The Best Beard Trimmers Will Keep Your Scruff Shaped Up

It also comes with trimming guards from 1/8″ to 1/2″ in length, along with a red blade guard, a cleaning brush, and oil. The powerful motor means cleaning up edges is a breeze, too, so whether you’re going for an old-school chinstrap (you do you, bro) or just want to make sure your neckbeard is under control, the Peanut has you covered.

Long-Term Testing Notes: Months later, this thing is still an absolute beast. Just as powerful as the day we got it, and the blades are still sharp. After a quick search, we found plenty of customers and barbers alike who said their Peanuts have lasted them for literal decades, so we’re looking forward to getting many more years out of ours.

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What to Look for in Beard Trimmers

You want a beard trimmer that’s simple, effective, and doesn’t come with useless features or add-ons. Here are a few features to consider when looking for a great beard trimmer.

• Motor power and blade quality: The device needs to be able to mow through your hair without any resistance or pulling. Trusted reviews are the only way to be sure, but we’d also suggest avoiding any beard trimmer that costs less than $20. Often that means a motor with too little power and longevity, and blades that dull quickly.
• Cost: Beard trimmers are like the wine menu at a restaurant: you don’t need the priciest option to have a good time, but you don’t want the bargain-basement bottle either. If you don’t believe us, believe pro barber Emily Clark, who lives by the mantra that cheap is expensive. “I’ve had clients buy a cheaper model, only for them to break a couple of months down the line,” she says. “If you want your tool to have a decent battery life and be powerful enough to cut cleanly, it’s well worth not only buying from a trusted brand, but also not going for their cheapest model and spending some time researching reviews.”
• Customization: Not every beard style requires a 25-piece kitchen sink accessory set, and often you can save a few dollars—or get a better trimmer—by being honest with yourself about what your beard needs really are. At the most basic, you want adjustable guides, a tool for clean lines, and a foil shaver for smooth skin (if you don’t have a true shaver in your grooming arsenal already). Beyond that, you’re somewhere between future proofing—maybe you will grow a longer beard—and overkill. “Make sure if you’re upgrading, you’re investing in features that are relevant to you and how you will use it,” Clark advises. “The key is to ensure your tool is proficient, efficient, and powerful. From there you can research the additional features offered and if they apply to how you will use your tool.”
• Battery life: You’ll want a couple hours at least, though in this case, more is truly more. “Long battery life means consistent use and even being able to travel without a charger,” says Clark. I charge my Philips Norelco Multigroom 9000, maybe once or twice a year, despite it being used weekly by myself and my partner. The company claims it ges six hours of battery life, but I’ve tested mine at 17 hours when it was new. That also means the beard trimmer should last longer, since batteries tend to be a real weak point for tech longevity. (Just ask anyone with a two-year-old iPhone.)
• Warranty: A warranty tends to be less a guarantee of functionality for the given duration than it is a symbol of how much trust the manufacturer puts in its product. That’s because no warranty—whether it’s eight years or five years or only two—covers damage from all the ways a trimmer is more likely to kick the bucket: because you dropped it on tile floors, or let the blade rust, or water slipped inside the motor and shorted it out. A store’s return policy is probably more crucial, in case you get the product and hate it immediately.

How We Test Beard Trimmers

I’ve been a grooming editor since 2013, and I’m constantly testing products, including the best (and not-quite-best) beard trimmers, shavers, and hair clippers (as well as skin, hair, and hygiene products). My favorite is (and has been, since 2021) the Philips Norelco Multigroom, and I use that beard trimmer as my measuring stick for other beard trimmers across factors like customization, cost, durability, power, ease of use, and more.