Electric Knife Sharpener Near Me: Where to Find One and What to Buy

If you're looking for an electric knife sharpener near you, the fastest option is to check your local Walmart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Sur La Table, or Williams Sonoma, most of which stock at least two or three electric sharpener models. Amazon is the better choice for selection and pricing, with shipping often arriving within one or two days. You don't actually need to go local unless you need it today.

That said, there's more to the decision than just where to buy. Electric sharpeners vary widely in quality, what they can actually do to your knife, and whether they'll help or hurt your blades. Here's what to know.

Where to Find an Electric Knife Sharpener Locally

Big Box and Kitchen Specialty Stores

Walmart: Usually carries 2 to 4 electric sharpener models from brands like Presto and KitchenIQ. Prices run $15 to $40. Limited to entry-level options.

Target: Similar selection to Walmart, with occasional premium models. Check the kitchen tools aisle.

Bed Bath & Beyond / Crate & Barrel: Better selection in the mid-range ($30 to $80). You'll find Chef'sChoice and Work Sharp models here in some locations.

Sur La Table and Williams Sonoma: Stock higher-end options including Chef'sChoice Trizor XV and other premium electric sharpeners. These run $80 to $180. Staff here can also advise on which works for Japanese vs. German knives.

Home Goods / TJ Maxx: Occasionally have discounted electric sharpeners. The selection is unpredictable but prices can be excellent.

What to Bring with You

When shopping locally, bring one of your dull knives. Most store staff will let you feel how the sharpener holds the blade, and you can verify that the slots are the right width for your knife thickness.

The Problem with Most Entry-Level Electric Sharpeners

This is worth knowing before you buy: cheap electric sharpeners use carbide or coarse abrasive wheels that remove a lot of metal quickly. They do sharpen the knife, but they create a rough, jagged edge rather than a refined one, and they remove more steel per sharpening than necessary.

On a $15 knife, this doesn't matter much. On a $100 German chef's knife, grinding through 5 to 10 sharpening sessions at a cheap electric sharpener noticeably shortens the knife's lifespan.

If you have quality knives and want to protect them, look for electric sharpeners that use diamond abrasives or ceramic honing wheels, and that have multiple stages including a fine finishing stage.

Electric Sharpener Options Worth Considering

Budget: Chef'sChoice 315XV

This is a 3-stage electric sharpener that handles both 15-degree (Asian/Japanese) and 20-degree (European/American) blades. The first stage has 100% diamond abrasives for setting the edge, and the third stage is a fine strop/polish for finishing. At around $40 to $50, it's the best quality-to-price option in the under-$60 range.

Mid-Range: Chef'sChoice Trizor XV

The Trizor XV runs $130 to $160 and is the product I'd recommend to anyone with good knives. It converts European 20-degree edges to a sharper 15-degree edge using three progressive diamond stages. The result is a genuinely sharp blade that slices paper cleanly.

Professional sharpeners will argue you can achieve a better edge on a whetstone, and they're right. But the Trizor XV is far better than any manual pull-through sharpener and requires no skill to use.

Specialty: Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener

The Work Sharp uses flexible abrasive belts rather than wheels. This gives it more control over the sharpening angle and produces a convex edge similar to what many knife enthusiasts prefer. It's more versatile than slot-based electric sharpeners and handles serrated knives better. Around $50 to $80.

For our full breakdown of options across all sharpener types, see our best electric knife sharpener guide.

Electric vs. Manual Sharpener: Which Do You Actually Need?

Electric sharpeners are faster and require no technique. You draw the knife through the slot, and the machine does the work. The trade-off is less control over the final edge and faster metal removal.

Manual pull-through sharpeners are cheaper ($10 to $25) and fine for maintaining an edge between professional sharpenings. But they're less effective at fully restoring a dull blade.

Whetstones give the best possible result with practice. They require 15 to 20 minutes and some learning. If you sharpen twice a year, an electric sharpener makes more sense. If sharpening is something you want to develop as a skill, whetstones are worth the learning curve.

FAQ

Do electric knife sharpeners work on serrated knives? Most standard electric sharpeners don't work on serrated knives. The serrations require individual treatment with a narrow rod sharpener or a specialized serration sharpener. The Work Sharp and a few Chef'sChoice models have serration capabilities.

Can an electric sharpener damage my knives? Yes, if you use the wrong one or over-use it. Coarse carbide sharpeners remove a lot of metal. Use a sharpener with multiple stages and diamond or ceramic abrasives, and only use the aggressive stage when the knife is genuinely dull, not as regular maintenance.

How often should I use an electric sharpener? For a home kitchen knife used daily, full sharpening on an electric sharpener every 3 to 6 months is typical. Between sharpenings, use a honing steel to realign the edge.

Are $15 electric sharpeners worth buying? For cheap knives, yes. For any knife you care about, no. The cheap models use coarse abrasives that shorten blade life and produce an inconsistent edge.

The Bottom Line

You can find a functional electric sharpener at any major retailer today. For quality, spend at least $40 and choose a model with multiple stages and diamond abrasives. The Chef'sChoice 315XV is the best value at that price, while the Trizor XV is the right choice if you have good knives and want a consistently excellent edge. Check our top electric sharpener recommendations for side-by-side comparisons before you buy.