Whether you shave frequently or opt to maintain full facial hair, an electric shaver is an essential grooming tool. We all find ourselves needing to use one at least once or twice a year, even if clean shaven isn’t our everyday look. Plus, these gadgets are great for cleaning up your neckline on a regular basis. They may not cut as close as a blade version, but that’s the point. The best electric razors for men are designed to glide swiftly over skin without ever breaking the surface, thus eliminating all the bad parts about manual shaving (like redness, ingrown hairs, razor burn and more). The Braun Series 9 Electric Shaver is our top pick for its powerful motor and versatility.

With options ranging from Braun to Panasonic to Wahl, these are the best electric razors for men.

While these models will require you to re-shave a few days earlier than with a bare-razor shave, their speed makes for an expedited step in the once- or twice-weekly regimen. For this story, we consulted with an expert on what to consider in this useful grooming tool. Whether you’re looking for one for daily use or simply for periodic necessity, these are the best electric razors to cover all your shaving needs.

Attachments: None | Waterproof: Yes | Cordless: Yes | Type: Foil

Braun is the leader in the electric razor, and its wet/dry Series 9 is the best yet. It can mow through three-day beards, so you know it can tackle any other shave job you throw its way. It’s a smart device too, and can sense your beard’s density and then adjust its power and force for the task at hand. It shaves with as many as 10,000 micro-vibrations per second, confirming with a soothing hum as you round the contours of your face. This model includes a cleaning-and-charging station, so that you can display it like the trophy it is. There’s a travel-friendly carrying case and a pop-up trimming and detailing head on the shaver itself for your neckline, mustache, sideburns and anything more. It holds an hour charge on its lithium ion battery, and an LED display showcases the remaining time on that battery life.

Attachments: None | Waterproof: Yes | Cordless: Yes | Type: Foil

Panasonic is another innovator in the electric shave game. The Arc5’s motor spins an impressive 14,000 cycles per minute, making this foil shaver one of the sturdiest and most durable electric razors. Its sensor scans the density of your beard while it shaves, and adjusts its power accordingly. It competes handsomely against rotary razors as the best option for guys with thick or coarse beards. The brand’s prized device is easy to clean and disinfect with the included dual charging-flushing unit. Its foil head flexes along with the angles of your face, gifting you a comfortable, efficient, hygienic and ultra-close shave.

Attachments: None | Waterproof: Yes | Cordless: Yes | Type: Foil

 Wahl’s wet-dry shaver is one of the more color-by-numbers options, but that’s great for most guys. It has two foil heads that can be rinsed clean, and together with an intercept cutting bar they deliver a smooth and consistent shave. And perhaps best of all, the device’s lithium battery holds a 90-minute charge, giving it a leg up on most of the competition.

Attachments: 5 swappable heads for shaving, nose/ear trimming, facial cleansing, pre-shave massage, beard/body trimmings | Waterproof: Yes | Cordless: Yes | Type: Rotary

Any guy who shaves his head bare knows two things to be true: First, that those angles and blind spots are tough to tackle. Second, the ergonomics of the shaver matter a lot. These two things are what make Telfun’s palm-held electric razor such a terrific pick for head shavers. It glides over the head like a planet orbiting the sun, and it eliminates unsightly and painful nicks, since it won’t break the skin’s surface. Plus, this one works wet or dry, which is especially a perk for bald-head shavers, since so many choose to clean up in the shower. Lastly, it has the necessary trimming and detailing attachments—even a pulsating pre-shave massage attachment and facial cleansing brush head. With the trimming devices, you can spot check or zap away at any fuzz on the rest of your body, like overgrown nostril hairs or unwanted back hair.

Attachments: Detailing trimmer head | Waterproof: Yes | Cordless: Yes | Type: Rotary

The S9000 senses your beard’s density (reassessing it an incredible 15 times per second, no less) so that it whacks whiskers through thick and thin. This gives you a smooth, safe shave, assisted by a rotary head that moves eight different directions while adjusting to the contours of your face. Philips Norelco’s high-powered device lasts an hour and can be used wet or dry, and its LED display keeps you updated on the remaining lithium-ion charge. This set also comes with a trimming head and travel-friendly carrying case.

Attachments: Body blade and beard trimer guard (trimming 0.5 to 10mm in 0.5mm intervals) | Waterproof: Yes | Cordless: Yes | Type: Foil

While Barbasol may be a staple shaving brand, it’s not known for its electric razors. However, this device deserves attention, thanks to its three interchangeable heads (close shaving, trimming and detailing). These options make it great for customizing whiskers as well as body hair. As for the electric shaving, a razor-replica foil head never breaks the surface of the skin and gives you barely-there stubble. Lastly, it takes just two hours for a full charge, and then delivers 60 minutes of power.

Attachments: None | Waterproof: No, but safe to rinse | Cordless: Yes | Type: Foil

Remington’s gentle, washable foil razor checks all the right boxes, especially for anyone who shaves infrequently—also if sensitive skin is to blame for that. There are two pivoting foil heads that carefully mow hair to a barely-there skin-safe stubble. It’s also got an intercept cutting bar to keep things smooth, as well as a detailing head that pops out and cleans your edges. A full charge gives you 60 minutes of runtime that lasts 20 days, which means you’ve got plenty of juice for a long week away. Or, you can trim while it’s plugged in and charging, though it requires just a few minutes’ boost before you can unplug and go.

We’ve done extensive research, tapping testers and professionals who use the tools regularly and sorting through firsthand reviews from consumers. We’ve also tested (and loved) many of these electric shavers ourselves.

This article is routinely updated so that availability, prices and reviewer ratings and quotes stay up to date. We also re-evaluate our electric razor picks to ensure that they’re still some of the best choices in their categories. This story was last updated in July 2022.

There are a few things that separate the best electric razors from the pack. Here are the standards you should hold them to, with insights from Eric Becker, barber at Blind Barber.

There’s a general preference for foil shavers over rotary ones, since foil versions tend to cut even closer to the skin. “A foil razor can usually deliver a closer shave than even a traditional razor,” says Becker. However, not everyone will want a foil option. “Rotary razors tend to be best for contouring the face and dealing with hair that grows in all different directions,” he says. “You use it in circular motions. It isn’t the best for sensitive skin, however. Foil shavers tend to get closer to the skin. They work best on very short stubble though, so either shave daily or take it down with a trimmer first. Make sure to use it in an up-and-down motion.”

Your electric razor doesn’t need to have any attachments unless you want it to perform multiple functions. For example, some have swappable heads for trimming or detailing longer hairs. But that’s secondary, and even the top performers skip out on attachments in favor of the primary task at hand—shaving.

No excuses here. Your electric razor should absolutely have cordless use. These aren’t barbershop hair clippers (which are usually cordless these days, too). Even the most powerful electric shavers can hold a good charge (30-60 minutes) without needing to be plugged in.

Look for 30-plus minutes, minimum, but ideally upwards of 60-90 minutes. The best ones will also retain their battery life for weeks or months on end without needing a re-up.

“If your shaver can handle a wet shave, you’ll get a much better result,” says Becker. “Shaving cream helps pre-soften the hair and allows the blades to cut more easily. Usually people with coarse hair or difficult growth patterns fall into this category.” At the absolute least, make sure yours can be rinsed clean, which prevents bacterial buildup from errant hair clippings.

If you want to travel with your device, get one with a portable case, ideally something hard-backed to protect the valuable tool inside. But since the best electric razors are all cordless and hold a charge over a long weekend (and then some), you don’t have to worry much about anything besides stowing them.

It depends on your needs, but it can be useful to have one on hand even if you’re an infrequent user. “Most of my clients who are concerned about ingrown hairs tend to benefit the most from an electric shaver,” says Becker. “It’s easier and tends to be faster. Plus if you are looking to maintain your beard and neckline, you are less likely to cut the wrong hair.”

Again, it’s a matter of preference. However, having the option to shave wet is terrific. Here’s why, according to Becker: “The biggest rule would be to make sure the shaver is approved for wet use. The heat from the shower will open your pores and give you a nice close shave. And the cleanup is easy.”

Yes, these handy grooming gadgets are worth it. If what you want is a speedy cleanup—and a nick-, bump- and irritation-free shave at that—then you need an electric razor.