# Best King Whetstones: Grits, Sizes and Which One to Buy Source: https://stoneandstrop.com/best/best-king-whetstone Updated: 2026-10-27 Publisher: Stone and Strop. Picks are chosen from what each Amazon listing states, not from hands-on tests. Method: https://stoneandstrop.com/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. ## Picks ### 1. BJDesign King Whetstone Set, 1000/6000 Grit, Made in Japan, 4 Pieces King 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 ### 2. King Deluxe No. 300 (Non-Absorbent) 8.1 x 2.6 x 1.3 inches (207 x 66 x 34 mm) Grit Size: #300 for rough sharpening King 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 ### 3. KING KW65 1000/6000 (with nagura stone) King 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. ### 4. King Medium Grain Sharpening Stone - #800 Grit (Whetstone with Base) King #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 ### 5. King Deluxe Medium Grain 1000 Grit Whetstone Handy Size King 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 ### 6. KING Whetstone, 6000 Grit King #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 ### 7. Japanese King Knife Sharpener Whetstone Grit 220 G-45 King 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 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.