Do you have a utility knife in your toolbox? As the name would suggest, these knives are built to work, forgoing form and beauty for the sake of pure utilitarian purpose.
Characterised by a large ergonomic metal frame with a razor-sharp blade protruding out the front, utility knives are as dangerous as they are versatile and comfortable to use. As with any power tool, the potentially hazardous design should always be treated with respect, but on the day you need it, you’ll want one to hand.
If you want to expand your toolbox further, take a look at our other articles on the best tool kits for mechanics, the best oil filter removal tools and the best inspection lamps to keep your car in check.
What are utility knives used for?
The razor-sharp and ultra-thin profile of a utility knife blade grants it several unique uses. These include:
Slicing or cutting material – foam, paper or leather upholstery, a utility knife will guarantee you precision and accuracy in your cutting exercise. Worry not of jiggered lines or rough cuts, a utility knife will keep things neat.
Sharpening – If you have pencils, crayons or maybe even a stick in need of sharpening to roast some marshmallows, the comfortable grip and blade of a utility knife makes it the perfect tool for the job. Always remember to sharpen away from your body to avoid an accident.
Stripping wires – Utility knives also make for great wire strippers as the blade cuts through the plastic like butter – great for treating a faulty lighting system. However, make sure to apply a gentle touch as you proceed to avoid slicing the entire wire off.
What are the laws around utility knives?
All knives in the UK require a legal age of 18 to purchase legitimately, including utility knives. Despite the small blade size of utility knives, since the tools feature a locking system, they are illegal to carry in the UK without good reason. If you are found in possession of a utility knife in public for work, you will need to explain this fact to the authorities. However, it will ultimately be at the discretion of a court to decide whether the reason was sufficient.
You can read more on UK knife laws here.
Thinking about adding a utility knife to your collection? Check out our list of the best utility knives below.
Stanley Fatmax Utility Knife
Price: £14.99 | VIEW OFFER
This one’s a classic. The Stanley retractable utility knife has been the go-to precision tool of labourers, carpenters, and other tradesmen alike for decades. This knife features a large body that’s not only comfortable in the hand but also suitable for use with gloves, too.
This knife comes with 10 blades that are easily changeable via the spring-loaded swivel system of the open body.
Pros:
• Tried and tested design
• Easy to use
Cons:
• Heavy item
DeWalt Utility Knife
Price: £15.99 | VIEW OFFER
This utility knife from DeWalt combines the design and functionality of both a folding knife and a utility knife into one unit. This knife offers quick and easy blade changes – with storage for up to three spare blades onboard – as the worn-down blade can be removed with the push of a button.
Unlike other utility knives, however, the folding nature of the DeWalt’s design allows it to collapse down into a much smaller unit – convenient for keeping your garage worktop tidy with myriad different other tools around.
Pros:
• Convenient design
Cons:
• Expensive
Amazon Basics Utility Knife
Price: £8.20 | VIEW OFFER
If you’re looking for an affordable solution to strip your wires or sharpen your s’mores stick, check out this piece from Amazon Basics. Finished in heavy-duty zinc alloy with an anti-slip cushion grip handle, despite the modest price tag this knife is still capable of undertaking any job that comes its way.
The blade itself has a quick release system for easy changing and is retractable and adjustable to three different blade lengths for precision cutting. This tool comes with four high carbon SK5 blades as well as replacement storage built into body of knife.
Pros:
• Great price
Cons:
• Large footprint
• Lacking ergonomic design language
Rolson Tools Utility Knife
Price: £9.11 | VIEW OFFER
Like the DeWalt knife, this piece from Rolson tools combines the design and functionality of a folding knife with a utility blade, but the quirks don’t stop there. Integrated into the design of this product is another longer and stronger blade similar to that of a regular pen knife, extending its application potential to a range of other tasks.
Pros:
• Multipurpose tool
• 2 in 1 knife
Cons:
• Heavier example given size
Wolfcraft Utility Knife
Price: £9.45 | VIEW OFFER
Railing against the usual conventions of utility knife design, this example from Wolfcraft features a strip of snap-off blades within an ergonomic metal casing. The blades are easy to slip in and out during replacement but lock in securely with a locking knob for safety when working under heavy load. The knife also features a soft grip zone for handling safety.
Pros:
• Snap-off blades keep your tool sharp for longer
Cons:
• Expensive replacing the blades.
Sign up to the Parkers Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews, news, and recommendations from the Parkers team.
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections – read why you should trust us.
