The best beard trimmers, tried and approved
Whether you want to sport a Van Dyke, mutton chops or a permanent five-o’clock shadow, these trimmers will help you achieve your ideal look
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I don’t like to shave. My skin is sensitive, and it’s just not something I find especially enjoyable, like doing the dishes or other household chores. A few years ago, I discovered I could just use a beard trimmer to maintain a permanent three-day stubble. It’s quick, painless and effortless. It has been a game changer for my daily routine.
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A beard trimmer can do much more than indulge my laziness. With the right accessories, you can use one to shape a fancy beard, create layers or detail your sideburns. Some can also handle body hair and even, in some cases, your head.
What’s the difference between a trimmer, a shaver and a clipper?
A trimmer is a tool designed to trim beards, and often body hair, too. Using a guard or comb on the blade, you can select the length to which you want to cut your beard, usually from about 1 to 15 mm. You can also trim without a guard for a closer, more precise cut if you don’t mind occasionally nicking your skin.
A shaver—or electric razor—is generally larger and more expensive than a trimmer. Its blades are usually hidden behind a foil, allowing for a shave close to the skin, not as close as a regular razor, but much closer than most trimmers.
A clipper looks like a large trimmer. It’s usually more powerful and mostly used for cutting hair.
How to choose a beard trimmer
If you grow a simple beard like me, pretty much any trimmer will do the job. My three-day stubble looks the same now with the $235 Wahl Pro Series High Visibility Trimmer as it did ages ago when I used my first generic, sub-$10 trimmer bought at Honest Ed’s in Toronto.
Better trimmers typically offer more power and a more enjoyable experience. They typically come with additional accessories to precisely cut your beard. Modern trimmers with lithium-ion batteries also provide more consistent cutting performance than older AA battery-powered models, which tend to lose power over time.
Other factors to consider when choosing a trimmer include the closeness of the trim, motor power (especially if your beard is heavy), ergonomics, battery runtime, repairability and whether it’s waterproof (every trimmer recommended here, except the Peanut, is 100 per cent waterproof).
Note that some trimmers come with separate guards for each trim length, while others feature an adjustable comb. Both designs have their advantages: adjustable combs are quicker to adjust and result in fewer accessories, but separate guards allow you to apply more pressure for a consistent trim.
I’ve tried numerous trimmers lately. Here are the ones you should consider.
Best beard trimmers, summary
Best trimmer for most people: Philips Multi Groomer All-in-One Series 7000
Best trimmer for heavy beards (and to splurge): Wahl Pro Series High Visibility Trimmer
Most versatile trimmer: Braun All-in-One Style Kit Series 9
Best trimmer for your first beard: Philips OneBlade 360 Face and Body
Best corded trimmer: Wahl Peanut
Best beard trimmers, explained
Best trimmer for most people: Philips Multi Groomer All-in-One Series 7000
The Series 7000 from Philips comes with 18 attachments and offers 19 length settings, ranging from 0.5 to 16 mm in increments as small as 0.2 mm. It doesn’t require oil, can be washed under the tap, and includes accessories for trimming nose, ear and body hair.
My mind wasn’t blown when I first used it, but it does its job well, especially for the price (it’s often on sale for about $55). A case would have been nicer than the pouch provided, but overall, it checks all the boxes, and this trimmer offers everything most users will need. Also, while it’s a minor detail, it’s the only one tested that stands upright on its own—great for keeping your bathroom tidy.
Length settings: 19
Shortest trim: 0.5 mm (1 mm with a guard)
Runtime: 170 minutes
Ear and nose trimmer: Yes
Body trimmer: Yes
Guards: Adjustable for the beard, fixed for the hair
Price: $80
Where to buy: Amazon | Canadian Tire | Walmart
Best trimmer for heavy beards (and to splurge): Wahl Pro Series High Visibility Trimmer
The first time I trimmed a two-month beard with the High Visibility Trimmer felt like when I sharpened my chef’s knife for the first time after years of use. It went straight through with no effort, in a single stroke. I absolutely loved it.
Its main selling point is supposed to be the design, which offers good visibility, but for me, the quality of the zinc alloy body is what stood out. It feels incredibly solid and is much more enjoyable to use than any other trimmer mentioned here. I do wish there were a 1 mm guard, though—the closest is 1.5 mm, which is slightly too long for my taste. While it doesn’t come with the most accessories, it includes all the essentials, including a sturdy case. You’ll need to oil its blade occasionally, but I can live with that, and so should you.
Length settings: 9
Shortest trim: 0.2 mm (1.5 mm with a guard)
Runtime: 120 minutes
Ear and nose trimmer: Yes
Body trimmer: No
Guards: Fixed
Price: $240
Most versatile trimmer: Braun All-in-One Style Kit Series 9
The Braun Series 9 (9940) is even more versatile than the Philips Multigroom, featuring 13 functions and 40 length settings, while having fewer accessories to manage. It doesn’t have the iconic aesthetics of Braun’s Dieter Rams era, but the Series 9 is thoughtfully designed and practical, with easily accessible controls and a better case than the Wahl Pro Series High Visibility Trimmer. I also appreciate the charging stand included.
You just can’t go wrong with this one.
Length settings: 40
Shortest trim: 0.5 mm with a guard
Runtime: 180 minutes
Ear and nose trimmer: Yes
Body trimmer: Yes
Guards: Adjustable
Price: $140
Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart
Best trimmer for your first beard: Philips OneBlade 360 Face and Body
I can vividly imagine how the OneBlade 360 was invented. Picture a boardroom meeting with people in suits. The presenter is standing, palms sweaty. “Manual razor companies make money from the blades they sell, not from the razor itself. Why can’t we do this with an electric one?” The board erupts in applause.
Despite my initial skepticism, I was pleasantly surprised by the OneBlade 360. It’s more akin to an electric shaver than a beard trimmer, but it includes an adjustable comb for beard trimming. The shave without a guard was closer than expected. My skin is too sensitive for shaving against the grain with a manual razor, but I can comfortably do it with the OneBlade 360. Touching my skin afterward, I can’t tell the difference between this and a manual shave.
I also liked the accompanying smartphone app, which guides you through different beard styles and uses augmented reality to preview how styles such as chinstrap, horseshoe, stiletto or chevron might look.
I tested the face and body kit, priced at $70. If you’re only trimming your beard, the standard $50 OneBlade 360 kit is sufficient. Keep in mind that, like manual razors, you’ll need to replace the blades every four months (at $20 each). The board didn’t applaud for nothing.
Length settings: 5 with the adjustable comb
Shortest trim: Near zero-gap (1 mm with the comb)
Runtime: 60 minutes
Ear and nose trimmer: No
Body trimmer: Yes
Guards: Adjustable
Price: $70
Where to buy: Amazon | Canadian Tire | Philips
Best corded trimmer: Wahl Peanut
I debated including the Peanut in this guide. While there’s still a case for corded trimmers in barbershops, battery-powered models are much more convenient at home. However, if you want gear that will last decades, the time-tested, corded Wahl Peanut is a solid choice. It’s compact, powerful and durable.
My biggest issue is that it comes with only four guards. If you’re looking for a funky beard, you should probably look elsewhere. Officially priced at $107, I usually see it selling for around $70.
Length settings: 5
Shortest trim: 0,45 mm (3 mm with a guard)
Ear and nose trimmer: No
Body trimmer: No
Guards: Fixed
Price: $107
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