---
title: "Best Pencil Sharpeners for 2027: KUM, CARL & More"
canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pencil-sharpeners/"
description: "The best pencil sharpeners by use: KUM Long Point and Masterpiece, CARL Angel-5 Classic and Grand Conic, Blackwing One-Step and X-ACTO School Pro. Points, size."
category: "Accessories"
type: "Pencil sharpener"
published: 2026-10-21
updated: 2026-10-21
author: "Ellis Penhale"
publisher: "Stationery Times"
sources: 16
products:
  - name: "KUM Automatic Long Point Sharpener (AS2)"
    brand: "KUM"
    brand_origin: "Germany"
    made_in: "Germany"
    material: "Plastic body and container; high-carbon steel blades"
    price_band: "$$ ($5–20 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "KUM (Erlangen, Germany)"
    model: "Automatic AS2"
    mpn: "105.30.21"
    url: "https://kum.net/shop/automatic-as-2-as-2m/"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kum-long-point-sharpener/"
  - name: "KUM Masterpiece (Meisterwerk) long point sharpener"
    brand: "KUM"
    brand_origin: "Germany"
    made_in: "Germany"
    material: "Milled magnesium body, plastic stop, carbon-steel blades"
    price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "KUM (Erlangen, Germany)"
    model: "105.72.11"
  - name: "CARL Angel-5 Classic hand-crank pencil sharpener (A5CL)"
    brand: "CARL"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Not stated"
    material: "Metal body, metal handle and metal pencil clamp (CARL Japan)"
    price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan"
    model: "A5CL"
    gtin: "4971760100230"
    url: "https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/a5cl/"
  - name: "CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic hand-crank pencil sharpener (A5GRC)"
    brand: "CARL"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Not stated"
    material: "Metal body and handle, resin pencil holder, Japanese special-steel blade (CARL Japan)"
    price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan"
    model: "A5GRC"
    gtin: "4971760100636"
    url: "https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/a5grc/"
  - name: "CARL Angel-5 Royal 3 Pencil Sharpener"
    brand: "CARL"
    brand_origin: "Japan"
    made_in: "Japan"
    material: "Double-thickness steel case, zinc die-cast cutter and internal gear, resin clutch (CARL International)"
    price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan"
    model: "Angel-5 Royal 3 (A5RY3)"
    url: "https://carl-officeproducts.com/products/spice-up-your-life-with-new-made-in-japan-a-5-royal-3/"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/carl-angel-5-royal-sharpener/"
  - name: "Blackwing One-Step Long Point Sharpener"
    brand: "Blackwing"
    brand_origin: "United States"
    made_in: "China"
    material: "Machined aluminum body, German steel blade"
    released: "2020-01"
    price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "California Cedar Products Company (Cal Cedar), Stockton, California"
    model: "105115 (black)"
    gtin: "820933120305"
    url: "https://blackwing602.com/products/blackwing-one-step-long-point-sharpener"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/blackwing-one-step-long-point-sharpener/"
  - name: "X-ACTO School Pro Electric Pencil Sharpener (1670)"
    brand: "X-ACTO"
    brand_origin: "United States"
    made_in: "China"
    material: "Plastic housing; helical steel cutter"
    price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)"
    manufacturer: "Newell Brands"
    model: "1670 (1670X)"
    mpn: "1670X"
    gtin: "079946271669"
    guide: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/x-acto-school-pro-sharpener/"
---

# Best Pencil Sharpeners for 2027: KUM, CARL & More

> On published specs, the KUM Automatic Long Point (AS2) is the best pencil sharpener for most people: a German two-hole handheld that cuts wood and graphite separately for a long 9-degree point. For a desk crank, pick the CARL Angel-5 Classic; for colored pencils, the Angel-5 Grand Conic; for classrooms, the X-ACTO School Pro.

- URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-pencil-sharpeners/
- Category: Accessories
- Author: Ellis Penhale
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Updated: 2026-10-21

![Seven pencil sharpeners in a row, labeled with their pick: X-ACTO School Pro classroom, CARL Angel-5 Classic desk crank, Angel-5 Grand Conic colored pencils, Angel-5 Royal 3 two settings, KUM AS2 overall, KUM Masterpiece long point and Blackwing One-Step pocket](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/best-pencil-sharpeners-16x9.png)

*The four desk sharpeners are drawn to scale at 1 mm = 0.8 px; the three handhelds are enlarged 2.5 times so you can see them.* Original drawing (SVG): https://stationerytimes.com/images/best-pencil-sharpeners-cover.svg. Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

## Product facts

| Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KUM Automatic Long Point Sharpener (AS2) | KUM (by KUM (Erlangen, Germany)) | Germany | Germany | Plastic body and container; high-carbon steel blades | – | $$: $5–20 per item |
| KUM Masterpiece (Meisterwerk) long point sharpener | KUM (by KUM (Erlangen, Germany)) | Germany | Germany | Milled magnesium body, plastic stop, carbon-steel blades | – | $$$: $20–75 per item |
| CARL Angel-5 Classic hand-crank pencil sharpener (A5CL) | CARL (by CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan) | Japan | Not stated | Metal body, metal handle and metal pencil clamp (CARL Japan) | – | $$$: $20–75 per item |
| CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic hand-crank pencil sharpener (A5GRC) | CARL (by CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan) | Japan | Not stated | Metal body and handle, resin pencil holder, Japanese special-steel blade (CARL Japan) | – | $$$: $20–75 per item |
| CARL Angel-5 Royal 3 Pencil Sharpener | CARL (by CARL Office Machines Co., Ltd. (カール事務器株式会社), Japan) | Japan | Japan | Double-thickness steel case, zinc die-cast cutter and internal gear, resin clutch (CARL International) | – | $$$: $20–75 per item |
| Blackwing One-Step Long Point Sharpener | Blackwing (by California Cedar Products Company (Cal Cedar), Stockton, California) | United States | China | Machined aluminum body, German steel blade | 2020-01 | $$$: $20–75 per item |
| X-ACTO School Pro Electric Pencil Sharpener (1670) | X-ACTO (by Newell Brands) | United States | China | Plastic housing; helical steel cutter | – | $$$: $20–75 per item |

- Made in (KUM Automatic Long Point Sharpener (AS2)): Germany. KUM's German shop page for the AS2 and AS2M says "Made in Germany", and its German art-materials catalogue is headed "Hergestellt in Deutschland" (made in Germany). Jackson's Art has also listed Germany. Source: https://kum.net/shop/automatic-as-2-as-2m/
- Made in (KUM Masterpiece (Meisterwerk) long point sharpener): Germany. Luiban's listing says it is handcrafted and manufactured in Erlangen, Germany, and KUM's German art-materials catalogue, headed "Hergestellt in Deutschland", describes the Meisterwerk as handmade in Germany. Source: https://luiban.com/en/KUM002-kum-sharpener-meisterwerk
- Made in (CARL Angel-5 Classic hand-crank pencil sharpener (A5CL)): Not stated. CARL Japan's A5CL page lists size, weight, price and JAN codes but no country of manufacture, and we found no retailer spec sheet that states it. The plain Angel-5 sold in US office-supply channels (19016) may be a different model; Blue Dog Ink lists China for it.
- Made in (CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic hand-crank pencil sharpener (A5GRC)): Not stated. CARL Japan's A5GRC page says the special-steel blade is made in Japan but doesn't state where the sharpener itself is made.
- Made in (CARL Angel-5 Royal 3 Pencil Sharpener): Japan. CARL International's Royal 3 page says Made in Japan, The Journal Shop lists Japan as the country of origin, and the Amazon US listing says Original Made in Japan. The plain Angel-5 sold in US office-supply channels (19016) is a different model; Blue Dog Ink lists China for it. Source: https://carl-officeproducts.com/products/spice-up-your-life-with-new-made-in-japan-a-5-royal-3/
- Made in (Blackwing One-Step Long Point Sharpener): China. Blackwing's own pages don't name the factory country. Milligram says it is designed in the USA and made in China, and the MoMA Design Store's listing gives China as its origin. "German steel" describes the blade's material, not where the sharpener is made. Source: https://milligram.com/products/one-step-pencil-sharpener
- Made in (X-ACTO School Pro Electric Pencil Sharpener (1670)): China. Newell's product-data record for the 1670X gives CN as the country of origin, as PartsSource did when we first checked; both pages have since stopped showing the field to us. McKesson's listing gives "Unknown", and xacto.com doesn't state it, so check the box if it matters. Source: https://sites.salsify.com/41c9c255-1884-40e0-bc05-ad8dd5617744/b2dae3b8-7a2e-4ca6-8428-8273de608721/product/SAP_1670X/X-ACTO(r)-Pencil-Sharpener-School-Pro(r)-Electric-Pencil-Sharpener-With-Six-Size-Dial-XL-Shavings-Bin-Black-1-Count/

## Key takeaways

- KUM says its AS2 forms a 9-degree cone and its magnesium Masterpiece a slimmer 8-degree cone; both cut the wood and the graphite in two separate holes.
- CARL Japan lists the Angel-5 Classic (A5CL) at 73 × 124 × 130 mm and 450 g, with no point adjuster, for ¥2,750 (about US$17).
- CARL Japan's discontinued list includes the Angel-5 Royal 3 (A5RY3) with no successor; the stepless Angel-5 Grand, from about 0.5 to 0.9 mm, costs ¥4,400 (about US$28).
- The Blackwing One-Step is about 3 × 5 × 3 cm, per Cass Art, and Blackwing says its canister holds 3 sharpenings.
- The electric X-ACTO School Pro has a six-size dial and weighs 3.67 lb (about 1.66 kg), per Staples.

## What is the best pencil sharpener?

**The KUM Automatic Long Point (AS2) is the best pencil sharpener for most people, but the best pick for the longest point, a desk crank, colored pencils, your pocket or a classroom is a different one.** Picks are based on published specs and maker claims; we haven't tested them yet.

- **Best overall and on a budget:** [KUM Automatic Long Point (AS2)](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kum-long-point-sharpener/). Hole 1 cuts the wood and hole 2 the graphite, for a 9-degree cone per KUM; KUM's German shop lists it at €5.09 (about US$5.70), made in Germany.
- **Longest point:** KUM Masterpiece (Meisterwerk). KUM gives it a slimmer 8-degree cone and a stop you can adjust or remove, in a milled magnesium body handmade in Germany.
- **Desk crank:** CARL Angel-5 Classic (A5CL). CARL Japan's current fixed-point hand-crank model, 450 g with a metal body, at ¥2,750 (about US$17) in Japan.
- **Colored pencils:** CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic (A5GRC). CARL says it cuts a straight cone suited to drawing and coloring, with a stepless point from about 0.5 to 0.9 mm and a resin holder that grips non-hexagonal pencils.
- **Two point settings, while stock lasts:** [CARL Angel-5 Royal 3](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/carl-angel-5-royal-sharpener/). A sharp 0.5 mm or blunt 0.9 mm point, made in Japan, but CARL Japan has discontinued it.
- **Pocket:** [Blackwing One-Step](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/blackwing-one-step-long-point-sharpener/). One hole cuts a long concave point; Cass Art lists it at about 3 × 5 × 3 cm in machined aluminum.
- **Classroom:** [X-ACTO School Pro](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/x-acto-school-pro-sharpener/). An electric sharpener with a six-size dial, an auto-stop cutter and an extra-large shavings bin.

## How do the seven sharpeners compare?

**Three are handheld long-point sharpeners, three are CARL hand cranks, and one is electric.**

| Sharpener | Type | Point | Size | Made in | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KUM AS2 | Handheld, 2 holes | Long, 9° cone | Not published | Germany | $$ |
| KUM Masterpiece | Handheld, 2 holes | Longest, 8° cone | Not published | Germany | $$$ |
| CARL Angel-5 Classic | Hand crank | Fixed | 73 × 124 × 130 mm, 450 g | Not stated | $$$ |
| CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic | Hand crank | Stepless 0.5–0.9 mm, straight cone | 124 × 73 × 132 mm, 540 g | Not stated | $$$ |
| CARL Angel-5 Royal 3 | Hand crank | 0.5 or 0.9 mm | 73 × 121 × 132 mm, 484 g | Japan | $$$ |
| Blackwing One-Step | Handheld, 1 hole | Long, concave | 3 × 5 × 3 cm | China | $$$ |
| X-ACTO School Pro | Electric | Auto-stop, six-size dial | 4 × 7.5 × 7.5 in, 3.67 lb | China | $$$ |

CARL figures are from CARL Japan, except the Royal 3's, which come from retailers. Cones are KUM's own figures; the other sizes are from Cass Art and Staples. Bands are $$ ($5–20) and $$$ ($20–75).

## Which sharpener makes the longest point?

**A two-step KUM: the Masterpiece makes the slimmest cone, and the AS2 makes nearly the same point for far less.** Both trim the wood in hole 1 until a brake stops the cut, then shape the bare graphite in hole 2. A Fountain Pen Network user reports a longer point from the Masterpiece than from the Long Point.

Long points break more easily. The Pen Addict broke leads in the second hole of the Blackwing-branded version and recommends very light pressure. Luiban notes the Masterpiece needs a pencil with a centered core and good wood.


## Is the CARL Angel-5 Royal discontinued?

**Yes, in Japan: CARL Japan's discontinued list includes the Royal 3 (A5RY3) and names no successor.** US shops still sell remaining stock. If you want a CARL crank that's still in production, the Classic makes one fixed point and the Grand adds a stepless adjuster in Sharp (A5GRS) or Conic (A5GRC) versions, per CARL Japan.

US availability of the A5CL Classic is patchy, and the plain Angel-5 in US office-supply catalogs may be a different model, so check the model code.

## Which sharpener is best for colored pencils?

**The CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic, set toward its blunt end.** A shorter, straight cone supports soft cores, and CARL Japan says the Grand's resin holder grips non-hexagonal pencils, though it may leave marks. The Classic's metal clamps mark pencils too, per CARL.

Soft wax cores need gentle sharpening; our [colored pencil roundup](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-colored-pencils/) notes that Prismacolor's breaks under heavy sharpening. Avoid the 8-degree Masterpiece for them.

## Which sharpener should you carry?

**The Blackwing One-Step if you want metal and one step, or the KUM AS2 if you want to spend less.** Blackwing says the One-Step's canister holds three sharpenings, so empty it often. Milligram says it suits pencils under 8 mm, like the [Blackwing 602](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/blackwing-602/).

## Do you need an electric sharpener?

**Only for volume.** The X-ACTO School Pro's SafeStart stops the motor when the bin is out, and its cutter stops when the point is formed. For one person's pencils, a hand crank is quieter and lets you choose the point.

## Where are these sharpeners made?

**KUM makes both its sharpeners in Germany, and the Royal 3 is made in Japan; the Blackwing and X-ACTO are made in China.** CARL Japan doesn't state where the Angel-5 Classic or Grand Conic is made, though it says the Grand's blade is Japanese.

## Frequently asked questions

### What pencil sharpener gives the longest point?

A two-step long-point sharpener. KUM says its Masterpiece forms an 8-degree cone, slimmer than the 9 degrees of its Automatic Long Point (AS2), and its stop can be removed to expose even more graphite.

### Is the CARL Angel-5 Royal discontinued?

In Japan, yes: CARL Japan's discontinued list includes the Angel-5 Royal 3 (A5RY3) with no successor. Some US shops still sell remaining stock; the current Japanese range is the Angel-5 Classic and the two Angel-5 Grand models.

### What is the difference between the Angel-5 Classic and the Grand?

The Classic makes one fixed point and has metal pencil clamps, per CARL Japan. The Grand adds a stepless point adjuster from about 0.5 to 0.9 mm and a resin pencil holder, and comes as the Sharp (A5GRS) or Conic (A5GRC).

### What sharpener is best for colored pencils?

One that leaves a shorter, sturdier point and holds round pencils: the CARL Angel-5 Grand Conic, which CARL says makes a straight cone suited to drawing and coloring. Soft wax cores, such as Prismacolor's, break under a very long point.

### Which pencils fit a KUM long point sharpener?

Standard wood-cased pencils up to 8 mm across, per retailers. Hexagonal pencils such as the Blackwing 602, at about 7.5 mm, fit; jumbo and most triangular pencils don't.

### Is an electric or a manual sharpener better?

Electric for volume, manual for control. The X-ACTO School Pro is built for classrooms that sharpen many pencils a day, while a hand crank or a two-step handheld lets you choose the point.

### What is the best pocket pencil sharpener?

The Blackwing One-Step, about 3 × 5 × 3 cm with a screw-off canister, or the cheaper plastic KUM AS2, which has a flip-top container for shavings.

## Sources

- [CARL Japan: Angel-5 Classic A5CL (size, weight, ¥2,750 including tax, no point adjuster, JAN codes)](https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/a5cl/)
- [CARL Japan: Angel-5 Grand Conic A5GRC (stepless 0.5–0.9 mm, conic point for drawing and coloring, ¥4,400 including tax, 540 g)](https://www.carl.co.jp/products/category/a5grc/)
- [CARL Japan: discontinued models and successors (生産終了品/後継機一覧)](https://www.carl.co.jp/business/model/)
- [CARL International: Angel-5 Grand, A5GR (Sharp and Conic types, 124 × 73 × 132 mm)](https://carl-officeproducts.com/products/angle-5-grand-a-5-gr/)
- [Yoseka Stationery: CARL Angel5 Pencil Sharpener, Grand Conic (hexagonal, triangular and round pencils)](https://yosekastationery.com/products/carl-angel5-pencil-sharpener-grand-conic)
- [Walmart: CARL Angel-5 Pencil Sharpener](https://www.walmart.com/ip/897828264)
- [The Gentleman Stationer: Desktop tools, CARL Angel-5 pencil sharpener (July 23, 2019)](https://www.gentlemanstationer.com/blog/2019/7/23/desktop-tools-carl-angel-5-pencil-sharpener)
- [KUM (Germany): Katalog Künstlerbedarf (art-materials catalogue, PDF: AS2 9-degree cone, Meisterwerk 105.72.11 8-degree cone)](https://kum.net/documents/katalog/kum-art-materials-de.pdf)
- [KUM: Automatic AS2 / AS2M shop page (Made in Germany)](https://kum.net/shop/automatic-as-2-as-2m/)
- [Luiban: KUM sharpener Meisterwerk (milled magnesium, 8 mm pencils, removable stop, €22.90)](https://luiban.com/en/KUM002-kum-sharpener-meisterwerk)
- [JetPens: KUM Masterpiece Sharpener (105.72.11)](https://www.jetpens.com/KUM-Masterpiece-Sharpener/pd/17557)
- [Fountain Pen Network: Good pencil sharpeners (KUM Long Point vs Masterpiece)](https://fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/332618-good-pencil-sharpeners)
- [Blackwing: One-Step Long Point Sharpener](https://blackwing602.com/products/blackwing-one-step-long-point-sharpener)
- [The Pen Addict: Palomino / KUM / Blackwing automatic long point sharpener review (December 5, 2018)](https://penaddict.com/blog/2018/12/5/palomino-kum-blackwing-automatic-brake-long-point-2-step-pencil-sharpener-review)
- [The Well-Appointed Desk: Sharpener showdown, handheld (August 2020)](https://www.wellappointeddesk.com/2020/08/sharpener-showdown-handheld)
- [Staples: X-ACTO School Pro electric pencil sharpener (1670)](https://www.staples.com/product_436632)