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The Best Electric Pencil Sharpeners for Every Writer

a woman using an electric pencil sharpener at her desk
megaflopp/Shutterstock.com

The arduous work of a manual crank pencil sharpener is a thing of the past with the amazing innovation of electric pencil sharpeners. Teachers, students, and office workers can now enjoy this automated marvel to get a perfect point on every pencil.

A perfectly sharpened pencil makes your words come alive with its smooth stroke and sharp edges. So stay away from dull lines without the extra arm workout from manual pencil sharpeners. Modern technology has created inexpensive alternatives that sharpen utensils from regular graphite to colored pencils. Here are some fantastic electric pencil sharpeners we recommend.

Purchasing an Electric Pencil Sharpener

With the right sharpener, you can get to writing and drawing faster. When shopping for your perfect electric sharpener, consider these key factors:

  • Noise: Electric pencil sharpeners require a machine to run the blades quickly and perfect your pencil. Unfortunately, this can cause some noise during use. If you need an extra-quiet machine, look for a device that uses quality materials for noise suppression.
  • Safety: If you plan to use your electric pencil sharpener around children, such as in a classroom or daycare, a device with additional safety features is ideal. Consider a sharpener with an automatic stopping feature when the lid is removed. A finger guard is also helpful for protecting little one’s fingers from the internal blades.
  • Blades: Steel is the most common blade material as it is long-lasting and inexpensive. However, after enough use, any blade will become dull. If your sharpener will be utilized frequently, opt for a device that has a replaceable blade. Some electric sharpeners will even provide a replacement blade with your purchase.

Top Pick: OfficeWorld Electric Pencil Sharpener

On the left, a tall electric sharpener. On the right, a woman writing at a desk with the sharpener sitting next to her.
OfficeWorld

This device has a reason to show off its impressive blade with a clear cover. The helical blade provides a heavy-duty sharpening experience that will last for many pencils to come. The automatic function sharpens your tool to your desired level of sharpness with its handle dial that runs from blunt to sharp. It also automatically stops when your pencil reaches its perfect sharpness for your regular graphite tools, colored pencils, and charcoal pencils sized 6 to 8 millimeters. This electric pencil sharpener has a 2,000-mAh Lithium battery that is rechargeable via USB cable or power strip.

Top Pick

OfficeWorld Electric Pencil Sharpener

This electric sharpener can be used up to 300 times after an hour of charging.

Best for Less: Aogwat Pencil Sharpener

A black pencil sharpener pictured with its blade component and three colored pencils.
Aogwat

This electric pencil sharpener has a sleek, modern look and a blade that can handle any utensil. Not only can it sharpen No. 2 pencils, but colored pencils, oil-based pencils, watercolor pencils, and hexagon-shaped pencils. With just two AA batteries, this sharpener can sharpen your writing utensil in just five seconds. The sharpening tube is protected by a locking cover that requires a simple twist to protect children from hurting themselves. If you are in a bind and the sharpener has run out of power, this nifty sharpener has a manual mode that allows you to crank out a perfect pencil by hand.

Best for Less

Aogwat Pencil Sharpener

This 2.8-inch tall electric pencil sharpener is ideal for a wide range of pencils.

Best Shaving Storage: X-Acto School Pro Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener

A front and side view of a blue electric sharpener with a size dial and large shaving compartment.
X-Acto

You may recognize this sharpener from your elementary school classroom from its classic spin dial design. The large transparent shaving storage allows you to easily use this sharpener until it gets every pencil perfectly sharp. The engine is designed for ultra-quiet use in the classroom or office. The helical steel cutter has a blade life of 33 times longer than average. For added safety, the flyaway cutter system stops automatically when the pencil reaches a point.

Best Shaving Storage

X-Acto School Pro Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener

With its large capacity and sharp blade, every student in your classroom can enjoy a sharp pencil.

Best for Colored Pencils: AFMAT Pencil Sharpener

A blue vertical electric sharpener with a transparent pencil shaving compartment sitting on a wooden desk.
AFMAT

This pencil sharpener is specially designed to handle the wide variety of artistic pencils that are in a sketch artist’s toolkit. This sharpener can handle 6- to 12-millimeter pencils, including No. 2, colored, and hard charcoal pencils. While the AFMAT blade is stronger and longer-lasting than the average blade, the sharpness dial allows you to perfect your point. Color is important to those with an eye for design, so AFMAT offers this pencil sharpener in four different colors to fit your style.

Best for Colored Pencils

AFMAT Pencil Sharpener

This extra-large blade of this sharpener gives you up to 8,000 sharpening sessions.

Best Design: POWERME Electric Pencil Sharpener

A person place a blue pencil into a blue and black patterned electric pencil sharpener that is sitting on a colorful drawing of a panda.
POWERME

The unique look of this electrical pencil sharpener packs a serious punch on pencils of all kinds. The 360-degree blade rotation even sharpens No. 2, triangular, watercolor, oil-based, and chalk pencils. The stainless steel helical blade has 3,000 rounds of sharpening and takes only three seconds to create a sharp point. Kid’s fingers are also free to use this sharpener with ease, as the auto-stop safety feature stops the blade from turning when the lid is removed.

Best Design

POWERME Electric Pencil Sharpener

This sharpener has a built-in auto-stop safety feature and anti-jam release system.

Camryn Lang Camryn Lang
Camryn Lang is a freelance writer and copyeditor that has produced a wide variety of content, from breaking news and memorial tributes to web content and fiction novels. While working on her bachelor's degree in English at Texas A&M University, Camryn led writers and editors at the nationally recognized university newspaper, The Battalion. During her free time, she enjoys reading thrillers and fantasy novels and eating desserts. Read Full Bio »
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