You may not think about this when you’re trimming your sideburns, shaping your beard, or shaving your legs, but the personal care and shaving razor blade industry is one of the most profitable markets in the world.
Today, people are buying more razor blades and personal care products than ever before. These increasing razor blade sales are primarily rooted in men’s and women’s increasing desire to maintain their physical appearance, thanks to social media, magazines, and television shows. With this increasing need comes increased revenue.
The United States is playing a big factor in this forecasted revenue increase, leading the market with a combination of both long-standing razor blade businesses and new and rapidly growing online and subscription-based razor blade brands.
Razor blades, both high-end and disposable, are steadily increasing in popularity among both men and women across the nation. Nationally, razor blade brands in the United States are generating billions of dollars, with the average American using about 12 razor blades per year.
Nationally, there are several major brands driving the razor blade industry. To break it down and maybe even help you find your next best razor blade, we’ve assembled a list of the ten largest razor blade brands in the United States.
Here are the top ten largest razor blade brands in the United States by total annual revenue:
Panasonic Corporation of North America. Newark, New Jersey
2022 Annual Revenue: $65.76 billion
Number of Employees: 271,869
Although Panasonic is best known for its electronics, automotive, and home renovation products, the company also markets and distributes an impressive line of personal care and hygiene products, including razor blades and electric shavers.
In the United States, Panasonic’s shaving products rank as the eighth most popular razor blade brand in the nation based on total annual revenue.
Among the company’s most popular razors are the Men’s Electric 4-Blade Cordless Shaver, the Dual-Blade Electric Razor, and the Wet/Dry Electric Shaver.
Founded in March 1918, Panasonic’s global headquarters is based in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan. However, their North American branch is headquartered and based out of Newark, New Jersey.
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Philip Morris International. Cambridge, Massachusetts
2022 Annual Revenue: $31.762 billion
Number of Employees: 114,000
Koninklijke Philips, better known simply as Philips, is the ninth-largest razor blade brand in the United States in terms of annual revenue. The multinational corporation is best known for marketing and manufacturing a wide line of electronics, domestic appliances, personal care products, medical systems, and more.
With a mission to help better the world’s health and well-being, Philips is on track to improve an estimated 2.5 billion lives each year by 2030, including millions of underserved individuals.
Although Phillips’ global headquarters is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the North American branch of the business is headquartered out of Cambridge, Massachusetts. In the United States, Philips’ most popular razors and shaving products are the Philips Norelco Shaver Series and the Shaver S9000 Prestige.
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Gillette. Boston, Massachusetts
2022 Annual Revenue: $10.3 billion
Number of Employees: 101,000
When it comes to razor blades, there’s nothing quite like Gillette. This billion-dollar brand is one of the largest, most profitable commercial enterprises in the global shaving, personal care, and razor blade market.
Ranking as the largest razor blade brand in the United States, Gillette has been providing Americans with top-of-the-line safety razors, shaving supplies, and personal care products for 120 years.
As one of the world’s most popular brands, it’s no surprise that Gillette’s razor blade sales account for approximately 50 percent of the personal shaving market in the United States.
Gillette has grown significantly since its inception in September 1901. With its wide array of products, it’s estimated that Gillette razor blades are used by more than 750 million men in nearly every region of the world.
Today, the billion-dollar brand is owned by Procter Gamble, a multinational corporation that manufactures personal care, hygiene, and health products and markets and distributes more than 30 variations of razor blades.
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Bic USA. Shelton, Connecticut
2022 Annual Revenue: $2.48 billion
Number of Employees: 10,471
You might know Bic for its line of affordable lighters, stationary, and office supply products. But did you know that they’re also one of the largest distributors of razor blades in the United States? In the razor blade industry, Bic is best known for making highly affordable and disposable products.
With a mission to “bring simplicity and joy to everyday life,” Bic manufactures and distributes a variety of everyday products and household essentials, including razor blades for men and women. The company has grown considerably in its 75-year history and is now one of the most recognized brands in the world.
The company markets and manufactures several one, three, four, and five-blade razors and numerous other shaving products. While Bic’s razor blades remain some of the most affordable on the market, they still undergo extensive certifications, blade assessments, and dimensional statistics checks.
Although Bic’s global headquarters is located in Paris, France, the company’s North American branch is operated out of their American headquarters in Shelton, Connecticut.
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Venus. Boston, Massachusetts
2022 Annual Revenue: $300 million
Number of Employees: 28,700
Ranking as the second largest razor blade brand in the United States, Venus offers an impressive line of razors and personal care products specifically designed for women. Millions of women in the United States, and even more across the world, turn to venus razor blades for all their personal care needs.
Venus razor blades are most celebrated for their comfortable grip handlebars and pivoting heads adapted to glide perfectly over a woman’s curves.
With a mission to equip women with the tools they need to achieve flawlessly smooth skin, Venus offers several razor blades, including Venus Divine, Venus Vibrance, Venus Embrace, Venus Breeze, Venus Spa Breeze, and Venus ProSkin Moisture Rich.
Apart from being one of the bestselling razor blade brands for women, Venus is also best known for being the first brand in the United States to offer three-bladed razors designed especially for women.
The brand is part of Gillette’s billion-dollar razor blade empire and is owned by Procter Gamble, a multinational corporation that manufactures personal care, hygiene, and health products in nearly every region across the world.
Harry’s. New York, New York
2022 Annual Revenue: $239.1 million
Number of Employees: 600
Harry’s has exploded in popularity and risen to become the sixth-largest razor blade brand in the United States in just nine short years. Founded in July 2012 by Andy Katz-Mayfield and Jeff Raider, Harry’s sells a comprehensive line of men’s shaving equipment and personal care products.
Best known for its unique razor subscription service, Harry’s prides itself on delivering simple, high-quality shaving products at a fair and affordable price point. Some of the company’s best-selling products are Truman Set, Winston Set, Shave Shower Travel Set, Shave Cream, Shave Gel, and Post Shave Balm.
In addition to their popular subscription service, which allows customers to sign up for auto refills and receive razor blades and shaving products directly at their doors, Harry’s also sells their popular facial razor blades online and in retail stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
American Safety Razor. Cedar Knolls, New Jersey
2022 Annual Revenue: $93.0 million
Number of Employees: 3,000
Founded in 1906, the American Safety Razor Company has grown to become the fourth largest razor blade company in the United States today.
The American Safety Razor Company was formed through a merger of the Gem Cutlery Company and Ever-Ready and saw exploding sales after coining and popularizing the “five o’clock shadow” phrase. The company then set out on a mission to provide Americans with the best razor blades to curb their daily facial stubble.
The brand owned by Edgewell Personal Care is a billion-dollar personal care and consumer products corporation best known for marketing and manufacturing an extensive line of personal care products, razor blades, cutting tools, and medical supplies in the United States, Europe, and Mexico.
Historically, the company’s biggest competitor was Gillette, which was originally called the American Safety Razor Company before it was renamed for its founder, King Gillette.
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Billie. New York, New York
2022 Annual Revenue: $90 million
Number of Employees: 80
Rounding out the list of the largest razor blade brands in the United States is Billie, yet another subscription-based razor blade and personal care product company. Billie is unique from other razor blade brands and shaving subscription services in that it specializes in designing subscription-based razor blades specifically made for women.
Offering monthly razors for as low as $9, Billie is celebrated for eliminating the “pink tax” on their razor blade products, a designation for the price increases typically seen on women’s hygiene products.
In addition to doing away with the “pink tax,” Billie is also best known for showing body hair in their advertisements and marketing images in an effort to normalize women’s body hair and promote body confidence and self-love.
Billie products — all of which include no sulfates, parabens, formaldehyde, GMOs, drying alcohols, synthetic dyes, fragrances, BHT, cheap forming agents, or unstable silicones — include razor blades, shaving cream, makeup removing wipes, lip balm, body lotion, body wash, and their increasingly popular shaving essentials Smooth Operator Set.
Schick. North Bergen, New Jersey
2022 Annual Revenue: $34.8 million
Number of Employees: 160
Founded in 1926 by Jacob Schick, Schick products are the fifth largest and most popular shaving gizmos in the United State’s razor blade market. Dedicated to helping you “free your skin,” Schick markets more than 500 patented inventions with the goal of providing customers with a liberating, refreshing, and effortless shaving experience.
Schick’s shaving products are best known for their tempered steel razor blades, flexible razor heads, and protective skin guards and are celebrated for being both cutting-edge and environmentally friendly.
Schick’s most popular products include the Hydro Skin Comfort Stubble Eraser Razor, Hydro Silk 5 TrimStyle Razor, Schick Intuition Sensitive Care Razor, Schick Quattro Razor, and the Schick Protector Razor.
The Schick brand is currently marketed in more than 20 countries across the globe — including areas in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia, and Russia — and is owned by Edgewell Personal Care, a billion-dollar personal care and consumer products corporation based in Connecticut.
Dollar Shave Club. Venice, California
2022 Annual Revenue: $50 million
Number of Employees: 300
Dollar Shave Club, yet another subscription-based razor blade company and a close competitor of Harry’s, ranks seventh on the list of the largest razor blade brands in the United States.
Founded in January 2011 by Mark Levine and Michael Dubin, Dollar Shave Club markets itself as an affordable, customizable razor blade and shaving subscription service with no long-term commitments or gimmicks.
In its ten-year history, the company has gained more than four million subscribers in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
From razors and razor blade refills to deodorant, cologne, and skin care products, Dollar Shave Club has it all. Among the company’s most popular products include their Shave Essentials Kit, Ultimate Shave Trial Kit, 6 Blade Starter Kit, and Buttery Starter Kit.
Razor Blade Company FAQ
Why are razor blades so expensive?
Razor blades are expensive due to the precise methods used to create them. An effective razor blade requires extremely thin and sharpened pieces of steel. The process of cutting and sharpening steel to the ideal thinness (between 3/8 and 6/8 inches) can be incredibly costly and time-consuming.
Is there a shortage of razor blades?
Yes, there is still a shortage of razor blades. While this was especially the case during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, due to raw material shortages and supply chain disruptions, razor blades are still in short supply. As of 2023, the average razor blade costs $10 or more, but in 2019, the average cost was only $3-$7 depending on the brand.
Why are men’s razors cheaper than women’s?
It’s not clear why men’s razors are cheaper than women’s razors, with many referring to it as the “pink tax”. However, the fact is that women’s razors cost an average 11% to 66% more than men’s razors, depending on the brand, which is a significant difference either way.
In general, the higher prices don’t seem justified, as differences between men’s and women’s razors are minor. For example, one of the only differences is that women’s razors are often given an oval shape because it’s more useful for shaving the curves behind the knee and underarms.
Ranking the United State’s Largest Razor Blade Brands
This list of America’s ten largest razor blade brands is ranked by the total annual sales volume or revenue of each brand.
This ranking is exclusive to the best-selling personal razor blade brands in the United States, and therefore only considered sales made in the United States or by residents of the United States.
The list below also includes important information on each company’s number of employees. However, rankings are based solely on the brand’s total annual reported revenue each year.
