Best Beard Trimmers 2020: 5 Best To Buy (And 7 To Avoid) (2023)

In this head-to-head test, we've rounded up 12 of the best-selling beard trimmers and compared them head-to-head to help you find your perfect model, highlighting the top five (and seven worst) options.

The following approach is a little different than what we usually do with trusted reviews. Instead of collating a bunch of standalone reviews to list the best products in order, we had all the beard trimmers at once and used them all together.

Although they've all been subjected to the same rigorous testing as usual, the difference is that we've compared and contrasted each model, listing those you should buy and those you shouldn't.

For your convenience, we have winners for different price ranges and uses, so you can further narrow down your choices.

Get to know our experienced testers

• Tom Wigginsis a journalist with 12 years of experience writing about consumer technology. He also has around 10 years of experience with beard ownership and maintenance so is well placed to offer judgment on what the tech needs to do.
• We also participatedParsa Rad,Creative Director at men's grooming specialist The Refinery in Mayfair and former winner of the British Barbers' Association Best Shave Master title. Who better to tell us about the beard trimmers that barbers use?

What are the best beard trimmers on the market?

The good news is that there are many good beard trimmers out there. About half of the 12 products we tested do a very good job of keeping your face clean and tidy with minimal effort, but a few stand out in particular.

We've summarized our winners below in simple order, but read on to find out how we tested and selected these models, or skip to the longer descriptions for oursfull list of winners. Or scroll to the bottom of the page for our view of the ones to avoid.

• Best Pearl Cutter Overall –Babyliss 7897U Superbart
• Best on a budget –Remington MB4045 Bart-Kit
• Best for larger beards –Panasonic ER-GB96
• Am tragbarsten –Remington Endurance Nurse
• Most Versatile –Wahl 4-in-1-Multigroomer

what we were looking for

Caring for a beard is a bit like caring for your garden; neglect it and things will soon start to spiral out of control. But taking care of it isn't just about paying attention, it's also about having the right tools.

Beard trimmers differ from electric razors in one key way: instead of a foil that you press directly against your skin to trim the hair at the very base, a beard trimmer has a row of exposed incisors. This can be covered with a guard and adjusted to increase the distance between the blades and your skin, allowing you to trim your beard to the length you desire.

All of this takes time and effort. The last thing you want is to have it all go to waste when an inferior trimmer accidentally does half your hard work, but there are a few things to look out for when choosing a beard trimmer.

What we paid attention to in our tests

• We have selected 12 different models from a range of manufacturers, including specialist personal care brands such as Remington and Babyliss, as well as larger consumer electronics brands such as Philips and Panasonic.
• Aside from being beard trimmers, they all had one thing in common: They could trim to at least 5mm, but many can get by with far bushier beards.
• If you want to trim a little longer than a few overgrown stubbles, pay attention to the lengths of cut offered by each trimmer.

Comb style attachments vs more rectangular guards

Most beard trimmers come with multiple attachments, but they tend to fall into one of two categories.

• For longer beards, trimmers with comb-like attachments that have discrete pointed teeth (such asPanasonic ER-GB96orRemington MB4045) tend to be better at pulling out the longer hairs when cutting
• While the square guards (like the ones on theBabyliss 7897U SuperbartorPhilips-Series 5000) tend to be better suited to maintaining a shorter, less rugged look.

Battery life

Battery life isn't a huge concern with beard trimmers, as you'll typically only use them for about five minutes at a time, but most last about an hour between charges. If you don't plan on traveling for a long time and want to leave the charger at home, that's more than long enough.

However, a quick charge feature can be very useful if you wake up to an important meeting and find that your trimmer has run out of battery that day. These give you just enough battery power to get a quick overview before storming out the door.

consistency of the cut

Finding your perfect beard trimmer depends very much on the look you want to maintain, but the most important requirement, no matter what style you're going for, is that it can consistently trim to the same length without thinning or pulling on the hair. The last thing you want is to walk away with a patchy beard.

Long beard

Finding the right length for you is basically a matter of trial and error. "You can't put your hair back, so start with a high level and work your way down," says Parsa Rad.

This is easier for some trimmers than others as they don't allow for all fine adjustments.Wahl’s Beard Trim, for example, has an integrated comb that goes up to 24mm, with the shortest at 2mm, but there are actually only seven settings within that range.

Similar,Brauns MGK3060comes with six different attachments, but the two longer adjustable ones only have five different settings each. "Some trimmers have completely different length settings than others, so it's all a matter of experience," says Rad, but for perfectionists, the more precise you can be with the settings, the better.

At the other end of the scale isPanasonic ER-GB96, which not only comes with three separate adjustable combs (plus one for more intricate detail), but each can be adjusted in half-millimeter increments with its sturdy, barrel-like controls. If you can't find your ideal length with this level of customization, there's no help for you.

purpose

"If someone tells me they're looking for a trimmer, I always ask them what it's for," says Rad. "If you want it to do more than just shave your beard—like your chest, back, or head – I would recommend a more solid product.WahlandBabylissmake some incredible products that we use professionally every day.”

adjustability

But it's not just about the adjustment options, we also thought about how easy they are to change and how secure they feel in place. One of two types of adjustment mechanisms is typically found on a beard trimmer.

• The first is a simple sliding system that usually requires you to press a button to disengage the mechanism and increase or decrease the distance between the blades and the guard's teeth.
• The second uses a wheel that performs the same task as it spins. These can be positioned either along the length of the trimmer as onMB4045 von Remington, or built into the body in a barrel-like arrangement like you'll find in the three Philips trimmers we've tested, or theBabyliss 7897U Superbart.

The latter tend to be easier to adjust, as it is easy to get the wrong setting with the former, especially if the trimmer in question offers fine increments of a millimeter or less. The Super Beard even features a locking button that keeps the guard in place when activated, making it absolutely impossible to slip during use.

We settled on 7mm (or the closest any trimmer could reach) and tested each for effectiveness and efficiency. Does it always cut to the right length? And how many times do you have to run it over your beard before it works satisfactorily?

Robustness of the attachment

Part of this test was to assess the robustness of the attachments themselves. In order to be confident in a trimmer's cutting ability, the attachment's teeth should be firm enough so that they don't move too much with use, but not so thick that they create too much of a barrier between the blades and the hairs they're cutting should cut.

"The attachment you should use depends on the length you're going for, but trying to groom a very long beard at home is tricky — you have to go to a barber," says Rad Aim for a few millimeters, use whatever tools the trimmer comes with to gradually lighten it. It looks more natural that way than if everything has one length.”

Versatility of the trimmer

Beard grooming isn't just about the neck, chin and cheeks. You also need to keep your upper lip in check, so with each trimmer we took into account how versatile their attachments are.

Could they accommodate mustaches and sideburns appropriately? Or would you end up buying something else to deal with the details? And if you take the attachment off, could the exposed blades manage to tidy up the edges?

Clean trimmers - vacuum or not?

After we finished trimming, there was another important job to do: the cleaning. All those tiny strands of hair that don't end up in the sink get stuck in the blades, in the attachments, and in just about every nook and cranny they can find, so cleaning your trimmer can be a real pain. Some are totally waterproof, meaning you can just rinse them off and let them dry after each use, but others require more maintenance, which can be a real pain.

A couple of the trimmers we tested thatPhilips BT7202andRemington MB6850, contain built-in vacuum cleaner. These are designed to minimize mess by soaking up the flak that flies away when you shave.

They never capture 100% of the waste and work better when cut to shorter lengths, but as you might imagine they also get messy very quickly. This might save you from cleaning the sink, but it really just takes the work elsewhere.

accessories supplied

Finally, we considered which accessories are supplied with the trimmer. Some are very simple.Der Remington Endurance Groomer, for example, doesn't even come with a proper charger, just a USB adapter that allows you to plug it into a compatible plug or port. However, it does come with a carrying case, which many others don't have.

Charging stations and cases are more nice-to-have than necessary, but they keep the bathroom tidy, which should not be taken for granted.

The Winners - Top Beard Trimmers

1. The best beard trimmer: Babyliss 7897U Super Beard

7897U Super Beard by BabylissIt is one of the cheapest trimmers in our test, but it also consistently delivers the best overall results. It only comes with one guard which maxes out at 15mm so it may not be for everyone, but it's easy to dial, has 15 discrete length settings and does a great job of trimming efficiently and evenly. although it may not be the most convenient application.

With the guard removed, the Super Beard's blade head is good for rounding edges, but is a little too wide for doing anything too complicated. The electronic locking system allows you to secure the guard in place so it won't slip during use, and it also has a travel lock feature to prevent accidental activation.

The Super Beard isn't fully waterproof, but you can rinse the blades under the tap, so keeping them clean is fairly easy, although you'll need to remember to oil them regularly, which could get a bit of a chore.

Compared to the other trimmers at this price point, the Babyliss Super Beard does a very impressive job and even comes with a charging dock - something you don't get with many trimmers that cost twice as much.

2. Best on a Budget: Remington MB4045 Beard Kit

Remingtons MB4045 Bart-Kitis designed to groom a beard your most tattooed local barista would be proud of.

It's fairly sturdy in the hand, but the dials and switches are a bit plasticky. The combs are also a little tricky to attach, and the teeth are quite flexible, which can result in an uneven cut if you press them against your face too hard.

The MB4045 comes with three attachments: two combs that can be adjusted in length using the dial on the trimmer itself, and a smaller one with adjustable plastic teeth to keep your pain at bay. It also has one of those pop-out mini blades for precision trimming.

With either of the longer attachments (the smaller ranges from 1mm to 5mm, the medium ranges from 1.5 to 18mm, while the larger can handle anything from 20 to 35mm) the Remington MB4045 Beard Kit offers a fairly even cut . left with only a few stragglers. If you value absolute cleanliness, there are small scissors in the box that you can use to clean up afterwards.

3. Best for larger beards: Panasonic ER-GB96

With his collection of large comb attachmentsPanasonic ER-GB96suits even the bushiest of beards and offers a robust protection that allows you to stay organized without losing too much length. A set of solid plastic teeth on each provides real confidence when trimming, while textured areas on the main body provide a good grip so you don't slip while trimming. It's also waterproof, which means you can easily wash it after use. The whole thing feels solidly built, with a barrel-like dial that moves in half-millimeter increments (a whopping 58 total) and has an authoritative click with every turn.

It also comes with an attachment that covers all but 5mm of either end of the blade (you can choose which ones), which is great for cleaning up your pain. The big sticking point with the Panasonic ER-GB96 is its price. It's hard to see what it does to justify the extra cost over the Babyliss, and while there's a GB-86 that's £20 cheaper, it doesn't come with the detail trimmer, which is a pretty handy addition.

4. Am tragbarsten: Remington Endurance Groomer

About half the size of many of the trimmers we tested,Remington's Endurance Groomerpacks a lot into its tiny chassis and feels reassuringly heavy. Adjusting the length of the attachment can be a bit fiddly, but it works in millimeter increments and cuts evenly and effectively, even if it feels rather plasticky. The trimmer's head is also smaller than most, but it's still a bit too big to fully groom your upper lip.

The Endurance Groomer is also easy to clean as it is fully waterproof and can simply be rinsed under the tap when you are done.

Some may be put off by the lack of a proper charger, but the included USB adapter can be used with any standard USB plug (you probably have one with your phone) or a USB port with adequate power, making it ideal for travellers does much. It also comes with a carrying case, which few of the others do, and there's a lock to prevent it from being accidentally turned on during transport. If you assumed that the Endurance Groomer would sacrifice functionality for size, you are dead wrong.

5. Most Versatile: Wahl 4-in-1 Multigroomer

When opening the box for the first timeWahl 4-in-1-Multigroomercan be a bit daunting. Not only does it come with 12 comb attachments, but there are also four different blade heads so it takes a while to figure out what to adjust before you can start trimming your beard.

The attachments aren't adjustable, so you'll likely need more than one with each shave, and that might involve changing heads, which is a bit cumbersome and not particularly practical, but the multigroomer is a lot more powerful than many of the trimmers we have tested and flown through the hair with ease. We're not convinced of all the features - the close-up razor is largely ineffective and the ear/nose trimmer doubles as a tickle wand - but the main gripe is that the attachments don't feel as sturdy as the trimmer itself. Some of the shorter ones don't seem so good to fit but if you try to groom something longer than stubble it works fine.

Oh, and it's buzzing like a swarm of angry hornets, so maybe you should buy your family some earplugs.

The to avoid

None of the trimmers we tested were total failures, but there were a few that either didn't live up to their price point, let us down in terms of build quality, or just didn't cut as well as others.

Wahl’s Beard TrimandBrauns MGK3060(both £45) are just a tad too easy as they lack the precision of adjustment that a serious beard cultivator would demand and while neither theBabyliss Dual-Blade-Lithium(£60) orSuper Groomer(£45) perform poorly, both have a very plasticky feel and can be a pain to adjust. However, both come with lots of attachments, making them more versatile than many of the beard-only trimmers.

While it's by far the most eye-catching gimmick of all the products tested, it's very hard to recommend the laser-guided onePhilips BT9280. At £120 it's the most expensive of them all, but the laser doesn't really add enough to justify the price. It's supposed to make it easier to trim in a straight line, but it's more of a hindrance as it reflects off the blade and makes it harder to see what you're doing.

If it was one of the most effective all-around trimmers it wouldn't be a problem, but it's not as efficient as the best, maxing out at 7mm. It feels well built and the rotating cutter head is handy, making it easy to switch to a smaller one for detail, but you can get a lot better for a lot less.

Of the two with a built-in vacuum cleaner, we would choose the onePhilips BT7202(£80) over thatRemington MB6850(£70), although the former's plenum is non-removable. That makes it more of a hassle to clean effectively because only the blades can run under the faucet, but it does a better job of trimming the hair.

At the end of the day, both of you leave no mess to clean up. So unless you're particularly fussy about cleanliness, you're probably better off going with one of the more effective trimmers and making peace with the cleanup required afterwards.

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