These Top-Tested Electric Can Openers Make Light Work of the Job (2025)

Canned foods are a true pantry staple. Whether you're cracking into a tin of tomatoes to whip up a delicious pasta sauce, opening a can of pumpkin puree to bake up the best pie recipe or diving into some tuna for a quick lunch, these cans come in clutch. One kitchen tool necessary for any of these meals is the humble can opener. And while there are great manual options out there, electric can openers can make light work of this sometimes tricky job. They can make opening cans easier, safer and cleaner than manual types, particularly if you suffer from mobility issues like arthritis.

Experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab looked at many models to track down the best can openers. We explored models that feature an easy-to-attach and remove lever (which is a great feature for cleaning), a magnet strong enough to hold the can on its own and an automatic shut-off feature so you don't have to monitor the process to prevent repeated cutting (which can increase the risk of metal fragments falling into your food). We also observed extra features and details such as a retractable power cord. Along with ease of use, we checked for spilling, tipping, how clean the lid cut was and if there was any leftover metal debris.

Cuisinart's stainless steel electric can opener has a sleek design, so it looks a bit more high-end if you want to leave it on your kitchen counter. It also has a sturdy, wide base and rubber feet to keep it stable during use. During our tests, the magnet held cans up to 32 ounces in place without help, and the one-touch auto shut-off feature worked well. It was even tall enough to open a 48-ounce can of chicken broth. The lever removes easily for cleaning, and this model comes with a three-year limited warranty. Many reviewers on Amazon mentioned that they selected this opener due to arthritis pain, with one saying, "It sure makes my life a whole lot easier!"

The Black+Decker EasyCut can opener performed well in our tests, especially considering the affordable price. While the unit felt lighter in weight than competitors, its magnet was able to hold 32-ounce cans, and testers noted that the auto shut-off feature was reliable. One drawback is the bulky nature of the lever, which made it hard to see the blade when attaching the can. But our tester thought it earned its place on your counter as a one-stop shop for multiple kitchen tasks: A removable multitool lives onboard which can be used to remove bottle caps and open pop-tops. There's also a knife sharpener built into the back of the unit.

This nifty battery-operated Kitchen Mama electric can opener is proof that size isn't everything: It easily attached to every can we tested it on. Its side-cut operation left smooth edges on both the can and the lid, and it was the most user-friendly can opener we tried. This model has an aut0 shut-off feature, so you don't need to hold the tool while it opens the can — just set it on the can properly and press the button. It was even able to open cans with dented lids. We liked that there is less risk of tipping and spilling since the can stays on the counter. It requires four AA batteries, which you will need to purchase separately.

This Oster model has a wide base with a protruding foot to help prevent tipping. It also includes a built-in bottle opener and knife sharpener. The retractable cord keeper — designed to work with just the push of a button — is handy for storage, but it didn't work seamlessly every time in our tests. The lever was easy to attach to the body of the opener and remove for thorough cleaning. It has an auto shut-off feature and left no spills when we opened cans.

This electric can opener from Hamilton Beach has an easy-to-use lever for attaching cans. During our tests, we found that the placement of this lever — at the top, angling back — helped prevent tipping forward with up to 32-ounce cans, and it kept the job clean. Unlike many of our electric can opener picks, this one cuts from the side which leaves a smooth edge on the cut and even works on pop-top cans. The base also has a built-in scissors holder (though scissors are not included). The caveat with this model is that it does not include automatic shut-off; this means you must hold the lever the whole time, and you run the risk of repeat cutting which can lead to metal being shaved into the food. Some online reviewers said they encountered metal shavings after use.

If you find yourself opening lots of cans to prepare your meals and struggling to use a manual can opener, investing in an electric can opener is definitely worth it. The best electric can openers make light of this sometimes messy job, and if you struggle with wrist mobility issues or arthritis, manual can openers may be difficult to use, so relying on a machine to do the work for you can make the job of opening a can cleaner, easier and safer.