Quick Summary: When searching for the best sharpening stone that are effective and safe, we selected the Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Sharpening Stone Kit. With two sides of grit for versatility, an angle guide to hold it correctly, and a non-slip case for safety, it has both the ability to sharpen any knife and the materials to hold it in place while in use.
There are many different tools out there that all claim to offer you the sharpest edge for your knife, but some of them don’t seem to work as well as they claim to. There are sharpeners that are made of metal, stone, or others that are electric. However, none of these seem to be the ideal option.
Sharpening stones work well and offer an easy to use an option that won’t take up a lot of space or require any special skill or experience to use it right. You can get a sharp edge with these stones quickly and easily.
However, finding the right one for your kitchen and knife sets can be a hassle. With the research and shopping to do, you might not want to take the time to find what you really need. But we decided to do the hard work for you and find multiple great options.
This list showcases our top pick of the Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Sharpening Stone Kit but also has a few other choices that you can take a look at and decide if you like them better.
Quick Navigation:
- 10 Best Sharpening Stones Comparison
- Reviews Of 10 Top Sharpening Stones
- How To Choose A Good Sharpening Stones
- Water stones vs oil stones vs diamond Stones
- Our Recommendation
10 Best Sharpening Stones Comparison
 | 1. Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone (Best Overall) The Sharp Pebble premium stone sharpening stone is made by Whetstone and has the durability to be used again and again to get the sharpest edge. | Read Our Review |
 | 2. Whetstone Cutlery 20-10960 Knife Sharpening Stone (Best Budget) This Whetstone Cutlery knife sharpening stone is a dual-sided option that offers two different grits, a 400 and 1,000, for use with multiple types of knives. | Read Our Review |
 | 3. Arkansas Black Surgical Pocket Knife Sharpening Stone The Genuine Whetstone is a black knife sharpening stone that comes with a travel pouch made of leather that makes traveling or camping simple and easy. | Read Our Review |
 | 4. The Norton Combination Oil Stone This Norton knife sharpening stone is a double-sided choice that has a fine grit on one side and a coarse grit on the other for use with multiple knives. | Read Our Review |
 | 5. The DMT W6EFC Diamond Whetstone The DMT W6EFC pack of knife sharpening stones come with three different stones that each have a different grit for use with multiple different knives. | Read Our Review |
 | 6. The King KW65 1000/6000 with Nagura Stone The King knife sharpening stone is made from nagura stone and has two different grit options on it for use with fine or coarse edges as needed. | Read Our Review |
 | 7. King KW65 1000/6000 Grit Combination Whetstone The King KW65 is a knife sharpening stone that comes on a plastic base that makes it easy to secure to a flat surface to sharpen your knife easier. | Read Our Review |
 | 8. Norton 24336 Japanese Style Combination Water Stone This Norton Japanese-style knife sharpening stone is a longer option that is eight inches in length and has a different grit on each side of the stone. | Read Our Review |
 | 9. Whetstone 2 in 1 Knife Sharpening Water Stone This Whetstone knife sharpening stone is a double-sided stone that comes with two types of grit and also includes a silicone base for holding in place. | Read Our Review |
 | 10. Bear Moo Whetstone 2 In 1 Knife Sharpening Stone The BearMoo Whetstone premium knife sharpening stone is a two-in-one option that has a silicone base for staying in place and two different grits for use. | Read Our Review |
Reviews Of 10 Top Sharpening Stones
On our quest to find the best sharpening stones, we looked at ratings, reviews, and opinions of buyers and experts.
After searching through a wide range of stones, we narrowed our list of favorites down to the following ten based on their durability, safety features, versatility, and price.
Best Overall
1. The Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone Kit
What You Will Love: It comes in an incredible bundle, it has safety features, and it is a reasonable price.
While anyone could benefit from this sharpening stone, beginners would definitely find it helpful.
It comes with a bamboo base and silicone non-slip grip to hold it in place, an angle guide, an instruction manual, and an eBook with tips and tricks.
I have never sharpened a blade in my life as that is my husbands area, but I would definitely appreciate something that teaches me how to do it right.
This premium whetstone uses water instead of oil meaning that is one less thing that will need to be bought and there is less mess.
This also means that the stone can be cleaned with water- no special supplies needed. It also comes with two sides of grit- #1000 and #6000.
This variety means that it can be used on any blade from pocket knives to axes. It is also a fair price for the number of items you receive in the bundle.
There are a couple of potential negative aspects.One is that it is a water stone, meaning that it may not last very long.
The second is that if your blade is extremely dull and needs a lot of sharpening, the grit on this stone may not be enough.
Pros:
- The extra items included with the bundle, the versatility, the secure and
nonslip hold, no oil needed, less mess, the price, easy cleaning.
Cons:
- water stones do not always stand the test of time, may not work well with extremely dull knives.
Best Budget
2. Whetstone Cutlery 20-10960 Knife Sharpening Stone
What You Will Love: The low price makes it attainable for any budget and the coarse grit it has can work on very dull blades.
This dual sided, manual knife sharpener is equipped with a 400 grit side and a 1000 grit side, allowing you to sharpen dull knives or simply polish others.
It is made from durable silicon carbide and is to be used with water instead of oil, which keeps the price low since there are no extra materials needed.
There are a couple of downsides. It does not come with an instruction manual so you may have to put in some additional work to find instructions online if you need them.
The other is that the grits are not labeled so if you are not careful, you might use the grit that is too coarse on a blade and scratch it up.
To prevent this, it is always good to look the product up online if you cannot tell the difference in the grit by looking.
If you are unsure of how to use it, you can solve this problem by looking for some videos or instructions online. Altogether, it is a great price for the product.
Pros:
- The low price, the lower grit for sharpening dull objects, high grit for polishing blades, durable material, no need to buy oil, less mess, easy to clean
Cons:
- No instruction manual included, the grits are not labeled
Best Arkansas Knife Sharpening Stone
3. The Genuine Arkansas Black Surgical Sharpening Stone
What You Will Love: It is pocket size and packs a lot of punch for such a small instrument.
This little guy is made from genuine, tough Arkansas stone, and is only 3 inches long x 1-inch wide x ¼ inch thick. It weighs less than two ounces and can easily fit into your pocket.
It can be used with either oil or water, though once you use oil you cannot go back to water. It is easy to clean and comes in a leather pouch to store it in.
The grit is stated to be #5000, which means it is great for polishing or sharpening knives that only need a little TLC. The price is very reasonable for the item.
If there is a downside, it would most likely be that there is no way to close the leather pouch that it is stored in.
It simply slides in and out. This may not be a problem for some. I, however, am a mother of multiple children.
Somehow anything I own or carry around that is not secured tightly ends up getting lost, so I would personally like to see some type of enclosure and maybe even a belt loop. Some people may find it a negative thing that the grit is so fine.
Pros:
- Small and portable, great for polishing, comes with a leather pouch, can be used with oil or water.
Cons:
- Pouch does not close, grit limits the type of items you can sharpen.
Best Sharpening Stones-Oil Stone
4. The Norton Combination Oil Stone
What You Will Love: It has two grit types, is made of aluminum oxide, and is prefilled with oil.
At 1 inch x 2 inch x 8 inch, the Norton Combination oil stone is not pocket size- it will need a place to sit while you work with it. This could be a counter, a bench, or a table.
This knife sharpening stone is what is known as an Indian stone, meaning that it takes a while for the oil to absorb unlike some that soak oil up as though they are extremely thirsty.
Since it takes longer to absorb, you have a longer time to work with it before needing to apply oil again. It also comes pre-filled with oil to give you a head start.
If you keep it oiled correctly, you will only have to wipe it clean with a rag or towel.
It comes with grit on one side of #150 and the other side #320. These grits allow you to work with very dull blades.
There is one thing that subtracts from the positive aspects. The first is that although it has been loaded with oil, it ships in a cardboard box.
Since cardboard is not airtight, that oil can seep out, so though there is already some oil, you will still need to add oil before use.
Although there are cheaper ones out there, this one is a great deal for its capabilities.
Pros:
- Oil does not absorb quickly, easy to clean, dual sided grit.
Cons:
- Preloaded oil will seep out before
the stone reaches you so you will have to oil it yourself.
Best Diamond Sharpening Stone
5. The DMT W6EFC Diamond Whetstone Models in Hard Wood Box
What You Will Love: This knife sharpening kit comes with three diamond sharpeners- fine, extra fine or coarse.
The DMT Diamond Whetstones come in a set of three in a hardwood box that is great for both storage and protection.
They are made extremely durable and will last for a long period of time. The three different grit types are different colors so that you can tell them apart easily.
Also, the grits offer a wide range of sharpening abilities.The mono crystalline diamond surfaces sharpen edges quickly.
These diamond knife sharpening stones can be used with either water or completely dry. No oil is needed.
The downside is the price of these stones. The set is a bit pricey as an initial investment.
However, if you divide the cost by three, each individual sharpening stone is within the price range of most others.
Also, since they last a while, there is a good chance you will be saving money from replacements.
Pros:
- Comes in a set of three, a wood box for storage, extremely durable material and lasts a very long time, three different grits fora variety of projects, can be used with water or dry, no oil or additional items necessary, sharpens quickly, color-coded to keep mistakes from happening
Cons:
- The set is a pricey initial investment.
Best Japanese Sharpening Stone
6. The King KW65 1000/6000 with Nagura Stone
What You Will Love: This knife sharpening stone set comes with two stones for a total of three grit types.
The King KW65 is a manual knife sharpener is a synthetic stone that is equipped with #1000 grit on one side and #6000 grit on the other for fine tuning and maintaining sharp blades.
This main stone comes with a plastic stand. There is also an additional nagura stone with a grit of 8000. All three grits can do some good to your blades. Though it is an altogether good knife sharpening stone kit, there are a few downsides.
One: to really grind a blade down, you can use the #1000 grit side. However, it is going to take a while to get it done. Tough jobs are faster with coarser grits.
Two: you can only soak the #1000 grit side in water because the #6000 grit side will crack if soaked.
Three: the instructions are in Japanese, though you can find information in English online.
Four: The price is a bit high but for two stones and three separate grits, it does not seem like a bad deal.
Pros:
- Comes with two stones and three grits, plastic stand included for the main stone, versatile options with different grits
Cons:
- Must use #1000 grit for a long time to grind a blade, must be careful when soaking in water or could crack the other side, instructions only in Japanese, a bit on the expensive side.
Best Ceramic Whetstone Combo
7. King KW65 1000/6000 Grit Combination Whetstone with Plastic Base
What You Will Love: It gives you two grit types and a plastic base for the stone to perch one.
The included plastic base holds it still providing a safety measure while you are using the sharpening stone. It is a synthetic stone, which is made mostly of ceramic.
The two grits offer some versatility in sharpening. As the grits can take care of most of your sharpening needs, it is not necessary to have other stones unless you want to refine your habit. The price is extremely reasonable.
The downsides are that the instructions are only in Japanese, though you can likely find a manual online, and that the #6000 grit side can crack if soaked in water.
Also, as the #1000 grit side is not very coarse, grinding down rough edges may take some time.
Pros:
- Made from water stone which is abrasive, two grit types for versatility, plastic base for safety measure, very reasonable price, not necessary to have other stones unless you want them, no oil required
Cons:
- Instructions are only in Japanese, must be careful not to soak the wrong side (#6000), may take extra time to grind down rough edges, water stone can wear down quickly
Best Fine/Ultra Fine Whetstone Combo
8. Norton 24336 Japanese Style Combination Water Stone
What You Will Love: It comes with a handy storage box that can double as a holder for while you are using the sharpening stone.
This Norton Whetstone Combination knife sharpening stone has a #4000 grit face for refining your blades and an #8000 grit face for polishing the edges.
At 1 inch x 8 inches x 3 inches, it requires a bench or other surface to sit on while in use. No oil is required- only water- making it cheaper to maintain and easier to clean up.
It comes in a hinged box that has non slip rubber feet making it a great holder while you are working. It does range on the more expensive side than many available sharpening stones.
Also, there is no coarse grit, requiring that you have a separate stone for tough jobs
Pros:
- The handy storage box that can double as a holder, two grit types for refining and polishing, water stone for more abrasion, no oil required, easy to clean, works great on blades such as straight razors, cheaper to maintain than oil stones
Cons:
- Pretty expensive, not coarse grit for tough jobs, minimal options for sharpening
Best Coarse/Medium Whetstone Combo
9. Bear Moo Whetstone 2 in 1 Knife Sharpening Water Stone
What You Will Love: This knife sharpening water stone can grind the rough and chipped edges, and refine the shape of your favorite, well-loved knives.
The Bear Moo Whetstone comes with #240 grit on one side and #800 grit on the other, giving you the ability to grind down rough and chipped edges that higher grit combination sharpening stones cannot.
The #800 can refine the blade a bit and give it a frosted look. It is made with durable white corundum. The large size gives ample space to work on larger blades such as chef’s knives, and it has corrosion resistant, heat resistant edges.
It can also be used for almost every type of blade. For safety, it comes with a non slip rubber stone holder, and it is very reasonably priced.
The only downside I can see is that it cannot be used on serrated blades or ceramic knives. Paying attention to the instruction manual will give you a full idea of what it should and should not be used on.
Pros:
- Large size
- Can grind rough and chipped edges
- Can refine blades
- Great for almost all blades
- Non-slip rubber holder for use when working
- Very good price
- No oil needed
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Cannot be used on serrated blades or ceramic knives.
Best Medium Coarse/Fine Whetstone Combo
10. Bear Moo Whetstone 2 in 1 Knife Sharpening Stone 3000/8000 Grit
What You Will Love: It is great for sharpening and polishing, comes with an included non slip rubber stone holder, and is a very nice price
This medium coarse and fine grit whetstone is excellent for making your dull edges sharp and polishing the edges into a nice shine. It is great for light touch ups and can be used on most blades.
The non slip rubber holder can help prevent accidents and your stone from slipping off the surface while you work.
It is made from durable, professional grade white corundum, and has corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant edges, making it safe to use in the kitchen.
The price is extremely reasonable for the product. The downside is simply that it cannot be used on serrated blades and ceramic knives. Check the instructions for any further specifications.
Pros:
- It is useful for dull edges, can be used on most blades, non slip rubber holder helps ensure safety and prevents breakage due to falls, great price, corrosion- and heat–resistant edges
Cons:
- It cannot be used on serrated blades or ceramic knives
How to Choose A Best Sharpening Stone?
When shopping for a sharpening stone, whether online, in-store or even at an outdoor market, there are features that you should pay close attention to. While getting a good deal is always great, cheaper is not always better.
Knowing what to look for can help you determine if the cheap option really is the best for you. Being informed will help you pass up items that will not do you any good and hone in on those that will.
Types of Knife Sharpening Stones
The type you choose can determine how easily you can sharpen and how long they will last.
Ceramic Sharpening Stones
These stones are fused blocks of ceramic that are generally used without any oil or water.
Grit Types
Different types of grit are used for different types of projects- in this case, what you will be sharpening with them and how sharp you need those items to be.
Coarse Grit
This is heavy duty grit that can handle rough edges and shaping. If you have used a hatchet or
Medium Grit
Medium grit is used for
Fine Grit
Fine grit is for finishing touches or light sharpening, such as routine maintenance.
Grit Range
Grit range refers to how coarse or fine the grit is. The lower the grit, the more coarse the grit. If you need to reshape an item, the coarser the grit, the better. If it is for routine maintenance or for less used items, higher grit range will work.
Shape and Size
Pay attention to the shape of the tool. It needs to be comfortable in your hand so that it is easy to use and will not easily slip out of your hand when you are using a sharpening stone.
Also, it is important that your stone at least match the size of the largest item you will use it on. A smaller size will require more work and may even cause injury. The larger the sharpening stone, the better.
Safety
Any time you work with knives or other sharp objects, safety is a huge concern. When choosing a sharpening stone, be sure that there are safety features included, i.e. non-slip grip.
Also, if you have small children, purchase one that can be kept away from them. Though the stone itself may not be a danger, they may try to copy you by sharpening a knife with it.
Budget
Any purchase requires budget consideration. While you do not want to buy the cheapest available just because it is cheap, you also should not spend tons of money.
Just because something is priced high does not necessarily make it the best option. It is perfectly possible to find a great sharpening stone at a price that falls into your budget.
Motor Types
Both manual and electric knife sharpening stones are available.
Water stones vs oil stones vs diamond Stones vs Bench Stones vs Pocket Stones
Water stones vs oil stones vs diamond hones
These are the three most common types of sharpening stones used. Both water and oil stones are made from natural and synthetic materials. Oil stones are slower at cutting and messier but have been used for years.
Water stones are much faster at cutting than oil stones, but they also wear down quickly and unevenly, leaving you the extra work of having to flatten them.
The diamond stones are much more expensive than the others but very much worth the investment as they last a great deal of time.
As a matter of fact, it is the diamond sharpening stones that most people use to flatten their water stones and oil stones.
Bench Stones vs Pocket Stones
These two stones are called such according to their size. Bench stones are the larger ones that usually sit on something while you use them. Pocket stones are small and portable.
If you have a workshop, a bench stone may be a good choice for you.
If you will mostly use the stone to sharpen pockets knives on the go, or when you are sitting in front of the television, a pocket stone is probably the best choice.
Our Recommendation: best Sharpening Stones
With all of these different options being reviewed, you can quickly see which sharpening stone has the features that you are looking for. This will help you decide which one you like the best, and which one you will choose as your personal favorite.
With many different options, it is hard to narrow down your choices, so this list gives you a condensed set of choices that are all top options.
Whether you love our favorite, the top pick Sharp Pebble Premium Whetstone Sharpening Stone Kit, or you choose to go with another option we listed, you can get the one that works best for you.
Finding the best knife sharpening stones will help keep your knives sharp for a long time, and make it much simpler to do.
More Related Articles:
- Top Calphalon Self Sharpening Knives
- Best Farberware Knives
- Top Mercer Knives
- Best Mac Knives
- Top Paring Knives
- Best Rada Cutlerys
