There's no kitchen upgrade more transformative than a decent knife set. Hacking away at an onion with a blade about as sharp as a butter knife is frustrating, messy and dangerous. A high-quality set of the best kitchen knives will keep your fingertips intact, arm you with the right tools for the job, and make cooking prep easier, faster and more fun.
You can accidentally spend a small fortune on high-quality Japanese steel, but before you fall down that particular rabbit hole it’s worth knowing what features to look out for when shopping for a knife set. The size and shape of the handle should be taken into account, as you need to make sure it has a good grip and is comfortable to use.
Storage is important too. Does the set come with a block or are the knives loose? Do the blades have sheaths to keep them (and you) safe in the drawer? Some knife sets even include in-built sharpening tools, which are needed to ensure the edge of the blade doesn’t become dull over time.
The sets I’ve tested feature a combination of chef’s knives, paring knives, bread knives, carving knives, serrated knives and Japanese santoku knives, so regardless of how experienced you are in the kitchen, there’ll be something here that cuts the mustard.
The best kitchen knife sets for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Kuhn Rikon colori+ four-piece set: £25.95, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Viners assure four-piece knife set: £10.59, Amazon.co.uk
- Best set with a sharpener – Ninja foodi staysharp knife block: £119.99, Ninjakitchen.co.uk
How I tested
When looking for the perfect knife set, I chose ones that had at least three of the most basic knives you need in your kitchen: a chef’s knife, paring knife and bread knife. I tested each set over a three-week period, putting the knives through their paces with a range of chopping and cutting tasks.
I chopped, sliced and peeled items of varying toughness, to see how well the knives coped with the job in hand. I also looked at how comfortable they were to use and how much space they took up in the kitchen.
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Kuhn Rikon colori+ four-piece set
Best: Overall
Material: Japanese stainless steel
Number of knives: Four
Dishwasher-safe: Yes
Knife block included: No
In set: 9cm paring knife, 15cm santoku, 17cm chef’s knife, 20cm bread knife
Why we love it
- Colour-matching sheaths
- Sharp
- Long-lasting
- Soft to touch handles
This knife set includes four of the most used knives in the kitchen: a pairing knife, santoku knife, chef’s knife and bread knife. While there’s no knife block, these knives do come with colour-matching sheaths, to keep them safe and secure in your drawer. The blades are crafted from Japanese steel, which makes them super-sharp and long-lasting, plus, they have a non-stick coating to ensure food does not get stuck to the blade and they are easy to clean. They are also dishwasher-suitable, but hand washing is recommended if you want to extend the life of your knives.
The handles are what really makes these knives stand out, though. They’ve been designed to be soft to touch and super comfortable to hold, meaning you can cut and chop with precision. These knives come in various colours and you can buy them individually, so it’s easy to add to your collection.
Buy now £25.95, Amazon.co.uk
Viners assure four-piece knife set
Best: Budget buy
Material: Stainless steel
Number of knives: Four
Dishwasher-safe: No
Knife block included: No
In the set: 15cm chef knife, 15cm santoku knife, 9cm paring knife, 12.5cm utility knife
Why we love it
- High quality
- Rust-resistant
- Non-stick coating
- Ergonomically designed
Viners has proven you don’t need to spend a lot of money to enjoy good quality knives. This set of four has everything you could possibly need for everyday meal prep. It includes a chef’s knife, santoku knife, utility knife and pairing knife. Crafted from high-quality stainless steel, rust-resistant and covered in a black non-stick coating, to reduce cutting friction, these knives have been tempered to keep the edges super sharp, even after heavy use.
The handles make these knives a joy to use – they’re soft to touch and ergonomically designed for a better grip. These knives also have a squared tip, which maximises safety without compromising on performance. The set comes with a 10-year guarantee, and, for the price, we don’t think you can beat it. Plus, if you’d like to add to your collection by including a bread or carving knife, you can purchase them separately.
Buy now £10.59, Amazon.co.uk
Robert Welch signature book oak knife block set with knife sharpener
Best: Set with a block
Material: German stainless steel and solid oak handles
Number of knives: Six
Dishwasher-safe: Yes, but hand-wash is recommended
Knife block included: Yes
In set: 23cm carving knife, 22cm bread knife, 11cm santoku knife, 18cm cook’s knife, 14cm kitchen knife, 10cm paring knife, handheld knife sharpener
Why we love it
- Durable
- Easy to clean
- Lifetime guarantee
This set combines great design with superb functionality. It features six knives that are made using high-quality German stainless steel, making them extra durable and easy to clean. In fact, these knives are made to last, and, with a lifetime guarantee, they are certainly worth the initial investment.
Each knife is lightweight and comfortable to handle, even when chopping through some of the toughest vegetables. The book block design, meanwhile, is perfect for those who are precious about kitchen space, as it sits flush against the wall. The knives are accessed from the front, making it ideal for storage under cupboards. Plus, as an added extra, you get a signature handheld knife sharpener that is compact enough to sit inside your cutlery drawer and ensures it’s easy to keep your knives sharp.
Buy now £324, Amazon.co.uk
Kuhn Rikon kinderkitchen set of two
Best: For children
Material: Japanese stainless steel
Number of knives: Two
Dishwasher-safe: Yes
Knife block included: No
In the set: Straight-edge knife, serrated-edge knife
Why we love it
- Safety features
- Lightweight
- Durable
It’s never too early to learn kitchen skills, and these knives are perfect for children aged three and over. These knives are crafted from quality Japanese stainless steel, and, while they’re not as sharp as knives used by adults, they will cut most fruit and vegetables. We really love the fun dog design, which also doubles up as a safety feature, with the ears acting as a hand guard to keep fingers away from the cutting surface and the tail steadying the hand with soft poke-free plastic. There are two knives in this set, a straight-edge blade and a serrated blade, with both being lightweight and durable, so kids can get used to handling knives in the kitchen while remaining safe.
Buy now £18.31, Amazon.co.uk
ProCook Nihon X50 knife set
Best: For durability
Material: German X50 stainless steel
Number of knives: Five
Dishwasher-safe: No
Knife block included: Yes
In the set: 9cm paring knife, 13cm utility knife, 15.5cm chef's knife, 23cm bread knife, 25cm carving knife
Why we love it
- Magnetic walnut knife block
- Strong, sharp blades
- Comfortable grip
If you want a knife set that looks good on display and performs exceptionally well, this Nihon X50 option fits the bill. This set of five knives comes with a magnetic walnut knife block that you’d be proud to have on display, not to mention it’s space-saving functions. The knives are crafted using German X50 stainless steel and infused with carbon, for a strong, sharp blade that will last. The carbonised ash wood handles are really comfortable to handle, and they retain a good grip, even if you have damp hands.
Buy now £159, Procook.co.uk
Joseph Joseph elevate store five-piece knife set with in-drawer storage tray
Best: For storage
Material: High-carbon stainless steel
Number of knives: Five
Dishwasher-safe: Yes
Knife block included: In-drawer tray
In the set: 3.5in paring knife, 4.5in serrated knife, 5.5in santoku knife, 6.5in chef’s knife, 8in bread knife
Why we love it
- Durable high-carbon stainless steel
- Colour coded
If you don’t like your knives on display but you want to keep them tidy, this set is perfect. They ship in a special drawer tray, so you can keep all the knives in place and the blades protected, without taking up countertop space. There are five knives in this set, including a 3.5in paring knife, 4.5in serrated knife, 5.5in santoku knife, 6.5in chef’s knife and an 8in bread knife. They’re made from durable high-carbon stainless steel, so won’t rust or discolour after prolonged use.
These knives handle really well – the handles are weighted, so they don’t feel flimsy when you’re chopping something tough. We also love how the shape of the handles means, when you place these knives down, the blades don’t touch the work surface, improving hygiene and reducing mess, which is always a winner, in our books.
The handles are also colour-coded, so you can easily grab whichever knife you need when they’re stored away.
Buy now £70, Amazon.co.uk
Ninja foodi staysharp knife block
Best: Set with a sharpener
Materials: Forged stainless steel
Number of knives: Five
Dishwasher-safe: No
Knife block included: Yes
In the set: 8in chef’s knife, 8in bread knife, 8in slicing knife, 5in utility knife, 3.5in paring knife, sharpener
Why we love it
- Built-in sharpener
- Easy to use
- A knife for every job
Ninja products have become staples of many kitchens, and this knife block with built-in sharper definitely deserves high praise. Constructed from forged German stainless steel, these knives have been made to last. This set includes an 8in chef’s knife, 8in bread knife, 8in slicing knife, 5in utility knife and a 3.5in paring knife, so there really is something for every job.
The brilliant thing about this set is the block comes with a built-in sharper on the side, which means you’ll always have super-sharp knives with little effort. Now, this is quite a hefty block, so you’ll need to have enough kitchen counter space, but, if you can carve out the space, it’s well worth it.
During testing, we found these knives really easy to use. They had a good grip, felt light, and the super-sharp blades glided through everything. The chef’s knife was particularly impressive, handling hard fruits and vegetables, such as melon and celeriac, with utter ease. Sharpening the knives was also a really easy task – the knife just needed to be inserted into the sharpening slot and a few pulls of the lever left them super sharp. Ninja states these knives will stay sharp for up to 10 years, with regular sharpening.
Buy now £119.99, Ninjakitchen.co.uk
Global three-piece boxed knife set
Best: Japanese steel knife set
Material: Japanese stainless steel
Number of knives: Three
Dishwasher-safe: No
Knife block included: No
In the set: 8in carving knife, 6in bread knife and a 3in peeling knife
Why we love it
- Ultra-sharp, ice-hardened Japanese steel
- Textured handle
- Slices effortlessly
Global is known as the king of knives for a very good reason. This three-piece set includes an 8in carving knife, 6in bread knife and a 3in peeling knife, which are ideal for a range of everyday cooking tasks. The blades are crafted using ultra-sharp Japanese steel that is ice-hardened, meaning they stay sharp for years to come.
There’s no denying these knives look as good as they cut. The sleek, all-steel design and long, textured handle made handling the knives comfortable, regardless of what was being sliced and diced. The handles are also covered in circular dimples, which offer added grip.
Basically, these knives really are a joy to use. The blades sliced effortlessly, even with the toughest ingredients. The paring knife, in particular, was very good, as it was a bit easier to handle than the chef’s knife, and nothing was too tough for it.
Buy now £179, Kitchenknives.co.uk
Joseph Joseph nest boards plus six-piece knife and chopping board set
Best: For small spaces
Material: Stainless steel
Number of knives: Three
Dishwasher-safe: No
Knife block included: Yes
In the set: 6.5in chef’s knife, 5.5in santoku knife, 4in paring knife and three chopping boards
Why we love it
- Includes chopping board
- Soft easy grip handles
- Space saving
This space-saving knife set is great for any kitchen. The set comes with three knives, including a 6.5in chef’s knife, 5.5in santoku knife and a 4in paring knife. The blades are constructed of sharp stainless steel, and come with a soft, easy-grip handle.
Of course, the ideal thing about this set is that it comes with a set of colour-coded chopping boards, the stand for which also doubles up as a knife block. This means no matter what kind of space you have in your kitchen, you can keep your knives and chopping boards in one neat package.
During testing, we found the knives so sharp they actually scored the boards, so, just be aware of that when using. Handling each knife was a comfortable experience, although, the knife did flex a bit when cutting tougher items, such as hard vegetables. As a whole, this is such a great design and looks really good, while keeping everything neat and tidy.
Buy now £80, Josephjoseph.com
Ikea Förslag 3-piece knife set
Best: For students
Material: Stainless steel
Number of knives: Three
Dishwasher-safe: No
Knife block included: No
In the set: 17cm cook’s knife, 13cm cook’s knife, 8cm paring knife
Why we love it
- Solid and durable
Take note
- Need to invest in a sharpener to keep them in good condition
For a great set on a budget, look no further than the Förslag three-piece knife set from Ikea. For just £8, you get a really good set of knives and, if you’re a student, they will easily see you through your three-year course and beyond. The knives are perfect for everyday cooking. The handles are made from a blend of polypropylene plastic and synthetic rubber (so they don’t get slippery, even if your hands are wet), and feel solid and durable, even when you’re cutting the toughest vegetable. They are very sharp right out of the packet but you may want to invest in a sharpener, to keep them in tip-top condition.
This set is only available to buy in stores at the moment.
Buy now £9, Ikea.com
Your kitchen knife set questions answered
What is the best kitchen knife set?
A good set of knives goes a long way to enjoyable food prep. The Kuhn Rikon colori+ four-piece set covers every base, with knives that are super sharp and really nice to handle. They come with matching sheaths so they’re safe to store in the cutlery drawer, too. The signature book oak knife block set by Robert Welch also ticked all my boxes. The solid oak knife block sits flush against any wall, making it ideal for those who have smaller kitchens or don’t want to lose valuable counter space. It also comes with a good selection of knives to cover a range of chopping jobs.
For those on a budget, the viners assure four-piece knife set is perfect. These knives stay sharp even after a lot of use and they’re lightweight and comfortable to work with.
What are the three most common knives in the kitchen?
When it comes to kitchen knives, there is seemingly no end to the different types you can purchase. That said, if you simply want to make sure you’ve got the essentials covered, you really only need three: the serrated knife, the chef’s knife and the paring knife.
The serrated knife, commonly used for fruits and bread, has small, grooved edges that mean it can tear through food easily. The chef’s knife, which usually has an 8in or 10in blade, is by far the most popular in all types of kitchen, as it can be used for everything from chopping melons to carving roast chicken.
Lastly, the paring knife is small, sturdy and nimble with a sharp, angled point, which makes it best suited for deveining shrimp or segmenting citrus fruits for your gin and tonic.
Are expensive knives worth it?
From novices to kitchen whizzes, a decent knife is always worth it. But, most importantly, you should take care of your knives and make sure they are sharpened, so they can perform at their best.
How were the kitchen knife sets tested?
I tested and reviewed each knife set using the same set of criteria – considering everything from blade sharpness and selection to ergonomics and storage.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Rachael Penn is one of IndyBest’s kitchenware expert, having reviewed everything from the best toasters to the best microwaves, and more. Her reviews are based on real world, hands-on experience with each product she tests, so you can be sure her advice is sound and her verdicts are honest.
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