Best beard trimmers: tried and tested for perfect stubble

The best beard trimmers for men give you a sharp, barber-style finish without yanking out your facial hair. 

To bring you the top-rated men's beard trimmers, we've 'tidied up' multiple beards more than 100 times in total over our three years of testing.  Each trimmer is tested over several months and tried by numerous volunteers, so our recommendations aren't just based on one person's opinion.

We've put trimmers from Wahl, Braun, Philips, Manscaped and more through their paces - from £30 bargains to premium-priced trimmers over £150.

Five models were a cut above the rest and got our Best Buy recommendation. Three trimmers are also so reasonably priced for the quality of trim they deliver that they have been given our Great Value recommendation.

The beard trimmers we tested

The biggest brands and 16 of the most popular beard trimmers are included below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the beard trimmer test results below. 

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

A selection of the 27 beard trimmers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

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

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

Babyliss Super-X Metal Beard and Stubble Trimmer

Most recently tested September 2024

Range of trim 0.2 to 12mm, in 1mm steps

Claimed battery life 300 minutes

Accessories 2 x adjustable combs (1-6mm and 7-12mm), charging station, cleaning brush, oil for trimmer, travel case

Need to know Waterproof, three-pin plug included, three-year guarantee

Braun Series 3 (BT35 generation)

Most recently tested June 2025

Range of trim 0.5 to 20mm, in 0.5mm steps

Claimed battery life 50 minutes

Accessories 1 x adjustable comb (0.5-10mm), 1 x adjustable comb (10.5-20mm), cleaning brush, mini foil shaver, detail attachment, fabric travel pouch

Need to know Not waterproof, two-pin plug included, two-year warranty

Braun Series 9 (BT95 generation)

Most recently tested June 2025

Range of trim 0.5 to 20mm, in variable steps

Claimed battery life 180 minutes

Accessories 1 x adjustable comb (0.5-10mm), 1 x adjustable comb (10.5-20mm), 2 x fading combs (1-5mm), detail pro head, foil shaver head, charging station, cleaning brush, fabric travel pouch, hard-shell travel case, beard stencil

Need to know Turbo mode, waterproof, lock for wheel that adjusts cutting length, travel lock by long-pressing the power button, two-pin plug included, two-year warranty

Kevin Junior Skeleton Beard Trimmer

Available from Kevin Junior (£30)

Most recently tested September 2024

Range of trim 0.5 to 9mm, in variable steps

Claimed battery life 200 minutes

Accessories 6 x combs (1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9mm), cleaning brush, oil for trimmer

Need to know Not waterproof, USB-A charging cable, turbo and manual speed modes, 14-day 'no fault' returns policy

Manscaped: The Beard Hedger

Most recently tested September 2023

Range of trim 0.5 to 10mm, in 0.5mm steps

Claimed battery life 60 minutes

Accessories 1 x adjustable comb (0.5-10mm), hard-shell travel case

Need to know Not suitable for head or body hair, waterproof, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, no plug included, 90-day warranty

For the full grooming experience, see our round-up of the best nose hair trimmers, best razors for men and the best electric shavers 

Philips Series 5000 beard trimmer (BT5515/13)

Most recently tested September 2024

Range of trim 0.4 to 20mm, in variable steps

Claimed battery life 90 minutes

Accessories 2 x adjustable combs (0.4-10mm and 10-20mm), detail head, charging station, cleaning brush, travel case

Need to know Waterproof, three-pin plug included, two-year warranty

Philips Series 9000 Prestige Beard Trimmer (BT9810/13)

Most recently tested September 2023

Range of trim 0.4 to 10mm, in 0.2mm steps

Claimed battery life 120 minutes

Accessories 1 x integrated metal comb (0.4-5mm), 1 x adjustable comb (5.4-10mm), oil for trimmer, cleaning brush, hard-shell travel case

Need to know Waterproof, travel lock by long-pressing the power button, three-pin plug included, two-year guarantee

Remington Vacuum Beard and Stubble Trimmer

Most recently tested September 2024

Range of trim 0.5 to 18mm, in variable steps

Claimed battery life 60 minutes

Accessories 1 x adjustable comb (2-18mm), detail head, oil for trimmer, cleaning brush, built-in vacuum and detachable chamber

Need to know Not waterproof, three-pin plug included, three-year warranty

Wahl Aqua Blade Stubble and Beard Trimmer

Most recently tested September 2023

Range of trim 0.2 to 25mm, in variable steps

Claimed battery life 180 minutes

Accessories 8 x combs (1.5, 3, 5, 6.5, 8, 9.5, 11 and 13mm), 8 x hair combs (3, 6, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22 and 25mm), oil for trimmer, cleaning brush, beard comb, travel case

Need to know Suitable for head hair, waterproof, travel lock by long-pressing power button, three-pin plug included, five-year warranty plus lifetime blade warranty

Wahl Extreme Grip Stubble and Beard Trimmer

Most recently tested June 2025

Range of trim 0.5 to 11mm, in variable steps

Claimed battery life 120 minutes

Accessories 1 x adjustable comb (2-11mm), 12 x combs (0.75, 1.5, 2.25, 3, 3.75, 4.5, 5.25, 6, 6.75, 7.5, 8.25, 9.5mm), oil for trimmer, cleaning brush, beard comb, travel case

Need to know Suitable for head hair, waterproof, travel lock by long-pressing power button, three-pin plug included, five-year warranty plus lifetime blade warranty

Wahl Pro Series High Visibility Beard Trimmer

Most recently tested June 2025

Range of trim 0.2 to 13mm, in variable steps

Claimed battery life 120 minutes

Accessories 8 x combs (1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9.5, 11.5 and 13mm), nose and ear trimmer, mini foil shaver stand, oil for trimmer, beard comb, hard-shell case

Need to know Suitable for body hair, waterproof, USB type-A charging cable included, five-year warranty

More beard trimmers from our tests

Here’s how the rest of the beard trimmers from our tests measured up, listed in alphabetical order.

How we test beard trimmers

Which? is a not-for-profit organisation and has been testing products and calling out rogue businesses for almost 70 years.

Brands can't buy their way in to our testing or influence what we write. We buy every product we test, and we'll tell you the worst as well as the best beard trimmers.

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

Quality of trim

• To get a true and fair comparison of all trimmers, three testers spend weeks testing every single one at home. 
• We also recruit a diverse panel of volunteers to try three to four trimmers each. So every trimmer gets fully tested on a variety of hair types and beard lengths. 
• Each trimmer is rated for how well it cuts, how smooth it is on the moustache, sides of the face and the chin, and whether it irritates the skin.
• The best beard trimmers give quick, smooth and even trims. They can get into the awkward areas - such as under the nose - and have brilliant extra attachments. The worst tug at your hair or need several passes to get an even finish.

Blade strength

• The strength and cutting capabilities of each trimmer is pushed to the limits by trimming both soft and coarse brush bristles.
• We rate for the accuracy and evenness of the finished trim at different cutting lengths, and how easily they get through the bristles.
• The best beard trimmers cut evenly no matter the length, and get through these tough 'hairs' without cutting out. The worst do a literal hack job, with bristles cut to a variety of lengths and often struggling to get through the brushes.

Ease of use

• Our panel rates every trimmer for how comfy they are to hold and change combs, cutting length and trimmer heads.
• We use a Cambridge Simulation glove, which allows the wearer to empathise with those who have hand mobility issues, to assess each trimmer for how easy it is to use.
• The best are simple to use, with grippy handles and adjustable combs, while the worst are fiddly - even requiring some screwing and unscrewing of parts - to change trimmer heads.

We also test

• Noise We use a decibel meter to objectively determine the quietest beard trimmers from the needlessly noisy.
• Battery life We time how long each trimmer lasts from a five-minute charge. Some give you more than 20 minutes of juice; some barely last 10 seconds.
• Durability We test every trimmer for how splashproof and waterproof it is. We also perform drop tests. Every model we've tested so far passed the water-resistance test, but some didn't survive a head-height drop onto a hard bathroom floor.

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.

What's the difference between a hair clipper and a trimmer?

While they essentially do the same job, a hair clipper is designed for cutting long hair and full beards, whereas a trimmer is designed for cutting and styling shorter hair.

Trimmers have smaller blades than hair clippers, to enable them to cut closer to the skin.

Some beard trimmers can also be used for head hair and/or body hair. But if you have long hair that you want to regularly maintain between trips to the barber, a hair clipper may be better for you.

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How to use a beard trimmer

Most beard trimmers come with instructions and tips on the best way to use them. However, here are some general things to consider:

• Comb a thick beard against the direction it grows before cutting. This gets all the hair facing in the same direction, making it easier to get an even trim.
• Cutting against the direction your hair grows will remove more hair. Going with the direction of hair growth cuts less.
• Cut with the direction of hair growth for longer beards. It removes hair more slowly and helps to avoid a patchy look. For shorter beards, you can go with or against the direction of hair growth.
• Use your free hand to make your skin tauter. Place it below the area you're trimming and gently pull your skin away from the trimmer. This provides a steady support and makes it easier to trim looser areas, such as under your jaw and your cheeks.
• Use the trimmer without a comb to style your beard edges and remove stray hairs. Some trimmers come with a detail trimmer attachment, which is designed to make this part of the task easier.

Key beard trimmer attachments

• Detail or edge trimmer A smaller trimmer head to make finishing touches. You can use it to neaten up beard lines, or to trim sideburns, a goatee or your moustache.
• Foil shaver Use this if you want a particularly close shave. It uses oscillating blades that sit under a mesh cover.
• Nose and ear-hair trimmer A cylindrical attachment that can more easily fit in your nostrils and ears to trim this hair. Slowly insert the trimmer – you don't need to force the head into your nose. The grinding noise you hear will tell you the trimmer is removing hairs.
• Beard stencils Plastic stencil to help you cut your beard in a particular style, such as a goatee.
• Hair/body-hair combs Combs that usually cut to a longer length, designed for clipping the hair on your head or other parts of the body. 

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Wahl vs Braun vs Philips beard trimmers

There are a few major men's grooming brands - the three that crop up time and time again in online searches, at retailers and from Which? members are Wahl, Braun and Philips.

We've tested many trimmers from each of these brands, from their cheapest to premium models, and can reveal which has performed the best on average.

Wahl

Wahl offers a range of models with different aesthetics and to meet different needs. For example, the Aqua trimmer is fully waterproof, while the Pro Series has more premium metal components. They more often than most come with fixed combs and adjustable combs for a smaller range of cutting lengths that cover short to medium-length beards. Some are suitable for cutting head and body hair as well.

Braun

Braun has four ranges of beard trimmers (Series 3, 5, 7 and 9). They all share the same design style, and cut between 0.5 to 20mm in length using adjustable combs. The higher series bring in premium features - such as a lock for the adjustment wheel, travel locks and multiple speeds - and accessories such as charging stands, fading combs and hard-shell travel cases.

Philips

Philips has beard trimmers (models codes starting BT) and multi grooming trimmers (model codes starting MG). The former have a wider head for faster shaving, but the latter models are suitable for cutting head and body hair and come with a variety of fixed and adjustable combs.

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