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The Best Beard Trimmers and Groomers for 2024, Tested By 150 Men

Craftsmen need the right tools, and these are the best on the market right now

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VerifiedTested by Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager
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best beard trimmers

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Growing a beard may well be one of the most flattering grooming moves a man can make, unless it's the kind of thatchy mess you get when you just let hair grow out of your face unchecked.

If you're going long, then you need a proper washing, brushing, oiling routine (our pick of the best beard oils will help you there). But even if you stick to a light fuzz, you'll want a quality beard trimmer. Not sure where to start? Lucky you, because we've tested them all to find the best beard trimmers you can buy right now.

  • 1
    Panasonic ER-GB80-H Wet and Dry Electric Beard, Hair and Body Trimmer for Men

    Best all-rounder

    Panasonic ER-GB80-H Wet and Dry Electric Beard, Hair and Body Trimmer for Men

    £51 at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
    Philips Beard & Trimmer for Men, 9000 Prestige

    Best for precision

    Philips Beard & Trimmer for Men, 9000 Prestige

    Read more
  • 3
    Braun Series XT5 Beard Trimmer

    Best for travel

    Braun Series XT5 Beard Trimmer

    Read more
  • 4
    Braun BT7220 Beard Trimmer

    Best for stubble

    Braun BT7220 Beard Trimmer

    Read more
  • 5
    Wahl Trimmer Kit Lithium Titanium Steel

    Best for long battery life

    Wahl Trimmer Kit Lithium Titanium Steel

    Read more

How To Find the Best Beard Trimmer for You

All beard trimmers are not born equal, but cost doesn't necessarily equate to quality. What you need depends on the kind of beard you want to grow and how much attention you're going to lavish on it. These are the key things to consider.

Trimmer Length

Just like hair clippers, many beard trimmers are adjustable to different hair lengths using an onboard lever or dial, taking you from 0.2mm for stubble up to around 2.5cm for keeping bushier bits in check.

Attachments, Combs and Precision Heads

As well as the integrated length settings, most beard trimmers come with clip-on guards that extend the cutting length, or lift your hair to make it easier to cut. Pro trimmers also include extra heads for precision areas, including your jawline and around your nose and mouth.

Battery Life

You don't want a beard trimmer that only works when plugged in, obviously. How much juice you need depends on how fiddly your beard is. If you're just trimming it all back to stubble every few days, battery life isn't that important. If you travel a lot, or spend more than 20 minutes at a time sculpting your facial hair, then look for something that offers a least an hour of runtime. Otherwise, at some point, you will end up stuck with half-shaved face.

Do I Need a Dedicated Beard Trimmer?

If you've got a set of hair clippers, or an electric razor, then adding a beard trimmer may be overkill, especially if you're just shaving it all to one length.

However, if you've got more ambitious ideas, those devices won't provide the precision you need for things like tapering or fading the hair under your chin to give you a nice, defined jaw shape. If you're growing your beard to more than a couple of inches, a good trimmer is essential.

How To Use a Beard Trimmer

As with hair clippers, keeping on top of your facial hair is about more than just running something sharp through it. According to the experts at award-winning barbershop, Ruffians, little and often is the best approach – trimming every three days will keep edges neat and ensure that you don't have to hack the thing back into shape every time you start shaving.

You should also start with the edges and work in (pro tip: move the cutting blade away from your beard when you're shaping, so if your hand slips, you won't gouge a chunk out of the hair you want to keep.)

How We Tested the Best Beard Trimmers of 2023

150 men with varied beard lengths and styles tried a range of beard trimmers over a two- to three-week period. They assessed each one on how effectively it cut hair, battery life, noise level, how easy it was to clean and store, and overall performance.

Here's what they thought.

1
Best all-rounder

Panasonic ER-GB80-H Wet and Dry Electric Beard, Hair and Body Trimmer for Men

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Panasonic ER-GB80-H Wet and Dry Electric Beard, Hair and Body Trimmer for Men
1
Best all-rounder

Panasonic ER-GB80-H Wet and Dry Electric Beard, Hair and Body Trimmer for Men

Now 36% Off
£51 at Amazon
Credit: Esquire

Cultivating a fuller beard? Voted best in test by our panel, this trimmer comes with cutting lengths going up to 20mm, making it ideal for those who dream of a Keanu Reeves-esque mane. It trimmed hair in just one stroke, with testers noting the level of precision.

It excelled when it came to shaving hair up top too, proving easy to control and manoeuvre, and leaving everyone with their desired cut. It hardly made any noise and handled tricky areas such as the moustache area like a champ.

Key specifications

FeaturesDial trimmer adjustment
Trimmer length range0.5-20mm
Accessories11-20mm, 1-10mm, 1.5mm (For body hair)
Battery life50 mins
WaterproofYes
2
Best for precision

Philips Beard & Trimmer for Men, 9000 Prestige

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Philips Beard & Trimmer for Men, 9000 Prestige
2
Best for precision

Philips Beard & Trimmer for Men, 9000 Prestige

If you’re pernickety about your beard, this trimmer can be trusted to hit the target every time. The brand claims the blades “stay sharp for life”, and our testers said they were razor-sharp enough to provide a consistent cut throughout, with the majority praising their accuracy.

The high-quality design was a welcome bonus, making getting through your grooming routine quick and easy.

Key specifications

FeaturesTwisting length dial
Trimmer length range0.4-10mm
AccessoriesClick-on long beard comb, premium storage and travel case
Battery life120 mins
WaterproofYes
3
Best for travel

Braun Series XT5 Beard Trimmer

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Braun Series XT5 Beard Trimmer
3
Best for travel

Braun Series XT5 Beard Trimmer

Now 20% Off

Keeping bulk to a minimum, this lightweight tool was sleek to look at and came with a well-received travel pouch to make packing all the easier.

It tackled the area around the nose brilliantly, avoiding irritation for almost all and effortlessly gliding over tricky areas. It did the same for the body too, easily navigating any contours.

Key specifications

FeaturesPivoting head
Trimmer length range0-5mm
AccessoriesFace combs x4, body combs x2 (0mm SkinGuard, 3mm), travel pouch (XT5200 only), smart plug
Battery life45 mins
WaterproofYes
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4
Best for stubble

Braun BT7220 Beard Trimmer

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Braun BT7220 Beard Trimmer
4
Best for stubble

Braun BT7220 Beard Trimmer

Now 25% Off

Impressive stubble is deceptively hard to get right, but this tool made it effortless. Testers couldn’t fault its ability to shape beard edges, with one praising the mini precision detailer attachment as a particular highlight.

It kept up the pace when dealing with head hair too, easily reaching the back of the head, helping all achieve their desired look.

Key specifications

Features39 length setting precision wheel
Trimmer length range0.5-10mm
AccessoriesMini foil shaver, beard comb, head comb, detail trimmer attachment, Gillette razor
Battery life100 mins
WaterproofYes
5
Best for long battery life

Wahl Trimmer Kit Lithium Titanium Steel

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Wahl Trimmer Kit Lithium Titanium Steel
5
Best for long battery life

Wahl Trimmer Kit Lithium Titanium Steel

Looking as suave as James Bond in a tux, this stainless steel number may not be waterproof, but it does look pretty damn swish. It comes with an impressive four-hour battery life and provided a sharp trim for all.

It didn’t stumble around the nose area, cutting through hair speedily without causing any damage. All were happy with their final look too, and said they’d keep this tool in their grooming arsenal.

Key specifications

FeaturesLithium-Ion + technology up to four hours use for one hour charge
Trimmer length range0.75-25mm
AccessoriesStubble combs x12, beard combs x8, moustache comb, soft storage pouch, stainless steel storage stand, blade oil, cleaning brush
Battery life240 mins
WaterproofNo
6
Best for a close shave

King C Gillette Mens Style Master Cordless Stubble Trimmer

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
King C Gillette Mens Style Master Cordless Stubble Trimmer
6
Best for a close shave

King C Gillette Mens Style Master Cordless Stubble Trimmer

Now 50% Off

This trimmer skated over the jawline, moustache and chin area without any need to go over the same area twice, catching all stragglers. It was also straightforward to use and switching attachments was simple.

Testers particularly loved the sliding adjustment feature, which allowed a quick change between lengths, helping to achieve tapered styles easily.

Key specifications

FeaturesPivoting head
Trimmer length range1-5mm
AccessoriesStubble combs x3
Battery life45 mins
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7
Best wet-and-dry beard trimmer

Wahl Aqua Blade Stubble & Beard Trimmer

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Wahl Aqua Blade Stubble & Beard Trimmer
7
Best wet-and-dry beard trimmer

Wahl Aqua Blade Stubble & Beard Trimmer

Now 33% Off

Handy whether you’re trying to maintain short stubble or a longer beard, this one comes with an impressive 16 guide combs to keep your facial hair sharp. It tackles hair up to 25mm in length and is fully waterproof, which means it’s easy to clean and can be used in the shower when you’re short on time.

Testers described the design as intuitive thanks to its multipurpose features and array of attachments. They were also happy with how quick it was to achieve their desired style and how effectively it cut hair in just one stroke. Those with thicker beard hairs experienced some minor tugging but the rubber grip made it sturdy to hold.

Key specifications

Trimmer length range0.2-25mm in 3mm increments
FeaturesShaver, trimmer and body groomer
Accessories16 attachment combs, beard comb, storage pouch, blade oil, cleaning brush, charger
Battery life180 minutes
Quick chargeYes
WaterproofYes
8
Best budget beard trimmer

King C. Gillette Cordless Beard Trimmer Kit for Men

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
King C. Gillette Cordless Beard Trimmer Kit for Men
8
Best budget beard trimmer

King C. Gillette Cordless Beard Trimmer Kit for Men

Providing a fuss-free shave, this trimmer comes with just three comb attachments that are easy to remove and clean. There are 11 length settings to pick from too, which are simple to move between thanks to the sliding adjustment feature.

Testers found it quick and easy to shape their beards, with most saying they were happy with the accuracy of their cut. It doesn't have the same premium feel or number of features as other trimmers listed here, but offers excellent value for money.

Key specifications

Trimmer length range0.5-21mm in 1mm, 3-11mm and 13-21mm increments
FeaturesCan be used on head hair
Accessories3 comb attachments, cleaning brush, charger
Battery life50 minutes
Quick chargeNo
WaterproofNo
9
Best beard trimmer for beginners

VO5 Beard and Hair Styling Set featuring Beard Trimmer and Matt Clay

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
VO5 Beard and Hair Styling Set featuring Beard Trimmer and Matt Clay
9
Best beard trimmer for beginners

VO5 Beard and Hair Styling Set featuring Beard Trimmer and Matt Clay

Another great-value option that’s ideal for beginners. It provides you with everything you need for a defined trim without any complicated settings or buttons. Testers liked the easy-to-use design, which was quick to style beards and gave pleasing results.

Battery operated, it would make a reliable second trimmer to store in your overnight bag for trips away, and most found it easy to clean. Basic, yes, but effective.

Key specifications

Trimmer length range2-14mm in 2mm increments
Features7-position comb guide
AccessoriesVO5 matt clay, sports bag, wash cloth, 2 x AA batteries
Battery lifeBattery operated
Quick chargeN/A
WaterproofNo
Headshot of Maria Kumar
Tested byMaria Kumar
Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager

Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for mutiple categories including scalp scrubs, collagen supplements and retinol serums. In addition to her master's degree in chemical engineering and a diploma in cosmetic science, she recently received her MBA from the London College of Fashion, focusing on case studies within the beauty industry. Prior to joining the company, she worked within the global technical team at the Estee Lauder Companies for over six years, collaborating with the chemists and engineers to launch luxury beauty products at scale and to quality. She has also worked as a formulation scientist within the pharmaceutical industry and takes this evidence based approach into all her product testing. 

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