Gear guide
Best King Whetstones: Grits, Sizes and Which One to Buy
Updated Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
King is the classic budget Japanese waterstone: soft enough to cut quickly and give good feedback, cheap enough to learn on, and made in Japan. The trade-off is that King stones are soaking stones and wear and dish faster than harder splash-and-go stones, so you will flatten them more often. Most King stones need to soak until the bubbles stop, typically 5 to 10 minutes for the medium grits, while the finishing stones only need wetting. The line is simple once you know the grits: 220 and 300 for repair and reshaping, 800 and 1000 for regular sharpening, 6000 for finishing, and the KDS 1000/6000 combination stone that many people start with. This guide compares seven King stones by grit, size and base so you can build a one, two or three stone setup.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not change our picks. Affiliate disclosure
Top picks at a glance
Compare all picksClosest match for the job
BJDesign King Whetstone Set, 1000/6000 Grit
Angle holder included to help beginners keep a steady angle
See price on AmazonSee it on AmazonMost for the money on paper
King Deluxe No. 300 Whetstone, Non-Absorbent
300 grit repairs damage that a 1000 stone would take an hour on
See price on AmazonSee it on AmazonMost complete listing
KING KW65 1000/6000
Dual 1000/6000 grit combination covers sharpening on one side and finishing on the other, as the title states.
See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon
Compare the picks
- BJDesign King Whetstone Set, 1000/6000 Grit
- King Deluxe No. 300 Whetstone, Non-Absorbent
- KING KW65 1000/6000
- King Medium Grain Sharpening Stone, 800 Grit
- King Deluxe 1000 Grit Whetstone, Handy Size
- KING Whetstone
- Japanese King Whetstone G-45, 220 Grit
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · BJDesign
BJDesign King Whetstone Set, 1000/6000 Grit
See price on AmazonKing 1000/6000 combination stone set from BJDesign with an angle holder and wiping cloth, made in Japan, soak about 3 minutes per the listing.
What the listing offers
- Angle holder included to help beginners keep a steady angle
- Same 1000/6000 grit pairing as the classic King combination
- Ready-to-use kit with cloth and instructions
Limits to know
- Sold by a reseller bundle rather than King directly
- Costs more than the stone alone for the extras
Pick 2 · KING
King Deluxe No. 300 Whetstone, Non-Absorbent
See price on AmazonKing Deluxe No. 300, 207 by 66 by 34 mm, a coarse stone for chips, broken tips and badly dull edges. Made in Japan.
What the listing offers
- 300 grit repairs damage that a 1000 stone would take an hour on
- Thick 34 mm stone gives a lot of usable material
- Exact size printed in the listing, 207 by 66 by 34 mm
Limits to know
- Too coarse for regular sharpening of a kitchen knife
- Coarse stones dish fast and need frequent flattening
Pick 3 · KING
KING KW65 1000/6000
See price on AmazonKing KW65 combination waterstone with 1000 and 6000 grits and a nagura stone, a King pick for kitchen knives and other edge tools.
What the listing offers
- Dual 1000/6000 grit combination covers sharpening on one side and finishing on the other, as the title states.
- Comes with a nagura stone, which the listing title names as part of the set.
- Listing keywords name Japanese waterstone use, kitchen knives, chisels and woodshop tools.
Limits to know
- The listing gives only a keyword line, with no stone dimensions, base or soak time stated.
- A single combination stone has no coarse grit for chips, so damaged edges need a separate coarse King stone.
Pick 4 · KING
King Medium Grain Sharpening Stone, 800 Grit
See price on AmazonKing #800 medium grain whetstone on a base, made in Japan: a slightly faster medium stone than 1000 for most sharpening jobs.
What the listing offers
- 800 grit cuts a bit faster than 1000, good on dull knives
- Comes with a base, so it is ready to use on the counter
- Made in Japan by King, the same maker as the KDS stone
Limits to know
- Leaves a coarser edge than 1000, plan a finer stone after it
- Listing gives little detail on the stone size
Pick 5 · KING
King Deluxe 1000 Grit Whetstone, Handy Size
See price on AmazonKing Deluxe #1000 Handy size, about 15 by 5 by 2.5 cm, a compact medium stone for knives, scissors and small tools, soak about 3 minutes.
What the listing offers
- Compact size for small knives, scissors and travel
- 1000 grit, the standard medium sharpening stone
- Low price for a genuine King stone made in Japan
Limits to know
- Short 15 cm stone is slow for long chef's knives
- No base included, use a damp towel under it
Pick 6 · KING
KING Whetstone
See price on AmazonKing #6000 finishing whetstone, made in Japan, to refine and polish an edge after a 1000 stone.
What the listing offers
- 6000 finish is the classic second stone after a 1000
- Made in Japan, like the rest of the King line
- Listing states no plastic compounds in the stone
Limits to know
- Listing gives no size or base detail at all
- Soft finishing stone, it gouges if you dig in with the tip
Pick 7 · KING
Japanese King Whetstone G-45, 220 Grit
See price on AmazonKing G-45 #220, the coarsest King stone here, for reshaping a bevel, thinning or fixing a seriously damaged edge.
What the listing offers
- 220 grit removes steel fastest of the King range
- Low price for a Japanese coarse repair stone
- Useful for garden tools and axes as well as knives
Limits to know
- Listing gives only the grit and dimensions
- Leaves deep scratches that need a medium stone to remove
More gear for the choose your stones stage
Stone and Strop chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.