9 Best Chinese Cleavers on Amazon

A Chinese cleaver looks like a meat cleaver, but it is really an all-purpose chef knife. Its thin, tall blade slices vegetables, minces garlic and cuts boneless meat, and the wide face scoops food off the board and smashes ginger.

We compared 9 Chinese cleavers on Amazon, from an $11 restaurant knife to Japanese Damascus models, using listing details and Amazon ratings. If you need to chop through bones, see our best meat cleavers instead, and browse our knife and cutlery guides for more.

Top 3 Best Chinese Cleavers on Amazon at a Glance

Best Chinese Cleavers on Amazon in 2027

1. PAUDIN 7-Inch Chinese Cleaver – Best Overall

A Chinese cleaver is really an all-purpose chef knife with a tall, rectangular blade, and PAUDIN’s 7-inch model is our top pick on Amazon. The blade is 2.3 mm thick with a V-shaped edge sharpened to 15 degrees per side, thin enough to slice cabbage and onions cleanly.

PAUDIN uses high-carbon stainless steel with a hardness of 56+ HRC and an ergonomic wooden handle. It holds a 4.6-star rating on more than 5,700 ratings.

Use the wide blade to scoop chopped food from the board and the flat side to smash garlic and ginger.

Best for: Home cooks who want one knife for stir-fry prep, vegetables and boneless meat.

May not fit: Anyone who needs to chop through bones; choose a meat cleaver instead.

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2. Winco 8-Inch Chinese Cleaver with Wooden Handle – Best Budget

Winco supplies restaurant kitchens, and its Chinese cleaver is the cheapest way to try this style of knife. The blade measures 8 by 3.5 inches, with a wooden handle and an overall length of 12.5 inches.

The listing is short on steel details, so expect a basic blade that needs regular sharpening. It holds a 4.5-star rating on more than 1,200 ratings.

It is a good starter knife before investing in a premium cleaver.

Best for: Beginners and budget cooks who want to try a Chinese cleaver.

May not fit: Anyone who wants long edge retention or premium steel.

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3. Dexter-Russell 8110 Traditional Chinese Chef Knife – Best Traditional

Dexter-Russell’s 8110 is a traditional Chinese chef knife that has been a restaurant standard for years. Dexter says it delivers clean, controlled cuts on soft meats, fruits and vegetables, and it is lighter and better balanced than bulky cleavers.

The flat, broad blade makes transferring ingredients and smashing garlic easy, and the smooth hardwood handle reduces strain. It holds a 4.6-star rating on more than 170 ratings.

Dry it right after washing to protect the high-carbon steel.

Best for: Cooks who want an authentic, restaurant-style Chinese chef knife.

May not fit: Anyone who wants a stainless, low-maintenance blade.

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4. WÜSTHOF 7-Inch Chinese Chef Knife – Best German-Made

If you prefer German knives, WÜSTHOF’s 7-inch Chinese chef knife brings the brand’s Solingen manufacturing to the cleaver shape. WÜSTHOF says the knife resists corrosion and dulling and backs it with a limited lifetime warranty.

The listing is brief, but owners rate it 4.9 stars on more than 70 ratings, the highest score on this list.

It is a natural fit for kitchens that already use WÜSTHOF knives.

Best for: WÜSTHOF owners who want a matching Chinese chef knife.

May not fit: Budget shoppers, or anyone who wants a large review base.

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5. KYOKU Shogun 7-Inch Vegetable Cleaver – Best Japanese Steel

KYOKU’s Shogun vegetable cleaver brings Japanese steel to the Chinese cleaver shape. The cutting core is cobalt-added, cryogenically treated VG10 Damascus steel, hand polished to an 8 to 12 degree edge using a three-step method.

The triple-riveted G10 handle is treated to resist heat, cold and moisture. It holds a 4.7-star rating on more than 400 ratings.

Treat it like a Japanese chef knife: great for vegetables and boneless meat, but keep it away from bones.

Best for: Cooks who want razor-sharp Japanese steel in a cleaver shape.

May not fit: Anyone who will use it on bones or frozen food.

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6. SHI BA ZI ZUO 7-Inch Chinese Cleaver – Best Value

SHI BA ZI ZUO is one of the best-known Chinese cleaver brands, and this 7-inch model is a strong value. The blade is 2.2 mm thick with a 15-degree edge, and vacuum heat treatment brings the steel to 55 to 57 HRC.

The solid rosewood handle gives good balance and a comfortable grip. It holds a 4.6-star rating on nearly 250 ratings.

It handles cutting, slicing, mincing and dicing of meat and vegetables.

Best for: Cooks who want an authentic Chinese brand at a modest price.

May not fit: Anyone who needs a dishwasher-safe knife.

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7. Sunnecko 7-Inch Chinese Chef Cleaver – Best All-Purpose

Sunnecko describes this 7-inch knife as a traditional Chinese chef knife adapted for American kitchens. It is forged from high-carbon steel and works as an everyday knife for slicing, dicing and mincing.

Sunnecko says the weight distribution is carefully calibrated for balance. It holds a 4.7-star rating on more than 600 ratings.

It is a good middle ground between budget and premium Chinese cleavers.

Best for: Cooks who want a balanced, everyday cleaver for vegetables and boneless meat.

May not fit: Anyone who needs to chop bones.

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8. HEZHEN 8-Inch Chinese Chef Knife – Best Clad Steel

HEZHEN’s 8-inch Chinese chef knife uses three layers of composite forged steel around a 9Cr18CoMoV core, which gives a hard cutting edge with tougher outer layers. HEZHEN says the edge is wet-sharpened by hand to 15 degrees per side.

The round handle is made from natural Padauk wood and hand polished. It holds a 4.8-star rating on more than 40 ratings.

It is a premium-looking knife at a mid-range price.

Best for: Cooks who want a clad-steel Chinese chef knife without paying luxury prices.

May not fit: Anyone who wants a large base of owner reviews.

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9. Shun Premier 7-Inch Vegetable Cleaver – Best Luxury

The Shun Premier vegetable cleaver is the luxury pick. Shun calls it a Chinese cleaver designed as a multi-purpose knife, with a hammered tsuchime finish that reduces drag and helps food release.

It uses VG-MAX steel with 68 layers of Damascus cladding and a 16-degree edge, and the contoured Pakkawood handle works for left- and right-handed users. It holds a 4.9-star rating, but on fewer than 30 ratings.

It is a showpiece knife for cooks who already love Shun.

Best for: Shun collectors who want a premium Chinese cleaver.

May not fit: Anyone on a budget.

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How to Choose a Chinese Cleaver

Vegetable cleaver or meat cleaver

Chinese cleavers, also called Chinese chef knives or vegetable cleavers, have thin blades of about 2 to 2.5 mm, like the PAUDIN and SHI BA ZI ZUO. They are for slicing, not chopping bone. If you need a bone chopper, choose a thick meat cleaver from our best cleaver knives guide.

Blade size

Most Chinese cleavers are 7 or 8 inches long. A 7-inch blade, like the PAUDIN, KYOKU or WÜSTHOF, is easier to handle. An 8-inch blade, like the Winco, Dexter-Russell or HEZHEN, gives more reach and a larger scooping surface.

Steel

Stainless steels like the PAUDIN’s are easy to care for. High-carbon steel, like the Dexter-Russell, takes a keen edge but can rust if left wet. Japanese steels like VG10 and VG-MAX in the KYOKU and Shun are the sharpest but more brittle.

Handle

Traditional Chinese cleavers use round wooden handles, like the Winco and SHI BA ZI ZUO. Western-style handles, like the KYOKU’s G10 or the WÜSTHOF’s, feel more like a chef knife. Choose what feels natural in a pinch grip.

Cutting board

A Chinese cleaver works best on a large, thick board that gives you room to scoop. See our best cutting boards under $50, and keep the edge sharp with one of the best electric knife sharpeners under $100.

FAQ

What is a Chinese cleaver used for?

It is used like a chef knife: slicing vegetables and boneless meat, mincing garlic and herbs, scooping chopped food and smashing ginger or garlic with the flat side.

Can a Chinese cleaver cut bone?

Thin vegetable cleavers should not be used on bone, because the edge can chip or roll. Use a heavy meat cleaver for ribs and poultry joints.

Is a Chinese cleaver better than a chef knife?

It is not better, just different. Many cooks find the tall blade faster for stir-fry prep, because it slices and scoops in one motion. A chef knife is better for rocking cuts and fine tip work.

What size Chinese cleaver should I get?

A 7-inch cleaver is the easiest size for most home cooks. Choose 8 inches if you have large hands or want more surface for scooping.

Final Verdict

The PAUDIN 7-inch Chinese cleaver is our top pick on Amazon because it is thin, sharp, affordable and backed by thousands of ratings. The Winco is the best budget way to try this style, and the Dexter-Russell 8110 is the most traditional restaurant-style option.

For premium steel, choose the KYOKU Shogun or, if price is no object, the Shun Premier. For bone work, pair it with a knife from our best cleaver knives guide, and see the best chef knives under $100 for Western-style options.

Quick picks:

• Best overall: PAUDIN 7-Inch Chinese Cleaver
• Best budget: Winco 8-Inch Chinese Cleaver
• Best traditional: Dexter-Russell 8110 Chinese Chef Knife
• Best Japanese steel: KYOKU Shogun 7-Inch Vegetable Cleaver

Related buying guides: Best Cleaver Knives · Best Chef Knives Under $100 · Best Japanese Chef Knives Under $100 · Best Cutting Boards Under $50