A bread knife has to get through a hard crust without squashing the soft crumb underneath. A good one does it in a few long strokes. One that is too short or too blunt tears the loaf and leaves a pile of crumbs.
Blade length is the first thing to check. The blade should be longer than the loaf is wide, so a sourdough boule or a long bakery loaf needs 23cm or more. The five knives below run from 20cm to 25cm, with either pointed serrations or the rounded, wavy edges on the Victorinox and the Furi.
| Knife | Blade | Edge | Handle | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global G-9 | 22cm | Serrated | Steel, sand-weighted | Not published | $50–100 |
| Victorinox Fibrox | 21cm | Wavy | Plastic | 100g | $50–100 |
| Mercer Millennia | 25cm | Serrated | Plastic | Not published | Under $50 |
| Tojiro Bread Slicer | 23.5cm | Serrated | Wood | 110g | Under $50 |
| Furi Pro | 20cm | Rounded serrations | Steel | Not published | Under $50 |
Blade lengths and weights are the makers' figures where they publish them, and from the listings each knife links to otherwise. Prices were checked at Amazon on 26 September 2026.
1. Best Overall: Global G-9 22cm
The G-9 is Global's bread knife: a 22cm serrated blade and a hollow handle in one piece of CROMOVA 18 steel, hardened to 56–58 Rockwell, with sand in the handle for balance. Owner reviews praise how it cuts fresh bread and its light weight, and a few think it overpriced.
Global's own product page says the G-9 should not be sharpened, and that sharpeners claiming to sharpen bread knives are wrong. Its Australian warranty is two years.
What We Like:
- 22cm, one-piece steel
- Light and balanced
What We Don't Like:
- Global says not to sharpen it
- Two-year warranty in Australia
2. Best Value: Victorinox Fibrox 21cm
The Fibrox bread knife has a 21cm wavy edge and a thermoplastic elastomer handle, weighs 100g and is made in Switzerland. Victorinox's product page rates it dishwasher safe and lists a lifetime warranty.
Owner reviews say it slices sourdough cleanly and thinly and is good value, with few complaints. At 21cm it is at the short end for a wide boule.
What We Like:
- Rated dishwasher safe
- Light, at 100g
- Lifetime warranty
What We Don't Like:
- 21cm is short for wide loaves
3. Best for Sourdough: Mercer Millennia 25cm
The Mercer Millennia has the longest blade here, 25cm of high-carbon Japanese steel, and a textured handle with a finger guard. The listing says it is NSF certified for commercial kitchens, and it costs the least of the five.
Owner reviews single out how it handles sourdough and its grip, with very few complaints. The long blade needs a big drawer or block.
What We Like:
- 25cm, the longest here
- Least expensive knife here
- Textured grip with a finger guard
What We Don't Like:
- Long blade needs a big drawer
4. Best Wooden Handle: Tojiro Bread Slicer 23.5cm
Tojiro's F-737 bread slicer has a 23.5cm serrated blade in high-carbon stainless steel and a natural wood handle, and weighs 110g, according to Tojiro's product page. It is made in Japan.
Owner reviews praise its length and how it cuts bread straight from the oven. A minority found the edge less sharp than they expected. A wooden handle should be washed by hand and not left to soak.
What We Like:
- 23.5cm for under $50
- Light, at 110g
- Wooden handle
What We Don't Like:
- Some found the edge less sharp
- Hand wash only
5. Best Guarantee: Furi Pro 20cm
The Furi Pro bread knife has rounded serrations on a 20cm blade of X50CrMoV15 steel, hardened to 55–57 Rockwell, with Furi's steel reverse-wedge handle. Furi's guarantee is 25 years against defects, claimed by posting the knife to Furi.
Owner reviews describe it as well made and very sharp, with no recurring complaints. At 20cm it is the shortest here, which suits sandwich loaves and rolls better than big boules.
What We Like:
- 25-year guarantee
- Rounded serrations
What We Don't Like:
- 20cm, the shortest here
- Claims mean posting the knife
Other options worth a look
- Wüsthof Gourmet 20cm. The German maker's Gourmet bread knife is on Amazon, and owner reviews praise it for fresh bread, rolls and bagels.
How to pick a bread knife
Length. The blade should be longer than the loaf is wide. A 20cm to 21cm blade suits sandwich loaves and rolls; a sourdough boule or a long bakery loaf needs 23cm or more.
Edge shape. Pointed serrations bite into a hard crust. The Furi and the Victorinox use rounded or wavy edges instead, and Victorinox says its wavy edge handles crusty loaves and soft interiors without crushing them.
Sharpening. Global says its bread knife should not be sharpened at all. A serrated edge cannot be sharpened on a flat stone the way a straight edge can, so a bread knife is usually used as it comes until it is replaced or sent to a sharpening service.
Handle. The Global's and Furi's steel handles are part of the same piece as the blade. The Victorinox and Mercer have plastic handles, and Victorinox rates its knife dishwasher safe. The Tojiro's wooden handle should be hand washed.
FAQs
Can you sharpen a bread knife?
Global says its G-9 should not be sharpened. Serrations cannot be sharpened on a flat stone the way a straight edge can, which is why bread knives are usually used until they are replaced or sent to a sharpening service.
How long should a bread knife be?
Longer than the loaf is wide. For a sourdough boule or a long bakery loaf that means 23cm or more; the 25cm Mercer here is the longest.
Can a bread knife go in the dishwasher?
Victorinox rates its Fibrox bread knife dishwasher safe. Global says a dishwasher voids its guarantee, and the Tojiro's wooden handle should be washed by hand.
What is the difference between a wavy and a serrated bread knife?
A serrated edge has pointed teeth that bite into crust. A wavy or rounded edge, like the Victorinox and the Furi, has smoother scallops instead of points.
