Diamond Wheels, Whetstones or a Honing Steel? Best Knife Sharpener Options for 15° and 20° Edges

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The best knife sharpener depends on two things: the angle your knives were ground to, and how much hands-on skill you want to bring. Many Asian-style and newer Western knives carry a finer 15-degree edge, while traditional European and American knives usually sit closer to 20 degrees. Some sharpeners lock in one angle, some let you choose, and a whetstone leaves it all up to your hand.

We compared seven tools, all sold by Amazon.com, across every main type: two Chef’sChoice diamond electrics at the high end, a budget Presto electric, a Zwilling pull-through, an Amazon Basics whetstone set, an adjustable Smith’s sharpener for outdoor blades and a Wüsthof honing steel. For each, we quote the angle, abrasive and serrated-blade claims straight from the listing and flag what it leaves out.

If you’re wondering whether a premium sharpener is worth it over a $20 pull-through, the answer comes down to how many good knives you own and how often you use them.

Our Top Knife Sharpener Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. Chef’sChoice 15XV EdgeSelect Electric: Best Overall

Chef’sChoice’s 15XV EdgeSelect is a three-stage electric sharpener built around one idea: turning ordinary 20-degree factory edges into what the brand calls high-performance Trizor XV 15-degree edges. You switch it on, draw the knife through each slot in turn, and spring-loaded guides hold the blade at the set angle for you.

The stages do different jobs. Stages 1 and 2 are plated with 100% diamond abrasives to sharpen and hone the edge, and stage 3 uses what Chef’sChoice describes as a patented flexible abrasive system to strop and polish. That last stage is also the one the listing says helps prolong the life of serrated knives, so bread knives can go through it too.

Day to day, the speed is the selling point. The listing puts the first sharpening of a knife at about one minute and resharpening at about ten seconds, which makes it easy to touch up a chef’s knife before dinner. Its flexible spring guides adjust automatically, and the controls come down to a simple on/off switch. The listing gives a footprint of about 10 inches long and 4.25 inches wide and tall, and the bullets state a three-year limited warranty.

It suits households with several good kitchen knives, especially anyone who already owns Japanese-style blades or wants their Western knives converted to a finer edge, and who would rather press a switch than learn a whetstone.

Why we like it

• Diamond abrasives in two stages
• About ten seconds to resharpen
• Strop stage for serrated knives

Watch out for

It only makes 15-degree edges, so it changes the factory angle on 20-degree knives, and the warranty spec field is blank even though a bullet states three years.

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2. Chef’sChoice AngleSelect 15/20 Electric: Best Premium for Both Angles

This Chef’sChoice electric (model field 0115200) takes the opposite approach to the 15XV: instead of converting everything to one angle, its AngleSelect design lets you apply a traditional 20-degree edge or a finer 15-degree edge. Chef’sChoice pitches the finer edge for precision slicing, so you can keep a Japanese santoku at 15 degrees and a German chef’s knife at 20.

The listing describes the edge as Dizor engineered, with two distinct facets set at different angles that form what the brand calls a longer-lasting, arch-shaped edge. All of the abrasives are 100% diamond, used for both sharpening and honing, and precision angle guides are meant to keep the angle accurate along the whole edge and take the guesswork out.

In use, you pick the slot that matches the knife and draw it through the stages, as with any guided electric. The title calls it a three-stage sharpener, and the bullets say it handles straight-edge and serrated knives, so most of a kitchen block can go through one machine. The listing weight is 4.15 pounds, but the stated dimensions of 3.94 by 1.67 by 1.67 inches can’t be right for a unit that heavy, so measure your counter space against the product photos instead.

It suits anyone with a mixed knife collection who wants to keep each blade at the angle it was made with, and who is willing to pay premium-tier money for that flexibility.

Why we like it

• Choose 15 or 20 degrees
• Diamond abrasives throughout
• Works on serrated knives

Watch out for

The listing states no warranty and gives dimensions that are clearly wrong, so check the product photos and the brand’s support terms before buying.

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3. Presto 08800 EverSharp: Best Budget Electric

Presto’s 08800 EverSharp is a two-stage electric sharpener for people who want the speed of a motorized tool without premium pricing. It plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet, and you draw the knife through each slot a few times, letting the spinning wheels do the work.

Stage 1 is precision grinding, which creates a precisely angled edge, and stage 2 fine-hones and polishes it. Both stages use what Presto calls Sapphirite sharpening wheels, which the brand says are made of the same ultra-hard material used in professional sharpening shops. Precision blade guides hold the knife at the angle, so there is no freehand guessing, though the listing doesn’t say what that angle is in degrees.

The listing aims it at kitchen and sport knives and says it works on most any non-serrated blade, so bread knives and serrated steak knives are out. Presto describes the result as a razor-sharp edge in seconds. The specs give a footprint of 9.9 by 7.2 by 4.8 inches and a weight of 2.95 pounds, and the warranty field reads “1 Year Limited.” The listing also notes it is built to North American electrical standards.

It suits a first-time sharpener buyer, a hunter or angler who wants a quick home touch-up for plain-edge sport knives, or anyone whose knives are mostly inexpensive and just need to cut again.

Why we like it

• Electric speed at a low price
• Fixed guides, no technique needed
• Stated one-year limited warranty

Watch out for

It won’t do serrated blades, and the listing never names the edge angle, so it isn’t the tool for matching a specific 15-degree knife.

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4. Zwilling 4-Stage Ultra-Sharp: Best Manual Pull-Through

Zwilling’s 4-Stage Ultra-Sharp is a manual pull-through sharpener: no cord, no motor, just slots you draw the knife through while holding the handle. It is built to sit on the counter, do its job in a few strokes and go back in a drawer.

The four stages split into two pairs. One coarse and one fine slot are set up for Western-style blades, and another coarse and fine pair is for Asian-style blades, which are typically ground to a narrower angle. That makes it one of the simpler ways to keep both kinds of knife in shape without guessing at angles, though the listing doesn’t give the degrees for either pair.

Safety is part of the design. The listing says the handle is shaped to protect your fingers and the base has a non-slip bottom, so the tool stays put while you pull. To use it, Zwilling says you just pull through and the blade’s sharpness is restored. Cleanup is a wipe with a damp cloth, and the listing is clear that it is not dishwasher safe. It weighs a listed 0.77 pounds.

It suits apartment kitchens, new cooks and anyone who mainly needs a quick edge refresh between more thorough sharpenings, especially households with a mix of Western and Asian knives.

Why we like it

• Separate slots for Western and Asian blades
• Finger guard and non-slip base
• Small enough for a drawer

Watch out for

The listing doesn’t mention serrated knives or give the angle for either pair of slots, and it has to be hand-wiped.

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5. Amazon Basics Whetstone Set (400/1000, 3000/8000): Best Whetstone Set

Amazon Basics’ whetstone set gives you the traditional way to sharpen: two dual-sided stones, one with 400 and 1000 grit faces and one with 3000 and 8000 grit faces, plus a flattening stone and a bamboo base. The title counts three stones in the set. You hold the knife at your chosen angle and work it across the stone, moving from coarse to fine.

The grit spread covers the whole job. A 400-grit face is coarse enough for a dull or nicked edge, 1000 is the usual everyday sharpening grit, and 3000 and 8000 refine and polish. These are water stones, so the listing says you sharpen with water rather than oil and clean them with water afterward.

Three extras make it friendlier to beginners. An angle guide clips on to help keep a consistent angle and pressure, a silicone base holds the stone and the non-slip bamboo base keeps the unit in place, and the flattening stone returns a worn stone’s surface to flat. The listing says it handles kitchen knives, scissors, pocket knives, hunting knives and more, and it is backed by an Amazon Basics one-year limited warranty, according to the bullets.

It suits patient cooks and outdoor knife owners who want to sharpen at any angle they choose, including single-bevel or high-end Japanese knives that most guided sharpeners can’t match exactly.

Why we like it

• Full 400 to 8000 grit range
• Angle guide for beginners
• Flattening stone included

Watch out for

Whetstones take practice and a little setup each time, so they’re a poor fit if you want a 10-second touch-up.

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6. Smith’s Adjustable Manual Sharpener S-50264: Best Adjustable Angle for Outdoor Knives

Smith’s S-50264 is a manual pull-through sharpener with an unusual feature for its price: a knob that changes the sharpening angle. Turn it to one of six settings between 14 and 24 degrees and the coarse and fine abrasives move to match the grind of your knife, then you pull the blade through the slots.

There are two adjustable stages, coarse and fine, for straight-edge knives, and Smith’s says the slots grind both sides of the blade at once for quick sharpening. A separate fixed-angle slot handles serrated edges. The abrasives are carbides and ceramic rods, and the listing says both are replaceable, so a worn sharpener doesn’t have to be thrown away.

Smith’s pitches it as an outdoor accessory, naming fillet knives, pocket knives, hunting knives and various sizes of fishing hooks, but nothing stops it from working on kitchen knives too. A soft grip handle and a non-slip base are there for comfortable, safe sharpening, and at a listed 0.5 pounds and 10.75 inches long, it fits in a tackle box or a kitchen drawer.

It suits hunters, anglers and anyone who carries a folding or fixed blade, especially owners of several knives ground to different angles who want one inexpensive tool that can match each.

Why we like it

• Six angle settings from 14 to 24 degrees
• Serrated slot included
• Replaceable abrasives

Watch out for

It has the weakest sales rank among our picks and the listing gives no warranty, so treat it as an inexpensive, replaceable tool.

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7. WÜSTHOF 9″ Honing Steel: Best Honing Steel

Wüsthof’s 9-inch honing steel is the simplest tool on this list: a grooved steel rod on a handle. Instead of grinding away metal the way a stone or diamond wheel does, a steel is used to realign the edge between sharpenings, a few light strokes per side before you cook.

Wüsthof forges the rod from a single block of high carbon stainless steel and tempers it to 58 HRC, according to the listing. The rod is magnetic, which the brand says attracts loose metal fibers during sharpening, and it is grooved, which the listing says improves ease of sharpening. The listing’s own wording promises to sharpen dull knives, scissors and cutters, but in practice a steel works best on a knife that is still basically sharp.

The handle is slip-resistant and textured, with a protective bolster between your hand and the rod, which matters because you swing the knife toward that hand on every stroke. The steel is made in Germany by a family-owned company founded in Solingen more than 200 years ago, the listing says, and the warranty field reads “Lifetime warranty against manufactures defect.”

It suits anyone who owns a good chef’s knife and wants to stretch the time between sharpenings, and it pairs naturally with any of the sharpeners above.

Why we like it

• Lifetime warranty field
• Light and easy to store
• Bolster protects your hand

Watch out for

A honing steel won’t restore a truly dull or chipped edge, so plan on pairing it with a sharpener or stone.

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How We Chose the Best Knife Sharpeners

We started with sharpeners sold by Amazon.com and listed in stock, skipped any tool already covered in our grinder guides, and compared what each listing actually says:

• Type: electric, manual pull-through, whetstone, adjustable guided sharpener or honing steel.
• Angle: a fixed 15 or 20 degrees, a choice of both, an adjustable range, or freehand.
• Abrasive: diamond, Sapphirite wheels, carbide and ceramic, or water stones by grit.
• Blade types: serrated support, and whether the listing names kitchen, sport or outdoor knives.
• Safety features: non-slip bases, finger guards and protective handles.
• Warranty and popularity: the warranty field or bullet, and Amazon sales rank.

Knife Sharpener Buying Guide

15 or 20 Degrees: Match the Angle First

Chef’sChoice’s sharpener finder sorts knives the way most makers do: Asian and contemporary European and American knives with 15-degree edges, and traditional European and American knives with 20-degree edges. The 15XV converts everything to 15 degrees, the AngleSelect electric offers both, the Smith’s dial runs from 14 to 24 degrees, and a whetstone lets you hold any angle you like. If you aren’t sure what your knives use, check the maker’s care page before you sharpen.

Electric vs. Manual vs. Whetstone

Electric sharpeners like the Chef’sChoice pair and the Presto are the fastest and need the least skill, but they remove more metal and take up counter space. Manual pull-throughs like the Zwilling and Smith’s are small, cheap and quick for touch-ups. Whetstones like the Amazon Basics set are slower and take practice, but they give you the most control over angle and finish. A honing steel like the Wüsthof doesn’t replace any of these; it keeps a sharp edge working longer.

Is a Premium Electric Worth It Over a Budget Model?

The gap is real but specific. The two Chef’sChoice models list 100% diamond abrasives, serrated-blade support and either a 15-degree conversion or a 15/20 choice. The budget Presto lists Sapphirite wheels, two stages and no serrated support, and it doesn’t state its angle. If you own one or two inexpensive knives, the Presto or a pull-through covers it. If you own several good knives, especially Japanese ones, a premium diamond electric or a whetstone makes more sense.

Serrated Knives and Different Blade Types

Serrated bread and steak knives need a sharpener that says it handles them. Among our picks, the 15XV, the AngleSelect electric and the Smith’s (with its fixed serrated slot) say they do; the Presto says it is for non-serrated blades, and the Zwilling, Amazon Basics stones and Wüsthof steel don’t mention serrated edges. For outdoor blades, see our guides to the best fixed blade knife and the best pocket knife; the Smith’s and the whetstone set name pocket and hunting knives directly.

Best Grinder for Knife Sharpening: When a Shop Tool Makes Sense

Knife makers and people who sharpen tools, axes and mower blades sometimes use a belt or bench grinder. Those tools remove metal quickly and can overheat a thin kitchen blade, so they are better for shaping and heavy repair than for routine kitchen sharpening. If that’s your project, our guide to the best belt grinder covers 1×30 to 2×72 machines, and the best bench grinder guide covers slow-speed wheels used for sharpening tools.

Upkeep and Replacement Parts

Abrasives wear. The Smith’s listing says its carbides and ceramic rods are replaceable, and the Amazon Basics set includes a flattening stone to keep its whetstones flat. The Zwilling is wipe-clean only and not dishwasher safe. Warranty terms vary widely: the Wüsthof warranty field states a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects, the 15XV bullets state three years, the Presto field reads one year limited, and the AngleSelect, Zwilling and Smith’s listings state none.

Sharpening Safely at Home

A sharpener puts your hand close to an edge that is about to get sharper. This is general safety advice, not a manufacturer instruction:

• Wear a cut-resistant glove on the hand that steadies the tool, especially with pull-throughs and whetstones.
• Use a stable base. Pick a sharpener with a non-slip bottom or base (the Zwilling, Smith’s and Amazon Basics listings mention one) and work on a dry, flat counter.
• Pull away from your body and keep your fingers behind the guard or bolster.
• Keep kids away while you sharpen, and store sharpened knives in a block, sheath or drawer guard, not loose in a drawer.
• Unplug electrics before wiping out metal filings, and keep the cord clear of the sink.

Kitchen cuts are usually minor, but an injury to a guest in your home can raise questions about liability and medical payments coverage. Our Ohio homeowners insurance guide and renters insurance costs in Ohio explain what a typical policy includes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best knife sharpener for most home cooks?

The Chef’sChoice 15XV is our top pick. It has the best overall sales rank among our picks, uses 100% diamond abrasives in two of its three stages, handles straight and serrated blades, and the listing puts resharpening at about ten seconds.

Should I sharpen my knives at 15 or 20 degrees?

Use the angle your knife was made with. Chef’sChoice describes Asian and contemporary knives as 15-degree edges and traditional European and American knives as 20-degree edges. The AngleSelect electric, the Smith’s adjustable and a whetstone can all match either.

Is a whetstone better than an electric knife sharpener?

It gives more control, not more speed. A whetstone like the Amazon Basics 400/1000 and 3000/8000 set lets you choose any angle and finish, but it takes practice. An electric sharpener holds the angle for you and works in seconds.

Can a bench grinder be used for knife sharpening?

It can, but a bench or belt grinder removes metal fast and can overheat a thin blade. It suits shaping and repair more than routine kitchen sharpening. For everyday edges, a guided electric, pull-through or whetstone is easier to control.

Does a honing steel sharpen a knife?

A steel mainly realigns an edge that is still sharp, so it works best between sharpenings. The Wüsthof listing says it sharpens dull knives, but a very dull or chipped edge will still need a stone or sharpener.

The Bottom Line

For most kitchens, the Chef’sChoice 15XV is the best knife sharpener: fast, diamond-plated and ready for serrated blades, as long as you’re happy with 15-degree edges. The Chef’sChoice AngleSelect keeps both 15- and 20-degree knives at their own angle, the Presto EverSharp is the budget electric for plain edges, and the Zwilling 4-Stage is a tidy drawer tool. For control, the Amazon Basics whetstone set and the adjustable Smith’s let you pick the angle, and the Wüsthof steel keeps any sharp edge working longer.

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