10 Best Electric Pencil Sharpeners 2020
Despite the rise of computers and digital writing, there’s sometimes no better tool for the job than a plain old pencil. This is true whether you’re writing a test in classic #2 graphite, or an artist looking to do some light sketching – or even coloring, if you enjoy the use of colored pencils.
Pencils are reliable, easy to use, and simple – one of the oldest writing instruments in the world. Sharpening our ancient friend requires the right tool (a pencil sharpener) but finding a decent brand today requires a little detective work!
Luckily, for you, we have done all of that detective work for you and present you with a list of the best electric pencil sharpener brands to help simplify your search.
Head on down and check them out!
Top 10 Electric Pencil Sharpeners Table
Buying Information
Here are a few useful tips that will help steer you to the right electric pencil sharpener.
- Auto Stop. Most modern, top-line pencil sharpeners feature an “auto-stop” capability. This can serve two functions.
First, Auto Stop allows a pencil to stop sharpening once the machine has sensed the appropriate tip has been shaped – in doing so; you can save quite a bit of material, and extend the life of your pencil. This is especially important for artists since some pigmented colored pencils are quite a bit more expensive than their graphite-based counterparts are.
Second, Auto Stop can work as a protective measure to prevent accidental injury by children – and adults. The best electric pencil sharpener products generally disallow the motor to start if any piece of the exterior chassis is missing – this helps prevent accidental finger injuries.
- Portability. If you’re planning to install a new pencil sharpener in an office, classroom, or other area, portability is probably not a concern for you. If that’s the case, you’ll likely be interested in a heavy-duty, A/C powered pencil sharpener with a dedicated power supply. These sharpeners can handle hundreds of uses a day, and quickly sharpen even the toughest pencils.
Students and artists, however, often don’t have the sharpeners they need everywhere they work – coffee shops, libraries, and student centers can lack dedicated sharpeners, so they may require the services of a portable sharpener. While these sharpeners are slightly less powerful than stationary versions, they can often plug into walls themselves, and are a convenient way to ensure a perfect pencil sharpness wherever you are.
- Noise Level. This can be a concern for some classrooms. Lower-quality stationary sharpeners generally are quite loud, which can be distracting in a quiet office or classroom environment. Most of the best electric pencil sharpener products on the market incorporate a quieter, subdued motor with sound dampeners to prevent loud buzzing and rattling while sharpening.
- Size of Shavings Receptacle. The size of your shaving receptacle is less important for personal, portable sharpeners, but for public or multi-use stationary sharpeners, it’s best to have quite a large receptacle. It’s quite inconvenient to have to empty the shavings constantly, so bigger is usually better. After all, a stationary sharpener isn’t going anywhere.
Modern electric pencil sharpeners are all useful tools, but there are some special considerations to make when choosing which one is right for you.
Top 3 Best Electric Pencil Sharpener Reviews
1. OfficeGoods Electric & Battery Operated

This portable pencil sharpener by OfficeGoods is built with high-quality stainless steel blades, and includes three built-in levels of sharpness – blunt, medium, and sharp. It also incorporates handy safety features – the blade assembly will not turn if any part of the chassis is missing or out-of-place.
Despite its small size and battery-powered construction, this little sharpener can fully sharpen a dull pencil in as little as 10 seconds. It can also be attached to a USB port or to the wall with the included power adapter if you don’t need it to move around.
Finally, the auto-shutoff feature on the sharpener itself helps your pencils last longer – once the perfect point is achieved, the blades will no longer rotate, ensuring less waste and a better sharpening experience.
2. OfficePro Helical Steel Blade Electric Pencil Sharpener

This vertical pencil sharpener by OfficePro is built out a high quality, black-and-transparent plastic chassis, and includes a generously proportioned shavings container, ensuring you won’t have to empty it out every day – or even every week.
The blade itself is a rotating helical stainless steel blade, which is extremely sharp, and is much more durable than the blades on less expensive units.
An auto-stop feature ensures both protection and maximum life for your pencils – the sharpener shuts off once a point is put on your pencil, and will not begin operation unless the shavings container is solidly locked into place – no need to worry about cut fingers.
The unit is also totally battery operated, using 4 AA batteries with a long-lasting, power-sipping design.
3. School Smart Electric Heavy-Duty Pencil Sharpener

This unit is built specifically for maximum usage, with a classroom-tested design that’s wide and low, preventing spills or a messy, accidental release of the shavings tray.
The heavy-duty rotating helical steel blade is built for maximum durability – it won’t dull, even with extended usage, due to a self-sharpening design and a powerful, long-lived motor.
In addition, auto pencil-stop features make this sharpener safe and efficient – after sharpening a pencil fully, the motor stops, and helps save money on pencils and school supplies.
To ensure that no schoolchildren can damage the unit from overuse, it also incorporates an auto-shutoff device, which will prevent use of the device if the motor begins to overheat, preserving its longevity and stopping unexpected destruction.