Best electric razor

Once upon a time there was only one way to shave, and that was to lather your face with foam or soap, then spend 20 minutes carefully carving at your cheeks (or legs) with a raw blade. But electric shavers have changed all that. Now you can get rid of unwanted hair that leaves smooth, healthy skin in half the time. Here are our top choices for electric razors for men, women, dry shaving, and wet shaving. 

The Series 9 manages up to 40,000 cross-cutting actions per minute. It features independently flexible cutting elements mounted on a multi-directional pivoting head and comes with a skin guard, an LED display, and a Clean and Charge Station. On a full charge, the Braun Series 9 razor will last up to 50 minutes. Overall it's a very well-designed razor with a lot of features. Some may find all the bells and whistles a little more than they can handle and would prefer something more basic and simple.

This shaver has a pop-up trimmer for more detailed trimming of sideburns and eyebrows. It has a nonslip grip and a quiet motor, with minimal vibration. It can adapt to international voltages for travel and comes with a zippered travel pouch. A charging stand, adapter cord, cleaning brush, and blade guard are also included.  A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides 60 minutes of use per two-hour charge, with a two-stage LED battery life indicator showing you how much power is left.

The Arc5 has a powerful 14,000cpm linear motor; five precision-honed, hypoallergenic blades, and a comfortable Multi-Flex pivoting head. It comes with a cleaning/charging station that quietly rinses the shaver while re-juicing it. There is a high-tech LCD status bar built into the sleek, muscular body of the razor, and it's waterproof. While it's not exactly suitcase friendly, you'll be thankful for it when you're at home.

The Wahl LifeProof waterproof shaver provides a close and comfortable shave thanks in part to its ergonomic rubber grips and flexible foils. There's an extendable trimmer for when you want to groom sideburns, neck fluff, or shape your goatee. While all razors have a definite sound while being used, this Wahl razor is a bit louder than the others we tested. But that truly is the only real drawback.

The Remington electric razor can be used in and out of the shower making it convenient for women who are in a rush to get out of the door. One downside, though, it you get just 30 minutes of battery life from a full charge, which is okay for quick trims, but definately not enough juice for shaving larger areas.

SkinComfort rings, coated with anti-friction pigments, enable the Philips Series 9000 to glide across your skin. And you can personalize your shave by choosing from three different settings. This electric razor is waterproof and cordless with 60-minute battery life. It is one of the most expensive razors out there, though.

The Long and short of buying an electric razor

When you’re in the market for an electric razor, you have a lot of options. From blade type to cleaning stations, there’s more to compare than you might expect. Here are some key considerations:

Foil razors vs rotary shavers

Choosing between a foil razor and a rotary shaver is one of the first decisions you’ll have to make. There are advantages and disadvantages of each type. Typically, foil shavers work best for sensitive skin, and they usually provide a closer shave. Rotary shavers, on the other hand, are most useful on coarse, thick hair.

Most of the products we reviewed here have pop-up trimmers to detail your sideburns and facial hair; some are full-size, and others are smaller. We also only considered waterproof razors in our review. 

Additional design features to consider include whether a razor has a corded option for use while the battery recharges and if it has a travel lock to prevent accidental activation. 

The best electric razors for body hair

Electric razors are primarily marketed toward men who want a clean-shaven face. And don't get us wrong, they're a great tool for shaving your face. But that doesn't mean you can't use them elsewhere! Electric razors work wonders if you want to shave your legs. Simply follow the razor's instructions for using it either dry or with water and shave your legs. 

An electric razor will give you smoother, better results than most disposable razors if used correctly. But be careful: Always test out a new electric razor on a small area of skin to make sure it won't cause irritation. We also recommend exfoliating your legs before you shave them for smoother results in the end.

While we’re on the subject, we didn’t test any electric razors marketed to women, but we did research them. We found they usually cost less than most razors aimed at men, but they also seem to be made of more plastic parts and have smaller blades. 

There are also small electric razors available for both men and women if you’re looking for a small personal trimmer. On the surface though, women’s electric razors look like they’re lacking in quality even though they do usually come in fun colors. We recommend sticking to some of the highly ranked razors we tested.

Bottom line

Because you’ll shave with your electric razor so often, it’s important to find one that is comfortable and convenient to use. It’s a good idea to think ahead about your budget, make a list of the features and accessories that matter most to you, and choose a durable product that will meet your shaving needs for years to come.

How we tested elextric razors

Because our goal is to help you make buying decisions based on real-world information, we also talked to industry professionals like Laura Strom, an assistant product manager for Wahl Clipper Corporation.

“Make sure you fully understand the purpose of each unit,” she said. “Manufacturers explain in detail all the benefits, unique features, and usage how-tos of shavers.”

Strom added how important it is to “understand what the need is when deciding which type of product you are purchasing” because it helps “save a lot of issues consumers have when purchasing a new product.”

In other words, know what you need and want in a shaver, and then make sure the one you choose can meet those needs. Keeping Strom’s advice in mind, we’re here to make it easier to find the electric razor that’s right for you.

We scoured manufacturer’s websites and online retailers to find top-selling, highly-rated electric razors. We considered both foil shavers and rotary shavers, and we studied their advantages and disadvantages.

“Foil shavers are able to get a closer and smoother shave,” said Strom. “They are especially better for sensitive skin.”

By contrast, rotary shavers often work best to shave thick, coarse whiskers, and their rotating shaving heads typically flex and pivot to follow the contours of your jawline, chin, and neck.

After researching product descriptions, specifications, and consumer ratings, we acquired our favorites of each type and conducted extensive testing in our lab. We also sent the razors home with a panel of male testers and asked them to shave.

We also asked them to evaluate the ease of use, weight, and access to controls. We asked them to follow each manufacturer’s cleaning instructions when they finished using the razors, and we also asked for additional observations and comments. Our final product rankings take both our research and our testing into account. 

Why trust us?

At Top Ten Reviews, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Through years of in-depth research and hands-on testing, we’ve learned a lot about electric razors. We’ve researched hundreds of products, tested dozens of shavers in our lab, and spoken with numerous manufacturers and consumers. Each time we consider a new product, we pore through its specifications to carefully identify its pros and cons. We also create a panel to evaluate each razor’s performance in real-life, hands-on tests.