The best pencil sharpener in October 2024

Three of the best pencil sharpeners on a yellow background
(Image credit: PowerMe / OfficeGoods / Staedtler / Future)

You may not think of the best pencil sharpeners as equipment that requires too much thought, but we all know that a substandard sharpener can spell chipped pencil ends and broken lead. Upgrading to one of the best pencil sharpeners ensures you have a decent tool that does the job, giving your pencil a fine, robust point quickly and easily (and unless you like mess, a container for wood shavings is a bonus).

If you've invested in one of the best pencils, it makes sense to get a sharpener that does it justice. In the guide below we round up the best pencil sharpers, starting with the best electric pencil sharpeners followed by the best manual pencil sharpeners (turned by hand). We've based our choices on size, build, quality, performance, value and reliability based on hundreds of customer reviews. 

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Tom May

Tom May is an award-winning journalist and editor specialising in design, photography and technology. Author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Great TED Talks: Creativity, published by Pavilion Books, Tom was previously editor of Professional Photography magazine, associate editor at Creative Bloq, and deputy editor at net magazine. Today, he is a regular contributor to Creative Bloq and its sister sites Digital Camera World, T3.com and Tech Radar. He also writes for Creative Boom and works on content marketing projects. 

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