Best Steel Knife Sharpeners of 2026
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Steel knife sharpeners are an essential tool in any kitchen, whether you're a professional chef or a home cook. They are designed to sharpen and maintain the sharpness of your kitchen knives, ensuring that they can effortlessly slice through food. Steel sharpeners are made with a high-quality material that can sharpen even the dullest of knives. They are easy to use and can be used on a variety of different knives, making them a versatile addition to any kitchen. With regular use, steel knife sharpeners can help prolong the life of your kitchen knives, saving you money in the long run.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 9 Steel Knife Sharpeners
longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener
The longzon 4-in-1 Knife Sharpener is a great choice for those looking for a reliable and efficient sharpening tool. It features a 4-stage sharpening process, with tungsten steel, emery, and high-hardness ceramic materials that can last for more than 3 years. It also comes with a pair of cut-resistant gloves and a non-slip rubber base for added safety and convenience. Customers have praised the sharpener for its ease of use and effectiveness, and it is backed by a 24-month warranty.
TUMBLER Rolling Knife Sharpener
The TUMBLER Sharpener Kit is a must-have for any serious chef. Its diamond-plated sharpening stones provide precise and long-lasting sharpness, ensuring your expensive knives stay cutting like new. The stainless steel helix disc removes burrs effectively, giving your knives a finer edge. This simple yet effective tool allows you to choose between 15 and 20-degree angles for sharpening traditional and specialty blades. With this kit, sharpening your kitchen knives becomes a breeze, saving you time and effort.
HORL 3 Cruise Rolling Knife Sharpener
The HORL 3 Cruise Sharpener is designed to give you precise control with two sharpening angles: 15° for a fine, razor-sharp edge, and 20° for a tougher, more durable blade. It uses a combination of diamond and stainless steel discs, making it effective on various types of steel, including stainless and rust-resistant knives, so you can sharpen both kitchen and outdoor knives quickly without water. The sharpener’s industrial diamonds are long-lasting and grind efficiently, helping you maintain sharp blades with less effort. Plus, the unique HORL Block Diamonds provide fast and even sharpening, ensuring your knives stay sharp and ready for any cutting task.
Kota Japan 12 in. Diamond Carbon Steel Professional Knife Sharpener Rod
The Kota Japan 12 in. Diamond Carbon Steel Professional Knife Sharpener Rod features diamond electoplating for precision blade sharpening, an oval shape for higher sharpening efficiency, and requires less force than most sharpening steel. Its elegant design is a pleasing addition to any kitchen or work area.
AIERLIAN Rolling Knife Sharpener
The AIERLIAN Knife Sharpener is a handy tool that helps you keep your knives sharp and ready for any kitchen task. It uses strong diamond and ceramic discs to carefully grind and polish your blades, making them last longer and perform better. The sharpener features two magnetic angle supports, so you can easily choose the right sharpening angle for your needs—20 degrees for everyday use or 15 degrees for extra fine cutting. Made with high-quality natural wood and strong magnets, this sharpener keeps your knife steady while sharpening, giving you a safe and efficient experience every time.
HORL 2 Walnut Rolling Knife Sharpener
The HORL2 Walnut Rolling Knife Sharpener is a German-engineered sharpener that provides a precise edge for any type of knife. It features interchangeable grinding discs and a Magnetic Angle Support with a 15° angle for a fine edge and a 20° angle for a robust blade. The industrial diamonds used are the most durable and efficient abrasives, making it perfect for European kitchen knives, hard or soft steel, stainless and rust-resistant steels, and outdoor knives. Customers have praised its ease of use and precision, making it a great choice for those looking for a reliable sharpener.
BOGONI Rolling Knife Sharpener
Experience professional-level sharpness with the BOGONI Sharpener Kit. Equipped with diamond sharpening discs, it ensures razor-sharp knives for any culinary challenge. The magnetic angle base allows easy adjustment between 15° and 20° angles, catering to different cutting needs. Compatible with various knife types, this user-friendly sharpener suits all skill levels. Packaged in a deluxe gift box, it makes an excellent present. Enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-year warranty.
Narcissus Electric Knife Sharpener
The Narcissus Electric Knife Sharpener is a professional 2 stage sharpening system designed for home use that delivers quick and simple sharpening in just 30 seconds. Its 8 watts DC motor creates stable working status, allowing you to sharpen all your knives at once. The 2 stage design can sharpen and polish knives to a sharp, burr-free edge. Additionally, it has a 3 in 1 multifunctional feature with a scissors slot on the side face, providing more functions for the user. Works on stainless steel kitchen knives but not ceramic or serrated.
FANERFUN 13 Inch Carbon Steel Knife Sharpener
The FANERFUN 13 Inch Carbon Steel Knife Sharpener is a high-quality sharpening tool made from medium carbon steel and magnetic casting technology. It features an ergonomic handle for easy gripping and a dense sawtooth for quick sharpening. This multipurpose sharpener can be used to sharpen knives, cartilage knives, small kitchen knives, fruit knives, long fruit knives, and chef knives. Customers love the easy of use and the handle's good design.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is the best knife sharpening steel?
Best Overall: Winware 12-Inch Stainless Steel Sharpening Steel. The most common material for honing steels is stainless steel, and this 12-inch steel is a class option.
2. Do sharpening steels actually sharpen?
Fun fact: Sharpening steels don't actually sharpen knives. It's no secret that keeping your knives in optimal condition is going to require routine maintenance.
3. What is the difference between a sharpening steel and a honing steel?
The main difference between a sharpening and a honing steel is therefore whether or not material is removed. Honing steels are made from steel that has no sharpening function. Sharpening steels are ceramic or have a diamond coating and therefore harder than steel.
4. Can you sharpen steel knives?
You've likely seen someone using a honing rod to "sharpen" a knife. But the steel rod doesn't actually sharpen your knife—it just straightens out the cutting edge on the blade to allow for smoother, safer cuts. Sharpening your knife, on the other hand, actually, well, sharpens it. So yes, you need to do both.
During our steel knife sharpener research, we found 24 steel knife sharpener products and shortlisted 9 quality products. We collected and analyzed 261,425 customer reviews through our big data system to write the steel knife sharpeners list. We found that most customers choose steel knife sharpeners with an average price of $71.51.
The steel knife sharpeners are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of steel knife sharpeners, including longzon, TUMBLER, HORL, Kota Japan, AIERLIAN. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 1,270 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.
Rebecca Cantu grew up in a family-owned retail store for home and kitchen products. She worked online and gave assistance to people to buy ideal products for their sweet home after graduating from Northwestern University with a marketing degree. She has been writing content for online shopping guides since 2011 with her professional knowledge and natural sensitivity of appliances.