The 5 Best Sharpening Stones (2023 Review)

If you cook frequently, it’s inevitable that your kitchen knives are going to get dull. With a quality sharpening stone, you can continue to use your knives instead of paying for a new set. To help you with your search, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best sharpening stones on Amazon. We explain our top five recommendations below.

Best Single-Faced Stone: Naniwa Abrasive Mfg Grit Stone

Courtesy Amazon

Naniwa Abrasive Mfg Grit Stone

• $82
• $104.67
• 22% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Made in Japan, this stone can sharpen chef’s knives, fish-slicing knives, butcher knives, and more. It sits in the middle in terms of coarse versus fine grit, so it’s best suited for knives that are only somewhat dull. This sharpening stone also comes with a stand for better balance.

• $82 at Amazon

Key Features

• 3,000 grit
• Stand and flattening stone included
• 1.98 ounces

What Customers Are Saying

Customers liked how easy to use this sharpening stone was, stating that it sharpened their knives quickly. However, some customers thought that it was overpriced given the quality of the materials that it was made with.

Best For Beginners: Sharp Pebble Sharpening Stone

Sharp Pebble Sharpening Stone

• $39.99
• $59.99
• 34% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

If you just purchased your first professional knife and want to keep it in peak condition, this beginner-friendly sharpening stone set is for you. The stone sits on a stand that has a non-slip insert and base. It also has an angle guide to keep the blade at the proper angle.

• $39.99 at Amazon

Key Features

• 1,000- and 6,000-grit sides
• Stand and angle guide included
• 2.1 pounds

What Customers Are Saying

Those who gave this stone positive reviews said that it was beginner-friendly and affordable. However, negative reviews stated that the manufacturer sacrificed the stone’s durability for its economical price tag.

Best Diamond Stone: DMT Double-Sided Bench Stone

DMT Double-Sided Bench Stone

• $74.37
• $94.42
• 22% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This dual-sided stone features a coarse surface that restores dull edges and a fine surface that hones sharp edges. Because it’s made from diamond, it’s particularly hard and fast-working. You can also use it without water if you don’t want to get it wet.

• $74.37 at Amazon

Key Features

• 25- and 45-micron sides
• Stand included
• 1.08 pounds

What Customers Are Saying

Happy customers praised this product for having a large, hard surface that could sharpen long and wide knives quickly. On the other hand, some users were disappointed with how easily the surface showed scratches and other signs of wear.

Best Value: Chefic Sharpening Stone

Courtesy Amazon

Chefic Sharpening Stone

• $20.59
• $22.99
• 11% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

For customers who only need a basic sharpening stone for generic kitchen knives, this model can do the trick. It sharpens and hones knives with its double-faced design. This stone also includes a flattening stone and angle guide and comes at a more affordable price than many other models on the market.

• $20.59 at Amazon

Key Features

• 3,000- and 8,000-grit sides
• Stand, flattening stone, and angle guide included
• 1.23 pounds

What Customers Are Saying

Customers liked this stone’s versatility, mentioning that it worked on dull and semi-dull knives of various sizes. They also highlighted the non-slip stand that it came with. Some users expressed disappointment when the stone cracked prematurely.

Best Cloth: KING Whetstone Starter Set

Courtesy Amazon

KING Whetstone Starter Set

• $49.88

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This sharpening stone has 1,000- and 6,000-grit surfaces. The side that you’re not using rests on the included stand. You can use the included angle guide if you’re struggling to keep the knife blade in the right position. It also comes with a cloth for wiping away debris and moisture.

• $49.88 at Amazon

Key Features

• 1,000- and 6,000-grit sides
• Stand, angle guide, and cloth included
• One pound

What Customers Are Saying

Customers thought that this stone had a user-friendly design, as it was easy to use and worked with various knives. Alternatively, some customers left negative reviews because they received a damaged product or unreadable instructions.

Buyer’s Guide

Not every sharpening stone is going to work with your knives the way you want it to. To find the right one for your needs, we created this guide with important factors to consider.

Grit

The grit of a sharpening stone refers to how coarse or fine its surface is. The lower the grit, the coarser the stone. Dull blades require a stone that’s below 1,000 grit, while medium-hard 1,000-to-3,000-grit stones are meant for semi-dull knives. Any stone above 3,000 grits simply smooths knife blades.

Versatility

Some sharpening stones are single-faced. Others have a second side that finishes blades after you sharpen them.

Design

Most sharpening stones have a block-like design. Oftentimes, this type of stone comes with a mount that holds the stone in place. Other stones come with slots that you slide your knives into. Though easier to use, this design doesn’t sharpen blades as precisely.

Size

Most sharpening stones measure seven inches long and three inches wide. This is typically large enough to work with various blade sizes. However, check the dimensions of a stone’s surface before buying it, especially if you have a carving knife or another large knife.

Types of Sharpening Stones

A sharpening stone is a type of knife sharpener. Within the sharpening stone category, you can find more subcategories. We explain them below.

Oil

These stones require oil to prepare the surface for sharpening. They come in different grades from fine to coarse. Though they are inexpensive and require little maintenance, they typically take longer to use than water and diamond stones.

Water

Water stones have a soft surface that’s versatile and easy to use. You can activate one by splashing or soaking it in water. The biggest downside to water stones is that they wear out quicker than other types of sharpening stones.

Diamond

Diamond stones have a metal plate that keeps a surface of small diamonds secure. These stones are hard, so they sharpen blades quickly. However, because diamonds are a precious gemstone, they’re expensive.

Ceramic

Ceramic stones are highly durable and effective. However, they’re pricey and hard for the average at-home cook to find on the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you clean a sharpening stone?

To clean a water or diamond sharpening stone, rinse it with hot water, and scrub debris with a soft-bristled brush. Oil stones are more difficult to clean, requiring soft, gentle scrubbing with oil.

How long do sharpening stones last?

How long a sharpening stone lasts depends on what it’s made from, how often you use it, and how well you care for it. However, a well-made and -maintained sharpening stone should last for several years—maybe even a decade.

How do you flatten a sharpening stone?

Dampen your stone with water or oil, depending on its material. Then, use low-grit sandpaper to flatten it and high-grit sandpaper to remove scratches from it. You can also try a flattening plate. Some of the stones in this review come with a flattening plate already.

Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

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