The Best Pencil Sharpeners

Pencil sharpeners literally make or break wooden pencils’ ability to write. Even the creamiest, most perfectly made pencil can’t make a mark until a sharpener shaves its wood casing away and reveals the graphite beneath. Substandard sharpeners may allow pencils to write, but only with frayed wood and chipped tips. High-quality sharpeners reliably sculpt pencils to sharp points that effortlessly convey thoughts to paper. Keep reading to see what to look for in a pencil sharpener, specific recommendations, and a comparison of the tips produced by different sharpeners.

Watch the video below to see our top sharpeners in action!

Top 8 Pencil Sharpeners for Wooden Pencils.

The Best Overall Pencil Sharpener

KUM Automatic Brake Sharpeners

KUM Automatic Brake Sharpeners are some of the most reliable sharpeners we’ve had the pleasure to use. They employ a two-step process to ensure a clean, super sharp point every time. The blade on the left first removes a section of wood to reveal the graphite. The right-hand blade then sharpens the lead. The resulting tip is longer than typical sharpeners make. This lets you stretch out the time between sharpenings. If you prefer your pencils with shorter points, check out our other picks below.

KUM Automatic Brake Sharpeners also come with spare blades to replace the originals when they get dull. As a bonus for artists who sketch with both lead holders and pencils, the blue version includes two extra sharpener holes for 2.0 mm and 3.2 mm leads.

Table of Contents

What to Look for in a Pencil Sharpener

Size

Pencils come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. 8 mm is the most common diameter with bigger pencil diameters running all the way up to 10.5 mm. Most of the sharpeners we're featuring today accommodate standard 8 mm pencils.

Shape

Pencils are available in hexagonal, circular, or triangular shapes. All sharpeners can handle the different shapes, though some are designed specifically for a particular shape.

Sharpening Angle

Different sharpeners offer varying degrees of sharpening angles. Pencil tips with larger angles can show more lead and let you use the pencil a bit longer before having to sharpen again. However, pencil tips with smaller angles tend to be sturdier with less lead breakage.

Lead Point

You should also consider how pointed the lead is after it's been sharpened. Some people prefer super sharp tips for their leads, while others like a blunt, rounded tip.

Gentleness

A sharpener that sharpens unevenly or dents a pencil can lead to lead breakage and waste. Graphite marks may also indicate a sharpener isn’t sharpening efficiently. Look for sharp blades that create a crisp point.

Compartment for Pencil Shavings

If you’re toting a sharpener around with you, decide if you want one with a compartment for pencil shavings. Pencil sharpeners with compartments free you from needing to sharpen over a wastebasket, which is great for writing on the go. On the other hand, compartment-free sharpeners are lightweight and a better fit for small pencil cases.

Pencil Sharpener Recommendations

The Best Pencil Sharpeners for Students

Kutsuwa Stad 2 Maiba Double Blade Pencil Sharpener

Kutsuwa Stad 2 Maiba Double Blade Pencil Sharpener.

There’s no time to waste when you’re taking a test or writing down important notes during class. Enter the Kutsuwa Maiba. It uses two blades simultaneously to sharpen pencils twice as fast as conventional sharpeners. This makes for a beautifully smooth wood cone and tip with a good point. Because each blade only has to do half as much work, the Maiba also lasts longer than most sharpeners. Its shape is easy to hold and its sliding latch snaps securely into place to keep pencil shavings out of your bag.

Sun-Star Sect Double Pencil Sharpener

The portable Sun-Star Sect is a great choice for students who have more than one kind of pencil. It offers two sharpening styles: one with a large blade that creates a long sharp tip, ideal for writing pencils; and one with a small blade that produces a short, blunter tip for colored pencils and soft graphite pencils. It comes with a latching cap that is secure, ensuring that pencil shavings stay inside the sharpener and out of your backpack.

The Best Pencil Sharpeners for Long Points

KUM Masterpiece Sharpener

KUM Masterpiece.

If you demand the longest of long points for your pencils, the KUM Masterpiece can deliver. This hand-crafted sharpener features the same two-step sharpening system as the Automatic Brake but forms an even longer, sharper, and more precise point. You can even remove the blue plastic stopper to expose more lead for shading techniques and extended writing. The Masterpiece comes with extra blades to help it last a lifetime.

Uni KH-20 Hand Crank Pencil Sharpener

Uni KH-20 Hand Crank.

The Uni KH-20 reminds us of the old-school crank sharpeners we used to use in grade school—except a lot sleeker and more efficient. To use it, pull out the top front portion of the sharpener and stick the pencil in. The clutch grips the pencil firmly and pushes it in as you turn the crank. The result is an extremely long cone with a rounded tip. It catches pencil shavings in a large bin at its base. If you want an easy-to-use sharpener for your home or classroom that doesn’t need to be emptied often, this is it.

The Best Pencil Sharpeners for Adjustable Lengths

Kutsuwa Stad T'Gaal Pencil Sharpener

Kutsuwa Stad T'Gaal.

The Kutsuwa T'Gaal features a dial that you can use to adjust your sharpening angle. This produces a variety of different pencil lengths, each of which is tidy and sharp. Level 1 produces a short, stout point similar to those on golf pencils. Level 5 gives a medium point. This makes it an excellent choice for people who prefer shorter tips, share sharpeners among their family, or who use one sharpener for both graphite pencils and soft colored pencils.

Kutsuwa Stad K'Zool Multi Pencil Sharpener

Kutsuwa Stad K'Zool.

The Kutsuwa K'Zool is similar to the T’Gaal in that it also allows you to sharpen your pencil to different lengths. Instead of adjusting the sharpening angle however, the dial moves a stopper inside the sharpener that controls how long the point can get. This approach means that the shorter lengths don’t get as sharp as the longer ones. These blunter options are more gentle on colored pencils and reduce the chance of your pencil tip fracturing. The longest setting produces a medium-length sharp point.

The Best Pencil Sharpeners for Colored Pencils

Uni Color Pencil Sharpener

Uni Color Pencil Sharpener.

Colored pencil lead is mostly made of wax and colorant, which makes it break more easily than the graphite and clay mixture you find in regular pencil lead. The Uni Color Pencil Sharpener is specifically designed to be gentle on these delicate cores. It may not look like much, but it gives colored pencils a short, sharp, and clean point with every use. For extra gentleness, keep your pencil still and turn the sharpener slowly around it instead.

Sonic Ratchetta Pencil Sharpeners

Sonic Ratchetta with Notification (right) and Capsule (left). Ratchetta One not shown.

If you prefer longer points for your colored pencils, consider the Ratchetta. It’s a JetPens staff favorite for its consistent performance with both graphite and colored pencils, variety of designs, and innovative mechanism. This “ratchet” system allows you to twist the pencil back and forth instead of having to re-grip it as you twist and sharpen.

The Ratchetta comes in three basic styles: Standard, Capsule, and One. The One features an automatic trap door that keeps pencil shavings from falling out. The Capsule and some of the standard models let you choose between a medium-length point or a slightly shorter, blunter tip.

The rest of the standard sharpeners have pop-out notification buttons to prevent oversharpening. All versions of the Ratchetta are compact and catch pencil shavings for sketching on the go.

For a colored pencil sharpener that you can leave on your desk, we like the Prismacolor Premier Pencil Sharpener. It has a sturdy base, a larger compartment for pencil shavings, and two options for point length—one closer to the Ratchetta and one closer to the Uni.

The Best Pencil Sharpeners for Chunky Pencils

Maped Metal Wedge Pencil Sharpener

Maped Metal Wedge.

The Maped Metal Wedge has two sharpening holes: one for standard 8 mm pencils and one that can accommodate larger pencils like the Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelle. Both holes sharpen well but can leave slight chips on the wood and pencil point. It is satisfyingly hefty and has ribbed, concave sides to help you grip it more easily. If you prefer a straighter design, try the KUM No. 410 Magnesium Pencil Sharpener.

Moleskine Sharpener

The Moleskine Sharpener.

The Moleskine Sharpener is designed specifically for flat Moleskine pencils, but it’s also the only sharpener we know of that can handle the chunky Koh-I-Noor Triograph. It’s not a perfect fit - we had to push fairly hard as the cone developed - but the result was a thoroughly respectable point. Moleskine Sharpeners are only available as part of various Moleskine Sets. We do not recommend using them with other pencils, even those that are slightly larger than normal.

The Best Luxury Sharpeners

Blackwing One-Step Long Point Pencil Sharpener

Blackwing One-Step Long Point Pencil Sharpener.

The Blackwing One-Step Long Point Pencil Sharpener is constructed from sleek, sturdy, and lightweight aluminum. It sharpens smoothly, creating a tip with slightly concave sides that ensures you can write for longer before sharpening again. Some pencil sharpeners can look a little childish, but this one is a grown-up addition to your everyday carry.

Carl Ein Pencil Sharpener

Carl Ein Pencil Sharpener.

The Carl Ein, made in Japan, is a high-quality tabletop sharpener that will last you a long time. With no fuss and minimal effort, it creates a long, concave-sided point. The tip of the point can be adjusted from 0.5 mm to a blunter 0.9 mm by turning a knob on the handle. The sharpener grips the pencil and applies pressure for you, reducing any potential hand fatigue—all you have to do is turn the handle.

SHARPENING COMPARISON

This image shows the points made by our pencil sharpeners, in order from longest to shortest. The names of the sharpeners are listed in the same order below for easy reference. The pencils used are Uni Mitsubishi 9800 HB pencils, Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils, and the Koh-I-Noor Triograph.

COMPARE THESE SHARPENERS

Do you want to review all of our recommended pencil sharpeners at once? Use our comparison tool to see their specifications side by side.

HOW WE APPROACH RESEARCH & TESTING

Our writers draw on their personal expertise, consult our in-house subject matter experts, and do extensive research to make our guides as accurate and comprehensive as possible. We then test every finding that makes it through the research stage. Only the techniques and tools whose performance we personally confirm make it into our guides as recommendations.

FINAL THOUGHTS

A good sharpener is the key to unlock a pencil’s writing potential. Do you have a favorite sharpener? Let us know in the comments below!

For ease of identification, we've marked our hand-cranked tabletop sharpeners with this badge.

Name	Point Length	For Chunky Pencils*	Notable Features	Container for Shavings	Replaceable Blades
Blackwing One-Step Long Point Pencil Sharpener	Long	No	Sturdy construction.	Yes	No
Blackwing Two-Step Long Point Pencil Sharpeners	Long	No	Two-step process. Spare blades included.	Yes	Replaceable
Carl Ein Pencil Sharpeners	Long	No	Sits on table. Easy to use. Lefty-friendly.	Yes	No
Carl Kuru Kuru Carl-Kun Pencil Sharpeners	Medium	No	Handle turns the sharpener around the pencil. Little force required.	Yes	No
Dux Brass Pencil Sharpeners	Medium	No	Weathers into a classy patina.	No	Replaceable
KUM Automatic Brake Sharpeners	Long	No	Two-step process. Spare blades included.	Yes	Replaceable
KUM Masterpiece Sharpener	Long	No	Handmade. Two-step process. Spare blades included.	No	Replaceable
KUM No. 400-5L Stenographer's Long Point Pencil Sharpener	Long	No	Small, easy-to-grip design.	No	No
KUM No. 410 Magnesium Pencil Sharpener	Medium	Yes	Two holes for standard (8 mm) and large (10.5 mm) pencils.	No	Replaceable
KUM Scribble Tip Top Pencil Cap + Sharpener	Short	No	Functions as a pencil cap.	Yes	No
KUM Special Diameter Pencil Sharpeners	Medium	Yes	Made for Triangular and Hexagonal pencil bodies. Two holes for standard (8 mm) and large (10 mm) pencils.	Yes	Replaceable
Kutsuwa Stad 2 Maiba Double Blade Pencil Sharpeners	Medium	No	Sharpens faster with two blades.	Yes	No
Kutsuwa Stad K'Zool Multi Pencil Sharpener	Short to Medium	No	Adjustable tip length.	Yes	No
Kutsuwa Stad T'Gaal Pencil Sharpeners	Short to Medium	No	Adjustable tip length.	Yes	No
Maped Metal Wedge Pencil Sharpener	Medium	Yes	Two holes for standard and large pencils.	No	No
Moleskine Sharpener	Medium	Koh-I-Noor Triograph and Moleskine pencils only.	Can sharpen the Koh-I-Noor Triograph.	No	No
Nakabayashi Manual Pencil Sharpener	Long	No	Creates very long points. Includes clamp for table mounting.	Yes	No
Prismacolor Premier Pencil Sharpener	Short or Medium	No	Designed for colored pencils. Two holes for wide or sharp points.	Yes	No
Sonic Ratchetta Pencil Sharpeners	Medium	No	Can sharpen by twisting the pencil back and forth.	Yes	No
Sun Star Sect Double Pencil Sharpeners	Medium	No	Two holes for long or short tips.	Yes	No
Uni Color Pencil Sharpener	Short	No	Designed for colored pencils.	No	No
Uni KH-20 Hand Crank Pencil Sharpeners	Long	Yes	Sits on table. Easy to use.	Yes	No