Whether you're new to pencil drawings, or love relaxing with an adult colouring book, a sharp set of pencils is essential to getting the best out of your work. While manual pencil sharpeners get the job done, if you're looking for a more efficient way to zap your stationery into tip-top shape, and prevent unnecessary breakages, an electric pencil sharpener is an absolute game changer.
Electric pencil sharpeners sharpen your pencils in seconds, often preventing them from over-sharpening. Plus, the nifty gadgets also make for a tidier and cleaner desk. Who wants tiny sharpening shavings all over their work?
We've gathered six electric sharpeners below for you to consider. Take a browse, and spend less time hovering over the bin, and more time perfecting your artwork!
Jump to our buyer's guide for advice on what to consider when buying an electric sharpener. You can also check out our favourite drawing pencils!
Best electric sharpeners at a glance
Best for versatility Tihoo electric sharpener
Best portable electric sharpener Jarlink electric pencil sharpener
Best budget-friendly electric sharpener WHSmith electric sharpener
Best all-rounder OfficeGoods Electric and Battery Operated Pencil Sharpener
Best for classroom X-Acto TeacherPro Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
Best heavy-duty electric sharpener Bostitch SuperPro 6 Commercial Electric Pencil Sharpener
Best electric sharpeners for 2024
Tihoo Electric Sharpener
Best for versatility
Add some colour to your stationery collection with a fun blue electric sharpener. The Tihoo electric sharpener lets you choose between a sharp, medium and blunt pencil point, so you can hone in on your shading skills for your realism masterpieces.
Suitable for sketching and colouring pencils, with the added benefit of a large 12mm sharpening entrance for your chunkier pencils, there's plenty of versatility with the Tihoo model. Not into the blue? Check out their white, black and grey designs too.
Pros: Works for 6-12mm pencils, speedy sharpening time of three to five seconds
Cons: Needs to be plugged in for use, not portable
Jarlink Electric Pencil Sharpener
Best portable electric sharpener
- Buy now from Amazon (£89.51)
Featuring a motor that sharpens your pencils in just five to ten seconds, the Jarlink electric sharpener is sure to make light of your pencil sharpening duties. Use this model for all of your 8mm pencils, including your charcoal and colouring pencils. There's an automatic 'stop and save' function designed to prevent over-sharpening, and the large capacity shavings container should save you a few trips to the bin.
You've got two power source options with the Jarlink electric pencil sharpener (batteries and plug-in) so you can choose whether to keep this model as a permanent desk feature, or a portable accessory for sketching on the go.
Pros: Auto-stop feature, sleek design
Cons: Only works for 6-8mm pencils, expensive
WHSmith Electric Sharpener
Best budget-friendly electric sharpener
- Buy now from WHSmith (£6.99)
Art and craft essentials can add up, so we're all for finding budget-friendly stationery. For under £7, the WHSmith electric sharpener is super high-value. We love the lime green design, and you only need four AA batteries to get sharpening.
Pros: Affordable
Cons: No plug-in option
OfficeGoods Electric and Battery Operated Pencil Sharpener
Best all-rounder
The OfficeGoods electric sharpener features multiple sharpening points, allowing you to choose your preferred sharpness to suit the drawing task at hand. The compact design will slot neatly onto your desk, and there's the option to power by cord if your batteries run out. With over 1,500 five star reviews, we'd say this sleek device could be just what your stationery collection needs.
Pros: Just two AA batteries required, multiple sharpening points
Cons: On the pricier side
X-Acto TeacherPro Classroom Electric Pencil Sharpener
Best for classroom
If you're an art teacher looking for an efficient way to sharpen 60 pencils in one go, an electric sharpener with a large shaving container is key. The X-Acto TeacherPro Classroom electric pencil sharpener has been designed specifically for classrooms, and can handle heavy duty sharpening (perfect for a lesson on cross-hatching!).
Plus, there's a quiet motor so the budding artists can create their masterpieces in peace!
Pros: Durable design for mass use
Cons: Hefty investment
Bostitch SuperPro 6 Commercial Electric Pencil Sharpener
Best heavy-duty electric sharpener
Designed for heavy use, the Bostitch SuperPro 6 electric pencil sharpener features a built-in fan to ensure the motor stays cool. This makes it a top pick for office use. Plus, with six sharpening holes, you can keep your jumbo pencils looking sharp too.
Pros: Six holes for different widths of pencils, easy-to-use selector dial
Cons: Functional appearance
What to consider when buying an electric sharpener
Purpose
Is your electric sharpener going to be used as a personal sharpener for a weekend of illustrations, or shared with 50 others in a creative office space? For the latter, opt for a more industrial design that's been built with heavy-duty use in mind. Features such as multiple sharpening holes and cooling fans are useful for larger groups.
Plug in or battery power?
Many electric sharpener designs offer both plug in (ideal for offices and classrooms) and battery power sources, but if you know you're going to be on the move, a battery-only option could do the trick. This will likely be a cheaper alternative too.
Price
Electric sharpeners can range from £5 to over £100, so it's important to think about how often you're going to be using your electric sharpener. Make sure you're only paying for the features you need.
Keeping sharp with an electric pencil sharpener
An electric sharpener not only saves you time, allowing you to focus on your work, but improves your tools, so it's a win-win really. We take great pride in our pencil collections, so it makes sense to find a quality tool that allows for an even sharpen, and prevents breakages and lead waste.
With the right electric sharpener, your next drawing project is sure to stay on point, whatever you choose to draw!
Discover your next pencil drawing project with Gathered!
Here at Gathered we've put together a number of ideas for your next pencil drawing project, for all abilities.
If you're a nature lover, why not try sketching a butterfly? Read our step-by-step guide and take flight with our easy butterfly drawing tutorial!