6 Best Fabric Shavers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
Send pesky pills packing with these efficient fabric shavers that refresh everything from sweaters to curtains to couches in mere minutes.
Amy Marturana Winderl
Tested by Amy Marturana Winderl
When it comes to home gadgets you didn't know you needed until you had one, the handy-dandy fabric shaver is certainly at the top of the list. It meets a very niche need: removing pills and refreshing well-loved clothing, linens and upholstery that have formed these unsightly lumps of fabric after years of use. You may assume that these items are beyond repair, but once you use a fabric shaver once, you'll be newly committed to saving every single thing in your home, simply because you can. (Or maybe that's just how we felt after being introduced to this simple, yet oh-so life-changing product.)
Fabric shavers, or defuzzers, are exactly what they sound like; they're basically razors for fabric fuzz and pills. Fabric shavers glide over the fabric to provide an even cut to any fuzz that has accumulated or any threads that have started fraying. And there's no shortage of options for fabric shavers on the market today. You seriously could spend days on Amazon sifting through all the models out there. So, we decided to do the legwork for you and tested out some of the top contenders to determine which ones are worth adding to your linen closet.
Our Top Fabric Shaver Picks
Amy Marturana Winderl
How We Tested
After thoroughly researching top-rated, customer-loved fabric shavers and ordering the most promising picks, we got to work opening up each one and prepping it for use. The good news is that these nifty gadgets don't require any assembly. After reading each manual, we either inserted the batteries or plugged in the shaver to charge it fully. We then gathered our most pilled sweaters, pillows, sweatpants, blankets, and leggings and took each fabric shaver for a whirl.
Our testing included the following:
Fabric Shaving Test: We used each shaver to remove pilling from a piece of clothing or other fabric items, like a pillow or blanket, noting how many passes it took to effectively get rid of the pills, whether we needed to adjust the settings for better results and whether the device left behind any noticeable damage.
Settings and Attachments Test: After noting how many settings and attachments each device had, we tried each one out to determine if the shaver performed differently depending on which speed or attachment we used. Where applicable, we tested the settings and attachments on the specific kinds of fabric they were meant for.
Functionality Test: As we used each shaver, we paid attention to how smoothly it functioned overall, and whether it clogged, jammed, or otherwise had any design flaws (such as a poorly positioned power button that we kept accidentally hitting during use) that made completing the task less efficient.
Comfort Test: To assess how comfortable each shaver was to use, we considered how it felt in our hands, how easy it was to grip, if we had to hold our hand at an awkward angle as we used it, and if we got crampy or tired while using it.
We also considered how easy it was to remove and reattach the lint bin, empty the bin out and clean the entire product after testing. Based on these tests, we chose the following products as our favorite fabric shavers.
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- Efficient at removing pills with one pass
- Bonus lint roller
- Comfortable to hold
- Hard to find lint roller replacements
The Homeasy Electric Fabric Shaver has all the bells and whistles while still landing at a reasonable price point. It features six blades and one of the larger heads out of all the shavers we tested, all while still being lightweight. The handle shape is also comfortable to hold into and even houses a hidden lint roller. It's rechargeable and can last over three hours on one charge, according to the manufacturer — the longest out of all the shavers on our list. The LED screen tells you how much battery is left and indicates which of the three speeds you're using. An included storage bag makes storing and packing for travel a breeze.
During our testing, the shaver eliminated most pills with just one pass. We found that the lowest speed was effective enough, though we appreciated the higher speed when tackling a larger section of fabric. The lint collects in the area where the blade is, making it easy to twist open and clean the entire device in one simple step.
- Dimensions 4.3" x 3.5" x 7.9"
- Power Source Electric (rechargeable battery)
- Number of Settings 3
- Number of Blades 6
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
- Easy to use
- Small and portable
- Affordable
- Batteries add additional cost
- Only one setting
Battery-powered fabric shavers tend to be priced lower than rechargeable ones, which is true for this Philips shaver. It's a budget buy that doesn't have any fancy settings or attachments — just one speed and one height is all you get — but it works. We appreciated that it came with batteries in the box (it's the only model we tested that did), and it was simple to just pop them in and get started. The shaver only has three blades compared to six on many of the other models.
Despite being small and having fewer blades, this shaver worked well, removing lint with just one to two passes. Overall, it worked just as well if not better than some of the pricier options we tested. Its plastic body and utilitarian design may not be the most appealing, but that didn't bother us. It has one job, and it does it pretty well, especially for such a low price point.
- Dimensions 4" x 3.3" x 6.8"
- Power Source Electric (battery)
- Number of Settings 1
- Number of Blades 3
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
- Works efficiently
- Good for large items
- Battery or AC adapter option
- Multiple settings
- Should be gentle on highest setting to not cause rips
One of the larger fabric shavers we tested, this option from Beautural is great for covering bigger surface areas. With two speed settings and an attachment that lets you choose from three different fabric heights, the shaver works well on pretty much any item that needs a little zhuzhing up. It's battery-powered, but also comes with an AC adapter, so you can use it plugged in, too — just in case those batteries run out of juice and you've got a fabric refreshing emergency on your hands.
During testing, we were impressed with how this shaver performed. The lowest speed worked, but the higher one was even more efficient and allowed us to clean up a sweater with one simple pass. The lint collector is sizeable and easy to empty and clean. Overall, the versatility, size and efficiency of this shaver (all for under $30) make it a great buy.
- Dimensions 5.3" x 3.1" x 7.3"
- Power Source Electric (battery or corded)
- Number of Settings 2 speed settings, 3 shave heights
- Number of Blades 6
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
- Nice design
- 2-in-1 fabric shaver and lint roller
- Comfortable handle
- Available in multiple colors
- Short battery life
- One speed setting
A fabric shaver isn't necessarily an item you'd put on display in your home, but in case you do want to leave it on the bookshelf (or maybe you just like your chores to feel a little more luxe), here's one with a really cool design. The battery life of this shaver is on the shorter end, with just 1.5 hours to a full charge, which is a bit disappointing for the price. But hopefully, you're never heads-down shaving your fabrics for that long, anyway. The lint roller inside the handle is a nice added touch.
While this shaver does have more basic settings, with only one speed and depth, it works well and is easy to clean. The rim around the head screws off to reveal the lint collector and the blades, which you can then clean easily with the included brush. It was also the most comfortable to hold out of all the shavers we tested — something about the shape and thickness of the handle made it really easy to grip and maneuver.
- Dimensions 8.5" x 3.5" x 3.25"
- Power Source Electric (rechargeable battery)
- Number of Settings 1
- Number of Blades 6
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
- Upholstery attachment brush included
- Large lint collector bin
- Rotating handle
- Attachments are difficult to remove
- Shorter battery life
This pick from Popchose was the only fabric shaver that came with an upholstery-specific attachment, making it an excellent choice for refreshing couches, chairs and other furniture that's started to pill with heavy use. The attachment includes a brush around the shaver head and a lint-removing pad on the bottom so that you can clean up your furniture in more ways than one. The shaver only has one speed setting, but it worked sufficiently in our testing. Our biggest gripe is that the lint collector and the brush attachment are kind of tricky to remove, but with a little practice, we got the hang of it and it didn't feel quite as tedious.
During testing, we appreciated the easy-to-hold handle that also rotates 180 degrees, making it easy to approach the item you're shaving from the angle that you need — more important for a large item than something small like a shirt. The shaver removed pills with just one or two passes, and the lint collector held a good amount of shavings (again, important if you're tackling an extensive surface area). The added lint brush was a nice touch to get extra particles off the fabric.
- Dimensions 5.3" x 3.6" x 6.6"
- Power Source Electric (rechargeable battery)
- Number of Settings 1
- Number of Blades 6
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
- LED battery indicator
- Long-lasting charge
- Compact size
- Not ideal for large items
The Gaiatop Rechargeable Fabric Shaver is small but mighty. With three speeds and an LED screen that tells you how much battery you have left in your charge, it has some of the features we liked in bigger shavers but without the bulk. According to the manufacturer, it can run for 2.5 hours off a single 1.5-hour charge, which is impressive — and great for when you don't have time to plug in before you need to de-fuzz an item. The lint collector is small and the shape isn't the most comfortable to hold, but it checks all the boxes for a quick touch-up on the go.
During our testing, we found this shaver worked well on the lowest speed, though the highest one did reduce the number of passes it took to fully clean up pilling on our sweater. The lint collector filled up quickly, so you probably wouldn't want to rely on this one for a heavy-duty job or a full set of bedsheets. But it fits the bill for minor jobs that you want to get done quickly and efficiently (and with battery power to spare).
- Dimensions 2.4" x 2.44" x 5.8"
- Power Source Electric (rechargeable battery)
- Number of Settings 3
- Number of Blades 6
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
Amy Marturana Winderl
What to Consider When Buying a Fabric Shaver
Power Source: Fabric shavers can be manual or electric. Manual shavers are easy to use on the go but are not the most efficient and require a bit more muscle to get the job done. Electric options can be battery-operated, rechargeable or corded. While batteries can be convenient, you will need to replace them over time — an additional cost to consider. Rechargeable shavers are typically the most convenient since you can plug the cable into a computer or other device nearby to get a quick charge before use, though the amount of time you can use it on a single charge varies depending on the model.
Surface Size: The size of the actual shaving surface can make one of these devices more or less efficient. In general, smaller and more compact fabric shavers cover a smaller surface area, and larger options can tackle larger items with fewer passes. The larger shavers also tend to have six blades in the shaving head and smaller ones only have three, making each stroke a little less efficient. Larger shavers also typically have a larger lint-collecting bin.
Size and Comfort of Use: Some shavers are very compact while others are a bit bulkier. In general, we found that most fabric shavers were very lightweight, even if their dimensions were on the larger side. You'll also want to consider how easy and comfortable it is to hold and use a shaver. Some devices with smaller, stubbier handles may not be as comfortable to hold for a long time, while the shavers with longer handles that are easier to fully grip (and even change up one's grip during use) tended to feel easier to use and put less strain on our hands.
Settings and Attachments: The most basic fabric shavers have simply one speed and don't come with any attachments, which may be sufficient, depending on what you're using them for. Others come with two or three speeds and an attachment that lets you adjust how close to the fabric the shaver is, allowing for customization when you're using a thicker versus thinner fabric.
Amy Marturana Winderl
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a fabric shaver do?
A fabric shaver gently removes pills and fuzz from fabrics. Most fabric shavers are made with a rotating head that contains three or six small metal blades and a metal cover with holes in it. As you lightly run the device across a fabric surface, the blade catches and trims off these imperfections, resulting in a smoother, newer-looking item. Many fabric shavers can be used on a variety of fabrics, including cotton, synthetic materials and wool. Always read the instructions that come with a fabric shaver to make sure it's safe to use on the specific fabric you'd like to shave and test a small, easily hidden area before tackling the whole thing.
What can you use a fabric shaver on besides clothes?
Not only can use a fabric shaver on clothing, but you can also use shavers on fabric furniture (such as a couch or upholstered chair), curtains and drapes, and bedding (including sheets, blankets, and comforters). In general, if it's subject to pilling, you can likely use a fabric shaver on it. (Again, be sure to test first to make sure the item can handle it!)
What's the difference between a lint remover and a fabric shaver?
While a fabric shaver is a device that cuts off pills and other materials that have accumulated on the surface of the fabric, a lint remover is made of a sticky or clingy material that picks up debris — like loose fabric fibers, pet hair and dust — when you roll it over the item.
Other Fabric Shavers We Tested
We had high hopes for the Steamery Pilo 2 Fabric Shaver and Nori Trim Fabric Shaver — both quite pricey options — but didn't find there were any standout features that made them worth the extra cost compared to some of the other picks that had more features and cost less.
Other battery-powered options we tested, including the Evercare Large Fabric Shaver and the Conair Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover didn't perform as well as the Philips one that made our top picks list. In general, we found that these shavers were more compact and tended to only have three blades, which just doesn't work as well as the six-blade options do.
We also tested a few manual fabric shavers and combs, including the GLEENER Battery-Free Fabric Shaver and the Comfy Clothiers Wooden Fabric Shaver, but ultimately felt that they weren't as efficient as the electric options. It felt tedious and time-consuming to use a manual shaver — and a bit silly considering so many good electric options exist and reduce both physical effort and the time it takes to shave pills off fabric. It didn't seem worth making the job harder, especially when the manual options weren't even significantly less expensive.
Amy Marturana Winderl
Why You Should Trust Our Tester
Amy has been testing products and writing reviews for editorial publications for over a decade. She's tested everything from makeup and skincare products to fitness apparel, sneakers, gym equipment, hiking and camping equipment, and gardening tools and accessories. She has also tested products and written copy for SELF's beauty and fitness awards and Outside's gear guide. For HGTV, Amy has tested a variety of home and garden products, including garden hoses, hose reels, gardening carts and wagons, pop-up canopy tents and bath mats.
Why You Should Trust HGTV Shopping Experts
HGTV Shopping Experts believe the best method for testing products is based on how our fans are going to use them in the real world. In each of our Tested and Reviewed stories, products are not tested in sterile laboratory settings that don't mimic real life. Instead, we test products in real homes that reflect our readers' real lives, which can also include pets, kids, partners and more. We follow rigorous testing rubrics designed by our expert editors and take copious notes during the testing process. When choosing our top picks, we evaluate all of our testing data and take into consideration many factors including ease of use, price, product availability and practicality. Our goal is to choose the best products for our readers.
