Best Knife Set (2025), After Years of Testing Knives

One of the things that sets Shun’s Classic line apart is that it features the brand’s proprietary VG-MAX core, a high-carbon steel with additional metals like chromium and molybdenum added in the mix to help with corrosion resistance and sharpness. In testing, we found this made for blades that cut effortlessly through anything we threw at them, and retained their sharpness over time.

The rounded pakkawood handles of the Classic line knives made each of them extremely comfortable to hold, and because the handles maintain an even thickness throughout their length, they allow each user to find the grip and hand positioning that’s best for them.

$400, the cost of both the sets above, is a lot to spend in one go on kitchen gear, even if you’re getting three knives for the price. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, consider this set of knives from German brand Wüsthof. The Classic series fared well across all of our knife tests; it’s super sharp, well-made, and comfortable to hold. The thing that tends to keep them out of the top spot is their price. But buying them as a set instead of as individual knives saves over $100 and we think that’s a steal.

This set is also a good pick for anyone who favors a German-style chef’s knife. With its rounded blade and heftier (but still agile) feel, this is a sturdy knife that offers stability while slicing and will hold its edge well thanks to a higher steel-to-carbon ratio.

While we think a three-piece knife set has everything most home cooks really need, we understand the desire to spring for a more multifaceted option—particularly if you’re in need of a steak knife set and knife storage solution too.

The Gourmet series is essentially Wüsthof’s budget or starter line, and sits a tier below the Classic series detailed above. While these knives won’t quite afford you the razor sharp edge or durability of the ones we recommend above, they’re still good knives for the price that will serve you well for years to come, and their high-carbon stainless steel blades will work great for chopping and dicing through whatever your heart desires. This set includes the three essential knives we’ve been going on about (chef’s, bread, and paring), plus a smaller 2.5-inch paring knife for more precise cuts, a 4.5-inch utility knife, four 4.5-inch steak knives, a honing steel, a set of handy kitchen shears, and a 15-slot wooden block to store it all in. At around $400 at the time of writing, it’s a good deal for a set of cutlery that expands on what we think of as core knives—but isn’t full of niche types of knives you’ll never actually use.

How we picked the best knife sets

We’ve been testing knives for years now, and have found that the same brands tend to come out on top across each knife category. Luckily for you aspiring knife set purchasers, that means we’ve had no trouble finding three-piece sets from brands we know and love that feature product test-winning, quality knives our team of experts can vouch for.

Each set listed above is made up of individual knives we’ve tested against a long list of competitors and whole-heartedly approve of. Scroll to learn more about each one, or head over to our individual reviews of the best chef’s knives, best bread knives, and best paring knives for even more information.

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