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Paper cutters alleviate the need to cut individual pieces of paper with scissors – which can be time-consuming and hard on the hands. The best paper cutters also slash through thicker material like cardstock and photo paper. Some can even cut up to 400 sheets at once.
Whether you’re a teacher, professional, or crafter, the right type of paper cutter can make your project go smoother.
Best Paper Cutters
What to Look for in a Paper Cutter
There are four types of paper cutters, each meeting a different need. A guillotine paper cutter is best suited for teachers and small offices. A rotary paper cutter works well for scrapbookers, kids, and small-scale crafters. Stack and electric paper cutters are best for businesses needing to slice hundreds of sheets of paper at once.
Here’s the difference in each type of paper cutter:
- Guillotine Paper Cutter – A guillotine paper cutter is the most common type and features a long arm with a blade. Guillotine paper cutters can cut many sheets at once – usually 20-40. To use a guillotine paper cutter, place your papers on the tray, line up the cut mark, and pull the arm down to slice the paper.
- Rotary Paper Cutter – A rotary paper cutter features a sliding blade that users can push back and forth to slice paper. Since the blade isn’t exposed, it’s a more popular type for children to use.
- Stack Paper Cutter – A stack paper cutter is a type of guillotine paper cutter that features heavy-duty clamps and can cut up to 500 sheets of paper at once.
- Electric Paper Cutters – Eclectic paper cutters are programmable but expensive. Most cost well over $500 and can slice through up to 500 sheets of paper at once.
Aside from the type of paper cutter, pay attention to the size. A standard paper cutter is 12 inches wide, but you can get them in larger sizes if needed.
Best Paper Cutter Reviews
We’ve looked at dozens of paper cutters, features, and reviews and rounded up the top 7 in each category.
Top Choice: Swingline Guillotine Paper Cutter
The Swingline Guillotine Paper Cutter is a good fit for teachers, professionals, and crafters. It features a 12-inch cutting length, a sharp guillotine blade for clean cuts, and a 10-page capacity.
The grid alignment displays both inches and centimeters. It also has a guard rail over the blade and a latch lock to keep the arm in position when not in use.
The Swingline Guillotine Paper Cutter is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars by over 17,000 reviewers. There’s repeated praise for this paper cutter’s sturdiness, cutting ability, and lightness. The most prevalent complaint is that paper can be hard to align.
Pros:
- Comes with a 10-year limited warranty
- Ultra-sharp guillotine blade for clean cuts
- Grid alignment board features inches and centimeters
- Safety features include a blade guard rail and latch lock
Cons:
- Can only cut ten sheets of paper at a time
Best Budget-Friendly: ISDIR A4 Paper Cutter
The ISDIR A4 Paper Cutter is a budget-friendly option suitable for A3, A4, and A5 size paper, as well as cardstock and coupons. It’s a compact model that cuts at a 90-degree and 45-degree angle.
The blade only operates when users push down and slide it, making it a safe option for children and adults. It’s also replaceable – rather than buying a new paper cutter, you can swap out the blades when yours becomes dull.
The ISDIR A4 Paper Cutter has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating on Amazon—users like that it gives a sharp cut and is portable. The top complaint is that this paper cutter is flimsy, so if you plan on using it often, you might enjoy a different model.
Pros:
- Small and easily portable paper cutter
- Cuts A3, A4, and A5 size paper and cardstock
- The safety blade only cuts when users press it down
Cons:
- Lightweight model is not ideal for heavy use
Best High-End: Westcott 18” Antimicrobial Wood Paper Cutter
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For those looking for a dependable and heavy-duty guillotine paper cutter, the Westcott 18” Antimicrobial Wood Paper Cutter is a solid option. It features a heavy-duty titanium blade that can cut up to 30 sheets of 20-pound paper at a time. It’s an ideal choice for teachers, offices, and frequent scrapbookers.
A top feature of this model is its antimicrobial wood base and 15-year manufacturer’s warranty. It also has a guide that keeps paper in place and an ergonomic handle for comfortable cutting.
The Westcott 18” Antimicrobial Wood Paper Cutter has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating from more than 2,200 reviewers. While most users report that this cutter is high-quality with a very sharp blade, there are several complaints that cuts aren’t perfectly square.
Pros:
- Features an antimicrobial wood base to cut down on germs
- Sharp guillotine blade with safety features
- Can cut cardstock or 30 sheets of 20 lb paper at once
Cons:
- Some users complaints that the cuts are off by a few millimeters
Best for Kids: Firbon 12-Inch Titanium Paper Trimmer
To cut clean lines, paper cutters feature sharp blades and aren’t always kid-friendly. If you need a paper cutter your kid can use for crafts for school projects, the Firbon 12-inch Titanium Paper Trimmer is a nice choice.
The Firbon paper cutter features a blade that users must press down and slide. Since the blade isn’t exposed, there’s a less likely chance of accidental cuts. Users can cut size A3, A4, and A5 paper with this option. And since it’s lightweight and small, it’s portable.
The Firbon Titanium Paper Trimmer has over 23,000 reviews and a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. Many reviewers use this model for crafting and cutting vinyl stickers. There are a few complaints of the blade wearing down after only a few uses.
Pros:
- Only works when users push down and drag, making it a safer option
- Inexpensive paper cutter with replaceable blades
- Cuts many paper sizes and can handle up to 12 sheets of paper at once
Cons:
- Users report that the blade dulls after only a few uses
Best Rotary Paper Cutter: Fiskars SureCut Deluxe
Fiskars is a recognized name among school and office supplies, so it’s no wonder they have one of the top-rated rotary paper cutters. The Fiskars SureCut Deluxe features a rotary blade and a 12-inch base.
If you need accurate cuts but don’t have a large budget for a high-end paper cutter, you’ll enjoy this model’s precision wire cut line. It also features a swing-out arm over 15 inches. It can cut through paper, cardstock, corkboard, and balsa.
The Fiskars rotary paper cutter has over 13,000 reviews and a 4.5 out of 5-star rating. Most reviewers report that it’s an accurate portable paper trimmer. There are a few complaints about the swing arm and wire guide.
Pros:
- The wire guard and swing arm help with accurate cuts
- Can cut through regular paper and thicker materials like corkboard and card stock
- Lightweight but high-quality
Cons:
- Not ideal for cutting through several sheets of paper at once
Best Heavy-Duty: HFS 400 Sheet Paper Cutter
Users who need to cut through hundreds of papers will appreciate the HFS Paper Cutter, which has a 400-sheet capacity. It has a guillotine blade, a built-in heavy-duty clamp, and a 12-inch cutting width.
The blade on the HFS is hardened steel. It’s sharp as a razor and replaceable when it begins to dull. The base is solid steel, and it features rubber feet on all four corners so that it doesn’t slide while cutting.
The HFS 400 Sheet Paper Cutter has 4 out of 5 stars from over 500 users. Many reviewers rave over the quality construction of this model. However, there are several complaints that this paper cutter has no guide, making it hard to line up the cuts for precision.
Pros:
- Heavy-duty solid steel construction with a hardened steel blade
- Cuts up to 400 sheets of paper at one time
- The blades are replaceable
Cons:
- There’s no indicator line, making precision cuts difficult
Best for Scrapbooking: Craft Paper Trimmer and Scoring Board
The Craft Paper Trimmer and Scoring Board from eCraft is a multi-use tool that trims paper, provides a place to score crafts, and creates creases for the perfect fold. Whether you’re making cards, crafts, or scrapbooking, this all-one-in-one tool is nice to have on hand.
The base of this model is 12’ X 12”. It features a rotary titanium blade users can push down and drag for accurate cuts. The grid is in centimeters and inches for easy measuring, and the rotary cutter can handle up to 12 sheets of paper at a time.
The Craft Paper Trimmer and Scoring Board has a 4.5 out of 5-star rating from over 2,100 buyers. While many users thought this product was great for general scrapbooking, a few reported that the grid on the scoring board makes it difficult to line up measurements for the paper cutter.
Pros:
- All-in-one scrapbooking tool for cutting, scoring, and folding
- Features a replaceable rotary safety blade
- The 12” x 12” scoring board folds up for storage
Cons:
- Difficult to line up for perfect cuts
How We Chose the Best Paper Cutters
To find the best paper cutters, we narrowed down the top features users look for. These included the ability to cut several pieces of paper at once, safety features, affordability, and different cutting mechanisms. With these attributes in mind, we reviewed dozens of paper cutters, looking for the top-rated options in each category.
After assessing features, usability, quality, user reviews, and price, we compiled a list of the best paper cutters for each category.
Why Trust Homedit Reviews
Since 2008 Homedit has delivered impartial home improvement news, tips, and reviews. We aim to provide our readers with the most accurate and honest information. Our writer, Katie Barton, has more than ten years of experience in the field. She’s tested and reported on top product recommendations for many media outlets, always keeping the buyers’ interest as her number one priority.
