Best Budget Gyuto Knife: Under $150

Looking for the ultimate kitchen knife that won’t break the bank? This list of the best budget Japanese gyuto has you covered. 

These knives are highly rated, will last a lifetime with proper care, and are perfect for the at-home chef.

Kai Seki Magoroku Akane 210mm Gyuto

Kai’s Magoroku Akane is the most affordable gyuto on the list. It’s also one of the best for beginners.

This Akane gyuto is rust-resistant, relatively easy to sharpen, and dishwasher-safe. It’s also designed for both left and right-handed users.

Kai Cutlery is from Seki City – a legendary region for Japanese knife manufacturing. Kai has been around since 1908.

Kai also sells a smaller 180mm Magoroku Akane gyuto.

• Blade Material: high carbon steel inside layer, with softer stainless steel layers on each side
• Blade Length: 210 mm (8.25 inches)
• Total Length: 330 mm (13 inches)
• Weight: 142 g (5 ounces)
• Handle Material: Nylon, POM plastic

Tojiro DP 210mm Gyuto

The Western-style Tojiro DP series has been around since 1980. The knives are an excellent value for the price.

The Tojiro DP Gyuto has a reputation for being sharp out of the box. And its double-edged blade has a 50/50 balance, so it’s good for right or left-handed users.

With a blade length of 210 mm, this Tojiro DP is on the smaller size. But if you like a longer knife, a 240 mm version is also available.

• Blade Material: VG-10 Steel core + softer cobalt alloy steel on each side
• HRC: 60
• Blade Length: 210 mm (8.25 inches)
• Total Length: 335 mm (13.2 inches)
• Weight: 180 g (6.3 ounces)
• Handle Material: Composite wood

Suisin Inox 240mm Gyuto

This Suisin Inox Gyuto is an excellent knife. It’s easy to sharpen to an incredibly high level, hard to chip, and extremely rust-resistant. However, it also dulls relatively easily. So this knife needs regular sharpening to get the best out of it.

The Suisin gyuto has a 70/30 bevel and is best for right-handed users.

• Blade Material: INOX AUS-8 Steel
• HRC: 58
• Blade Length: 240 mm (9.4 inches)
• Total Length: 365 mm (14.4 inches)
• Weight: 180 g (6.3 ounces)
• Handle Material: Birch Tree Composite

Sanetatsu VG-10 Damascus 240mm Gyuto

The Sanetatsu is a semi-pro gyuto with a strong and sharp blade. With 32 layers of Damascus and VG-10 steel, it has excellent edge retention and sharpness for the price. It’s also reasonably rust-resistant.

The downside of the Sanetatsu is that it must be well-cared for. Regular honing and sharpening are important. Hand-washing, drying, and proper storage are also required. But in return, the Sanetatsu will last an incredibly long time.

• Blade Material: 32 layers of VG-10 Damascus steel
• HRC: 61-62
• Blade Length: 240 mm (9.5 inches)
• Handle Material: Laminated mahogany

Iseya I-Series 33 Layer VG-10 210mm Gyuto

This Iseya I-Series gyuto is another professional-grade kitchen knife. It can handle nearly every task thrown at it.

The VG-10 Damascus blade is super strong and razor-sharp. It also has excellent edge-retention, plus decent corrosion resistance. Another cool feature of Iseya is its 50/50 balance, which is perfect for right and left-handed users.

Still, serious knives like this need extra care. This Iseya must be hand-washed and dried, occasionally oiled, and kept in a cool, dry place.

• Blade Material: 33 layers of VG-10 Damascus steel
• HRC: 60-61
• Blade Length: 210 mm (8.3 inches)
• Total Length: 340 mm (13.4 inches)
• Weight: 175 g (6.2 ounces)
• Handle Material: D-shape black laminated wood

Other Types of Japanese Knives

The gyuto is a Western-style knife that can do many tasks. However, there are several other versatile Japanese knife types. And there are many specialty types designed for a single task.

Learn about different types of Japanese kitchen knives here. You’ll also find info about history, materials, and more.