Kitchen cutlery manufacturers are producing new knife sets at an incredible rate in in the modern era. There are also new cutlery companies popping up on a regular basis. This can make it tough for the consumer to know what set is best for their needs.
Fortunately Nothing But Knives can help. We test dozens of new sets every year to help keep consumers informed.
All of the sets in this article are well designed and durable, but they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. If you have a specific question about any of the knife sets listed here, leave a comment below, and we will get back to you.
Our Top Picks for Knife Sets Under $200:
Modern manufacturing technology has made it possible for the kitchen cutlery companies to offer impressive quality and functionality at a budget price point in 2023. While it is true that kitchen knife sets at the sub $200 price point are not on the same level at high end knife sets, the quality gap is not as big as it used to be, and it really is possible to get a great kitchen knife set that will last for many years for less than 200 bucks especially if it is properly cared for.
At the end of this article, we highlight the types of knives available in most of these sets and describe their purpose. This may help you pick the best product for the type of cooking and food prep that you do. If you think you may want to pay a little more for a quality bump, check out our article on the best kitchen knife sets under $300. Or if you just want pure budget options you can read our post on the best knife sets under $100.
Cangshan Helena 8-Piece Knife SET (Best Overall Value)
Specifications
| Blade Steel: | X50CrMoV15 |
| Handle Material: | Polymer |
| Rockwell Hardness: | HRC58 |
Pros
| Excellent performance for this price point. |
| Full tang |
| Very sharp right out of the box |
| Good edge retention |
| Forged not stamped |
| Comfortable handles |
| Available with black or white handles |
| Lifetime Warranty |
Cons
| No steak knives |
| No empty slots in the storage block |
Set Includes – one 8″ chef knife. one 7″ santoku knife, one 8″ bread knife, one 8″ honing steel, one pair of kitchen shears, one 5″ serrated utility knife, one 3.5″ paring knife and one Acacia wood storage block and one rubberwood storage block.
Cangshan continues to be our most recommended brand for budget to mid-range priced knives and knife sets. Almost everything they make offers excellent quality and performance for the money. The Helena series is no exception. The only other set in this article that matches this one from a performance standpoint is the Cangshan H1 set listed further down.
The tall blade of the Helena series chef knife was designed for performance. It is thin behind the edge and tapers gradually to the spine. This is a big part of why it is such an incredible slicer. Cangshan used German X50CrMoV15 steel for these knives which is a fairly common steel these days, but Cangshan’s impressive heat treatment separates them from most of their competitors. These knives hold their edge well, but they do not chip as easy as other knives made with this steel that have a Rockwell hardness around 58.
This set includes a bread knife, so I personally would have preferred that it came with a plain edged utility knife rather than a serrated edge utility knife. However, I know serration fans will disagree with me. That being said, I did appreciate the overall performance of the utility knife. It performed on the level of much more expensive utility knives from more famous brands.
The handles of this set have an ergonomic shape that is comfortable even when used for long periods of time. They are not quite as grippy as some of the more rubber handles used by other knife sets in this article, but they are durable and comfortable for all hand sizes.
The neutral shape of the handle was nice for detail work like peeling and apple with the 3.5 inch paring knife that is included in this set.
Overall, this set is tough to beat in the under $200 price range. I wish there were empty slots in the storage block, and I wish it included a sharpener, but those issues are a little nitpicky considering the impressive quality and performance of the knives in this set.
You can learn more about the 3-piece Cangshan Helena Knife Set here.
Mercer Culinary Genesis 6-Piece Set (Top Pick)
Specifications
| Blade Steel: | X50CrMoV15 |
| Blade Material: | Santoprene® |
| Rockwell Hardness: | HRC56+/-1 |
Pros
| Lifetime Warranty |
| Full Tang |
| Holds an edge extremely well |
| Very sharp right out of the box |
| Great steel for this price point |
| Very comfortable handles |
| Blades are forged not stamped |
Cons
| Not dishwasher safe. (Really no kitchen cutlery is dishwasher safe, but that is especially true with this set.) |
| Set does not include steak knives |
Set Includes – one 8″ chef knife, one 8″ bread knife, one 4″ boning knife, one 5″ utility knife, one 3″ paring knife, and a storage block.
Mercer Culinary is a 30 year old company that has been turning out some great cutlery sets lately. The Genesis series of knives featured in this set are full tang, well balanced and the blades are made of German X50CrMoV15 stainless steel which is usually found on more expensive knife sets. Mercer kept the price of this set down by not including steak knives, but that is common with with the higher quality sets at this price point.
The ergonomic handles of this knife set are incredibly comfortable, so if you are looking for knives that won’t cause discomfort during long food prep sessions this set is a good option. The handles are made of Santoprene which is a pretty durable rubber-like material that is easy to grip even when the knife is wet.
The Genesis set ships in a glass case that offers a more modern look than the wood blocks that are usually included with knife sets. However, the storage block is not angled, so the knives may be difficult to remove if they are stored under a low cabinet.
Overall this is an excellent set at the under $200 price point that should offer exceptional performance for many years.
Ninja K32009 Foodi 9-Piece Knife Set With NeverDull Block (Best Self Sharpening Pick)
Specifications
| Blade Steel: | X50CrMoV15 |
| Handle Material: | POM |
Pros
| Better storage block sharpening system than competitors |
| Full tang |
| Very sharp right out of the box |
| Quality German steel |
| Made in China |
| Forged not stamped |
| Comfortable handles |
Cons
| Relatively small set |
| No empty storage block slots |
Set Includes – one 8″ chef knife, one 7″ santoku knife, one 3.5″ paring knife, four steak knives, one storage block with the NeverDull sharpening system.
Their are a lot of kitchen knife sets under $200 with self sharpening storage blocks. The downside of these systems is that they reduce the lifespan of the knives, because they sharpen the blades even when they don’t need it. The Ninja Foodi system circumvents this problem by not building the sharpening mechanisms into the separate knife block slots. The NeverDull sharpening system is still built into the block, but it only needs to be used when the knives begin to dull.
The Ninja K32009 Foodi knives are made of German X50CrMoV15 steel, which is a pretty typical higher quality steel for kitchen knives (it is mostly what Wusthof uses). These knives hold an edge well compared to most other budget friendly knife sets, but they fall short of the more premium sets. However the edge retention is not a huge issue since the Ninja NeverDull system is quick and easy to use. The downside of this built-in convenience is that no built-in sharpening system (not even the Ninja NeverDull) can match the sharpness achieved by a whetstone or guided sharpening systems.
This knife set is relatively small, but it is still a surprisingly good deal considering the overall quality and performance of the knives and the effectiveness of the built-in sharpening system. The storage block included in this set is plastic, and it feels a little cheap, but it has a nice modern look. If you are in the market for a self sharpening knife set, the Ninja K32009 Foodi is tough to beat.
Tojiro DP Damascus 2-Piece Knife Set
Specifications
| Blade Material: | 37-layer Damascus with a VG10 core |
| Handle Material | Micarta |
| Rockwell Hardness | 60 |
Pros
| Full Tang |
| Very sharp right out of the box |
| Great edge retention |
| Made in Japan |
Cons
| Only two knives in the set |
| No storage block included |
Set includes – 8″ chef knife and a 4″ paring knife.
From an overall quality and performance standpoint, this set is better than any other set in this article. However, there are only two knives included. The other issue is the lack of a storage block. These issues almost kept this small Japanese set out of the final list, but the two knives included are so great, I felt like it had to be included.
The knives in this set are lightweight and very well balanced. They also feature actual layered Damascus steel rather than the annoying and fake Damascus patterns often found etched on many knife sets in the under $200 range.
Both of the knives in this set outperform just about every other knife I have tested at this price point. They are nimble, the handles are comfortable, and the knives are relatively thin behind the edge which makes them superior slicers. I liked this set enough to include in our article on the Best Japanese Knife Sets.
You can learn more about my hands on experience with Tojiro DP by checking out my Tojiro DP Chef Knife Review.
Misen 3-Piece Set
Specifications
| Blade Material: | AUS-10A |
| Handle Material | TPE |
| Rockwell Hardness | HRC58 |
Pros
| Tough steel |
| Free lifetime factory sharpening |
| Comfortable handles |
| Great fit and finish |
Cons
| Small set |
| Storage Block Sold Separately |
| The worst performance of all the sets in this article |
Set includes – 3.5″ paring knife, 9.5″ bread knife an an 8″ chef knife. Wood storage block sold separately.
If you are looking for a knife set with great steel that will last for many years, this set from Misen is almost certainly the best option under $200 for looks and durability. The blades of this set are made of AUS-10 steel which is a tough Japanese steel that is used in a lot of hard use pocket knives and fixed blade survival knives. Misen makes some bold claims in their marketing that didn’t totally ring true from a performance standpoint when we tested these knives, but they absolutely proved to be true from a toughness and durability standpoint.
The contoured TPE handles of the Misen knives are comfortable, durable and remain grippy even when wet.
Obviously the the high end raw materials used in the manufacturing of the knives in this set wouldn’t matter if the overall design were bad. And the Misen knives delivered the poorest slicing performance of any set in this article. This is due to the knives being too thick behind the edge. However, this knife set made the list because the knives are by far the toughest we have tested. If you prefer durability over performance this is a great set.
These knives feature Gyuto design that is reminiscent of the Tojiro DP series of cutlery which is considered by many to be the the best of the relatively affordable Japanese knife designs on the market.
Misen offers free lifetime sharpening for all their knives through their mail-in sharpening program. This is a super rare service for knives at this price point, so if you hate sharpening Misen is a good way to go.
If you want to learn more about the overall performance and durability of Misen knives, check out our in-depth review of the Misen 8 inch knife.
Cangshan Alps 12-Piece Kitchen Knife Set
Specifications
| Blade Material: | X50CrMoV15 |
| Handle Material: | Polymer |
| Rockwell Hardness | HRC58±2 |
Pros
| Lifetime warranty |
| Full Tang |
| Forged not stamped |
| High quality steel |
| Very sharp right out of the box |
| Great looking block |
Cons
| No empty slots in block |
| No bread knife included |
Set Includes – one 8″ chef knife, one 5″ santoku knife, one 3.5″ paring knife, six 5″ steak knives, one 8″ honing steel, one set of kitchen shears and one Acacia wood storage block.
Cangshan is a relatively new cutlery company, but they have developed a reputation for value in a short period of time. I am personally a big fan of their ULTRA6 heat treatment. Cangshan’s heat treatment has been improving over the course of the last few years, and it is a big part of why their knives separate themselves from the glut of new budget friendly knife companies that have started in the last few years.
Visually the 12-piece Alps series knives set themselves apart from the competition. However, that would be meaningless if they did not perform well. The practical design and great balance of these knives combined with the 16° grind of the blades check the necessary performance boxes.
The tapered handles are a comfortable hybrid of Eastern and Western styles that make them easy to grip. I am not usually a big fan of full bolster knives, but the angle on the edge of the bolster helps with comfort when using a pinch grip.
The blades hold an edge well and the steel is fairly rust resistant. However, these knives should not be washed in the dishwasher.
The downside to this set is that the included 5-inch santoku knife is a little on the short side, and there is no utility knife.
Cold Steel Kitchen Classics 12 Piece Block Set
Specifications
| Blade Steel: | 1.4116 |
| Handle Material: | Zy-Ex |
Pros
| Comfortable, easy grip handles |
| Sharp blades right out of the box |
| Ice tempered, cryo-quenched stainless steel blades |
| Great Rust Resistance |
Cons
| Blades don’t hold their edge quite as long as other similarly priced cutlery sets |
| Not as aesthetically pleasing as similarly priced cutlery sets. (subjective) |
| Doesn’t ship with a sharpening rod or kitchen shears |
Set Includes – one 4.5″ paring knife, one 6″ serrated utility knife, one 9″ bread knife, one 8″ chef’s knife, one 9″ carving knife, one 6″ boning knife, six steak knives and one maple wood storage block.
It may seem strange to include a cutlery set manufactured by a company that primarily makes tactical knives, but the Kitchen Classics set from Cold Steel has the most comfortable and easy-to-grip handles of any knife set in this price range or just about any price range. This set is growing in popularity with people who suffer from hand discomfort when using standard kitchen knives, and it is also growing in popularity with people who just love the way the handles feel.
This set may not look as good as most of the other sets on this list, but looks wont matter much when you are actually using the knives for their intended purpose, because this set really is fun to use for food prep.
Obviously we would not have included the Cold Steel set on this list if the Zy-Ex core handles were its only impressive feature. The Kitchen Classics set is well designed, durable and offers impressive corrosion resistance. The main drawback of this set is that the knives do not hold their edge quite as well as the other knives on this list, but if handle comfort and grip are a top priority this set is a great buy.
For a more information check out our review of the Cold Steel Kitchen Classics Knife Set here.
Calphalon Classic Self Sharpening 15-Piece Knife Set (Best Value Pick)
Specifications
| Blade Steel: | Undisclosed German Steel |
| Handle Material: | 6″ x 12″ x 15″ |
Pros
| Knives are labeled |
| Sharp blades right out of the box |
| Lifetime warranty |
| Self sharpening block |
| Full tang |
Cons
| No built in sharpening for steak knives |
| Chef knife is heavier than most competitors (not necessarily a bad thing) |
Set Includes – one 8″ chef knife, one 7″ santoku knife, one 6″ serrated utility knife, one 4.5″ paring knife, eight steak knives, one pair of kitchen shears, and a blonde rubberwood knife storage block.
Calphalon has not been making knives as long as some of the more established brands in this article like Wusthof and Zwilling, but they have developed a good reputation in a relatively short period of time. The SharpIN™ technology they developed and patented has really made an impact. Especially with people who do not like to sharpen knives.
Every time you pull a knife out of the block it automatically sharpens the blade. Each slot has a custom sharpener for the exact knife that fits in that slot. Fortunately, the designers at Calphalon had the bright idea to label the handles of each knife to help ensure they go back in the correct slots.
Calphalon definitely helped make knife maintenance easier, but that really wouldn’t matter if the quality and performance of the knives was lacking. Fortunately that is not the case. The high carbon stainless steel blades hold their edge well and are fairly stain resistant. However, they should be hand washed and never put in the dishwasher.
The knives are full tang and forged rather than stamped which means they should last for many years. This knife set is fairly impressive at the sub 200 dollar price point, but it is not perfect. The steak knives are stamped rather than forged, and they are made from a lower quality steel than the rest of the set.
The polyresin handles of the 15 piece Classic set are really comfortable and fairly easy to grip. However, they are not as grippy as the Cold Steel knives mentioned above. The handles of this set are triple riveted and they feel sturdy. The Classic series has been available for several years, and it has established a good reputation for long term reliability.
The knives included in this set are not dishwasher safe, and they should always be hand dried immediately after washing to avoid rust spots.
J.A. Henckels International Modernist 13-piece Knife Set
Specifications
| Blade Steel: | Undisclosed German Steel |
| Handle Material: | Stainless steel |
| Rockwell Hardness | HRC55-58 |
Pros
| Lifetime Warranty |
| 55-58 HRC |
| Large set for this price point |
| Very sharp right out of the box |
| Great modern look |
Cons
| Not full tang |
| Reports of rust spots (These knives should always be hand dried) |
Set Includes – one 3″ paring knife, one 4″ paring knife, one 5″ serrated utility knife, one 7″ santoku knife, one 8″ bread knife, one 8″ chef’s knife, four 4.5″ steak knives, one 9″ sharpening steel and one storage block.
The Modernist line of knives is one of J.A. Henckels newest products. They have become extremely popular in the relatively short time they have been on the market. I have avoided adding them to this list, because they are not full tang. However JA Henckles seems to have found a way to create a durable knife with a 3/4 tang. JA Henckles is not the first company to pull this off. The Swedish cutlery company Morakniv has been making excellent 3/4 tang knives for years.
The design of the Modernist line is really nice for this price point. The aggressive styling is a welcome change from the classic look of most of JA Henckels other products. The knives are well balanced, and the 7″ Santoku knife is especially pleasant to use. The contoured stainless steel handles are not as comfortable as the Pakkawood or Micarta handles found on high end knife sets, but they are far more comfortable to use than most other knife product lines with stainless steel handles.
Henckels also makes a version of this set that includes a storage block with sharpening knife slots. It costs a little more, but it is a good option for anyone who dislikes sharpening knives.
Victorinox Fibrox 8 Piece Set
Specifications
| Blade Steel: | X50CrMoV15 |
| Handle Material: | TPE |
| Rockwell hardness: | HRC56 |
Pros
| Lifetime Warranty |
| Lightweight |
| Very sharp right out of the box |
| Made in Switzerland |
| Handles are easy to grip |
Cons
| Blades are stamped rather than forged. |
| Knives are not full tang |
Set Includes – one 4″ paring knife, one 6″ boning knife, one 8″ chef knife knife, one 8″ bread knife, one 10″ slicing knife, one 10″ sharpening steel, one pair of kitchen shears, and a slant hardwood storage block.
This 8 piece set from Victorinox is incredibly popular, and it has been for several years. At first glance this seems surprising, because the blades are stamped rather than forged which can often result in a lower quality blade. However, Victorinox has perfected their stamping method to such a degree that I have no qualms about recommending their stamped knives. Any skepticism I had about Victorinox’s stamped blades disappeared after using a few of their butcher knife sets which can handle some extremely hard use.
The functional design and basic look of the Victorinox Fibrox set is no surprise from a company that has has been making knives for hunters, butchers and the military for years. This set will not win any beauty awards, but these knives perform at a high level. The 8 inch chef knife is the hero of this set. It slices, dices, and rock chops like a much more expensive knife.
The handles of this set are made of a textured thermoplastic that is extremely easy to grip even if your hands are wet, and the ergonomic shape makes the handles comfortable even when the knives are used for an extended period of time.
The knives in this set are not full tang, but that doesn’t seem to have a negative effect on their durability. The lifetime warrant makes me think Victorinox is not worried about this set’s durability either.
MSY Big Sunny 7-Piece Knife Set
Specifications
| Blade Steel: | X50CrMoV15 |
| Handle Material: | Pakkawood |
| Rockwell hardness: | HRC56-58 |
Pros
| Well balanced |
| High end look |
| Very sharp right out of the box |
| Handles are easy to grip |
Cons
| No empty slots in the storage block |
| Pakkawood handles look great but require hand washing |
Set Includes – one 3.5″ paring knife, one 5″ utility knife, one 8.5″ bread knife, one 8″ chef’s knife, one 8.5″ slicer and one wooden storage block.
We have received a lot of questions about the MSY BigSunny 7-piece set, but we only recently purchased one for the purpose of testing. The set has a great high-end look and the knives are all well balanced, but the it is really important to never put these knives in the dishwasher. The pakkawood handles look great, but they will fade and peel if they are washed in the dishwasher regularly.
If you don’t mind hand washing, these knives offer excellent performance, decent edge retention and a unique look. The set is not large, but it does include the key knives needed for most food prep applications. The 8 inch chef knife and five inch utility knife are standout performers.
The German X50CrMoV15 steel blades of these knives holds a decent edge, but it falls short of the higher carbon blades found on more premium knife sets. However, the edge retention is competitive with other knife sets at this price point.
MSY BigSunny also makes a set that includes a cleaver, but it costs a little more.
Tuo 1810 Legacy Series 6-Piece Knife Set
Specifications
| Blade Steel: | X50CrMoV15 |
| Handle Material: | G-10 |
| Rockwell Hardness: | HRC56±2 |
Pros
| Comfortable handles |
| Full tang |
| Very sharp right out of the box |
| Forged not stamped |
| Quality steel at this price point |
Cons
| No steak knives |
| Relatively small set |
| No honing rod |
Set Includes – one 8″ chef knife. one 8″ bread knife, one 8″ slicer, one 4″ paring knife, one 5″ utility knife and a wooden storage block.
The Tuo Legacy series of knives are a great option for anyone who likes full bolster knives with large handles. Every knife in this set was extremely sharp right out of the box which is not always the case with kitchen knives these days.
The knives in this set are all made from German X50CrMoV15 steel (also known as 1.4116 steel) which is a fairly common steel in kitchen knives due to it’s toughness and edge retention. Tuo heat treated the steel of these knives a little on the soft side at HRC56±2. This will help prevent chipping, but it will require sharpening on a semi regular basis.
The Tuo 1810 Legacy series knives all have large G10 handles that are triple riveted for improved durability. The large forward finger groove isn’t deep enough to lock the index finger in place, but I do wish it were a bit more shallow.
The full bolster has a fairly abrupt taper, but it is not at all uncomfortable when using a pinch grip. Overall I was impressed with the ergonomics of these knives, but the full bolster and large handles do make these knives a little heavier than average.
These knives all performed well for this price point. The grinds were even, and the blades were thin enough behind the edge to not easily wedge.
It would have been nice if Tuo had included a honing rod with this set, but it is still a great set from a quality and performance standpoint at the under $200 price point.
Knife Types & Their Purpose
One of the most important considerations when choosing the ideal knife set under $200 is how big of a set you need. If you are a little unsure about the purpose of a santoku or utility knife it is possible that a small cutlery set will meet your needs. And in most cases, all a kitchen really needs is a chef’s knife, a paring knife, and a bread knife.
This is important, because you can get better quality knives for your $200 budget if you need fewer knives than the standard set contains. You may even want to consider creating a custom cutlery set with the best knives of each type for your needs regardless of brand. The downside of this set-building option is that the knives will not match, but if you value performance over aesthetics the custom knife-set-building option may be ideal.
Here is a list of popular kitchen knives and their intended purpose to help you pick out the ideal kitchen knife set under $200 for your needs.
| Chef Knife –The chef’s knife is the all purpose workhorse of any cutlery set. They range from 6 – 10″, although 8″ is the most common. Chef’s knives excel at everything for on-board cutting including slicing meat, chopping vegetables, and mincing garlic. In this price range you will mostly see western chef’s knives, which are thicker and sturdier, but there are several other types including the Japanese gyuto, and the French sabatier. This is the cornerstone of any good kitchen cutlery set, and it is important for it to be the highest quality knife in the kit. |
| Santoku Knife – Also known as the “three virtues” knife, which at this point is meaningless, because no one can seem to agree on what those virtues are. We’ll settle on “chopping, slicing, and dicing” here though, because that pretty well describes the motions best used with this knife. It is similar to the chef’s knife in that is is a multi-purpose blade, but it tends to be better at chopping, and not quite as good at slicing especially if you are partial to rock chopping with a big-bellied western knife. |
| Carving Knife – The carving knife is designed to slice thin, uniform cuts of meat from larger pieces. This is often the knife used to carve a turkey or a chicken. If you and your family do not eat a lot of meat this may be a knife you can skip. |
| Utility Knife – The utility knife is an all purpose knife, usually with a 5″ blade, designed for cutting things on board where a chef’s knife is too long or heavy. It doesn’t have a specific use (so you won’t see a lot of chefs using one), but it sits in an in-between range that many home cooks find convenient, especially those with small kitchens or travelling in campers. |
| Bread Knife – It’s not just for bread. You can use it for just about everything from cutting tomatoes to scoring ice to cutting slices off roasts. A good serrated blade can get a lot of work done (just not always as cleanly as a sharp plain edge). Generally you want a bread knife with nice wide sharp serrations so they won’t tear what you’re cutting. |
| Paring Knife – This was designed for peeling fruits and vegetables, but paring knives are good for any off-board work like coring strawberries or segmenting oranges. There are three basic types: the birds beak (also called a tourné knife, which is curved inward and more specialized for peeling and making garnishes), the sheepsfoot (a flat-edged blade without much of a tip), and a spear point (an even-sided blade with a versatile range of uses thanks to the neutral shape; it is the most common type to come in a set). |
| Boning Knife – A boning knife is a thin-bladed knife designed to debone meat, poultry and fish. There are flexible, semi-stiff, and stiff boning knives (generally determined by the thinness and length of the blade). The more flexible a knife is, the better it is at working around and breaking joints, while stiffer knives tend to be good for cutting away meat in larger animals. They also come in several blade shapes, but you’re most likely to just see the straight bladed versions for sets in this price range. The choice between these types often comes down to personal preference, although we’ve found most people prefer semi-stiff if they only have one boning knife. |
Hopefully this knife-type list helps you find the perfect knife set for your needs and within your budget. There’s a wide world of chef knives and santokus out there, though, so you can also check out our other kitchen knife reviews to see what we’ve been testing lately.
