How It Works
How it works · it's easy
Dull knives in.
Happy knives out.
Whether it's one chef's knife from your counter or forty from your line, we'll get them razor-sharp — usually the same day. Tell us which kitchen you're cooking in and we'll take it from there.
For home cooks
Three ways to get your knives sharp.
Bring them to the shop
Walk in — no appointment needed. Same-day sharpening, and most jobs are done while you wait.
Mail them in
From $45. No box, no trip to the post office.
- We mail you an envelope with protective sheets and a prepaid label
- Wrap your knives, tape it up, drop it in the mail
- About a week, door to door
- Kitchen knives and shears — tools and specialty blades come to the shop
Catch us at a market or drop-off
Farmers markets and pop-ups where we sharpen on the spot, plus hardware and culinary shops where you can leave knives and pick them up the same day.
Leucadia · Hillcrest · La Jolla · Fresno · Dana Point · Long Beach · West Hollywood · Los Angeles · San Diego
See where we'll beFor restaurants, hotels & pro kitchens
Your line stays sharp. You stay on the line.
Thousands upon thousands of knives sharpened for restaurants, hotels, caterers, clubs and institutional kitchens. Owner-led — you call, you get a real person.
Knife Exchange
From $75 per exchange
12 freshly sharpened knives arrive by UPS on your schedule — weekly, twice a month or monthly. The dull ones go back in the same box.
- Try it free for 14 days
- No long-term contract
- Plus 2 bonus bar knives that are yours to keep
Shop sharpening for the trade
Bring the knife roll in — same-day, walk-ins welcome. Twice-monthly or monthly schedules get commercial rates.
On-site sharpening
For big jobs — hotels, country clubs, bulk steak knives. Available on request inside our service area, with a $250 minimum per visit. Outside the area, the Knife Exchange ships to you.
Request a quote or call sales · 920-819-4015What it costs
Straightforward pricing. Side by side.
$1.50 per inch
6-inch minimum · standard chef's knife about $12
| Chef, paring & steak knives | $12 – $15 |
| Bread & tomato knives | $10 – $12 |
| Pocket knives | $12 – $15 |
| Japanese & single-bevel | from $20 |
| Kitchen & utility shears | $8 – $12 |
| Fabric shears | from $10 |
| Garden pruners & tools | $12 – $15 |
| Knife repair & cleaning | $2.50 – $5 |
| Mail-in, up to 3 knives | $45 · ships free |
Bulk discounts from 25 items. Full residential price list (PDF)
Sharpen my knives$6.50 per kitchen knife
On-site mobile sharpening rates · $250 minimum per visit
| All kitchen knives | $6.50 |
| Serrated & bread knives | $10 |
| Bulk steak knives | $3 – $5 · quote |
| Knife repair & thinning | $5 per knife |
| Mandolines & Robot Coupe blades | $15 sm · $20 lg |
| Pizza & cheese knives | $12 |
| Deli slicer blades (we remove) | $50 |
| Irregular or special blades | quote |
| Knife Exchange, 12 knives | from $75 / exchange |
Full commercial price list (PDF)
Try the Exchange freeCommon questions
Do you sharpen serrated knives?
Yes — bread knives, steak knives and tomato knives all come back sharp.
Do you sharpen pocket knives?
Yes we do.
Do you sharpen Japanese knives?
Yes. We can sharpen almost every knife that comes through the door.
Do you use stones?
No — we use a belt system. People ask because they have heard belts build up heat, but heat is a question of how much pressure is being used, and controlling pressure is the whole job. We sharpen thousands of knives a month and have a lot of happy customers to show for it.
How long does it take?
In the shop, same day — most people just wait for them. Mail-in runs about a week door to door, counting the envelope going out and your knives coming back.
Do I need an appointment?
No — walk in during open hours and we'll take care of you. Most jobs are done while you wait.
Do you sharpen at my house?
Not at the moment. Mail-in is the easiest option for home cooks — we send you the envelope and a prepaid label, and shipping is free. Otherwise, come see us at the shop or catch us at a market.
My knife is chipped. Is it a lost cause?
Usually not. Bring it in — minor repairs start at $2.50 and major repair work at $5, on top of sharpening.
How should I pack knives for mail-in?
You don't need to figure it out — we mail you protective sheets, instructions and a prepaid label. Wrap each knife in a sheet, roll it up, tape it, and send it back.
Do you sharpen for restaurants?
Yes — see the restaurant section above. Most kitchens run on the Knife Exchange: rotating sharp knives on a schedule, with a free 14-day trial.
More answers on our FAQ page.