Don't Waste Your Money is supported by our readers. When you purchase an item through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Best Butcher Knives

Last updated on July 10, 2020

We looked at the top 9 Butcher Knives and dug through the reviews from 20 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Butcher Knives.

Best Butcher Knives

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in a category.

Our Picks For The Top Butcher Knives

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Key Takeaway
Pros
Cons
 Best Overall

DALSTRONG Gladiator Cimitar Butcher Knife, 10-Inch

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

DALSTRONG

Gladiator Cimitar Butcher Knife, 10-Inch

This butcher knife has been expertly crafted and made with a curve that glides through meat with little effort. It features a black pakkawood handle made from Spanish materials. You'll even get a BPA-free knife guard with your purchase.

Overall Take

Expertly CraftedIf you're searching for a butcher knife that effortlessly glides through meat, this model is your best bet.

Pros
" With minimal effort, it allows you to glide through steaks and briskets and break down larger game. Thanks to the curvy blade, it provides sufficient leverage and fine and complete cuts with a single movement without any sawing. Meticulously crafted..."
Cons
"The pakkawood handle can absorb moisture and contribute to rusting of the blade. The full tang of the blade extends beyond the handle, causing discomfort when using the knife. The bolster is large and includes a sharp edge. This makes..."
 Honorable Mention

Wusthof Classic Butcher Knife, 8-Inch

Wusthof

Classic Butcher Knife, 8-Inch

If you're looking to make precise cuts, go with this knife, which has a razor-sharp blade. It's designed to resist fading, discoloration, corrosion and dulling. Thanks to the curved, hollow-edge blade with a pronounced skinning tip, you won't have any trouble portioning your pork chops and trimming your fillets.

Overall Take

Resists Fading and DiscolorationThis butcher's knife is made with a triple-riveted, synthetic polypropylene handle that is not only non-stick, but also resistant to fading.

 Runner Up

Utopia Kitchen Cleaver Chopper Butcher Knife, 7-Inch

Utopia Kitchen

Cleaver Chopper Butcher Knife, 7-Inch

Made from 100% stainless steel, this butcher knife resists rust and remains durable over time. The 7-inch blade is able to cut through large portions of meat, as well as bone. Users will also appreciate that the handle is made from an ABS material that provides a non-slip grip, which is especially important if your hands are wet while you work.

Overall Take

Best for Cutting BonesHome chefs will love that this butcher's knife is dishwasher safe.

Pros
" 7-inch cleaver works well for bone cutting. 100% stainless steel blade is easy to sharpen. Good weight and comfortable to hold. Dishwasher safe."
Cons
"What I didn’t like very much about this cleaver is its handle. It is also made of stainless steel, but there is an extra plastic part added to it, which is used for gripping. It was a bit slippery, and..."
 We Also Like

UltraSource 449413 Cimeter Blade Butcher Knife, 10-Inch

UltraSource

Cimeter Blade Butcher Knife, 10-Inch

You won't want to tackle your next roast unless you have this 10-inch butcher knife. The knife's handle is antibacterial and textured to provide a non-slip grip. Together, the blade and handle are balanced with front and rear safety bolsters, which significantly reduces hand fatigue.

Overall Take

Antibacterial Textured HandleWhether you work at a meat market or at home, you'll find this butcher knife delivers reliable cuts every time.

Pros
" High-quality Molybdenum steel blade. Very easy to use. Comes with a colorful ergonomic handle. The cryogenic treatment enhances performance. The handle is antibacterially infused and liquid welded."
Cons
"Not dishwasher-safe. Can get dull fast with heavy-duty use."

Buying Guide

Butcher knives are possibly the best tool for removing meat from an animal, trimming the meat and cutting it into individual portions. Whether you are a professional butcher, a self-sufficient hunter or simply an avid cook, you’ll need a quality butcher knife. With the right blade, you won’t have to put in as much effort to get the job done in a timely fashion.

The first thing you want to look at when purchasing a butcher knife is its construction material. Some of the knives are made out of manganese steel, while others are forged using German high-carbon steel with a grade greater than 56 for hardness, according to the Rockwell scale, which is a very solid score. You want to make sure the blades are durable and are resistant to rust and corrosion.

Determine which type of butcher knife works best for your needs. For example, the 7-inch Utopia Kitchen Cleaver Chopper Butcher Knife is a heavy-duty cleaver that is capable of cutting through bone. It’s built to withstand the demands of a commercial kitchen, although you can use it in a home setting. Other butcher knives are geared simply toward trimming meat and cutting it into bite-size pieces.

Check out the knife’s handle next. For example, the 10-inch Dalstrong Gladiator Cimitar Butcher Knife is constructed from a black pakkawood that comes from Spain. It uses an ergonomic design for comfort and reduced hand fatigue. It’s also ambidextrous with full tang, which refers to the length of the steel hidden under the handle, and a triple-rivet design. Other knife handles are made out of a plastic, ABS material and are textured for a non-slip grip.

Consider any extras that the butcher knife may have to offer. Some come with a leather knife sheath that can be attached to a belt, while others, like the 10-inch UltraSource Cimeter Blade Butcher Knife, have antibacterial handles. Another example is the 8-inch Wusthof Classic Butcher Knife, which is crafted to resist dulling, meaning you should spend less time having to sharpen the blade.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
16

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the butcher knives available to purchase.
9

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

20

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Chef's Resource, Morning Chores, Merch Dope, Best Pickist, Life with Kitchen.

4,694

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 9 Butcher Knives and also dug through the reviews from 20 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Butcher Knives.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval
Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Utopia Kitchen Cleaver Chopper Butcher Knife, 7-Inch

Key Takeawy

Made from 100% stainless steel, this butcher knife resists rust and remains durable over time. The 7-inch blade is able to cut through large portions of meat, as well as bone. Users will also appreciate that the handle is made from an ABS material that provides a non-slip grip, which is especially important if your hands are wet while you work.

What other experts liked

7-inch cleaver works well for bone cutting. 100% stainless steel blade is easy to sharpen. Good weight and comfortable to hold. Dishwasher safe.
- BestReviews
The blade is made of stainless steel, and it is very sharp. I didn’t have any problems cutting different kinds of meat, even thicker ones. The size of the cleaver was just fine, and it was easy to handle. The weight is well balanced, which made it suitable to use.
- Merch Dope
The Utopia Kitchen brand is synonymous with quality, affordability, and high performance. This cleaver is made from stainless steel. This knife is designed with an easy to grip handle that makes it easy to maneuver. It is also dishwasher safe so you don’t have to worry about cleaning it.
- A Guide Product
The handle feels natural to the touch and is comfortable and firm to grip. The 7” blade of this cleaver can maintain its sharpness for a very long time. It is also very sturdy and can cut through the toughest ingredients you may have in the kitchen.
- Top Best 10 Reviews

What other experts didn't like

The knife does require some sharpening before first use and the handle can damage over time.
- BestReviews
What I didn’t like very much about this cleaver is its handle. It is also made of stainless steel, but there is an extra plastic part added to it, which is used for gripping. It was a bit slippery, and it was nearly impossible to use it with wet hands.
- Merch Dope
May feel somehow heavy.
- Top Best 10 Reviews

What to Look For

  • Many butcher knives will require some sharpening before you use them for the first time, for the best results, so make sure yours comes with a sharpener or send it to a professional.
  • Some butcher knives are listed as dishwasher safe and some are not. Most companies recommend washing the knives by hand, even if they are considered safe to run through the dishwasher. This keeps the quality of the blade high. All you need is a little dish soap and water. If you come across any stuck-on foods, you can remove them with a little salt and a non-abrasive scrubber.
  • Avoid using abrasive cleaners and steel wool pads when cleaning your butcher’s knife to keep the blade looking its best.
  • Butcher knives are not meant to withstand acidic or alkaline substances for long, which means you’ll need to wipe the blades clean soon after contact with them.
  • When using your butcher knife, it’s good practice to always slide a cutting board over your counter or workstation. Opt for a wooden or bamboo cutting board instead of plastic, as these are naturally antibacterial.
  • Wiping your blade every so often with a dab of cooking oil can prevent rusting or other damage.
  • Always cover the blade and store your butcher knife in a cool, dry location when not in use.

More to Explore

Although there is evidence of animals being butchered during the earliest days of man, the first butcher’s guild wasn’t formed until 1272. Even still, it wasn’t until the end of the 1700s that the words “butcher’s knife” actually appeared in print. Prior to that, all of the different variations of a knife were simply referred to as knives.

Some of the earliest butcher knives had broader noses and many of the blades had the same width as their handles. Today, we have a wide variety of butcher’s knives to choose from, including those with straight and curved blades, thin and thick blades or long and short blades.

From our partners