An electric pencil sharpener includes a cutter carrier, and first and second cutter members mounted on the cutter carrier and having long and short blade portions. The rear end of the short blade portion is disposed forwardly of the rear end of the long blade portion. A shaving space includes a rear region disposed between the rear ends of the long and short blade portions. The rear region allows extension of a tip portion of a pencil thereinto for pushing a switch actuation unit so as to deactivate a motor when the tip portion of the pencil has been sharpened to extend a predetermined length into the rear region.