These are the 10 Best Beard Trimmers, According to Men’s Health Editors (2024)

When it comes to trimming, shaving, shaping and styling, the Braun Trimmer Series 9 leaves no stone unturned. Whether we were taming a lengthy mane or adding the finishing touches to a DIY fade, this versatile kit had all the attachments we could have possibly needed. There are 11 in total, including six length guards and two detailers for achieving a tidy and precise finish.

This Series 9 aced our tests when it came to tackling different beard styles and it was super easy to flick between guard settings thanks to the built-in length dial. The addition of a charging stand also helped to keep everything tidy and ensure we never ran out of juice, and the battery life itself lived up to Braun's claims of a 180 minute run time.

The only qualm we had is that there's no comb attachment for trimming body or nose hair. Then again, the Series 9 is technically a beard trimmer, not all-in-one groomer.

Here at Men's Health, we're big fans of the Manscaped Lawn Mower 5.0 Ultra, ranking it top in our guide on the best body hair and pube trimmers. So, when we caught wind of the brand's latest beard trimmer, we had high hopes.

Described as a 'one stroke wonder', the Beard Hedger, Manscaped claims, efficiently cuts through hair without the need to go over areas you've already trimmed. This claim pretty much holds true. For all but the longest of beards, it cut through hair with ease, leaving a fairly consistent result even after just the one stroke. And when it didn't, another few strokes did the job.

What really stood out about the Beard Hedger is how straightforward it is to use. It has just one comb guard for trimming to different lengths up to 10mm, with 0.5mm increments, which you can easily adjust using the built-in zoom wheel. Otherwise, the bare razor head worked great for a close(ish) shave and for detailing.

It doesn't come with a bunch of extra attachments for trimming your nose hair or, indeed, a shaver head, and if you want to cut your body hair then you'll need to invest in a separate tool, but for basic beard-related maintenance, it's a practical and quality option.

Key specifications

The King C Gillette Style Master is a super affordable beard trimmer that performs just as well as pricey alternatives. With three interchangeable comb attachments, a 4D blade and pivoting head, we were impressed with its versatility and overall cutting performance.

In terms of manoeuvrability, it's lightweight and feels comfortable and secure in your hand which is great for shaving around your jawline, moustache and chin. Each charge provides 45 minutes of shaving time and it’s fully waterproof for easy cleaning.

Its motor is plenty powerful for tackling stubble, but if you have particularly thick or long beard hair, we'd suggest investing in an alternative with a more powerful motor and a larger cutting head with more length settings.

This Swiss Army Knife of beard trimmers comes with heaps of attachments, including a body hair, nose trimmer and head clipper comb, allowing you to easily keep on top of your grooming without having to invest in a load of separate tools. You can even buy a compatible electric toothbrush head, which is handy for keeping your bathroom clutter-free and for when you travel.

In terms of its performance on beards, the Panasonic ER-CKL2 Multishape boasts seriously sharp 45° Nano-polished blades made from high-quality Japanese stainless steel, which we found tackled everything from stubble to long beard hair with ease. Despite being on the larger side, we also liked how easy it was to manoeuvre across both ours beard and body hair, and found it provided a close, precise shave with zero irritation.

It also isn't overly noisy, so you can make sure you’re groomed for the day without worrying about waking up any partners or housemates.

Key specifications

The Remington One is a multi-groomer as opposed to an out and out beard trimmer, doubling (or quintupling) up as a hair clipper, shaver, nose and ear trimmer, and body groomer. The One features Remington's most powerful motor, provides 60 minutes of run time off a single charge and comes, along with the attachments just mentioned, 14 comb guards that provide a trimmer range that goes up to a lengthy 25mm.

In terms of beard trimming, it performed well and the cutting power was ok. If you're looking of a powerful device and a barber-worthy cutting experience, this isn't quite there, but for the sheer convenience of having five devices in one easy-to-use unit, the One definitely worth the price.

To summarise, we'd recommend this device for someone who's perhaps buying their first grooming tool. It's great at a lot, but falls short of 'master' status.

Key specifications

If precision is high up on your priority list, the Philips 9000 Prestige is up there with the best we tested. That's thanks to the combination of a metal comb (which doesn't bend like plastic alternatives) and a sharp steel blade that cuts through thick hair with ease, leaving a neat and consistent finish.

If you like to fade your beard, this trimmer also has a built-in adjuster which allows you to quickly flick through different length settings without the need to swap between a bunch of comb attachments.

While the Series 9000 is exceptional for beards and is a premium, well-built beard trimmer, it's not an all-in-one grooming tool, so if you want a device that you can use to tackle both your beard and body hair, opt for a multi-groomer instead.

Key specifications

The best thing about the OneBlade Pro 360 is that it features a unique 360-degree rotating head, similar to what you'd find on an electric shaver. This essentially maxes out the trimmer's manoeuvrability and ensures you get consistent contact between your skin and the blade when you shave around your neck and jawline.

The OneBlade Pro 360 also has replaceable blades (which and designed to last up to four months) in order to ensure long-lasting performance.

We also love how small and compact this travel-friendly trimmer is, and the digital battery display on the front of the trimmer removed the guesswork when it came to recharging.

Key specifications

The King C Gillette Beard Trimmer may be basic, but it punches way above its price. It's a simplistic yet great all-rounder, covering all the essential bases for weekly beard maintenance, including three detachable combs and a sliding adjustment feature for seamlessly switching between length settings.

When we tested it, this trimmer was plenty accurate and the end product was consistent and clean. It doesn't come with any extra attachments, like a body hair guide, nose trimmer or shaver head, but for basic beard trimming on hair that's not overly thick, it's ideal.

The other downside to this trimmer is that it's not waterproof. The head itself is washable, as are the combs, so don't make the mistake of thinking you can use it in the shower.

If you're after a professional-grade all-in-one beard, body and hair, and you're not bothered by switching between heaps of combs, the Babyliss Super-X Metal 15 in-1 Multi Trimmer is worthy of your attention.

It comes with beard, hair and body hair combs, a shaver head, ear and nose attachments, it's 100% waterproof, and its battery life is insanely long, lasting up to 5 hours, and it even comes with a docking station for organising all the attachments. To summarise, it ticks pretty much all our boxes.

Key specifications

The first thing you notice about the WAHL Multigroomer when you unbox it is its weight. It's heavy – by far the heaviest trimmer we tested. While that might not please everyone, the extra few grammes explains its impressively long battery life. According to WAHL, it can last for up to 360 minutes of run time from a single 60 minute charge. And, when you do run out of juice, one minute of quick charging will give you three minutes of continual use.

It also trimmed hair sufficiently well when we tested it. The actual blade isn't as wide as most other trimmers, which in theory should mean that it takes you longer to tend to your entire beard – though we didn't notice too much of a difference.

What's also good about the WAHL Multigroomer is that it comes with plenty of attachments. There's 11 in total, including a head for beard trimming, shaving, detailing, edging, long beards, short beards, stubble maintenance and total body grooming.

At Men's Health, we take the art of grooming seriously. That’s why our grooming and shopping editors have thoroughly tested every beard trimmer in this guide. We tested each device's cutting performance, the longevity of the blades, the battery life, the quality of the attachments, and how gentle each trimmer was on skin.

Key Features to Look Out For

During our testing, we noticed a few key features that are worth keeping an eye out for. From battery life to extra attachments, these attributes will help make looking after your beard that much easier.

Manoeuvrability

One of the key considerations to make when shopping for a beard trimmer, according to Ruffians barber Craig Meggs, is manoeuvrability. ‘Beard trimmers vary in size and durability,’ he explains. ‘It’s best to go for smaller, lighter-weight beard trimmers that come with a cordless rechargeable option, which will help both speed and accuracy.’ 

Adjustable Lengths

Meggs also recommends beard trimmers with an adjustable blade head in order to get the perfect blend across your beard. This will also help you to customise your beard to your desired length and style.

Most trimmers come with attachable combs that can range between anything from 0.2mm to 30mm; others have adjustable combs built in that you can switch up with a wheel or a touchscreen. If you're someone who doesn't like fiddling between different combs and attachments, go for the former. For a wider variety of length settings, opt for the latter.

Blade

The quality of your beard trimmer's blades is crucial for a precise and comfortable experience. Not only do stainless steel blades provide the best sharpness, they also tend to remain sharp for longer.

Battery Life

If you regularly spend time perfecting your beard, or you simply have a lot of hair to maintain, then you’ll want a long battery life to keep up with your intricate routine. The devices featured below will last anywhere between 50 minutes and three hours, which should keep you going over multiple shaves.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Look for a trimmer that's easy to clean and maintain. Some models come with detachable heads that can be rinsed under water for quick and effortless cleaning. It's also common to get a small brush when you buy a beard trimmer, which you can use to clean the inside.

Additional Features

Some trimmers will come with additional extras to make your shaving experience easier. Whether it’s precision blades, travel and storage cases, or even beard oil, check out what else is on offer when you buy to get the most out of your bundle.

How Often Should You Trim Your Beard?

According to Meggs, it's easiest to maintain your beard when you trim it regularly. ‘Every three days should be fine,' he says. 'The more frequently you maintain it, the less time you will spend on it in the long run. If left too long between trimming, the shape will disappear and it will take longer to achieve the desired result.’

Can You Use a Beard Trimmer in the Shower?

Most beard trimmers and multi-groomers are waterproof, offering the convenience of using them in the shower for a hassle-free clean-up. It's also said that the heat from a shower can help to soften your hair and open up your pores for a closer and more gentle shave.

Cutting dry will undoubtedly give you the most control, but if a waterproof trimmer is something that you're looking for, even if it's just for easy cleaning, we've included details of each trimmer's water-resistance rating in our full reviews.

How to Trim Your Beard With a Beard Trimmer

We have a full guide detailing the eight steps to follow when trimming your beard, but here's a quick breakdown of the key things worth doing:

1. Wash – It's always worth washing your beard before you go in with a trimmer. A standard daily face wash that suits your skin type will do the job. Alternatively, a dedicated beard wash can help to soften the hair before trimming, making it easier to cut.
2. Brush – This step helps to prepare your beard. Make sure to gently untangle any knots.
3. Trim the flyaways – Once you've brushed, you may notice loose hairs sticking out your beard. Attach a longer guard than you're ultimately aiming for and trim them away, leaving a consistent length all over.
4. Trim your beard – Now the main event. Begin by choosing a guard, then hold your trimmer at a 90 degree angle to your face and gently and steadily move the trimmer down your face in a straight line, always moving with the direction the hair grows. Work your way around the entire beard utill it’s all one uniform length.
5. Define the lines – Using your trimmer without a guard, etch a line that connects the top of your Adam’s apple to the corners of your jaw or your ears on both sides. Trim away the hair left below that line and, using a razor, shave any remaining stubble.
6. Trim your moustache – Using the same guard as your beard, go over your moustache, again moving with the direction it grows. Then comb and trim any overhang with a pair of scissors.
7. Style – Apply a beard oil and pat your beard into the desired shape (if long enough).
8. Final touch ups – Take a moment to go over your handiwork and trim away any remaining flyaways or go over any areas that look lopsided.

Once you've mastered the standard trim, consider graduating to a beard fade, using these five simple steps.

Can You Take a Beard Trimmer on a Plane?

Yes, you can carry a beard trimmer in your hand luggage. The UK government has published a list of electronic items that you can board a plane with and electric shavers (which includes beard trimmers, body groomers, head shavers, nose trimers) are included in the list.

While electric shavers are permitted, you can't carry double-edged razors or razor blades on flights as hand luggage. However, you can carry safety razors.