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Best tin openers 2025
How our tests find you the best
Ease of opening a tin
We worked our way through a tower of tomato soup cans to find a tin opener that will effortlessly slice through lids.
Disposing of the lid
The worst tin openers will have you dipping your fingers into a can of cold soup to rescue a sharp lid. The best offer speedy, hands-free disposal.
Compactness
Worried about kitchen drawer clutter? We measure each tin opener, so you don't have to worry about sacrificing precious kitchen drawer space.
We also test
How well the tin openers are put together and using our specialist accessibility equipment, how they feel to use for those with limited hand dexterity.
The best tin openers from our tests
We couldn't fault our best tin opener, the Joseph Joseph Can-Do Compact Can Opener. This manual tin opener is simple, effective and doesn't take up too much kitchen drawer space. The handle version - Joseph Joseph Can-Do Plus Can Opener - is easier to grip for those with limited hand mobility, though.
Alternatively, if you want the ease of a hands-free electric can opener, go for the Kitchen Mama Electric Tin Opener. Or, if you'd prefer a multi-purpose tin opener, knife sharpener and bottle opener, pick the Morphy Richards 3-in-1 Electric Can Opener instead.
Some of our Best Buy recommendations can set you back more than £20. If you're after a cheap and cheerful tin opener, we discovered some excellent Great Value options too.
Compare results and prices at a glance in the table below or read on for our full reviews.
| Tin opener | Price | Score | Ease of opening a tin | Ease of disposing of the lid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Buy: Joseph Joseph Can-Do Compact Can Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50019728 | 100% | ||
| Best Buy: Joseph Joseph Can-Do Plus Can Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50019393 | 94% | ||
| Kuhn Rikon Can Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50000299 | 77% | ||
| Oxo Good Grips Soft Handled | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50000301 | 77% | ||
| Great Value: Argos Home Stainless Steel Can Opener | Argos (£5) | 73% | ||
| Everest Left-Handed Tin Opener | AnythingLeftHanded.co.uk(£9.95) | 73% | ||
| John Lewis Stainless Steel Can Opener | John Lewis (£8) | 73% |
Date tested: January 2025 and January 2022. Page last checked: April 2025. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
Best Buy: Joseph Joseph Can-Do Compact Can Opener
Our score and verdict 100%, The best we've tested
Pros
- Effortless tin opening
- Mess-free, easy disposal
- The most compact we tested
- Very well made
Cons
- If we're being picky, it's pricey for a manual tin opener
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know Has quick-release button
This Joseph Joseph tin opener is incredibly easy to use - it cut through cans effortlessly and its quick-release button disposed of lids with zero mess.
It's the most compact tin opener we tested, so won't take up much valuable space in your kitchen drawers.
The innovative design made it easy to use, even while wearing Cambridge Simulation Gloves, which help users empathise with those who have hand mobility issues, such as arthritis.
All of our testers (both right and left-handers) chose it as their favourite tin opener. It will cost you a bit more than most of the manual tin openers we tested, but we couldn't fault it beyond that.
We awarded it our top Best Buy recommendation when we first tested tin openers in 2022 and - once again - it retains its top spot.
Best Buy: Joseph Joseph Can-Do Plus Can Opener
Our score and verdict 94%, Superb
Pros
- Effortless tin opening
- Mess-free, easy lid disposal
- Very easy to use with limited hand dexterity
- Very well made
Cons
- Pricey for a manual tin opener
- Not the most compact
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know Has a quick-release button
We also tested the Joseph Joseph Can-Do Plus tin opener, which comes with a handle. Our testers were equally as impressed with the results as our top-scoring Best Buy, so it also earns our Best Buy recommendation.
They found it a breeze to secure the tin opener onto the can, cut through the lid and use the quick-release button to throw away the lid without touching its sharp edge.
If you have limited dexterity in your hands you may, find this version of the Can-Do tin opener easier to use, as the extended handle provides extra grip.
However, the handle means that it's not as compact as our top-scoring Best Buy. This is worth keeping in mind if you don't like clunky utensils taking up kitchen drawer space.
It will set you back almost £20 but all of our testers found it effortless to use, so we think it's worth the extra cost.
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Kuhn Rikon Auto Safety Master Opener
Our score and verdict 77%, Feature-packed almost Best Buy
Pros
- Easy to use
- Lots of features
- Mess-free, easy lid disposal
- Well made
Cons
- Not as compact as some
- Pricey for a manual tin opener
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know Can be used as a ring pull opener, bottle opener, stuck jar opener or one-press lid ejection
This is a good tin opener that's pricey, but it's packed full of useful extra features.
It only just misses out on a Best Buy because it isn't very compact, and it's not quite as easy to use as our top scorers.
But if you're interested in the additional features on this tin opener, and have the drawer space, then it's one to consider.
Oxo Good Grips Soft Handled Can Opener
Our score and verdict 77%, Decent
Pros
- Easy to use
- Mess-free, easy lid disposal
- Well made
Cons
- Not as compact as some
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know Can be used as a bottle opener
This tin opener bites into tins and slices them open easily. It also grips firmly on the lid so you don't have to get your fingers anywhere near it to dispose of it.
The soft rubber handles are comfortable to grip, so you have full control over the can opener.
But for our Best Buys we're looking for perfection, and this one is just a bit bulkier and not quite as effortless to use as our recommended tin openers.
Great Value: Argos Home Stainless Steel Can Opener
Our score and verdict 73%, A bargain
Available from Argos (£5)
Pros
- Easy to use
- Well made
Cons
- Some found it tricky to dispose of lids
- Not the most compact
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know Can be used as a bottle opener
If you don't want to spend more than a tenner on a tin opener, our Great Value recommendation will serve you well.
While not quite as simple to use as our Best Buys, all of our testers still found it easy to open a tin.
Testers had mixed results when it came to disposing of the tin lid - some were able to release it into the bin without touching it, but for some the lid fell into the can after opening.
Its chunky handles make this a bulky tin opener but were nonetheless comfortable to grip.
Everest Left-Handed Tin Opener
Our score and verdict 73%, Not essential for left-handers but does the job
Available from AnythingLeftHanded.co.uk (£9.95)
Pros
- Easy to use for left-handers
- Compact
Cons
- Some found it tricky to dispose of lids
- A tad flimsy
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know Can be used as a bottle opener
This unique tin opener is specially designed for left-handers, with the turning gear mechanism placed on the opposite side to right-handed tin openers.
Our left-handed testers mostly found it easy to open a can but slightly struggled to remove the tin lid and release it into the bin.
It's not as chunky as some of the manual tin openers we tested, so it should easily slot in among your other kitchen drawer utensils. However our testers commented that it wasn't as sturdy as others they tried.
While this does a decent job, our left-handed testers still chose our top scoring Best Buy as their favourite tin opener.
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John Lewis Stainless Steel Can Opener
Our score and verdict 73%, Good for the price
Available from John Lewis (£8)
Pros
- Easy to us
- Well made
Cons
- Some found it tricky to dispose of lids
- Not the most compact
Most recently tested January 2025
If you don't want to spend too much on your kitchen gadgets, this is a simple but effective tin opener.
It's almost identical to the Argos Home can opener. It's as easy to use but the only difference we could find is that the turning mechanism is made from rubber rather than smooth plastic, so is easier to grip.
Some testers found it easy to dispose of the lid without having to touch its sharp edge, but for some the lid fell into their soup tin and had to be fished out.
Great Value: Ikea Koncis
Our score and verdict 66%, Easy tin opening for less
Available from Ikea (£4)
Pros
- Easy to use for some
- Well made
Cons
- Some found it tricky to dispose of lids
- Not as compact as some
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know Can be used as a bottle opener
Our testers had mixed results with this Ikea tin opener. Some were able to open tins and dispose of the lids with little fuss but for some it wasn't straightforward.
There's a small screw near the rotating blade that allows you to adjust its tightness - a useful addition if it comes loose over time.
While it's not quite as effortless as our Best Buys, at just £4 it's well worthy of our Great Value recommendation.
ProCook Can Opener
Our score and verdict 66%, Attractive but average
Available from ProCook (£8)
Pros
- Easy to use for some
- Well made
Cons
- Stiff turning mechanism
- Some found it tricky to dispose of lids
- Not as compact as some
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know Can be used as a bottle opener
This is an attractive tin opener, but it's only average at opening cans.
It's weighty and well made, with a small screw you can tighten to adjust the cutting wheel if you need to.
The wheel that you turn to slice through the top of the can is quite stiff compared with others we tested, though.
Ikea 365+ Vardefull Can Opener
Our score and verdict 59%, We found better
Available from Ikea (£5)
Pros
- Easy to use for some
- Compact
Cons
- Stiff turning mechanism
- Tricky to dispose of lids
- A tad flimsy
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know Can be used as a bottle opener
Its £5 price looks appealing, but our testers had inconsistent results when they put this tin opener to the test.
While some were able to easily open a tin with it, 7others found the turning mechanism too stiff.
All of our testers struggled to dispose of the lid without it falling into the soup tin. If you're after an Ikea tin opener, check out our Great Value recommendation instead.
Chef Aid Butterfly Can Opener
Our score and verdict 52%, Bad at the basics
Pros
- Compact
Cons
- Difficult to use to open tins
- Tricky to dispose of lids
- A tad flimsy
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know Can be used as a bottle opener
Compared with the other tin openers we tested, this one was difficult to get to bite into the can and it was generally a bit of a pain to use.
It's compact, cheap and easy to clean, but disappoints at its primary function.
Joseph Joseph Pivot 3-in-1 Can Opener
Our score and verdict 50%, Underwhelming
Pros
- Fairly well made
Cons
- Difficult to use to open tins
- Some found it hard to dispose of lids
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know Can be used as a ring pull opener and bottle opener
We found it very tricky to get it to bite down on cans, although once it connected it was easy enough to use.
It was also sometimes difficult to get the arms to sit fully back together after using it, which could be irritating if you're trying to put it away in a hurry.
Don't Buy: Culinaire MagiCan Can Opener
Our score and verdict 43%, Disappointing
Pros
- None
Cons
- Difficult to use
- Tricky to dispose of lids
- Poorly made
- Not particularly compact
- Not the easiest to clean
Most recently tested January 2022
You'll be disappointed with this sub-standard tin opener. Our testers struggled to get it to bite into tins, it felt flimsy and is one of the few that has hard-to-reach spots to clean. For this reason, we've given it our Don't Buy recommendation.
For a better tin opener that's a similar price, see our Argos Great Value recommendation.
Don't Buy: Millbrook Healthcare Multi Use Tin Opener
Our score and verdict 29%, Over complicated
Available from Millbrook Healthcare (£7.14)
Pros
- Compact
Cons
- Very difficult - almost impossible for some - to use
- Poorly made
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know Can be used as a bottle opener, ring pull opener or jar opener
This multi-use tin opener is designed for those with limited dexterity, weakened grip or arthritis.
Unfortunately, our testers found it overcomplicated to use and most were unable to open a tin with it. If you have limited hand dexterity, check our top-scoring Joseph Joseph Best Buy recommendation instead.
Don't Buy: ProCook Safety Can Opener
Our score and verdict 29%, Avoid
Available from ProCook (£8)
Pros
- Compact
Cons
- Very difficult - almost impossible for some - to use
- Poorly made
Most recently tested January 2025
All of our testers struggled at the first hurdle in getting this tin opener to secure onto the tin because of to its incredibly stiff arms and complex opening mechanism. This is why we've made it a Don't Buy.
If you're looking for a decent but inexpensive tin opener, take a look at our Argos Great Value recommendation instead.
The best worktop electric tin openers from our tests
Electric tin openers could be your best option if you don't have good dexterity or strength in your hands. We tested four worktop electric can openers to see how they compare. These sit on your worktop to make it easier - in theory - to open tins.
| Worktop electric tin opener | Price | Score | Ease of opening a tin | Ease of disposing of the lid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Buy: Morphy Richards 3-in-1 Electric Tin Can Opener | Morphy Richards(£29.99) and The Range(£29.99) | 95% | ||
| Kenwood Electric Can Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50000303 | 80% | ||
| Judge Electric Can Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50019404 | 75% | ||
| Cookworks Can Opener | Argos(£17) | 61% |
Date tested: January 2025 and January 2022. Price and availability last checked April 2025. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
Best Buy: Morphy Richards 3-in-1 Electric Tin Can Opener
Our score and verdict 95%, The best worktop tin opener
Available from Morphy Richards (£29.99) and The Range (£29.99)
Pros
- Effortless tin opening
- Mess-free, easy lid disposal
- Sturdy and well-made
Cons
- Takes up lots of space like most worktop tin openers
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know 25 x 9 x 12cm (H x W x D), can also be used as a bottle opener and knife sharpener
This is the best worktop electric tin opener we tested. It's very effective at its core job of opening tins, which attach easily to the device and are held securely in place.
The magnet on the machine holds on to the detached lid, so you can pull it off and dispose of it. This does mean you'll have to contend with the sharp edge of the lid, but you won't have to dip your fingers into the can to fish it out.
As with most worktop tin openers, it takes up quite a bit of space. If this is an issue for you, you might be interested in our top hands-free electric tin opener instead.
We noticed some online reviews that say it stopped working after a few months of use so it's worth registering for Morphy Richards' three-year warranty.
Availability tends to fluctuate so if it's out of stock, check out the Kenwood worktop can opener below.
Kenwood Electric Can Opener
Our score and verdict 80%, Excellent
Pros
- Easy tin opening
- Mess-free, easy lid disposal
- Sturdy and well-made
Cons
- Takes up lots of space like most worktop tin openers
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know 25 x 9 x 10cm (H x W x D), can also be used as a bottle opener and knife sharpener
Our testers liked this worktop electric tin opener, but it was a slightly more tricky to get the tin in place than on our recommended model.
Once the tin is in the correct position, it's opened at the touch of a button, and the magnet is effective at lifting the lid off of the tin too.
If you can't get your hands on our Best Buy, this is an excellent alternative.
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Judge Electric Can Opener
Our score and verdict 75%, Messy lid disposal
Pros
- Easy tin opening
- Sturdy and well made
Cons
- Some found it tricky to dispose of lids
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know 23 x 12 x 8cm (H x W x D), can also be used as a bottle opener and knife sharpener
The Judge Electric Can Opener wasn't as straightforward to use as our top-scoring worktop tin opener.
It was a bit fiddly to secure the tin onto the machine, but most testers managed to get the hang of it.
However, for some the magnet wasn't strong enough to hold the lid and it fell into the soup tin.
Cookworks Can Opener
Our score and verdict 61%, Fiddly to use
Available from Argos (£17)
Pros
- Mess-free, easy lid disposal
Cons
- Hard to attach the can correctly
- Poorly made
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know 25 x 15 x 13cm (H x W x D), can also be used as a bottle opener
It simply took too long to get the can seated correctly and properly connected to the cutting tool on this worktop tin opener.
We can't recommend it because attaching the can is a tricky job that none of our panel could perfect.
The best hands-free electric tin openers
Hands-free electric tin openers are another type of can opener you might reach for if you don't have good dexterity or strength in your hands. They tend to be smaller, and so take up less storage space than worktop electric tin openers, although are still usually more bulky than non-electric tin openers.
| Hands-free electric tin openers | Price | Score | Ease of opening a tin | Ease of disposing of the lid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Buy: Kitchen Mama Electric Tin Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50000309 | 85% | ||
| Great Value: ProCook Electric Can Opener | ProCook (£15) | 84% | ||
| Cooks Professional Automatic Can Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50019412 | 84% | ||
| Culinaire One Touch Can Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50000306 | 81% | ||
| JML Hands Free Automatic Can Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50000308 | 79% | ||
| Zyliss Easican Electric Can Opener | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50000310 | 66% |
Date tested: January 2025 and January 2022. Page last checked: April 2025. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
Best Buy: Kitchen Mama Electric Tin Opener
Our score and verdict 85%, Our top hands-free electric tin opener
Pros
- Effortless tin opening
- Mess-free, easy lid disposal
Cons
- Chunky
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know Requires 4xAA batteries (not included)
This well-designed device is the best hands-free electric tin opener we tested.
It was very easy to pop it on top of a tin, press the button and then stand back and watch it do its work.
It gripped firmly onto the tin lid for easy disposal too, so there's no need to put your fingers anywhere near the sharp edges.
Keep in mind that it's quite bulky, so will take up a fair bit of kitchen drawer space.
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Great Value: ProCook Electric Can Opener
Our score and verdict 84%, Almost a Best Buy
Available from ProCook (£15)
Pros
- Effortless tin opening
- Mostly mess-free, easy lid disposal
Cons
- Chunky
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know Requires 4xAA batteries (not included)
For £10 less than our top-scoring hands-free electric tin opener, this ProCook device also impressed our testers.
It was quick and easy to secure onto the can for hands-free tin opening.
However it just misses our Best Buy recommendation as some testers found the magnet wasn't strong enough to pick up the lid.
If you're willing to overlook some niggles, we think this does a commendable job as the cheapest hands-free electric tin opener we tested. Therefore we've given it our Great Value recommendation.
Cooks Professional Automatic Can Opener
Our score and verdict 84%, Effortless
Pros
- Effortless tin opening
- Mostly mess-free, easy lid disposal
Cons
- Chunky
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know Requires 4xAA batteries (not included)
This tin opener is almost identical to our Great Value ProCook Electric Can Opener, and our testers were equally as pleased with its results.
We'd suggest making a saving of £10 and going for the ProCook model. However if it's out of stock, our Best Buy recommendation or this Cookworks model are fantastic alternatives.
Culinaire One Touch Can Opener
Our score and verdict 81%, Worth a look
Pros
- Easy to use
- Mess free, easy lid disposal
- Soft-touch grip
Cons
- Chunky
Most recently tested January 2025
Need to know Requires 2xAA batteries (not included)
While not quite as seamless as our top scoring electric tin openers, our testers were mostly pleased with how easy this hands-free model was to use.
It isn't as compact as a manual tin opener, but it's the smallest electric version we tested and would still fit comfortably in a kitchen drawer.
It securely gripped the tin lid so our testers were able to dispose of it easily, without touching the sharp edges.
JML Hands Free Automatic Can Opener
Our score and verdict 79%, Flimsy
- Effortless tin opening
- Easy mess-free lid disposal
Cons
- Very poorly made
- Bulky
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know Requires 2xAA batteries (not included)
We weren't impressed with the build quality of this tin opener.
It's much bulkier than our Best Buy hands-free electric can opener and the battery casing was loose, so we can't recommend it.
However, it does the job of opening cans incredibly well.
Zyliss Easican Electric Can Opener
Our score and verdict 66%, A mixed bag
- Easy to use for some
- Compact and well made
Cons
- Tricky to secure onto tin
Most recently tested January 2022
Need to know No additional features
We struggled to seat this device on top of tins compared with the others we tried.
It's compact and well put together compared to many of the hands-free options, but it's not good enough to be a Best Buy.
Which? Don't Buy tin openers
Our tests uncover the best and the worst. If a product performs so poorly that we think you should avoid it, we name it a Don't Buy.
We've tested three tin openers that we've named Don't Buys. The Culinaire MagiCan Can Opener struggles to bite onto a tin, while the Millbrook Healthcare Multi Use Tin Opener and ProCook Safety Can Opener were impossible for most of our testers to use.
How we test tin openers
A good tin opener will feel effortless to use, bite easily onto the top of a can and also allow for easy disposal of the lid into the bin.
Two left-handers and two right-handers put the bestselling tin openers to the test, assessing them on the factors below.
We buy all the tin openers we test. We regularly revisit the tin openers on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing and when we find them we do.
Ease of opening a tin
We use each tin opener to open four tins of soup. The best tin openers require less effort, bite into tins easily and leave the lid with no sharp edges.
Our testers also wear Cambridge Simulation Gloves to identify any tin openers that are particularly easy to use for those who have limited movement in their hands.
Disposing of the lid
Testers rate how easy it is to dispose of the sharp lid once they've opened the tin.
The best tin openers grip the lid firmly until you eject it over the bin, whether with a button or by opening the arms of the tin opener. The worst require you to get your fingers messy and potentially cut them on the lid.
Compactness
We measure each tin opener to rate how much kitchen drawer space they take up. The more compact the tin opener, the better.
Build quality
All tin openers are rated for the quality of the materials and how well they are put together.
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.
Should you buy an electric tin opener?
Manual tin openers can be difficult to use if you don't have the dexterity or strength in your hands to operate them.
We tested several worktop electric can openers and some hands-free ones too, and found several good options.
If you don't have spare countertop space for a worktop tin opener, then the manual electric tin openers we tested are a brilliant alternative and will store snugly away in a kitchen drawer.
How to use a tin opener
During testing, a keen debate ensued on the best way to open a tin can.
Should you place the cutting wheel inside the lip of the tin so it cuts around the inner circle? Or should it go on the underside of the lip so that it slices off the entire lid?
Most tin openers will allow both methods, but some are better at one way than the other.
The truth is, it doesn't really matter which way you do it – both methods work. But ask your nearest and dearest how they open a tin, and you might be surprised by their answer.
Do you need a left-handed tin opener?
Not really. If you're left-handed, you may find yourself crossing your hands to open a tin, so a left-handed tin opener may seem tempting. We tested one specifically for left-handed use - the Everest Left-Handed Tin Opener - but it wasn't preferred by the left-handed members of our panel.
Their favourite was the best tin opener in our test, the Joseph Joseph Can-Do Compact. This manual tin opener is just as suitable for right or left-handers.