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What are the best everyday use utility knives under $20?

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3 Options Considered

3 Options ConsideredPriceWeightLength (Blade)
Gerber EAB Lite Pocket Knife
2.5oz (0.15lbs / 70grams)2.3inch (5.8cm)
Stanley 10-788 Retractable Utility Knife
3.5oz (0.2lbs / 100grams)2.45inch (6.2cm)
Milwaukee 48-22-1901 Fastback
4.8oz (0.3lbs / 130grams)2.25inch (5.7cm)
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Gerber EAB Lite Pocket Knife

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Ray
Top Pro

Great for everyday carry

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This utility knife can fit into pretty much anything: wallet, a bulky phone case, tight jean pockets, etc. It weighs 2.5 ounces (70 grams), making it one of the lightest utility knife out there, and its form factor is one of the smallest — when the blade is closed, the entire knife is only about 3...
Ray
Top Pro

Durable

•••
This utility knife is well-built and durable. It can last for a long time with a lot of use, and is capable of withstanding rough/heavy-duty usage.
Ray
Top Pro

Stylish and sleek design

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This utility knife is made from stainless steel, giving it a nice silver polished finish.
Ray
Top Pro

Accepts all standard-sized utility blades

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Despite its small form factor, this utility knife can accept any standard-sized utility blade of all kinds (heavy-duty, contractor-grade, etc.)
Ray
Top Con

Requires screwdriver to replace blade

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This utility knife's blade is secured with a screw in the middle. This makes it inconvenient to replace — the screw has to be removed with a flat head screwdriver or a coin before the blade can be removed and replaced.
Ray
Top Con

Closing the knife can be difficult and unsafe

•••
In order to release the locking mechanism when the blade is locked in place, you have to push a small metal plate on the inside of the handle near the blade. This means the blade will be closing down where your hand is positioned, and while the knife's liner prevents the blade from touching th...
Ray
Top Con

Pocket clip falls out easily

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The pocket clip on this knife is not very tight. It can fall out easily if clipped on a thin surface.
Ray
Top Con

Might be too small for some people

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Because of how small this utility knife is, the grip can be uncomfortable for people used to knives with bigger handles.
See 6 more Pros & ConsSee 6 more Pros & Cons

Stanley 10-788 Retractable Utility Knife

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Ray
Top Pro

Great for heavy-duty use

•••
The curved handle with cushioned grip surface makes this utility knife ideal for working on tough surfaces (e.g. dry walls) where more pressure is required — the grip helps with comfort & balance, and the curved handle gives you more control over the knife. The locking mechanism is also strong...
Ray
Top Pro

Has a gut hook

•••
This utility knife comes with a tiny gut hook which can be used to cut thin items (such as wires or strings) without sliding out the blade.
Ray
Top Pro

Can store up to 10 blades

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The blade storage compartment located in the handle (pictured here) can hold up to 10 blades.
Ray
Top Pro

Comes with 3 blades out of the box

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This utility knife comes with 3 blades in its storage compartment.
Ray
Top Pro

Locking mechanism ensures blade stays in place

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The locking mechanism is strong and can hold the blade out under high pressure, even if the blade is not fully extended.
Ray
Top Con

Blade can be dangerous and difficult to replace

•••
While this utility knife is designed to be and marketed as "Quick-Change," many users tend to experience the opposite. The blade is hard to remove and inserting a new blade requires some effort — you have to wiggle the blade around until you hear it click into the locking mechanism. You a...
Ray
Top Con

Form factor makes this knife not very portable

•••
This is a retractable knife (instead of folding knife), so it might be hard to carry this around in a pocket or other small spaces. It's also huge, with the total length at around 9inches (22cm).
See 5 more Pros & ConsSee 5 more Pros & Cons

Milwaukee 48-22-1901 Fastback

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Ray
Top Pro

Blade is easy to replace

•••
Replacing the blade on this utility knife is fuss-free and safe. There is a spring-loaded push button above the blade's liner (pictured here) that releases the blade when pressed, and locks the blade in place when released.
Ray
Top Pro

Great ergonomics

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The notch on the handle near the blade makes this utility knife comfortable to hold and easy to handle for both heavy-duty cutting and precision works.
Ray
Top Pro

Solid build quality

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The metal body makes this ideal if you need something rugged that can withstand heavy usage.
Ray
Top Pro

Can be used to strip wires

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This utility knife can be used to strip wires up to 10 gauge.
Ray
Top Pro

Comes with integrated gut hook

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This utility knife comes with an integrated gut hook which can be used to cut thin items (such as wires or strings) without opening the knife.
Ray
Top Pro

Easy to open

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This utility knife can be opened with one hand by pressing the release button and flicking your wrist.
Ray
Top Con

Pocket clip is unreliable

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The Fastback has a wire clip instead of a solid metal clip. After prolonged use, it can get filmsy and bent out of shape, especially if you clip it on thick surfaces (such as a leather belt) frequently.
Ray
Top Con

Might be too bulky for some users

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While this utility knife is robust, it is bulkier than others. This might not be ideal if you have carrying constraints (e.g. jean pockets).
Ray
Top Con

No extra blade storage

•••
This utility knife doesn't have a blade storage compartment for holding additional blades.
See 7 more Pros & ConsSee 7 more Pros & Cons

4 Community Recommendations

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Harvey Rose
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