Easy-Grip Cutlery: Built-Up, Angled and Weighted Compared

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

Easy-grip cutlery has thicker, lighter or specially shaped handles so you can hold a knife, fork and spoon comfortably when ordinary cutlery slips, hurts or is hard to control. Choosing the right style depends on what is causing the difficulty.

Who it helps

People with arthritis, a weak or painful grip, tremor (shaky hands), limited wrist movement, or the use of only one hand, for example after a stroke. Good cutlery can mean the difference between eating independently and needing help, and makes eating out less of a worry.

Main types

• Built-up handles — thick, soft, often ribbed handles that are easier to hold with a loose grip. The most widely useful type.
• Foam tubing — lengths of foam that slide over your existing cutlery, toothbrush or pen to thicken the handle. A cheap way to try the idea.
• Lightweight cutlery — for weak hands and arms that tire.
• Weighted cutlery — heavier handles that can help steady a tremor for some people. It does not suit everyone, so try before buying a full set if you can.
• Angled or bendable cutlery — the head is set at an angle, left- or right-handed, so food reaches your mouth with less wrist and shoulder movement.
• Rocker knives and combined knife-forks — cut with a rocking motion using one hand.
• Cutlery with straps — a strap round the hand holds the utensil when you cannot grip at all.

Plates, bowls and cups that help

• Plate guards and high-sided plates give you an edge to push food against, useful for one-handed eating.
• Non-slip mats stop the plate sliding.
• Two-handled mugs and lightweight insulated cups are easier to hold steadily; some have lids.

What to look for

• Handle thickness and texture that suit your hand. A handle that is too fat can be as awkward as one that is too thin.
• Overall weight: light for weakness, heavier only if it genuinely steadies a tremor for you.
• Dishwasher safe, and whether soft handles trap water.
• Left- or right-handed versions for angled cutlery.
• Appearance. Many people prefer cutlery that looks like ordinary tableware, and several ranges now do.
• Whether you can buy single pieces. You may need only a different knife or spoon, not a whole set.

Rough price guide

Safety points and mistakes to avoid

• Do not assume weighted cutlery is the answer to a tremor. For some people it helps; for others the extra weight is tiring.
• Check sizes. Some adapted cutlery is larger than normal and may feel clumsy in a small hand.
• Avoid buying a large set before you have tried one piece in that style.
• Rocker knives are sharp along a curved edge; keep them in a sleeve or a separate part of the drawer.
• If food or drink regularly "goes down the wrong way", or you are coughing at meals, that is not a cutlery problem. Speak to your GP, who can refer you to a speech and language therapist.

Getting cutlery through the council or NHS

An occupational therapist can assess how you manage at mealtimes and let you try different styles. This may come through a council needs assessment, or through the NHS if you are under a hospital, stroke or community therapy team. Some services provide the items; others advise you what to buy. In England, equipment you are assessed as needing that costs under £1,000 is free. You can ask for a needs assessment via GOV.UK.

Related guides

See jar openers and kitchen aids and easy-pour kettles and kettle tippers for the rest of the kitchen, reachers and dressing aids for help with dressing, and shopping and cooking for one for easy meal ideas. If you are not sure what help you may be entitled to, try our benefits checklist.

Common questions

Is weighted or lightweight cutlery better for shaky hands?

It varies from person to person. Extra weight can damp down some tremors, but not all. An occupational therapist can let you try both, or buy a single weighted spoon first.

Can I make my own cutlery easier to hold?

Yes. Foam tubing slides over ordinary handles and costs a few pounds. It also works on toothbrushes, pens and paintbrushes.

Is easy-grip cutlery dishwasher safe?

Most is, but check the product details. Foam tubing usually needs to be taken off and washed by hand.

Can I buy it VAT-free?

Cutlery designed solely for disabled people may qualify if you have a long-term illness or disability. See VAT relief on mobility aids for how to claim.