Best Utility Knife in 2021: Reviews and Buyer Guide

A utility knife comes in handy in a lot of situations. It can be used as a razor blade, box cutter, stationery knife, or even to cut food. However, since there are so many options available on the market, it can be challenging to find the right one.

We have compiled the 7 best utility knife options for you to consider. We have also included a list of factors to consider when choosing the best utility knife for your needs.

7 Best Utility Knives 2021

1. Home Planet Box Cutter Utility Knife

This Home Planet utility knife is specially designed as a box cutter. It has a fully retractable utility knife design. It has a lightweight build for comfortable handling and easy portability.

The utility knife blade has a variable position locking mechanism that allows you to extend the blade to various lengths, including 1/8, ½, ¾, or 1”.

The utility knife comes with five heavy-duty high carbon blades. It has convenient blade storage to keep all your extra blades handy.  The replacement blade is easy to change due to the quick release mechanism. Once you have used up all the blades, you can replace them with standard replacement blades.

The handle has a unique patented design that protects your knuckles and provides good handle control. Its body is made of zinc alloy, while the outer part is covered with TRP rubber for a non-slip grip.

Features

• Blade Material: High carbon steel
• Handle Material: Zinc alloy covered with TPR rubber
• Design: Retractable
• Additional Features: Extra blades, blade compartment, locking variable blade position

Pros

• Unique handle design
• Sturdy and strong blade
• Ultra-sharp blade that is easy to sharpen
• Non –slip grip
• Comes with extra blades
• The blade can be retracted and locked at different lengths

Cons

• Low quality retract mechanism button

2. XW Auto Loading Utility Knife

The XW Auto Loading utility knife is built to be durable and to offer comfortable handling.  It has an electroplated silver finishing that gives the knife a premium-quality, glossy metallic finish. It can be used to cut different things, including carton boxes, cardboard, PVC sheet, aluminum sheet, and PVC pipes.

The handle is made of heavy-duty zinc alloy, while the blades are made of high carbon stainless steel. The zinc alloy handle is covered with TRP rubber for excellent control and a non-slip grip.

This utility knife has an auto-loading mechanism for easy and safe blade change. To change the blade, press and hold the quick-release button, then remove the dull blade. Next, pull the actuator backward and position the new blade. Then, push the actuator forward, secure the blade and use it.

The retractable blade extends to 3 different lengths and locks in place for safe use. The manufacturer provides 15 extra blades. 5 come pre-loaded on the knife, while the extra 10 are held in the blade dispenser. Should you run out of blades, you can replace them with standard-size utility blades.

Features

• Blade Material: High Carbon steel
• Handle Material: Zinc alloy covered with TPR rubber
• Design: Retractable
• Additional Features: Extra blades, quick-blade change mechanism

Pros

• Heavy-duty, sturdy alloy
• Comfortable handling
• Auto-loading mechanism
• Comes with 15 extra blades
• Three retractable positions

Cons

• None so far

3. WORKPRO Folding Utility Knife

The WORKPRO folding utility knife is versatile and easy to use. It has a lightweight, folding design and also incorporates a quick-change mechanism. Its compact design allows you to take it anywhere.

The knife‘s handle is built with high-quality steel with an anti-slip ABS grip. It is also curved to provide ergonomic handling and has a bulge near the base of the blade to prevent your fingers from slipping toward the blade. The back-lock is an additional safety feature that keeps the blade in place during use.

To replace an old utility knife blade, slide the switch at the rear end of the handle to open the blade storage compartment. Open the cover and pick a replacement blade. Open the blade compartment, remove the dull blade, and replace it with a new one. Push the back lock downwards until it locks in place to secure the new knife blade.

One of this utility knife’s most outstanding features is the thumb press. It enables deep cutting, especially through hard and thick materials. The retract button at the side of the handle offers a convenient one-hand operation.

This knife can be used on different materials, including paper, carpet, cartons, plastic, leather, PVC, etc. It comes with five extra blades that are stored in the blade compartment on the handle.

Features

• Blade Material: Steel
• Handle Material: Steel covered with ABS
• Design: Folding
• Additional Features: quick-blade change mechanism, belt clip, blade compartments, safety shield, curved handle, five extra blades

Pros

• Designed to offer optimal safety
• Ergonomic and comfortable handle
• Comes with 5 extra blades
• Lightweight and portable
• Easy blade replacement mechanism
• Has a belt clip

Cons

• The blade closing mechanism is difficult to close

4. Internet’s Best Premium Utility Knife

This utility knife has a basic yet functional design. It is made of steel with a rubber grip. It is sturdy and durable for cutting different things, including boxes, straps, and plastic packaging. It comes as a pack of 2 utility knives with an option for 10 packs and 20 packs. It is also available in a classic (silver) color option. This particular 2-utility knife set comes with a refill pouch that contains five extra blades.

The blades are retractable and adjustable. You can slide the blade to three different blade lengths as per your cutting needs. Once done cutting, the knife safely retracts and locks securely in the handle frame. The quick-release mechanism enables you to easily replace the blade by pressing the red button to release and then secure the blade.

Features

• Blade Material: Steel
• Handle Material: Metal and Rubber
• Design: Retractable
• Additional Features: quick-blade change mechanism, refill blade pouch, 5 extra blades

Pros

• Simple design
• Easy to use
• Comes with extra blades
• Rubber non-slip grip
• Easy to change blades

Cons

• Not suitable for heavy-duty use

5. REXBETI 4-Pack Folding Utility Knife

These Rexbeti utility knives are sold as a pack of 4 knives in black, blue, red, and yellow. They are versatile and can be used for various DIY projects to cut materials such as vinyl, rubber, cardboard, boxes, wallpapers, PVC, mat board, foam, tape, paper, photos, and leather.

Each knife’s design incorporates a quick-change mechanism and safety lock mechanism to easily change the blade and keep the blade safely in position. The set comes with 10 extra blades.

They also have an easy folding mechanism whereby all you need to do is press the open/close button on the side of the handle. Each blade is 5.9-inch when open and 3.5-inch when folded.

Their handle is curved to offer a comfortable, ergonomic handle design. There is a clip on the side of the handle that can be used to secure the utility knife on a belt or pocket.

Features

• Blade Material: Steel
• Handle Material: Plastic
• Design: Folding
• Additional Features: quick-blade change mechanism, belt clip, 10 extra blades, back lock mechanism

Pros

• Comes as a pack of 4 utility blades
• Easy folding mechanism
• Easy to use
• Comes with 10 extra blades
• Can be used to cut a wide range of materials
• Quite affordable

Cons

• Not durable

6. Husky 21113 Folding Utility Knife

The Husky knife has a textured handle for a comfortable, non-slip grip, which offers you great control when cutting. At the base of the handle is the lanyard loop that allows for easy storage by hanging. You can also use the lanyard loop to attach the knife to lanyards, keychains, and twines. There is also a belt clip on the handle.

It is easy to fold and unfold by pressing the button at the side of the handle. The manufacturer provides an additional 10 blades in a separate refill blade pouch. The blades can cut different materials, including boxes, carpet, and wires, among others.

Features

• Blade Material: Aluminum
• Handle Material: Metal and Rubber
• Design: Folding
• Additional Features: sure-grip folding mechanism, quick-blade change mechanism, 10 extra blades, refill blade pouch, back-lock mechanism, belt clip

Pros

• Easy to use
• Comes with additional blades
• Unfolds easily
• Sturdy
• Easy to change old blades
• Sharp blade

Cons

• The back-lock is difficult to close

7. Summit Gear Folding Utility Knife

The summit gear folding utility knife has a unique dual-blade design. It folds into a small compact size that fits in an accompanying handmade leather sheath. It has a heavy-duty build designed for use with hard materials.

It has two blades, one at the front and the other at the rear side. The blades are fastened to the frame with three tight screws, ensuring they are sturdy when cutting. Each blade is easily folded down or retracted by independent safe-lock release buttons.

The knife’s handle has an ergonomic design made of weighted stainless steel for comfortable handling and excellent control. To engage the back lock, ensure that the blade is fully deployed. Comes with 5 extra blades in a refill pouch.

Features

• Blade Material: Carbon steel
• Handle Material: Aluminum and stainless steel
• Design: Folding
• Additional Features: sure-grip folding mechanism, quick-blade change mechanism, 5 extra blades, back-lock mechanism, belt clip

Pros

• Designed with two blades
• Sturdy, heavy-duty build
• Comes in a beautiful, handmade, metal sheath
• Quick and easy blade replacement
• Ergonomic handle design

Cons

• Does not have a pocket clip

Buying Guide: Factors to Consider When Choosing a Utility Knife

Types of Utility Knives

Utility knives can be broadly categorized into 4:

• Fixed utility knives
• Folding Utility Knives
• Retractable utility knives
• Breakaway blades

Fixed utility knives are the most basic design. The blade is fixed and cannot slide into or out of the handle. Although the blade is firmly attached to the handle, it is always exposed, increasing the risk of accidental injury. The fixed blade is sturdy and strong, which prevents wiggling during use. It is best used for cutting through hard materials such as linoleum and wood. It can be used for a wide range of DIY projects and carpentry.

Folding utility knives are a sub-category of fixed utility knives. The main difference is that the entire blade folds into the knife handle but cannot be retracted or extended. Therefore, it is safer to carry or store as the blade is not always exposed.

Retractable utility knives are the most popular type of utility knives among DIY-ers and homeowners. It has a spring or sliding mechanism to easily retract or extend the knife. In addition, most have a button or slider to manipulate the knife. Some lock the blade in position when it is fully retracted, while others control how much of the blade is exposed. Although the retractable feature makes them quite safe to store and carry around, the blades wiggle quite a bit when used.

Breakaway blades have a sophisticated design that incorporates various blade segments. Once the topmost blade wears out, snap it off with pliers to expose a new blade. Most have 8-15 segment blades. The downside with this type of utility knife is that the top blade segment may snap off with vigorous use. Therefore, it is best to use for light to medium-duty tasks such as opening boxes, getting rid of dried paint, or slicing through insulation.

Handle Material, Shape, and Design

Most utility knives have a plastic handle. A few have wooden, fiberglass, or metallic handles. Whichever handle material you choose, it should offer a comfortable, non-slip grip. The handle should also be durable even when exposed to various conditions. It should offer good control of the blade even when using the knife for long periods.

Most handles are quite straight though a bulge between the handle and the blade helps prevent your fingers from accidentally sliding to the blade. For optimal safety, it is best to wear gloves when using the knife.

Blade Material and Position

There is a wide range of materials used for making utility knives blade, including carbon steel, high carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and ceramic.

Carbon steel and high carbon steel are preferable materials as they are sturdy yet corrosion resistant. However, knives with these materials tend to be pricier. On the other hand, stainless steel offers a good balance of sturdiness and corrosion or rust resistance.

On the other hand, ceramic, aluminum, and steel are quite affordable. On the downside, steel is prone to corrosion and rusting. Ceramic blades are ultra-sharp but brittle and likely to be twisted and flexed. Aluminum is lightweight but corrodes easily.

Regarding blade position, some utility knives have a straight blade while others have an angle blade. A 45-degree angle is the most common, but there are a few other options.

Additional Features

Some additional features may make your knife more convenient to use.

These include:

• Blade Compartment. It serves as storage space for extra blades for easy access when you need to change the blade.

• A Quick-Change Mechanism. The traditional utility knife was designed such that you needed to unscrew the blade and then open up the handle in two halves to change the blade. The best utility knives are designed with a quick-change button. Changing the blades is as easy as pushing the button, pulling out the blade, and sliding a new blade in until it locks in place.

• Specialty Blades. Some blades come with additional specialty blades for different tasks, e.g., cutting wood, plastic, carpet, linoleum, string, etc. Others come with hooked or rounded tips.

• Hanging Hole. It enables easy, convenient storage on a cord or nail.

• A Safety Shield. Demarcates the handle and the blade to prevent your fingers from sliding onto the sharp blade.

• Belt Clip. It keeps the blades within reach by enabling you to clip to your belt. This is a go-to feature for carrying your knife when backpacking or camping.

• Supplementary Tools, e.g., screwdriver, bottle opener, twine cutter, wire stripper, etc.

Verdict

Our top pick for the best utility knife is the WORKPRO utility knife. It is versatile, multifunctional, portable, and easy to use. Its design incorporates numerous convenience features, including a quick blade change mechanism, belt clip, blade compartments, safety shield, curved handle, and five extra blades. Besides, it is priced affordably.

When shopping for a utility knife, consider the main purpose you want to use it for. For example, will you be using it at home for your DIY projects, or do you want a knife that you can bring along for your camping or backpacking trips? Also, what kind of materials will you be using it on.

Whichever utility knife you choose should have a sturdy build. Its design should optimize safety both when using or storing the knife. Also, go for a utility knife with an ergonomic handle that offers easy handling and great control of the blade. Ultimately, the knife should have a quick-blade mechanism and an easy retracting or folding mechanism.

Best Utility Knives Comparison

Product Image	Product Name	Blade Material	Handle Material	Price
	Home Planet Box Cutter Utility Knife	High carbon steel	Zinc alloy covered with TPR rubber	$ 13.98
	XW Auto Loading Utility Knife	High Carbon steel	Zinc alloy covered with TPR rubber	$ 12.99
	WORKPRO Folding Utility Knife	Steel	Steel covered with ABS	$$
	Internet’s Best Premium Utility Knife	Steel	Metal and Rubber	$ 13.98
	REXBETI 4-Pack Folding Utility Knife	Steel	Plastic	$$
	Husky 21113 Folding Utility Knife	Aluminum	Metal and Rubber	$ 9.90
	Summit Gear Folding Utility Knife	Carbon steel	Aluminum and stainless steel	$$