The best bread knives, tried and tested

Best bread knives at a glance

• Best budget bread knife: Kuhn Rikon Colori bread and baguette knife, £18.95
• Best blowout bread knife: Kai Shun bread knife, classic range, £189
• Best lightweight bread knife: Swibo Victorinox serrated slicer 10in, £42.17
• Best top range: Zwilling Pro bread knife, £72.95
• Best-value bread knife: Lakeland select-grip bread knife, £32.99
• Best bread knife for details: JosephJoseph Elevate 8in bread knife, £20

Best bread knives to buy in 2024

Kuhn Rikon Colori bread and baguette knife

• Available from Kuhn Rikon (£19.95), Amazon (£18.95)

Best budget bread knife

Shaped and coloured to look like a baguette, this knife stands out thanks to its tongue-in-cheek design, but it also has other useful features. Though the plastic handle is a little light in weight, the blade cuts efficiently, and at 26cm, it can tackle the largest loaves. The blade has a non-stick coating and friction-reducing slits that help it glide through the bread, producing even slices. The knife comes with a blade cover too, making it a good option for taking on picnics.

Available from:

• Kuhn Rikon (£18.95)
• Amazon (£18.95)

Kai Shun bread knife, classic range

Best blowout bread knife

Made from 32 layers, the beautiful Damascus steel blade is very hard-wearing. The knife is full tang with a smooth pakkawood (wood/resin composite) handle in a classic Japanese D-shaped design. The serrated teeth point in different directions – at the front half, they face forward, while at the other end, they face backwards. This means equal cutting performance in each direction for noticeably efficient slicing. The wide serrations are very sharp, requiring little pressure for a smooth cut.

Swibo Victorinox Swiss classic bread knife

• Available from Amazon (£42.17)

Best lightweight bread knife

This bread knife is perfect for anyone who prefers a lighter knife but doesn’t want to have to sacrifice any cutting ability. The knife is long (10in) but fairly thin and the bright orange handle is easy to grip, even with wet hands. There’s a curved end for added comfort. We like the coloured handle for something different to the array of black in our sample. Its bright colour will cheer you up when you’re cutting bread for toast in the morning.

The Swiss-made blade is gently serrated with an unusual rounded top, which makes it look less fierce than some on test, but don’t be fooled: it cuts smoothly and effortlessly. This comes with a flexible sleeve that’s transparent on one side to keep it safe in the cutlery drawer.

Available from:

• Amazon (£42.17)

Zwilling Pro bread knife

• Available from Zwilling (£72.95)

Best top range bread knife

This German-made full tang knife has a traditional appearance and oozes quality. It’s long, fairly heavy and very solid, with small, wavy serrations interspersed regularly with sharper teeth. The knife, which has an ice-hardened stainless steel blade for durability and corrosion resistance, has a slight 'wedge' shape, tapering at the top.

One big advantage of this over other knives in our sample is that it can go in the dishwasher, though hand-washing is advised. Cutting performance is good, sliding easily through our crusty white loaf. We find the shaped handle with its three rivets very comfortable to hold and easy to grip. The lifetime guarantee is an added bonus.

Available from:

• Zwilling (£72.95)

Lakeland select-grip bread knife

• Available from Lakeland (£32.99)

Best-value bread knife

While many of the bread knives on test are long (around 10in), this is designed for those who prefer a shorter bread knife that feels easier to control. At 20cm (8in), the shorter length makes it easier to store in the cutlery drawer, too. There’s also a protective safety sheath for when it isn’t in use to avoid accidental injury.

The knife has regular serrations and the blade is made from ice-hardened Japanese stainless steel – the ice hardening process is designed to keep it sharper for longer. The soft-grip handle is ergonomic and non-slip.

The instructions on the box say this is also ideal for pastries and shredding lettuce or cabbage, and we can vouch for this. It also slices well through cheddar – very handy when making a cheese sandwich as one knife does both jobs.

Available from:

• Lakeland (£32.99)

Joseph Joseph Elevate 8in bread knife

Best bread knife for details

For a such a well-priced knife, this one has some very thoughtful features. The handle has an integrated knife rest which means the blade won’t sit directly on the work surface when you put it down. This improves hygiene and can cut down on mess, too. There’s also a protective sheath to slide the knife into when it’s not being used. This helps maintain sharpness and keeps fingers safe if you're grabbing it from the drawer or to taking it on a picnic.

The knife is one of the shorter ones on test (20cm) and very light, too. The design is cheerful – the handle is black and grey with a smidgeon of orange at the top and bottom – but it's a serious player. The Japanese steel blade cuts well and easily.

How to choose the best bread knife

Bread knives vary widely in price, so that will be a key consideration when choosing one. They differ in size, too: shorter blades might give you extra control, but longer ones can deal more easily with bigger loaves. If you’re a roll fan rather than a loaf lover, a short blade might be easier, too. And, think about the weight: do you prefer a lighter knife or one that feels more solid in your hand?

The ‘tang’ is the part of the metal blade that becomes the handle of a knife. The strongest knives are full tang, which means the blade and handle are forged from the same bit of metal from tip to end, with the handle bolted on. Full tang is a sign of quality in general knife-making, but not a deal-breaker when it comes to choosing a bread knife.

Some bread knives come as part of a range, so that might be important to you aesthetically if you prefer ones that are all the same. If you have a knife block, you will ideally choose a knife that fits neatly into a slot.

Read on to discover our top buys. For over 200 buyer’s guides, visit our product review section and find guides to everything from the best chopping boards and best toasters to the best food processors.

How we test bread knives

We test bread knives from a number of brands. We put them through their paces on a very crusty homemade white loaf as well as hard rolls and home-baked baguettes.

The most important thing is the effectiveness of the knife – we're looking for one that slices easily through the crust as well as the softer inside.

Comfort is ranked highly too – we look for handles that are easy hold and grip.

We look for value for money – whatever the price point – and any extra features. And, because knives are often on display, we comment on the aesthetics of each one.

More on knives

Which knife should I buy?
Best knives for under £40
Best paring knives
Best cook’s knives
Video: How to sharpen a knife
Infographic: How to chop
Guide to the anatomy of a knife
How to sharpen knives

Related reviews

Best knife sets
Best chopping boards
Best food processors
Best saucepans
Best toasters
Best whisks

This review was last updated in July 2024. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.