In this article, you will read reviews of the best wall mount pencil sharpener for your classroom wall or desk. All pencil sharpeners on this list are designed for the high traffic flow of a classroom. Classic black and chrome sharpeners that keep your pencils sharp and ready for the school day. Each pencil sharpener on this list includes a shavings receptacle that can be emptied and replenished for more sharpening.
If you don’t have time to read the full review article, the Bostitch Antimicrobial Manual Pencil Sharpener is our number one choice. In the video below you can watch the pencil sharpener installed on a classroom wall in action.
Top 5 Mount Pencil Sharpeners at a Glance
The following five pencil sharpeners are the best pencil sharpeners for any classroom. (Although too big for a pencil case)
- X-Acto Ranger Pencil Sharpener
- X-ACTO KS Manual Vacuum Mount Pencil Sharpener
- Our choice: Bostitch Antimicrobial Manual Pencil Sharpener
- X-ACTO Ranger 55 Manual Pencil Sharpener
- X-ACTO 1041 Model L Pencil Sharpener
1. X-ACTO Ranger 1031 Pencil Sharpener
The X-Acto Ranger Pencil Sharpener includes eight different pencil sizes, which can be adjusted easily whenever you need them. The interior sharpening system consists of two helical cutters that rotate together to provide your pencils with a clean and even cut. It won’t over sharpen your pencils and is designed to even cater to softer colored pencils. Included in the package are screws that enable you to mount the sharpener to a wall or desk for communal use.
Our Review
As you’ll come to find, X-ACTO knows what they’re doing when it comes to building a dependable and quality wall mount manual pencil sharpener. They do not sponsor this article, so the fact that 4/5 of the ones on our list are from them is quite impressive. This pencil sharpener is designed to take all of the best features of the others. It combines them into one fantastic sharpener.
This manual sharpener for all types of pencils provides stems from the simplicity of it all. It’s perfect for classroom use and thus is made to be accessible to children as early as kindergarten age level. Thus, the crank of the sharpener is easy to use, emptying the shavings is simple, and the switching between settings is quick. The sharpening that this sharpener can give your pencils is outstanding as well – almost any pencil is safe with this pencil sharpener.
The package is complete with screws to put the pencil sharpener anywhere you want in your classroom. On a wall or a desk, anywhere that it’s accessible to your students, the screws enable you to place it there. We noticed that the sharpening angle could be lopsided, with one part of the lead exposed more, depending on your pencil grip. It requires a quick adjustment of your grip, but it isn’t enjoyable to experience, nonetheless. Regardless, this wall mount manual pencil sharpener is the best.
2. X-ACTO KS Manual Vacuum Mount Pencil Sharpener
The X-ACTO KS Manual Vacuum Mount Pencil Sharpener includes X-ACTO’s patented dual helical cutter interior, which provides your pencils with a clean-cut throughout. The die-cast metal exterior makes it durable and gives it a long life, even in a room full of school children. The shavings receptacle is rather large and can support plenty of shavings so that you don’t find yourself constantly emptying and removing the receptacle. Instead of screws like most wall-mounted classroom models, this sharpener uses a vacuum to mount it to any flat surface.
Our Review
One of the most exciting parts of this mount manual pencil sharpener is the vacuum mount it uses to suction the wall. This enables you to remove it and transport it to a different location without leaving behind nasty screw marks that require filling. Most other classroom pencil sharpeners have screws, so it’s quite refreshing to find one that hosts an alternate mounting method.
Some of the manual sharpener models have difficulty properly suctioning to the wall, but that could be due to the surface not being flat enough or clean enough. It is a rather useful concept, and when it works, that sharpener stays put until you decide you want to move it. It can be challenging to get it to suction on the first try, however, properly.
The receptacle on this sharpener is sturdy and large enough that you won’t have to worry much about emptying it. It can hold a decent amount of shavings from your pencils before you’ll need to remove the receptacle. Once cleaning time comes around, it’s an easy process to remove and replace. Overall, this is a fantastic classroom pencil sharpener that will get the job done quickly and efficiently. Some affixing issues are present, but in the end, this is a dependable and quality classroom pencil sharpener.
3. Bostitch Antimicrobial Manual Pencil Sharpener
The Bostitch Antimicrobial Manual Pencil Sharpener is the best on our list. It includes screws for permanent mounting and a sturdy connection to any wall or desk. The dual cutter technology gives this pencil sharpener six times the life of most other classroom pencil sharpeners. Even if your pencil sharpeners begin to deteriorate, you can replace them with new ones for longer life and fresher cut. The internal tip saver helps prevent over-sharpening, and the antimicrobial helps protect from the spread of germs.
Our Review
While we had no way to test the antimicrobial aspect of this sharpener properly, it is reassuring to know that this pencil sharpener takes strides to protect the students. This is the best classroom pencil sharpener on our list. It has a layer of protection that kills any microorganisms to stop any spread of germs.
Though it can be complicated to use initially, one of the best features of this pencil sharpener is the ability to replace the internal cutters, not to break your pencils. Many other pencil sharpeners leave you with no other options once the cutters begin to die. This pencil sharpener has extended its life period by introducing the ability to replace the internal mechanisms with new and fresh cutters when needed.
Many pencil sharpeners might leave you with poorly sharpened pencils; some can even over sharpen your tip and cause it to break almost instantly. This sharpener has a tip saver in place that helps prevent the over-sharpening of your pencil. Once it gets to its desired length, it won’t sharpen pencils any further. This will save your colored pencils and decrease the number of trips to and from the pencil sharpener.
4. X-ACTO Ranger 55 Manual Pencil Sharpener
Unlike other classroom pencil sharpeners on this list, the X-ACTO Ranger 55 Manual Pencil Sharpener comes as one solid object offering you a compact and transportable pencil sharpener. This pencil sharpener comes with screws. You can easily mount the metal casing on walls and desks. This pencil sharpener includes eight different pencil sizes. You can empty the shavings from your pencils by simply pressing the compartment and releasing the shavings into the trash can. It’s an easy-to-use sharpener that works great for classrooms of all ages.
Our Review
The best feature of this mount manual pencil sharpener can also be a negative. The fact that the shavings receptacle is in one body together with the pencil sharpener is unique. It is also what makes this sharpener stand out from the rest. With this sharpener, you press the compartment to open it up and dump out the shavings.
We love this feature because it eliminates the mess that can come with detaching the receptacle to empty it. Some classroom pencil sharpeners can become compromised when the receptacle isn’t put on properly. At the same time, others can refuse to go back on. Having the receptacle on the sharpener does restrict access to trashcans, however, and forces you to bring the can to the pencil sharpener. That seems to be the main issue with the manual sharpener is the lack of maneuverability once attached to the wall.
The dual cutters inside the sharpener provide you with a clean and even cut on the tip of your pencils almost every time. Some issues could arise with parts of the cut being lopsided, but for the most part, it provides nice sharpened pencils. It works well on most colored pencils; you can even use it for pencils with softer cores.
5. X-ACTO 1041 Model L Pencil Sharpener
Back to the basics with this classroom pencil sharpener. As with most others on our list, the X-ACTO 1041 Model L Pencil Sharpener utilizes two dual helical cutters to keep your pencils even and clean throughout the cut. This pencil sharpener comes with screws, which allow you to mount the pencil sharpener to any surface within the classroom. Most sharpeners host an eight-size ring; this one only has one whole for your generic-sized pencil.
Our Review
We’re going to start our review off with the best feature that makes this classroom pencil sharpener stand out from the rest. Where most products have an eight-hole option for your pencils, this pencil sharpener only has one. It makes it a perfect choice for your classroom. But it eliminates the ability to use varying sizes of colored pencils.
For a classroom, this might be fine when a student is using a generic number two pencils. However, for artists who utilize many different pencil types, this might not be a smart purchase as it limits your generic size of a pencil. The cut that this pencil sharpener offers you is one of the best pencil sharpeners available, however, as you’re not relying on a secondary sizing option to keep your pencils steady.
This is a dependable sharpener that will do the job for you if your pencils will fit. You’re buying this product for the best cut of your pencils, not the additional features it offers. If you’re only working with generic number two colored pencils, this is a fantastic option for you.
Our Final Thoughts
Finding the best classroom pencil sharpener doesn’t have to be difficult. The best way to start is to know what the best in the industry looks like. Each pencil sharpener we have listed here surpasses industry standards and has found itself in our top five for the category. If you’re looking to buy the best electric sharpeners, we have five options listed in another article with electric pencil sharpeners that will help you. If you are looking for something smaller that fits your pencil case, you may be interested in buying a manual sharpener.
