Knife sets supply some of the most essential tools to a home kitchen—after all, it’s near-impossible to make meals without a few sharp blades to chop vegetables, slice meat and mince herbs. Out of the very best knife sets on the market, we believe the Wüsthof Classic 7-Piece Slim Knife Block Set is the most useful collection for most home cooks. Composed of five professional-quality knives and a pair of kitchen shears with pull-apart blades, this sleek set leaves little to be desired in terms of sharpness, balance and maneuverability.
Some of the best knife sets come from Miyabi, Wüsthof and Mercer Culinary.
Illustration: Forbes / Image: Retailer
Knife sets come in all kinds of configurations, but the best of their kind have a few qualities in common. The blades are sharp and strong, and the handles fit securely and comfortably in your hand. The storage system, whether it’s a classic wooden block or a modern stand, is streamlined. And if you can’t decide whether you want a set made up of just the essentials or a large collection with specialized blades and tools like honing steels, just keep in mind that bigger isn’t always better. The right set for you is one that has blades and tools you actually use on a regular basis—and not a bunch of unnecessary ones that will rarely see the light of day. Ahead, here are the very best kitchen knife sets from such trusted brands as Wüsthof, Miyabi and more.
Home cooks seeking a perfectly sized set of premium knives
Those who prefer German knives over Japanese blades
Those who like knives with full bolsters
Skip if:
You want a large set that includes steak knives and a honing steel
Wüsthof is one of the most trusted knife brands, known for their premium German-style blades built to stand up to years of regular use. If you’re looking to invest in a high-quality set that includes five versatile blades and kitchen shears with pull-apart blades, this collection—which belongs to the brand’s best-selling Classic series—is our pick for most home cooks.
Housed in a slim acacia block that can fit on even the most crowded countertops, this set comes with six pieces: an 8-inch chef’s knife, 8-inch bread knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, 6-inch prep knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife and kitchen shears. Featuring full-tang blades that are fully forged from high-carbon stainless steel (which means the same piece of steel extends from the butt of the handle to the very tip), the blades are sharp, durable and easy to maneuver. Meanwhile, the triple-riveted handles, made from durable thermoplastic, are comfortable and slip-resistant. And between the two parts is a full bolster, which can help keep your fingers comfortable during prep work.
“This knife set is sleek and robust all at once,” says Luke Fater, Forbes Vetted’s associate editor for branded content, who’s been using this set for a year and a half. While he sings the praises of the paring knife’s “nimble” blade and the chef’s knife’s ability to break down chicken with ease, his favorite blade is the prep knife: “I use it so often, it stays out on my cutting board.” He also adds, “After a year of steady use, I’ve yet to bring them in for sharpening, and I’m still chopping, slicing and dicing almost effortlessly.”
You want a large set that includes steak knives and a honing steel
Whether you’re someone who eats out more than they cook at home or you like to keep it pretty simple in the kitchen, you probably don’t need to spend hundreds on a knife set. For those looking for a more affordable collection, this set from Mercer Culinary is a true kitchen workhorse.
As the leading knife supplier to culinary schools in North America, Mercer Culinary makes cutlery that can take a beating—and this set is no exception. Featuring high-carbon stainless steel blades and thermoplastic handles that are ergonomic and nonslip, this collection includes an 8-inch chef’s knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, 6-inch boning knife, 5-inch utility knife and 8-inch bread knife, all of which are durable and easy to maneuver. For the storage solution, you can choose between two space-saving options: a wood-and-tempered-glass block (pictured above) or a metal-and-tempered-glass stand, which costs about $45 less. Not only are both versions compact, but they also give you full view of the knives, so you don’t have to guess which one you’re picking up based on the handle.
Home cooks who want only the most essential kitchen knives
Those who don’t want to store their knives on the countertop
Those drawn to colorful kitchen tools
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You want a set that comes with a storage solution
While boning knives and other specialty blades can be nice to have on hand, there are just three that every home kitchen needs: a chef’s knife (for the lion’s share of chopping), a paring knife (for small, precise cuts) and a serrated knife (for bread and produce like watermelon). If you’re just interested in the essentials, this popular set from direct-to-consumer brand Misen provides just that in a modern, high-quality package.
Made from high-carbon stainless steel, Misen’s full-tang blades combine the rounded profile of Western knives with the thinner, lighter feel of Japanese knives, resulting in a hybrid design that can appeal to a wide variety of home cooks. “Misen’s three-piece knife set is a sturdy and well-designed starter kit that has held up over nearly two years of use, with regular sharpening,” says executive editor Brinda Ayer. “My go-to is the chef’s knife, which is thoughtfully and ergonomically designed, with a sloped bolster between the heel of the blade and the handle to allow for a comfortable grip.” Ayer also likes using the serrated knife to saw cleanly through sponge cakes and juicy tomatoes and the paring knife for peeling fruit and “lopping off a knob of butter for a quick sauté,” she says. (Just one note about the length of the blades: Misen says the chef’s knife and bread knife are both 8 inches long, but the latter’s blade is closer to 9.5 inches.)
While you can find less expensive three-piece sets, we think this one’s worth it. “Misen’s quality product, responsive customer service and generous lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects—not to mention the modern aesthetic and lovely colorways available for each set—justify the slightly higher cost,” says Ayer. Just keep in mind that if you do spring for this set, you need to purchase a storage solution separately; Misen sells a modular storage system, or you can buy a magnetic knife strip to mount on your kitchen wall.
Best Knife Set With Steak Knives
A Big Set With 12 Blades, Kitchen Shears And A Honing Steel
You can’t see yourself using the steak knives on a semi-regular basis
For home cooks who enjoy serving tenderloin, rib-eye or any cut of meat with regularity, it might be worth investing in a set that includes steak knives. This collection from Wüsthof is a larger version of our pick for the best knife set overall. It comes with six steak knives, plus the most common kitchen blades and useful tools, all stored in a handsome acacia block.
Aside from the steak knives, which measure 6 inches and feature straight, sharp blades, this set includes a few other pieces that the smaller version doesn’t: a 5-inch santoku knife, a 6-inch straight-edge utility knife and a 9-inch honing steel, the latter of which is essential to maintaining your knives. Because of the additional blades, this set would also make sense for larger households, where multiple people might be cooking at once. “An added perk of having multiple knives is that you can have people help you cook and there will be less frequent knife sharpening required,” says Olivia Roszkowski, chef-instructor of plant-based culinary arts at the Institute of Culinary Education. “Even if you are getting your knives sharpened professionally, it can save time to bring a whole knife set rather than making frequent trips with one or two knives.” This block also contains a few extra slots, in case you want to grow your collection—though we think this set is pretty complete as is.
Home cooks seeking a beautiful set of ultra sharp Japanese blades
Those who are diligent with cleaning and maintenance
Those who make a lot of precise cuts with their knives
Skip if:
You chop a lot of hard squash, nuts and bones
Compared to German-style knives, Japanese knives are typically made from thinner, harder steel, with straighter blades and an overall lighter feel. Though this means they’re less appropriate for cutting through bones and other dense foods, they’re ideal for precise cuts. If those qualities appeal to you, the knives in this collection from Miyabi—which includes the essentials, plus a santoku knife, a honing steel and a pair of shears—are ultra sharp and nimble, on top of being downright gorgeous.
Handcrafted in Japan, the full-tang, hand-hammered steel blades are honed to a super acute angle using a traditional process called “honbazuke,” after which they’re ice-hardened for better edge retention. The result? Extremely sharp blades that glide through meat and produce with ease. The handles, too, are striking: They’re made from cocobolo pakkawood, which has a beautiful rich color. While you should never leave a dirty knife sitting in a wet sink or unsheathed in a kitchen drawer, with this set, you want to be extra diligent about cleaning and drying the knives promptly after using them and protecting their more delicate blades.
All in all, we only have two small issues with this set: The shears don’t feature pull-apart blades, which makes it harder to clean them thoroughly. Additionally, the included bamboo storage block has four more slots than there are knives, and because this isn’t a massive set, it looks a little incomplete. That said, if you already have some blades on hand that could use a home, this could be considered a perk.
Forbes Vetted’s home and kitchen editors are knowledgeable about all kinds of cooking staples—and few items are as essential to a home kitchen as a quality set of knives. Not only have we personally used many of the knives on this list, but we’ve also put chef’s knives, bread knives and more through their paces in a professional capacity over the years.
The home and kitchen section is overseen by three experienced editors: deputy editor Rebekah Lowin, senior editor Amanda Arnold and editor Sholeen Damarwala. This story was written by Arnold, who has personally tested dozens of kitchen essentials, including knives.
At Forbes Vetted, we regularly review all of our stories to ensure that we continue to stand behind the products we’ve chosen to feature and that our guidance remains current. This story was last updated in May 2025.
How We Chose The Best Knife Sets
To determine the most reliable and best quality knife sets in 2025, we consulted a knife pro and culinary instructor, researched top-rated picks from popular brands and assessed their quality.
We looked into bestselling sets from trusted knife brands like Wüsthof, Miyabi, Misen and more.
For each set, we considered the knives included, the construction of the blades and handles, the appearance and durability of the storage solution (if included), the required maintenance and the overall versatility.
We prioritized knife sets our writers and editors have tested and loved firsthand, including the collections from Wüsthof and Misen.
How To Shop For The Best Knife Sets
For those uninterested in building their own knife set blade by blade, a comprehensive collection is the way to go. From the knives included to the materials used, here’s what to consider as you compare sets.
Knives Included
The best knife set for you is one that provides all the blades you can see yourself using regularly—and nothing more. To most home cooks, we typically recommend smaller sets, as most pros agree that only three kitchen blades are essential: the chef’s knife, paring knife and serrated knife. That said, if you cook a lot of proteins that require you to debone or skin meat, then it might be worth seeking out a set with a boning knife. A collection with steak knives may also make sense for households that eat a lot of meat and don’t want to invest in a separate set of steak knives.
Additionally, if your household has multiple cooks, a larger set with both a chef’s knife and santoku knife (or a paring knife and utility knife) can allow multiple people to work alongside one another.
Materials
For its durability and ease of maintenance, stainless steel is the blade material we recommend over all others. While some chefs prefer carbon steel, the material is more brittle and high-maintenance, which is why we don’t think it makes sense for most home cooks. In terms of the handle material, we’ve featured blades with both wooden handles and synthetic handles on this list. While wooden handles tend to be more attractive, you have to be extra careful about prolonged exposure moisture (meaning you have to be diligent about immediately drying them after washing them), and you might occasionally have to oil them.
Price
Knife sets come in a vast range of prices—the collections on this list, for example, cost between $180 and $1,000. While larger sets often cost more than smaller ones, the construction of the blades and accessories tends to be the most important factor when it comes to determining the price. For instance, it’s possible to find 15-piece sets that cost less than $250—but the quality of the blades is probably subpar. While every home cook has a different budget and needs, we think most people should be happy with a three- to seven-piece set that costs between $180 and $500.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you want a premium collection that’s built to last, it’s best to look to dedicated knife brands, which tend to offer the highest quality blades in an array of configurations. In general, we prefer sets from longtime trusted brands like Wüsthof and Miyabi, though some newer direct-to-consumer brands like Misen sell blades we recommend—especially to less-experienced home cooks.
The most essential blade to any kitchen—home or professional—is the versatile chef’s knife, which is designed to tackle most slicing, dicing and chopping tasks. That said, some chefs prefer Chinese-style cleavers or Japanese santoku knives as their main knife.
High-quality knives tend to be relatively expensive, and with good reason: They typically tend to stay sharp longer and feel comfortable and balanced in your hand. Therefore, we think kitchen knives—especially the most essential ones, like the chef’s knife and paring knife—are worth splurging on if you want blades you can rely on for years. There are some blades, though, that you don’t need to spend as much on; for example, Forbes Vetted’s senior home & kitchen editor is a big fan of Mercer Culinary’s bread knife, which costs about $15.
