The Best Pencil Sharpeners
One of the essential things in your office equipment are pencil sharpeners.
Pencil sharpeners are small, yet valuable little gadgets, and many offices cannot work without them.
Just imagine an office full of architects and no sharpeners.
To help you get the best pencil sharpeners which will increase productivity, we created this list of top ten pencil sharpeners.
Some are more advanced units, while others are basic but durable.
Check the list and find the one that will for you and your needs.
Highest Rated Pencil Sharpeners (by Customer Reviews)
- 1X-Acto XLR Electric Pencil Sharpener
- 2Woohubs Electric Pencil Sharpener
- 3OfficeWorld Electric Pencil Sharpener
- 4X-ACTO Electric Sharpener
- 5JARLINK Electric Pencil Sharpener
- 6Bostitch Personal Electric Pencil Sharpener
- 7X-ACTO ProX Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
- 8JARLINK Electric Pencil Sharpener
- 9Bostitch QuietSharp 6 Heavy Duty Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
- 10X-ACTO School Pro Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
1
X-Acto XLR Electric Pencil Sharpener
The X-Acto pencil sharpener is an electric device with a heavy-duty motor.
It will prevent oversharpening the pencil, and won’t break the lead.
Because of the helical cutter, the pencils will precisely sharpen every time.
The unit feature auto-restart and safe start for better user experience.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Smart sharpening technology
- Easy to use
Cons
- Somewhat loud
Jake's TakeThis X-Acto electrical sharpener works for any pencils including coloring pencils.
You can use it in your office, classroom or house.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
2
Woohubs Electric Pencil Sharpener
This electric pencil sharpener from Woohubs has blades built from helical steel for longevity and precision.
The unit is easy to use, because of the automatic stop function.
The sharpener is light and compact, so you can carry it with you in the office or keep at home.
It fits 6-8mm wooden and colored pencils.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Easy to use, even by children
- Two power mode design
Cons
- Adapter not included
Jake's TakeThis sharpener has flawless performance even after 1.000 pencils.
It is so easy to use, even your children can do it.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
3
OfficeWorld Electric Pencil Sharpener
The OfficeWorld pencil sharpener sharpens pencils fast and precise each time you use it.
It takes 5-10 seconds until it automatically stops, ending with a flawless pencil.
The container capacity is quite large, so you don’t have to clean it very often.
There are three possible power sources 4 x AA Batteries (not included), use USB cord (included), or via AC power adapter (included).
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- AC power adapter included
- Portable
- Quick sharpening
Cons
- Somewhat larger than similar units
Jake's TakeWith everything this sharpener does and the price, it is definitely a smart choice for shopping.
Your kids will love, your coworker will love and you will love it.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
4
X-ACTO Electric Sharpener
This X-Acto electric sharpener is stylish, it comes in two-tones and fits the majority of office decor.
It has a powerful and quiet motor.
Because of the Pencilsaver technology, the sharpener will never oversharp the pencil or damage it in any way.
It is easy to use due to the safe start and auto restart functions.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Small and lightweight
- Precise sharpening every time
Cons
- A bit noisy
Jake's TakeThe X-Acto sharpener is always precise and durable.
This model is easy to use and something that will simplify your life if you have kids.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
5
JARLINK Electric Pencil Sharpener
The JARLINK Sharpener works for no.2/Colored Pencils(6-8mm).
It has a strong motor, which means that it will sharpen your pencil in no longer than 10 seconds.
The auto stop function and auto exclude broken lead are useful features.
It is not suitable for crayons, chalk, or wax pencils.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Large container
- Fast sharpening
Cons
- Hard to open
Jake's TakeThis pencil sharpener from JARLINK is excellent – it is compact, easy to use.
On the plus side as well, it is suitable for one-handed use.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
6
Bostitch Personal Electric Pencil Sharpener
The Bostitch pencil sharpener has HHC cutter technology for longevity and better performance.
The motor is powerful, and there are no stops in the operations.
The safety switch is convenient because it prevents the sharpener from working when there is no tray.
It comes in two colors, and it is for light-use.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Safety switch
- Lightweight
Cons
- Only light usage
Jake's TakeThe Bostitch Office creates this sharpener to complement to your regular office supplies.
It is durable and easy to use.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
7
X-ACTO ProX Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
This X-Acto model is great for classroom use.
It is efficient, heavy-duty, and durable construction.
The sharpener has a quiet, yet powerful motor.
Because of the flyway cutter system, the sharpener will stop by itself when the pencil is done.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Durable and suitable for heavy-duty use
- Helical steel cutter gives rounded finish
Cons
- Somewhat heavy
Jake's TakeThis one works like a dream, especially if you have a classroom full of children waiting to get their pencils sharp.
Because it is quiet, it won’t disturb your activities.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
8
JARLINK Electric Pencil Sharpener
The JARLINK pencil sharpeners are reliable and powerful devices for your home, office, or classroom.
This one comes in three colors – black, blue, and gray.
The reservoir for shavings is quite large, so you won’t have to empty it very often.
You can use it to sharpen #2 pencils, colored pencils, charcoal pencils, etc.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Large capacity
- Works for 3000 and more sharpenings
Cons
- Hard to remove the lid
Jake's TakeThe JARLINK is something you will get and use every day without any issues.
Because of multiple power sources, it can serve as a stationary pencil sharpener or a portable one.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
9
Bostitch QuietSharp 6 Heavy Duty Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
The Bostitch quiet sharpener is great for classroom use.
It is quiet, quick, and easy to use.
The motor is stall-free, with thermal protection from overheating.
The Tamperproof safety switch prevents the sharpener from working when there is no safety bin.
The tip saver technology is useful and keeps pencils safe and durable.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- Quiet
- Heavy-duty
Cons
- The cutter isn’t replaceable
Jake's TakeFor classroom use, you will need something dependable, quiet and quick.
It is everything this Bostitch sharpener offers!
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
10
X-ACTO School Pro Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
This X-Acto pencil sharpener is the heavy-duty electric sharpener.
It features durable constructions for many years of usage.
The safe, precise, and rounded pencil tip is the result of a special helical steel cutter.
The unit has an auto stop when the pencil is sharp.
Check the current price on Amazon >>
Pros
- User-friendly
- Durable
Cons
- A bit noisy
Jake's TakeThe X-Acto sharpener is precise and quick.
It is easy to use and very powerful as well.
>> Click here to see pricing, ratings, and reviews on Amazon.com <<
Pencil Sharpeners Buying Guide
If you work in an office, or you are still in school, you cannot imagine a day without a pencil.
To be able to work, you will need a sharp pencil.
In that case, you know that pencil and pencil sharpeners are something like shoes and ties.
Families with children also need a good sharpener, because children spend time coloring their coloring books and drawing around.
They cannot use a manual pencil sharpener, and parents can turn to electric devices.
Electric pencil sharpeners are easy to use, and even children can learn how to do it.
However, there are differences in these units as far as the performance and price go.
In this buying guide, we will talk a bit more about pencil sharpeners.
If you want to pick the sharpener that is not on our list, here is what you should have in mind.
Things to Consider When Getting a Pencil Sharpener
First of all, let’s talk about differences in manual and electric sharpeners.
After that, we will talk about features and other factors to consider when buying a new pencil sharpener.
Manual VS Electric Pencil Sharpener
The central difference between these two units is the operation.
It is not the power that differentiates these two, rather it is a mechanism for sharpening.
The more academic terms are blade and helix sharpening.
Blade sharpening, as seen in the manual pencil sharpeners, consists of one chamber which contains the blade.
A person pushes the pencil inside, adds the pressure, and rotates the pencil until it gets in contact with the blade.
Manual, blade pencil sharpeners are something every person is familiar with, and have advantages.
Those include the price and ease of use.
However, with manual pencil sharpeners, lead can be broken, and you won’t get the same results each time.
It can take more time to finish the pencil, than with an electric sharpener.
The sharpening mechanism in helix sharpeners is reversed.
It is not the pencil that revolves in helix sharpeners, it is the cutting apparatus.
The pencil stays stationary, and the cylinder with sharpening blades rotates around it.
That way, the process is automatic and there is a fewer risk for breaking the lead.
With electric sharpeners, the electricity or battery powers the mechanism to rotates.
With newer models, it takes no more than 5 or 10 seconds to finish the pencil.
The cutting blades are sharp and generally durable, and there is a chance of replacing the blade once it gets dull.
With manual sharpeners, people buy a new one.
Also, electric sharpeners have the container for leftovers, which is usually quite large, compared to manual.
With manual sharpeners, if there is such a container in the first place, it is small and you have to empty it after each pen.
Size and Power of Electric Sharpeners
We are back to the factors you should consider when choosing which pencil sharpener to buy.
There are electric pencil sharpeners that are intended for heavy-duty use and those for lighter use.
If you a teacher and you have a large classroom full of children who needs their pencil sharpened, stick to a heavy-duty unit.
In this case, you will need something that works fast and isn’t very loud.
The same goes for large offices because you and your colleagues will use the device many times a day.
If you choose the heavy-duty pencil sharpener, you don’t have to worry about blades and battery.
These units are equipped with a powerful motor and sturdy rotating mechanism, so they sometimes can sharpen up 10 000 of pencil, until you have to replace them.
On the other hand, if you need a pencil sharpener for personal use in your studio, a small and cordless unit will be an excellent solution.
They provide less noise so they won’t be a distraction.
Compatibility
There are pencils of different sizes.
For example, standard pencils are 2 mm.
The lead determines the diameter of the pencil, which is something to be aware of when getting a pencil sharpener.
There are smaller pencils with only 0.25 mm, and jumbo pencils are 8 mm and 10 mm.
The majority of electric sharpeners, unlike manual, come with the configuration one-size-fits-all.
However, if you want a perfect, custom fit, you can get the sharpeners specially designed with slots of different sizes to fit all pencils.
Standard sharpeners are great for pencils in size 2 mm, but always check product specifications before you buy it, to make sure your pencils will fit.
Also, check what kind of pencil you can use it for, because some sharpeners are not suitable for charcoal pencils, for example.
Blade Replacement
Electric sharpeners are designed for blade replacements after a certain number of sharpening cycles.
However, sometimes you cannot find the compatible blades, and it takes much effort to replace it.
So, if you know you will use your sharpener for a long time, it would be a wise idea to check the availability of replacement blades, before you purchase the device.
That way, you can avoid expensive units with no replacement blades.
Noise
If you share an office with someone who prefers a quiet environment, you should check the noise level.
Electric sharpeners are not extremely noisy, but they do produce sounds.
It varies from model to model, so check the reviews for more information about the noise.
Storage Container
Electric sharpeners come with the storage container for junk that is left from sharpening.
If you will place a sharpener on the table, and not take it around with you, pick the device with a large container.
That way, you won’t have to empty it often.
On the other hand, if you will carry your sharpener in a bag, get the smaller unit.
Oversharpening protection
Newer and improved sharpeners feature an oversharpening protection technology.
The units are designed to automatically stop working after 5 or 10 seconds.
That way, the lead won’t be broken and all pencils will be perfectly, uniformly sharpened each time.
Also, some sharpeners have overheating protection.
It means that it will stop sharpening after many times use to prevent overheating.
Conclusion
Pencil sharpeners are essential pieces in classrooms, offices, studios and at home with children.
Nowadays, many people prefer electric sharpeners over manual units, because they are more precise and there is less risk for lead breaking.
Electric sharpeners are suitable for heavy-duty use and light-use.
They have a rotating cylinder, and the process is completely automatic.
There are also safety features that prevent over-sharpening.
The sharpening is quick and easy and takes less than 10 seconds.
What's your take on Pencil Sharpeners? You think they're just a luxury or a must-have item? Don't hesitate to share your comment below with your opinion!
