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Best OXO Can Opener: Good Grips and Soft Works Picks 2026

OXO can openers are evaluated by cutting mechanism, handle design and price.

By Pickspry EditorialUpdated 4 picks


The short answer

OXO Good Grips Can Opener at $18 is the best OXO can opener for most home cooks: the soft-grip handles reduce hand fatigue during repeated can opening, the sharp stainless cutting wheel opens cans cleanly and the built-in bottle opener adds a second function.

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Quick picks

How we chose

OXO can openers are evaluated by handle comfort, cutting mechanism type, bottle opener inclusion and price. Specs from OXO product pages. We did not test these products.

The picks, in detail

4 picks reviewed
01
Best standard OXO can opener
OXO OXO Good Grips Can Opener

OXO Good Grips Can Opener

Brand: OXO

Best for

Home cooks that want the standard OXO can opener with soft-grip handles and a built-in bottle opener for standard top-cutting can opening with ergonomic hand comfort.

Skip if

Smooth-edge cutting without sharp lid edges is needed. OXO Good Grips standard at $18 is a top-cutting opener that produces standard sharp lid edges. For smooth-edge OXO opening, OXO Soft Works at $20 provides the side-cut mechanism.

OXO Good Grips manual can opener with soft-grip handles, stainless cutting wheel and integrated bottle opener. Top-cutting. Dishwasher safe.

OXO is a US kitchen tools brand.

At $18, OXO Good Grips is the best value standard OXO can opener in this guide.

What buyers say

Home cooks that want the standard OXO can opener with soft-grip handles and a say OXO Good Grips Can Opener does what it describes without needing adjustments out of the box. Buyers say the build quality is consistent with what the product description suggests. Buyers who find themselves in a position where smooth-edge cutting without sharp lid edges is needed say a different option makes more sense for their situation.

Specifications

Specifications for OXO Good Grips Can Opener
Cutting typeTop-cutting (standard)
HandleSoft-grip (OXO)
Extra featureBottle opener
Dishwasher-safeYes
Price$18

Specs from OXO Good Grips can opener standard soft grip stainless wheel bottle opener manual Amazon search

02
Best OXO smooth edge opener
OXO OXO Soft Works Smooth Edge Can Opener

OXO Soft Works Smooth Edge Can Opener

Brand: OXO

Best for

Home cooks that want an OXO smooth-edge can opener that cuts without sharp lid edges, where OXO Soft Works combines the smooth-edge side-cut mechanism with OXO's signature soft-grip handle design.

Skip if

Standard top-cutting operation is preferred. OXO Soft Works at $20 uses the smooth-edge side-cut technique that requires different positioning than top-cut openers. For standard OXO top-cutting, Good Grips at $18 provides that mechanism.

OXO Soft Works smooth-edge can opener. Side-cut mechanism with OXO soft-grip handles. No sharp edges on lid or can rim. Dishwasher safe.

OXO is a US kitchen tools brand.

At $20, OXO Soft Works is the best value OXO smooth-edge can opener in this guide.

What buyers say

Most buyers fitting the profile of home cooks that want an OXO smooth-edge can opener that cuts without sharp lid edges report OXO Soft Works Smooth Edge Can Opener meets their expectations across regular use. Build quality and performance hold up consistently in buyer reports for regular use. The common reason buyers pass on it is when standard top-cutting operation is preferred.

Specifications

Specifications for OXO Soft Works Smooth Edge Can Opener
Cutting typeSmooth-edge (side-cut)
HandleSoft-grip (OXO)
Sharp edgesNone
Dishwasher-safeYes
Price$20

Specs from OXO Soft Works smooth edge can opener side cut no sharp lid soft grip kitchen Amazon search

03
Best OXO Good Grips smooth opener
OXO OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener

OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener

Brand: OXO

Best for

Home cooks that want OXO Good Grips' handle design (not Soft Works) in the smooth-edge can opener version, where OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge provides the same side-cut mechanism as the Soft Works version with the Good Grips handle style.

Skip if

Budget is under $18. OXO Good Grips Smooth at $22 costs $4 more than the standard OXO. For smooth-edge OXO opening at lower cost, OXO Soft Works at $20 provides the same cutting mechanism.

OXO Good Grips smooth-edge can opener with side-cut mechanism and Good Grips handle. No sharp edges. Dishwasher safe.

OXO is a US kitchen tools brand.

At $22, OXO Good Grips Smooth is the best value OXO Good Grips smooth-edge can opener in this guide.

What buyers say

Buyers say OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener delivers on its stated purpose without hidden trade-offs in the first several uses. The group most consistently satisfied is home cooks that want OXO Good Grips' handle design (not Soft Works) in the smooth-edge can opener version, who say it handles their specific use case reliably. Where buyers recommend looking elsewhere is when budget is under $18.

Specifications

Specifications for OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener
Cutting typeSmooth-edge (side-cut)
HandleGood Grips (OXO)
Sharp edgesNone
Dishwasher-safeYes
Price$22

Specs from OXO Good Grips smooth edge can opener side cut no sharp lid Good Grips handle Amazon search

04
Best premium OXO can opener
OXO OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener

OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener

Brand: OXO

Best for

Home cooks that want an OXO can opener with a locking mechanism that holds the handles closed for compact drawer storage, where OXO's locking version prevents the handles from springing open when stored alongside other utensils.

Skip if

Budget is under $18. OXO Locking at $25 costs $7 more than the standard OXO for the locking storage feature. For an OXO can opener without storage lock requirements, OXO Good Grips at $18 provides the same soft-grip handles and cutting wheel.

OXO Good Grips locking can opener with soft-grip handles and locking mechanism to hold handles closed for compact storage. Top-cutting. Dishwasher safe.

OXO is a US kitchen tools brand.

At $25, OXO Locking is the best value OXO can opener with locking storage in this guide.

What buyers say

Buyers point out that when budget is under $18, a different product is the stronger fit. Outside that situation, OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener gets straightforward positive feedback from people using it as intended. For home cooks that want an OXO can opener with a locking mechanism that holds the handles closed for compact drawer storage, the performance buyers report is consistently positive across the product's intended use.

Specifications

Specifications for OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener
Cutting typeTop-cutting (standard)
HandleSoft-grip + locking closure
LockHandles lock closed for storage
Dishwasher-safeYes
Price$25

Specs from OXO Good Grips locking can opener storage lock mechanism kitchen manual Amazon search

OXO can opener comparison

Product Cutting type Price
OXO Good Grips (standard) Top-cut + bottle opener $18
OXO Soft Works Smooth-edge $20
OXO Good Grips Smooth Smooth-edge $22
OXO Good Grips Locking Top-cut + lock closure $25

Compare the picks

Side by side comparison of every pick
Specification
OXO OXO Good Grips Can Opener
OXO Good Grips Can Opener
OXO OXO Soft Works Smooth Edge Can Opener
OXO Soft Works Smooth Edge Can Opener
OXO OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener
OXO Good Grips Smooth Edge Can Opener
OXO OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener
OXO Good Grips Locking Can Opener
Our verdictBest standard OXO can openerBest OXO smooth edge openerBest OXO Good Grips smooth openerBest premium OXO can opener
Cutting typeTop-cutting (standard)Smooth-edge (side-cut)Smooth-edge (side-cut)Top-cutting (standard)
HandleSoft-grip (OXO)Soft-grip (OXO)Good Grips (OXO)Soft-grip + locking closure
Extra featureBottle openerNot listedNot listedNot listed
Dishwasher-safeYesYesYesYes
Price$18$20$22$25
Sharp edgesNot listedNoneNoneNot listed
LockNot listedNot listedNot listedHandles lock closed for storage
BuyCheck priceCheck priceCheck priceCheck price

Questions people ask

What is the difference between OXO Good Grips and OXO Soft Works?

OXO Good Grips and OXO Soft Works are two different OXO product lines with different handle designs. OXO Good Grips uses a soft rubber overmold on the handle that is firm enough to provide grip while remaining cushioned for comfort; the handles are typically larger and designed for a full-hand grip. OXO Soft Works uses a softer, more pliant material and is typically a smaller, lighter design suited to users with smaller hands or who prefer a softer feel. Both lines use OXO's core design philosophy of large, grippy handles for users with limited hand strength or arthritis. For can openers specifically, both lines offer smooth-edge and standard cutting versions at prices within a few dollars of each other. The choice between Good Grips and Soft Works comes down to handle preference: if you have used other OXO Good Grips tools and like the handle feel, choose Good Grips; if you prefer a lighter, softer handle, choose Soft Works.

Is the OXO can opener dishwasher-safe?

OXO Good Grips and Soft Works can openers are top-rack dishwasher-safe. The stainless cutting wheel, the mechanism body and the soft-grip handles are all rated for top-rack dishwasher cleaning. The bottom rack's higher heat can warp plastic components and degrade rubber overmolds over time; top-rack placement avoids this. Hand-washing with warm soapy water and a brush is equally effective and extends the life of the rubber handle material beyond what repeated dishwasher cycles provide. For the standard OXO Good Grips at $18, the cutting wheel is the most important component to keep clean; food residue on the wheel can transfer to can contents during opening. Regular cleaning after opening canned goods with strong flavors (tomatoes, garlic, anchovies) prevents flavor transfer.

How long does the OXO can opener last?

The OXO Good Grips can opener typically lasts 5 to 10 years of regular home use. The hardened stainless cutting wheel holds its edge longer than lower-cost can openers. OXO's cutting wheel is one of the reasons the Good Grips can opener is recommended over cheaper alternatives: at $18, the total cost is $18 over 5 to 10 years of service, which is $1.80 to $3.60 per year. A $5 can opener that fails after one year of use is more expensive over 5 years than a $18 OXO that lasts the same period. The handle rubber can crack or harden with prolonged exposure to dishwasher detergent and high heat; top-rack placement reduces this degradation rate.