The 11 Best Sharpening Stones of 2024

Whether you love preparing food yourself or you take help from someone else, you’d agree that cutting veggies and slicing meat are the daily kitchen chores. However, the same chores can become problematic only due to one reason: a dull knife. That’s because using a knife becomes much of a hassle when its edges begin to lose their sharpness.

Add to that the fact that it becomes even dangerous to use a dull knife. With a dull knife, we naturally tend to apply more force while cutting certain foods. That can cause an accident such as a hand injury. That’s why it’s critical to sharpen your knives as soon as you notice the dullness. The best sharpening stone is all you need to keep in your kitchen cabinet.

A right-sized sharpening stone that is made of high-quality material is the best bet. It will help you sharpen your knives while giving them a shine. Besides, it will also reduce the chances of accidents that might be caused by the use of a dull knife.

Wondering which of the sharpening stones to choose among a myriad of options? We’ve made the task easier for you by preparing the list of the best sharpening stones of 2021.

Let’s look at each one in detail.

Best Overall: Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone

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Designed for those who prefer razor-sharp results, the Sharp Pebble knife sharpening stone goes beyond providing sharpness to your knives. It’s an entire kit that comprises a double-sided whetstone, an angle guide for sharpening the knife, a bamboo base, an instructions manual, and an eBook to up your sharpening skills.

Besides transforming your old knife into a new one, its two-side grit will allow you to sharpen your knife in a shorter time period. However, both grits perform a unique function. 1000 grit is a preferred sharpening stone for you if your knife needs a sharpened edge while the 6000 grit is used in situations when you’re looking for super-fine finishing. The components are easy to assemble.

Best Value: Chefic BearMoo Knife Sharpener Stone

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If you’re looking for the one-for-all solution, it’s time to look no further and see what the Chefic BearMoo Knife Sharpener Stone provides to your knives. Having a multi-purpose functionality, this sharpening stone is an ideal choice for sharpening kitchen shears, kitchen knives, pocket knives, precision tools, and even art appliances.

Both sides of this sharpening stone comprise two different grit levels, i.e. 3000 and 8000. It’s extremely easy to use. The user is required to soak it into the water for five minutes, and then, put the stone on a desk or table. The manufacturer recommends using the 3000 grit level first. The sharpening process takes fifteen minutes. Once that’s done, you can use the 8000 grit level for polishing your knife.

Best Pick: Finew Knife Sharpening Stone Kit

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Ever heard of a stone sharpening set that turns an amateur into a professional knife sharpening expert? Well, the Finew Knife Sharpening Kit has that in it! As if all sharpening essentials have been housed within a single package, this kit gives you the comfort to sharpen your knives in luxury.

The 400/1000 grit will help you sharpen any dull knives while the 3000/8000 grit is there to polish the edge. The manufacturer has given special emphasis to maintaining the water stones which is why you’ll also see a flattening stone within the kit. This flattening stone helps keep the water stones flat. Plus, the 8.5-inch bamboo board is non-slip which ensures that the stones safely remain in place while you sharpen the knives with excellence.

You can use its leather strop to remove the burr and polish the knives. Even if you aren’t sure about holding the knife by using the correct angle, the angle guider available in the kit will help you with that.

Best for Safety: Smith’s TRI-6 TRI-HONE Sharpening Stone

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When we see three different grits mounted on a triangular plastic mechanism, we can say that Smith’s TRI-6 TRI-HONE Sharpening Stone reflects sophistication at its peak. This knife sharpening tool combines three unique stones: two are Arkansas stones (one is fine with 1000 grit while the other is medium having 800 grit) and one is the coarse stone (300 grit).

The variation in stones along with the specific grit levels ensures that it provides 360-degree sharpness to knives. This isn’t all, though. You can confidently use it because of its enhanced safety feature. This knife sharpening stone stays on the plastic base which is built with rubber feet for added safety.

Best as Pocket-friendly: Lansky Puck Multi-Purpose Sharpener

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If you’re looking for a pocket-friendly sharpening stone that’s also an all-rounder, you should go for Lansky Puck Multi-Purpose Sharpener. Though it looks too small, it’s especially the best bet for those who work with several knives at once. The users of this sharpening tool are the ones who work at restaurants, hotels, or even butcher shops. It’s equally useful for those who have a deep interest in managing their pantry at home and love to chop meat, veggies, and cheese with several knives.

Using more than a couple of knives every now and then makes them dull. That’s why Lansky Puck Multi-Purpose Sharpener helps transform them in sharp, shiny, and brand-new knives. The two grits enable the users to follow its 2-step procedure: using the coarse grit will sharpen the dull edges first. Once that’s done, using the medium grit will help achieve the finer edge.

Best for Consistent Results: BenchStone Sharpening Stone by Spyderco

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Say good-bye to bulky sharpening stones as the bench stone sharpening stone is going to make your tools new without requiring water or oil. This flat sharpening stone effectively works with a variety of dull surfaces including ski edges. Available in three different grits each with a 2″ x 8″ stone, it ensures maximum safety as it’s built with rubber feet that are nonskid. That’s why you can easily place it on the tabletop.

It comes with a polymer storage case. That makes it a wonderful gift to present to those who are real hobbyists and want to keep their blades sharp.

Best for Beginners: Knife Sharpening Stone Set by KnifePlanet Store

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A chef’s life isn’t easy if their most important kitchen tool stops working as it used to be. We’re talking about razor-sharp knives. Even if you’re an at-home chef, the KnifePlanet store has something amazing for you: a sharpening stone that comprises two stones with four grits.

The set has something for beginners too. It comes with instrumental videos and articles to help you enhance your knife-sharpening skills.

Best Multi-purpose Knife Sharpener: Sharp Pebble Whetstone Sharpening Stone

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It’s no surprise that the name says it all! Sharp Pebble Whetstone sharpening stone is designed to provide comfort to knife users with its superior bundle. The kit includes the Waterstone with 400/1000 grit, a flattening stone, a rubber base, and an eBook to guide you with the usage. All you need is a single application to get rid of damaged and dull knives.

The manufacturer has identified the needs of the knife users before implementing this idea. The result is a knife sharpening stone that reduces the occurrence of stress, pain, and fatigue caused by sharpening a dull knife repeatedly. Sharp Pebble does the job in just a single strike.

Best for Sharpening Gardening Tools: Whetstone Cutlery Dual-Sided Knife Sharpening Stone

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If you’re looking to keep those gardening tools in tip-top shape, this dual-sided stone is one of the most outstanding options so far. It has a design that can make your tools perform like new with just a few strokes.

The material of this stone is silicon carbide with 400 grit on one side and 1000 grit on the other. When you get both of these in one product, it will be easy to get that ideal sharpness on each blade. A bit of effort will also enable you to polish up the cutting edges.

When you want to use this sharpening stone, first soak it in water for five to ten minutes. You don’t need honing oil or any other lubricants.

Best Budget-Friendly Kit: DALSTRONG Extra Large Premium Whetstones Kit

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While the Dalstrong Whetstone Kit might be especially for those knife enthusiasts who prefer buying on a budget, there’s no compromise on its presentation. Here, we have two separate whetstones which give you precision sharpening. The material is quality-grade corundum while the stones themselves are large and thick. Their oversized design makes for safe working over an extended surface area.

Overall, these stones will be a great investment if you want to ensure a long-lasting fine edge for all your blades.

One stone here has 1000 grit which is an all-purpose option for sharpening damaged and dull blades. With that problem fixed, you can use the 6000-grit stone to get a mirror polish and finely sharpened edge.

Best for Professionals: DDF iohEF Sharpening Stone

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While it might be one of the lesser-known names in the industry, this sharpening stone has a lot to recommend it. It’s a professional double-sided stone with a silicone base and an angle guide. The experience of this sharpening stone might be a bit different from others as the inside is constructed of new silicone. This prevents scratching when you’re using the angle guide. Plus, this design makes it easier for a user to find just the right angle for safe and effective sharpening.

This stone is safe for use on fruit knives, scissors, outdoor knives, hunting knives, and all types of kitchen knives except the ceramic and serrated kind. It might take a little research and experience to make the most of these stones. You might have to work at the sharpening for up to half an hour if you’re a beginner.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Sharpening Stone

Before you choose the best sharpening stone for your needs, it’s useful to know what you’re looking for. Here are some essential features that you need to remember when looking for the best stone out there:

Determine the material

The material of any sharpening stone you choose is dependent upon what use you have for them. Oil stones, for instance, are made from silicon carbide or aluminum oxide. The former cuts fast while the latter is hard and abrasive.

There’s also the Arkansas stone, which has four grades. You can choose between the black, hard, soft, or translucent choices.

Water stones might be natural or synthetic. The natural kind is found in Japanese and Belgian quarries.

Natural Japanese sharpening stones might be scary now but they’re worthwhile. Genuine knife enthusiasts also prefer these stones. The grits can range anywhere from 500 all the way to 10,000.

Synthetic water stones are a manmade option and require lapping to maintain their flatness. Their work is better and faster than Arkansas or oil stones but they still can’t beat diamond sharpening stones.

Check the size

You also need to see the size of any stone you’re considering. Keep in mind that the larger versions will last relatively longer. Smaller options are probably better if you only sharpen your knives and tools occasionally.

If you do want to have a large sharpening stone, the heaviness factor might be problematic. However, this aspect also means that the stone will be sturdy and grounded without the risk of slipping too easily.

What’s more, larger stones are usually better for delivering uniform results. You’ll be able to get a decently sharp blade without much effort.

Know about the grit

The grit of your sharpening stone is very important as well. Different stone grits mean that they’re most suited to different kinds of jobs.

You should have a coarse stone for removing any damage. These coarse stones usually have grits lower than 1000. They’re good for doing away with damage to knives, getting rid of the chips, nicks, and dings on your blade.

If a knife blade doesn’t have an edge anymore, a stone with 1000 grit will be great for getting back that new sharpness. While using such stones can wear a knife blade down, you sometimes have to sacrifice that part to make your knife usable again.

Other than a coarse stone, you’d also require a finer stone with a higher grit to refine the blade. This will result in a more refined edge and a cleaner cut.

Stones with 2000 to 3000 grit are for everyday use. These will be best for those who want to keep their knives as sharp and ready as possible.

Finishing stones usually have grits ranging from 4000 to 8000, making them suitable for finishing your sharpened blades. You’d be getting a refined edge with this purchase.

Inquire about the level of convenience

Many people need to have their blades sharpened regularly. So, they should choose their sharpening stones according to skill levels. The best selections here include certain stones that are user-friendly. If someone is inexperienced at sharpening knives, they should avoid any kind of stones that might be in need of flattening, cleaning, etc.

FAQs

Q: Will I need more than a single sharpening stone?
A: You might need more than one sharpening stone if you have several kinds of blades. Inexperienced individuals might just want to use a stone for their kitchen knives. If that’s the case, getting one whetstone with two grit options is probably the best choice.

For those who have to regularly sharpen a range of blades, knives, etc., three sharpening stones are the bare minimum; one for sharpening, one for honing, and one for rough-grinding.

Q: Do the sharpening stones wear out quickly?
A: Sharpening stones do wear out but the rate of deterioration depends on how we use them. It’s recommended to sharpen a blade from the very tip of a stone to the bottom as evenly as possible. This will help the stones to wear out evenly, reducing the need for flattening.

Oil stones and water stones will wear out at varying rates. Water stones are the softer version. Therefore, they need to flatten regularly. You might want to flatten watering stones before sharpening season stars. Oil stones will last around 10 sessions before they require flattening again.

Q: Is it difficult to use a sharpening stone?
A: It might be challenging and scary to use a sharpening stone the first few times. It’s also dangerous if you’re not careful as you need to have the stone and blade at a certain angle.

There are several ways to sharpen your knives but the more complicated ones are used by professionals like chefs, hunters, butchers, etc. It also helps if you know which stone to use with which knife. Again, practice makes perfect. So, there’s no point in losing confidence.

Q: Do I have to wear gloves while using a sharpening stone?
A: It’s essential to wear gloves when you’re making use of a sharpening stone. This reduces the risk of injuries. But keep in mind that the regular winter, vinyl, and rubber gloves won’t do. You need thick gloves like steel mesh or Kevlar gloves to keep your hands safe from cuts.

Q: What do I need to do to maintain/clean a sharpening stone?
A: You’ll need the following essentials:

1. WD-40 for coating
2. Steel wool for scouring
3. A damp cloth for wiping
4. Honing oil to lift mineral and metal flakes
5. A flattening plate or sandpaper to do away with fillings

The Takeaway

Searching for and picking the best sharpening stone for our blades can be a challenge. If you’ve never done this before, checking out the excellent options above will hopefully guide you on the right path.

Before you settle on any final choice, though, make sure you know what the materials are, along with the grit and size of the stone in question. You may also want to try out a similar stone and see if the process seems doable.

One of the best picks that can get you comfortable right away is the Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone. This is a versatile stone with two grit levels and the ability to sharpen several kinds of blades. With a sturdy base, great craftsmanship, and a knife sharpening guide, you can’t really go wrong here. There’s an angle guide included as well which enables anyone to hold their blade just right.

Finally, practice is what will get you those needle-sharp blades, and that mirror finish with just a few strokes. No matter what sharpening stone you choose, read the manual and check out some videos before starting. Don’t hesitate; the perfect sharpening stone is right there to make all your blades shine like new!