There are a lot of factors that go into choosing the best beard trimmer, and at the end of the day, the “best” will still be subjective.

But, this guide will help you choose the best beard trimmer available, based on several variables like battery type, guard comb, blade type and more.

Having a quality beard trimmer is essential to maintaining and taming a wild beard, like going from Robin Williams in the original Jumanji to Ben Affleck in Argo. A quality beard trimmer should last for years, cut rather than pull hairs, be versatile, and above all, make you look your best.

Before we jump into the best beard trimmer and trimmers, I feel it is important to outline some of the important features you should consider before purchasing.

Beard Trimmer vs. Stubble Trimmer

The biggest difference between a beard trimmer and stubble trimmer is that beard trimmers have the ability to trim longer hairs as well as trim stubble. Stubble trimmers on the other hand are constrained in their abilities to trim longer hair.

To put another way, most beard trimmers are stubble trimmers, but not all stubble trimmers are beard trimmers.

Since getting the most value out of purchases is important, I will focus exclusively on beard trimmers, with one exception. There is a hybrid between a short beard trimmer, stubble trimmer and shaver, which I will go into further detail about below.

Speaking of stubble and beards, let’s define lengths

5 o’clock shadow is about an 1/8th of an inch in length, or 3mm, and generally takes 3 to 6 days to grow. According to Bespoke Unit, the French call this “la barbe de troi jours” or the three-day beard. If this is the look you are going for, ensure your trimmer can reach down to 3mm.

Check out “A Guide to Men’s Beard Lengths” below, for a rough estimate of beard and stubble lengths.

Cordless vs. Corded

This is perhaps the first question you will need to ask yourself when it comes to your next beard trimmer. Would you prefer a trimmer that is tethered to the wall, supplying an endless stream of power? Or would you prefer a mobile, battery operated trimmer, unhampered and free to move without a cord getting in the way?

On average, corded trimmers will provide more power than cordless battery powered trimmers. However, some cordless trimmers will still operate while plugged in.

Battery Types

Ideally, your beard trimmer will have a lithium-ion battery, compared to the older nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. On average, lithium-ion batteries weigh less, hold a charge longer, don’t experience the “memory effect”, and tend to last longer than their NiMH counterparts.

You can expect a full charge to last approximately one hour, with continuous use, on a lithium-ion powered trimmer. Consequently, you can expect about 30 minutes of continuous use with a NiMH powered trimmer.

Guide Combs (Guards) vs. Zoom Wheel

Beard trimmers generally come in two types, ones with a zoom wheel and ones that use guide combs.

A zoom wheel will adjust the height of the blades with a dial or wheel, making it extremely convenient and fast. Also, a zoom wheel will generally offer more length options in smaller increments, providing a wider range of versatility.

Guide combs are generally what your barber uses. They have to manually pull off a comb and replace it with a different size in order to achieve the desired length of hair. When choosing a trimmer, it is important that the plastic combs are strong and do not bend easily. Strong plastic combs provide an even trim, whereas flimsy combs that bend can cause uneven trims.

Guide combs come in fixed lengths and generally will not have the smaller increments available that a zoom wheel has. For example, guide combs may be numbered, where the number corresponds with the length/size of the comb (a number 1 equals 1/8 of an inch, a number 2 equals ¼ of an inch and so on).

Blade Type

Generally, there are three types of blades beard trimmers will have: carbon steel, stainless steel, or carbon steel coated with titanium.

Carbon steel tends to be sharper than stainless steel, but it can corrode in moist environments.

Stainless steel tends to be more durable than carbon steel, should not corrode, and tends to be “stiffer”, making it ideal for coarser hair.

Carbon steel coated with titanium is high-end and possesses the sharpness of carbon steel while maintaining the durability of stainless steel.

Some models have self-sharpening blades, providing the same cut three years later as it did on day one.

Other factors to consider:

Wet/Dry

Some beard trimmers are able to be rinsed with water, or even be used in the shower, making for easy clean-up. Others, however, may only have washable attachments, but still allow you to trim with a wet face. Last, some are not able to be used with water at all and will require a small brush to clean and clear hair out of the blades.

Dual Voltage

If you will be doing a lot of overseas traveling and care to bring your beard trimmer, it may be nice to have a trimmer that can be charged or plugged in at various voltages (between 100 and 240 V).

Low Battery Indicator

Some battery trimmers come with a low battery indicator, allowing a visual depiction of the current battery level, which may be beneficial before you start trimming away!

Vacuum Function

There is at least one trimmer available that claims to vacuum 90% of hair, before it falls onto your bathroom sink or floor. However, ratings suggest that it may not live up to the hype.

Attachments

Certain beard trimmers may come with detachable attachments, allowing you to switch out blades for nose or ear hair trimmers, or an even smaller detail trimmer. If it is important for you to trim nose hairs or have more detail when trimming, consider getting a model that will allow you to change attachments.

No Oil Needed

Some beard trimmers claim that you will never need to oil them, which may be convenient; however, it may be necessary from time to time to ensure smooth operation.

Let’s get started with the best beard trimmer and trimmers in 2018.

Best Beard Trimmer, Budget:

The Philips Norelco Multigroom 3000 is a fantastic budget choice beard trimmer around $20.

Although it is not as durable as higher end models and does not possess as powerful of a motor, it still has a 4.2 Amazon rating.

With beard combs, the Multigroom 3000 provides three beard trimming guards, 3 hair trimming guards, and a stubble trimming guard. Additionally, it comes with a rotary nose hair trimmer and smaller detail trimmer.

The lithium-ion battery will fully charge in eight hours and provide one full hour of run-time. Stainless steel, tempered, self-sharpening blades can be rinsed for easy cleaning. Beard guards/combs are made of a strong fiberglass material to avoid bending.

The Multigroom 3000 comes with a two-year warranty and can be used with 100-240 V.

Corded or Non-Corded: Non-Corded

Non-Corded Guards or Zoom Wheel: Guards

Guards Blade Type: Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel Battery: Lithium-Ion

Lithium-Ion Battery Run Time: 60 Minutes

60 Minutes Weight: 11 Ounces

11 Ounces Wet/Dry: Rinseable Blades and Guards

Rinseable Blades and Guards Runs While Plugged In: No

No Dual Voltage: 100-240 V

100-240 V Oil: No

No Warranty: Two Years

Best Beard Trimmer Overall:

The Philips Norelco Beard & Head Trimmer Series 5100 (BT5210/42) takes the highest marks for its reasonable price, 4.2 Amazon rating, and a variety of features.

With a zoom wheel that has 17 length settings from 0.4mm to 13mm, you will be able to cover all beard stubble lengths up through a medium-long beard (13mm and under). A fast charging lithium-ion battery will provide a solid 70 minutes of runtime after a one-hour charge, and it is fully washable for easy cleaning.

Lift and trim technology allows the trimmer to lift, guide and evenly cut hairs. Self-sharpening stainless-steel blades will ensure constant sharpness throughout its lifetime, without replacement.

It can run while plugged in, so if you start trimming and the battery dies, you won’t have to wait for it to charge in order to finish the job. It comes with an integrated hair lift comb for stubble, a long hair comb, and short hair comb.

The Series 5100 can be used in any voltage between 100-240 V, so don’t worry about plugging it in overseas. No oil is needed, and it comes with a five-year warranty (registration required).

Last, it was the winner of a “Red Dot Design Award” and “iF DESIGN AWARD” in 2016.

Corded or Non-Corded: Non-Corded

Non-Corded Guards or Zoom Wheel: Zoom Wheel

Zoom Wheel Blade Type: Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel Battery: Lithium-Ion

Lithium-Ion Battery Run Time: 70 Minutes

70 Minutes Weight: 14 Ounces

14 Ounces Wet/Dry: Rinseable Blades/Head

Rinseable Blades/Head Runs While Plugged In: Yes

Yes Dual Voltage: 100-240 V

100-240 V Oil: No

No Warranty: 5 Years Registration Required

Best Beard Trimmer, Professional:

Made in the USA with 3.8 stars on Amazon, The Wahl Lithium Ion+ Stainless Steel Grooming Kit comes with a powerful motor delivering twice the torque as competing models. It comes with a precision T-Blade, detail shaver, detail trimmer, and a trimmer for nose/ear/eyebrows.

On one hour of charge, the Wahl Lithium Ion will run for four hours and can be plugged in for a one-minute quick charge to finish the job if needed. However, it does not run while plugged in. It comes with a LED low charge indicator and a 5-year warranty.

Cutting lengths come from guide combs, so it does not have a zoom-wheel. There are 12 guide combs that will allow for 13 cutting lengths ranging from 1/16 of an inch to 1 inch. The self-sharpening stainless-steel blades allow for excellent detail work in the detail shaver, providing greater control and ability to shape facial hair.

The Wahl requires oiling and cannot be rinsed with water, but it can be used with any voltage between 100 and 240 V.

Corded or Non-Corded: Non-Corded

Non-Corded Guards or Zoom Wheel: Combs/Guards

Combs/Guards Blade Type: Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel Battery: Lithium-Ion

Lithium-Ion Battery Run Time: 4 Hours

4 Hours Weight: 12 Ounces

12 Ounces Wet/Dry: Dry Only

Dry Only Runs While Plugged In: No

No Dual Voltage: 100-240 V

100-240 V Oil: Yes

Yes Warranty: 5 Years

Best Beard Trimmer for Travel:

The Philips Norelco OneBlade is an odd mix between a shaver, trimmer and edger with 4.2 stars on Amazon. It is small, compact, and it can replace your razor blade and trimmer. This makes it an excellent choice for travel.

Philips claims that its durable OneBlade design will last for up to four months based on two full shaves per week. Used wet or dry, the OneBlade can provide a surprisingly close shave without the blade actually touching the skin. This makes it perfect for those with sensitive skin or who are prone to blade nicks.

The OneBlade Face + Body comes with four stubble combs (1, 2, 3, and 5mm) and one body comb (3mm). So, if you only plan on having up to a short beard at 5mm, this is a great option. However, if you would like a wider range of hair trimming options, opt for another model on this list.

The lithium-ion battery takes four hours to charge and will provide 60 minutes of run time. The display will indicate whether the battery is full, low, or charging, and it comes with a two-year warranty on the handle.

Words won’t do this model justice, so I have attached a Youtube video outlining the OneBlade. Keep in mind that the OneBlade comes in three models: OneBlade, OneBlade Face + Body, and OneBlade Pro. The video features the OneBlade, but all models are very similar.

Corded or Non-Corded: Non-Corded

Non-Corded Guards or Zoom Wheel: Guards/Combs

Guards/Combs Blade Type: OneBlade Replaceable (Every 4 months)

OneBlade Replaceable (Every 4 months) Battery: Lithium-Ion (NiMH model available)

Lithium-Ion (NiMH model available) Battery Run Time: 60 Minutes

60 Minutes Weight: 12 ounces

12 ounces Wet/Dry: Yes

Yes Runs While Plugged In: No

No Dual Voltage: 100-240 V

100-240 V Oil: No

No Warranty: 2 Years

Best Beard Trimmer, Corded:

Made in the USA and professionally used by barbers, the Wahl Peanut is exceptionally small (4” in length), light at only 4 ounces, and has 4.4 stars on Amazon.

The peanut is Spartan in its accessories and capabilities, but it is rugged, durable and will last for years. It comes with four blade guards/combs (1/8”, ¼”, 3/8”, ½”) and needs to be oiled for optimum performance.

The 7-foot cord is long enough to maneuver around the head and face. Due to its corded feature, the Peanut has an incredibly powerful rotary motor, giving more speed, power and longevity than some cordless models.

Its removable head makes for easy brush cleaning, but it cannot be rinsed with water.

Corded or Non-Corded: Corded

Corded Guards or Zoom Wheel: Guards

Guards Blade Type: Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel Weight: 4 ounces

4 ounces Wet/Dry: Dry only

Dry only Runs While Plugged In: Yes

Yes Dual Voltage: 120 V only

120 V only Oil: Yes

Yes Warranty: 1 Year

A lot of time and research went into writing this article on the best beard trimmer in 2018. I feel it is necessary to thank those sources.

Thank you:

I hope you enjoyed this article on the best beard trimmer in 2018. Curious on how to find your beard neckline or the best men’s hair products for your type of hair? Check out How to Trim a Beard Neckline and A Complete Guide to Men’s Hair Products for more great articles.

Thanks for reading!

-Chris