Humans have innovative lots of useful designs and invented a variety of functional objects—on all levels and scales. When it comes to surprising urgent tasks or fixing sudden damages, multipurpose tools come to the rescue! More than lifesavers, multipurpose tools save time, money, and storage space.

There are some multipurpose tools that all homeowners need, especially if you are a DIY type of person. One of the most important multipurpose tools is the utility knife—there is a wide range of tasks in and outside the house you are going to need a utility knife for, starting from tasks as simple as opening an envelope or a box without damaging them, to tasks like scoring a wall or cutting through its layers!

Utility knives offer countless advantages and come with a wide range of types and blade options to perform this spectrum of tasks—each one of these types can be a multipurpose tool itself. To know which utility knife you should purchase, you should first understand the purpose of each one. Some for made with technical features to increase their safety, other utility knives are made with simple and small forms to maneuver tight spaces, while others are strong and sturdy enough for industrial tasks.

What is a Utility Knife?

A utility knife is any type of knife used for general manual work purposes. Such knives were originally fixed-blade knives with durable cutting edges suitable for rough work such as cutting cordage, cutting/scraping hides, butchering animals, cleaning fish scales, reshaping timber, and other tasks.

Utility knives are affordable, efficient tools that every homeowner needs. They come with different features in their components, they can vary in their purpose, handling style, or material.

What is a Utility Knife Used For?

Industrial utility knife uses include opening and breaking down corrugated boxes, cutting pallet wrap and banding, trimming flash from plastic components, and cutting raw materials to shape on the factory floor.

The Utility Knife is a Multipurpose Tool that Every Homeowner Needs

• Manual Utility Knives

A manual utility knife is an essential multipurpose tool—it cuts through almost everything; cables, carpets, linoleum and laminate flooring, insulation layers, and even roofing materials! Manual utility knives can also be used to remove grout from bathtubs, showers, and around windows and doors. The manual grip concept can be found in different utility knife styles, including industrial knives, pen cutters, and mini cutters. One of the cons of manual utility knives is that it might be dangerous if the user is not paying enough attention, however, some manufacturers have increased the safety of their manual knives by using safer materials for the blades.

• Auto-Retractable Utility Knife

Auto-retracting utility knives feature a higher level of safety than manual utility knives, as the blade goes back to its housing once the slide is released. This feature is made for knives with longer and stronger blades, so the multipurpose tool’s efficiency is enhanced without compromising the product’s safety. Moreover, they are great for use around the house where there is a possibility to leave your cutter open when in a hurry—with auto-retracting utility knives this is an impossible incident.

• Retracting Utility Knives

Self-retracting utility knives are a much safer option than manual and auto-retracting ones—enhancing their function as multipurpose tools. In this type of utility knife, the blade automatically goes back to its housing once it loses contact with the surface being cut. This feature increases safety, making self-retracting utility knives perfect for opening boxes, cutting cardboard and heavy cardstock, foam, rubber, leather, and lightweight plastics. The self-retracting feature is available for most types of utility knives, as well.

• Manual Pen Cutter

This type of utility knife is a multipurpose tool that offers more control and higher accuracy. Pen cutters, also called slim cutters, feature the same blade safety and efficiency but with a smaller and slimmer product body—this allows for way far more comfortable and efficient maneuvering in tight and hard-to-reach spaces, working with small details that require a high level of accuracy or working with delicate materials like weatherstripping and vinyl. Pen cutters can be manually handled, auto-retracting, or self-retracted.

• Box Cutters

Carton openers, or box openers, are specifically made for opening boxes without damaging them or their contents—this happens because the utility knife shields the blade whether it is being used or not, and the blades naturally come with a shallow cutting depth to suit this function. This type of knife is available in different shapes as comfortable grips vary from a user to another. Moreover, it comes with adjustable heights and depths to be efficient for different-sized boxes, and different blade shapes, including the pointed-tip blade for boxes that need puncturing before opening them. This type of utility knife is compatible with both manual and auto-retracting handling styles.

• Pocket Knives

A pocket knife holds one or more blades that can be folded into the handle—the blade’s length in a pocket knife can extend to 15 centimetres. Pocket knives, alternatively called folding knives, are multipurpose tools that can be used for anything; opening an envelope, slicing fruit, adjusting camping tools, and even self-defense. Pocket knives come both as single-bladed or multi-bladed. The first one’s blade is usually larger because it does all the work, and it also has a locking mechanism for tasks that require a lot of force, while the latter includes two to four different types of blades with different shapes and lengths so they can perform a variety of tasks. Pocket knives are known to be craftsmen’s favorite!