If you do any amount of weeding, gardening, or planting, you must have high-quality tools in your arsenal. While hoes, rakes, and other large tools play a significant role, a good weeding knife will make weeding an easy and enjoyable task.
While a weeding knife isn’t always valued as highly as other gardening tools, you’ll discover why having a good one is important. In this article, we’ll look at the best wedding knives that money can buy and how to pick the one that meets your needs. Let’s get a wedding!
The best weeding knives out there and how to know which one is right for you.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Hoss Tools Hori Hori Digging Tool
The Multi-Purpose Option:
MLTOOLS Hori Hori Weeding and Digging Knife
Heavy-Duty Weeding Knife:
Niksaku Hori Hori Weeding and Digging Knife
Best Overall
Hos Tools Hori Hori Digging Tool
If you want the best weeding knife that money can buy, look no further than the Digging Tool from Hoss Tools. Don’t let the name fool you.
This digging tool perfectly combines a garden knife and a hand trowel. Because many of the weeds you’ll dig out extend deep into the ground, you’ll need a tool to get as deep as they are.
The steel blade is heat-treated to ensure durability, strength, and longevity. The handle is made of polymer, easy to grip, slip-resistant, and feels very comfortable in your hand. The 7″ blade is longer than most weeding knives you’ll see on this list, which is advantageous for deep digging.
Pros
- Includes a nylon sheath and a loop so that you can strap it to your side while working.
- A very strong and durable blade
- Multi-purpose tool that can dig, smooth, and cut.
- As with all Hoss Tools, it’s 100% made in the United States.
Cons
- While it’s multi-purpose and unique, it’s also on the high end of the spectrum regarding price.
The Multi-Purpose Option
MLTOOLS Hori Hori Weeding and Digging Knife
Another excellent option that could have easily taken the top spot on our list is the MLTOOLS Hori Hori Weeding and Digging Knife. It’s similar in design to the Japanese knife it’s modeled after but with a few differences.
It traded in the traditional wooden handle for one with a non-slip grip, and it’s slightly more multi-purpose.
You can use this knife for digging, weeding, fishing, and various other purposes. There’s even a measuring scale on one of the blade edges if you want to measure the distance between your plants. The serrated edge is perfect for cutting, digging, and even chopping when necessary.
Pros
- Multi-purpose knife
- Includes a protective sheath
- The measuring scale is a nice touch
- Very affordable
Cons
- Not quite as heavy-duty as other options
Heavy-Duty Weeding Knife
Niksaku Hori Hori Weeding and Digging Knife
The Nisaku Hori Hori Weeding and Digging Knife is ideal for light and heavy-duty use. It can fulfill all the purposes of a typical weeding knife, but it can also get used as a shovel, hoe, or hammer if needed.
The stainless steel blade is immune to rust, scratching, smudging, and anything else that the elements throw at it.
It’s one of the only weeding knives on this list with a handle made of wood rather than plastic. While the wood gives the knife an appealing look, it also tends to be a slip hazard if you’re not wearing gloves.
This knife is available with or without a protective leather sheath and comes in several price ranges. You’re guaranteed one of the best weeding knives available no matter which one you get.
Pros
- Great for digging small holes in your yard or garden
- Sharp enough to cut branches
- Serrated blade edge that’s perfect for grabbing weeds and pulling them out
- Sleek and aesthetically pleasing design
Cons
- The wood handle is eye-pleasing but can get slippery when wet.
Lesche Digging Tool and Sod Cutter
If any knife will give the Hori Hori a run for its money, it’s the Lesche Digging Tool and Sod Cutter. This weeding knife is designed almost explicitly for heavy-duty use and features a sharp, serrated blade and hand protection for when you’re stabbing it into tough terrain.
It’s similar to the Digging Tool from Hoss Tools in that the blade is 7″ long, sharp, and durable.
The handle is slip-resistant and has the added protection of a blade guard if your hand should slip. This multi-faceted garden knife can do almost anything you need to be done in your garden and around your home.
Pros
- Blade guard for extra protection
- Razor-sharp blade with a serrated edge on one side
- Comes with a protective carrying sheath
Cons
- A bit bulky for small areas
Fiskars Xact Weeding Knife
Like we said before, long-handled weeding knives are available for those with physical deficiencies or who don’t like the idea of bending over too often. While long-handled knives aren’t as prevalent as short-handled ones, the Fiskars Xact Weeding Knife is one of the best.
The blade is around five inches long, but the handle extends to avoid backbreaking labor.
Pros
- The long handle makes it possible to pull weeds without bending over
- The blade is rust-resistant and sharp
- The handle features extended gripping making it easy to use for people of all heights.
Cons
- Not as accurate or precise as a short-handled knife
Fiskars Xact Extractor
If you plan on using the same knife for the rest of your life and need something heavy-duty, the Fiskars Xact Extractor is the best weeding knife available.
The stainless steel blade is perfectly crafted for digging stubborn weeds or cracks in the pavement or getting in between plants just inches apart.
Additionally, the handle on this weeding knife is one of the best available. It’s made of rubber, slip-resistant, easy to grip, and very comfortable in your hand. It’s one of the most popular weeding knives on the market, and you would do well to purchase yours today while they’re still available!
Pros
- Excellent handle for gripping and ripping
- The Angled blade is perfect for digging into cracks and crannies
- Rust-resistant blade for durability
Cons
- Because of the design, it’s limited in what it can do in your garden.
Wolf Garten Hand Tool and Digging Knife
If you expect to do some serious digging to get to the roots of your weeds, you should consider the Wolf Garten Hand Tool and Digging Knife.
It’s not as sharp as other weeding knives but features a unique tip perfect for digging deep into the dirt. When digging out pesky weeds, the blade and handle are reinforced for added strength.
Pros
- Perfect for digging deep into the ground
- The blade is made of steel that’s rust-resistant and strong
- The handle is easy to grip and slip-resistant
Cons
- Not as versatile as other weeding knives
Radius Garden Hand Weeder
The Radius Garden Hand Weeder has one of the most unique and ergonomic designs from any wedding knife on the market. It features a gently curving handle that forms an upside-down U and a straight blade with a notched tip.
This bad boy is ideal for people with hand or wrist problems who must keep them aligned while working in the garden.
The Radius Garden Hand Weeder is a versatile tool that you can use as a hand shovel, a knife, or a hand rake. The serrated edges make it sharp enough to cut through roots while being dull enough to grip smaller weeds and pull them out by the root.
There isn’t much that this weeding knife can’t do, as long as you’re ok with the curved handle.
Pros
- The blade is made of rust-resistant aluminum
- The handle is slip-resistant and easy to grip
- A very versatile tool that has multiple purposes
Cons
- Not the best for heavy digging as the handle tends to bend over time.
How to Choose the Best Weeding Knife
Before choosing the best weeding knife for your needs, you should know what separates an average knife from a great one. You should also remember that the best weeding knife for your friend might not be the best weeding knife for you.
It is crucial to know the type of work you intend to use it for and the kind of knife you need.
What You Plan to Use It for
You should first consider what you plan to use your weeding knife for. A knife with an angled blade or an L-shaped one is better for digging weeds out of cracks and crevices in your concrete. While they’ll also do a decent job of actual weeding in your garden, there are better knives for gardening purposes.
The Length of the Handle
The two basic types of wedding knives are long-handled and short-handled. If you have back or knee problems and bending over and spending all day on your knees sounds like too much, you should opt for a long-handled weeding knife.
However, a short-handled knife will give you more accuracy and precision if your garden is full of tight spaces and packed with plant rows.
Versatility
While the best weeding knives should be able to cut and pull out weeds, it should be able to do much more.
You should take the time to find a weeding knife that can also be used as a tiny rake to smooth over any dirt that you dig up, cut through bigger roots, and dig deep into the soil. Your knife should be flat on the backside and have a serrated edge to fulfill all these purposes.
The Handle
While the length of the handle is important, the material it’s made of is equally so. The best weeding knives should have a handle that fits comfortably in your hand and is slip-resistant.
You’ll be working up quite a sweat when you’re weeding in the middle of the summer, which means an extra grippy knife is essential.
The Material of the Knife
Finally, you should never overlook the material of the knife blade itself. Your knife will take quite a beating from repeatedly digging into the dirt and mud.
Having a knife blade that’s rust-resistant, sharp, durable, and doesn’t need frequent sharpening is paramount. You’ll find it very difficult to do a good job of weeding with a knife that gets dull or rusty.
What Is a Weeding Knife?
Before you know how to choose a weeding knife, you should first know what it is and how to use it. Weeding knives come in various shapes and sizes, but to be the best, you should be able to hold and use them with a single hand.
Weeding knives are specially designed to pull weeds out of the ground by the root to dispose of them permanently.
Weeding knives go by several names, including digging, patio, and hand weeders. The requirement to be a weeding knife is that it has to be sharp, able to cut, and serves the specific purpose of digging or cutting out weeds by their root.
Different Types of Weeding Knives
Essentially, two basic types of weeding knives are long-handled and short-handled. Long-handled weeding knives and tools are designed to pull weeds out by the root without bending or stoping over. However, they usually have less accuracy, and you’re more likely to damage a nearby plant or crop.
Short-handled weeding tools are the most popular type of weeding knife. They come in various shapes and sizes, some with an L-shaped blade to dig into cracks and crevices.
This type of knife is also referred to as a patio knife because it’s used to dig weeds out of the cracks in concrete. A knife with an L-shaped blade will be especially useful for this.
Wrapping Up the Best Weeding Knife for Your Garden
While having all types of gardening tools is important, having an excellent weeding knife should be at the top of your priority list. If you choose one of the options in this article and adhere to the buying guide, you’re guaranteed to have one of the best weeding knives available.
Weeds come in all shapes and sizes and pop up in various locations. Visit our Weeding Tools page to learn about other tools to help you win the battle against weeds in your garden.
Kristi Scheuneman
Friday 16th of June 2023
You're right about the benefits of garden knives! I purchased a Nisaku knife this spring and it's been a game changer for hand weeding. I have extremely rocky soil and while planting my vegetable garden it was my go to for extracting deep rooted weeds, making seed trenches and prying out Idaho baker sized boulderettes from my beds. I don't know how I managed gardening for so many decades before getting a great garden knife.