The number on a knife set box is not the number of knives you will cook with. A “15-piece” set is usually five or six kitchen knives, six steak knives, a pair of shears, a honing steel and the block itself, which counts as a piece. So the useful question is not how many pieces, but which blades are in the box, what they are made of and how you will keep them sharp.
Our catalog lists 426 knife sets and block sets. We narrowed them to five that owners rate 4.5 stars or higher and that each suit a different kitchen. These are comparisons of the published specifications and owner ratings, not cutting tests: we have not sliced tomatoes with all five. Prices are left out because they move daily, and each button opens the current Amazon listing.
How we picked
- Owner ratings of 4.5 or higher, and at least 2,000 ratings per set. Knife sets are often rated while every blade is still new, so we wanted large samples.
- The contents are spelled out. We only chose sets whose listings name the knives and their lengths, and we repeat that list in each spec box.
- Different kinds of set. A full block set, a lighter stamped alternative, a low-cost block without steak knives, a drawer set with guards, and a set that sharpens its own knives.
- Real kitchen sets. Single chef knives, steak-only sets and tomato-knife packs that sit in the same category were left out.
The picks
This Cuisinart set earns the top spot on the numbers: a 4.7-star average from more than 20,000 owners, a complete block with six steak knives, and a price under $100 at the time of writing. The blades are high-carbon stainless steel, ground to a tapered edge, with a bolster where the blade meets the handle. The handles are hollow stainless steel, which keeps the knives light. You get a chef knife, a slicer, a santoku, a serrated utility knife, a paring knife and a bird’s beak paring knife, plus six steak knives, a steel and shears. The one gap is a long bread knife.
- Six kitchen knives plus six steak knives in one block
- High-carbon stainless blades with a bolster for control
- Hollow stainless handles keep the knives light
- 20,400+ ratings at 4.7 stars, and a lifetime limited warranty
- No full-size bread knife; the 5.5 in serrated utility knife stands in
- Two paring knives but no boning knife
- Block is about 14.6 in tall, so check the clearance under your cabinets
Henckels builds the Statement line from single-piece stamped stainless steel. That makes each knife lighter than a forged one, which Henckels says helps maneuverability. The handles are full tang and triple-riveted, with a stainless endcap. The knife selection is the most balanced here: chef, bread, hollow-edge santoku, serrated utility and paring, with six steak knives, a steel, shears and a bonus sharpener beside the hardwood block. Nearly 25,000 owners have rated it, at a 4.5-star average. Choose it over the Cuisinart if you want a real bread knife and a conventional riveted handle.
- Includes a proper 8 in bread knife
- Stamped blades are lighter than forged ones and easy to maneuver
- Full tang and triple-riveted handles
- 24,700+ ratings, the most of any block set in our catalog
- 4.5 stars is the lowest average of these five
- Only five kitchen knives among the 15 pieces
- Cost more than the Cuisinart block set when we checked
Amazon Basics 9-Piece High-Carbon Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife Set with Pine Wood Block
Nine pieces here means seven knives, a sharpener and the block, so nearly everything you pay for is a blade you will use. The list covers a chef knife, santoku, slicer, bread knife, boning knife, utility knife and paring knife, all in high-carbon stainless steel with full-tang, triple-riveted handles. At under $40 when we checked, it costs less than half of what the Cuisinart block does. It suits a first apartment, or anyone who already owns steak knives. Amazon states hand wash only. More than 6,000 owners rate it 4.6 stars.
- Seven working knives and no filler pieces
- Full tang, triple-riveted handles
- Includes a boning knife, which the Cuisinart and Henckels blocks leave out
- 6,100+ ratings at 4.6 stars
- No steak knives or shears
- Hand wash only
- Block is pine, not hardwood
Cuisinart C55-12PCKSAM 12-Piece Ceramic Coated Stainless Steel Knives with 6 Blade Guards, Color Coded
Not every kitchen has room for a block. This set packs six knives, each with a fitted guard, into a drawer: chef, slicing, bread, santoku, utility and paring. Every knife is a different color, which is more than decoration. You can keep one for raw chicken and another for salad without thinking about it. The stainless blades carry a nonstick ceramic coating, and Cuisinart backs them with a limited lifetime warranty. It shares the top rating on this page, 4.8 stars, with the Ninja NeverDull, but from more than 25,000 owners rather than 2,300, and it sold for around $30 at the time of writing.
- Blade guards let the knives live safely in a drawer
- Color coding helps keep raw meat and vegetables on separate knives
- Nonstick coating so food releases from the blade
- 25,200+ ratings at 4.8 stars, the most of any pick here
- Stamped blades
- Six knives only; the other six pieces are the guards
- No steak knives, shears, steel or sharpener
Ninja NeverDull 15-Pc Wood Series Knife Block, Stainless/Walnut, K52015
Every knife dulls with use, and many home cooks never sharpen theirs. Ninja builds the sharpener into the block, and the maker says a few swipes keep the edge for more than ten years; that is the company’s claim, not something we measured. The blades are forged from German stainless steel with full-tang handles, and Ninja describes the walnut-stained block as having a smaller footprint. Owners give it 4.8 stars across 2,300+ ratings. It costs several times what the Cuisinart does, so it makes sense only if built-in sharpening is what you are paying for.
- Sharpener is built into the block, so upkeep takes a few swipes
- Forged German stainless steel with full-tang handles
- Walnut-stained wood block with a small footprint
- 2,300+ ratings at 4.8 stars
- By far the most expensive set here
- Fewest ratings of the five
- Listing does not name every one of the 15 pieces
Compare the picks
| Product | Kitchen knives | Steak knives | Storage | Owner rating | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisinart C77SS-15PKCuisinart | 6, no bread knife | 6 | Wood block | 4.7 / 20k+ | 9.4 | See price |
| Henckels Statement 15-pcHENCKELS | 5 | 6 | Hardwood block | 4.5 / 24k+ | 9.2 | See price |
| Amazon Basics 9-PieceAmazon Basics | 7 | None | Pine block | 4.6 / 6.1k+ | 9.2 | See price |
| Cuisinart Advantage 12-PieceCuisinart | 6 | None | Blade guards | 4.8 / 25k+ | 9.6 | See price |
| Ninja NeverDull 15-PcNinja | Chef, bread, slicing, santoku and more | Not itemized | Block with sharpener | 4.8 / 2.3k+ | 9.6 | See price |
What to look for in a knife set
Count the knives, not the pieces. Steak knives, shears, the steel and the block are all “pieces”. Three knives do most of the work in a home kitchen: a chef knife or santoku around 7 to 8 inches, a small paring knife and a serrated bread knife. A set with those three is better than a bigger one that pads the count.
Forged or stamped. A forged knife is shaped from a thicker piece of steel and usually has a bolster, the thick collar between blade and handle. A stamped knife is cut from a sheet, so it is thinner, lighter and cheaper to make. Neither is wrong. Henckels describes its Statement blades as stamped and lighter than forged; the Ninja, Amazon Basics and Cuisinart block sets are listed as forged.
Full tang. The tang is the part of the blade that runs into the handle. When it runs the whole length, the knife balances better and the handle is less likely to work loose. The Henckels, Amazon Basics and Ninja listings all state full tang.
Think about storage before you buy. A block keeps edges from knocking together but takes counter space and height: the Cuisinart, Amazon Basics and Ninja blocks stand between about 12 and 15 inches tall. Blade guards, as on the Cuisinart Advantage, protect the edge in a drawer.
Have a plan for sharpening. A honing steel straightens an edge; it does not replace sharpening. The Cuisinart and Henckels blocks include a steel, the Henckels and Amazon Basics sets add a sharpener, and the Ninja builds one into the block.
Setting up a kitchen from scratch? Our guides to Dutch ovens and toaster ovens cover two other basics, and the indoor electric grill guide gives those steak knives something to do.
How many knives do I really need in a set?
Three do most of the work: a 7 to 8 inch chef knife or santoku, a paring knife and a serrated bread knife. A utility knife and a slicer are useful extras. Steak knives matter only if you serve meat at the table often.
What is the difference between forged and stamped knives?
Forged knives are shaped from a thicker piece of steel, tend to be heavier and usually have a bolster. Stamped knives are cut from sheet steel, so they are lighter and cost less. The Henckels Statement set is stamped; the Ninja NeverDull, Amazon Basics and Cuisinart block sets are listed as forged.
Can knife sets go in the dishwasher?
It is better not to. Amazon Basics states hand wash only for its 9-piece set, and hand washing and drying right away is the safe habit for any kitchen knife. Dishwashers knock edges against racks and are hard on handles.
Which knife set is best if I have no counter space?
The Cuisinart Advantage 12-piece. It has six knives with six fitted blade guards and no block, so it stores in a drawer. It is also the most-reviewed pick here, with more than 25,000 owners rating it 4.8 stars.
Do I still need to sharpen a self-sharpening set?
With the Ninja NeverDull, the sharpener is built into the block and the maker says a few swipes maintain the edge. You still have to use it; the knives do not sharpen themselves in storage. With the other block sets, use the included steel or sharpener regularly.
Bottom line
The Cuisinart C77SS-15PK is the best value for a full kitchen: six kitchen knives, six steak knives and a lifetime limited warranty, rated 4.7 stars by more than 20,000 owners. Take the Henckels Statement if you want a bread knife and a lighter blade, the Amazon Basics 9-piece if you are furnishing a kitchen on a small budget, the Cuisinart Advantage if the knives must live in a drawer, and the Ninja NeverDull if built-in sharpening is worth a much higher price to you.
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