# TLDR Review: X-ACTO XLR Pencil Sharpener

*Published: 2025-07-03 | Updated: 2025-07-18 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/reviews-tldr/x-acto-xlr-pencil-sharpener*

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## Product: X-ACTO XLR Pencil Sharpener
**Brand:** X-Acto

## Pros
- Works quickly to sharpen both regular and colored pencils, even 'design pencils' that manual sharpeners struggle with.
- Small footprint makes it easy to fit in any workspace without taking up too much room.
- Suitable for use by young children, with a mechanical stop to prevent oversharpening.
- The sharpener has a quiet operation compared to others in the same price range.
- Comes with a generous 2-year warranty, offering peace of mind regarding reliability.
- Provides a smooth, fine point on pencils efficiently.
- It is sturdy and does not slide around during use.
- Successfully sharpened around 60 colored pencils without breaking the lead.
- Has a stop function to prevent over-sharpening.
- Effectively meets light to moderate home learning needs.

## Cons
- Can be loud, making it less ideal for quiet environments.
- May leave pencil shavings outside the receptacle, requiring extra cleaning.
- Occasionally, the motor may stop mid-use to prevent overheating.
- Construction plastic is thinner than older models, affecting overall feel.
- Shavings catcher design is messy, adding to maintenance effort.
- Some users experienced the sharpener not performing effectively, breaking pencil wood instead.
- Requires deep pencil insertion, impractical for shorter pencils.
- Reports of units stopping after limited use, raising reliability concerns.
- The dependent switch mechanism can fail, sometimes needing modification.
- Quality control issues noted, potentially leading to performance inconsistencies.

## Bottom Line

The X-ACTO XLR Electric Pencil Sharpener - 1818 offers reliable and efficient performance for regular and colored pencils, with features like a stop mechanism and compact design making it suitable for home and light office use. However, potential concerns about noise, shavings management, and mechanical reliability might be deal-breakers for some users. If durability and quiet operation are key, ensure your purchase includes a warranty, and perhaps consider investing in a higher-tier model if these drawbacks could be significant for your setting.

## Pros vs Cons at a Glance

| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| Works quickly to sharpen both regular and colored pencils, even 'design pencils' that manual sharpeners struggle with. | Can be loud, making it less ideal for quiet environments. |
| Small footprint makes it easy to fit in any workspace without taking up too much room. | May leave pencil shavings outside the receptacle, requiring extra cleaning. |
| Suitable for use by young children, with a mechanical stop to prevent oversharpening. | Occasionally, the motor may stop mid-use to prevent overheating. |
| The sharpener has a quiet operation compared to others in the same price range. | Construction plastic is thinner than older models, affecting overall feel. |
| Comes with a generous 2-year warranty, offering peace of mind regarding reliability. | Shavings catcher design is messy, adding to maintenance effort. |
| Provides a smooth, fine point on pencils efficiently. | Some users experienced the sharpener not performing effectively, breaking pencil wood instead. |
| It is sturdy and does not slide around during use. | Requires deep pencil insertion, impractical for shorter pencils. |
| Successfully sharpened around 60 colored pencils without breaking the lead. | Reports of units stopping after limited use, raising reliability concerns. |
| Has a stop function to prevent over-sharpening. | The dependent switch mechanism can fail, sometimes needing modification. |
| Effectively meets light to moderate home learning needs. | Quality control issues noted, potentially leading to performance inconsistencies. |

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| OfficeSupply.com | $14.98  | Check |
| Mercari | $19.00  | Check |
| Amazon | $19.99  | Check |
| OfficeCrave.com | $21.99  | Check |
| Target | $21.99  | Check |
| Adorama | $22.41  | Check |
| WEBstaurant Store | $23.49  | Check |
| CleanItSupply | $23.54  | Check |
| Discount Cleaning Products | $23.82  | Check |
| MyBinding.com | $23.95  | Check |
| Staples | $24.99  | Check |
| Walmart | $24.99  | Check |
| AceOfficeMachines.com | $26.07  | Check |
| Newegg | $26.23  | Check |
| OfficeSupplyInc.com | $27.79  | Check |
| Opentip | $27.96  | Check |
| EliteWarehouse.com | $31.40  | Check |
| Office Specialties | $31.81  | Check |
| OfficeDirectSupply | $31.81  | Check |
| Quill.com | $33.99  | Check |

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*About this review: We pulled together findings from professional and user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from thousands of retailers to give you the short version.*