Did you know that a really sharp knife leads to fewer cuts? The chef’s knife is the most versatile blade you can use in your kitchen. This article rounds up the best chef knife under 100 dollars or pounds for a more affordable option.
Thai home cooks intuitively understand the importance of having a sharp all-purpose chef’s knife in their kitchens. In fact, it’s extremely unlikely to visit a Thai home that doesn’t have a really sharp knife for preparing meals in it.
If you want to sharpen your cooking skills and improve your efficiency and enjoyment as a home cook, a good chef knife is an absolute must. You don’t need to break the bank when buying one either, but more on the best deals under $100 to come…
Use the below table of contents if you want to jump to different parts of this page that most interest you or get your questions answered about chef knives.
How Much Should I Spend on a Chef Knife?
Chef knives tend to range in price from the lower end at $20 right up to as much as $1000. For most home cooks, a reasonable starting point is to look for a chef knife under $100.
It’s only when you get into cooking for a living that you should consider the very best products in the market, which typically cost an average of $300-$400. You don’t need to go anywhere near that price level to get a fantastic blade that chops, slices, and dices your way to delicious Thai dishes.
The Best Chef Knife Under 100
If you’d rather a simple table summary of the different recommended chef knives under $100 instead of reading the full guide, the below table should prove useful.
| Image | Product Name | Why Buy? | Buy | Star Rating Out of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Hammer Stahl 10-Inch Chef Knife | Best Overall | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
  | Kyoku Samurai Series 8" Chef Knife | Best Bundle Deal | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
  | Victorinox Fibrox Chefs Knife | Best Non-Slip Grip | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
  | Regalia™ Emperor Series 8’’ Chef Knife | Most Stylish | CLICK FOR BEST PRICE | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
  | J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef Knife | Best Handle | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
  | WÜSTHOF Gourmet 8 Inch Chef’s Knife | Toughest | CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
If you want more details about these chef knives under $100 to help you figure out which one to buy, you’ll get that information below. Let’s kick on with the first knife on my list.
#1 Hammer Stahl 10-Inch Chef Knife
(Best Overall)
Why You’ll Love It:
- Superb Durability
- Razor Sharp Blade
- Incredibly Comfortable Pakkawood Handle
Landing the top spot as the best chef knife under 100 overall is this fine piece of craftsmanship from Hammer Stahl. The company manufactures its knives in the United States using German steel.
The knife is well-built and sturdy with materials that make it bound to last a long time. It has an exceptional balance to it, which results in few to no incidents of the knife slipping while you’re cutting. The Pakkawood handle is top-notch as well, combining style and functionality.
Not only is the blade razor-sharp; it stays sharp over time. You’ll only need to sharpen it sparingly with a sharpener compared to many other chef knives that require lots of regular maintenance.
The lifetime warranty provided by Hammer Stahl adds to the attraction of this chef’s knife. I always feel like a lifetime warranty displays an impressive level of conviction and confidence in a company’s products.
The packaging is sleek and suave so if you’re buying this knife as a gift you’re definitely in luck. overall, Hammer Stahl has made a really excellent chef’s knife for the price that ticks most boxes.
#2 Kyoku Samurai Series 8″ Chef Knife
(Best Bundle Deal)
Why You’ll Love It:
- You get a special type of Japanese filleting knife known as a Yanahiba
- Robust Handle
- Comfortable
This Kyoku chef knife comes from a Japanese knife maker. Companies from Japan are famed for crafting some of the sharpest knives in the world (you’ve heard of samurai!)
So it would really be unfathomable to try and help you find the best chef knife under 100 without considering some Japanese blades.
If you look into the history of Kyoku because you’re like me and you like to nerd out on knives, you’ll be intrigued. The company traces its ancestry to the katanas of feudal Japan.
This Kyoku knife carves its way through tough Thai ingredients like lemongrass with absolute ease. High-carbon, cryogenically treated steel gives it consistent performance when sharpened.
However, one minor gripe is that it needs regular sharpening. After a tough bout of cutting through some bone-in chicken wings, I needed to sharpen my Kyoku blade up a little. This was a little surprising but maybe it was a particularly sturdy batch of wings!
The steel used to craft this blade is definitely on the higher end of the quality scale at this price range.
The fact you get a bonus knife in the box is definitely worth some brownie points. Even if you’re like me and you’d never heard of a Yanagiba knife in your life.
Like the previous blade, this one comes with a lifetime warranty, such is Kyoku’s confidence in its quality. The handle is excellent with an ergonomic design that ensures you won’t experience fatigue or pains, even if you need to slice and dice your way through dozens of ingredients.
#3 Victorinox Fibrox Chefs Knife
(Best Non-Slip Grip)
Why You’ll Love It:
- The Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) Handle is Amazing
- Great Size
- Low Price
Victorinox is a household name in crafting high-quality blades. The company is famous for its Swiss Army knives. However, Victornix also crafts kitchen blades. This 10-inch Fibrox Pro chef knife is a really excellent option for your kitchen.
At well under $100, the price of the Victorinox chef’s knife makes it stand out as one of the best value choices on this list. Using a Victorinox knife always provides that satisfying experience of it feeling like your ingredients are chopping and dicing themselves; it’s that easy.
As Gordon Ramsay is a fan of saying, “let the knife do the work”.
One of the main benefits of this knife you’ll really enjoy is the fantastic non-slip grip handle. Made from a special kind of polymer (plastic + rubber) it really does provide unparalleled grip for this price range. Even if the handle gets wet, you’ll notice that it rarely, if ever, slips from your grasp as you cut and slice your way to delicious Thai dishes.
In terms of sharpness, this Victorinox blade is more than adequate. It’s not the top of the pick in terms of being razor-sharp, however, it’s sufficiently sharp and it remains that way consistently, which is always a bonus.
So, if you want a Swiss-quality chef knife under $100, you really can’t go wrong by opting for this Victorinox knife for your kitchen. The below button takes you to Amazon where you can check the latest price.
#4 Regalia™ Emperor Series 8’’ Chef Knife
(Most Stylish)
Why You’ll Love It:
- Stunning Looks
- Damascus Steel
- Complimentary Lifetime Sharpening Service
Regalia is an American company that makes beautiful Japanese-style knives. I really love this chef’s knife 8-inch chef’s knife with its 67 layers of Damascus Steel.
Damascus steel is famous for its eye-catching wavy light and dark patterns on the forged metal. Regalia’s knife is such a thing of beauty that you almost feel guilty for using it. The pattern comes from multiple layers of steel being welded onto each other.
Whether you want to mince, slice, chop vegetables, slice meat, or fillet fish, Regalia’s 8-inch chef’s knife has your back.
It’s slightly cheating putting highlighting this product as an option for the best chef knife under 100 given its price goes slightly higher than $100 if you’re buying from the US. You’ll have to forgive the interpretation of 100 in this case as applying to Great British pounds.
The G10 Garolite Tang handle provides a solid ergonomic design that doesn’t fatigue you easily, regardless of how much chopping you need to do.
As Regalia themselves say, this blade is viciously sharp! It’s finished to an amazing 8-12 degree angle per side using a special method of Japanese craftsmanship known as the Honbazuke method.
Finally, it’s vital to talk about the amazing complimentary lifetime sharpening service that Regalia offers with its products. Simply send your knife to them and they’ll sharpen it for free. They’ll have it back in no time. This is such a cool idea and definitely earns extra bonus points.
If you want to get this stunning Regalia chef’s knife for the lowest price currently available, click the below button.
#5 J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef Knife
(Best Handle)
Why You’ll Love It:
- Designed to Last
- Snug Handle
- Good price for a Premium Manufacturer
J.A. Henckels is a name synonymous with kitchen knife quality of the very highest order. The company is German and is one of the oldest names in the kitchen knives business.
This particular 8-inch chef’s knife is one of J.A. Henckels’ more accessible blades in terms of its price point. I’ve seen some J.A. Henckels knives costing upwards of $400!
Made from high-quality German steel, the satin-finished blade provides a consistent razor sharpness designed to stand the test of time. That’s one of the major selling point of any J.A. Henckels. They are well known for standing the test of time due to exceptional build quality.
Not everything is perfect here though. The top edge of the knife is way too sharp. In fact, it nearly hurt my finger when I took it out from the box. I noticed one online reviewer was less fortunate than me and they ended up cutting themselves with it accidentally. This edge of the knife should be sanded down before use really.
The price point at well under $100 makes this a very accessible entry-level option for such a premium manufacturer, but do bear in mind my warning about the non-cutting edge of the blade.
#6 WÜSTHOF Gourmet 8 Inch Chef’s Knife
(Toughest)
Why You’ll Love It:
- Extremely Tough
- Cwentruies of Tradition
- Premium Manufacturer
Last but not least is this Gourmet 8 Inch Chef’s Knife from Wusthof, which is another famous German company. Wusthof has been making kitchen knives forged with German steel and used by chefs for over 200 years, so it’s clearly a company that knows what it’s doing.
In fact, Wusthof is one of two main brands on this list of chef’s knives that professional chefs tend to use. But more on that later…
I think nobody compilating a buyer’s guide searching for the best chef knife under 100 could omit this beauty.
Aside from buying Wusthof resulting in almost guaranteed satisfaction, the main attraction of this 8-inch chef’s knife is how incredibly tough it is. It’s resistant to both corrosion and dulling even over repetitive, intense use in your kitchen.
It’s always nice to invest in something that retains its brand-new look and performance. If you want to chop onions and actually enjoy it instead of crying, the Wusthof can certainly help with that.
Another great perk of buying a Wusthof knife is how much attention the company pays to environmentally friendly manufacturing practices.
What Is The Best Chef Knife for The Money?
In my opinion, the Hammer Stahl 10-Inch Chef Knife is the best chef knife for the money. It excels in all important areas of chef knife quality, including maintaining its sharpness with minimum sharpening needed, great durability, and a superbly designed handle.
Really, though, all the products on this page are solid choices if you’re on the market for an all-purpose blade to boost your home cooking experience. It’s really hard to overstate just how much of a difference any of these chef’s knives will make to your skills.
What Brand of Knives Do Professional Chefs Prefer?
Common knife brands chosen by professional chefs include J.A. Henckels and Wusthof. If you want to emulate your favorite chef, you’ll probably have to consider alternative blades than the ones featured in this article, though. Pro chefs tend to opt for the higher end of the price scale because they need to slice, dice, and chop ingredients up for a living.
A quick reminder that this roundup of best chef’s knives under $100 did indeed feature two knives by brands preferred by professional chefs. The J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef Knife or the Wusthod Gourmet 8-Inch Knife are the ones to opt for if you’d like to stick with a company that people who cook for a living like to buy from. And it’s a really good knife too, which is a plus.
Once again though, the choice is all yours. I wish you luck with whatever purchasing decision you ultimately make in your quest to find the best chef knife under 100.
All of the knives here represent exceptional value for money here, so you’re unlikely to go wrong whichever one you choose. Check out my Thai cookware page for more buyer’s guides on essential equipment for your kitchen.