Best Beard Trimmer for Long Beards: 5 Picks and How to Trim

What do a long beard and a 1970s Dodge Charger have in common? More than you might think.

Just picture it. Your beard, cruising down the highway of life, turning heads left and right, much like a polished, roaring '70s Charger on the open road. Both exude an undeniable allure, a sense of power, and a dash of rebellion.

And just like any vintage muscle car, your long beard loves quality oil and needs quality tools to keep it in top shape.

Just as a muscle car enthusiast wouldn't dream of using an adjustable wrench on their Charger, a beardsman shouldn't use a standard beard trimmer on their cherished facial locks.

For the open highways of bearddom, you need a beefier, high-performance trimmer that’s engineered specifically and can handle the glorious length and volume of your beard. 

In this beard maintenance road trip, we'll guide you through what to look for in a trimmer, our top picks (including the one our founder, Alex, uses), and how he keeps his own long beard in shape. Your beard will feel like it's cruising down Route 66, the wind rushing by, and the sun setting behind the horizon.

So, buckle up, and let's hit the road.

Just as you wouldn't buy a classic car without giving the engine a thorough check, you shouldn't dive into the world of long beard trimmers without knowing what's under the hood.

From blade quality to battery life, and adjustable settings to the age-old corded vs cordless debate, there's plenty to consider.

So, pop the hood, let's dive into the nitty-gritty details and explore the factors that make a long beard trimmer your best bet for a long beard.

Having the right trimmer blades is like having a trusted barber at your disposal. Sharp, high-quality blades ensure a clean, precise trim, saving your beard from a fate worse than shaving – a hack job.

Look for trimmers with self-sharpening steel or ceramic blades – they'll keep your beard neat and snazzy without the risk of pulling or tugging.

When it comes to long beards, speed isn't the game; patience is. You don't want to be halfway through your grooming routine when your trimmer gives up the ghost.

Look for a trimmer with good battery life – ideally, something that can give you at least an hour of cordless use.

One size doesn't fit all in the beard world. Whether you're sculpting a Viking beard or simply taming the wild beast, having a trimmer with adjustable settings is a game-changer.

It allows you to customise the length and style of your trim for the perfect grooming experience.

Choosing between corded and cordless is a bit like choosing between a classic car and a Tesla. Both have their charm, but one might suit your lifestyle (and style) better.

Corded trimmers are like your trusty classic car. They never run out of petrol mid-journey, always ready to rev up and get to work.

The flip side? They can restrict your movement. If you're the type who likes to wander while grooming, or if your bathroom is short on sockets, they might just put a damper on your beard-scaping.

Cordless trimmers, on the other hand, are like the sleek, modern electric car. They offer you the freedom to groom wherever you fancy – your desk, your man cave, or even your back garden (making the neighbours green with envy is just a bonus).

However, the downside is that they're dependent on battery life. And we all know the frustration of a trimmer dying on us midway through a session.

That’s like your electric car running out of juice in the middle of nowhere.

To get the best of both worlds, consider a trimmer that can run both corded and cordless. If that’s not possible, look for one with a rapid charge feature.

These high-octane trimmers give you enough power for a quick trim from a short charge (the Braun below gets one trim from a five-minute charge). That way, even if you forget to charge, you're never left stranded with half a beard.

When it comes to maintaining a long beard, the tool you choose is as crucial as the oil you use. It's not about picking the first trimmer you see on the shelf.

It's about choosing the Rolls-Royce of trimmers – one that ensures your journey down the beard highway is as smooth as possible.

So, here are our top picks, with Alex’s honest take on each. We checked where every one can still be bought in September 2026 and flagged any that are hard to find in the UK. We don’t earn a commission on any of these links.

This is the trimmer our founder, Alex, uses, and it’s his current recommendation for beards of all lengths. In his words: “It’ll carry you from stubble all the way to full beard, and last years. Worth the investment.”

Philips now sells it as the All-in-One Trimmer Series 7000. The current 14-in-1 kit (MG7940/75) has self-sharpening steel blades, adjustable combs that go up to 20mm, and up to 120 minutes of runtime from a one-hour charge, with a five-minute quick charge for a single trim.

It’s an all-rounder rather than a dedicated long-beard trimmer. Once your beard is longer than its longest comb, use it to keep your moustache and edges tidy and leave the length to your barber, which is exactly what Alex does (more on that below).

See it at Philips

Alex’s verdict: “My strongest pick here for someone who wants to trim a long beard with a guard: it reaches 30mm and offers fine length adjustments. Its downside is that you have to change combs as you move through the length ranges.”

It gives you 58 cutting lengths from 0.5mm to 30mm in 0.5mm steps, with four attachments for detailing, short, medium and long beards.

One catch: Panasonic UK now lists the ER-GB96 as discontinued, so in the UK you may only find remaining stock. It’s still sold in the US.

See it at Panasonic (US)

Alex’s verdict: “The dial makes small length adjustments easy, and its 20mm maximum gives you more room than the Philips [7200]. For a genuinely long beard, I’d still use it mainly to shape shorter areas and tidy edges.”

You get 39 length settings from 0.5mm to 10mm, plus a second comb for 11mm to 20mm. Braun quotes up to 100 minutes of trimming from a full charge, and a five-minute quick charge gives you enough for one trim. It’s still on sale through Braun’s UK shop.

See it at Braun

Alex’s verdict: “A versatile choice if you want one tool for your beard, edges and other grooming jobs. You get plenty of attachments, though swapping and storing them is less convenient than turning a length dial.”

Wahl quotes a 3.5-hour runtime. The kit comes with guide combs from 1.5mm to 13mm, an adjustable guide, and four interchangeable heads, including an ear and nose trimmer.

One catch: this is a US model. Wahl’s UK range is different, so UK buyers will usually need an importer.

See it at Wahl (US)

Alex’s verdict: “The vacuum is handy if you hate cleaning hair off the sink. The catch: its 10mm maximum guard makes it better for a short beard or tidying the sides of a long one than trimming the full length.”

It has 20 length settings in 0.5mm steps, a built-in vacuum that Philips says catches up to 90% of the cut hair, and 80 minutes of cordless use from a one-hour charge. If less mess is your priority, our guide to vacuum beard trimmers goes into more detail.

One catch: the 7200 is sold under the Norelco name in the US. Philips has discontinued its UK versions of this vacuum trimmer, so it’s hard to find new here.

See it at Philips (US)

At its longest, our founder Alex’s beard reached about six inches (15cm). He didn’t trim all of that himself.

The moustache: at home. He trims his moustache himself, because his wife hates kissing hair instead of lip.

The length and shape: his barber. For the full trim, he goes to a barber. Shout out to Dani Sari at Jack Rabbits in Romsey.

That’s our honest advice for any genuinely long beard. Once your beard is longer than the longest guard you own, a trimmer can only tidy the edges. Use it for the moustache, cheek line and neckline, and let a good barber (or a steady hand with scissors) shape the length. Our no-nonsense guide to trimming a beard walks you through it, and our guide to trimmer guards covers which guard to use on the shorter areas.

Just like a vintage car needs a regular tune-up to keep roaring down the highway, your long beard trimmer needs some TLC to stay in peak grooming condition.

These road-tested tips will help you keep your beard looking majestic and your trimmer purring like a kitten.

Your beard trimmer is an investment, and like any high-performance machine, it thrives on regular maintenance.

Clean it after every trim to keep the engine purring, and oil the blades if your manual says to (some trimmers, including many Philips Multigroom models, don't need it). Our guide to oiling a beard trimmer explains how. Looking after it helps it last longer and gives you a smoother trim.

Consider this the equivalent of a regular oil change and tune-up for your beard-mobile.

When you're ready to hit the beard highway, start with a longer guard.

This is like easing onto the motorway rather than gunning the engine from the start.

You can always trim more off if you need to, but remember, there's no reverse gear in the world of beard trimming. Proceed with caution, beard bro.

With a long beard, to get a neat and even cut, move the trimmer with the direction of your facial hair growth. This is like cruising with the wind - it might seem counter-intuitive, but it'll give you the smoothest ride.

Remember, everything worthwhile takes time, and a perfectly groomed beard is definitely worthwhile.

Take your time, and don't rush the process. Your patience will pay off with a killer beard that turns heads wherever you go.

If you're keen to keep your beard looking as sleek and shiny as a polished Charger, don't forget to show it some love with beard oil. It's like the wax polish that gives your car that extra shine and protects its paint job.

Similarly, a good beard oil moisturises your beard, keeps it soft, and can help to reduce itchiness and flaking.

Experiment with different scents as you would with custom paint jobs, from earthy sandalwood to sweet vanilla.

Our Original Beard Oil Bundle (one of each of our oils) is a great way to explore different fragrances, like having a garage full of options at your disposal. It also makes a perfect gift for the bearded gentleman in your life.

Well, we've now travelled the landscape of long beard trimmers together. We've peeked under the hood to understand the critical role of grooming, dissected what gives a trimmer its edge, and dished out the skinny on maintaining both your beard and its trusty sidekick, the trimmer.

But let's be clear: this is merely a pit stop on a much longer voyage. Growing a beard is an exciting journey. And the good news? Mission Beard is here, ready to accompany you every mile of the way.

Explore our blog for more beard-centric wisdom, and peruse our product range, all created with devotion and precision, with your long and luscious beard in mind. So, let's hit the road again with Mission Beard. Your beard's thrilling odyssey is just beginning to unfurl.