Rank #1 in Best Kitchen Knives 2026: The Hardness Nobody Publishes
Amazon Basics 12-Piece Knife Set, 6 Knives and 6 Covers
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Amazon Basics 12-piece set costs £16.19 and is rated 4.7 stars from 25,688 ratings, with six knives and six matching covers.
It takes first place because it has the largest sample here and the lowest price per blade, while its own description makes clear that half of the twelve pieces are sheaths.
How those 25,688 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.7 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Ratings | 4.7 from 25,688 |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 12, being 6 knives and 6 covers |
| Blade material | Stainless steel |
| Blade length | 6 Inches |
| Item weight | 671 g for the set |
| Price | £16.19 |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Perfect for price. Very sharp. All the sizes I need and have a covering on all the knives too.”
Verified purchase“Exactly what I’ve been searching for. Very sharp lightweight knives. Perfect for chopping and cutting”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Kitchen Knives 2026: The Hardness Nobody Publishes.
Rank #2
Amazon Basics 14-Piece Knife Set with Block and Shears
£16.79
Rank #3
nuovva Professional 5-Piece Colour Coded Knife Set, Non-Stick
£9.99
Rank #4
HOSHANHO Japanese Chef Knife 8 inch, 10Cr15CoMoV Steel
£31.44
Rank #5
MasterClass Edgekeeper Utility Knife 11.5cm with Self-Sharpening Sheath
£7.19
Questions people ask
How many knives do I get?
Six, plus six covers, from a set described as twelve pieces.
Is the steel hard?
The listing says stainless steel and gives no hardness figure.
Can they go in a dishwasher?
No, the listing says they are not dishwasher safe.
Are they sharp?
Buyers describe them as very sharp, though the steel is basic.
Why is it first?
Because the sample is enormous, the price per knife is the lowest here and the covers are included.
How many ratings does it have?
25688 at the time of collection, averaging 4.7 stars, with 82 per cent five-star and 1 per cent one-star.
Comments
Reader comments are not checked against the manufacturer's claims above.
No comments yet
Be the first to add something we missed — a price change, a spec that turned out wrong, or how one of these held up.
Leave a comment
No account needed. Own one of these? Tell other readers how it actually performed.