Magnets, Bristles or Slots? The Best Universal Knife Block

A regular knife block has one big flaw: it was built for one particular set. Buy a wider santoku or a cleaver later and it won’t fit, and the slots that do fit are hard to clean. A universal knife block drops the fixed slots and takes whatever you own.

There are several ways to do that: magnets, bristles, inserts that flex, or lots of slots in different widths. Each has its own weak point, and some have been called out by independent testers. This guide covers seven blocks from Schmidt Brothers, Cook N Home, Kuhn Rikon, Kyocera, HexClad, KITCHENDAO and ENOKING, including what each one can’t do.

Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications, makers’ statements and the independent sources we name. We have not used these products ourselves.

Quick verdict: which universal knife block to buy

Five universal knife blocks at a glance

The five that cover most kitchens. All seven blocks are reviewed below.

Our picks for the best universal knife block

What to look for in a slotless knife block

Know the four styles

Magnetic blocks hold steel on a flat panel and don’t touch the edge much. Bristle blocks let you push a knife in anywhere. Insert blocks use a flexible or parallel-slot top that lifts out. Multi-slot blocks are ordinary wood with many slot widths. If you are still deciding between these, our knife block vs magnet guide sets out the basic trade-off.

Stability comes first

America’s Test Kitchen’s review keeps returning to this, praising stable blocks and marking down others as tippy or top-heavy. A block with knives in it carries its weight high up. Look for a wide base and non-slip feet, and load it evenly. This matters more than the wood.

Check your longest and widest knives

Limits vary: 8.5 inches on the ENOKING, 8.9 on the KITCHENDAO and 10.5 on the Cook N Home. Several others state no limit at all. Measure your longest blade from the heel to the tip, and the width of your widest knife, before you order.

Think about cleaning

Crumbs and dust end up in any block. A removable insert or lift-out bristles can be washed, and a fixed wooden slot can’t be cleaned as well. Always put knives away clean and dry.

Match the style to your knife material

A magnet only holds steel, so ceramic knives need an insert, slot or bristle block. Very thin Japanese blades can also suffer in a tight slot, so read the blade limits. If you have the wall space, our magnetic knife strip guide covers another way of solving the same problem.

How we narrowed down these seven knife blocks

We started from Amazon listings for blocks sold without knives, in stock and sold new, and we kept the ones that a maker or listing describes as universal, slotless or flexible, plus a plain magnetic block because magnets accept any steel shape. Several well-known options, including blocks from Kapoosh, Zwilling and Zassenhaus, were showing low stock, and we didn’t count those.

Our main independent source is America’s Test Kitchen’s review of universal knife blocks. It named the 360KnifeBlock Classic as its winner and the Schmidt Brothers Midtown as its Best Buy, and it did not recommend the Kuhn Rikon Vision, calling it dangerously top-heavy. That’s why the Vision isn’t here. None of the seven blocks here appears in that review, so we’ve said where we are relying on the maker’s other blocks or the style in general. For a full-size block from that review, the 360 Knife Block and the Schmidt Downtown are in our main knife block guide.

Two picks are Amazon-first brands, kept to the bottom of the list. The Cook N Home and Kyocera are different listings of blocks in our value knife block guide, kept for the reasons given on each. We looked up each brand in CPSC’s recall database and found no recall touching these blocks; a search for Kyocera turned up only old phone battery recalls from its wireless business. We have not used these blocks and we state no prices.

Universal knife block questions, answered

What is a universal knife block?

It’s a block made to hold knives of different shapes and sizes rather than one fitted set. It might use magnets, bristles, a flexible insert or many slot widths.

Does a slotless knife block dull knives?

Makers of magnetic blocks and bristle blocks say their designs protect the edge. That’s their claim, and how you put the knife in matters as well. Slide it in carefully, and don’t drag the edge across a magnet or a slot.

Are bristle knife blocks hard to keep clean?

They can be taken apart, which helps. The trouble is more about wear. America’s Test Kitchen found bristles on a Kapoosh and a Bodum block shed, nicked or bent easily. Check them from time to time and replace them if the maker sells new ones.

Can ceramic knives go on a magnetic block?

No, ceramic doesn’t hold on a magnet. Use an insert or slot block such as the Kyocera.

How many knives will a universal block hold?

It ranges from six on the Skyline to 20 slots on the Cook N Home. A block that holds fewer knives is often easier to live with, since few home cooks reach for more than a handful.

Our final pick for the counter

For most kitchens, the Schmidt Brothers Skyline is the sensible start, and the Cook N Home takes over if you have a big mismatched collection. If you are buying blades too, our knife set guide can help you choose those. And when you’d rather not sharpen or slice anything tonight, Julia’s is on Highway 6 in Houston: call to order.