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The Best Utility Knives for Quick Jobs and DIY Projects

Breaking down a box? Set your pricey pocket knife aside and pick up one of these sharp, no-nonsense alternatives.

Photo by Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

By Hayley Helms and Jack Seemer

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Are you really going to use your heirloom pocket knife to open an Amazon package? It’s not that boxes are bad for blades. (In fact, if your pocket knife can’t stand up to a little cardboard, that’s a whole different can of worms.) But, as they say, there’s a tool for every job.

When it comes to DIY projects around the house, prepping for more involved construction jobs or breaking down a bunch of cardboard boxes, it pays to have a utility knife close at hand. After extensive testing — and hundreds of packages — these are the best ones we’ve found.

Learn more about our testing process and methodology.

Best Overall Utility Knife

Husky’s wood-handled utility knife is an aesthetic departure from the traditional fixed-handle, steel-and-plastic construction. That means it doesn’t just look good but that you’ll never mix it up with your buddy’s during a DIY project. And its simple quick-change blade mechanism keeps you sharp without the hassle.

We like the medium heft and tactile haptics, and the folding design makes this easy to stash in a pocket. If you’re looking for an affordable, aesthetically-pleasing tool, Husky’s folding utility blade is an easy “Add to Cart.”

Best Folding Utility Knife

Most utility knives follow a fixed design, with a blade that slides out and retracts. Others, like this popular option from Milwaukee, take cues from the classic folding design of pocket knives.

The metal handle keeps it durable, the pocket clip is large and easy to use and there’s even a smartly designed wire stripper. But its signature feature is the press-and-flip mechanism that lets you open the knife with one hand.

Best Minimalist Utility Knife

The James Brand came out with The Palmer in late 2022, and since then, this sleek little utility knife has been a staple in our EDC rotation.

With the wide range of utility knives coming onto the market, it’s easy for the simple design of The Palmer to get lost in a sea of function-heavy, over-built competitors. But once you use the elegant little utility knife for the first time, you’ll realize it’s got major staying power. A wide selection of colors doesn’t hurt, either.

Best Upgrade Utility Knife

Part multi-tool, part keychain, part utility knife, this little wonder boasts a bottle opener, flat-head screwdriver, wide flat-head screwdriver, internal magnet, hex bit … and we haven’t even gotten to its utility knife function yet.

Although it doesn’t come with razor blades (you’ll have to purchase separately), and it’s many times more expensive than any other utility knife on this list, we still consider the smart design of this one-ounce wonder to outweigh any cons it may have.

Best Heavy-Duty Utility Knife

Tough jobs require tough tools, and not many brands know that better than DeWalt. For just shy of a century, DeWalt has been turning out all sorts of tools built to stand up to any job.

Coming in at over half a pound, the Retractable Utility Knife is one of the heaviest on this list, but if you’ve got some solid workwear to clip it to, you won’t be fazed by the extra ounces. Blending the security of a fixed blade with the convenience of a retractable knife, DeWalt’s utility blade also features an integrated carabiner and a deadbolt blade mechanism, and it is resistant to weather and water.

If you need a heavy-duty tool that will get the job done quickly and simply, and you don’t mind a little extra weight, you could do worse than this utility knife.

Best Budget Utility Knife

For less than 10 bucks, Husky’s folding-style utility knife is a solid pick for anyone from professional construction workers to seasoned DIYers.

Sure, it’s not as gnarly as DeWalt’s heavy-duty option, and it won’t win style awards against Penco or Big Idea Design, but whatever Husky’s folding knife lacks in style or substance, it makes up for with affordability and dependable action.

Its tough exterior matches the no-nonsense attitude of its 10 included replacement blades; when you’ve worn through one, pop in another and keep the job going.

Best Lightweight Utility Knife

If the bestowment of “best utility knife” were based on convenience, this tiny-but-mighty option would win, hands down.

At less than two ounces it’s barely noticeable on your keychain, has the sharpest blade of any we tested and is ultra-precise, thanks to its nimble construction. Plus, it comes with a keychain loop, so you can easily integrate it into your EDC kit.

Sure, you’ll have to order replacement blades separately, but in our book, that’s a small price to pay for a utility knife that’s this fun to use. Bring on the cardboard.

Best Classic Utility Knife

utility knifeStanley

Stanley Self-Retracting Utility Knife

This is probably the utility blade your grandparents carried. Thanks to one of the most classic designs on the market, it’s no surprise this no-nonsense utility knife from Stanley has stood the test of time.

The steel handle is a little heavy, but you could drop this thing off the side of a building or run it over with your truck, and we’re confident it would keep cutting boxes as if nothing happened.

Changing the blade requires a screwdriver, which can be a little annoying. But there is no shortage of sturdiness and practical design here.

Best Industrial-Style Utility Knife

Industrial settings require industrial-strength tools. So Slice made its own.

The Auto-Retractable Industrial Knife’s three-inch blade was designed specifically for cutting through insulation batting and thick foam. Its textured button slider engages the spring-loaded blade with ease, and the nylon handle is both lightweight and durable.

Slip some paracord through the lanyard hole to mitigate any risk of losing this knife on the job site, at home or on the go.

What to look for in a utility knife

On the surface, it may appear that utility knives are a dime a dozen, but hidden under their homogenized hoods is plenty of differentiation. When shopping for the utility knife that’s going to provide you the most, well, utility, it’s important to consider the following:

  • Materials
  • Durability
  • Precision
  • Price
  • Size

Some utility knives come with extra blades and quick-change blade swap systems; others with fewer features but more premium materials like wood, stainless steel and carbon fiber.

When it comes to size, whatever feels the most natural when you grip it is going to be more effective than a blade that comes with all the bells and whistles.

Stay Sharp

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