We Tested the Best Magnetic Knife Holders for Strength, Aesthetics, and More (2024)

• Our Picks

• How We Tested

• Other Options We Tested

• What to Look For

• FAQs

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The wooDsom Customized Magnetic Knife Strip is available in several finishes and 12 different lengths (8 to 36 inches) and can be ordered in a custom size, which makes it an all-around great option for anyone's kitchen. We tested the 8-inch board, which comfortably fit two chef's knives and two utility knives. Based on versatility (with the availability of finishes and sizes), magnet strength, aesthetically-pleasing design, and ease of cleaning, this knife holder earned the top spot on our list.

The USA-made rack comes with mounting hardware for securing it to a wall, and we had no trouble installing it under kitchen cabinets. All you need are a basic drill and a screwdriver to complete the installation. The one thing we noticed while checking whether these boards can be moved and reinstalled elsewhere was that the tags that come with the board for hiding the installation screws do not come out easily, and no additional tags are provided.

The magnets in the bar are strong everywhere except in the areas where you install the board. When putting the knives on the board, we found it easier to slide them on until the widest part of the knife was in contact with the block. We were able to hang kitchen shears and cleavers, so the board will work for a variety of instruments. Removing and replacing the knives was easy, and they stayed put throughout the testing period, so we think this board will last a long time. Except for the part where there are small tags to hide the screws, the holder was easy to clean. The tags may need a bit of extra attention to clean, but they are not tricky.

Size: 12 lengths available, plus custom | Material: Multiple wood finishes | Placement: Wall-mounted

At 16 inches long with a sleek stainless steel finish and great value for the price, this magnetic knife holder rightfully earned our best budget spot. It comes with all the mounting hardware required for screwed-in mounting, with instructions easily available on the website. The stainless steel surface is easy to keep clean and held knives securely.

The installation of this knife holder was uncomplicated. While it will stick to any metal surface, we found that it was not safe for larger tools and cleaver knives using this option; For heavier knives, drilling the knife board into a wall was the safest. We used this in many locations in the house—from the home office to the garage to the kitchen—before drilling it into the wall.It is quite useful for hanging scissors, screwdrivers, and other tools.

In testing this magnetic knife holder, we discovered that every time we removed a knife, the whole metal strip wobbled, which was especially visible with larger knives. That was because of the design of the strip. There is a notch in the magnetic strip over which the metal strip gets mounted flush.

Another thing to note is that although the magnet is strong, placing the knives tip-side-down came with some challenges. The only way to ensure that the knives were safely mounted on the strip was by holding the knives flush with the strip and bringing them all the way down so the bolster was touching the top of the strip. Still, this tiny knife holder gets the job done and holds aboutsix knives and kitchen shears, including a large cleaver.

Size: 16 inches long | Material: Stainless steel | Placement: Wall-mounted or magnetic

If you own a few Global knives already (and we definitely recommend that you do), you’ll recognize the design of this knife holder as Global’s signature look. It’s distinctive and classic, so it would be at home in a modern kitchen, a retro kitchen, or even a kitchen with homey farmhouse décor.

The magnetic holder is available in 16-, 20-, and 32-inch lengths, so you can choose the one that will fit your space best and hold all of your favorite knives, shears, and other handy kitchen tools.

In our tests, the 32-inch version held about 13 tools: two shears, a micro plane grater, three chef’s knives, three utility knives, a boning knife, a sharpening steel, a bread knife, and a honing steel. There were absolutely no dead zones. The magnets are powerful and provide a secure space for all the knives without slipping or sliding. We were able to put the knives pointy-side-down and up with no difference whatsoever in stability.

Installation was a two-person job, especially because we received the heftier 32-inch rack. However, it was also super easy since all it required was to drill holes on two sides from the front and screw it in. The provided plastic caps covered the screws to complete the signature look. We also moved it to the garage to test with some heavy-duty tools, all of which it held with no problem. Although it's expensive, we feel that the added versatility makes up for the price.

A microfibre towel was able to get into the small round indentations and clean out the spills. (We splashed tomato sauce on it to check.) It just needed a couple of go-arounds to be completely clean. This one will last for a long time, so it is definitely worth the investment.

Size: 16, 20, 32 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Placement: Wall-mounted

This holder is designed to hold knives in two different ways. There are slots through the holder for blades to slip through internally, while the front is magnetic to hold another layer of knives externally. In theory, it will hold twice as many knives depending on how they are arranged. If there aren’t that many knives to be hung, the magnets can also hold metal spice tins, scissors, and other kitchen items.

The magnetic knife holder has an attractive wood finish and includes the hardware required for installation. There are two keyhole slots on the back for hanging on screws, making it easy to uninstall this holder to move it to a new location. At first sight, we thought installation was going to be tricky because of how the keyholes are set at the back; A quick video tutorial on the Novaware website, however, made the process easy.

We also noticed that the knives had to be pointing downward if we wanted to use the inner slot and the main magnetic strip together. Although we had to install the strip lower on the wall underneath the cabinets to leave space at the top to take knives off the block, that was not a problem on a freestanding wall next to the kitchen. The magnet in the front strip is very strong and has no dead zones. Removing and placing knives felt safe every time because the knives stayed put on the strip.

Wiping down spills and grease was easy. There are nooks on this board, but they are easy to clean as well. We think this board will last a long time.

Size: 16 inches long | Material: Walnut or acacia | Placement: Wall-mounted

Made from reclaimed grapevines, each of these knife racks has a unique shape and color variation, adding a spot of interest to any wall (whether it has knives on it or not). Besides using this in the kitchen to hold knives, it would be great behind a bar to hold bar tools and gadgets or near a door to hang keys and notes to family. While the exact size and shape will vary, it’s available in two options: 12 to 16 inches long with five magnets or 24 to 30 inches long with seven magnets.

Installing this wooden knife holder was relatively straightforward.The only tools needed were a drill, a screwdriver, and a leveler. Once installed, the board stayed flush on the wall and looked very beautiful. It comes with magnetic inserts that you can see from the front, which lets you know the exact location to put the knives. The downside is that it is not a continuous magnet block, so you can only mount as many knives as there are magnets. And if you put on a bigger knife, like a cleaver, it occupies two spots. The magnets used are very strong, however, and we had no issues with knives sliding during testing.

It does have nooks and crannies that will get dirty if food splashes on it. We found it easier to clean with a lint-free damp towel to get any food splashes off and used a tiny brush to get into the crevices. The magnets are super strong and will last a long time, but the board itself needs careful handling. The thinner edges could break if the board were to be dropped accidentally.

Size: Small (12-16 inches long), large (18-28 inches long), custom also available | Material: Grapevines | Placement: Wall-mounted

At a generous 18 inches long, this wooden magnetic knife holder has plenty of space for all the knives that don’t fit well in your knife block, whether they’re small paring knives or bulky santoku knives. Many magnetic knife holders come in natural wood finishes or stainless steel, but this design also has a black option, which will look sleek in a modern kitchen. The Schmidt Brothers logo is visible on one end of the block, but it's not so bold that it will be visible from a distance.

The 18-inch bar was able to hold a cleaver, two chef’s knives, a bread knife, two utility knives, and shears. There was plenty of space among the knives to hold everything. The knives held securely during testing without sliding or moving, even when the heavy cleaver was removed.

This is a heavy and sturdy block with a strong magnet, so installing this was a bit more involved. We made a mounting template for the bar because the one we received did not come with any, but it would also be possible to use an extra pair of hands to hold the bar while you make the markings on the wall. A simple wipe-down is all you need to do to clean it.

Overall, the knife holder is built well with a simple design that's a great value for the price. We expect it to last a long time.

Size: 18 or 24 inches long | Material: Acacia wood or black finish | Placement: Wall-mounted

This two-sided design from Schmidt Brothers is unique in that it allows you to store more knives, and the clear shield makes the knife blades visible while keeping them protected from inevitable kitchen splashes and splatters. The block is magnetized to hold the knives securely in place, which keeps them from bumping into each other. We tested a smaller version of this set with a subway tile design rather than a shiplap one.

The magnet on this block is relatively less strong than the others we tested, and knives with thinner blades did not stay put and slid when removing other knives. The knives with wider blades (such as cleavers and chef’s knives) seemed to hold better. Dust and kitchen splashes were easy to clean on the outer surface, but cleaning between the acrylic screen and the magnetic block was not easy.

Apart from the magnetic block, this set includes a 4-inch paring knife, six 5-inch steak knives, a 6-inch chef's knife, a 7-inch utility knife, a 7-inch Santoku knife, an 8-inch chef's knife, an 8.5-inch slicer, an 8.5-inch bread knife, and a two-stage stainless steel sharpener.

Size: 7 x 11 x 15.5 inches | Material: White-stained red oak, stainless steel, acrylic | Placement: Countertop

A countertop magnetic knife stand comes in handy for those of us that don’t want to (or can't) get out a drill. Though only 9.5 x 9.5 inches, we love that The Stand by Material Kitchen is a sleek, efficient way to safely hold up to eight knives, four on each side.

We found the magnet to be the perfect strength; the knives never slip off but they do release easily. The angled design allows for large chef's knives on the tall end and smaller paring knives on the shorter side. We appreciate that this helps keep knives organized and the eye-clutter at bay. The metal base of The Stand adds extra sturdiness, and it never wobbled or moved when we removed a knife. It’s also not that heavy so you can easily move it around the kitchen, especially if you like to prep ingredients on different counters. You won't need to walk back and forth looking for the knife you want.

Material Kitchen only uses FSC-certified, sustainably harvested beech and walnut. With only two options, it’s unlikely that you can match wood cabinets perfectly but both woods add a warm and natural element to a kitchen. We liked that the stains are slightly shiny without distracting from the beautiful wood grain.

Size: 9.5 x 9.5 x 4 inches | Material: FSC-certified walnut or beech | Placement: Countertop

Final Verdict

The wooDsom Customized Magnetic Knife Strip is our top choice because of its design and quality and the fact that you have so many options when it comes to size and material. For a budget-conscious option, go with the Ouddy 16-Inch Magnetic Knife Holder. It has a beautiful stainless steel finish and holds knives securely.

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When it comes to size, there are two things to consider. First is the available space in your kitchen. Whether the rack will hang on a wall, on a backsplash, or on the side of a cabinet, it needs to fit that space, so measure carefully.

Second, you want to consider whether the rack will hold the knives you want to keep handy. That means both the width of the knives (with space to safely grab the handles to remove the knives) and also the length. Tucking a rack on the backsplash above counters can be great, but if you have a few extra-long knives, they may not be a convenient fit.

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