Before there were pencil sharpeners, people would sharpen their pencils using knives. Even today, some artists still do. But for most of us, there are a lot of other options like the manual and electric pencil sharpening options.
Pencil sharpeners make or break the wooden pencils’ ability to write. Even the most perfect pencils cannot make a mark till the sharpener shaves its wood part away and reveals the lead that is lying beneath it.
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Pencil sharpeners can be manual or battery-powered. The portability of the pencil sharpeners is a factor that needs to be considered. In the case of drawing artists and students, a manual or battery-powered option will be your best bet.
9+ Best Pencil Sharpeners for Your Office in 2022
- X-ACTO School Pro Electric Pencil Sharpener — The best pencil sharpener in 2022 overall (Editor’s Choice)
- STAEDTLER Manual Pencil Sharpener — The best budget pencil sharpener
- AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener — The best value pencil sharpener
- POWERME Electric Pencil Sharpener — The best battery-operated pencil sharpener
- Bostitch EPS8HD QuietSharp 6 Pencil Sharpener — The best home office pencil sharpener
- School Smart Vertical Pencil Sharpener — The best pencil sharpener for students
- Faber-Castell Grip Trio Sharpener — The best all-purpose pencil sharpener
- Carl Angel-5 Pencil Sharpener — The best pencil sharpener for artist’s pencils
- Prismacolor Premier Pencil Sharpener — The best pencil sharpener for colored pencils
What is the best pencil sharpener?
There are so many options to choose from when you’re shopping for a pencil sharpener to use in your office. In our opinion, the best option is the X-ACTO School Pro Electric Pencil Sharpener.
If you’re interested in some of our other top choices, check out our comparison table below.
How to Choose the Best Pencil Sharpener
One of the common sizes in width of many pencils is 8mm. But depending on your work or studies, you may find yourself using a different size. The manual pencil sharpener comes in a standard size. But an electric pencil sharpener comes with various size settings to fit the need of the user. Most electrical pencil sharpeners come with an auto-stop function. This will save you from the trouble of over-sharpening your pencil.
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The following points can be kept in mind when considering a sharpener.
Durability
The parts of the sharpener need to be made up of metal components. If the parts are more plastic and less metal, there is a possibility of breakage at any time. If you want durability to go for a sharpener with metal parts in them.
Size
A good-quality sharpener must be a heavy one. The extra weight of the sharpener is an added benefit as your sharpener will stay and one place. You will not accidentally push it while using it.
Shavings Bin
You need to find how big is the shavings collection bin of the sharpener. If you are using it for a team with a lot of people or in a classroom with a lot of students. The bin should be big enough to accommodate a lot of shavings. As you will not keep on emptying them now and then.
Portability
If you want your sharpener to be portable enough to carry it around everywhere. Then you might need a sharpener that is lightweight and at the same time does not occupy much of your desk space.
Pencil Diameter
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Pencils do come in more than one shape and size. You need to buy the right kind of sharpener for the diameter of the pencil you normally use. There are dedicated sharpeners for all types of pencils. The most basic pencils are those artistic pencils that need a sharp point.
Types of Pencil Sharpeners
Pencil sharpeners have come a long way from the old crank style that you may have used in grade school. To give you a bit of a primer, check out the different types you might come across:
Blade or Simple Pencil Sharpener:
It’s a little piece you hold in your hand, it has static blades inside it, and you need to push the pencil in the opening that is provided. Then, keep rotating it in the clockwise direction, or simply your hand that is holding it.
These pressures force the end of the pencil into contact with the blade that remains static. When the pencil rotates, the blade gives away the wooden casing of the pencil and sharpens the lead.
Helical Pencil Sharpener:
These pencil sharpeners are also known as crank sharpeners. In helical sharpeners, the cutting apparatus is the one that revolves and not the pencil. The pencil remains static in one place. Instead of a blade, they have a cylinder that bears the spiraling wooden ridges. In this design, it’s typically mounted to the wall, and you can put your pencil inside it and crank the handle, to sharpen the pencil. This design is more refined than the simple version as it allows more cranking torque, and cutting accuracy, and is less likely to tire your hand.
Carpenter Pencil Sharpener:
The carpenter’s pencil sharpener has a unique rectangular-shaped tapered hole that helps you to sharpen a carpenter pencil. A carpenter’s pencil sharpener is almost standard but it is designed to accept the larger size of a carpenter’s pencil. It also incorporates a freely rotating guide.
9+ Best Pencil Sharpeners for Your Office in 2022
1. X-ACTO School Pro Electric Pencil Sharpener (Editor’s Choice)
The best pencil sharpener in 2022 overall
Material: Alloy Steel | Color: Transparent Gray | Size: 5.5″L x 9″W x 8.5″H | Weight: 3.67 lbs | Power Source: Corded Electric
The X-ACTO pencil sharpener is designed specifically for offices & classrooms. The motor of the sharpener runs efficiently, without drawing power when not in use. This pencil sharpener does not make noise. So, it is perfect for a busy classroom setting. It also accommodates multiple sizes of pencils.
The flyaway cutter feature stops sharpening the pencils when it reaches ideal sharpness. The SafeStart motor stops shaving when the bin is removed. The dial-in sharpener fits many pencil widths. It works great even with colored pencils.
The cutter offers a blade life that is 33 times better than the manual sharpener. The heavy-duty electric motor gives enough power for consistent performance in places where they are used regularly.
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The sharpener has carbon steel sharpened blades. It keeps the noise levels minimal. The product comes with a 10-year warranty.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Durable and easy to use | ➖ No auto shut off |
| ➕ Reduces breakages | |
| ➕ 10-year product warranty |
Latest Price on Amazon:
2. STAEDTLER Pencil Sharpener
The best budget pencil sharpener
Material: Metal | Color: Silver/Blue | Size: 1.6 x 2.3 x 1.6 inches | Weight: 1.3 ounces
The Staedtler pencil sharpener comes with two holes. These two holes can be used conveniently for standard and oversized pencils. It can sharpen both ordinary pencils as well as colored pencils. The tub collects all the shavings and you can remove it easily for emptying. These pencil sharpeners come in multiple colors.
You can sharpen your pencil wherever you want without getting messy. This manual pencil sharpener has a large-capacity bin to store its pencil shavings. You can remove the lid with a cover that enables you to have easy access and cleaning. It is light in weight, easy to operate, and easy to clean as well. It is an ideal companion for students at school.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Easy to operate and clean | ➖ Breaks the pencil when the blade becomes too dull |
| ➕ Portable | |
| ➕ Light in weight |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The perfect compact pencil sharpener for colored pencils, for large pencils, for regular pencils - the 2 holes accommodate a multitude of different sizes
- Makes an excellent makeup pencil sharpener. Keep your eyebrow pencil or lip liner in tip-top shape ready for your close-up
- No plugs needed - keep this little hand held pencil sharpener in a pencil case, desk drawer, makeup bag or toted in your kid's school backpack
- You'll never have a dull moment in the office, at school, or around the house when you have a versatile dual diameter pencil sharpener
3. AFMAT Electric Pencil Sharpener
The best value pencil sharpener
Material: Plastic, Stainless Steel, and Alloy | Color: Gray | Size: 9.69 x 4.57 x 4.17 inches | Weight: 2.71 pounds | Power Source: Corded Electric
AFMAT electric pencil sharpener will start to sharpen automatically as soon as you insert a pencil in the hole. You need to pull the pencil out when the motor sound changes and the sharpening resistance decreases. But unfortunately, this pencil sharpener does not sharpen sketch pencils or soft carbon pencils, as these can jam the blade.
The AFMAT electric pencil sharpener is a heavy-duty sharpener. It is quite powerful to sharpen your No. 2 pencils or colored pencils to a durable point within a matter of 5 seconds. It is an automatic pencil sharpener with a heavy-duty helical blade that can sharpen over 6000 times.
It is a great pencil sharpener for students, teachers, artists, or anyone else who needs a heavy-duty sharpener.
The efficiency and the speed of the sharpener are quite high making it a perfect industrial and commercial sharpener. It will stop working when the shavings box kit is removed or not closed tightly. It will also stop working when it is overheated with constant use.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Fast | ➖ Requires batteries |
| ➕ Durable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 【Upgraded Motor-10000 Sharpening Times】This heavy duty electric pencil sharpener is a must for teachers or anyone who has a heavy use on pencil sharpeners. With upgraded stronger motor, this...
- 【UL Listed Electric Pencil Sharpener】Our classroom pencil sharpener is UL listed and has no issues after sharpening 200 pencils at a time. It is faster, more durable and powerful than any other...
- 【Colored Pencil Sharpener】 This professional pencil sharpener will start sharpening automatically when you insert a pencil. Take out the pencil when the motor sound changes and the resistance of...
- 【Commercial Pencil Sharpener】 High efficiency, fast speed and heavy use make it an industrial and commercial pencil sharpener. It has two safety features: stop working when the shavings box is...
- 【Electric Pencil Sharpener with Cord】 This AFMAT electric pencil sharpener comes with a 120V US wall plug, which is easy to use. If there is anything that you are not satisfied with, feel free to...
4. POWERME Electric Pencil Sharpener
The best battery-operated pencil sharpener
Material: Stainless Steel | Color: multi-color | Size: 1 x 1 x 1 inch | Weight: 7.8 ounces
POWERME is the perfect choice for an artist, student, teacher, or business professional. It is a combination of beautiful design and high-quality materials. It can be used commercially, in a classroom, or office.
This electric sharpener is efficient and at the same time compact. It comes in a variety of colors like black, purple, and green as well.
It can be mounted on a table in a vertical space-saving design. You can sharpen colored pencils and also graphite lead pencils with these sharpeners. The motor of this sharpener is powered with 4 AA batteries and these batteries can be easily replaced.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Vertical design | ➖ No plug-in option provided |
| ➕ Battery-operated | ➖ Should be cleaned regularly to avoid jams |
| ➕ Lightweight | |
| ➕ Portable |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The Perfect Choice! - Whether you are an artist, teacher, student, or businessman, the PowerMe pencil sharpener is the best choice for you. The combination between the beautiful design and the...
- Guaranteed to Last - Crafted from high-quality materials, the PowerMe electric pencil sharpener gives you up to 3000 rounds of sharpening without wearing out. With the heavy duty, ultra-durable high-...
- Safety for Your Kids! - Our innovative, auto-stop safety feature prevents this pencil sharpener from being used if the lid is removed. That means no risk for your fingers, which makes it an ideal...
- Designed for Perfection! – Our unique rotating spiral drill design ensures the perfect point every time; never get an uneven tip. With the auto-jam release system, you never get stuck pencils....
- 100% Money Back Guarantee - We truly want you to be happy with your electric pencil sharpener and our professional customer service will do whatever it takes to ensure your satisfaction. If you are...
5. Bostitch QuietSharp 6
The best home office pencil sharpener
Material: Hardened Steel | Color: Blue | Size:10.63 x 6.13 x 9 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Power Source: Corded Electric
The Bostitch QuietSharp 6 pencil sharpener allows the students to sharpen their pencils effectively without disrupting their peers. It has six different sizes of holes to sharpen various sizes of pencils. The electric motor sharpens the pencil quickly and efficiently. This electrical pencil sharpener is designed to be kept on the desktop or other surfaces for convenience.
The MagnaSafe tamper-proof safety feature prevents operation when the shavings tray is removed. The shavings bin is quite large to enable you to use more time in sharpening the pencil.
This sharpener uses XHC cutter technology. This enables it to do 70% faster sharpening and 10x longer life. It has a super-duty motor and thermal overload protection. The Tip Saver technology prevents over-sharpening and extends pencil life. Especially on those lonely days when you’re alone, grading papers, and you really just want a companion.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Durable | ➖ Huge |
| ➕ Quiet operation | |
| ➕ Different size options for pencils | |
| ➕ Stall-free motor |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 70% FASTER SHARPENING – this classroom electric pencil sharpener will sharpen a pencil from new to pointed in under 4 seconds. Seriously!
- 10X LONGER CUTTER LIFE – The QuietPro 6 has an extra hardened helical cutter developed by Bostitch Engineers that allows for longer life without dulling.
- QUIET MECHANISM – We don’t call it the QuietPro 6 for nothing. Developed to keep you running an efficient and focused classroom, even when there is a long line at the sharpener.
- STALL-FREE MOTOR - super duty motor with thermal overload protection keep the plug in sharpener from overheating. Sharpen a high volume of pencils back-to-back without a break.
- TAMPER-PROOF SAFETY SWITCH – This shuts down the motor when large shavings bin is removed. This is the Bostitch standard for safety in a classroom environment.
6. School Smart Vertical Pencil Sharpener
The best pencil sharpener for students
Material: Alloy Steel | Color: Black or Gray| Size: 6.5 x 5 x 7.25 inches | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Power Source: Corded Electric
School Smart is a heavy-duty vertical electric pencil sharpener. It automatically stops when the pencil is sharpened.
School Smart Vertical Sharpener is focused on power sharpening. This sharpener has to be emptied a little more often. In exchange for this, you will also get finely sharpened pencils that can be used to draw, write and do whatever you need. It is perfect for the artist or people who need to consistently work with sharp pencils.
The motor of this pencil sharpener is heavy-duty. The helical steel blade of this pencil sharpener helps you to consistently sharpen pencils daily.
There is an auto-stop function that has been incorporated with this pencil sharpener. It helps your pencils from getting over-sharpened. So you can get the perfect sharpness every time. It is available in gray or black.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Heavy-duty motor | ➖ Noisy |
| ➕ Large shaving bin provided | |
| ➕ Auto-stop feature | |
| ➕ Effective and quick performance |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- If you are looking for a non-traditional sharpener, this contemporary design is for you. This single hole sharpener features an extra large easy-to-empty transparent shavings receptacle that prohibits...
- Highly effective, fast speed pencil sharpener with a modern design
7. Faber-Castell F582800 Double Hole Sharpener
The best all-purpose pencil sharpener
Material: Wood | Color: Multi-color | Size: 2.76 x 1.18 x 0.79 inches | Weight: 0.32 ounces
The blade of the Faber-castell F582800 sharpener is crucial for sharpening wood-clad pencils. The graphite pencils can be sharpened to a very thin point. On the contrary, colored pencils can be sharpened to a blunt point due to the softer leads.
Although coated with quality titanium blades, the manual pencil sharpener’s blade becomes blunt over some time. This might lead to tip breakages as well. So it is always better to get them replaced. This pencil is cheap for its price. One of the holes is for standard pencils and the other is for jumbo pencils.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Coated with titanium blades | Blade becomes blunt over time |
| ➕ Cheap for its price | |
| ➕ Can sharpen normal and graphite pencils as well. |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Dual sharpener for standard and jumbo pens
- With titanium-coated sharpener knife
- For optimal sharpening of wooden pencils
- Colour: Green
8. Carl Angel-5 Pencil Sharpener
The best pencil sharpener for artist’s pencils
Material: Steel Aluminium | Color: Blue, Red, or Black | Size: 2.95 x 4.92 x 5.23 inches | Weight: 1.17 lbs
Carl Angel-5 Pencil Sharpener is perfect for school, home, and office. This pencil sharpener sharpens 0.9mm or 0.5mm lead tips with a two-stage core function. You need to manually operate it with a crank handle. This sharpener does not sharpen your pencil more than it requires it. You may get irritated if your pencils are getting over-sharpened. You will get the desired cut needed on your pencil in the first time you use it.
The sharpener is manufactured with a double-steel thickness along with a long-lasting aluminum die-cast. It has an internal gear mechanism and a steel case with it.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Smooth operation | ➖ Little bit on the bigger side to be kept on the desk |
| ➕ Easy to use | |
| ➕ Perfectly sharpened pencil | |
| ➕ Pencil gets gripped by the sharpener on insertion |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Smooth manual operation pencil sharpener. Quiet and Classroom Friendly.
- CARL'S Angel 5 mechanism automatically draws pencil into the cutting chamber, producing a pefect point. Once the pencil is sharp, the CARL Angel 5 unique design will not allow the pencil to over...
- Manufactured with double steel thickness along with a life long lasting Aluminum Die Cast Internal Gear Mechanism.
- Classic Blue Color.
9. Prismacolor Premier Pencil Sharpener
The best pencil sharpener for colored pencils
Material: Plastic | Color: Black | Size: 6 x 2 x 0.1 inches | Weight: 1.6 ounces
The Prismacolor pencil sharpener gives you two uses. Two blades come along with it – one for narrow and another for wide sharpening. It works nicely with Prismacolor colored pencils, graphite, and Prisma verithin pencils.
The blades are of German manufacture and sharpen pencils to a precise point. A sliding cover of the sharpener helps prevent overflowing. The outer part of the sharpener is transparent, taller, and slimmer. The transparent bin lets you see when the shavings receptacle needs to be emptied.
This sharpener comes in an attractive black color and is quite versatile. This is because you can use it with a variety of materials.
But unfortunately, it does not do a good job when you want an extremely sharp point. But at the same time, it does not break your lead often. It is easy to carry around as it is small. You can easily carry it to school.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕ Designed for color as well as regular pencils | ➖ Suits only limited sharpening |
| ➕ Transparent | |
| ➕ Offers a wide point and a sharp point hole |
Latest Price on Amazon:
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Frequently Asked Questions
What could be the reason for pencil leads breaking?
However carefully, you sharpen your pencils they tend to break easily when they are dropped down. It could also be because of the excessive writing pressure, or due to the fact that they are cheap pencils.
I'm a student, what sharpener can I use that I can carry around?
A small manual sharpener is ideal for school students.
Should I spend more for auto-shutoff?
If you are an artist and use a pencil sharpener on a regular basis. It is better to go in for an electrical pencil sharpener with an auto-shutoff.
When will I have to replace the batteries in a battery-powered sharpener?
The pencil sharpener does not sharpen the pencil when it is inserted in the holes of the sharpener. This is an indicator that the battery in the sharpener needs to be replaced.
Can you sharpen a manual pencil sharpener blade?
Yes. You can sharpen the manual pencil sharpener blade, carefully unscrew the top screw turn it over to allow the blades to fall down. Now sharpen the blades using the sharpening stone. Use the same method to fix it back.
Do color pencils break electric sharpeners?
Yes. Color pencils have a very thick oil base or wax content in them. Over a period of time, this wax settles as residue in electric sharpeners. This leads to damage to the electric sharpeners.
9+ Best Pencil Sharpeners for Your Office in 2022
The facts about all the pencil sharpeners available – manual and electric are presented to you. You need to choose wisely the kind of sharpener required by you. It can be based on the kind of work you do and how often you might require pencils in a day to day work. If you are an artist or a designer, you might need to use the sharpener regularly. Use your wisdom to choose the right kind of sharpener required for you.