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After three years of writing about grooming, I know that if you want to keep your facial hair in check, no matter the length or style, you’ll need a beard trimmer (not to be confused with an electric razor, which is the better pick for any clean shaven folks out there).
The true best beard trimmers are multi-use: You can use them for your facial hair but also your nose and chest hair. You want one that’s lightweight enough to maneuver but with a battery pack sturdy enough so that it won’t stop mid-shave. (Professional barbers prefer to use a corded trimmer, as they’re using them all day and don’t want to have to stop to recharge. But for at-home use, as long as you’ve got enough battery life, cordless can work just as well — with a little added convenience.) I’ve also learned that you don’t have to spend a small fortune to find the right trimmer: Most of my picks are actually under $100 — any trimmers above that price have a standalone feature that makes them impossible to ignore.
You’ll see two brands dominate these recommendations: Philips and Wahl. This isn’t surprising — both brands have products for almost every type of beard need, and they’re relatively inexpensive. But I’ve also found some lesser-known picks that deserve a spot among those grooming favorites.
If you’re less concerned with trimming, and want to go clean-shaven, you can browse my pick of electric razors and razors for men, too.
Update on August 9, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
What we’re looking for
Corded versus cordless
Professional barbers will usually opt for corded trimmers, because they won’t lose momentum as their battery life dwindles — a common issue for cordless trimmers. But I know that a cordless trimmer can be a more convenient option (especially if you’re someone who likes to shave in the shower), so I’ve included a mix of both trimmer types. For the cordless options, I’ve listed the battery life in minutes, so you know you’re getting enough.
Weight
Trimmers should be light and easy to maneuver, so you can reach those tough-to-trim spots, be as precise as possible, and not exhaust your wrist in the process. Compared to their stainless-steel cousins, plastic trimmers are usually the most lightweight option, though some people do just prefer a weighty, fancy-looking stainless-steel trimmer in their hand. No matter the trimmer you go for, you’ll find its weight listed below in ounces.
Blade type
Buying a trimmer with sharp blades is really important, as shaving with a dull set of blades can feel like getting your beard hairs caught in a zipper and will leave split ends and ragged edges in their wake. If you’re on the lookout for blades that will last a long time, you’ll want a trimmer with self-sharpening blades. They use the friction created when shaving to sharpen themselves with each use, meaning that they’ll stay sharper for longer than a regular blade and don’t need to be replaced as frequently — saving you hassle and money. (Of the nine recommended trimmers on this list, only one doesn’t have self-sharpening blades — but our expert thinks its other features make it worth the hassle.)
Extras
Adjustable blades and blade guards make shaving simple; they help guide the trimmer and make sure the hair is cut evenly and at the right length. Blade guards come in different sizes and keep the trimmer at a certain distance from your face — depending on the length you’re aiming for. Adjustable blades have a similar effect but work by moving forward and backward using a lever on the side of the trimmer. When “open,” they act like a guard attachment that’s integrated into the trimmer blades, but they will usually only give you about 1.5 millimeters of added length. In addition to different-length blade guards, some trimmers will come with attachments for trimming nose and ear hair as well as attachments for trimming chest hair and pubic hair.
Best beard trimmer overall
Cordless with battery life of 100 minutes | Blade type: Self-sharpening | Weight: 16 ounces | Extras: 8 guard attachments
The Wahl Cordless Magic Clip is a product that I’ve come across in my reporting time and time again. I’ve awarded it the top spot on this list not just because it was the most-recommended trimmer (with seven endorsements) but because I know that it really works.
I asked my tester Andre Gill to try it out on his thick beard (that he likes to keep tightly trimmed). He said the trimmer cut through his beard easily, and he was impressed by the range of guards that let him choose how close a shave he wanted. “I could also get the line at the top of my beard tight and neat,” he says. Gill has particularly sensitive skin and told me that the Magic Clip was not at all irritating. When Gill was done, I also interrogated the quality and battery life of the Magic Clip by letting it run until the battery stopped: I’m pleased to report that it lasts for the promised 100 minutes after a full charge. It also has a nice, not at all flimsy feeling in the hand, and cleaning it is straightforward.
As a beard trimmer, Murdock London’s Wood Smith says “it’s the top product to own if you want to re-create a barbershop experience in the comfort of your home.” Fellow expert Sam Buffa, founder of Fellow Barber, says that the self-sharpening blade stays sharper for longer (especially when compared to other options in this price range.) The cordless version is relatively light and the battery lasts for 100 minutes, but you can also get a corded version.
Best less-expensive beard trimmer
Cordless with battery life of 90 minutes | Blade type: Self-sharpening | Weight: 14 ounces | Extras: 40 length settings and 3 guard attachments
While Wahl was the favorite brand among the professionals I spoke to, it was Philips Norelco that received the most praise from regular bearded guys. (All of my grooming stories, from the best electric razors to the best razors for men, recommend at least one product from this line.) This divide checks out for barber David Kim, who tells us amateur cutters can “generally trust Philips Norelco’s more-affordable products to work well and maintain a neat beard, as long as they’re not trying to do something too complex or fancy.”
Of the many recommendations I got for Philips Norelco products, I’ve landed on the Philips Norelco 5500 as my favorite. I like that the 5500 trimmer has 40 length settings (double that of the old model), as well as three guard attachments so you can really trim to the precise length you’re after. It’s also the trimmer that my friend A.G. (with sensitive skin) uses to shape his beard twice a week. He likes the range of length settings (he uses the longest one to keep his mid-length beard neat and uniform.) He also appreciates the rubber grip that makes it easy to maneuver the trimmer. He says that it has a more than decent battery and is easy to clean with just a few swipes and taps after each use.
Best corded beard trimmer
Corded | Weight: 4 ounces | Blade type: Self-sharpening | Extras: 4 guard attachments
When I asked Miguez how he keeps the famous beard of one of his clients (style writer David Coggins) so fresh, he told us his most-trusted tool is Wahl’s corded Peanut Clipper. It’s cheaper than the Magic Clip, but that isn’t why he likes it: he finds his Wahl more reliably powerful than any cordless trimmer he’s tried, and finds the four guard attachments to be just the right amount for a no-fuss shave. It’s not the first time I’ve heard about this trimmer: The Peanut is also the favored beard trimmer of Strategist columnist Chris Black, who praised it because it’s “cheap, dependable, and fits in your designer Dopp kit perfectly.”
Best beard trimmer for teens and beginners
Cordless with battery life of 50 minutes | Weight: 5.28 ounces | Blade type: Non self-sharpening | Extras: Snap on comb attachment
Beginners will appreciate a versatile trimmer like this pick from Panasonic. Its easy-to-use adjustment dial for different hair lengths is a standout. For a beginner, that means much less time fidgeting with the trimmer — this is especially helpful if your beard growth is patchy. If your skin is on the more sensitive side, Waldman recommends using a trimmer with wet and dry functions, which this one offers. The trick to not irritating sensitive skin is to soften your beard and lubricate your skin before using a trimmer, Waldman explains. After washing and moisturizing, you can “keep your beard area covered with a damp warm washcloth for about two minutes to further soften the hair,” he says. Then you can go in with this trimmer — whether you’re shaving in the bathroom sink or in the shower.
Best beard trimmer for short beards or stubble
Cordless with battery life of 60 minutes | Weight: Not specified | Blade type: Self-sharpening | Extras: 9 attachments including nose and ear trimmers
While the first Norelco I recommended is suited to a range of beard lengths, the 3000 series is great for guys who keep a shorter beard (or who prefer to keep a little scruff.) One man that’s been shaving with it for years is former Strategist senior editor Peter Martin — also a former Esquire grooming editor — keeps a shorter beard that’s typically more of a scruff. After wearing out his Gillette trimmer during quarantine, he bought this exceptionally affordable Philips trimmer on a “strong recommendation” from his brother-in-law. “I wish I’d switched to this a decade ago,” Martin says, explaining that it’s “so much easier to use” with sharp cutting blades that “never get stuck and clip all the hair in basically one pass.” He also appreciates that, unlike his old Gillette, this trimmer “came with nose and ear trimmers, which I pretend I don’t need.”
Best beard trimmer for travel
Cordless with battery life of 45 minutes | Weight: 9.7 ounces | Blade type: Dual side blade | Extras: 3 comb attachments
While Black says the cordless version of the Wahl Peanut will fit in a Dopp kit, if you’re looking for an even more affordable beard trimmer for travel, consider the OneBlade. Quilty-Harper uses it, and it made the cut on Soller’s list, too. “The small size, decent battery life, and punchy color make it just right for my Dopp kit,” Soller wrote. Quilty-Harper adds that it can “get as close as a wet shave” (to wit, the OneBlade also made our list of expert-recommended electric razors), with Soller writing that the gadget falls somewhere “between a traditional beard trimmer and a regular razor.” He adds: “Once you charge the handle and turn on the power, the blade’s rapid movements cut nearly as close as a regular disposable blade but without any fear of bleeding or ingrown hairs.”
Best beard trimmer for mustaches
Corded | Weight: 6.9 ounces | Blade type: Adjustable T-blade | Extras: 3 guard attachments
This less-expensive trimmer for styling ‘staches comes recommended by barber Perry Petit-Beau, who says he “likes the finish and power of the blade.” He also says that while it comes with guards for properly trimming a beard, when used without a guard, you get an “exposed blade for outline detailing and a close shave.” Butler says that this closer T-shaped blade is great for styling mustaches, as it allows you to get into the nooks and crannies under the nose and around the corners of your mustache. “This will give you more control and potentially help you avoid cutting too much hair off of an area you are working in,” Butler says.
Best beard trimmer for outlining
Cordless with battery life of up to 2 hours | Weight: 4.9 ounces | Blade type: T-blade | Extras: 4 guard attachments
“Between barbershop appointments, the best thing you can do at home to maintain your beard is to keep your cheek lines and neckline neat,” Wood Smith told me. “And the Andis Slimline Pro is easily maneuverable to trim even hard-to-reach hairs on the neck.” “It’s going to get incredibly close, so professionals use it to create neat lines and then put the attachments on to trim the beard itself,” explains Karac Ruleau of Mott NYC. Miguez agrees, saying that while he wouldn’t use it as his main beard trimmer, it’s the first thing he picks up to keep the area around his clients’ ears and the backs of their necks clean. Albano, another expert who says the Slimline Pro is great for styling, adds that it is “super-light, super-sharp, and built to last.” And Mac, yet another Andis fan, told us he knows from experience that this product works on facial hair of all types and textures and holds its charge for a long time.
Best waterproof beard trimmer
Cordless with battery life of 60 minutes | Weight: Not specified | Blade type: Self-sharpening | Extras: 13 attachments for beard, mustache, hair, body, ear, and nose
This trimmer is technically meant to be used all over your body, but Medium strategist Shaquille Cheris says he prefers to use this Hatteker trimmer to keep the edges of his beard in good shape between barbershop visits. Hatteker claims the product is fully waterproof and, in addition to cleaning its blades, encourages users to soak the beard trimmer itself under a faucet between uses. “It came with what felt like 15 components,” he says, “and it has a great motor compared to the Panasonic I was using before.”
Some more beard-care products we’ve written about
Our experts
• Alejandro “AJ” Albano, a barber at Tuft NYC
• Chris Black, former Strategist columnist and podcast host
• Sam Buffa, founder of Fellow Barber
• Patrick Butler, Floyd’s 99 Barbershop’s technical director
• Sam Carder, Style consultant
• Shaquille Cheris, Medium strategist
• Neil Cohen, fashion stylist
• David Coggins, style writer
• Raquel Fajardo, a regional Fellow Barber manager in Los Angeles
• Andre Gill, Strategist grooming tester
• Julien Howard, a.k.a. the Velo Barber
• Mac Joseph, DJ and digital strategist
• David Kim, barber
• Peter Martin, former Strategist senior editor
• Mark Miguez, co-owner and barber at New York City’s Friend of a Barber
• Rob Mac of Mildred New York
• Ronnie Parisella, Podcast host
• Perry Petit-Beau, barber
• Adam Rinn, stunt performer
• Karac Ruleau of Mott NYC
• Miles Wood-Smith, the head barber at Murdock London
• Kurt Soller, Strategist contributor
• Conrad Quilty-Harper, editor at New Scientist
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