western Knives

6

Robert Welch

Hand Held Sharpener

Robert Welch Hand Held Sharpener 1

A High-Performing V Sharpener With a 25-Year Guarantee

7

Mercer

Culinary Genesis 10-Inch Knife Sharpening Steel

Mercer Culinary Genesis 10-Inch Knife Sharpening Steel 1

An Affordable Way to Maintain Your Wusthof Knives

8

Joseph Joseph

Rota Sharpener10048

Joseph Joseph Rota Sharpener 1

A Compact and Convenient Choice for Those Short on Space

9

Salter

Electronic Knife Sharpener

Salter Electronic Knife Sharpener 1

An Easy Electronic Option With Angle Adjustment to Protect Your Knives

10

SHARPAL

6-In-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener and Survival Tool101N

SHARPAL 6-In-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener and Survival Tool 1

Designed Especially for Pocket Knives or Hunting Knives

If you don't see the product you're looking for, you can request that it be listed.
No.1

GLOBAL
Combination Whetstone Knife Sharpener

Combination Whetstone Knife Sharpener 1
Source:johnlewis.com
Reference price
£90.00
High
Reference price
£90.00
High

A Worthy Investment if You're a Keen Cook After the Best Results

Choosing where to place the GLOBAL Combination Whetstone was a difficult task, but really, there couldn't really be another no. 1 choice; it simply delivers the best results for all kinds of blades. It has rough and medium sides for different levels of sharpness, as well as guard rails to ensure you work at the correct angle. 


While it is well worth the time and money, this is something of an investment in both areas to get the best results, but we think it's a rewarding one. There is something almost meditative about using a whetstone like this and it becomes part of the full kitchen experience for true enthusiasts.

Was this Ranking helpful?
No.2

TOG Knives
Ceramic Honing Rod / Sharpening Steel

Ceramic Honing Rod / Sharpening Steel 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£61.34
High Mid
Reference price
£61.34
High Mid

A Truly Reliable Sharpening Rod From a Chef-Loved Brand

This ceramic rod is suitable for sharpening anything. Whether it's a Japanese single-sided blade or a ceramic set, this rod will do the job and is the favourite of many professionals due to its affordability for such a high-level product.


It has a patented three-part shock absorption system in order to protect the brittle ceramic rod, meaning that even if you were to drop the tool it's unlikely to break. Just like their knives, this sharpening rod from TOG is first class.

No.3

SHARPAL
Knife and Scissors Sharpener

Knife and Scissors Sharpener 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Knife and Scissors Sharpener 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£11.89
Low Mid
Reference price
£11.89
Low Mid

With a Tungsten Carbide Blade to Bring Even the Dullest Knives Back to Life

Like the other 3-stage sharpener on our list, this can fully restore even the dullest blades in your drawer. While other V sharpeners deliver a great end product, this offering has a little extra up its sleeve in that it also has a tungsten carbide section.


This additional feature allows you to sharpen single-sided blades such as scissors or shears, a welcome inclusion for any home cook. Normally, this is surprisingly difficult to do outside of using a whetstone or sharpening blade, which would frankly be a bit of an overkill.

No.4

AnySharp
World's Best Knife Sharpener

World's Best Knife Sharpener 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
World's Best Knife Sharpener 2
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£8.83
Low Mid
Reference price
£8.83
Low Mid

A Great Budget Beginner Buy That Won't Slip During Use

While we don't quite agree that this is the world's best knife sharpener, we do have to admit that it is incredible value for the price. The AnySharp knife sharpener's PowerGrip technology means that it won't move an inch when you're working with it, reducing the risk of any accidents.


It even claims to sharpen serrated blades, but the instructions can be a little confusing on that front so we'll leave it up to you to decide. If you're a beginner after the best budget sharpener for your kitchen, look no further.

No.5

Lantana
Smart Sharp 3 Stage Knife Sharpener

Smart Sharp 3 Stage Knife Sharpener 1
Source:ebay.co.uk
Reference price
£5.59
Low
Reference price
£5.59
Low

Features a Foolproof Three-Stage Process to Restore Western Knives

If you're in the market for something that will produce great results while being easy and foolproof, this offering from Lantana is the one for you. It has an ergonomic handle and a grip on the bottom to ensure it doesn't slip when resting it on a surface.


The unique three-stage process couldn't be simpler as you just work from left to right, pulling your blade through each of the slots a few times before moving onto the next. If you're patient, you can restore even the bluntest knives to their former glory.

No.6

Robert Welch
Hand Held Sharpener

Reference price
£24.99
Mid

A High-Performing V Sharpener With a 25-Year Guarantee

Robert Welch has a reputation for excellent quality at a good price point, and the easy-to-change ceramic wheel of this model with its 25-year guarantee means that it's a great choice for long term use. This is also the best choice if you own Robert Welch knives.


Like most V sharpeners, however, it's only really suitable for non-serrated western knives which may be an issue for some. If that's not a problem, this option is a fantastic choice that will justify its price over time.

No.7

Mercer
Culinary Genesis 10-Inch Knife Sharpening Steel

Culinary Genesis 10-Inch Knife Sharpening Steel 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£14.58
Mid
Reference price
£14.58
Mid

An Affordable Way to Maintain Your Wusthof Knives

This sharpening rod from Wüsthof represents great value for money considering that it does a fabulous job of sharpening almost all kinds of knives except ceramic. It's well built, reliable and from an incredible brand who are partners of the German Chef's Association.


Be aware that with this option, incorrect use can seriously damage your blades, and it is important to stress that care is needed during use as the safety guard isn't the biggest. That said, this is a great bargain for those who know what they're doing.

No.8

Joseph Joseph
Rota Sharpener10048

Reference price
£20.00
Mid

A Compact and Convenient Choice for Those Short on Space

This offering from Joseph Joseph has a unique rotating design, creating a comfortable and easy-to-hold handle when unfolded, and a neat little item that can tuck away anywhere when folded up. If you're a little short on space, this takes up none whatsoever.


It also has two sharpening wheels, one coarse and one fine. However, as it's made more for convenience, this isn't really an option for regular use and is more for keeping your knives fresh than repairing those which have already become dull and misshapen. 

No.9

Salter
Electronic Knife Sharpener

Electronic Knife Sharpener 1
Source:argos.co.uk
Electronic Knife Sharpener 2
Source:argos.co.uk
Reference price
£55.00
High Mid
Reference price
£55.00
High Mid

An Easy Electronic Option With Angle Adjustment to Protect Your Knives

If you're looking to take the difficulty and effort out of sharpening, this electronic option is a great choice. What's unique about this sharpener is that it will automatically adjust to the correct angle meaning you're less likely to damage your blade.


While extremely sturdy and reliable, electric sharpeners do tend to be a little more expensive than other options and you won't be able to sharpen serrated knives or the harder steel of Japanese blades. If you want the convenience of an electronic sharpener, though, this is the best choice.

No.10

SHARPAL
6-In-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener and Survival Tool101N

6-In-1 Pocket Knife Sharpener and Survival Tool 1
Source:amazon.co.uk
Reference price
£8.49
Low Mid
Reference price
£8.49
Low Mid

Designed Especially for Pocket Knives or Hunting Knives

While we've focused most of our list on sharpeners suitable for the kitchen, we would be remiss not to mention something suitable for survivalists, campers and outdoorsy folk. At under £10, it's well worth picking up for your next trip, and the brand do state that it's fine for kitchen knife sharpening, too. 


This compact little tool is perfect for those of you who like to spend time in the wilderness and need to keep a pocket or pen knife sharp. It also features a fire starter and whistle, allowing you to streamline your pack on your next expedition. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is a Sharp Knife Safer Than a Dull One?

A blunt knife is actually more dangerous than a sharp one due to the increased likelihood of accidents, as a dull blade is far more likely to slip from its place or bounce off a surface. When a blade is sharp, you’re less likely to cut yourself – as long as you keep your fingers out of the way, of course!

Why Are Sharp Knives More Effective?

Using a sharp knife makes preparing a dish easier and will save you time. It’s also much easier to keep ingredients uniform, meaning that they’ll all cook evenly at the same time; if you have a mix of large chunks and small slivers, those smaller pieces will overcook while the larger pieces may not cook all the way through.


Written and researched by David Sexton

Top 5 Knife Sharpeners

No. 1: GLOBALCombination Whetstone Knife Sharpener

No. 2: TOG KnivesCeramic Honing Rod / Sharpening Steel

No. 3: SHARPALKnife and Scissors Sharpener

No. 4: AnySharpWorld's Best Knife Sharpener

No. 5: LantanaSmart Sharp 3 Stage Knife Sharpener

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The descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.

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