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Aug 19, 2023

The Best Beard Trimmers of 2023, Tried and Tested

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We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Craftsmen need the right tools

One of the few bright spots of lockdown was the sense of grooming freedom we embraced, either through laziness or the need to experience something – anything – new.

A lot of men discovered they can pull off a moustache, a beard, or even the full Grizzly Adams. And more power to them. Growing a beard is one of the most flattering grooming moves a man can make, unless it's the kind of thatchy mess that comes 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. Lucky you, because we've tested them all to find the 10 best beard trimmers you can buy right now.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 it to more than a couple of inches, a good beard trimmer is essential.

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.)

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 are the results.

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.

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 did credit them for being 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.

Impressive stubble is deceivingly 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.

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.

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.

This 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, while switching attachments was simple. Testers in particular loved the sliding adjustment feature, which allowed a quick change between lengths, helping to achieve tapered styles easily.

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 for when you’re short on time.

Testers described the design as intuitive due 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.

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.

Here's 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.

Maria is our Beauty and Grooming Testing Manager, and since joining in mid-2022, she has managed the testing for over 20 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.

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