An electric beard trimmer is a necessity for maintaining facial hair. The best ones are intuitive and offer a range of settings for general hair trimming and precision touch-ups.
In recent years, advances in rechargeable batteries have allowed for cordless trimmers to run up to an hour or more. Many beard trimmers on the market also utilize blades that require very little upkeep — as a general rule: look for self-sharpening steel blades that don’t require oil before each use.
You’ll also want to consider how, and where, you’ll be using it. Have you maintained the same beard for years and just need a one-trick pony? Do you alternate between short and long styles and need a trimmer that offers a lot of variety? Will you take your trimmer on business trips or are you leaving it in a bathroom cabinet? Finally, what’s your budget?
No matter how you answered any of these questions, our picks have you covered.
Wahl Model 9864
Best All-Around Beard Trimmer: Made in the America, this beard trimmer is housed in a durable stainless steel housing and utilizes rechargable Lithium Ion 2.0 technology that can provide hours of trimming on one charge. The Model 9864 comes with four attachments and 12 T-Blade guide combs to achieve different length trims.
The self-sharpening blades stay sharp over years of use and the warranty is one of the longest you’ll find in the world of beard trimmers. The best feature, though? A one-minute charge will give you three minutes of trimming time — perfect for procrastinators everywhere.
Attachments: 4
Runtime: 6 hours
Warranty: 5 years
Philips Norelco Multigroom MG7770
Best Feature-Packed Beard Trimmer: This aluminum-body beard trimmer has two times as many blades for a more precise trim. Its Lithium-ion battery delivers a 6-hour runtime, and the MG7770 comes with six purpose-designed attachements and a range of trimming guards.
It comes with a rugged zipper case that has a contoured foam body to hold the trimmer and pouches to secure attachments. What’s more, the steeper price is justified by an industry-leading 10-year warranty.
Attachments: 6
Runtime: 6 hours
Warranty: 10 years
Panasonic ER-GB80-S
Best Washable Beard Trimmer: This trimmer has 39 adjustable settings to fine-tune your grooming routine — a rubberized dial controls the settings in .5mm increments from .5mm to 20mm. The stainless steel blades are washable and a convenient water-drain allows quick cleaning after each use.
While the battery will last just shy of an hour, a LED charge indicator on the handle indicates the power level as to not leave you stranded in the middle of a trim. The attachments that come with the ER-GB80-S are designed for closer facial hair trimming, longer beard styles and precision body hair grooming. Panasonic also outfitted the trimmer with a rubberized handle that fits comfortably in bigger hands.
Attachments: 3
Runtime: 50 minutes
Warranty: 2 years
Braun Multi Grooming Kit MGK5080
Best Beard Trimmer for Travel: This compact trimmer can keep up with the best. It comes with four attachments and can trim beards from .5mm to 21 mm (in 2mm increments). The battery delivers one hour of runtime and a LED indicator on the handle displays the battery life. Thankfully, this trimmer is fully washable, making on-the-go cleanup a breeze. It’s also small enough to be packed into a Dopp kit without disturbing your current grooming products.
Attachments: 4
Runtime: 100 minutes
Warranty: 2 years
Andis T-Outliner
Best Corded Beard Trimmer: If you need a precision trimmer to touch-up your neck, beard and moustache, this is a solid option. Inside the heavy-duty housing, a quiet magnetic motor powers carbon-steel blades designed for years of use. Weighing in at 11.5 ounces, this trimmer is easy on the hands for extended use. The T-Outliner is ideal for dry shaving, but make sure to oil the blade before each use to insure a good trim.
Attachments: 0
Runtime: Continuous
Warranty: 1 year
Philips Norelco Beard Trimmer BT7215/49
Best Beard Trimmer with a Vacuum: Sometimes, convenience is a good thing; such is the case of the Philips Norelco BT7215/49. It has an integrated vacuum that catches the majority of your beard hairs, making post-trim cleanup incredibly fast.
Choose from 20 length settings ranging from .5mm to 10mm (in .5mm increments) and use four different attachments to get your ideal trim. It utilizes self-sharpening steel blades that are removable and washable. A lithium-ion battery delivers 80 minutes of runtime on a one-hour charge. The brand’s five-year warranty should do away with any buyer’s remorse — this is a close contender for the best all-around trimmer.
Attachments: 4
Runtime: 80 minutes
Warranty: 5 years
We talk with the founder of the Grooming Lounge, Mike Gilman, about the proper way to maintain a beard. Learn the appropriate steps to trim a short, regular and long beard. Read the Story