A knife block set puts every knife you need within reach of the chopping board. Piece counts include the block, and sometimes shears and a sharpening steel, so the number on the box is not the number of knives.
Every set here includes a 17cm to 20cm chef's knife or santoku and a utility or paring knife, and four of the five include a bread knife.
| Set | Knives | Block | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Ikasu 7-Piece | 6 | Bamboo, clear windows | 2 years | $300–350 |
| Furi Pro Limited Edition 5-Piece | 4 | Steel, clear panel | 25 years | $150–200 |
| Wiltshire Staysharp Premium 5-Piece | 4 | Acacia, built-in sharpener | 20 years | $150–200 |
| Stanley Rogers Magnetic 6-Piece | 5 | Magnetic acacia | 10 years | $100–150 |
| Wüsthof Classic Ikon 8-Piece | 5, plus steel and shears | Wooden | Lifetime | $1,200–1,300 |
Contents and warranties are from each maker or the listing each set links to. Prices were checked at Amazon and Harris Scarfe on 26 September 2026.
1. Best Overall: Global Ikasu 7-Piece
The Ikasu set holds six Global knives in a bamboo block with clear acrylic windows: an 8cm paring knife, an 11cm utility knife, a 13cm and a 20cm cook's knife, a 14cm vegetable knife and the 22cm G-9 bread knife, according to Global's Australian site. The knives are CROMOVA 18 steel at 56–58 Rockwell, made in Japan. Global's smaller Ikasu V set has four of the same knives.
Owner reviews praise the sharpness, balance and value. They are split on rust and on durability, with some owners reporting rust. Global's Australian warranty is two years, and a dishwasher voids it.
What We Like:
- Six knives in a clear-window block
- Includes the G-2 and G-9
- Made in Japan
What We Don't Like:
- Rust reports in owner reviews
- Two-year warranty in Australia
2. Best Guarantee: Furi Pro Limited Edition 5-Piece
Furi's set puts four Pro knives in a steel block with a clear viewing panel: a 17cm East/West santoku, a 20cm bread knife, a 15cm utility knife and a 9cm paring knife. The blades are X50CrMoV15 at 55–57 Rockwell, and Furi's guarantee is 25 years against defects. Harris Scarfe sells a similar four-knife Furi set in an acacia block.
The set has a santoku rather than a 20cm cook's knife, which suits cooks who chop straight down more than those who rock the blade.
What We Like:
- 25-year guarantee
- Four knives, each different
What We Don't Like:
- Santoku, not a chef's knife
- Guarantee claims mean posting the knife
3. Best Self-Sharpening Block: Wiltshire Staysharp Premium 5-Piece
Wiltshire's Staysharp block has a sharpening slot built in: inserting the blade brings the edge back, according to Wiltshire's product page. The set holds a 9cm paring knife, a 13cm utility knife, a 20cm cook's knife and a 20cm carving knife, all stainless steel with steel handles, in an acacia block.
Harris Scarfe lists a 20-year warranty and hand washing, and gives the country of origin as China. There is no bread knife in the set.
What We Like:
- Built-in sharpener
- 20-year warranty
- Stainless steel handles
What We Don't Like:
- No bread knife
4. Best Budget Set: Stanley Rogers Magnetic 6-Piece
The Stanley Rogers set holds five knives on a magnetic acacia board, so every blade is on show: a 20cm cook's knife, a 20cm bread knife, an 18cm santoku, a 13cm utility knife and a 9cm paring knife, according to Stanley Rogers. It has a 10-year guarantee.
Stanley Rogers recommends hand washing and says a dishwasher blunts the knives faster. It is the least expensive set here, and there are few owner reviews of it so far.
What We Like:
- Least expensive set here
- Both a cook's knife and a santoku
- Magnetic block shows every blade
What We Don't Like:
- Few owner reviews so far
5. Best Premium Set: Wüsthof Classic Ikon 8-Piece
The Classic Ikon set holds five forged Wüsthof knives, a 20cm chef's knife, 20cm bread knife, 20cm carving knife, 12cm utility knife and 8cm paring knife, with kitchen shears and a sharpening steel in a wooden block. The blades are forged steel at 58 Rockwell, with a half bolster that lets the whole edge be sharpened, and triple-riveted handles, according to the listing. Wüsthof's Australian guarantee is lifetime against defects.
It costs about four times the Global set, and it is hand wash only, like Wüsthof's Classic range.
What We Like:
- Forged, with a half bolster
- Lifetime guarantee against defects
- Steel and shears included
What We Don't Like:
- Over $1,000
- Hand wash only
How to pick a knife set
Knives versus pieces. The block, a sharpening steel and a pair of shears are all counted as pieces. A good set has a 17cm to 20cm chef's knife or santoku, a utility or paring knife, and usually a bread knife.
Chef's knife or santoku. A 20cm chef's knife rocks through herbs and handles carving; an 18cm or 17cm santoku is shorter and flatter, for straight-down chopping. How the two compare is covered in chef's knife vs santoku.
The block. Magnetic and clear-windowed blocks show which knife is which. Wiltshire's block has a sharpening slot built in.
Warranty in Australia. Terms range from Global's two years to Wüsthof's lifetime. The details for single knives are in our best chef's knives guide.
FAQs
Is it better to buy a knife set or individual knives?
A set is cheaper per knife and comes with a block. Buying individually lets you choose a different brand for each job, such as a Japanese chef's knife and a cheaper bread knife.
How many knives does a kitchen need?
Most home cooking is covered by a chef's knife or santoku, a paring or utility knife, and a bread knife, which is what the better sets here contain.
Can knife block sets go in the dishwasher?
None of the makers here recommend it. Global says a dishwasher voids its guarantee, and Stanley Rogers says it blunts knives faster.
