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There once was a time when many of us would draw, doodle, scribble, and write with pencils, and sharpening our pencils was a never-ending chore.
Fast-forward to the 21st century, and we have an abundance of electric pencil sharpeners available on the market for home use, offices, and classrooms. To help you select the best electric pencil sharpener for your purposes, we offer the following information and top picks featuring high-quality models from reputable manufacturers.
- BEST OVERALL: RIYO RIYO Heavy-Duty Pencil Sharpener
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Aogwat Electric Pencil Sharpener
- BEST UPGRADE: Bostitch QuietSharp 6 Electric Pencil Sharpener
- BEST FOR COLORED PENCILS: AFMAT Electric Colored Pencil Sharpener
- BEST FOR TEACHERS: X-ACTO School Pro Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Electric Pencil Sharpeners
As you browse the web for a new electric pencil sharpener, you’ll need to consider its specific options and features, including your preferred power source: alkaline batteries, a rechargeable lithium battery, or AC electrical power. Additionally, you may choose from a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. Consider if you want to sharpen colored pencils as well as graphite pencils, and think about selecting a unit that allows you to adjust the sharpness of your pencil points.
Size
Electric pencil sharpeners are available in different sizes to suit diverse purposes and situations. Sharpener sizes in this list range from a portable unit that measures only 2.4 inches by 2.8 inches by 2.4 inches to a large model measuring 10.63 inches by 6.13 inches by 9 inches.
While you shop for an electric pencil sharpener, consider how and where you plan to use it. Will it always sit atop your desk, or do you plan to toss it into your backpack and carry it with you? Alternatively, you might consider a larger, more durable unit for multiple users in a classroom or an office environment.
Shape
Sharpeners come in all shapes from rectangular or cube-shaped boxes to round, cylindrical, or drum shaped. Alternatively, you might select an oval or a triangular shape with rounded corners.
The shape of an electric pencil sharpener can be matched to personal tastes or room aesthetics.
Angle
Many sharpeners feature a vertical receptacle where you insert the pencil at a 90-degree angle to your desktop. Some pencil sharpeners allow for horizontal pencil insertion, where you hold the pencil parallel to your desktop, or they’ll allow you to insert a pencil on a 45-degree angle between vertical and horizontal.
Select the angle you prefer, based on how and where you intend to use the sharpener. For children in a classroom, you may want to choose the 45-degree-angle option to facilitate easy insertion without excessive pressure.
Lead Point
Pencils with sharp points create thin lines, while those with rounded points create thicker lines. Keep in mind that people use pencils for a variety of artistic and utilitarian purposes, and many manufacturers of electric pencil sharpeners include sharpness-adjusting mechanisms in their units.
In electric pencil sharpeners with available adjustments, you can choose sharp, medium, or blunt settings to meet your needs. For example, artists working with colored pencils typically desire blunt points. On the other hand, you may want a sharp point for precision writing or drawing.
Electric pencil sharpeners are available on the market with auto-stop mechanisms that end the sharpening process when the optimal level of sharpness is reached. Others feature lights or motor/pressure changes to tell you when your pencil point is ready for use.
Features
One of the primary features you’ll find among electric pencil sharpeners is the power source. Some units include electrical cords that plug into 120-volt or a 110-volt household AC electrical outlets. Other sharpeners require AA alkaline batteries, and some models include rechargeable lithium batteries along with USB charging cords. For optimal convenience, some electric pencil sharpeners offer a choice of power sources, such as a battery option along with an AC adapter.
Other useful features pertain to safety. If children will use the electric pencil sharpener in the classroom or at home, you’ll want safety features that prevent injury. Consider a design that prevents little fingers from contacting the sharp cutting blades.
Price
Electric pencil sharpeners are available at a number of price points to fit your budget. In these top picks, there are units to suit most budgets. You may choose a small, inexpensive, battery-powered unit for maximum portability, or you may opt for a larger desktop model that typically costs more.
Available features such as motor strength, durable materials, power source, and sharpness adjustment options affect prices. Smaller sharpeners powered by alkaline batteries tend to be less expensive than desktop models that feature more powerful motors operating on rechargeable batteries or AC electrical power.
Our Top Picks
Numerous features have been considered to assemble this list of top picks. Read on for suggestions regarding battery-powered or AC electrical-powered pencil sharpeners. Keeping durability, size, shape, sharpening capacity, and adjustment options in mind, the following products are some of the best electric pencil sharpeners for your home, office, or classroom.
Best Overall
RIYO RIYO Heavy-duty Pencil Sharpener
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Organize your home office to maximize productivity. The design of this electric pencil sharpener from RIYO RIYO combines pencil storage and sharpening capacity to place your tools conveniently at your fingertips. Use the included AC adapter to plug this sharpener into an electrical outlet, or power it with four AA alkaline batteries.
RIYO RIYO provides a heavy-duty steel blade that performs even and uniform sharpening in three to five seconds. While the average blade will sharpen pencils 500 to 1,000 times, this helical blade will sharpen 3,000 times before it becomes dull. The powerful blade rotates 360 degrees to sharpen any pencil in the 6- to 8-millimeter diameter size range, including graphite pencils, charcoal pencils, and colored pencils. You can control the degree of sharpness by selecting the sharp, medium, or blunt option. This sharpener is not suited for soft-core pencils such as crayons, chalk, or wax pencils.
This electric pencil sharpener features a removable, transparent shavings receptacle and a nonslip base for convenient use. The storage compartment holds up to 18 pencils, or can be used to store paper clips, staples, postage stamps, or other small office items.
Product Specs
- Pencil Size: 6 to 8 millimeters
- Power Source: Corded electric or battery operated
- Price: $$
Pros
- Also stores pencils
- Easy to empty
- Cleaning brush included
- Affordable
Cons
- Larger pencils will not fit
Get the RIYO RIYO pencil sharpener on Amazon.
Best Bang For The Buck
Aogwat Electric Pencil Sharpener
Here’s an economical and portable electric pencil sharpener that operates on two AA batteries (included). In automatic mode, you can press your pencil into the opening to start the electric sharpening feature. If your batteries run low, flip the switch to manual mode and you can still use the sharpener by turning your pencil manually.
Merangue offers special safety features to make this pencil sharpener safe for use by children. The lid top locks while the sharpener is in use to trap all shavings in the transparent receptacle. This prevents children from inhaling pencil dust while they sharpen their pencils. To use, twist the lid counterclockwise to open it, and the sharpener automatically stops working while you clear away the shavings. Additionally, little fingers cannot come into contact with the rotating blade.
The casing of this electric pencil sharpener is made of durable ABS plastic to resist breakage and provide reliable electrical insulation. Toss this diminutive sharpener into your book bag or backpack. At only 2.4 inches by 2.8 inches by 2.4 inches, it’s conveniently portable.
Product Specs
- Pencil Size: 6 to 8 millimeters
- Power Source: Battery operated
- Price: $
Pros
- Blade is easily replaceable
- Child-friendly safety features
- Affordable
- Compact size
Cons
- Not suitable for jumbo pencils
Get the Aogwat pencil sharpener on Amazon.
Best Upgrade
Bostitch QuietSharp 6 Electric Pencil Sharpener
In offices and classrooms, electric pencil sharpeners frequently serve the needs of multiple users. Bostitch offers this QuietSharp Glow pencil sharpener with antimicrobial protection to cut down on spreading germs. Additionally, the high-performance motor provides quiet operation so that students or office workers can sharpen their pencils without disturbing others.
The size selector dial can be turned to one of six positions to suit the size of your pencil. This electric pencil sharpener accommodates jumbo pencils and triangular-shaped pencils as well as standard-size and colored pencils. When your pencil is sharpened to an optimal point, a blue light glows around the face of the sharpener to show that your pencil is ready for use.
The Bostitch contains a replaceable, extra-hardened, helical cutter engineered to last 10 times longer than average cutters. You can remove the cutter cartridge without tools to clean or replace it. If the helical blade gets dull, simply replace it and continue using the sharpener. For added safety, the MagnaSafe tamper-proof safety switch shuts off the motor when you remove the pencil shavings tray for cleaning.
Product Specs
- Pencil Size: 6 holes, from standard to jumbo pencils
- Power Source: Corded electric
- Price: $$$
Pros
- Suitable for wide range of pencil sizes
- Large shavings bin
- Reduced noise during operation
Cons
- Must be plugged in
- Pricey
Get the Bostitch QuietSharp 6 at Amazon, Office Supply, and Bostitch Office.
Best For Colored Pencils
AFMAT Colored Pencil Sharpener
The cores of colored pencils are different from those in regular writing or drawing pencils. Instead of graphite or charcoal, colored pencil cores consist of color pigment mixed with water and bonding agents, held in a wax- or oil-based material. This electric pencil sharpener from AFMAT will sharpen art-grade colored pencils to your preferred degree of sharpness. Select from three sharpness options (blunt, medium, and sharp) to draw thick or thin lines in your next art project.
AFMAT provides a durable, long-lasting alloy steel blade that sharpens 4,000 times before it wears out. When a pencil is sharpened to your desired degree of sharpness, the resistance decreases, and the motor sound changes, signaling that your pencil is ready for use. Power this electric pencil sharpener with four AA batteries or plug it into an electrical outlet with the included AC adapter. It’s an ideal tool to keep colored pencils ready for whenever the artistic muse strikes.
Product Specs
- Pencil Size: 6 to 10 millimeters
- Power Source: Corded electric or battery operated
- Price: $$
Pros
- Operates on batteries or plugged in
- Sleek modern design
- Large shavings bin
- Suitable for up to 10-millimeter pencils
Cons
- Quite loud
Get the AFMAT electric pencil sharpener on Amazon.
Best For Teachers
X-Acto School Pro Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
Teachers who are looking for safety and rugged durability in an electric pencil sharpener will find this product from X-ACTO meets their needs. The heavy-duty sharpener was designed specifically for classrooms.
A quiet and powerful motor delivers optimal sharpening while minimizing classroom noise. Additionally, the specially designed, flyaway helical cutter sharpens pencils to an ideal point and then stops automatically to prevent oversharpening. Because it comes from the same company that produces high-quality X-ACTO knives for art and craft projects, you can count on this precision cutter to last 33 times longer than standard sharpeners.
This electric pencil sharpener accommodates six different pencil sizes, sharpening each to a rounded point. Durable construction and an alloy steel cutter provide long-term use in busy classrooms. The unit is powered by a regular AC electrical cord, and an auto-reset feature prevents the motor from overheating.
Product Specs
- Pencil Size: 6 holes, from standard to jumbo pencils
- Power Source: Corded electric
- Price: $$
Pros
- Multiple hole sizes
- Prevents oversharpening
- Durable and sturdy
Cons
- Rather loud for quiet classrooms
Get the X-ACTO electric pencil sharpener at Amazon, Staples, and Office Depot.
Our Verdict
For a great all-round electric pencil sharpener, consider the RIYO RIYO, which also doubles as pencil storage, and can be plugged in or run on batteries. For a more budget-friendly option, our pick from Aogwat offers a compact and easy to use pencil sharpener that works for standard pencil sizes.
How We Chose the Best Electric Pencil Sharpeners
When gathering our top picks for electric pencil sharpeners, we considered the most important aspects of this simple tool for shoppers. After some research, we found that a compact size, multiple power options, a range of compatible pencil sizes, and quiet operation are highly coveted features of the best electric pencil sharpeners on the market.
As such, we have curated our list of recommendations here to offer shoppers the best on offer in their respective categories. Whether shoppers are looking for a no-frills and budget-friendly option or more of an upgrade for heavy-duty sharpening, our top picks are some of the leading options to consider.
FAQs
With a plethora of useful features and attractive choices available on the market, it probably isn’t easy to select just one electric pencil sharpener. A new sharpener should make your workday, as well as art and craft pursuits, go more smoothly. As you shop for this practical and handy tool, you may have lingering questions. Here are a few answers to help you get started.
Q: How many batteries do electric pencil sharpeners need?
Electric pencil sharpeners that require alkaline batteries typically require two to four AA batteries. Some models include rechargeable lithium batteries along with USB charging cords.
Q: How long does an electric pencil sharpener last?
High-quality steel cutters in durable electric pencil sharpeners can deliver 3,000 to 4,000 sharpenings before they need to be replaced.
Q: Can electric pencil sharpeners be sharpened?
The helical-shaped (spiral) blades that sharpen your pencils do not lend themselves to sharpening. But, some manufacturers sell replacement blades for their electric pencil sharpeners.
