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

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Oct 24, 2017

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Here’s the Deal

3 Options Considered

Best everyday use utility knives under $20	Price	Weight	Length (Handle)
-- Gerber EAB Lite Pocket Knife	$12	2.5oz (0.15lbs / 70grams)	2.8inch (7cm)
-- Stanley 10-788 Retractable Utility Knife	$10	3.5oz (0.2lbs / 100grams)	6.5inch (16.5cm)
-- Milwaukee 48-22-1901 Fastback	$15	4.8oz (0.3lbs / 130grams)	5inch (12.7cm)

Gerber EAB Lite Pocket Knife

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Top Pro

Great for everyday carry

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 inches (7.6cm) long, with a height of 0.7 inches (1.7cm). See More

Top Con

Requires screwdriver to replace blade

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. See More

Specs

Weight:2.5oz (0.15lbs / 70grams)

Length (Handle):2.8inch (7cm)

Length (Total):5.1inch (13cm)

Length (Blade):2.3inch (5.8cm)

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. See More

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 that area, it can still be unsafe if you try to close it too fast with your hand in the way. See More

Top Pro

Stylish and sleek design

This utility knife is made from stainless steel, giving it a nice silver polished finish. See More

Top Con

Pocket clip falls out easily

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

Top Pro

Accepts all standard-sized utility blades

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

Top Con

Might be too small for some people

Because of how small this utility knife is, the grip can be uncomfortable for people used to knives with bigger handles. See More

Stanley 10-788 Retractable Utility Knife

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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 enough to withstand the pressure required when working on tough surfaces. See More

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 also have to hold the blade tightly with your fingers the entire time, which makes it more dangerous. There is a YouTube video here showing the process. See More

Specs

Weight:3.5oz (0.2lbs / 100grams)

Length (Handle):6.5inch (16.5cm)

Length (Blade):2.45inch (6.2cm)

Length (Total):9inch (22cm)

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. See More

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 More

Top Pro

Can store up to 10 blades

The blade storage compartment located in the handle (pictured here) can hold up to 10 blades. See More

Top Pro

Comes with 3 blades out of the box

This utility knife comes with 3 blades in its storage compartment. See More

Top Pro

Locking mechanism ensures blade stays in place

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

Milwaukee 48-22-1901 Fastback

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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. See More

Top Con

Pocket clip is unreliable

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. See More

Specs

Weight:4.8oz (0.3lbs / 130grams)

Length (Handle):5inch (12.7cm)

Length (Total):7.25inch (18.4cm)

Length (Blade):2.25inch (5.7cm)

Top Pro

Great ergonomics

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. See More

Top Con

Might be too bulky for some users

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). See More

Top Pro

Solid build quality

The metal body makes this ideal if you need something rugged that can withstand heavy usage. See More

Top Con

No extra blade storage

This utility knife doesn't have a blade storage compartment for holding additional blades. See More

Top Pro

Can be used to strip wires

This utility knife can be used to strip wires up to 10 gauge. See More

Top Pro

Comes with integrated gut hook

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. See More

Top Pro

Easy to open

This utility knife can be opened with one hand by pressing the release button and flicking your wrist. See More

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