A great set of knives is essential for any kitchen, whether you’re regularly mincing up ingredients for a shepherd’s pie or simply carving a grocery store rotisserie chicken. Sharp, easy-to-hold knives make chopping and slicing easier and safer-and can also allow for greater control when dealing with more intricate cuts. Investing in a complete set is the easiest (and more economical) option to prep your kitchen for any task. But with all the variables-stainless steel to ceramic blades, plastic to hardwood handles, Granton or flat edges-choosing the right knife set can be a daunting task. To help you find the best knife sets for your kitchen, we tested more than 20 of them, observing key factors like design, size, value, and performance.
Top 10 Best Kitchen Knife Sets for 2025
Here, we present the top 10 kitchen knife sets for 2025, based on rigorous testing and expert reviews. Each set has been evaluated for sharpness, comfort, durability, and overall value, ensuring you can find the perfect match for your cooking needs.
1. Wüsthof Classic 7-Piece Slim Knife Block Set
Wüsthof is one of the most trusted knife brands, known for their premium German-style blades built to stand up to years of regular use. If you’re looking to invest in a high-quality set that includes five of the most versatile blades and a pair of kitchen shears with pull-apart blades, this collection-which belongs to the brand’s best-selling Classic series-is our favorite pick for most home cooks. Housed in a beautiful, slim acacia block that can fit on even the most crowded countertops, this set comes with six pieces: an 8-inch chef’s knife, 8-inch bread knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, 6-inch prep knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife and kitchen shears. Featuring full-tang blades that are fully forged from high-carbon stainless steel (which means the same piece of steel extends from the butt of the handle to the very tip), the blades are sharp, durable and easy to maneuver. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: Professional-quality sharpness, balanced and maneuverable, durable high-carbon stainless steel, slim storage block.
- Cons: Relatively expensive, may require occasional professional sharpening.
2. Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro 7-Piece Knife Block Set
The versatile Zwilling Professional S 7-Piece is our top choice for a well-balanced overall kitchen knife set. The Zwilling 7-Piece Set offers a great selection of four essential knives, including a chef’s knife, utility, paring, and bread knife, as well as the ever-essential honing rod. According to our tests, the number one knife set is from Zwilling. The brand offers incredible bang for your buck. In addition, high-quality materials and simple maintenance make it a great fit for home cooks. Sure, you can spend $500 on a set that boasts specific inclusions for various kitchen tasks. But in our testing, we found that you only need three staples: a parer, a serrated utility knife and a chef’s knife. The three-piece Zwilling set performs well across the board, whether you’re deboning chicken, slicing up slivers of spring onions or dicing fragile tomatoes for salsa. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: Excellent value, sharp out of the box, simple maintenance, versatile knife selection.
- Cons: No carving knife included, slightly heavier than some competitors.
3. Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Piece Knife Block Set
For those looking for a more affordable collection, this set from Mercer Culinary is a true kitchen workhorse. As the leading knife supplier to culinary schools in North America, Mercer Culinary makes cutlery that can take a beating-and this set is no exception. Featuring high-carbon stainless steel blades and thermoplastic handles that are ergonomic and nonslip, this collection includes an 8-inch chef’s knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, 6-inch boning knife, 5-inch utility knife and 8-inch bread knife, all of which are durable and easy to maneuver. For the storage solution, you can choose between two space-saving options: a wood and tempered glass block or a metal and tempered glass stand, which costs about $45 less. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: Budget-friendly, durable, ergonomic handles, versatile storage options.
- Cons: Not as sharp out of the box as premium brands, limited knife variety.
4. Miyabi Artisan 7-Piece Knife Block Set
Featuring hand-hammered steel blades and polished Cocobolo Rosewood Pakkawood handles, the knives included in the Miyabi Artisan 7-Piece Knife Block are absolutely gorgeous. More importantly, the blades are impossibly sharp, which made them a true pleasure to use in our tests. Miyabi knives are handcrafted using both traditional Japanese and innovative metalworking traditions. Incorporating the best features of Western- and Japanese-style knives, Miyabi’s full-tang knives are honed to a super acute angle (9.5 to 12 degrees) using a traditional process called ¡°honbazuke,¡± after which they’re ice-hardened for better edge retention. As a result, the blades are next-level sharp and thin-but they’re also more delicate and prone to chipping. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: Razor-sharp blades, beautiful design, excellent edge retention.
- Cons: Delicate blades prone to chipping, high price point.
5. Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17-Piece Knife Block Set
It’s hard to find fault with the Chicago Cutlery Fusion set, which includes every knife you’ll need along with a sharpening steel, and extensive testing cemented this comprehensive collection as our top pick. This set combines great design with superb functionality. It features six knives that are made using high-quality German stainless steel, making them extra durable and easy to clean. In fact, these knives are made to last, and, with a lifetime guarantee, they are certainly worth the initial investment. Each knife is lightweight and comfortable to handle, even when chopping through some of the toughest vegetables. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: Comprehensive set, durable stainless steel, lifetime guarantee.
- Cons: Currently out of stock at some retailers, may include less-used specialty knives.
6. Victorinox Swiss Classic Kitchen Set (5-Piece)
The knives in Victorinox’s five-piece Swiss Classic knife set are lightweight, sharp out of the package, and easy to hold. The Victorinox 8-Piece doesn’t come with a utility knife. Instead, it includes a filet and a 10-inch slicing knife. ¡°Although a utility knife is more versatile, swapping that for a filet and slicing knife is an acceptable tradeoff,¡± said one tester, further noting that this choice doesn’t drastically impact usability. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: Lightweight, affordable, sharp out of the box.
- Cons: Inconsistent handle quality, knives may not sit straight in the block.
7. F.N. Sharp Damascus Steel Knife Set
F.N. Sharp knives feature 67-layer Japanese Damascus steel and riveted epoxy and fiberglass handles, which we find fit most hands best. Apart from looking unbelievably cool thanks to the VG-10 steel patterned into the blade, these knives are the most balanced and solidly built of any we’ve tried. We also like that three “sharpenings” are included with the purchase of every set, which should get you through a year to a year-and-a-half of constant use. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: Stunning design, balanced and sturdy, includes sharpening service.
- Cons: Expensive, limited knife selection in smaller sets.
8. Shun Classic 10-Piece Knife Block Set
The Shun Classic 10 Piece set is an excellent option if you are looking for a happy medium between quality and quantity in a Japanese knife set. Set includes the following: 8¡± Chef knife, 4¡± paring knife, 6.5¡± utility knife, 9¡± bread knife, herb shears, combination honing steel and an eleven slot bamboo knife storage block. The Shun Premier series of knives has a lot of similarities to the Shun Classic line such as: VG-MAX steel blades, Packwood handles and similar blade geometry. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: High-quality Japanese steel, versatile set, attractive bamboo block.
- Cons: Blades may chip if not handled carefully, high cost.
9. HexClad Damascus Chef Knife Set
Those seeking an heirloom set that may very well last decades will find the HexClad Damascus chef knife set up to the task. The set comes priced with that in mind, but we consider this set an investment that’s worth the extra cost if you can swing it. Blade material: Japanese Damascus steel | Storage: Magnetic knife block | Includes: 8¡å chef’s knife, 7¡å Santoku knife, 5¡å utility knife, 3.5¡å inch paring knife, 8¡å serrated knife, 9¡å honing steel, magnetic walnut knife block. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: Long-lasting, sharp Damascus steel, magnetic storage block.
- Cons: Premium price, requires regular sharpening maintenance.
10. Viners 4-Piece Knife Set
Viners has proven you don’t need to spend a lot of money to enjoy good quality knives. This set of four has everything you could possibly need for everyday meal prep. It includes a chef’s knife, santoku knife, utility knife and pairing knife. Crafted from high-quality stainless steel, rust-resistant and covered in a black non-stick coating, to reduce cutting friction, these knives have been tempered to keep the edges super sharp, even after heavy use. The handles make these knives a joy to use ¨C they’re soft to touch and ergonomically designed for a better grip. Shop on Amazon
- Pros: Affordable, sharp and rust-resistant, ergonomic handles.
- Cons: Limited knife variety, no storage block included.
Comparison Table of Top Kitchen Knife Sets
| Knife Set | Number of Pieces | Blade Material | Storage | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wüsthof Classic 7-Piece | 7 | High-carbon stainless steel | Slim acacia block | $$$ | Home cooks seeking premium quality |
| Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro | 7 | High-carbon stainless steel | Wooden block | $$ | Value-driven home cooks |
| Mercer Culinary Genesis | 6 | High-carbon stainless steel | Wood/glass block or stand | $ | Budget-conscious cooks |
| Miyabi Artisan | 7 | Micro-carbide powder steel | Bamboo block | $$$ | Japanese knife enthusiasts |
| Chicago Cutlery Fusion | 17 | High-carbon stainless steel | Wooden block | $$ | Cooks needing a comprehensive set |
| Victorinox Swiss Classic | 5 | Stainless steel | Wooden block | $ | Beginners and small kitchens |
| F.N. Sharp Damascus | 6 | Japanese Damascus steel | Wooden block | $$$ | Design-focused cooks |
| Shun Classic | 10 | VG-MAX steel | Bamboo block | $$$ | Japanese knife lovers |
| HexClad Damascus | 7 | Japanese Damascus steel | Magnetic walnut block | $$$ | Heirloom-quality seekers |
| Viners 4-Piece | 4 | Stainless steel | None | $ | Minimalist cooks |
Testing Scenarios and Performance
We tested 21 knife sets in our dedicated testing lab and in our own kitchens, using each knife from each set. After the testing period, we assigned ratings for each attribute based on our observations and added insights based on our own expertise and kitchen knowledge. Price was not necessarily indicative of quality: Many less-expensive sets outperformed pricier ones during our tests. To test chef’s knives, they diced onions, sliced cabbages and cut steaks, while they used utility knives to chop mushrooms, shred lettuce and julienne peppers. For santoku knives, our experts julienned carrots, sliced cabbage and diced onions, then used a paring knife to de-seed and cut chillies, peel, slice and dice a tomato, and bone and skin a chicken thigh. Using bread knives, they sliced a crusty loaf, cut a mound of chunky sandwiches (filled with other ingredients we’d prepared during the test) and sliced a cake. Carving knives were put through their paces on a cooked joint of ham and a roast chicken.
Key Findings from Testing
- Sharpness: Premium sets like Wüsthof and Miyabi were exceptionally sharp out of the box, requiring minimal effort for precise cuts.
- Comfort: Ergonomic handles, such as those on Mercer and Viners, reduced hand fatigue during extended use.
- Durability: High-carbon stainless steel blades, found in Zwilling and Chicago Cutlery, resisted rust and maintained edges longer.
- Storage: Slim blocks (Wüsthof) and magnetic blocks (HexClad) were ideal for small kitchens, while larger blocks (Chicago Cutlery) suited comprehensive sets.
Buying Guide for Kitchen Knife Sets
Investing in a knife set ensures that you have the right knife for every kitchen task. The four most common knives in a knife set have myriad uses. A chef’s knife is a workhorse that can tackle everything from slicing meat, hard veggies and crushing garlic. A bread knife that can seamlessly slice through crusty loaves without tearing is essential. A paring knife is great for tiny tasks like coring strawberries or slicing citrus for a cocktail garnish. A utility knife, which is a little longer than a paring knife, and shears are items you’re likely to use often.
- Consider the dishes you tend to cook and look for a selection of knives that will prove the most helpful. Vegetarians, for example, are unlikely to need a carving knife. However, for roast devotees, it will be essential.
- Choose a set that will be useful for the way you cook: three to four will usually cover all bases, with larger sets having more specialised knives such as filleting, carving and more.
- Never throw unprotected knives into a drawer, where they will dull quickly. Wall-mounted magnetic strips-such as the Benchcrafted Mag-Blok-are better and safer.
- Maintain a sharp cutting edge with a honing rod. This tool doesn’t actually sharpen the blade-its sole purpose is to realign the microscopic teeth on the knife’s edge that get knocked out of alignment during use.
For more tips on knife maintenance, visit Serious Eats.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the most essential knife in a set?
The chef’s knife is the most essential, as it’s versatile for chopping, slicing, and dicing a wide range of ingredients, from vegetables to meat.
How often should I sharpen my knives?
Home sharpening with a honing rod should be done weekly with regular use. Professional sharpening is recommended every 6¨C12 months, depending on usage.
Are Japanese or German knives better?
Japanese knives, like Miyabi or Shun, are typically thinner and sharper for precise cuts but may chip more easily. German knives, like Wüsthof or Zwilling, are thicker and more durable for heavy-duty tasks. Choose based on your cooking style.
Can I put my knives in the dishwasher?
Most high-quality knives should be hand-washed to prevent damage to the blade and handle. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for specific care guidelines.
What’s the best storage option for a small kitchen?
Magnetic strips or slim blocks, like those in the Wüsthof Classic or HexClad sets, are ideal for saving counter space while keeping knives accessible.
Conclusion
Choosing the best kitchen knife set for 2025 depends on your cooking habits, budget, and kitchen space. Whether you opt for the premium Wüsthof Classic, the budget-friendly Mercer Culinary, or the heirloom-quality HexClad, each set offers unique strengths to elevate your culinary experience. By considering sharpness, comfort, and storage, and following our buying guide, you can invest in a set that will serve you for years to come. For further reading on knife care, check out Bon App¨¦tit.