Tl;DR: Utility knives, which can also be referred to as petty knives or prep knives, are medium-sized kitchen knives. These knives shine when tackling tasks that are too big for a paring knife but too small for a chef’s knife or santoku knife.

I’ve been interested in knives since I was a kid. My interest turned toward collecting pocket knives, which was aided by my dad. At the same time, I had an interest in cooking and baking, which was fostered by my mom. My two interests naturally converged in kitchen knives, and I’ve been steadily building up a collection since I got my own kitchen.

I find utility knives wonderfully useful. I have both a standard spear-tipped utility knife (which looks like an oversized paring knife) and a prep knife (which resembles an undersized chef’s knife). I use them to cut up smaller portions of meat, dice veggies, and slice fruits like apples and tomatoes.

Thinking of getting a new utility knife to round out your collection? Get in touch with a Curated Kitchen Expert! All of our experts are familiar with the jargon surrounding knives, like tang and hardness, and are more than happy to answer questions, make recommendations, and explain the best way to care for your new knife. And this service is part of Curated’s guarantee that you’ll love what you buy from us, so it won’t cost you a thing.

How to Pick the Best Utility Knife for the Job

Utility knives are highly popular — they show up in a lot of starter knife sets — because of how useful they are. There are a lot of tasks where an 8-inch chef’s knife is too much knife or not nimble enough but a paring knife just doesn’t have the leverage. That’s where a utility knife comes in.

These knives also come in serrated versions (sometimes called tomato knives), which are useful for different cutting tasks. A serrated edge prevents slipping and allows the knife to bite through tough skins, like on tomatoes or citrus, without crushing the flesh.

Blade Shape

There are three primary styles of utility knives, though most manufacturers aren’t precise in the names they give the knives, as utility, petty, prep, and even the Japanese name “shotoh” are used interchangeably. Here are three main blade shapes.

• Narrow: A lot of Western-style utility knives have a long, narrow blade that resembles a long paring knife. This makes the knife highly maneuverable and lightweight, so it’s ideal for fruits, vegetables, and even cutting up a whole chicken or piece of meat (depending on blade length.)
• Triangular: The majority of Japanese knives have a triangular shape, ending in a sharp point. A knife this shape can do a short rocking chop, but not as effectively as a chef’s knife-style blade. While these knives give you a bit more knuckle clearance, they perform similarly to a narrow blade.
• Curved: These types of knives are often labeled as prep knives, though not always. They have a deep belly and a curved blade at the end and look like a foreshortened chef’s knife. These knives are typically less nimble and work well for a rocking chop, so they’re excellent for dicing herbs, garlic, or shallots.

Blade Length

The length of the blade determines how well the knife can handle different cutting tasks. The longer the blade, the more leverage and reach you have, but the less nimbleness and precision. Utility knives usually range between 4.5 inches and 6 inches, though some are 6.5 inches or longer.

• 4.5 inch: This is for people who prefer a highly precise and nimble blade but want something bigger than a paring knife. Like paring knives, a 4.5-inch blade is great for peeling, slicing, and delicate tasks, though it can handle larger fruits and veggies too.
• 5 inch: Right in the middle lengthwise, 5-inch utility knives are fairly common. You have more leverage because of the couple extra inches of blade, but it’s a lot lighter than a 6-inch chef’s knife.
• 5.5 inch: The majority of prep knives are 5.5 inches. These knives are usually a bit heavier as they have a deeper blade, making them better at dealing with tougher fruits or veggies.
• 6 inch: This is the upper end for most utility knives — going beyond 6 inches can make them lose some of their nimbleness. These knives are better suited to slicing vegetables like carrots or potatoes, meat, and fish. They’re also good if you prefer to use a utility knife’s maneuverability to cut up a chicken or remove a fat cap.

Top Recommended Utility Knives

A utility knife is one of the most versatile knives you can have in your kitchen, rivaling even your chef’s knife. That means that there are a lot of options out there to select from. Here are some of the best utility knives to look into if you’re thinking of picking up a new knife.

1. Shun Classic Blonde Utility Knife

This knife has the triangular shape that most Japanese petty knives have, giving you a bit of knuckle clearance and the ability to do a short rocking cut. Shun’s knives are focused on being razor sharp and lightweight, so this knife will be lighter than its Western counterparts. The 6-inch length makes it able to shift from peeling an onion to slicing it up.

It has a full composite tang (a steel rod welded to the blade of the knife that extends to the end of the handle), a pakkawood handle for a secure grip, and beautiful Damascus cladding to prevent rust. As with other Japanese-style knives, the hard steel makes it easier to chip, meaning it isn’t good for hard vegetables like squash or for frozen foods.

2. Misen Utility Knife

Misen’s knife is more in line with a typical prep knife shape, as it looks like a small chef’s knife. This allows for a rocking chop motion and gives you more knuckle clearance while slicing up vegetables. It has a full tang, a synthetic handle, and a 15-degree angle cutting edge, giving it greater precision than most Western-style knives.

This knife has more heft than most utility knives, so it’ll struggle with tasks more suited to a paring knife, but it’ll do better on more serious cutting tasks, like slicing potatoes or carrots.

3. Zwilling Pro Serrated Utility Knife

This knife is serrated, making it more of a specialty item. Serrated blades are well-suited to tasks like slicing a tomato or a lemon or cutting a roll in half. It has a full tang and a comfortable handle, and the blade is made from Zwilling’s special formula, high-carbon stainless steel. This knife is made in Germany, which is considered to be one of the knife capitals of the world.

4. Miyabi Birchwood SG2 Utility Knife

If you’re looking for a stunning knife to add to your collection, then look no further. Miyabi uses a high-quality steel core, covered by 101 layers of steel to prevent rust and add durability to the blade. The Karelian birch handle is gorgeous and comfortable to hold, though it does require extra care in terms of oiling regularly.

This knife is made in Seki, Japan, out of hard steel, making it extremely sharp, and the thinner blade makes it lightweight. While it’s an excellent knife, it’s much fancier than most home cooks need and is only for those who want a showpiece to add to their collection.

5. Miyabi Kaizen II Prep Knife

Miyabi’s lightweight prep knife features a curve in the blade that allows for a rocking chop to dice herbs, garlic, or shallots. The Damascus steel coating is acid dipped to enhance the color, and the black pakkawood handle gives it an air of elegance.

The blade is ridiculously sharp, allowing it to slice through most meats and veggies with ease. The hardness of the knife does make it easier to damage, though, so you should keep it away from bones, joints, or frozen foods.

6. WÜSTHOF Classic Utility Knife

WÜSTHOF makes high-quality German knives with a sharp blade. This knife is shaped like an oversized paring knife, making it excellent for peeling, dicing, and slicing because of its long, thin blade. It’s made in Solingen, Germany, and is easy to maintain, with a sharp point that helps while working around joints or bones.

It has a full tang and an ergonomic synthetic handle, and it’s highly nimble. This is for those who want a little more blade to work with than a paring knife offers but still want a lightweight and precise knife.

Find the Right Utility Knife for You

Utility knives aren’t the first thing most people think of for a must-have knife, but they’re highly versatile. If you’re unsure where to start looking, reach out to a Curated Kitchen Expert for free! Every one of our Experts is well-versed in knives and will be able to answer questions, make recommendations, and explain any unfamiliar jargon.