Best Kitchen Knife Sets Under $300

Here are a few reasons why these are the best cutlery sets under $300 on the market today: High-Quality Steel, Good Design, and Excellent Durability

While there are plenty of decent kitchen cutlery sets under $100 and $200, the quality of the sets just under $300 is usually noticeably better. The best knife set for your money may not be true for every knife set, so we have compiled this list to help you ensure you are buying the best upscale knife set for your money.

In this post, I am concerned with quality and usability, not quantity, as you will notice that many of these knives don’t come with a large selection of blades, but the knives they do come with are well worth their price tag from the point of view of quality, design, and durability.

We have compiled a list of the best knives under $300 that we have found so far.

1. Shun Sora 6-Piece Block Set Including 3.5-Inch Paring Knife
2. Case Cutlery Nine Piece Block Set Walnut CA10249
3. Knife Set, imarku 16-Pieces Premium Kitchen Knife Set, German Stainless Steel Knife Set with Block and Knife Sharpener
4. Calphalon Precision SharpIN Nonstick 13 Piece Cutlery Set
5. Cangshan S1 Series 1022599 German Steel Forged 17-Piece Knife Block Set  
6. DALSTRONG Knife Set Block – 8 Piece – Gladiator Series
7. Wusthof Forged Legende 7 Piece Set
8. ZWILLING Twin Signature 11-pc Knife Block Set, Chef Knife, Bread Knife

SHUN SORA 6 PIECE KNIFE SET

The specifications

Weight: 10lbs

Size: 14″x4.88″12.38″

Positives

• Replacement Warranty for the Lifetime of the Product
• The Full Tango
• Straight out of the box this is a very sharp laptop
• It is forged, not stamped
• Knife blade VG10 cutting core
• Edge retention is excellent
• The hardness of 61 on the Rockwell scale
• It is possible to add more knives in the future if there are empty slots in the woodblock
• Designed and manufactured in Seki, Japan
• A great value for the price with excellent performance

The cons

• I don’t have any steak knives
• Quite a small set

Contains an 11 slot bamboo wood block, one 3,5 inch paring knife, one 6-inch utility knife, one 8-inch chef knife, one 6-inch utility knife, one pair of herb shears, 1 9-inch honing steel, and one 3-inch paring knife.

We were pretty excited when Shun announced the Sora series a few years ago. As a result of the relatively low price point, we were also sceptical about the overall performance and quality. Our doubts were largely dispelled after we got our hands on a number of knives from this series. From a performance and edge retention standpoint, the Sora series knives do not quite match the Shun Classic knives, but they still perform better than many other knives included in sets under $300.

These knives are constructed of VG10 cutting edges and 420J steel handles combined with an attractive San Mai cutting edge. A noteworthy aspect of this manufacturing technique is Shun’s ability to keep the price of its knives so low without sacrificing much from the standpoint of quality, performance, and quality.

In the Sora series, the hand grips are made of tapered TPE that are comfortable to hold. While we used the 8 inch chef knife for several tasks over an extended period of time, we did not experience any discomfort or hot spots.

Check out our Shun Knife Guide for more information about Shun knives.

CASE CUTLERY 9 PIECE KITCHEN KNIFE SET

The specifications

• Weight: 8.9lbs
• Size: 17.95″x9.09″x5.16″

Positives

• Guaranteed for life
• Designed and manufactured in the United States
• Fully Tango
• Stainless steel Tru-SharpTM from Case
• An attractive tomato knife is included with the set
• The sharpening rod is also included

The cons

• There are no steak knives at all
• No empty slots are included in the storage block
• Only hand wash

Set includes an 8-inch chef knife, a 9-inch slicing knife, a 3-inch paring knife, a 5.5-inch tomato slicer, a 6-inch boning knife, an 8-inch bread knife, and a 7-inch santoku knife.

Case Cutlery’s American-made knife set features a classic Western aesthetic that is unique in the knife world today. It delivers in the performance department, as well as its classic good looks. Pocket knives designed for outdoor use are Case Cutlery’s most famous products. However, Case Cutlery is equally adept at producing knives that can be used in the kitchen. All Case knives are made with Case’s renowned Tru-SharpTM stainless steel, which is very well known for its performance.

If walnut is your favorite look for your kitchen counter, you might want this set. Besides the knife handles, the storage block is made of walnut wood that has a great look. While I like the looks of the handles, they seem to be a bit less ergonomic than some of the more modern handles that I have seen on another set that I have mentioned in the post.

This set is noteworthy for its tomato slicer, which is one of its unique features. A fine serration on this knife helps it glide effortlessly through tomatoes. If you think you might want to purchase it separately, the western style 9 inch chef knife is also available at a reasonable price.

IMARKU 16 PIECE PREMIUM KITCHEN KNIFE SET

SPECIFICATIONS

• Weight: 8.9lbs
• Size: 17.95″x9.09″x5.16″

Positives

• For the price, this is a great product
• Kitchen shears that are super tough
• Block of steak knives can be broken away
• Handles made of Pakkawood are comfortable
• Included is a sharpening rod

The cons

• The steak knives are made of a lower quality steel
• There are no empty slots in the storage block

Set includes an 8-inch chef knife, 8-inch bread knife, 7-inch slicing knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 6-inch chef knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 4.7-inch utility knife, 3.2-inch paring knife, 5.5-inch kitchen shears, six 4.7 inch steak knives, 8-inch sharpening rod, and a wooden storage block.

Our eye has been on this 16-piece set from Imarku for quite some time. Our team at Nothing But Knives gets a lot of questions about the company here at Nothing But Knives, but initially we were sceptical due to some outdated reviews and the company’s flashy marketing methods.

In the process of putting this set to the test, we discovered why the set has become so popular. The knives are designed so that they are very functional and can be used in many different ways, which makes the set an excellent addition to the kitchen. In this set, there are a total of 6 knives made from ThyssenKrupp steel, which is a German steel company that produces knives of this type.

I was extremely pleased with how well they kept an edge, and they were easy to sharpen. This knife set definitely held up well enough to compete with most other knife sets at this price point that use steel of similar durability.

It was immediately apparent to us, as soon as we started testing out these knives, that they have impressive cutting abilities. Most budget knife sets come with knives that feature fairly thick blades behind the edge, which is better for durability but at the expense of cutting ability. It seemed that Imarku was able to strike a perfect balance between his toughness and his cutting ability.

To have such a knife set for less than $500 is incredibly rare. However, I should mention that in the last few years the knives in this set seem to have improved quite a bit. There has been a significant upgrade to the steel, and the knives perform better than those described in older YouTube reviews.

We also appreciated the fact that this set comes with super-strong kitchen shears. Their toughness and durability make them among the best kitchen shears we have ever tested. They can handle heavy-duty tasks that would break most other kitchen shears.

Those who need free counter space or simply want to keep the steak knives separate may benefit from the break-away steak knife block. As for the steak knives, the material used to make them is 3Cr13MOV steel. This grade of steel is a lower one than the rest of the knives in the set. Nevertheless, it is fairly common for knife sets under $500 to feature this grade of steel.

CALPHALON PRECISION 13-PIECE KITCHEN KNIFE SET WITH SELF-SHARPENING BLOCK

The specifications

• Weight:13 lbs
• Size:8.9″ x 8.5″ x 7.3″

Positives

• Guaranteed for life
• Fully Tango
• For the price, this is a large set
• Straight out of the box, very sharp
• The block slots have built-in knife sharpeners
• High-carbon, non-staining German steel
• A knife’s identification is engraved on the end caps
• This set includes forged knives (except the steak knives) rather than stamped ones.
• There is an additional slot in the block

The cons

• There seems to be a problem with nonstick coatings
• There are steak knives made of steel that is not as good as the rest of the set

The set includes a 3.5-inch paring knife, one 7 inch slicer, one 7 inch santoku, one 8 inch bread knife, one 8 inch chef’s knife, six steak knives, a pair of scissors, and a sharpening block the set also includes;

In business for more than fifty years, Calphalon has made cookware, but their cutlery business started in 2003. Over the last thirteen years, they have gained a reputation for producing high-quality knives and beautiful blocks. In recent months, some of their sets have been offered with slotted blocks that allow them to self-sharpen, and this set is one of them.

You might want to consider this option if you keep putting off sharpening your kitchen knives because you hate the process. There is also an end cap engraving that identifies the knives in this set, which is a nice feature that should be more common among kitchen cutlery sets.

Calphalon’s new in block sharpener features SharpIn Technology, which is more than just a marketing gimmick. The knives that remain very sharp in the self-sharpening slots are actually honers because they are not removing steel by themselves. However, knives in the self-sharpening slots do not actually stay very sharp. Instead, every time the blade is replaced, the edge is merely realigned a little bit.

The SharpIn technology is supposed to sharpen the blades after each use, but if that actually happened they would quickly deteriorate in size and require replacing. However, not all slots have been fitted with sharpeners in this set. As for the steak knives, there are no self sharpeners on the slots, and there is an empty slot without a knife in case you want to add one more knife to this set, or you want to keep one from your previous set.

A sharp knife is safer than a dull one due to the fact that it takes less force to perform the same task, so the Precision 13-piece set is a good quality product with some nice innovations. The self sharpeners are an excellent convenience for those who hate sharpening knives. On the other hand, if you prefer to sharpen and hone knives the old-fashioned way and you are not concerned with knife identification on the end caps, one of the other sets in this review will probably serve you better from an overall quality perspective.

CANGSHAN TC 17 PIECE KNIFE SET

The specifications

• Weight: 16.4 lbs
• Size: 11.5″ x 9.5″ x 16.5″

Positives

• Steel X50Cr15MoV from Germany
• Retention of the edge is great
• Stamped, not forged
• Exceptionally sharp
• Guaranteed for life
• Block of walnut crafted by hand

Cons

• There is a little difference between the color of the handles and the product photos

A wooden block and six eight-inch serrated steak knives are part of this set. Also included are a five-inch serrated utility knife, a five-inch tomato knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, a two-and-a-half-inch peeling knife, a pair of stainless steel shears, and eight-inch honing steel.

This knife from Cangshan’s TC series is beautiful and performs well too. With only having been in the business for a short period of time, Chengshan has a lot going for them. They have become very competitive in a very short period of time due to their modern manufacturing techniques, great design and good customer service.

If With this 17-piece set of the S1 series, you get a large set of knives while still getting quality utensils.  The quality of these knives is almost on par with many well-known premium knives, but this set is substantially less expensive. The storage block does not have any empty slots, but this set is so large that such a small issue might not matter to you.

German X50Cr15MoV steel is used to make the blades of the S1 knives. Due to its lack of edge retention capability, it is not as good as the Sandvik 14C28N steel used by the TC series from Cangshan. Still, the S1 set is quite a bit less expensive.

The number of kitchen knives on the market today that employs this steel suggests that Cangshan’s ULTRA6 heat treatment technology is one of the most effective methods for heat-treating X50Cr15MoV steel. It’s generally a well-balanced set of knives. The Chefs and Santokus are especially well-balanced.

As far as safety is concerned, the S1 series knives have a full bolster, but you can sharpen them more conveniently with the TC series since it has a gradual taper.

This is a really good cutlery set. It is an excellent choice for the under $300 price point in terms of quality and performance. I have noticed that the handles of this set appear to be a bit lighter, as they appear brighter white than they are in reality. The handles of this set are actually more of an ivory color in reality.

DALSTRONG GLADIATOR SERIES 8 PIECE KNIFE SET

The specifications

• Weight: 12.8 lbs
• Size: 16.4″ x 14.2″ x 4.8″

Positives

• Guaranteed for life
• Fully Tango
• German steel with high carbon and no stain
• The quality is excellent for the price
• Dalstrong’s customer service is excellent.
• The Acacia wood block looks great
• Handles made of Pakkawood are comfortable
• Stamped, not forged
• Cold-tempered 

The cons

• The blade is heavily branded. That’s a personal preference.
• There are no steak knives

There are four knives in the set: a paring knife in 4.5 inches, a utility knife in 6 inches, a Santoku in 7 inches, a bread knife in 8 inches, a chef’s knife in 8 inches, eight steak knives, and a pair of scissors in one pair.

The Dalstrong brand has made a significant impact on the kitchen cutlery market over a short period of time. The cryo-tempered manufacturing process is also responsible for making some of the best knives in China. Steel is imported from Germany and pakkawood is imported from Spain as the knives are made in China. Despite the fact that this knife set is produced in China, people have pulled the trigger on this knife set because of the high quality and great performance of the knives.

This Dalstrong Gladitor Knife Set looks great, but if the knives are not up to the task, it doesn’t matter. Thank goodness, Dalstrong Gladiator knives deliver on all counts. In addition to being well balanced, they are also very durable. In terms of ergonomics, Pakkawaood’s handles are as good as the handles on the very expensive Wustoff Ikon series, and the tapered bolsters are nice when using the pinch grip.

As a whole, this is a superb kitchen cutlery set that features specs and performance which you usually only find in high-end knives. There is no doubt that the Dalstrong Gladiator series is less well known than some of the other brands in this post, but if they continue to provide this level of quality and performance they will soon become household names.

WUSTHOF FORGED LEGENDE 7 PIECE SET

The specifications

• Weight: 12.5″ x 6″ x 12.25″
• Size: 4.8 lbs

Positives

• Guaranteed for life
• Full-tang knives are bigger knives
• Designed and manufactured in Solingen, Germany
• Straight out of the box, very sharp
• Corrosion resistance and edge retention in one product
• Carbon steel with high carbon content
• Cutting with a laser
• Weighs little

Cons

• There are no steak knives
• The storage block does not have any steak knife slots

Included in the set are one 4.5-inch utility knife, one 6″ utility knife, one 8″ chef knife, one 9″ double-edged bread knife, a set of kitchen shears, and a 9-slot charry wood storage block.

A new series of Wusthof knives called Legende belongs to the company’s latest product line. It is an update to Wusthof’s well-known Classic line of knives. It is lighter and more balanced than the previous version. There is also a noticeable improvement in the comfort of the handle since Classic line knives have comfortable handles.

They are also easier to sharpen due to their half bolsters rather than full bolsters. Unlike other sets of knives that have been made by Wusthof, all of these knives are made of a single piece of X50CrMoV15 German steel which is excellent steel made even more excellent by the heat treatment that Wudthof employs.

It is this set’s razor sharpness and consistent 14-degree blade edge made possible by Wusthof’s laser-guided PEtec sharpening method that makes the blades of this set so desirable. I do wish that this set contained the excellent Legende 7′′ Santoku knife, but that would obviously raise the price of this knife. The knives have excellent edge retention, so they will not need to be sharpened often.

In addition to the lack of empty slots in the storage block for steak knives, my only other complaint about this set is its price. It is a good thing when small sets have empty slots for steak knives so that steak knives can be added to the set at a later time. In terms of value for money, however, the 7 Piece Legende set has a lot of advantages, especially when it comes to performance.

ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS TWIN SIGNATURE STAINLESS-STEEL 11-PIECE KNIFE SET

The specifications

• Weight:  6.8 lbs
• Size: 17″ x 6″ x 10″

Positives

• Guaranteed for life
• Complete Tang
• Straight out of the box, very sharp
• German steel with high carbon content and no stains
• Blades with laser cuts
• The ice-hardening process developed by Henckels

Cons

• Rather than being forged, blades are stamped
• Block with an unattractive aesthetic

There are no steak knives in any of the slots in this set, which is one of the first things you may notice. Some people will find this unacceptable, but it may also be a great opportunity to buy the steak knives you’ve always wanted. Many mid-tier knife sets don’t include any steak knives, and they’re quite often inferior to everything else in the set.

As well as offering customers the Twin Signature 11-piece set, J.A. Henckles provides customers with the option of purchasing their own steak knives separately and adding them to the set as they choose.

As part of this set, you receive knives from the J.A. Hansel Twin Signature series. Since these knives are stamped rather than forged, they are similar to the Wusthof Gourmet knives. However, their cutting angles are 15 instead of 18 and they all have full tangs. Knives such as these were made using J.A. Henckel’s Friddur ice-hardening method.

This has been a key factor in why J.A. Henrykls has become a household name and is able to deliver the best products. If properly cared for, this is an excellent set of cutlery that will last a lifetime, and it is definitely one of the best bargains that you can find for under $300.

Tips for Choosing a Kitchen Knife Set (Buying Guide for Kitchen Knives)

It’s not as easy as it sounds to choose a set of kitchen knives. Choosing the right set of knives is essential to preparing flawless dishes with premium cuts and garnishes. Here are some of the top things you should consider when purchasing a knife set for your kitchen:

A steel’s hardness

Choosing a knife that is hard enough to work with a variety of ingredients requires knowing the hardness of the steel. The Rockwell Hardness scale is used to estimate the hardness of steel. When it comes to Nakiri and Santoku knives, the best quality ones usually have a HRC rating of 58+ and they are used for some of the finest cuts.

Many German brands produce exceptional kitchen knives with 55 HRC or above, such as Wusthof and Henckels. As the HRC count increases, your cuts will become more precise and easier. You can now make chef-style cuts in the kitchen with Damascus steel knives.

Cutting-edge precision and cutting edge

The quality of the materials used in a kitchen knife determines its precision, edge, and durability. Knives that are forged from a single metal stock have great strength and durability.

If Consider self-sharpening knives if you’d rather not use sharpening rods or whetstones. Whether a kitchen knife is full-tang or partial-tang determines how precise it is, as well as the bevelled edge, its weight distribution, and whether it is a full-tang or partial-tang knife.

High-quality handle

Since the handle is the only part of the knife that you hold in your hands, you should check its quality first. A well-designed handle lets you maneuver the blade as you please, which is essential when making delicate cuts.

With their triple-riveted handle and ergonomic shape, the tri-riveted knife handles are undoubtedly the most durable and effective. Wear gloves or choose a knife with a textured handle if you have sweaty hands.

Blade of the Full Tang

When a knife blade ends, where does it go? Full-tang knives have blades that extend into the handle. The blade does not necessarily have to extend the entire width of the handle.

Whenever you are dicing, mincing, or applying any type of knife trick, the blade won’t wobble since the slabs of wood or grip material are firmly riveted to the blade.

The whole point of cooking is to show your finesse, so it would be ideal to have an extremely sharp knife that speaks to you, bends and moves where you want it to, and remains under your full control at all times.

Questions & Answers

These are the most common questions we receive regarding kitchen knife sets:

When should a kitchen knife set be disposed of?

It is extremely dangerous to throw away old kitchen knives. Paper, bubble wrap, or cardboard should be used to wrap the full blade and then tape should be applied tightly to it. A cork applied to the knife’s tip and then wrapped is a better safety measure. Find out how to properly dispose of kitchen knives.

Santoku knives serve what purpose?

In addition to meat, cheese, fruit, vegetables, and seafood, a santoku knife is best suited to making thin slices of those foods. The super sharp edge on these knives allows for making extremely fine cuts. As a result of its wide blade, one can also easily transfer food from the cutting board to the bowl and vice versa. Besides, Santoku knives can also be used for mincing and dicing with fine precision.

What is a utility knife used for?

When it comes to cutting vegetables and meats of a smaller size, a utility knife comes in handy. In many ways, it is similar to a chef’s knife in terms of performance. The utility knife is the perfect tool for cutting tomatoes and sandwiches without tearing their delicate skin. In general, these knives are about 4-7 inches in length and are a great alternative to slicing knives.In general, these knives are about 4-7 inches in length and are a great alternative to slicing knives.

Sharpening knives – how do I do it?

Whetstones, honing steels, and sharpeners are required for this. Whetstones are used to refine the cutting edge and straighten the blade of a dull kitchen knife. For more information, click here.

When knives rust, how can you prevent it?

Keep your knives fully dry after each use by thoroughly washing and drying them. In order to prevent oxidation and rusting on stainless steel knife blades, you can store them in a wooden box or use mineral oil to protect them.

Aside from being food-safe, mineral oil is also suitable for use as a cosmetic. After slicing acidic fruits, it would be best to wash your knife afterward, in order to prevent further damage to it. For more information on cleaning kitchen knives, click here.

Final Words

With our review guide for the best kitchen knife set under 300, we hope you found it helpful in selecting your next kitchen tool. The best knives we selected are the top-notch utensils that you will love using every day, thanks to their precision, balance, and cutting edge. Good luck with your kitchen!