- A good utility knife can do just about anything - from cutting boxes open and slicing through carpet to cutting perfect lines into drywall or making crafts.
- With an ergonomic all-metal handle, an intuitive and easy-to-use folding design, quick blade changing, and a built-in wire stripper, the iconic Milwaukee Fastback 3 is the last utility knife you will ever need.
The knife may be the oldest tool known to man, and despite thousands of years of technological development, a good blade remains one of the most versatile items you can own. But your standard steel pocket knife - while great for EDC - isn't always the best tool for cutting. When it comes to making precise, arrow-straight cuts, there's no better instrument to reach for than a good utility knife.
Often simply referred to as a "box cutter," the utility knife is a versatile and indispensable tool suited for a wide variety of applications. For carpet, leather, drywall, flooring, crafting projects - and, of course, cardboard boxes - a good utility knife is hands-down the best tool when you need to make a smooth, clean cut.
Along with super-sharp razor-like blades that are perfect for precision cutting, utility knives offer other advantages over traditional folding and fixed-blade knives: They don't need sharpening (as you simply replace the blade when needed), the blades are typically retractable, the grips are considerably larger, and a smaller length of sharpened edge is exposed for safer cutting. Modern folding utility knives also offer the same portable convenience as a pocket knife.
Utility knives are simple tools and the good news here is that you don't need to spend a lot of cash to get a really good one. They're not all made the same, however, with a number of different types and designs available today. We've done the research to sort out the five best utility knives you can buy, from sturdy everyday-use models to ones built for more specialized tasks. Even better: Each of our picks rings in at less than $20.
Here are the best utility knives you can buy:
- Best utility knife overall: Milwaukee Fastback 3
- Best budget utility knife: Stanley Classic
- Best snap-off utility knife: Olfa LA-X
- Best pocket utility knife: Gerber EAB
- Best utility knife for crafts: X-Acto No. 1
Updated 10/29/2019 by Owen Burke: Updated prices, links, and formatting.
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