An electric pencil sharpener might seem like a small item that you can just buy with closed eyes. However, if you search the market for this tiny essential, you will be amazed by the breadth of options available. Choosing an electric pencil sharpener can actually be harder than it sounds, especially if you are really particular about your pencil tips.
But you need not worry because we have done most of the leg work for you.
We searched the online marketplace for the best quiet electric pencil sharpeners based on their unique features and user reviews. The following article lists our findings in detail. But before you look into our top picks, it’s essential to know what type of electric pencil sharpener is right for you.
Here is a brief buying guide that can help you decide.
Table of Contents
What to Look for In an Electric Pencil Sharpener?
An electric pencil sharpener helps you keep your pencil tips perfectly pointy at all times. That is its main function, and it stays consistent across all models. However, product features such as size, lead point, power source, and built-in shavings storage can have a significant impact on the overall functionality of an electric pencil sharpener. To choose a sharpener that offers maximum utility, weigh in the following factors.
Size
No matter how frequently you need to use a sharpener, you wouldn’t want it to occupy a large amount of your desk space. However, take note that buying the smallest sharpener is not always the smartest choice. The best electric sharpener will be a bit large-sized due to the large blade and gears. Larger blades have larger gears holding and rotating them in place. As a result, your pencils will be sharpened more accurately and last longer. Therefore, when buying a silent electric pencil sharpener, pay close attention to the product dimensions.
Type of Gears and Blade
Electric sharpeners usually use metal gears. But you should watch out for units comprising of their plastic alternatives. Plastic gears are not as durable as metal gears. It’s best to go for sharpeners that use a helical metal blade. Helical blades rotate around the pencil head so you don’t have to do any manual work at all.
Blade Adjustment
An electric unit that sharpens only #2 pencils might work well in an office. However, if you are a student or a teacher buying an electric pencil sharpener for your classroom, make sure to check the lead size it can handle. Sharpeners with adjustable blades can accommodate multiple writing implements. That is, you can easily sharpen pencils of varying thickness and lead points using the same product. Blade adjustment tends to be an essential feature for artists who often work with a range of different pencil types.
Storage
If you will be sharpening a whole pack of pencils in one go, you will want an electric unit that comes with a large tray for storing all the shavings. In addition to build-in shavings storage, you should also pay close attention to the ease with which it can be emptied and clean. A sliding tray is a better option compared to a fixed shaving bin that you will have to detach and reattach at every cleanup.
Noise Level
Be it your home, office, or classroom; an electric sharpener should do its job quietly. Therefore, you should focus on the motor type and noise level and always go for a silent electric pencil sharpener. Typically, when buying from a reliable manufacturer, you can rest assured that the motor will be whisper-quiet.
Angle of Sharpening
Different sharpeners allow you to sharpen pencils at different angles. In other words, depending on the model, you can insert the pencil at the top or hold it at the side instead. Choose the one you think will be most comfortable to use based on your hand grip.
Power Source
Electric pencil sharpeners can be powered by batteries, USB, solar cells. They do not typically require a direct connection to the mains supply. But you should check the battery capacity and determine how many pencils it can sharp before you need to replace the batteries. For demanding environments like classrooms, USB-powered electric sharpeners are a smart choice.
5 Best Electric Pencil Sharpeners
Now that you know exactly what you should be looking for in an electric pencil sharpener take a look at some of the best electric sharpeners that are worth your money.
1) X-Acto School Pro Pencil Sharpener
X-Acto School Pro Pencil Sharpener is the ideal choice for teachers who want to manage their classrooms effectively by keeping the drawing and writing tools ready for their learners. This device enables the classroom leaders to smartly manage their own as well as their students’ precious time. The electric sharpener is specially designed for sharpening multiple pencils at the same time without having the students queue up in the classrooms with their individual pencils.
- The X-ACTO School Pro Pencil Sharpener can sharpen a wood...
- Quickly sharpens so you can get more done.
- Reduces lead breakage and frustrations in the classroom
- Flyaway cutter prevents oversharpening
- SafeStart motor stops shaving when bin is removed
The X-Acto School Pro has six pencil holes of different sizes, and the small suctioned rubber feet help the machine stand upright while functioning. Though it sharpens multiple pencils at a time, the auto-reset feature prevents the machine from overheating due to the heavy workload. According to the manufacturer, the X-Acto blade is 33x more durable than it competitor models.
X-Acto School sharpener is designed by teachers for teachers. However, it is an excellent choice for artists, offices, and workplaces as well.
Dimensions: 8.5 x 8 x 5.68 inches
- Heavy-duty quiet electric pencil sharpener
- Reliable operation thanks to the high-power motor
- Premium quality steel blade withstands wear and tear
- Helical steel cutter provides symmetrical, safe, and rounded pencil points
- Flyaway cutter system prevents oversharpening
- It comes with a 10-year warranty
- Its ultra-sharp blades can chew off some low-quality pencils
- Colored pencils tend to come out sharpened unevenly
Our rating: 
4.8 / 5
2) OfficeGoods Electric Pencil Sharpener
The OfficeGoods Electric Pencil Sharpener is a great choice when it comes to covering up the fine-point pencil needs of different age groups. It is a smart selection for kids’ classrooms and even professional workplaces where large groups of people need to use it. This sharpener caters to a variety of users’ preferences by offering three settings of sharp, medium, or blunt. It also features three options for power supply: an AC adapter, a USB adapter and four AA batteries. It can efficiently sharpen a brand-new (unused) pencil in just about fifteen seconds.
- Stay sharp and in style with OfficeGoods Battery Operated...
- The motor and sharpener of this automatic sharpener is made...
- This automatic pencil sharpener can be powered either by...
- This sharpener runs much more quietly than other automatic...
- This product is produced in a facility that operates under...
To prevent accidental harm to little fingers in classrooms, there is a built-in safety mechanism. The sharpener locks automatically when the shavings cover is removed and the blade is exposed. This keeps fingers safe from wounds and cuts.
The OfficeGoods Electric Pencil Sharpener is so compact and lightweight that kids can easily hand it over to each other when it’s on battery power. As such, it doesn’t occupy a lot of space on the desk and can be easily kept aside and out of sight when urgent use is not required. In addition to the quality of the product itself, the OfficeGoods Sharpener is a popular choice among users owing to the company’s remarkable customer service as well. In case any issues arise during the purchase or shipment of the product, you need not worry as the manufacturer will resolve it at their earliest.
Dimensions: 5 x 2 x 3.5 inches
- High-quality and durable, quiet electric pencil sharpener
- Sharpens evenly, quickly, and symmetrically
- Works with colored, graphite, and standard #2 pencils
- Integrated safety feature
- Three-way power
- Multiple degrees of sharpness
- Only compatible with #2 pencils
- Batteries not included
Our rating: 
4.7 / 5
3) School Smart Vertical Sharpener
The School Smart Vertical Sharpener, as the name suggests, is a smart choice for classrooms in particular. This is because, for areas blooming with active kids, an electric sharpener must be designed for safety and durability. And this unit ranks high on both these features.
- Seriously Sharp: Made of alloy steel, the single-hole...
- Smart Design: The transparent shavings bin is extra-large to...
- Secure Feature: Once the shavings bin has been removed, the...
- Space Saver: Our 6 x 4-inch sharpener features a vertical...
- Versatile Tool: Our sharpener is great for teachers at...
The School Smart sharpener comprises metal blade assembly in a sturdy plastic casing so it doesn’t get easily spoiled. Similarly, the auto-stop feature ensures safety by automatically turning the sharpener off once the pencil is sharp enough. This product works effectively on colored pencils along with the regular graphite pencils for writing and note-taking.
Kids usually find it hard to locate the hole if it’s on the side of the machine, especially when the young, excited minds are in a rush. However, the Smart School sharpener is designed for efficient use. Younger kids no longer need to keep searching for the spot to insert the pencil for sharpening it, as the spot is designed at the top for easy access.
The bottom of the device is made up of rubber that offers a good grip on the surfaces. This ensures ease of operation for kids as the device will stay in its place when they sharpen up their pencils. Some users have reported that School Smart sharpener tends to get a little noisy sometimes, especially with prolonged use. However, it is usually not a problem in classrooms as noisy cheerful kids aren’t really bothered by the sound.
What you will love about this silent electric pencil sharpener is that it comes with twelve FREE pencils.
Dimensions: 6.5 x 5 x 7.25 inches
- Kids-friendly electric pencil sharpener
- Designed for heavy use
- Fast-speed yet safe operation
- Gives you the perfectly even point you want
- Lightweight and durable alloy steel construction
- Contemporary design fits well in modern workplaces
- Easy-to-empty transparent shavings receptacle
- Available in two different colors (black and gray)
- Limited portability as it requires a connection to the mains supply
- Relatively bigger than all quiet electric pencil sharpeners on this list
Our rating: 
4.6 / 5
4) Bostitch Office Pencil Sharpener
The Bostitch Office Pencil Sharpener is a versatile quiet electric pencil sharpener in the sense that you can use it in virtually any setting. Be it in an office, classroom, home desk, or even a carpenter’s workshop; this unit serves the need of multiple users. It is battery-powered and can shape your pencil tips to perfection within just a few seconds. It doesn’t matter whether you need a fine-point pencil for drawing, note-taking, coloring, or writing; Bostitch generates a sharp tip that enables you to do your work with ease.
- Hardened steel cutting blades deliver sharp point
- Easy to remove shavings tray
- Safety feature prohibits operation when blades are exposed
- Uses 4 AA batteries
- Compact design saves space on your desk.
If kids need to use it, there’s nothing to worry about as Bostitch is designed for no-hurt-fingers. This sharpener’s auto-stop safety feature prevents the possibility of cuts and injuries due to carelessness.
Bostitch is one of the best silent electric pencil sharpeners available in the market because it uses hardened helical steel cutting blades that guarantee a perfect tip every time. Its high-power motor ensures a stall-free operation, making it suitable for heavy-duty use.
Dimensions: 6 x 4 x 2.5 inches
- Automatic stop when pencil gets sharp
- Can be powered in multiple ways
- Compact design saves space on any desk
- Lightweight and portable
- Fast, efficient, and reliable operation
- Built-in safety switch
- Tip-saver technology prevents oversharpening, thus extending pencil life
- Non-sliding shaving receptacle (a bit difficult to remove and clean)
- Some users may find the tilted entry hole and shaft at a somewhat strange angle
Our rating: 
4.3 / 5
5) Boocosa Heavy Duty Steel Pencil Sharpener
The Boocosa Pencil Sharpener consists of a heavy-duty steel blade that provides a precise and pointy pencil tip every time you need one. When you insert the pencil, the sharpener turns on automatically. And then, once the job is complete, it will turn off automatically as well. This amazing feature offers great ease for the users who need to check multiple times if the tip is perfectly pointed when sharpening the pencil.
Boocosa is not just a silent electric pencil sharpener. It’s a small smart machine. This is because Boocosa is designed in a way that after sharpening the pencil, it will also trim the lead till it’s perfectly round. The electric sharpener is compact enough to be set up on the desk or carry around in your stationery pouch. The best part is that despite its small size, it can take up the shavings of one hundred pencils!
The storage bin is highly durable, just like the blades and the unit casing.
Dimensions: 6.5 x 5 x 7.25 inches
- Auto on and stop when the pencil is sharp
- Removable shavings tray with ultra-high capacity
- Integrated safety feature – prevents the blade from turning when the tray is removed
- Uses helical blade for precise tips
- Dual-powered (battery and standard adapter)
- Lead point adjustable
- Batteries not included with the purchase
- Not meant for commercial use (for classes, big offices, etc.)
Our rating: 
4.2 / 5
Ending Note
If you prefer traditional wood pencils over their mechanical counterparts but are tired of manually sharpening them, an electric pencil sharpener can save you unnecessary labor. However, when buying an electric sharpener, focus on features such as lead point adjustment, shavings storage, sharpening speed, and so on. To find a silent electric pencil sharpener, always buy from trusted manufacturers such as those mentioned above.
