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If you spend any amount of time cooking scrumptious meals from scratch at home, you’re going to be using your kitchen knives fairly often. And while they work perfectly out of the gate, over time, the blades will get worn down. And if you want to stay safe, improve your knife handling skills, and process ingredients quickly, you’re going to need a sharp blade. Without buying new knives, of course.
That’s where a knife sharpener comes in handy! Most of them can be used with straight and serrated blades, they’re all very portable, and most importantly, they’re easy to use. The sharpening process is mostly automated so you won’t struggle to get a perfect edge, and since they’re pretty compact, you’ll be able to store them easily, even in the smallest or most cluttered kitchens!
If you think a knife sharpener is the way of the future for your kitchen knives, we’d love to help you find your perfect fit. There are a lot of options out there, and it can be tricky to know what’s best. Knife sharpeners will vary in things like price, number of stages, compatible blade types, sharpening material, and more. And each feature matters!
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best knife sharpeners in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Pick: Chef'sChoice Model 270 Diamond Hone Hybrid Knife Sharpener
Upgrade Pick: Chef’sChoice Trizor 15XV EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife Sharpener
Budget Pick: Sharpal 191H Kitchen Chef Knife/Scissors Sharpener
5-in-1 Pick: Sharpal 104N Professional 5-in-1 Kitchen Sharpening Tool
Also Great: Presto 08800 EverSharp 2-Stage Electric Knife Sharpener
We are big fans of the Chef'sChoice Model 270 Diamond Hone Hybrid Knife Sharpener. It’s just a great all-arounder, and we’ll tell you why. This sharpener can be used with a wide variety of knives, and that means you won’t need any extra tools to get everything done — it can tackle all kinds of serrated and straight blades! It’s really easy to use, too — no manuals or YouTube videos needed!
One of our favourite things about this option is its unique criss-cross technology — it produces a burr-free edge that is razor sharp and has tons of bite. And with the three-stage process, every blade will be honed and polished to perfection too. The diamond abrasives will last for years without replacement, even if you’re using it for a big knife collection, and the housing will hold up to the years as well!
There are only two reasons you might decide to go in a different direction. First, this knife sharpener won’t be able to manage your scissors for you as well as your knives, so you’ll want to look at other options if that’s important to you. Also, it’s a fairly bulky machine, and if you’re low on storage space in your kitchen you might struggle to find a permanent home for it. That’s it!
Overall, the Chef'sChoice Model 270 Diamond Hone Hybrid Knife Sharpener is an amazing option that will fit very well into any home. No matter what kind of chef’s knives, pocket knives, or sporting knives you’ll be working with, this sharpener will be more than up to the task.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have a high opinion of the Chef'sChoice Model 270 Diamond Hone Hybrid Knife Sharpener. It took them no time at all to learn how to use it properly and one person even decided to take it to their Airbnb because it works so well. Knives work flawlessly after sharpening and keep their edge for a long time. And it feels really durable as well.
Buy If…
You want your knives to have a lot of ‘bite’
You want a knife sharpener that’ll last
You have a variety of knife types to sharpen
Ease of use is a priority
Don’t Buy If…
You’re short on storage space
You have scissors to sharpen too
Dimensions: 11.2” x 6.25” x 5.2”
Weight: 2.7 lbs
Stages: 3
Sharpening Material: Diamond abrasives
Compatible Blade Types: Straight edge and serrated edge
Warranty: 3 years
The Chef’sChoice Trizor 15XV EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife Sharpener has lots of features to appreciate. Its most unique trait is its ability to turn all of your standard knives into 15-degree knives instead — this smaller angle means extra precision and better cutting performance overall. You’ll notice the difference, trust us. It can also be used with straight, serrated, or double-edged blades — no knife needs to be left out!
You’ll also be pleasantly surprised by how quickly this sharpener works, and that’s all thanks to the diamond abrasives. They can reshape your dull blades in under a minute, and for regular maintenance after that, you’ll only need to spend 10 seconds per knife. It’ll automatically put the blade in at the right angle too. All you have to do is move the knife. There aren’t any durability concerns with this one, either.
Thankfully, there aren’t many negatives to discuss with this one. Of course, the high price tag might be a deterrent for some of you, and that’s only natural. It’s a lot of money to spend on a knife sharpener. But it is worth it. The only other potential concern you may have is that it can’t be used with scissors like other options can. You’ll have to find another way to sharpen those.
Overall, the Chef’sChoice Trizor 15XV EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife Sharpener is one of our favourite knife sharpeners of all time. It works flawlessly on a wide variety of blade types, it’s easy to use and maintain, and it’ll last for years. You’ll agree that it’s worth the price once you’ve tried it for yourself.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 2/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers could not be happier with the quality of the Chef’sChoice Trizor 15XV EdgeSelect Professional Electric Knife Sharpener. They absolutely love being able to turn all of their standard 20-degree knives into 15-degree knives — they cut through everything so much easier. It doesn’t take any time at all after the first sharpening to do touch-ups, and it’s a very easy machine to use once they learn the right technique.
Buy If…
You want a quick sharpening process
You’d prefer to use 15-degree blades instead of 20-degree blades
You’d like a sharpener that does all the work for you
You don’t ever want to replace your knife sharpener again
Don’t Buy If…
You’re shopping on a budget
You’d like to sharpen scissors as well
Dimensions: 10” x 4.25” x 4.25”
Weight: 4.2 lbs
Stages: 3
Sharpening Material: Diamond abrasive and flexible abrasive
Compatible Blade Types: Straight edge, serrated edge, and double bevel edge
Warranty: 3 years
We love so many things about the Sharpal 191H Kitchen Chef Knife/Scissors Sharpener. It’s one of the tiniest sharpest that ever existed — it measures less than three inches in each direction and weighs only 0.2 lbs! It’ll easily claim a home in any cupboard or drawer no matter how busy your kitchen is. You also cannot beat the price. It’s perfect for budget-conscious shoppers.
We’re also really impressed with its versatility. It works amazingly well on straight and serrated knives, but it’s also really effective on scissors. It’ll take you no time at all to get all of your kitchen gear working like new! This little sharpener is also very safe to use. Its base works as an extra-secure suction cup that you can deploy with a convenient plastic lever. Say hello to hands-free sharpening!
The only potential drawback we can see with this option is in regard to its longevity. It isn’t the most durable knife sharpener in the world, and you might find yourself creating knicks in the plastic housing as you sharpen your blades. The plastic lever that controls the suction base is also fairly flimsy, so don’t be too surprised if it breaks down the line.
All in all, the Sharpal 191H Kitchen Chef Knife/Scissors Sharpener is our favourite option for folks who need an effective knife sharpener for a low price. Aside from some longevity concerns, there is nothing to dislike about this little thing. We bet you’ll love it as much as we do.
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
Reviewers have a very positive opinion of the Sharpal 191H Kitchen Chef Knife/Scissors Sharpener. It’s one of the best-performing sharpeners they’ve ever used for scissors, and it works really quickly on knives as well. They love how tiny it is (it stores anywhere!) and the hands-free use. They do have a few concerns about quality, though, mostly with the plastic housing and suction lever.
Buy If…
You’re looking for quality on a budget
You’re very safety-conscious
You’re low on storage space
You’d like to sharpen all of your kitchen knives (and scissors) with one tool
Don’t Buy If…
Longevity is a priority
Dimensions: 2.3” x 2.75” x 2.75”
Weight: 0.2 lbs
Stages: 2
Sharpening Material: Tungsten carbide and ceramic
Compatible Blade Types: Straight edge, serrated edge, and scissors
Warranty: 3 years
We admire so many things about the Sharpal 104N Professional 5-in-1 Kitchen Sharpening Tool. It has one of our favourite designs, and a pretty unique one at that. There’s a large handle grip to the left of the sharpening section, so you can keep the sharpener steady and move your knives without the base moving. So convenient. It’s also super portable — compact and weighs less than one pound!
We’re also really happy with the durability of this one — it’s backed by a three-year warranty which speaks to its quality, and the sharpening blades are tested for 10,000+ uses! You won’t be replacing this thing any time soon. Since it’s compatible with straight, serrated, and double-bevelled edges, and can work on 20-degree or 15-degree blades, you won’t have to look elsewhere no matter what knives you use for cooking.
We have very few complaints to share with you about the Sharpal 104N Professional 5-in-1 Kitchen Sharpening Tool. Because of its unique handle design and one-way sharpening direction, it isn’t a great option for anyone who is left-handed. It’ll be uncomfortable at best, and impossible at worst. It can also be a bit tricky to sharpen scissors well since you have no guide — you’ll have to practice a lot to get a good edge.
Overall, the Sharpal 104N Professional 5-in-1 Kitchen Sharpening Tool will make an amazing addition to any kitchen. Or hunting pack. Or anything else that’ll require knives, for that matter. It can sharpen anything (and it does its job well) and is very safety-conscious. Plus, you can’t beat the price!
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Reviewers have great things to say about the Sharpal 104N Professional 5-in-1 Kitchen Sharpening Tool. Its versatility is phenomenal — no matter what their knife collection looks like, this thing can sharpen everything. It’s also really portable and feels very sturdy while they’re using it. Left-handed folks don’t have a great time with it, though, and it can be tricky to sharpen scissors well.
Buy If…
You have 20-degree Euro/American knives and 15-degree Asian knives to work on
Safety is a priority
A portable option is important
You’d like a knife sharpener that will go the distance
Don’t Buy If…
You’re left-handed
You’ll want to sharpen scissors often
Dimensions: 8.7” x 3.1” x 1.3”
Weight: 0.7 lbs
Stages: 2
Sharpening Material: Tungsten carbide and ceramic
Compatible Blade Types: Straight edge, serrated edge, double-bevelled edge, and scissors
Warranty: 3 years
The Presto 08800 EverSharp 2-Stage Electric Knife Sharpener is a pretty well-rounded option for all of your straight-edge sharpening needs. It’ll work with a variety of different straight blade types and makes your job really easy — it automatically guides the knife to the right angle so there’s no guesswork involved. You’ll end up with a perfect edge every time.
Since this is a 2-stage option instead of a 3-stage, your knife-sharpening process will also be faster — you only have to move each knife through two grinding wheels instead of three, and it still does all of the grinding, honing, and polishing that needs to be done. With a simple on/off switch and a stable design, it could really not be easier to use.
Of course, there’s one major limitation that comes with a 2-stage option — it won’t be compatible with any serrated blades. If you’re cutting a lot of delicate fruits, bread, or other baked goods, you’ll want to find a sharpener that’s more versatile. Plus, it isn’t compatible with scissors. And since it doesn’t have the toughest sharpening material, you might need more than a dozen passes to sharpen extra-dull blades.
All in all, the Presto 08800 EverSharp 2-Stage Electric Knife Sharpener is the best option if you’re looking at 2-stage machines only. You won’t be able to use it on scissors or serrated blades, but for maintenance of all of your straight edges, this one will be a perfect fit.
Performance: 4.5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Reviewers have a good opinion of the Presto 08800 EverSharp 2-Stage Electric Knife Sharpener. They’re able to get through an entire block of knives fairly quickly with this machine, and they haven’t run into any issues no matter what type of straight blade they’ve sharpened. Most of them would prefer that it was also compatible with scissors, though, and it can take a while to work on really dull knives.
Buy If…
You’ll be working with a variety of straight-edged blades
You want something very user-friendly
You’d like to sharpen your knives quickly
Don’t Buy If…
You need to sharpen serrated blades or scissors
You have extremely dull knives
Dimensions: 3.5” x 8.2” x 5.9”
Weight: 3 lbs
Stages: 2
Sharpening Material: Sapphirite
Compatible Blade Types: Straight edge
Warranty: 1 year
The most affordable knife sharpeners will be priced between $20 and $30, but they can also easily exceed $300 at the higher end of the market. Generally, more expensive knife sharpeners will offer better longevity, will have three stages instead of two, and will be compatible with a wider range of blade types.
Every knife sharpener will have a list of compatible blade types that it can be used with effectively. Some will only be able to handle standard 20-degree straight blades, others will be able to sharpen 15-degree blades, serrated blades, scissors, and more! Make sure you know what your knife collection looks like before you fall in love with a sharpener that won’t be able to sharpen all of them.
Knife sharpeners will typically come with either two or three stages of sharpening. The first stage will always be the coarsest grind, and that’s to get the basic shape of the blade right. The next steps are where the difference will occur — some machines will combine honing and polishing into the same step, and others will separate them out. A three-stage machine produces better blades than a two-stage.
The sharpening material within a knife sharpener can vary. The best material is diamond abrasives— they work the best and also have the longest lifespans. Many options will use tungsten carbide as stage one and ceramic as stage two/three. There are also some brands that will create custom material blends.
Safety is everything when it comes to knife sharpening. You should look for a knife sharpener that has a suction base, an out-of-the-way place to rest one hand while you sharpen, or both!
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.