The Best Budget Kitchen Knives of 2024

Finding high-quality kitchen knives at a reasonable price can be a daunting task. That’s why Blair and I have curated this list of the best budget kitchen knives that offer excellent performance at an affordable price. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook enthusiast, having a reliable set of kitchen knives is essential for all of your culinary endeavors. We extensively researched various kitchen knives (including the ones Blair uses daily) to find those that deliver exceptional value without compromising functionality.

During our research, we considered factors such as edge retention, blade sharpness, handle comfort, durability, and overall performance. From versatile chef’s knives to precise paring knives, we’ve included a variety of options suitable for multiple kitchen tasks.

Here are our top picks for the best budget kitchen knives that combine affordability with outstanding performance to elevate your cooking experience.  

Our Top Picks: 

1. In Blair’s Kitchen: Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set with Block – $65 at Amazon
2. Blair’s Other Favorite: HENCKELS 15-Piece Knife Set – $139.95 at Amazon
3. Best Kitchen Knife Set Under $100: Cuisinart 15-Piece Hollow Handle Set – $71.99 at Amazon
4. Best 8-Piece Knife Set: Ginsu Gourmet Chikara 8-Piece Knife Set – $99.56 at Amazon  
5. Best Chef Knife Under $50: Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef’s Knife – $32.99 at Sur La Table

Reviews of The Best Budget Kitchen Knives

1. In Blair’s Kitchen: Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set

The Cuisinart 15-piece stainless steel knife set is the same one that Blair has in her own kitchen and uses daily for slicing and dicing everything from garlic chicken to steak fajitas. Blair loves the kitchen shears that come with the set, as well as the six steak knives. “We use the steak knives like paring knives to cut everything from fruit to meat to sandwiches,” she explains. “And the sharpening tool is an added bonus!” 

This set offers a great value for the price, especially since it contains full tang knives (meaning the metal runs all the way through from the tip of the blade to the handle).  For budget knives, they have a very good fit and finish, and with a variety of black, grey, white, and brown color options, the modern design makes them look stylish on your countertop. As with all Cuisinart products, they come with a lifetime warranty. 

What Blair Says:

“I think of these as nice everyday knives. Our more expensive knives require more careful treatment and storage, whilst these sit on our counter and perform simple kitchen tasks reliably.”

The Specs:

• Blade Material: High carbon stainless steel 
• Handle Material: Plastic
• Construction Type: Forged
• Holder Dimensions: 5.38 x 14.5 x 9.88 inches
• Set Includes: 8-inch chef knife and slicing knife, one 7-inch santoku knife, a 5.5-inch utility knife, 6 paring knives, 6 steak knives, bird’s beak paring knife, sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and wooden knife block.  

The Pros:

• Very sharp 
• Ergonomically designed handle
• Full tang 
• Lifetime warranty 

The Cons:

• Handwashing recommended

What Others Are Saying

The Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Set has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon out of over 25,000 reviews.   

Buy the Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife set:

2. Blair’s Other Favorite: HENCKELS 15-Piece Knife Set

Another set Blair regularly uses in her kitchen is the HENCKELS 15-piece knife set (which she received as a wedding gift over 15 years ago and has been using ever since)! It’s worth mentioning here that although this knife block set has higher rack rates, it’s frequently on sale and largely discounted at various retailers. 

HENCKELS is the more affordable sister brand to Zwilling, which is a popular German knife brand favored by chefs. The knives have ultra-sharp, stainless steel blades that make them perfect for precision cutting. The wooden block comes in different shades of brown to match your kitchen decor, and the knives are dishwasher safe.

The Specs:

• Blade Material: Stainless steel 
• Handle Material: Hard ABS plastic
• Construction Type: Stamped
• Block Dimensions: 12.52 x 5.51 x 11.73 inches
• Set Includes: One 8-inch chef’s knife, 8-inch bread knife, 7-inch santoku knife hollow edge, 5-inch serrated utility knife, set of six 4.5-inch steak knives, 3-inch paring knife, honing steel, kitchen shears, and a hardwood knife block.

The Pros:

• Good range of different knives
• German engineered
• Includes 6 matching serrated steak knives
• Ultra sharp blades 
• Dishwasher safe

The Cons:

• Can be more costly than other options
• Handles a little on the heavy side

What Others Are Saying

The Strategist found the Henckels 15 Piece Knife Set to be the best set with steak knives, and it has a 4.7 rating on Amazon out of over 13,700 reviews. 

Buy the Henckels 15-Piece Knife Set:

3. Best Kitchen Knife Set Under $100: Cuisinart 15-Piece Hollow Handle Block Set

This other popular set from Cuisinart is often priced well under $100! These lightweight knives have ergonomic, hollow handles for extra comfort and easy grip, making them perfect everyday kitchen knives. Unlike other knives with plastic or rubber handles, these durable knives are forged from 100% stainless steel so they’re rust and stain-resistant. 

These knives must be hand washed and dried thoroughly after each use to help prolong their life. The space between each knife in the block is a little tight, but the compact block size would be great for anyone with limited countertop space.   

The Specs:

• Blade Material: Stainless Steel 
• Handle Material: Stainless Steel
• Construction Type: Forged
• Block Dimensions: 6.5 x 14.88 x 11.13 inches
• Set Includes: One 8-inch chef knife, one 8-inch slicing knife, one 7-inch santoku knife, one 5.5-inch serrated utility knife, one 3.5-inch paring knife, one 3.5-inch bird’s beak paring knife, six 4.5-inch steak knives, one 8-inch sharpening steel, all-purpose household shears, and one matte wood block.

The Pros:

• Great budget set 
• Good variety of knives 
• Lightweight
• Includes sharpening steel 
• Lifetime warranty 

The Cons:

• Small space between knives in the block 
• Hand wash only 

What Others Are Saying

The Spruce Eats voted the Cuisinart 15-Piece Hollow Handle Set the “best lightweight knife set.” It has a 4.7 rating out of over 19,500 reviews on Amazon.

Buy the Cuisinart 15-piece Hollow Handle Block Set:

4. Best 8-Piece Knife Set: Ginsu Chikara 8-Piece Knife Set

If you don’t need a more expansive knife set, this 8-piece collection from Ginsu is a solid choice. These Japanese stainless steel knives are incredibly sharp and are famous for their nimbleness in dicing, chopping, and slicing. The extended tang helps to transfer the power from your hands to create effortless cuts. These knives are forged (instead of stamped), so they’re made from a single piece of pounded steel for added strength and durability. 

This set doesn’t include a bread knife, which may be a problem for some people, and the handles have a traditional, narrow-rounded shape, so they may not suit anyone with larger hands. They include a  limited lifetime warranty.

The Specs:

• Blade Material:  Stainless Steel 
• Handle Material: Resin
• Construction Type: Forged
• Dimensions: 15.5 x 12 x 19.75 inches
• Set Includes: One 8-inch chef knife, one 7-inch santoku knife, one 5-inch utility knife, one 5-inch serrated utility knife, one 3.5-inch paring knife, one pair of kitchen shears, one honing rod, and one bamboo block.

The Pros:

• Very sharp 
• Forged
• Great starter Japanese set 
• Rust resistant 

The Cons:

• Hand wash
• No bread knife 
• Handles are narrow

What Others Are Saying

All Recipes, The Spruce Eats, Food & Wine, and People all voted the Ginsu Gourmet Chikara 8-piece Knife Set to be the “best Japanese knife set.” It has a 4.4 rating from around 1,000 reviews on Amazon. 

Buy the Ginsu Gourmet Chikara 8-Piece Knife Set :

5. Best Chef Knife Under $50: Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

The Victorinox brand has made knives since 1884 and is best known for its popular Swiss Army knives. This Swiss-made chef’s knife is highly rated by experts and budget home cooks alike and is frequently priced around (or below) $50. Although it’s not a full-tang knife, it’s still very solid and easy to use. It’s an affordable knife that can be used by both beginners and professionals and is ideal for slicing up cuts of meat.

Unlike some other chef’s knives, the Victorinox can be cleaned in the dishwasher, making it easy to care for and perfect for everyday use. Due to the large size and clunky design, it’s not the best knife for delicate or precision slicing. It’s also not the best-looking knife out there, but it does the job. 

The Specs:

• Blade Material: Stainless Steel 
• Handle Material: Plastic
• Construction Type: Stamped
• Blade Length: 8 inches  

The Pros:

• Non-slip, ergonomic handle
• Durable
• Dishwasher safe 

The Cons:

• Delicate slicing may be hard due to the large size
• Not going to win any beauty awards  

What Others Are Saying

The Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef’s Knife was voted the best budget chef knife by Bon Appetit and Wirecutter.

Buy the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef’s Knife:

Other Budget Kitchen Knives We Considered

Mercer Culinary Genesis 8-Inch Chef’s Knife 

This German chef’s knife is well-balanced and lightweight, with a comfy grip due to its ergonomic handle. It’s made from high-carbon steel and is best used for chopping, mincing, and cutting. It comes with a lifetime warranty. This knife was a close second to the Victorinox chef knife in our top picks. The Mercer Culinary Genesis 8-inch Chef’s Knife is available on Amazon for $45.46. 

HENCKELS Dynamic Steak Knife Set

These German-engineered steak knives are easy to hold and great for frequent use. This set of four has sharp blades to easily cut through tougher meats. As an added bonus, they’re dishwasher safe. The HENCKELS steak knives are available at Amazon for $24.95.   

Mac Knife 8-Inch Hollow Edge Chef’s Knife

This affordable, Japanese-made knife is incredibly sharp and has a lightweight, slip-free handle. The blade has dimples that prevent food from sticking to it, which is a handy feature that makes it particularly good for thinly slicing food such as fish. It’s highly rated by all of the top food publications, but the price is a little steep for those looking for budget options. The Mac Knife is available at Amazon for $99.97. 

Global 7-inch Stainless Steel Chef’s Knife

The all-steel construction makes this 7-inch chef’s knife incredibly strong, and the thin blade, with perfect balance, makes it ideal for precision cutting. It has a molded dimpled handle, so it’s easy to grip and comfortable to hold. Be aware that it requires hand washing. The Global 7-inch Stainless Steel Chef’s Knife is available at Amazon for $69.57

Misen 8-Inch Professional Kitchen Knife

This 8-inch kitchen knife from Misen is often touted as one of the best chef knives under $100, and for good reasons. If you can’t decide between a Western or Japanese-style blade, the Misen combines the best features of both. It has the weight of a German knife but retains the lightweight, razor-sharp appeal of Japanese blades. The biggest drawback? It has to be washed by hand and dried immediately. The Misen 8-inch kitchen knife is available at Amazon for $85. 

Why You Can Trust Us

I’m Georgina Caro, an acclaimed content creator, sustainability advocate, and certified nutritionist. Throughout my writing career, I’ve curated various culinary guides and product reviews to empower readers as conscious consumers. My work has been featured in publications like Huffpost, Apartment Therapy, House Beautiful, Ethical Consumer, Bob Vila, Impakter, and more.

Blair Lonergan is a passionate cook, freelance recipe developer, and founder of The Seasoned Mom. Blair deeply believes that cooking is an expression of love, and she delights in preparing delectable, Virginia-inspired dishes for loved ones. Her repertoire includes hearty protein-rich recipes such as King Ranch Chicken and flavorful Beef Burgundy. 

Blair and I collaborated to create this curated list of the best budget kitchen knives available. We began in Blair’s kitchen, leveraging her personal favorites, and then extended our research to encompass highly recommended kitchen knives, taking into account customer feedback and endorsements from reputable food publications. In evaluating each product, we assessed the design, blade sharpness, handle comfort, overall performance, and cost. 

What to Know About Budget Kitchen Knives

Things to Consider When Choosing Budget Kitchen Knives 

When selecting a budget kitchen knife, there are several key factors to consider, such as the materials for the blade, the handle, and how the knife is constructed. 

Blade Material: For longevity, look for materials that are resistant to rust and corrosion, such as stainless steel, which is a very popular material for budget kitchen knives but will require frequent sharpening. High-carbon steel tends to remain sharper longer than stainless steel but is slightly more susceptible to corrosion and tends to be a little more costly. 

Damascus steel is another common option for kitchen knives, which is extremely durable, although it requires more maintenance and often comes with a higher price tag. Lastly, ceramic (zirconia) is a less common material used for kitchen knives that maintains sharpness but is more prone to breaking if dropped. 

Knife Handle: Consider the ergonomic handle design to ensure comfort, a secure grip, and balance during use. In addition, the knife should feel balanced in your hand. Opt for knives with a full tang (meaning the blade extends through the handle). This ensures better strength and stability. 

The knife handles also have a range of materials, such as resin, wood, metal, or plastic, and each type has pros and cons. For example, wood offers a classic look and good grip (even when wet) but is more likely to harbor bacteria and degrade over time, whereas resin or plastic can be more slippery when wet. Certain metals like stainless steel can be on the heavier side, so it may cause stress on the hands when doing meal preparation for larger groups. 

Knife Construction: A couple of key things to look for in the construction of kitchen knives is whether it has a full tang, meaning the blade runs the entire length of the handle, or a partial tang. Full-tang knives are stronger and less prone to breaking, but partial tangs are often used in more cost-effective brands.

Another important aspect is whether the steel blade is forged or stamped. Forged blades are made from one piece of steel that’s heat-treated and pounded in place, so they tend to be thicker (and often heavier). They also feature a bolster where the blade meets the handle to ensure balance and include a full tang. Whereas a stamped knife uses a piece of cut steel and is often more lightweight, flexible, and affordable but can be less precise and durable. Stamped knives may or may not have a full tang and do not include a bolster for balance. 

How Much Do Kitchen Knives Cost?

Kitchen knives can vary in price, ranging from $50 for a budget set and up to $500 (or more) for a high-end set. A budget chef’s knife can be as little as $15, but a high-end kitchen knife can cost as much as $170 each. Some factors that go into the price are the brand, type of knife, shape of the blade, and materials – particularly regarding various steel grades. The overall craftsmanship also gets factored in. While most knives are factory-made, there are varying degrees of artisan influence to ensure high quality. 

How to Sharpen Kitchen Knives

To sharpen your kitchen knives effectively, start by selecting the right sharpening tool or method. Options include a honing rod, a whetstone, or a knife sharpener. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Aim to maintain the correct angle (usually around 20 degrees) while moving the blade across the sharpening surface. Use steady and controlled strokes, applying consistent pressure. Repeat the process on both sides of the blade. 

What is a Chef’s Knife Used For?

Chef knives are traditionally used for dicing vegetables, preparing fruit, cutting meat, chopping herbs or nuts, and disjointing cuts of meat. Chef knives tend to have bigger blades than other kitchen knives, so they’re not ideal for smaller tasks (like peeling) or slicing bread.

When choosing a chef’s knife, it’s important to know the two main types: German and Japanese. German knives are thick and heavy, whereas Japanese knives are lightweight, with razor-sharp blades.  

How to Dispose of Kitchen Knives

Never dispose of kitchen knives in your trash bins or curb-side recycling without taking the correct precautions. Mishandled knives can pose a serious threat to sanitation workers. Before you dispose of a kitchen knife, ensure it is safe by covering the exposed blade with a sheath, cardboard, or tape.

Next, check specific disposal guidelines with your local waste management facility or recycling center. Some areas may have designated drop-off locations or times for household items that can’t be picked up curbside.

Alternatively, contact the knife manufacturer to see if they offer mail-back programs for knife disposal. Some secondhand shops (like Goodwill stores) will often accept used kitchen knives, but contact them in advance as requirements may vary based on location.

Best Budget Kitchen Knife Recipes

Put your new budget kitchen knives to the test with these fan-favorite recipes. Here are some of the most popular ones: 

• Smothered Round Steak
• Crock Pot Vegetable Soup
• Dutch Oven Beef Stew 
• Green Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette 
• Poppy Seed Bread

Prices were accurate at the time of publication.