A knife block set keeps every knife you use within reach, but a 14-piece set only earns its space if you reach for most of what is in it. Many sets make up the count with steak knives and the block itself. Start from the food you cook and the knives that suit it, then choose the block that fits your worktop.
What to look for
01Which knives should a knife block set include?
Most home cooks get through nearly every job with a chef's knife of around 20cm for chopping, a small paring knife for peeling and trimming, and a serrated bread knife. A set that covers those three and adds a utility knife for in-between jobs will handle almost anything. Read the list of knives on a listing rather than the piece count, since the block, a sharpener, scissors and each steak knife all count as pieces. The Bladez 6-piece set spells its knives out: chef's, filleting, bread, paring and utility. The lapelux and micocali sets come as 5 and 6 pieces with a block, so check which knives make up the numbers before you buy. If a set has no bread knife, you will end up sawing loaves with the chef's knife and squashing the soft ones.
02Which extra knives suit the way you cook?
Add knives for the food you cook most often, and skip the ones you won't use. If you chop a lot of vegetables, a santoku's flatter blade suits a quick up-and-down chopping action; the HOSHANHO set is sold as Japanese-style knives with a block, and the PAUDIN chef knife set pairs an 8-inch chef's knife with a 7-inch santoku. If you buy whole fish, look for a thin, flexible filleting knife, as in the Bladez set. For Sunday roasts, a long carving knife slices more cleanly than a chef's knife, and the 12-inch PAUDIN brisket and carving knife can sit beside a smaller set. Steak knives only matter if you serve steak or chops often. The D.Perlla 14-piece and the Yabano 16-piece both include them, while the SHAN ZU steak knife set comes with a block of its own.
03Wooden, universal or magnetic: which knife block suits you?
A wooden block with fixed slots holds the knives it came with and not much else, so it suits a set you don't plan to add to. Most block sets use one: the D.Perlla 6-piece and the Yabano 7-piece come in acacia wood, and HOBO's 15-piece Japanese set sits in a wooden block. A universal block is filled with plastic rods or bristles that grip any blade, so knives from different makers can share it. A magnetic block or wall strip shows the blades, takes any length, and wipes clean. Put each knife on spine first and lay the edge down gently so it doesn't knock against the metal. If your worktop is too small for any block, a knife roll keeps the knives flat in a drawer or cupboard. The Damero waxed canvas bag has 11 slots and 2 zipped mesh pockets, and rolls with more slots suit cooks who take knives to work.
04Do you need a sharpener built into the block?
A block with a built-in sharpener is worth having if you won't sharpen your knives any other way, because a sharp knife needs less force and is less likely to slip than a blunt one. Some blocks have a pull-through sharpening slot. Others, sold as self-sharpening, have sharpeners in the slots that touch up the edge as the knife goes in or comes out. The D.Perlla 14-piece is listed with a self-sharpening wooden block, and the Yabano 7-piece and the ACOQOOS 14-piece both name a built-in sharpener. Other sets include a separate sharpener instead: the Yabano 16-piece lists one, as do the HOBO 15-piece and the PAUDIN block set. A built-in sharpener works at a fixed angle chosen for the knives it came with, so keep other knives out of it, especially Japanese blades, which are often ground at a narrower angle than German ones.
05How much space does a knife block need, and where should it go?
Measure the height between your worktop and the wall cupboards before you buy, because you need clear space above the block to lift the longest knife straight out. Blocks that tilt the knives back at an angle take more depth from the wall as well. A 14 to 16-piece block takes up noticeably more worktop than a 5 or 6-piece one, so a smaller set such as the Bladez 6-piece or the Ninja 6-piece block suits a short run of worktop. Stand the block at the back of the worktop, away from the edge and the hob, where small children can't reach up and pull a knife out. Keep it clear of the kettle as well, since steam rising into a wooden block can swell the wood and leave the slots damp.
Our top picks
Best core set for everyday cookingBladez Professional Kitchen Block Knife Set
Bladez names every knife in this 6-piece block set: chef's, filleting, bread, paring and utility, with black stainless steel blades and a granite non-stick finish. That covers daily cooking plus whole fish, without a row of steak knives you may never use. Good for a cook who wants the essentials and no padding.
Best compact set with a built-in sharpenerKitchen Knife Set with Block
Seven pieces in an acacia wood block, German stainless steel blades, a pair of scissors and a sharpener built into the block. Yabano keeps the count low, so the block stays small on the worktop. Ideal if you want sharp knives without learning to use a steel.
Best large set for steak nights and bigger householdsD.Perlla Knife Set
D.Perlla's 14-piece set includes steak knives and German stainless steel blades, and the wooden block is listed as self-sharpening. If you regularly serve steak or chops to a table of four or more, the steak knives alone make the larger block worthwhile. Measure under your wall cupboards first.
Best Japanese-style block setHOSHANHO 8PCS Kitchen Knife Set
HOSHANHO sells this as an 8-piece set of Japanese-style knives with a block. Japanese knives are generally thinner and lighter than German ones, which suits a cook who does a lot of fine vegetable prep. Check the listing to see which knives make up the eight pieces.
Best knife roll when there is no room for a blockDamero Waxed Canvas Knife Bag with
When worktop space runs out, Damero's waxed canvas bag holds knives in 11 slots, with 2 zipped mesh pockets for a peeler or a sharpener. It folds flat into a drawer, or to a cookery class or a holiday cottage with a blunt knife drawer.
Frequently asked
Will I need to show ID when a knife set is delivered?
Possibly. In the UK you must be 18 or over to buy a knife, and knives bought online must be handed to someone aged 18 or over on delivery. The courier may ask for proof of age and will not usually leave the parcel on the doorstep or with a neighbour, so arrange for an adult to be in.
Is it safe to keep kitchen knives loose in a drawer?
It is best avoided. A hand reaching into a drawer of loose knives can catch a blade, and knives knocking against each other chip and blunt their edges. If knives must go in a drawer, use a drawer insert with slots or put a plastic guard on each blade.
How do I clean inside a wooden knife block?
Turn the block upside down and shake out the crumbs, then run a thin bottle brush or pipe cleaner through each slot with warm soapy water. Rinse sparingly and let it dry fully, standing upside down, before the knives go back. Always return knives clean and completely dry, since damp slots are where mould starts.
Do I need an electric carving knife as well as a block set?
Not usually. An electric carving knife uses two serrated blades that move back and forth, which makes slicing a large joint or turkey quick and easy, and it helps anyone with a weak grip. A long, sharp carving knife does the same job at a roast dinner, it just takes a steadier hand.
How should I get rid of old kitchen knives?
Don't drop them loose into a bin, where they can cut whoever handles the bag. Wrap the blade in thick cardboard and tape it, then take it to your local household recycling centre for the metal skip, or check whether your council has another route. Some police stations run knife bins during amnesties.