What Santoku Knife Size Works Best for Beginners?

A santoku knife is a Japanese kitchen knife designed for slicing, dicing, and mincing. Choosing the right santoku knife size matters for comfort, speed, and safety in your kitchen. Blade sizes usually range from 5 to 7 inches. So what is the santoku knife size suit for your hand and cooking tasks? 

In this guide, you will see how each size performs and learn how to choose the right one for your kitchen.

1. Overview of Santoku Knife Sizes

The santoku knife size you choose affects how comfortable and safe it feels in your hand. Most blades range from 5 to 7 inches (about 13–18 cm). Each length serves different users and tasks.

5-inch (125mm) Santoku

• Best for small hands, children, or cooks with limited space.
• Works well for mincing garlic, chopping herbs, or cutting small vegetables.
• Provides better control but struggles with larger produce or thick meat cuts.

6-inch (150mm) Santoku

• The most balanced choice for everyday cooking.
• Handles vegetables, fruits, and small proteins with ease.
• Fits average hand sizes and offers good control without feeling too short.

7-inch (175mm) Santoku

• Suited for bigger hands or cooks who prepare large batches.
• Slices through melons, cabbage, or thick cuts of meat more efficiently.
• Provides more power but can feel harder to handle for delicate prep.

Rare Sizes (under 5 or over 7 inches)

• Some brands make compact blades under 5 inches for paring tasks.
• Larger versions over 7 inches are less common and feel closer to a chef’s knife.
• These are specialty sizes and not needed for most home kitchens.

International makers have also adapted santoku knives. Western brands often offer 7-inch models to match chef’s knife sizing, while Japanese makers stick closer to 165 mm. Modern versions may add Granton edges (dimples) to reduce food sticking or combine wa-handles with Western blades.

If you want to choose the knife models that perform best, take a look at our detailed guide to Top 8+ Best Santoku Knife: Japanese Knives Reviewed by Experts.

2. Quick Reference Table: Santoku Blade Size vs. Best Use Case

The right santoku knife size depends on your hands, cooking style, and the food you prepare most often. Use this table as a quick guide when comparing blade lengths.

Expert Recommendations

• For most home cooks, a 6- to 7-inch santoku knife gives the best mix of control and versatility.
• A 5-inch blade works well for small hands or tight kitchens.
• Professional chefs or those handling larger foods may prefer a 7-inch blade.

The right santoku knife size depends on your hand size, kitchen tasks, and comfort. Start with the mid-size if you want one knife for daily cooking.

3. Details Santoku Knife Size: Pros, Cons, and Use Cases

3.1. The 5-Inch Santoku

A 5-inch santoku knife is the smallest of the standard sizes. It suits cooks with small hands, younger learners, or anyone working in a tight kitchen space. The compact blade gives you strong control and feels light in use. Therefore, a santoku knife is excellent for tasks that require detail, such as mincing garlic, chopping herbs, or slicing small fruits and vegetables.

Pros

• Very light and easy to guide.
• High precision for delicate cutting.
• Works well on small boards or in limited prep areas.

Cons

• Limited cutting surface for bigger produce.
• Not practical for thick cuts of meat or large vegetables.
• Less versatile if you cook for many people.

A 5-inch santoku is best as a secondary knife for detail work, rather than your only all-purpose blade.

3.2. The 6-Inch Santoku

A 6-inch santoku knife is the size most home cooks choose. It balances control and utility, making it a reliable everyday tool. You can use it for slicing vegetables, cutting fruit, trimming chicken breasts, or preparing smaller cuts of beef or pork. The blade is long enough for most tasks yet short enough to feel safe and stable.

Pros

• Versatile for daily meal prep.
• Balanced length and weight.
• Works for both small and medium-sized foods.

Cons

• May feel too small for very large produce.
• Not as powerful as a longer blade for heavy prep.

If you only want one santoku in your kitchen, a 6-inch size is usually the best choice.

“In my own kitchen, the knife I use most is a 6-inch santoku. It’s long enough for onions and chicken, but short enough to stay steady on a busy weeknight. If you only want one knife that covers 90% of your prep, the Santoku White steel #2 Kurouchi Buffalo Magnolia Handle 150mm are the ones I recommend checking first.”

3.3. The 7-Inch (and up) Santoku

A 7-inch santoku knife is designed for cooks with larger hands or for those who prepare big meals. The extra blade length adds power, making it easier to handle large cabbages, melons, or thick cuts of meat. Professional chefs often prefer this size because it offers reach and efficiency when working with bulk ingredients.

Pros

• Stronger cutting power and reach.
• Covers more surface area in each slice.
• Handles larger and tougher ingredients well.

Cons

• Feels heavy and harder to maneuver for delicate work.
• Can be tiring if you use it for long prep sessions.
• Too large for small cutting boards or compact kitchens.

A 7-inch santoku is a good fit if you have big hands, cook in large batches, or want extra force in your cuts. For smaller tasks, though, it may feel clumsy.

“When I prep large cabbages, melons, or bulk meat, a smaller knife just slows me down. That’s when I grab a 7-inch santoku—it gives me reach, weight, and efficiency. If you cook for family or handle big ingredients, the HAP-40 Santoku 170mm or SG-2 Damascus 180mm delivers the strength you’ll notice right away.”

4. How to Choose the Right Santoku Knife Size

Choosing the best santoku knife size depends on your hands, the food you cook, and how you like to work in the kitchen. A knife that feels too small limits your reach, while one that is too long may feel heavy or unsafe. The right size comes from matching the blade length to your habits and comfort.

4.1. Key Decision Factors

Before you buy, consider these factors that affect how a santoku knife feels and performs:

Hand size

• Small hands often pair well with a 5-inch blade.
• Medium to large hands are more comfortable with 6- or 7-inch blades.

Tip: If buying online, check the handle length and blade-to-handle balance in product specs.

Cooking frequency and tasks

• If you prep small amounts of vegetables, herbs, or fruit, a 5-inch santoku may be enough.
• For daily cooking with mixed ingredients, a 6-inch blade is the best all-rounder.
• If you batch cook or work with big vegetables and meat, a 7-inch blade gives you more power.

Weight and balance

• A lighter santoku offers better control for long prep sessions.
• A heavier santoku adds cutting force but can strain your hand over time.

Skill level

• Beginners usually do better with a 6-inch santoku for control and safety.
• Experienced cooks may prefer the reach and efficiency of a 7-inch blade.

4.2. Recommendations by User Type

As experts who have tried many Japanese knives, we have the following advice:

• Home cooks
  Choose a 6-inch santoku if you want one knife for daily use. Pick a 5-inch blade for small prep jobs or if you have limited space.
• Aspiring chefs
  A 7-inch santoku works well for larger batches and heavy prep, while a 6-inch model remains useful for everyday cooking.
• Professional chefs
  Many keep both sizes. A 6-inch knife covers general prep, while a 7-inch blade provides reach and power for big ingredients.

Final Words

Choosing the right santoku knife size depends on your hand size, cooking style, and kitchen space. A 5-inch blade fits small hands and precision work, a 6-inch blade offers balance for daily prep, and a 7-inch blade gives reach and power for larger meals. For most cooks, a 6- to 7-inch santoku is the most practical choice. 

Keep reading our tips and comparisons to find the size that matches your cooking routine.