KNIFE HOLDER SIZING GUIDE
What size knife holder do I need?
Count your knives, measure your wall, and you’re pretty much there. Here’s how we help customers pick a length every day in our shop.
- Made in Dassel, Minnesota
- 9 lengths, 10" to 36"
- Fits 4 to 18 knives
THE QUICK WAY
Three steps, about five minutes
Count your knives.
Count the ones you actually use, plus anything else you want on there, like kitchen shears or a honing steel. Then add one or two for the knife you’ll buy next. (Everybody buys one more!)
Lay them out side by side.
Set them on the counter with about an inch between each one, the way you’d want them on the wall. Measure end to end, then add a couple inches to spare. One of our customers, Rich, did exactly this and said it came out the perfect size.
Measure your wall space.
Check the open space on your wall, backsplash, or the side of a cabinet. Watch for outlets, switches, and window trim. Plan for the handles to sit at about chest height, with about 2″ of room at the knife tips. Then pick the length that fits both your knives and your wall.
Mounting to studs? On all five wall-mount collections, the screw holes sit 1″ in from each end. So an 18″ holder has holes 16″ apart, which lines up with studs that are 16″ on center. (Customer Dave picked an 18″ for exactly that reason.) Signature Series pieces are almost always different, so ask us about those.
LENGTHS AND KNIFE COUNTS
How many knives fit on each length?
Our wall knife holders fit anywhere from 4 to 18 knives, depending on the length. Here’s about how many fit on each one. The counts are the same for all five collections. Think of them as a starting point, because a big chef’s knife takes more room than a paring knife.
| Length | Holds about | Screw holes apart |
|---|---|---|
| 10" | 4 to 5 knives | 8" |
| 12" | 4 to 6 knives | 10" |
| 14" | 5 to 7 knives | 12" |
| 16" | 6 to 9 knives | 14" |
| 18" | 7 to 9 knives | 16" |
| 20" | 8 to 10 knives | 18" |
| 24" | 10 to 12 knives | 22" |
| 30" | 13 to 15 knives | 28" |
| 36" | 16 to 18 knives | 34" |
Counts are the same for Classic, Classic Plus, Pro Series, Pro MAX and Elite Tier. Knife holders are exactly the listed length. Screw holes are 1″ in from each end (Signature Series is almost always different).
THE FIVE WALL-MOUNT COLLECTIONS
Same 9 lengths, five different holds
Every wall-mount collection comes in the same 9 lengths, 10″ to 36″. What changes is how tall the face is, how many rows of magnets are inside, and how far it sits off the wall.
Classic
- Face height: 1.75"
- Depth: 0.8"
- Magnets: 1 row
- Lengths: 10" to 36" (9 sizes)
The original. Everyday knives and a clean, slim look
Classic Plus
- Face height: 2.25"
- Depth: 0.8"
- Magnets: 2 rows
- Lengths: 10" to 36" (9 sizes)
Twice the holding power of Classic. Heavier knives
Pro Series
- Face height: 3.25"
- Depth: 0.8"
- Magnets: 2 rows
- Lengths: 10" to 36" (9 sizes)
Our best overall. More face for big blades, and it holds on a vertical mount
Pro MAX
- Face height: 3.25"
- Depth: 1.8"
- Magnets: 2 rows
- Lengths: 10" to 36" (9 sizes)
Same hold as Pro Series, twice as thick. More finger room
Elite Tier
- Face height: 4.25"
- Depth: 0.8"
- Magnets: 3 rows
- Lengths: 10" to 36" (9 sizes)
Our strongest hold. Cleavers, big chef’s knives, even swords
All five come with mounting hardware for wall mount, or pick Fridge Mount on the product page. Add a 1/2″ spacer bar on any of them for more finger room.
BEFORE YOU ORDER
A few things worth knowing
Give your handles room.
If you have big handles, or you just like more room to grab them, add the 1/2" spacer bar. It sets the holder 1/2" off the wall. Pro MAX already sits 1.8" off the wall.
Big blades like a taller face.
The taller the holder, the more of the blade touches wood. That's why we point heavy knives to Classic Plus, Pro Series, or Elite Tier.
Mind the ends.
There are no magnets right where the screws go, so the hold is a little lighter at each end. It'll still hold a paring knife just fine, but put your heavy ones in the middle.
Screws are best.
Screw into a stud, or use the included drywall anchors. On tile, a diamond bit works well. Some customers use double-sided tape like 3M VHB, but how well it holds depends on your tile.
Measure twice.
Measure, level, then measure again. You don't want it crooked!
Leave room at the tips.
Give yourself about 2" of clearance at the knife tips, whether that's above the counter or below a cabinet. Check your longest blade before you pick a spot.
Handles at chest height.
Mount it so the handles sit at about chest height. That's an easy grab without reaching up or bending down.
QUESTIONS WE GET A LOT
Sizing questions
Is the knife holder exactly the length listed?
Yes. Our knife holders are exactly the listed length.
How far apart are the mounting holes?
The screw holes are 1″ in from each end on all five collections. So an 18″ holder has holes 16″ apart (on center), and a 12″ has holes 10″ apart. Signature Series pieces are almost always different, so just ask us.
What's the shortest size?
10″. From there we go up to 36″.
What if I need a size you don't list?
We can do custom sizes! Just give us a call or send us an email with the size you need.
I ordered the wrong size. Can I exchange it?
Usually, yes. Reach out as soon as you can. If it hasn’t shipped yet, we can often switch it for you. If it already shipped, send it back under our return policy and order the one you want.
Can I put it on my fridge?
Yes. Pick the Fridge Mount option on the product page. It uses strong magnets on the back and no screw holes.
Which one is strongest?
Elite Tier, with three rows of magnets. For most kitchens we recommend Classic Plus or Pro Series.
STILL NOT SURE?
We're happy to help you pick
Tell us how many knives you have and where it’s going, and we’ll point you to the right one.
Call 320-270-2761 or email contactus@heirloomproducts.com
- 10-year warranty
- Free shipping on orders over $75 (lower 48)
- Made in the USA
