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7 best beard trimmers for keeping every style of facial hair in check

From stubble to goatees and ‘taches – stay sharp with these top-rated trimming tools

Lee Kynaston
Tuesday 20 December 2022 10:54 GMT
<p>Choice of cutting lengths, battery life, precision and general pruning performance were all considered  </p>

Choice of cutting lengths, battery life, precision and general pruning performance were all considered

Our Top Picks

  • Remington barba MB320C beard trimmer .jpg
    Remington barba MB320C beard trimmer
    Best overall

    Robust, reliable and easy to use, this trimmer from Remington is beautifully designed to sit comfortably and securely in the hand, while the angle of the head means you can reach all the bits you need to without problems.

    Barbarossa Brothers electric head and body hair clippers.jpg
    Barbarossa Brothers electric head and body hair clippers
    Best for short styles and stubble

    Designed for beard, head and body hair, this super-stylish clipper features just three length guards (from 1mm-3mm) so it’s strictly for those wanting super-short, neat beards of those who aim to maintain stubble a la Jason Statham. Not much thicker than a fat cigar, it’s smaller and more compact than the other trimmers we tried, is quiet and, thanks to the knurled handle (a common feature of quality safety razors on which its design is based), it offers superb grip too. Perfect for travel, the style conscious and, since Barbarossa Brothers are a Leeds-based shaving company, for those who like to support home grown businesses. For lovers of bling, the gold coloured version is the biz.

  • Panasonic ER-CKN1 multishape modular personal care system
    Panasonic ER-CKN1 multishape modular personal care system
    Best multifunctional beard trimmer

    The new kid on the block, Panasonic’s innovate multi-functional, beard and hair trimmer kit features two guard attachments (a short one at 1mm-10mm) and a medium one (11mm-20mm) that allow you to trim both your beard and your hair, with the same tool. Cutting lengths are adjustable thanks to a dial, which actually offers a whopping 39 possible lengths in total, so if precision is your thing then this is the Daddy.

    Philips oneblade pro for face
    Philips oneblade pro for face
    Best for precision contouring

    The Philips oneblade is one of those grooming tools that once you’ve tried it you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. This dinky device is designed to trim, style, edge and contour facial hair as well as shave skin around your beard. It’s incredibly easy to use and uses revolutionary blade technology, including a “dual protection system” to reduce the chance of snagging or irritation to the max. The pro version pimps up the features on the standard edition too, with an adjustable beard comb that offers 12 different length settings that go up to 9mm.

  • Remington T-series hair and beard kit
    Remington T-series hair and beard kit
    Best for battery time

    Another multifunctional tool (it cuts hair and as well as trims beards) this award-winning kit allows you to cut the hair on both your head and face, while a stubble comb means you can easily master shorter styles. A full-sized foil shaver attachment means you can keep skin around your beard smooth too.

    BaByliss superstubble XTP beard trimmer
    BaByliss superstubble XTP beard trimmer
    Best digital trimmer

    If you’re into your tech this digital beard trimmer from BaByliss should be your go to grooming tool. The trimmer allows for a wide range of cutting (from 0.4mm-5mm) which can be adjusted in ultra-precise 0.2mm increments making it ideal for precision freaks too. The digital display is a cool addition allowing you to see exactly which length the trimmer is set to before trimming, how much cutting time is left in the battery and it even has a memory function that’ll store the last length you used, which is handy if you like to maintain a particular length of beard.

  • Braun beard trimmer 3 BT3221
    Braun beard trimmer 3 BT3221
    Best value for money

    If you’re looking for an affordable, entry-point beard trimmer that pits function over fancy add-ons, this trimmer from Braun is your man. Nicely designed and easy to use – you just move the precision dial to select a length – it offers 20 separate cutting lengths up to 10mm. It also features lifetime sharp blades, though you may need to come back to us in 50 years to see how well they’re holding up. It’s super-straightforward to use, sits nicely in the hand and feels pretty robust.

Ever since man first fashioned tools to trim his stubble he’s been moulding, shaping and crafting it into different shapes and designs in an effort to express his own individuality.

The perfect way to make a style statement, facial hair is free, self-renewing and can be changed within minutes to reflect your mood. With the help of a decent beard trimmer you can create a look that’s cool and contemporary, mean and moody or lumberjack rugged. It can make baby faces look older, hide a multitude of sins (or chins) and can even be sculpted to accentuate cheekbones and emphasise jawlines.

But whilst facial hair is low maintenance it’s not no maintenance. Like garden hedges, beards tend to look best when neatly pruned, so a good trimmer is essential.

When buying one, think about the length you’re likely to want your beard as some are better suited to short styles and designer stubble. You should also consider how often you’ll be using them and take a good look at battery time – a once a week tidy for a full beard won’t require as much juice as the regular maintenance of shorter, neater styles.

Think too about whether you’ll use the trimmer elsewhere – multi-functional tools that trim hair, beards and body hair will save you money. And if definition is important always make sure they have a decent edging blade.

How we tested

When road-testing each beard trimmer we took everything from cutting length options and how easily adjustable the clippers were to performance, precision and battery time. It helped that our tester has had a beard for over 20 years. How they felt in the hand was important too but top of our list was how well they sliced through facial hair. As ever, we had a beady eye on price and value for money too.

The best beard trimmers in 2022 are:

  • Best overall – Remington barba MB320C beard trimmer: £19.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for short styles and stubble – Barbarossa Brothers electric head and body hair clippers: £49.99, Barbarossabrothers.com
  • Best multifunctional beard trimmer – Panasonic ER-CKN1 multishape modular personal care system: £69.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best for precision contouring – Philips oneblade pro for face: £59.99, Boots.com
  • Best for battery time – Remington T-series hair and beard kit: £56.66, Very.co.uk
  • Best digital trimmer – BaByliss superstubble XTP beard trimmer: £63.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best value for money – Braun beard trimmer 3 BT3221: £19.99, Boots.com

Remington barba MB320C beard trimmer

  • Best: Overall
  • Battery life : 40 minutes of cordless use on a 16 hour charge
  • Cutting lengths : 1.5mm to 18mm
  • Special features : Lube for Life blades, pop-up trimmer
  • Accessories : Cleaning brush

Robust, reliable and easy to use, this trimmer from Remington is beautifully designed to sit comfortably and securely in the hand, while the angle of the head means you can reach all the bits you need to without problems.

There are nine pre-set length settings, controlled by a zoom wheel, to tackle everything from stubble to full on grizzlies and there’s a handy pop up trimmer for defining edges. Catching every hair under the nose (a difficult task at the best of times) took a little patience but we got there in the end. One of the simplest and most straightforward trimmers we tried – and certainly one of the best value ones – it even makes blade maintenance a cinch by having “lube for life” blades that don’t need to be oiled. Proof that, sometimes, simple really is superior.

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Barbarossa Brothers electric head and body hair clippers

  • Best: For short styles and stubble
  • Battery life : Two hours on a two hour charge
  • Cutting lengths : 1mm to 3mm
  • Special features : Low noise motor, carbon steel blades
  • Accessories : Cleaning brush, blade guard

Designed for beard, head and body hair, this super-stylish clipper features just three length guards (from 1mm-3mm) so it’s strictly for those wanting super-short, neat beards of those who aim to maintain stubble a la Jason Statham. Not much thicker than a fat cigar, it’s smaller and more compact than the other trimmers we tried, is quiet and, thanks to the knurled handle (a common feature of quality safety razors on which its design is based), it offers superb grip too. Perfect for travel, the style conscious and, since Barbarossa Brothers are a Leeds-based shaving company, for those who like to support home grown businesses. For lovers of bling, the gold coloured version is the biz.

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Panasonic ER-CKN1 multishape modular personal care system

  • Best: Multifunctional beard trimmer
  • Battery life : 50 mins use on a 1 hour charge
  • Cutting lengths : 1 to 20mm
  • Special features : Interchangeable heads
  • Accessories : Protective cap, travel pouch

The new kid on the block, Panasonic’s innovate multi-functional, beard and hair trimmer kit features two guard attachments (a short one at 1mm-10mm) and a medium one (11mm-20mm) that allow you to trim both your beard and your hair, with the same tool. Cutting lengths are adjustable thanks to a dial, which actually offers a whopping 39 possible lengths in total, so if precision is your thing then this is the Daddy.

What elevates this above the average beard trimmer, though, apart from the beautiful design, is the fact that it’s a customisable gadget you can add different heads to. There’s a nose trimmer, shaver, and even an electric toothbrush head all available, meaning that in one – super stylish looking tool – pretty much all your grooming needs are met. It’s not the cheapest trimmer here but it’s a premium grooming tool and, unusually for multi-functional gadgets, is a jack of all trades and a master of all too.

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Philips oneblade pro for face

  • Best: For precision contouring
  • Battery life : 90 minutes on a 1 hour change
  • Cutting lengths : 0.5 to 9mm
  • Special features: Dual protection replaceable blades
  • Accessories : N/A

The Philips oneblade is one of those grooming tools that once you’ve tried it you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. This dinky device is designed to trim, style, edge and contour facial hair as well as shave skin around your beard. It’s incredibly easy to use and uses revolutionary blade technology, including a “dual protection system” to reduce the chance of snagging or irritation to the max. The pro version pimps up the features on the standard edition too, with an adjustable beard comb that offers 12 different length settings that go up to 9mm.

You’ll need to replace the dual sided blade once every four months or so but that’s a small price to pay for the convenience and great performance of this brilliant little gadget. A better tool for tackling barely there facial hair (think four-day old stubble, goatees, ‘taches and jazz spots) you’ll be hard pressed to find. It’s great for travel too.

This one is currently unavailable online, but Boots assures us more stock is coming soon.

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Remington T-series hair and beard kit

  • Best: For battery time
  • Battery life : 5 hours use on a 4 hour charge
  • Cutting lengths: 1.5 to 25mm
  • Special features : Quick charge option, 100 per cent waterproof
  • Accessories : Cleaning brush, travel pouch

Another multifunctional tool (it cuts hair and as well as trims beards) this award-winning kit allows you to cut the hair on both your head and face, while a stubble comb means you can easily master shorter styles. A full-sized foil shaver attachment means you can keep skin around your beard smooth too.

It ploughs through even the toughest of hair, is 100 per cent waterproof so can be used in the shower and cleaned under the tap. Plus, it offers an impressive five hours cutting time on just one four-hour charge, making it perfect for lazy types who are always forgetting to charge things. As a back-up there’s a five minute quick charge function that’ll give you enough power for a decent trim, making it the king in terms of battery performance.

If there’s a criticism, it’s that the length dial on the cutting comb feels a bit plastic-y, but we liked the gold coloured blades and detailing which makes it stand out against its competitors.

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BaByliss superstubble XTP beard trimmer

  • Best: Digital trimmer
  • Battery life: 70 minutes trimming on an 80-minute charge (3-minutes use on a 5-minute quick charge)
  • Cutting lengths: 0.4mm to 5.0mm
  • Special features : Digital display, 100 per cent waterproof, travel lock feature, flexing heads
  • Accessories : Charging stand, cleaning brush

If you’re into your tech this digital beard trimmer from BaByliss should be your go to grooming tool. The trimmer allows for a wide range of cutting (from 0.4mm-5mm) which can be adjusted in ultra-precise 0.2mm increments making it ideal for precision freaks too. The digital display is a cool addition allowing you to see exactly which length the trimmer is set to before trimming, how much cutting time is left in the battery and it even has a memory function that’ll store the last length you used, which is handy if you like to maintain a particular length of beard.

An additional feature that marks it out from the other trimmers here is that it has a flexing head like some electric shavers have, allowing the trimmer to follow the curves of your face for extra comfort and precision. It’s beautifully designed, too, with a quality feel that feels super sexy in the hand.

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Braun beard trimmer 3 BT3221

  • Best: Value for money
  • Battery life : 50 minutes on a full 10-hour charge
  • Cutting lengths : 0.5 to 10mm
  • Special features : Precision dial, washable head
  • Accessories : Cleaning brush

If you’re looking for an affordable, entry-point beard trimmer that pits function over fancy add-ons, this trimmer from Braun is your man. Nicely designed and easy to use – you just move the precision dial to select a length – it offers 20 separate cutting lengths up to 10mm. It also features lifetime sharp blades, though you may need to come back to us in 50 years to see how well they’re holding up. It’s super-straightforward to use, sits nicely in the hand and feels pretty robust.

The battery charge time could be better – a full recharge takes 10 hours and gives just 50 mins of cutting. And it only comes with a two-pin plug so you’ll need an adapter too. That said, we really couldn’t fault its performance on the pitch and the RRP is excellent too.

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FAQs beard trimmers

Are there any benefits to corded trimmers vs cordless?

In short, yes. Corded clippers need to be plugged in to work, but as they are always connected to an electrical source, they can be comfortably used for as long as it takes to trim your hair without running out of power. They’re often cheaper too, so if you’re shopping on a budget, look for a corded design.

Cordless beard trimmers can be used anywhere without being plugged into an electrical source so you won’t encounter any cord issues. They’re more convenient, especially for travel, but you are more restricted on time, as you’re relying on a charged battery.

Can I use a beard trimmer for short stubble?

It depends on the beard trimmer. Many come with specific attachments you can use for shorter hair, so make sure your check before you buy to avoid buying one that doesn’t have a blade short enough to trim stubble or long enough to tackle a longer beard.

What should I do to take care of the blades?

With any hair removal device, it’s important to keep the blades clean and hygienic, to not only prolong its life but also to get the best performance from it. Dirty blades clogged with hair can be unable to trim properly and can cause irritation.

Often beard trimmers come with a cleaning brush, which has very fine bristles to sweep away accumulating dust and dirt in the blades and the body, but they can also be bought separately. Additionally, hot water can kill germs so you can also rinse the blade. Beforehand, make sure to check if your device is safe to get wet. You can also use an oil if the blades require one.

Tips on how to trim a beard

It’s worth remembering that beards should always be cut when dry since hair relaxes and expands when wet, shrinking a little when it dries, meaning that if you take a trimmer to it when wet you’re likely to take too much off. Combing or brushing hair through before trimming is a good idea too as this can help prepare hair for cutting and will remove snags and tangles in fuller beards.

If you’re serious about your face furniture it’s well worth having it professionally shaped by a barber every now and then. This is useful because it’ll provide you with a template of where to cut and where to shave in order to leave neat outlines. Do all of this and your beard – the ultimate facial fashion accessory for men – won’t just grow, it’ll positively bloom.

Things to consider when buying a beard trimmer:

When shopping for a new beard trimmer, firstly, take into consideration the charge time. Some trimmers can take up to eight hours to charge and the first time you use it, you will need to charge it before you can use it.

Secondly, decide whether you want a corded or cordless design, and which one will best suit your convenience and needs, as well as checking how many adjustable length settings there are, depending on whether you want to trim a long beard or maintain a shorter stubble.

Next up, is it waterproof? Most beard trimmers are, making them to safe to use in the shower, but not all, so make sure you check before you commit to a new one.

Lastly, consider ease of cleaning, does it come with a cleaning brush? Is it safe to be rinsed under hot water? How often will you need to clean it? These are all important points to tick off your checklist when shopping for a new beard trimmer, whatever your budget.

The verdict: Beard trimmers

Given the fairly basic function of a beard trimmer – it just needs to be able to cut and shape facial hair, we found that performance was pretty good across the board, leaving length options, charge time, cost and feel in the hand the deciding factors. Taking all these things into account, the Remington barba MB320C beard trimmer was the gadget that impressed us most, in part for its simplicity.

If you’ve a little more cash to flash the BaByliss superstubble XTP beard trimmer is worth investing in, while the Philips oneblade pro for face is the kind of grooming tool pretty much every man should own.

To help you keep your facial hair in check, we’ve found the best beard oils

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