How Long Is A Chef’s Knife?

Chef's knives are one of the most important tools in a kitchen. As such, it's important to choose a chef's knife with the appropriate length. So if you're questioning how long chef's knives typically are, this post is for you. We've found the average length of chef's knives and what functions each size is best for.

Chef's knives range in length from 6 to 12 inches, with an average length of 8 inches. Your chef's knife's size depends on a few factors, such as the size of your hand and what you use your chef's knife for most often. 

How is a chef's knife measured? Is a 6-inch chef knife too small? Who makes the best chef knife? Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and more!

Chef cutting vegetables for a salad using chef's knife. How Long Is A Chef's Knife

How Is A Chef's Knife Measured?

When it comes to determining the length of blade you want on your chef's knife, it's important to know how chef's knives are measured. Knives are measured according to the blade's length, from the tip to the heel, not including the length of the handle. So an 8-inch knife would have an 8-inch blade, a 6-inch knife has a 6-inch blade, and so on.

metal chef's knife on top of a wood chopping board

Determining Blade Length for a Chef's Knife

How big should a chef's knife be? Most of the time, you'll want to prioritize comfort when looking for a chef's knife. A chef's knife won't be of much use to you if the handle isn't comfortable to hold in your palm for extended periods of time. Here are two quick and simple methods to use when it comes to determining how big your chef's knife should be:

Method 1 - Based on Your Height

Because the handle size increases as the blade size of a chef's knife increases, one method to determine what size of knife is best for you is to use your height as a guide. Typically, if you are under 5 feet 5 inches, you'll be most comfortable with a 6-inch knife. If you are between 5 feet 5 inches and 6 feet, you'll likely want to go with an 8-inch knife. If you're over 6 feet, you'll probably work best with a 10-inch knife, or perhaps even a 12-inch knife if you're over 6 feet 3 inches tall.

Method 2 - Based on Your Forearm Length

If you want a slightly more accurate method to determine what size of chef's knife is best for you, try sizes out in the store. Place the tip of the knife at the crook of your elbow and lay the blade flat against your forearm. You want the heel of the blade to come to your wrist. You can use a ruler as well and measure the length of your forearm to guide you in shopping for chef's knives.

knife on chopping board

Chef's Knife Shape & Functionality

Chef's knives are bigger than most other knives used around the kitchen. It starts with a broad blade that varies in length depending on the user and tapers to a sharp point. This design makes the chef's knife easy to rock back and forth for quick and efficient chopping and mincing. This is why the chef's knife is one of the most important knives in the kitchen, and why you need to make sure yours is comfortable and fits just right in your palm.

A chef's knife is so important because it's a very versatile tool in the kitchen. Instead of being designed with a single task in mind, the chef's knife is great at various tasks, such as chopping, mincing, and dicing. For cutting up most vegetables, you'll be able to use only your chef's knife to get the job done without using a variety of different knives. A chef's knife can also slice through meat and handle most other common jobs around the kitchen.

Is A 6-Inch Chef Knife Too Small?

Their large blades characterize chef's knives, so choosing one on the small side with a 6-inch blade has advantages and some disadvantages:

Advantages

Six-inches is on the small side for a chef's knife, but there are some benefits to having a smaller knife. With a smaller blade, you have more control and can do more detailed and delicate tasks with your chef's knife, such as carving up fruit.

Disadvantages

While a 6-inch blade offers you more control, it does provide limitations. A longer blade gives you more moveability and helps you chop with a better rocking motion of the blade. A chef's knife with only 6-inches of blade makes this rocking motion more difficult and might cause some frustration for you in the kitchen.

What Is An 8-Inch Knife Used For?

One of the most common sizes for chef's knives is an 8-inch blade. This is because an 8-inch chef's knife is not too large for most people to handle and large enough to function as a chef's knife should. Most brands produce 8-inch chef's knives as the standard, and there are a variety of options to choose from to find the slimmest or most durable knife according to your needs.

Typically, an 8-inch chef's knife is used most commonly for chopping up vegetables. It's a good size to chop up a lot of ingredients quickly, using a rocking motion to limit the amount you have to lift the blade from the cutting board.

Who Makes The Best Chef's Knife?

Because your chef's knife will be a very crucial part of your kitchen, it's important to purchase a quality chef's knife that will last you a while. Here's a list of some of the top knife makers:

MAC Mighty

MAC Mighty has been in the knife business for a long time, and they claim to be the world's sharpest knives. Production comes out of Japan, and their blades are built for professional use. This means they're durable and hold an edge for a long time. Especially if you only cook on occasion, you'll never need another chef's knife if you purchase from MAC Mighty.

Click here to view MAC Mighty's 8-Inch Professional Chef's Knife on Amazon. 

Global

Global knives are known for being extremely lightweight, which is great if you plan on doing a lot of chopping or cutting. They are based in Japan and focus on creating a knife from a single piece of metal. Their knives feature interesting designs and are guaranteed never to fall apart.

Click here to view Global's 8-Inch Chef's Knife on Amazon. 

Wüsthof

Wüsthof knives are German-made and have been in production for over 200 years. They feature only the best knife-making materials. These chef's knives are durable and long-lasting. It's unlikely you'd need to buy another in your life if you purchase from Wüsthof.

Click here to view Wüsthof's 8-Inch Ikon Chef's Knife on Amazon.

Mercer Culinary

Mercer Culinary has several lines, including an Asian crafted line and a German crafted line. They are ergonomically designed and much less expensive than other professional chef's knives.

Click here to view Mercer Culinary's Renaissance 8-Inch Chef's Knife on Amazon. 

Are expensive chef's knives worth it?

While chef's knives with unique designs may look pretty, details aren't needed to make a quality chef's knife. Especially if you aren't a professional chef who spends all day in the kitchen, you only need a knife that won't break or easily dull on you --stainless steel or carbon steel blades are highly recommended. That being said, having an expensive chef's knife won't do any harm, and you'll probably impress any dinner guests you may have over.

In Closing

The chef's knife is one of the most important tools in the kitchen, and as such, you should purchase a chef's knife that fits your needs. This means finding a size to fit your hand comfortably while still being able to accomplish the task of serving as a multifunctional chef's knife. We hope you've learned something about chef's knives today and wish you the best of luck in your search to find the perfect one for you.

Before you go, check out some of our other posts we think you might like:

How To Store a Chef Knife? [3 Must-See Locations]

7 Types of Chef Knives You Should Know

One comment

  1. i was looking for a chef knife for a long time but I don’t know what should I watch in a knife but after reading your article I know everything that is necessary to know you did a really good job keep doing.

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