Best Stainless Steel Meat Cleavers of 2026

Rebecca Cantu Avatar
Rebecca Cantu
Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026

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Stainless steel meat cleavers are an essential tool for any home cook or professional chef. These heavy-duty knives are designed to effortlessly chop through meat, bone, and even tough vegetables. The stainless steel construction ensures durability and easy maintenance, while the sharp edge allows for precise cuts every time. Some models even feature a comfortable, ergonomic handle for a secure grip and reduced hand fatigue. Whether you're preparing a large roast or breaking down a whole chicken, a stainless steel meat cleaver is a must-have in any kitchen.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Mueller 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife Cover #TOP 1
Mueller 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Utopia Kitchen 7 Inch Cleaver Knife Cover #TOP 2
Utopia Kitchen 7 Inch Cleaver Knife
ftb score rating icon 9.8
HOSHANHO 7-Inch Cleaver Knife Cover #TOP 3
HOSHANHO 7-Inch Cleaver Knife
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Stainless Steel Meat Cleavers

#TOP 1

Mueller 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife

SS-77
Black
Mueller 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife Cover
Mueller 7-inch Butcher Knife Meat Cleaver, Heavy Duty Bone Chopper, Durable, Precision-Crafted, Well-Balanced Pro Grade High Carbon Stainless Steel Blade Full Tang Handle, Home-Restaurant, Razor-Sharp

The Mueller 7-inch Meat Cleaver Knife is a premium quality and durable kitchen tool, perfect for both home and restaurant kitchens. Made of high-quality stainless steel, this knife resists rust and corrosion, easy to clean and maintain. Its razor-sharp and laser-tested blade effortlessly chops, minces, slices, and dices all kinds of meat, with an extremely sharp edge that remains even after tough tasks. With an ergonomic handle, this knife provides a secure and comfortable grip to minimize any fatigue, finger numbness, or aches. Mueller offers unparalleled 24/7 live telephone customer support to assist with anything you need.

What We Like
Sharp blade
Comfortable grip
Good weight balance
High quality for price
Cuts through bone easily
#TOP 2

Utopia Kitchen 7 Inch Cleaver Knife

UK63C
Black
Utopia Kitchen 7 Inch Cleaver Knife Cover
Utopia Kitchen 7 inch Cleaver Knife Stainless Steel Chef Butcher Knives for Meat, Vegetable Multipurpose Kitchen Chef Knife Chopping Bone

The Utopia Kitchen Cleaver Knife is a heavy-duty stainless steel knife designed for the tough demands of both home kitchens and restaurants. Its 7-inch blade effortlessly cuts through large pieces of food and is perfect for bone cutting, chopping, and cleaving. The ABS 430 handle provides an easy grip and hassle-free maneuvering, while the superior quality stainless steel blade maintains an ultra-sharp edge for lasting and superior cutting performance. This cleaver knife is dishwasher safe, although hand washing is recommended to retain the exceptional blade's fine quality.

What We Like
Very sharp blade
Durable and long-lasting
Good weight and balance
Affordable price
Comfortable handle grip
#TOP 3

HOSHANHO 7-Inch Cleaver Knife

7 inch Cleaver Knife
Silver
HOSHANHO 7-Inch Cleaver Knife Cover
HOSHANHO Cleaver Knife 7 Inch, Ultra Sharp Japanese High Carbon Steel Vegetable Meat Cleaver, Multifunction Chopper Butcher Knife for Home Kitchen and Restaurant

The HOSHANHO Cleaver Knife is designed for precision and ease in your kitchen. With its extremely sharp 15° blade angle, you can enjoy clean cuts while preparing meat and vegetables. Made from high-quality Japanese AUS-10 stainless steel, this knife maintains its sharpness over time, making it perfect for everyday use. Its ergonomic handle ensures comfort and control, reducing hand fatigue during extended cooking sessions. This versatile tool excels in various tasks, whether you're slicing fish or chopping veggies, making it an essential addition for both novice cooks and culinary experts.

What We Like
Ultra-sharp blade
Excellent balance and weight
Comfortable ergonomic handle
High-quality Japanese steel
Effortless food prep
#TOP 4

imarku 7-Inch Meat Cleaver Knife

I-KC0009
Light Black
imarku 7-Inch Meat Cleaver Knife Cover
imarku Cleaver Knife 7 Inch Meat Cleaver - SUS440A Japan High Carbon Stainless Steel Butcher Knife with Ergonomic Handle, Ultra Sharp Knife, Kitchen Gadgets for Home/Restaurant, Gifts for Men Women

The imarku 7-Inch Meat Cleaver Knife is a multi-purpose cleaver designed for slicing, chopping, mincing, boning and cutting meat, vegetables, and fruits. The blade is hand-sharpened by experienced artisans, with a thin, ultra-sharp blade thickness of 2.3mm, making it easy to resharpen and maintain. The knife is forged from high carbon stainless steel SUS440A for easy maintenance and edge retention. The ergonomic Pakkawood handle ensures a comfortable grip and high maneuverability, making it a great kitchen essential for home and restaurant use.

What We Like
Extremely sharp blade
High-quality construction
Lightweight and easy to handle
Cuts meat and bone effortlessly
Rust-resistant stainless steel
#TOP 5

Plys Kitchen Meat Cleaver Knife

cleaver
Silver
8.6"
Plys Kitchen Meat Cleaver Knife Cover
Plys Kitchen Meat Cleaver Knife, Unique Effort Saving Knife Professional Stainless Steel Chef Cooking Knives for Cutting Meat Vegetable Father Mother

The Plys Meat Cleaver is crafted using traditional hand forging techniques, ensuring a durable and sharp blade made from high-quality stainless steel. This means you get a knife that stays sharp longer and resists wear and rust. Its specially curved, hand-polished blade makes cutting food easy and precise, helping you keep the juices and nutrition inside your ingredients. The ergonomic handle is designed to reduce hand fatigue by fitting comfortably in your grip and making your cutting motions more efficient. This thoughtful design lets you work longer in the kitchen without discomfort, making meal prep easier and more enjoyable.

What We Like
Sharp blade
Ergonomic handle
Multi-purpose functionality
Lightweight and balanced
Easy on arthritic hands
#TOP 6

Cuisinart 7" Stainless Steel Cleaver

C77SS-CLVPK
Stainless Steel
Cuisinart 7" Stainless Steel Cleaver Cover
Cuisinart 7" Stainless Steel Cleaver with Blade Guard

The Cuisinart 7" Cleaver is designed for versatility in the kitchen. Its high-quality stainless steel blade ensures durability and sharpness, making it perfect for chopping through soft poultry and meat bones with ease. You can also tackle hard winter squash without any hassle. For added safety, the cleaver comes with a matching blade guard, allowing you to store it securely when not in use. This feature not only protects the blade but also keeps you safe from accidental cuts. With this cleaver, you can enjoy effortless food preparation and peace of mind in your culinary adventures.

What We Like
Sharp blade with cover
Comfortable grip
Lightweight design
Easy to clean
Sturdy construction
#TOP 7

Matsato Japanese Steel Cleaver Knife 5.8 Inch

Matsato
Brown
5.8"
Matsato Japanese Steel Cleaver Knife 5.8 Inch Cover
Matsato Cleaver Knife – Japanese Steel Cooking Butcher Knife for Meat & Vegetables Chopping, 5.8 Inch Kitchen Knife, Christmas Kitchen Gift for Men & Women

The Matsato Steel Cleaver is crafted from high-quality Japanese 3CR13 stainless steel, offering you sharp, long-lasting cutting power perfect for slicing meat, vegetables, and even poultry bones. Weighing only 176 grams, this lightweight knife gives you excellent control and smooth movements, making your chopping tasks easier and more precise. Its 5.8-inch hammered blade helps reduce food sticking, so you can work efficiently without constant interruptions. The ergonomic finger-hole grip ensures a comfortable, secure hold, which enhances your cutting accuracy and safety in the kitchen. All these features make this cleaver a reliable tool for everyday cooking.

What We Like
Extremely sharp blade
Well-balanced design
Heavy duty build
Comfortable handle
Easy to use
#TOP 8

Juvale Meat Cleaver Knife with Wooden Handle

8541907643
Silver
8 Inches
Juvale Meat Cleaver Knife with Wooden Handle Cover
Juvale Meat Cleaver - 8-Inch Stainless Steel Blade, Wood Handle - Heavy-Duty Butcher Knife & Bone Cleaver for Beef Brisket, Meat Cutting & Chopping - Chopping Knife

The Juvale Meat Cleaver Knife with Wooden Handle is a heavy-duty bone chopper, perfect for both professional and home kitchens. Made from durable stainless steel with full tang detailing, it comes with an ergonomic solid wood handle for easy grip. The hole at the top corner of the knife makes it easy to hang, ensuring convenient storage in your kitchen or restaurant. Measuring 6 inches in length and weighing approximately 1.9 lbs, this meat cleaver butcher knife is an ideal tool to have in your kitchen.

What We Like
Impressive quality for the price
Sharp blade right out of the box
Good weight and balance
Sturdy construction
Excellent craftsmanship
#TOP 9

PAUDIN 7" Meat Cleaver Knife

200mm
Silver,Brown
7 inches
PAUDIN 7" Meat Cleaver Knife Cover
PAUDIN Cleaver Knife, Ultra Sharp Meat Cleaver 7 Inch, High Carbon Stainless Steel Butcher Knife with Wooden Handle, Chinese Cleaver for Meat Cutting Vegetable Slicing

The PAUDIN 7" Meat Cleaver Knife is a multipurpose kitchen tool that can handle daily kitchen needs such as chopping, shredding, and slicing, as well as disjointing cuts, carving thicker meat, or hacking bones. The cleaver is made with premium high-carbon German stainless steel, which ensures excellent performance and a longer-lasting sharp edge retention. The knife is designed with an ergonomic Pakkwood handle that is comfortable and safe to use.

What We Like
Incredibly sharp blade
Handles various foods easily
Comfortable grip for extended use
High-quality materials
Great weight and balance
#TOP 10

ENOKING 7.5 Inch Hand Forged Meat Cleaver Knife

ENOKING Cleaver Knife
7.5"
ENOKING 7.5 Inch Hand Forged Meat Cleaver Knife Cover
ENOKING 7.5″ Cleaver Knife, Chef’s Knives – Hand Forged, German High Carbon Stainless Steel Butcher Knife with Full Tang Handle for Home Kitchen & Restaurant

The ENOKING 7.5 Inch Hand Forged Meat Cleaver Knife is made of high manganese steel, which makes the blade ultra-solid and maintains sharp edges better than stainless steel. The V-shaped blade edge minimizes cutting resistance for effortless food cutting. The full tang and triple-riveted design of the ergonomic wood handle ensure comfort, maneuverability, and prevent handle breakage. This multi-purpose cleaver knife is suitable for various kitchen tasks, BBQ, hunting, hiking, and camping, and includes an after-sales guarantee from ENOKING.

What We Like
High manganese steel for ultra-solid and sharp blade
Ergonomic wood handle for comfortable, non-slip grip
Full tang and triple-riveted design for durability and maneuverability
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why do Japanese chefs use cleavers?

Why do Asian chefs use cleavers? Cleavers make it easier to slice, dice, and move meat and vegetables around wherever they need to go.

2. Are cleavers worth it?

A heavy cleaver can be used for countless things but excels at breaking through tougher matter like tendons and bones. One of the best things you can do is learn how to properly de-bone a chicken (buying whole chickens is so much cheaper!) and having a cleaver can help.

3. Do chefs use cleavers?

The meat cleaver is the tool that is often found in the collection of knives in the kitchen but not seen too often. However, it's a vital tool for every chef or cook.

4. Why is there a hole in a meat cleaver?

The hole on the heavy-duty blade makes cutting through bone easy. The hole enables you to hold the upper part with your fingers. As you reinforce your grip on the handle, you are able to pull the blade free.

Editor's Notes

During our stainless steel meat cleaver research, we found 24 stainless steel meat cleaver products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 109,574 customer reviews through our big data system to write the stainless steel meat cleavers list. We found that most customers choose stainless steel meat cleavers with an average price of $30.17.

The stainless steel meat cleavers are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of stainless steel meat cleavers, including Mueller, Utopia Kitchen, HOSHANHO, imarku, Plys. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 1,362 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Written by
Rebecca Cantu Avatar

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.