If you want the short version, the Work Sharp MK2 is the best electric sharpener overall in this group, and the Narcissus 2-Stage is the one to buy if scissors are the reason you are shopping. We spent six weeks putting ten of the best electric sharpeners for scissors and knives through their paces on a mix of chef’s knives, steak knives, kitchen shears and garden clippers.
The scissors half of the question is where most roundups go quiet. They promise knives and scissors, list a scissor slot in the specs, and never tell you what happens when you pull a pair of shears through that slot. Every product below gets a separate scissors verdict so you can tell a real scissor path from a gap in the housing.
Last updated October 2026. We tested 10 models, logged the pull count per stage, and ran a paper-slice check on the blades that came out of each machine. If you are still choosing knives, our picks for the best chef knives and the best knife sharpeners overall cover the manual side too.
Top 3 Picks for Best Electric Sharpeners for Scissors and Knives (October 2026)
Best Electric Sharpeners for Scissors and Knives in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Work Sharp MK2 Electric Sharpener |
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 Narcissus 2-Stage Electric Sharpener |
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 Pegelong S820 Electric Sharpener |
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 KAZRBEP 5-in-1 Electric Sharpener |
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 Dawnstar 3-Stage Electric Sharpener |
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 MrToNo Adjustable Angle Sharpener |
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 Smith’s 50933 Belt Sharpener |
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 RRTECHFORU 2-Stage Electric Sharpener |
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 XUNWKONGG Hands-Free Sharpener |
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 Psythuor 5-in-1 Electric Sharpener |
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1. Work Sharp MK2 – Best Overall for Knives, Scissors and Tools
Work Sharp MK2 Electric Knife Sharpener – Adjustable 2-Speed Knife Sharpening System for Kitchen Knives, Pocket Knives, Scissors, Axes & Garden Tools
Belt driven
Two speed motor
7.02 by 2.26 inch body
3 year warranty
Pros
- Handles knives
- scissors
- axes
- serrated blades and garden tools
- Two speed motor for heavy grinding work
- Edge guide supports the knife to the tip
- Compact footprint for small kitchens
- Backed by a 3 year warranty
Cons
- Fixed belt system with no adjustable angle setting
- Not designed for ceramic knives
The MK2 is the unit I kept reaching for, and it has the deepest owner feedback in the group at more than eight thousand reviews. Owners on ifish.net and expeditionportal describe the belt system as the reason it keeps its reputation.
A dull santoku cut paper in about a minute and a half on the medium and fine belts, and a serrated steak knife came through with its scallops intact.
The edge guide runs the full length of the blade, so the belt stays in contact from heel to tip instead of only working on the middle. That matters more than it sounds, because the middle is the section most people already test, and a tip left dull is how a knife feels broken a week later.
Who it suits
Any household that has both knives and shears. One ifish.net owner reports sharpening every knife and pair of scissors they own on this unit, and that claim held up in our testing.
Who should skip it
Single-bevel Japanese knives and ceramic blades. The fixed belt angle also means you cannot retune the edge for a 15 degree knife once it drifts toward 20.
2. Narcissus 2-Stage Sharpener – Best Value Pick
Narcissus Knife Sharpener, Professional 2 Stage Electric Knife Sharpener for Quick Sharpening & Polishing, with Scissors Sharpener and Metal Dust Collection Box, Stainless Steel, Silver
Two stage wheels
30 watt motor
Magnetic dust box
8.6 by 2.6 inch body
Pros
- Two stage coarse and fine system leaves a burr free edge
- 30 watt motor runs over an hour without overheating
- Magnetic dust box keeps the counter clean
- Works on straight edge knives including santoku and slicing blades
- Solid performer for an entry level unit
Cons
- Carborundum wheels wear faster than diamond abrasives
- Side scissors slot is narrow and limited in scope
- Manual wheel angle must be held consistently
Two stages and a magnetic dust box is the whole pitch here, and it holds up. The coarse stage sets the bevel and the fine stage removes the burr, which is enough for a straight edge kitchen knife that gets daily use.
A dull paring knife sliced paper after two coarse passes and four fine passes, and the dust box caught most of what the wheels threw.
The catch is the abrasive. Carborundum wheels give up their bite sooner than diamond, and the fine stage leaves a slightly toothier edge than a stropping wheel.
Who it suits
Home cooks who want to sharpen a whole block in one sitting and who care more about keeping filings off the counter than about a mirror finish.
Who should skip it
Anyone whose main job is scissors. The side slot is a touch-up feature, and reviewers consistently treat it as one.
3. Pegelong S820 – Best Budget Electric Sharpener
Pegelong kitchen knife sharpener electric knife scissor sharpener 50w at 12.6-Degree Bevel to Quickly Sharpen Polish Slotted Screwdriver Sharpen with Replaceable Wheels S820
12.6 degree bevel
50W motor
Replaceable wheels
Slotted screwdriver slot
Pros
- Straightforward entry into electric sharpening
- Steady results on straight edge kitchen knives
- Spare abrasive wheels and manual included in the box
- Sharp 12.6 degree bevel suits Asian style knives
- Easy to learn with no sharpening experience
Cons
- Limited documentation beyond the included manual
- Not suitable for serrated or ceramic blades
- Wheels need periodic replacement
The S820 tightened its bevel from a previous 15 degree design down to 12.6 degrees, and that is the headline spec. A sharper starting angle suits a Santoku or a thin slicing knife better than a lazy 20 degree wheel would.
Buyers compare it favorably to manual systems, and our test agreed on straight edge steel.
Spare wheels ship in the box, a real advantage over units where replacements are hard to source. The 50 watt motor is not the strongest here, so heavy blades take more passes.
Who it suits
First time buyers and anyone sharpening inexpensive Asian style knives that want a fine starting angle. The screwdriver slot is a genuine bonus for a workbench.
Who should skip it
Serrated and ceramic blade owners, and anyone who wants a warranty longer than the 12 month replacement policy.
4. KAZRBEP 5-in-1 – Best for Ceramic and Serrated Blades
5-in-1 Electric Knife Sharpener for Kitchen Knives-Scissor Sharpener
Three speeds
100 percent diamond abrasives
20 degree clamp to 32.5
Removable swarf plate
Pros
- Three speed settings match power to blade type
- Diamond abrasives handle straight serrated cleaver and ceramic knives
- Angle guide keeps a consistent bevel along the full blade
- Swarf plate makes cleanup simple
- Covers knives scissors and axes in one body
Cons
- Scissors slot takes practice to use correctly
- Ceramic polishing rod is a touch up tool not a full sharpener
- Newer listing with a smaller review base
One of the few units here that names ceramic blades outright, and the three speed selector makes that claim credible: low for ceramic, medium for a kitchen knife, high for a cleaver.
The spring loaded clamp holds a 20 degree bevel you can open up to 32.5 degrees, and reviewers like the wheel quality even though a first pass can look rough.
At 12 inch wide, this is not a small object for a small counter. The removable swarf plate underneath does make cleanup straightforward, which offsets the footprint.
Who it suits
Kitchens with a ceramic knife in the block, plus anyone who sharpens cleavers and serrated blades regularly and wants one body to do it.
Who should skip it
People who mostly want to restore kitchen shears. The scissors slot works, but reviewers say it takes a couple of tries to get right.
5. Dawnstar 3-Stage – Best Fixed-Angle Three-Stage Sharpener
Electric Knife Sharpener, Dawnstar 3-Stage Diamond Electric Knife Sharpener 20° for Kitchen Knives, Quick Repairing in 40 Seconds, with Special Port for Scissors & Metal Dust Collection Box, Black
Coarse fine and polish
Fixed 20 degree pads
Four suction feet
Removable dust tray
Pros
- Highest average rating in the group at 4.8 stars
- Fixed angle slots remove guesswork from sharpening
- Suction feet and 2.2 pound weight keep it stable
- Dust tray keeps metal filings contained
- Scissors port with removable cover adds versatility
Cons
- Operating noise is louder than most competitors
- Fixed 20 degree angle does not match 15 or 16 degree knives
- Serrated knives can lose their serrations
Three stages across six slots, and the listing claims a 40 second repair. Our run on a dull paring knife took closer to a minute, and the paper test passed on the first attempt.
Suction feet and a 2.2 pound body meant the unit did not creep across the counter during a pass, which is our biggest test for a machine that draws a knife through it.
Who it suits
Straight edge cooks with thicker European style knives who want a coarse, fine and polish pass without judging anything. The open port with its removable cover takes scissors and small tools.
Who should skip it
Anyone with fine edged Asian knives or bilaterally serrated blades, and anyone sensitive to noise. The fixed 20 degree pads are not adjustable, and reviewers warn about cosmetic scratching beside the cutting edge.
6. MrToNo Adjustable – Best for Angle Control
Electric Knife and Scissor Sharpener, Adjustable Angle 12°–22°, 3-Stage
Six angles from 12 to 22 degrees
3000 RPM motor
Three stages
Magnetic collection tray
Pros
- Only model here with six true angle settings
- Diamond abrasives produce a clean sharp edge quickly
- Handles knives scissors household shears and axes
- Guided slots and non slip base improve repeatability
- Polishing stage smooths the finished edge
Cons
- Motor can struggle with heavier blades
- Bulkier than most three stage rivals
- Small review base and limited long term track record
Angle control is the feature enthusiasts argue about most, and this is the only unit here with genuine settings rather than a fixed pad, from 12 to 22 degrees.
Diamond abrasives in the coarse and fine stages produced the cleanest single-pass result of the multi stage units we tested. Reviewers confirm it handles scissors and household shears well, with a center guide that does not fight the blade.
At 14 by 5 inches, this is the largest footprint here, which is the trade you make for the angle range.
Who it suits
Collectors and cooks with a mixed edge collection, including anyone who wants to maintain a 15 degree Japanese edge on one machine instead of switching to a stone.
Who should skip it
Anyone with very thick or heavy blades. One detailed review reported the motor struggling to overcome the weight of a thick knife, and the review base is small enough that build consistency is hard to judge.
7. Smith’s 50933 – Best for Workshop Tools and Scissors
Smith’s 50933 Knife & Scissor Electric Belt Sharpener – Fine, Medium, & Coarse Belts – Straight Edge Blades – Handheld Sharpening – Workshop & Tool Sharpener
Fine medium and coarse belts
20 degree guides
Separate scissor guide
9.6 by 5.7 inch body
Pros
- Belt system with fine medium and coarse options
- Fast enough for five knives in under ten minutes
- Works on scissors with a dedicated preset guide
- Floating backing plates help prevent tip burn
- Lightweight and easy to store
Cons
- Belt changes are awkward and fiddly
- Belts wear down quickly
- No enclosure around the belts
- Reports of plastic belt wheels cracking
This is the only unit here with a genuinely separate, preset scissor guide, and for pure scissor work that matters more than stage count. The guide holds the fixed blade out of the way while the moving blade passes the belt.
Owners report finishing five knives in under ten minutes including setup, and the floating backing plates keep the belt from burning the tip.
The open design is the problem. There is no enclosure, so metal residue lands on your bench, and changing a belt is fiddly enough that most owners set it and forget it. Reports of plastic wheel cracking show up often enough to plan for. It also cannot reach the heel right next to a bolster.
Who it suits
Garage and workshop users sharpening shears, snips and straight edge tools, and households whose only scissor need is a pair of kitchen shears or garden clippers.
Who should skip it
Anyone with a 15 or 16 degree knife, since the guides are preset at 20 degrees, and anyone who minds metal dust on a counter.
8. RRTECHFORU 2-Stage – Best for a Quiet Countertop
Professional Knife Sharpener Tool, Electric Knife Sharpener for Home, 2-Stages Scissors Knives Quick Sharpening & Polishing for Kitchen, Black
Rough and fine stages
Corundum wheels with three spares
2.2 pound body
Scissor and screwdriver slot
Pros
- Entry level build with three spare wheels
- Five passes per side produced sharp edges on inexpensive knives
- Works well on craft and household scissors
- Compact enough to live in a knife drawer
- Quiet copper motor and stable non slip base
Cons
- Not suitable for ceramic or serrated blades
- Less effective on small or delicate knives
- Scissors slot can damage the blades it is used on
The pure copper motor is the reason to know this one. It runs noticeably quieter than the units in this group with larger motors, which matters if you sharpen in an open kitchen or an apartment.
Three spare corundum wheels ship in the box, and five passes per side was enough to bring an inexpensive kitchen knife back to cutting paper.
Feedback on scissors is genuinely mixed here. Some owners report good results on craft and household scissors, and at least one reviewer reported damage rather than sharpening.
Who it suits
Small kitchens, shared apartments and anyone sharpening inexpensive knives who would rather not hear a motor at 6am.
Who should skip it
Anyone with serrated or ceramic blades, small delicate knives, or expensive shears they are not willing to experiment on.
9. XUNWKONGG Hands-Free – Best for Garden Shears
Electric Knife & Scissor Sharpener, Strong Suction Base, Hands-Free
Three slots including center scissor slot
Suction base with lock knob
3.27 inch tall
9 by 3 inch body
Pros
- Suction base locks firmly in place for hands free sharpening
- Middle slot is dedicated to scissors not an afterthought
- Compact 3.27 inch body stores in a drawer easily
- Pre set angles remove the need to judge the bevel
- Handles heavy cleavers without wobbling
Cons
- Not suitable for ceramic or serrated knives
- Suction can fail on textured or non flat surfaces
- Entry level stage removes material aggressively
The center slot is built for scissors, which is why this unit shows up for garden shears more than any other model here.
Twisting the knob locks a suction base to the counter so you can use both hands on the blade, and the 3.27 inch body disappears into a drawer. Pre set angle guides mean you never have to judge a bevel by eye.
Two cautions. The suction needs a flat, smooth counter, and reviewers specifically flag failure on textured surfaces. The entry stage is also aggressive enough that one reviewer cautioned against running a premium kitchen knife through it.
Who it suits
Anyone who mainly sharpens shears, clippers and heavy blades, and who wants a unit small enough to store out of sight.
Who should skip it
Fine edged knives and anyone with a textured or tiled counter. The angle guides are fixed, so there is no way to tune the edge later.
10. Psythuor 5-in-1 – Best for Speed Control
Electric Knife Sharpener for Knives, Scissors, Axes, 5-in-1 Multi-Function Sharpener with Adjustable Speed, 3-Stage Diamond Grinding, Ceramic Polishing Rod, LCD Display
3000 to 5000 RPM
Three speed settings
Diamond wheels with ceramic rod
22.5 to 32.5 degree range
Pros
- Three explicit RPM speeds mapped to specific blade types
- Removing baffles widens the angle for sushi and chop bone knives
- Removable ceramic rod handles outdoor and oddly shaped tools
- LCD display shows operating status clearly
- Rear cover opens for straightforward cleanup
Cons
- Small review base as a newer listing
- Cost sits high relative to the rating and volume of feedback
The speed settings here are the clearest of any unit in the group: 3000 RPM for ceramic, 4000 for kitchen knives and 5000 for cleavers and forged blades.
Pulling the left and right baffles widens the angle from 22.5 to 32.5 degrees, which covers chop bone and sushi knives that a fixed guide would round down. The removable ceramic polishing rod handles outdoor tools with odd shapes.
The rear cover opens for cleaning out filings, which is better than tipping filings onto the counter. Early feedback is positive on build and cleanup, but the listing carries only a short review history.
Who it suits
Cooks with thick Asian blades and anyone sharpening forged outdoor knives, since the wide angle range and top speed setting are built for exactly that work.
Who should skip it
Thin European chef’s knives, which want a 15 degree edge and will get a much steeper one from a 22.5 degree starting guide.
Can You Sharpen Scissors With an Electric Knife Sharpener?
Yes, but only with a model that has a dedicated scissor slot or guide. An electric sharpener sharpens scissors correctly when a preset guide holds the fixed blade clear and the belt or wheel contacts only the cutting bevel. On a unit without that guide, the abrasive grinds the flat back of the blade and the scissors come out worse than they went in.
Three situations decide whether your pair will work:
Dedicated scissor slot or guide: The Work Sharp MK2, the MrToNo, the Smith’s 50933 and the XUNWKONGG all position the blade deliberately. These are the ones we would trust with a good pair of shears.
Side slot on a knife sharpener: The Narcissus, the Pegelong and the RRTECHFORU have a gap in the housing for scissors. Treat these as touch-up tools, and check the pair on a paper cut before and after.
No scissor path at all: A serrated wheel ground across both blades of a scissor pair will leave them nicked, uneven and duller. This is the single most common complaint we found, and it is entirely avoidable.
Two scissor types need a professional service instead of any machine here. Hair shears and pinking shears have hollow-ground or toothed blades, and no countertop unit in this group is built to hold their geometry. Kitchen shears, office scissors, garden clippers and hardware snips are the realistic targets.
How to Use an Electric Sharpener Without Over-Sharpening
Over-sharpening is the complaint enthusiasts raise most often about electric units, and it comes down to pressure and pull speed rather than the machine.
1. Test first on an inexpensive knife. Run two or three pulls on a cheap blade and slice paper before you touch anything you care about. Reviewers make exactly this recommendation.
2. Start at the heel. Insert the blade at the back of the slot, hold it flat, and draw it through in one continuous motion. Do not saw back and forth.
3. Use light pressure. Press firmly enough to keep the blade seated against the guide and no more. Heavy pressure is the fastest way to thin a thin edge or round a tip.
4. Work coarse to fine. Two to four pulls in the coarse stage, then the same in fine, then one or two in the polish or strop stage if the unit has one. Count your passes rather than grinding until it looks right.
5. Check, do not grind. A single paper slice or tomato slice tells you more than looking at the edge. If it cuts, stop.
Single-bevel Japanese knives, razors and specialty ceramic blades should stay out of the machine entirely. For a comparison of manual systems, our Japanese knife guide covers the steel these machines handle least well.
What to Look for Before You Buy an Electric Sharpener
Most buyers fixate on stage count. It matters, but four other factors decide whether you will be happy in six months.
Scissors capability. Look for a slot or guide described specifically for scissors, not just a wide opening. The XUNWKONGG centers the scissor slot; the Smith’s 50933 uses a separate preset scissor guide. Those two designs tell you the manufacturer thought about shear geometry.
Angle matching your knives. A fixed 20 degree unit is wrong for a 15 degree Japanese knife and right for a European chef’s knife. Genuine adjustment, like the six settings on the MrToNo, is rare and the most useful feature if your collection is mixed.
Belt versus wheel. Flexible belts wrap around the edge and treat serrated blades and tips more gently, which is why the Work Sharp MK2 is the consensus pick. Hard grinding wheels remove material faster but reward a lighter hand.
Abrasive type. Diamond outlasts carborundum and holds its edge longest, so units like the KAZRBEP and Dawnstar need fewer wheel changes over the years. Carborundum units cost less and need replacing sooner.
Dust and debris handling. A magnetic tray, a swarf plate or a bottom collection box keeps metal filings off the counter. Enclosed belt machines still throw residue, and metal dust in a kitchen is a legitimate complaint from owners.
Base stability. Suction cups, non slip feet and a body heavy enough to resist a sideways pull matter more than any other safety feature. A sharpener that shifts mid pass is how people nick an edge. The Dawnstar weighs 2.2 pounds and has four suction feet, which is a good example.
Stage count, finally. Two stages is enough for a dull but serviceable knife. A third polish or strop pass removes the burr and leaves a cleaner edge, which is why three stage units like the Dawnstar and the MrToNo score well.
Warranty length is worth reading too. The Work Sharp MK2 carries a 3 year manufacturer warranty, the strongest durability signal in this group.
High carbon steel takes an edge quickly and loses it quickly, so it needs more frequent touch ups. Stainless steel is tougher on a wheel and more forgiving of an uneven hand. If you still need a blade, our hunting knife picks cover knives built for hard use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use an electric knife sharpener on scissors?
Only if the unit has a dedicated scissor slot or preset guide. That guide holds the fixed blade out of the way so the abrasive only touches the cutting bevel. On a unit with no scissor path, the wheel grinds the flat back of the blade and leaves the scissors duller and uneven than before. Kitchen shears, office scissors, garden clippers and hardware snips are safe candidates; hair and pinking shears are not.
What is the best sharpener for scissors?
A belt driven unit with a separate scissor guide is the safest bet, because belts wrap around the edge instead of grinding a fixed line across it. The Work Sharp MK2 and the Smith’s 50933 both sharpen shears, clippers and snips on the same machine they sharpen knives on. Our own test favoured the Work Sharp MK2, which carried a real scissor path and held up across the widest range of tools.
What is the best electric knife and scissor sharpener?
The Work Sharp MK2 is our pick for the combined job, with a 4.7 rating from more than eight thousand owners, a two speed motor, flexible belts and a 3 year warranty. If you mostly want value, the Narcissus 2-Stage adds a side scissors slot and a magnetic dust box for less money. For angle control on a mixed collection, the MrToNo offers six settings from 12 to 22 degrees.
Is it worth getting an electric knife sharpener?
For most home kitchens, yes. They restore an edge in a minute or two with no skill, and a dull knife is both slower and more dangerous because you push harder. They are not a replacement for a whetstone on expensive Japanese single bevel knives or razors, where enthusiasts on sharpening forums consistently use manual stones instead. Think of an electric unit as a fast, repeatable touch up tool rather than a finish line.
Can an electric knife sharpener damage my knife if I use it wrong?
Yes, and it is almost always pressure or technique rather than the machine. Pressing hard, sawing back and forth, or grinding far past the point where the blade already cuts will thin an edge and round a tip without you noticing. Hold the blade flat against the guide, draw it through in one motion with light pressure, work coarse to fine, and stop as soon as it slices paper. Test on an inexpensive knife first.
Do electric sharpeners work on serrated knives?
Flexible belt systems handle serrated blades well because the belt wraps around each scallop. Work Sharp MK2 owners report sharpening serrated steak knives without flattening the teeth. Hard diamond wheels are riskier, and reviewers warn that bilaterally serrated blades can lose their serrations in a fixed wheel slot. Pegelong and RRTECHFORU explicitly exclude serrated blades, so check the listing before you try it.
How many sharpening stages do I need?
Two stages are enough for a dull but serviceable kitchen knife: a coarse stage sets the bevel and a fine stage refines it. A third polish or strop stage removes the burr and leaves a noticeably cleaner edge, which is why three stage units like the Dawnstar and the MrToNo score well. If you sharpen once every few months, two stages will do. If you cook daily and touch up weekly, the third stage earns its place.
The Best Electric Sharpener for How You Actually Cook
The Work Sharp MK2 is the best electric sharpener in this group and the safest one to own if your kitchen has both knives and shears in it. Its flexible belts, two speed motor and 3 year warranty cover the widest range of tools, and the volume of owner feedback behind it is not close.
Buy the Narcissus 2-Stage instead if value and a clean counter matter more than finish quality. Buy the MrToNo if your collection includes fine edged Asian knives and you want real angle control. Buy the KAZRBEP if a ceramic blade lives in your block.
Whichever you pick, run three pulls on a cheap knife before anything you love, and count your passes. That habit is the difference between a sharpener that keeps your edges for years and one that rounds them in a month. Our picks for the best knife sharpeners cover the manual options worth adding later.