Best Antique Pencil Sharpeners of 2026
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Antique pencil sharpeners are a unique collectible item that have become increasingly popular in recent years. These sharpeners were produced during a time when pencil sharpening was a daily task for many students and professionals. They were crafted with intricate details and made from a variety of materials such as cast iron, brass, and steel. Antique pencil sharpeners come in a wide range of designs, from simple hand-held models to elaborate desk-mounted versions. They are not only functional, but also serve as a decorative piece for any office or home workspace. Whether you are a collector or simply appreciate the charm of vintage items, antique pencil sharpeners are a must-have addition to any collection.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Antique Pencil Sharpeners
Bostitch Twist-n-Sharp Pencil Sharpener (PS1-ADJ)
The Bostitch Twist-n-Sharp Pencil Sharpener is a must-have for kids and colored pencil enthusiasts. With its premium Rachet Technology, you can enjoy comfortable and fast sharpening, unlike other pencil sharpeners. The attached dispenser drawers allow for easy cleaning of the shavings, ensuring that you never lose the door piece. The center dial in the center of the sharpener offers customizable sharpening, allowing you to choose between a sharp or blunt point. Thanks to the exclusive Tip Saver Technology, this sharpener prevents over-sharpening and extends the lifespan of your pencils. With three vibrant colors to choose from, Purple, Coral, or Blue, the Bostitch Twist-n-Sharp Pencil Sharpener combines functionality and style, making it the perfect addition to your art supplies.
X-ACTO Mighty Mite Electric Pencil Sharpener
The X-ACTO Mighty Mite Electric Pencil Sharpener with Pencil Saver, SafeStart Motor is a small and efficient pencil sharpener that is perfect for teachers and homeschool supplies. The sharpener is equipped with a Pencil Saver feature that prevents over-sharpening and extends the pencil life. The SafeStart Motor prevents operation when the shavings receptacle is removed, ensuring the safety of the user. The compact and lightweight design makes it easy to move around and fit in small spaces.
Amazon Basics Portable Electric Pencil Sharpener
Amazon Basics Sharpener is an electric pencil sharpener suitable for work, school, or home use. It automatically sharpens 6-8mm diameter pencils when inserted, shutting off when done or the cover is opened. You can power it with 4 AA batteries or a USB cable, making it portable. The large shavings canister allows for extended use without frequent emptying.
Staedtler Double Hole Pencil Sharpener
The Staedtler Double Hole Pencil Sharpener is perfect for sharpening colored pencils, large pencils, and regular pencils. Its two holes accommodate a variety of sizes, making it an excellent makeup pencil sharpener that can keep your eyebrow pencil or lip liner in top shape. This compact, hand-held pencil sharpener can be easily carried in a pencil case, desk drawer, makeup bag, or kid's school backpack, and is versatile enough to use in the office, at school, or around the house.
Bostitch Personal Electric Pencil Sharpener
The Bostitch Personal Electric Pencil Sharpener is designed to provide you with a longer-lasting cutting performance through its HHC cutter technology. The powerful motor ensures that your sharpening experience is always smooth and stall-free. Additionally, it comes with a safety switch that prevents operation when the shavings tray is removed. The high capacity shavings tray is easy to clean, making maintenance a breeze. Its space-saving compact design allows for easy storage in small spaces.
JARLINK Electric Pencil Sharpener
The JARLINK Electric Pencil Sharpener is a powerful and versatile sharpener that can sharpen almost all 8mm pencils in just 5-10 seconds. It features an auto-stop function to prevent over-sharpening and save pencil lead, and a durable spiral blade that can sharpen pencils over 3000 times. The sharpener can be powered by 4 AA batteries or a USB cable, making it easy to use anywhere. The detachable blade and easy-to-clean reservoir make maintenance a breeze.
X-ACTO SchoolPro Electric Pencil Sharpener
The X-ACTO SchoolPro Electric Pencil Sharpener is a heavy-duty pencil sharpener suitable for schools, classrooms, and homeschooling. It features a break-resistant sharpener that creates precise tips to reduce lead breakage, a flyaway cutter that prevents oversharpening, and an easy-to-empty XL shaving bin that keeps the workspace tidy. The six-size dial fits nearly every pencil, including colored pencils.
Sonuimy Pencil Sharpeners with Dual Holes
Sonuimy Pencil Sharpeners with Dual Holes are perfect for students, teachers, and professionals. The pencil sharpeners come with dual holes design, made of high-quality materials, easy to carry and clean, and available in four different colors. You can sharpen pencils of different thicknesses and reduce children's exposure to pencil dust, providing essential stationery supplies for all.
AFMAT Heavy Duty Electric Pencil Sharpener
The AFMAT Heavy Duty Electric Pencil Sharpener is a UL listed pencil sharpener that can sharpen over 10,000 times in only 3-5 seconds due to its upgraded motor and stronger helical blade. It is suitable for 6.5-8mm No.2/Colored Pencils, including Prismacolor Premiers, Derwent, Verithins, Faber-castell, Koh-I-Noor Progresso. The sharpener has two safety features, is non-skid, and is suitable for heavy use making it ideal for teachers, students, engineers, artists, and commercial use.
STAEDTLER Premium Quality Pencil Sharpener
The STAEDTLER Premium Quality Pencil Sharpener is a must-have tool for those who value a sharp pencil. The metal sharpener comes with a secure screw-on lid that prevents accidental opening, making it safe to carry around. It is compact and portable, perfect for your pencil case and work-station. The sharpener is available in assorted colors, adding a fun surprise to every order.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are old pencil sharpeners worth anything?
Many of these tiny sharpeners sell online for between $5 and $25 apiece or even lower, although sometimes rare promotional pencil sharpeners can sell for more, like the Baker's chocolate sharpener below from the 1930s.
2. What is an old pencil sharpener called?
In 1833 in England, Cooper & Eckstein patented the so-called Styloxynon, a simple device consisting of two sharp files set together at right angle in a small block of rosewood. This is the oldest pencil sharpener that has surviving examples.
3. What is the most expensive pencil sharpener?
El Casco pencil sharpener: the most expensive sharpener in the world, includes a viewer to peer inside during use.
4. What was the first ever pencil sharpener?
In 1828, French mathematician Bernard Lassimonne patented the first pencil sharpener. This sharpener had small metal files set at 90 degrees in a block of wood and it grinded the edges of the pencil's tip. This method wasn't any faster or easier than sharpening with a knife, so it didn't become popular.
During our antique pencil sharpener research, we found 24 antique pencil sharpener products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 724,268 customer reviews through our big data system to write the antique pencil sharpeners list. We found that most customers choose antique pencil sharpeners with an average price of $11.61.
The antique pencil sharpeners are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of antique pencil sharpeners, including Bostitch, X-Acto, STAEDTLER, JARLINK, Sonuimy. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
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.