What is the Best Knife Sharpener for Your Kitchen?

Keeping your kitchen knives sharp is just as essential as cleaning them. Dull knives require more force when cutting, which increases the risk of workplace injuries.

There are many ways to ensure your knives stay sharp, including electric and manual sharpeners, as well as options with angle guides and those without. When choosing the best knife sharpener for your operation, think about user skill, the types of knives you use, and your kitchen workflow.

This guide discusses the best types of knife sharpeners, including electric, manual, and whetstone sharpeners, and how each type is suited to a different use.

Types of Knife Sharpeners Explained

All knife sharpeners use the same principle: grinding the cutting edge to the correct angle by rubbing it against an abrasive surface made of materials such as diamond, ceramic, or stone compounds. Electric sharpeners are the quickest and easiest to use, while whetstones provide the most precision but require the most practice to operate.

Electric Knife Sharpeners

Electric sharpeners are fast, user-friendly machines that automatically grind and sharpen blades. They use rotating stones and guidance grooves to position knives at the right angle, so the operator simply needs to draw the blade through the sharpener opening for consistent results.

Like most sharpeners, electric sharpeners come with several grinding grits. Operators begin with the roughest grit for blade shaping, then progress to finer grits for finishing and polishing the edge.

Operator Tip

To achieve the sharpest edge, some operators use a strop block made of leather, cloth, or another soft material, which polishes the blade edge to a mirror finish. Some electric sharpeners have a stropping setting.

Manual Knife Sharpeners

Manual sharpeners provide angle guidance without automatically moving stones. They're compact for handheld use and usually include both coarse and fine stones. The operator must cleanly draw knives through the stones with the right pressure to achieve results, but the guided angles help maintain a consistent tip.

Sharpening Rods

Sharpening rods are thin rods with handles, used by running the knife downward at a specific angle. They're usually made with ceramic or diamond and shouldn't be confused with honing steels, which are made of steel and are used for straightening the cutting edge on an already sharp knife.

sharpening stone with angle guide on knife

Sharpening Stones

Sharpening stones, or whetstones, are flat, abrasive blocks used for manually sharpening a knife blade one side at a time. These tools come with different grits that provide the sharpest results when operators correctly draw the blade across the stone at the right angle. Beginners can clip guides to the spine of the knife to ensure they're sharpening at the right angle.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Knife Sharpener

Answer the following questions before deciding which knife sharpener is best for your operation:

Knife type and blade material: Are you using hard Japanese knives or softer European blades?
Frequency of use: How many hours a day do you use your knives?
Operator skill level: Do you employ experienced cooks or entry-level workers?
Service quality vs. output: Do you prioritize efficiency or precision?
Budget: How much are you willing to spend?

Electric Knife Sharpener vs Manual: Pros & Cons

Pros of Electric Knife Sharpeners:

High speed: Results in fast sharpening with minimal effort
Automatic sharpening: Requires no sharpening skills
Guided angles: Deliver consistent angles and blade results
Efficient workflow: Benefits high-volume kitchens and busy home cooks

Cons of Electric Knife Sharpeners:

Coarse grit: Removes more metal than necessary, which can shorten knife life
Guidance grooves: Limit control over angle precision
Bulky size: Takes up storage space
Standardized sharpening: Not suitable for specialty, delicate, or severely chipped blades

Pros of Manual Knife Sharpeners:

Hand sharpening: Offers greater control over sharpening angle and pressure
Lower cost: More affordable than most electric models
Compact size: Easy to store
Multiple grits: Achieve sharper results on straight-edge knife blade

Cons of Manual Knife Sharpeners:

Advanced technique: Using stones and steels correctly requires practice
Hand operation: Takes more time to achieve razor sharpness
Steep learning curve: Applying too much pressure or using the wrong angles can dull the blade

Shop Manual & Electric Knife Sharpeners at KaTom

After considering the factors and deciding which option is right for you, find a complete selection of manual or electric sharpeners at KaTom.com, including stones, steels, and pull-through sharpeners. KaTom's catalog offers solutions for any knife sharpening application and complements an extensive kitchen knife selection.

Knife Sharpening FAQ

How often should I sharpen my knife?

It's best to hone your knife after each use. Depending on how often your knives are used, you may need to sharpen it once a week. No matter what sharpener you use, it's essential to keep knives sharp by following a process that works best for you.

What sharpening angle is best for kitchen knives?

A blade's sharpening angle is half the cutting edge angle and usually ranges from 15 to 20 degrees, depending on the knife style. On sharpeners without angle guides, you can find the right angle by attaching a guide to the spine of your knife or by slightly rocking the blade until you feel it lay flat against the stone or sharpener.

What are the best knife sharpening brands?

KaTom carries commercial kitchen knife sharpeners from popular brands like Mercer Culinary, Dexter Russell, and Victorinox to provide a range of top manual and electric sharpeners for regular knife maintenance.

What is the best knife sharpener for Shun knives?

Shun knives are Japanese knives usually made of hard steel with smaller angles. While some manual and electric sharpeners have adjustable sharpening angles, it's usually best to use a whetstone to get the sharpest edge. Shun knives can also be sent to the factory for professional sharpening.¹

References

Sharpening Service. Shun. Accessed June 2025.