A chef’s knife will cut a pizza, but it drags the toppings, squashes the crust, and leaves cheese welded to the blade. A proper pizza cutter rolls or rocks straight through in one clean pass, and the good ones wipe clean in seconds and tuck away without slicing your fingers in the drawer. The choice comes down to style: a classic wheel for everyday pies, a rocker for big thick ones, or scissors for deep-dish. Here are six of the best pizza cutters for 2026, including the well-worn one I keep in my own kitchen.
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Quick verdict: For most kitchens, the OXO Good Grips wheel is the reliable, comfortable pick that just works. If you want the blade cover attached so you never lose it, the Kitchy is clever and safe to store. Cutting big, thick, or square pizzas is easier with a rocker like the Checkered Chef, and deep-dish is cleanest with the Dreamfarm Scizza. Whatever style you choose, look for stainless steel and a blade guard, and dry it before you store it.
Why a Pizza Cutter Beats a Knife
The trouble with a chef’s knife is that its thick blade pushes the soft top of the pizza down into the cut, mangling the toppings and dragging cheese sideways. A pizza cutter’s thin wheel or rocker glides through crust in a single motion, keeping each slice clean. It is also handy beyond pizza, slicing flatbreads, quesadillas, and pastry dough. Pair it with a hot base from our pizza stones guide and homemade pizza night gets a lot easier.
How We Chose These Pizza Cutters
Picks were judged on how cleanly the blade cuts without dragging toppings, how comfortable and safe the handle feels, whether the cutter stores safely with a guard, and how easily it cleans, since a tool caked in cheese is one you stop reaching for. Both wheel and rocker styles were weighed, along with scissors for deep-dish. Choices were cross-checked against current hands-on testing and reviews, with a real option for each style and priority rather than six near-identical wheels.
1. OXO Good Grips Pizza Wheel, Best Overall
The OXO Good Grips wheel is the pizza cutter most kitchens should own. Its stainless blade has real heft and balance that lets you cut clean through a pie in one pass, the cushioned handle is comfortable and non-slip, and a built-in thumb guard keeps your fingers clear of the blade. It is the reliable, no-drama standard.1
Why It Stands Out
The balance is what sells it, since a well-weighted wheel does the work for you and glides through thin crust and deep-dish alike. The soft grip stays secure even with greasy hands, and the whole thing is easy to clean. For a lifetime everyday cutter, this is the safe choice.
Worth Knowing
The basic version does not include a cover for storage, so mind the exposed blade if you keep it loose in a drawer. Hand washing preserves the edge better than the dishwasher. It hangs neatly with the rest of your kitchen tools.
2. The Pizza Cutter in My Kitchen, What I Use
The pizza cutter I actually use is a quality wheel I have had for a long time, and it has earned its keep. It cuts cleanly and comfortably every time, it wipes clean in seconds, and it came with a plastic blade cover that snaps over the edge so it stores safely and stays clean in the drawer. Nothing about it is flashy; it just works, year after year.
Why It Stands Out
The combination is exactly what you want from a tool you reach for often: it is easy to use, easy to clean, and built well enough to last. The blade cover is the part I would not skip, since a bare pizza wheel loose in a drawer is a cut waiting to happen, and the cover keeps the edge clean between uses. Simple and durable wins here.
Worth Knowing
Mine is unbranded, so rather than point you at a model you cannot buy, the button below goes to the current pizza cutters that come with a blade cover, which is exactly this kind of easy-to-store design. Look for stainless steel and a guard that stays put, and dry the blade after washing so it keeps its edge. Keep it clear of your good cutting boards to avoid scoring them.
3. Kitchy Pizza Cutter Wheel, Best for Safe Storage
The Kitchy takes a different shape from the usual handled wheel: it sits in your palm with the control coming from above, and its protective cover is part of the design. You slide the guard open to cut and closed to store, so you can never lose it and never grab a bare blade by accident.
Why It Stands Out
The built-in cover is the headline, and it makes this the safest wheel to keep in a crowded drawer. The compact, wheel-less body takes up almost no space, the blade is deep and stays sharp, and the whole thing comes apart to submerge and clean easily. A safety lock even holds the blade if you push the wrong way.
Worth Knowing
The palm-held shape suits smaller hands better than large ones, and on a big, thick pizza you may need a second pass. The payoff is safe storage and easy cleaning in a tidy package. It is a smart pick for small kitchens short on drawer space.
4. Checkered Chef Rocker, Best for Big Pizzas
When the pizza is large, thick, or square, a rocker blade beats a wheel. The Checkered Chef is a long, curved stainless blade you rock across the pie in a couple of sweeping motions, cutting the whole thing evenly without the wheel skidding off a piled-high slice.
Why It Stands Out
The single-pass power is the draw, since one rock cuts clear across a large pizza and sails through thick toppings a wheel would push around. It doubles as a mezzaluna for mincing herbs and chopping, so it earns its drawer space, and the stainless build is durable and easy to wipe down.
Worth Knowing
It is bigger than a wheel and takes more storage room, and you need a clear, flat surface to rock it across. Most come with a blade guard, which you should use given the long exposed edge. It works beautifully alongside a sturdy board from our cutting boards guide.
5. Dreamfarm Scizza, Best for Deep-Dish
Deep-dish and pan pizzas defeat most wheels, which is where the Dreamfarm Scizza comes in. It is a pair of pizza scissors with a non-stick blade and a server base that slides under the slice as you cut, so you snip through a loaded, saucy pie without scraping the pan or dragging the toppings.
Why It Stands Out
Scissors give you control a wheel cannot on a thick, heavy pizza, cutting cleanly right down to a deep crust. The built-in base protects your pan and lifts each slice out neatly, and the blades come apart for easy cleaning. For deep-dish, pan, or stuffed pizzas, it is the mess-free answer.2
Worth Knowing
It is more specialized and pricier than a simple wheel, and overkill for thin-crust pies. If you rarely make deep-dish, a wheel or rocker covers you for less. If you love a thick Chicago-style pizza, though, it is worth the drawer space next to your kitchen shears.
6. Gorilla Grip Large Pizza Cutter, Best Budget
For a big, sharp wheel that costs very little, the Gorilla Grip large pizza cutter delivers. Its oversized stainless blade slices thick and thin pizzas in one pass, a slip-resistant handle keeps your grip secure, and a thumb guard protects your fingers, all at a budget-friendly price.
Why It Stands Out
The large, extra-sharp wheel is the appeal, cutting cleanly through stubborn crusts that stall a smaller blade, and the grippy handle stays put with greasy hands. It handles pizza, pastry, and flatbread with ease. For the money, it punches well above its price.
Worth Knowing
The large wheel is less nimble on small or intricate cuts, and the finish is more functional than premium. Hand wash and dry it to keep the edge keen. Keep it sharp with a pass on a tool from our knife sharpeners guide if it ever dulls.
Pizza Cutters at a Glance
Prices shift with sales and seller, so treat cost as a rough tier and confirm current pricing before buying.
| Cutter | Style | Blade cover | Best for | Cleaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Good Grips | Wheel | No | Everyday all-round | Easy, hand wash |
| My cutter (brand-free) | Wheel | Yes, snap-on | Simple daily use | Wipes clean fast |
| Kitchy | Palm wheel | Yes, built-in | Safe storage, small kitchens | Comes apart to clean |
| Checkered Chef | Rocker | Usually included | Big, thick, square pizzas | Easy, wide blade |
| Dreamfarm Scizza | Scissors | Folds closed | Deep-dish, pan pizza | Blades separate |
| Gorilla Grip | Large wheel | No | Budget, thick crust | Easy, hand wash |
How to Choose a Pizza Cutter
Pick a Style: Wheel, Rocker, or Scissors
A wheel is the versatile everyday choice, compact and good for most pizzas. A rocker cuts big, thick, or square pizzas in one sweeping pass and doubles for chopping. Scissors handle deep-dish and pan pizzas without scraping the dish. Match the style to the pizza you make most, and to the drawer space you have.
Prioritize a Blade Guard
A pizza cutter is a sharp wheel or blade that lives in a drawer with your hands, so a guard is a genuine safety feature, not a frill. Models with an attached or built-in cover, like the Kitchy, mean you never lose it and never grab a bare edge. If yours has no guard, store it point-safe and out of the reach of children.
Choose Stainless and Easy Cleaning
Stainless steel is the standard because it resists rust and wipes clean easily, and cutters that come apart or run on the dishwasher’s top rack are simplest to keep hygienic. Since cheese and sauce hide around the axle, look for a design you can actually get clean, and dry the blade before storing so it does not rust.
Mind the Handle and Blade Size
A comfortable, non-slip handle matters most if you cut often or have greasy hands mid-meal, and a larger blade powers through thick crusts while a compact one stores easier. Bigger is not always better, since a large wheel is less nimble on small cuts. Balance cutting power against how and where you will store it.
Which Pizza Cutter Fits You
| Your situation | OXO | Kitchy | Checkered Chef | Dreamfarm Scizza | Gorilla Grip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday thin and thick pies | Best fit | Best fit | Workable | Skip | Best fit |
| Big or square pizzas | Workable | Skip | Best fit | Workable | Best fit |
| Deep-dish or pan pizza | Skip | Skip | Workable | Best fit | Skip |
| Small kitchen, safe storage | Workable | Best fit | Skip | Workable | Workable |
| Want it to double for chopping | Skip | Skip | Best fit | Skip | Skip |
| Tight budget | Workable | Best fit | Workable | Skip | Best fit |
Related guide: personal pizza pans for individual pies.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pizza Cutters
Is a wheel or rocker pizza cutter better?
It depends on your pizza. A wheel is more versatile and compact, ideal for everyday round pies and easy to maneuver, while a rocker cuts large, thick, or square pizzas in one clean pass and doubles for chopping herbs. If you mostly make normal round pizzas, a wheel is the simpler choice; for big or deep pies, a rocker shines.
Are pizza cutters dishwasher safe?
Most are, but many owners hand wash them to preserve the blade’s sharpness, since repeated dishwasher cycles can dull the edge over time. Whichever route you take, dry the blade completely before storing so the cutting wheel does not rust. Cutters that come apart are the easiest to get fully clean around the axle.
Do I need a blade guard or cover?
It is strongly worth having, since a pizza cutter is a sharp wheel that lives in a drawer near your fingers. A guard protects both you and the blade, and models with an attached or built-in cover mean you can never lose it. If your cutter has no guard, store it somewhere the blade cannot catch a reaching hand.
How do I clean cheese out of a pizza cutter?
Rinse it right after use before the cheese hardens, and pay attention to the gap around the axle where sauce and cheese hide. Cutters that disassemble or have an accessible wheel are easiest to clean thoroughly. A quick scrub with a brush clears the tight spots, and drying afterward prevents rust.
Can a pizza cutter cut other foods?
Yes, and that versatility is part of the appeal. A wheel handles flatbreads, quesadillas, pastry dough, and even pancakes for kids, while a rocker minces herbs and chops greens like a mezzaluna. Scissors-style cutters work on herbs and other soft foods too. It is a more useful drawer tool than it first appears.
How do I keep a pizza cutter sharp?
Hand washing rather than dishwashing helps the edge last longer, and drying it prevents the rust that dulls a blade. Most home pizza wheels stay sharp for a long time with normal use, and a worn one that tears rather than slices is usually cheap enough to replace. Some deeper blades rarely need sharpening at all.
What size pizza cutter should I get?
A standard wheel handles most home pizzas well, while a larger wheel or a rocker makes short work of thick or oversized pies. If drawer space is tight, a compact model stores more easily, so weigh cutting power against storage. For most kitchens, a mid-sized wheel is the practical sweet spot.
Are pizza scissors worth it?
For deep-dish, pan, or heavily loaded pizzas, they genuinely are, since they cut cleanly without scraping the dish or dragging toppings, and the server base lifts each slice out. For everyday thin-crust pies, they are more than you need. Buy them if thick pizzas are your regular order, otherwise a wheel is plenty.
Recommended Reading
Round out pizza night and the kitchen-tool drawer with our guides to pizza stones for home ovens, mixing bowl sets for the dough, and kitchen tongs for serving. Stash the leftovers in something from our food storage containers guide, and keep every blade in the drawer sharp with our knife sharpening guide.
Sources
- Reviewed (USA Today), “The Best Pizza Cutters.” https://www.reviewed.com/cooking/best-right-now/the-best-pizza-cutters
- Sporked, “We Found the Best Pizza Cutter.” https://sporked.com/article/best-pizza-cutter/
