Best epilators 2026: tried and tested for easy hair removal

The best epilators leave your skin smooth and hair-free, with no patches left behind. While it isn't a permanent hair-removal solution, epilating gives you a smooth finish that lasts much longer than shaving.

Our testers tested epilators on their leg hair, including the popular but pricey Braun Silk-épil 9 Flex and the latest Philips models, to find out if any can take the sting out of epilating. 

We've also tested face epilators to see if they can tackle delicate facial hair cleanly and comfortably.

Prices ranged from £30 to more than £300, but you don't have to spend a fortune to get a good epilator. We discovered three Great Value picks – including one for less than £50 – and two scored so highly they're also Best Buys. 

The epilators we've tested

Only logged-in Which? members can view the epilator test results.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.

All the epilators we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best epilators from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.

Braun Silk-épil Series 3 3-031 

Most recently tested May 2024

Accessories Cleaning brush, shaver head, trimmer cap

Need to know Two speed settings, two-pin plug included, for use on body only

Braun Silk-épil Series 7 7-241

Most recently tested May 2024

Accessories Cleaning brush, mini precision trimmer, pouch, precision head, protection cap, shaping head, shaver head, skin contact cap, trimmer cap, trimming comb x2

Claimed battery life Up to 40 minutes

Need to know Two speed settings, two-pin plug included, for use on body and face

Braun Silk-épil Series 9 Flex 9-481 3D

Most recently tested May 2024

Accessories Cleaning brush, exfoliation brush, protection cap, massage pad, mini trimmer, shaver head, skin contact cap, trimmer cap

Claimed battery life Up to 50 minutes

Need to know Two speed settings, smart-touch mode (adjusts speed according to pressure applied), two-pin plug included, for use on body only

Magnitone PluckIt 2 Super Glide Compact Epilator

Available from Magnitone (£40 - Currently out of stock)

Most recently tested May 2024

Accessories Precision head, regular head, storage pouch

Claimed battery life Up to 1 hour

Need to know Two speed settings, USB charging cable included, for use on body only

Panasonic Wet/Dry Epilator ES-EY30 

Most recently tested June 2026

Accessories Cleaning brush, sensitive area cap, pouch

Claimed battery life Up to one hour

Need to know Three speed settings, three-pin plug included, for use on body only

If you want to catch those stray hairs between epilating, use one of our best razors for women

Philips Satinelle Essential

Most recently tested May 2024

Accessories Cleaning brush, bikini trimmer comb, exfoliation glove, massage cap, pouch, shaving head, shaving head comb, trimming head (these accessories come with the Philips Satinelle Essential BRE285/00).

Need to know Two speed settings, two-pin plug included, for use on body only

Philips Satinelle Wet & Dry Epilator Series 8000

Most recently tested May 2024

Accessories Cleaning brush, delicate area cap, optimal contact cap, pouch, shaving head, trimming comb (these accessories come with Philips Satinelle Wet & Dry Epilator Series 8000 BRE710/01).

Claimed battery life Up to 40 minutes

Need to know Two speed settings, three-pin plug included, for use on body only

Philips Series 2000

Most recently tested June 2026

Accessories Massage cap, shaving head with comb, cleaning brush (these accessories come with the Philips Series 2000 BRE227/00).

Need to know One speed setting, three-pin plug cable included, for use on body only

Philips Series 4000

Most recently tested June 2026

Accessories Massage cap, shaving head with comb, bikini trimmer head with comb, pouch, cleaning brush (these accessories come with the Philips Series 4000 BRE247/00).

Need to know Two speed settings, three-pin plug included, for use on body only

Philips Series 9000

Most recently tested June 2026

Accessories ProGuide attachment, pouch, body exfoliation brush, bikini trimmer head, bikini trimmer comb, trimming comb, shaving head (these accessories come with the Philips Series 9000 BRE719/00).

Claimed battery life Up to three hours

Need to know Two speed settings, USB cable included, for use on body only

Health? or Hype?

Make the right choice with recommendations you can trust, backed by expert testing.

Explore health recommendations

Which is the best face epilator?

If you’re looking to take a break from waxing or threading, you might think about trying a face epilator.

Like body epilators, they use rapid tweezing to pluck hair from the root, but are specially designed for the delicate skin on your face. They have a narrower, mascara-wand-shaped head for better precision, a slower speed for a gentler pluck and smaller tweezers engineered to catch fine peach fuzz.

In our latest round of testing, our panel tested a couple of popular Braun face epilators to see how they compare. 

Only logged-in Which? members can view the face epilator test results.

Braun FaceSpa Pro 921

Most recently tested June 2026

Accessories Cleansing brush head, toning head, stand, pouch

Claimed battery life Up to 90 minutes

Need to know One speed setting, the head rotates left and right, two-pin plug included

Braun FaceSpa 810

Most recently tested June 2026

Accessories Cleansing brush head, cleaning brush

Need to know One speed setting, the head rotates left and right, 1 x AA batteries included 

Do LED masks really work? Get our expert assessment of what the science says and find out which masks have impressed in our tests so far

How we test epilators

We buy the bestselling epilators and recruit a diverse panel of testers to put them through our tough tests. We don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers.

While we use the same assessment criteria for both body and face epilators, the results are weighted differently to reflect how they're used. Every epilator is assessed on:

• Hair removal Our testers use each epilator on dry skin to remove the hair from their legs and assess how effective it is at plucking out the hairs. Hair is grown back to a suitable length (around 2-5mm) before each epilator is used to remove it. The best epilators remove all the hair (even short hairs) in one pass, whereas the worst require multiple passes over the same area to capture all the hairs. 
• Ingrown hairs A common concern with epilators is ingrown hairs. We ask our testers to record the frequency of ingrown hairs after using each epilator.
• Ease of use We assess how easy it is to adjust the settings, attach the head and clean each epilator. We also use a Cambridge Simulation Glove, which gives the wearer a sense of how it feels to have conditions that affect dexterity, such as arthritis.
• Comfort Epilators can be slightly uncomfortable to use, but they don't have to be painful. Our testers rate each epilator on how comfortable it is to hold and how it feels against the skin.
• Battery life We charge each cordless epilator from empty for five minutes and then time how long it runs for. The best epilator lasts more than six minutes, while the worst doesn't even last 30 seconds. 
• Noise Our panel rates how noisy each epilator is while removing hair. 

We regularly revisit the epilators on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them, we do.

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent

How to use an epilator

Before you use an epilator, check which parts of the body it's suitable for. Most are designed to be used on the body, including legs, arms, underarms and bikini line. Some, but not all, can also be used on the face. Some epilators come with different attachments for different parts of the body, so read the instructions before you start. 

Here are our top tips after months of testing epilators:

• Make sure the hair is a suitable length. It needs to be around 2 to 5mm long. If it's any shorter, the rotating discs will struggle to catch it; any longer, and you may find epilating more painful. 
• Prep the day before. Use an exfoliating scrub or mitt to get rid of any dead skin. This will help the epilator to grip the hairs and prevent ingrown hairs. 
• Check if your epilator can be used in the shower. Epilating under running water can help to reduce discomfort. If you use your epilator on dry skin, make sure it's completely dry before you start. 
• Perfect your technique. Hold the epilator at a 90-degree angle to your skin. Move it slowly against the direction of the hair growth to ensure it picks up as many hairs as possible. If you move it too fast, you'll risk missing hairs and will have to go over the area again. 
• Avoid using scented creams or lotions. After epilating, stick to simple, fragrance-free moisturisers to prevent irritating your pores. 

How to use a face epilator

While the rules for body epilators still apply, the more delicate skin on your face requires some extra care. 

• Wash away make-up and skincare products. Ensure your skin is freshly washed and completely bare before you start to avoid clogging the epilator head. 
• Pull the skin taut. Facial skin is much looser than skin elsewhere on your body, so you must use your free hand to pull it tightly. This gives the epilator a flat surface to work on and prevents the tweezers from accidentally pinching you.
• Stick to doing it at night. Facial skin is sensitive and prone to redness. Epilating at night means your skin has time to calm down before you face the day.

How do epilators work?

So what is an epilator? In short, it's one of the many hair removal devices you can buy for home use – a corded or cordless handheld device with rotating discs that plucks out hair from the root as you move it across your skin.

Because an epilator removes hair from the root, it can be more painful than other hair removal methods, such as shaving. Some epilators have features that manufacturers claim will help to alleviate the pain, such as massage rollers, but our tests found these varied in effectiveness. 

What’s the difference between epilation and laser hair removal?

Unlike epilators, laser and IPL machines use light energy to target the hair follicle. Over time, these treatments damage the root, and so they promise to reduce or entirely prevent future hair growth, offering a longer-term solution to hair removal. 

Best anti-ageing day creams – our independent lab tests reveal which ones really reduce wrinkles

How long does epilating last?

If you're thinking about buying an epilator and wondering if the results last longer than shaving, keep in mind that it's not a permanent hair removal method. We found that hair typically grows back in around two to four weeks. 

The length of time depends on where you're removing the hair from, your hair type and even your hormones, so it will vary from person to person. 

If you're wondering whether epilating is better than waxing, the answer is: it depends. Waxing also removes hair from the root, but you have to deal with hot, sticky wax, which can get messy and uncomfortable. Getting waxed in a salon can also be pricey, so although the initial outlay may be higher, epilating may save you money in the long run.

Do epilators hurt?

There’s no sugarcoating it: epilating is never going to feel like a relaxing spa treatment. 

We ask every panellist to rate how comfortable each model feels against their skin, and unsurprisingly, none score very highly. In general, our testers rated body epilators OK comfort-wise, but found face epilators were outright uncomfortable.

If it's your first time, we recommend buying a lower-priced epilator to test your pain threshold before investing in a more expensive model. Fortunately, it does get easier as your skin adapts and your hair grows back finer. 

You can also take the edge off the pain with a few simple tricks. Read how to use an epilator for advice on minimising the sting.