Whether you are a teacher, a scrapbooker or work in an office, cutting paper by hand can be a real tedious task, particularly if you want a nice consistent result each time.
If you’re finding that your cutting paper on a regular basis, then the best paper cutter will be a great investment that you won’t regret. With the right trimmer, you’ll work faster and have great results every time.
There are a range of paper cutters and trimmers on the market all designed for a specific purpose. Whether you are after the best heavy duty paper cutter to cut numerous sheets of paper at once or a paper cutting machine for crafts to use at home, there is the ideal paper cutter for you.
You can purchase a large paper cutter or a small paper cutter as well as a cheap paper cutter or a top of the line paper cutter. Whatever paper cutter for sale you purchase, just ensure it’s right for the job you need it to do.
This paper cutter reviews guide will help you purchase a paper cutter trimmer that’s just right for you. In these paper trimmer reviews, we take you through the various things to consider when purchasing a cutter, as well as look at some of the best paper trimmers and guillotines currently on the market.
So whether you’re looking for an office paper cutter, a scrapbook paper cutter, an industrial paper cutter or just the overall best buy paper cutter, I have no doubt you’ll find a good paper trimmer for sale that’s just right for your task in these paper cutting machine reviews.
The Best Paper Cutter Reviews Comparison Table
Below is a handy comparison table which details all the different paper cutters reviewed in this guide. For more information about how to choose the ideal paper trimmer, keep reading the reviews below.
BRAND | PRICE | CUT WIDTH | TYPE | RATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  | 12" | Guillotine | |
 | 15" | Rotary | ||
 | 12" | Rotary | ||
 | 12" | Trimmer | ||
 | 18" | Rotary | ||
 | 12" | Trimmer | ||
 | 15" | Guillotine | ||
 | 12" | |||
 | 12" | Rotary | ||
 | 12" or 15" | Guillotine |
My Pick for the Best Paper Cutter for Sale:
Swingline Paper Trimmer (12" Guillotine Style)
If you don’t have time to read my entire guide and just want to hear my recommendation for the best paper trimmer machine overall, I recommend Swingline Paper Trimmer. I just love the Swingline because it is such good value for the low price that comes with it.
You can cut up to 10 sheets of paper at once, it is super easy to use, so lightweight so can easily be transported around if needed, provides an accurate cut and is packed with great safety features.
It does absolutely everything you would need it to do without breaking the bank. Although it is the perfect choice for a small office, student or avid crafter, it is not suitable for industrial use.
Things to Consider when Purchasing a Good Paper Cutter
To ensure you purchase the best guillotine / paper trimmer, consider the following factors.
1. Type of Machine
There are essentially two types of paper cutters either a rotary or a guillotine paper trimmer.
A rotary paper trimmer uses a small round blade which slides alongside a rail. The best rotary cutters provide excellent precise cuts, making them ideal for intricate cuts required for crafts. The best rotary paper cutter is also ideal for children as the blade is well protected and not likely to come in contact with your fingers.
The downside of even the best rotary paper trimmer is usually you can only cut a few sheets of paper at any given time.
A guillotine trimmer has an arm with a blade, which you bring down to cut your paper. The best guillotine paper cutter can cut multiple sheets of paper at once making them ideal for schools or business that need to cut lots of paper at once and on a regular basis.
2. Price
Now you have an idea of the type of paper trimmer you would like - what’s your budget? Keep in mind that you will always get what you pay for when it comes to paper cutting tools.
When it comes to paper cutter price, its best to consider how frequently you will use the cutter. If you are only use it every now and again, then go for the cheap paper trimmer, but if you’re going to be using it on a regular basis, you will appreciate a better-quality cutter.
If you are after a really basic cheap paper cutting machine, you easily pick one up for around $10-$20, but if you are after a more versatile and heavy duty machine, then you will need to be prepared to pay a higher price tag of around $70+.
3. Cutting Size and Volume
People use paper cutters for a range of purposes such as making craft cut outs to cutting out school supplies in bulk. So when it comes to purchasing one consider not only the size of the things you’d like to cut out, but also the volume.
Some of the cheap paper cutters for crafts will only cut through one or two sheets of paper at a time, whilst a commercial paper cutter can cut through hundreds of sheets at once. Also consider whether you will be cutting small sheets of paper or large sheets of paper.
For your convenience the table above details the cutting size and volume of each option in these reviews.
4. Blade
For a nice smooth and clean cut, a great paper cutter must have a sharp blade. A blunt blade will leave you with uneven edges and much frustration.
To ensure you get trimmer with a good quality blade, purchase a cutter from a brand with a reputation for making quality products, or better still models that you can purchase replaceable blades when they go blunt.
5. Material Types
Ok we know you want a cutter to cut paper, but some trimmers can in fact cut a range of other materials too. This is particularly useful if you are looking for a scrapbook cutter as your cutter will cut a range of materials.
6. Size & Portability of the Machine
Where will you use your cutter? Will you just be using it in the office, or are you a scrapbooker and want to a portable paper cutter that you can take along to craft workshops?
Some of the heavy duty guillotine paper cutter models can be big bulky and heavy and certainly won’t make the best portable paper trimmer, but are fine if you will be just something to keep in the office.
Paper Cutting Machine Reviews 2024
Below you will find the best paper cutting machine brands. We will have a close look at the top 10 paper cutting machine reviews. I will outline the top features, as well as the positives and negatives.
1. Swingline Paper Cutter Trimmer Review [My Top Pick]
This Swingline Trimmer is such great value for money at it’s low price but still packed with safety features and does absolutely everything you would want a desktop paper cutter to do.
The sharp guillotine blade and alignment grid ensures you can get a precise cut every single time regardless of whether you are cutting up to 10 sheets of paper or photos.
The 12 inch cutting length is perfect for every day craft or office users and the dual scale that reads inches or centimeters makes it easy to use no matter what your preference is.
The safety features on this mini guillotine paper cutter include the guard rail which helps to keep fingers at a safe distance while cutting and the blade latch hook which locks the trimmer arm down securely when not in use.
It also has a 10-year warranty which shows it was built to last.
Pros
- Sharp guillotine blade;
- Low price;
- Alignment grid;
- Lightweight and easy to transport;
- 12 inch cutting length;
- Cuts up to 10 sheets at a time;
- Dual scale ruler with inches and centimetres;
- Guard rail;
- Blade latch hook; and
- 10-year warranty.
Cons
- Not ideal for industrial use.
Our Verdict
This Swingline paper trimmer is a good choice for those crafty people who will use it occasionally but don’t need to rely on it for industrial or very regular use but overall, it does what it is intended to do for a great price.
2. Fiskars SureCut Deluxe Trimmer Review [For Scrapbooking and Vinyl]
This Fiskars trimmer is perfect if you are after a paper cutter perfect for home crafts or small paper cutting tasks in the office.
I personally own this trimmer and if you are after a paper cutter for vinyl purposes, I find that this cutter slices through single sheets of vinyl just fine! I used to use this trimmer for cardmaking and scrapbooking so can recommend it for that as well.
With the clear ruler you can easily see exactly where the blade will cut your paper and with the TripleTrack System which interlocks the blade and rail, you are guaranteed straight and precise cuts every time.
This Fiskars paper trimmer also has an easy to grip blade carriage and permanent grid on the cutting deck which also assists with easy and accurate cutting.
This Fiskars rotary paper cutter is compact and lightweight making it portable and easy to store away.
Although with the extended swing out arm this Fiskars 12-inch paper trimmer is extended to over 15 inches so you can still cut those extra-large materials.
Pros
- Inexpensive;
- Lightweight and portable to take anywhere;
- Swing out arm which extends the measuring deck;
- Cuts a range of materials such as paper, vinyl, photos and other craft materials; and
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Can cut up to three pieces of lightweight cardstock at once.
Our Verdict
This Fiskars scrapbooking paper trimmer is a good choice if you just want something cheap for the craft room that will get the job done. This is the trimmer I use at home, but it might not be the best for classroom or office use.
3. Fiskars 100580-1002 Precision Rotary Paper Trimmer Review
The Fiskars Rotary Paper Trimmer is a great option if you are an avid paper crafter or work in a small office and need to regularly cut paper or even other materials such as chipboard, cork, foam, vinyl, burlap paper or cardstock.
The self-sharpening blade and paper guard lock help to give the straightest cut possible and the rubberized feet keep it nice and steady while you are cutting whatever it is you need to cut.
Although this is technically the Fiskars 12 Rotary paper trimmer, it can be extended by an extra two and a half inches with the expandable grid.
The permanent grid and folding deck makes for easy storage but in some of the Fiskars paper trimmer reviews the gap in the grid can be very inconvenient.
Pros
- Self-sharpening blade;
- Cuts through a number of different materials;
- Paper guard lock;
- Expandable grid by 2 and a half inches;
- Rubberized feet; and
- Permanent grid and folding deck for easy storage.
Cons
- Can not carry from the cutting bar as it will bend over time; and
- There is a gap in the scale at the folding hinge.
Our Verdict
This is a great choice if you are a hobby crafter and are looking for a quality paper trimmer for crafting, or as a paper trimmer for semi-regular use in an office. This product is not ideal for industrial paper cutting though.
4. Firbon Paper Cutter Review
A cutter that is so easy to use that even kids can use it.
The trimmer can cut pieces of paper up to 12" in size, making it perfect for scrapbookers and card makers. It can cut up to 12 pieces of paper which is fabulous. It can cut vinyl and laminated items that are under 1.5mm thick.
The cutter is lightweight, portable and packs up small as you can swing in the extended arm. It has a plastic ruler which makes it really to easy to see exactly where you will be cutting. It has a sharp and spring-loaded blade system for safe, cleaner and straighter cuts.
Pros
- Super affordable
- Design to cut A3, A4, A5 Paper, Photos, Cards, Laminated items (within 1.5mm) and more
- Can cut up to 12 sheets of paper
- 45-Degree to 90-degree angle measuring plate
Cons
- Bit tricky to pull out the extended arm
- Blades will need to be replaced once they are blunt
Our Verdict
The Firbon is one of the most popular paper trimmers for home-use. It is affordable, lightweight and reliable. Your ideal cutting tool for making craft projects, wedding invitation cards and greeting cards.
5. CARL Paper Cutter Review [Heavy Duty Rotary Paper Cutter]
The CARL heavy duty rotary paper trimmer is a great lightweight yet heavy duty option that would be ideal for the school, office, or a hobby crafter.
It is heavy duty and well made with the calibrated metal base and patented rail system helping to get as straight of a cut as possible.
The carbide blade and adjustable magnetic paper gauge make using this device as simple as possible and the storage compartment to store the spare cutting mat, straight blade and perforating blade is super handy.
You can cut up to 36 sheets of material such as cardstock, artist board, photo paper, plastic sheets, chip board, film and more. The CARL paper trimmer is a heavy duty paper cutter machine that is built to last with the limited lifetime warranty.
Pros
- Heavy-duty;
- Cuts a number of different materials;
- Up to 36 sheets at once;
- Calibrated metal base;
- Patented rail system;
- Carbide blade;
- Adjustable magnetic paper gauge;
- Storage compartment;
- Limited lifetime warranty; and
- Spare cutting mat, straight blade and perforating blade included.
Cons
- Not ideal for professionals as the cuts can be slightly curved sometimes
Our Verdict
It is a perfect option for a serious crafter or perhaps a school teacher that will get quality cuts and regular use out of it. However, it is not ideal for professional use as it tends to leave the slightest curve on cuts.
6. WORKLION Small Cutter Review
The Worklion cutter is a small paper cutter making it perfect for anyone who has limited desk space. It is a trimmer style cutter and comes with a blade that will need to be replaced once it becomes blunt.
The trimmer is fantastic in that it can cut a wide range of material from paper, cardstock, laminated sheet, magnet paper and even vinyl.
I also love that it has both linear grid lines but it also has grid lines on an angle which makes it super easy to cut pieces of paper on an angle.
The blade is super sharp and you will be surprised at how long it will last before you need to replace it.
Pros
- Cuts up to 12 sheets
- Small in size
- Lightweight and durable
- Can cut a variety of material including vinyl and magnet paper
- Super sharp blade
Cons
- Only cuts A4 paper
- No fold out extendable arm
Our Verdict
This cutter is small, which means that it is perfect for anyone who has limited desk space.
I personally miss the extendable arm that you can get on other similar cutters, but if you wouldn't have had the space to pull out the arm, then this cutter might be the best fit for you.
7. Dahle Paper Cutter 15e Vantage Review
The Dahle trimmer is a well-built, quiet tool that produces precise cuts and comes at a very reasonable price.
With a sturdy metal base and a pre-printed ½ inch grid, the Dahle guillotine paper cutter is everything an avid crafter or small office worker would need.
It can cut up to 15 sheets of cutting paper, card stock or photo paper with ease. The automatic clamp stops paper or other material from shifting around while cutting.
The safety features on this trimmer include a pressure locking metal blade to ensure the blade doesn’t fall down unexpectedly, and the handle that can be secured safely in the down position.
The metal base makes it very secure but also makes it quite heavy and not ideal to transport.
Pros
- Cuts up to 15 sheets at once;
- Sturdy metal base;
- Pre-printed ½” grid;
- Pressure locking metal blade for safety;
- Automatic clamp; and
- Can cut through paper, card stock and photo paper.
Cons
- Is quite heavy so not ideal if you need to transport it regularly.
Our Verdict
Overall, the Dahle paper trimmer is great quality for the price and we found that it works just as well as many other options on the market that have a much higher price tag.
8. HFS Paper Cutter Review [Heavy Duty Paper Cutter]
The HFS Guillotine is an industrial guillotine paper cutter that would be perfect for commercial or professional use, comes at a fantastic price and has so many great features.
This large paper trimmer can cut up to 400 sheets at once and has an adjustable paper clamp to make cutting big loads a breeze.
Being able to cut such a large amount at once is a great time saving feature for business to have.
The solid steel construction and rubber feet to stop it moving around during use help to give a quality precise cut every single time. The removable blade means you can easily take the blade off to sharpen it when it becomes blunt.
The safety release button, removable blade guard and removable handle are all great safety features to have on a big paper cutter.
Pros
- Commercial grade;
- Cuts up to 400 sheets at once;
- Adjustable paper clamp;
- Easily removable blade makes it easy to sharpen;
- Solid steel construction;
- Rubber feet to stop it moving around;
- Removable handle;
- Safety release button; and
- Removable blade guard.
Cons
- When there are stacks of paper it can shift and not cut accurately; and
- The ruler is not always accurate.
Our Verdict
The perfect option for a business that will be frequently cutting large amounts of paper or bigger sheets of paper including tasks such as de-binding books, or trimming large posters down while keeping a good quality cut.
9. Westcott Paper Cutter Review
The Westcott Cutter would be a great choice for a student or beginner craft enthusiast. It’s perfect as a personal paper cutter as it can cut up to 10 pieces of paper, card stock or photos at a time.
The titanium bonded blades and comfortable handle make it easy to use, and the Westcott paper trimmer includes a safety guard and cut and score blade. We also love the spring loaded blade system that allows you to get a cleaner, straighter cut.
The translucent guard also allows for precision cutting, we just wish that the measurement markings on the board were easier to read.
Pros
- Titanium bonded blades;
- Low price;
- Can trim paper, card stock and digital photos;
- Swing out ruler;
- Includes a cut and score blade;
- Comfortable handle; and
- Safety guard.
Cons
- Can only trim up to 10 pieces of paper;
- Hard to hold paper and ruler at the same time.
Our Verdict
If you are looking for a budget personal paper trimmer that you will use on the odd occasion then this is a great pick for you.
10. AmazonBasics Paper Trimmer Review
The AmazonBasics Paper Trimmer can cut up to 10 sheets at once and is available in both 12" and 15" sizes.
It is considered to be an everyday trimmer with a guillotine-style handle. It is a great trimmer to use at home or in the office.
The wonderful thing about this trimmer is that it has a self-sharpening steel blade - no more buying replacement blades! It is sharp enough to accurately trim tissue paper, cardstock, construction paper, photos, sticker paper, leather and more.
It has a durable plastic base with white 1/2-inch gridlines which are engraved (0.5 by 0.5 inches) and a printed ruler (in both inches and cm) that allow for reliable alignment and precision cuts.
It also comes with an AmazonBasics 1-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Cuts up to 10 sheets at once
- 1/2-Inch gridlines (0.5 by 0.5 inches) and a printed ruler (in inches and cm)
- Guardrail keeps fingers a safe distance from the blade
- Safety lock
- AmazonBasics 1-year limited warranty
- Self-sharpening high-carbon blade
Cons
- Plastic base
- Depending on how sturdy you hold you handle, it could produce a slanted cut
Our Verdict
This trimmer doesn't stack up to our favorite guillotine style trimmer - the SwingLine. I recommend you pass by this one and invest in the SwingLine instead.
Verdict on the Best Paper Cutter & Trimmer
Now that you have seen our top 10 recommendations for the best paper cutter and trimmer machines, I hope you have found one that will be suitable for your needs and your budget.
If you are an avid paper crafter or have a need to cut a lot of paper (which you tend to do when you have small children), then I definitely think that paper cutters and trimmers are a much needed and worthwhile investment.
They can truly help to cut down the time you would spend having to cut lots of sheets of paper or even card stock as you can cut many sheets at once.
As mentioned at the beginning of this guide, my recommendation for the best paper trimmer machine is the Swingline Paper Trimmer because it is such good value.
Remember you can cut up to 10 sheets of paper at once, it is super easy to use, lightweight, provides an accurate cut and is packed with great safety features.
If you need a paper cutter that is more robust and suitable for the office then we would suggest the HFS Paper Cutter that can cut large amounts of paper at once (up to 400 sheets), de-bind books, or trim large posters with a good quality cut as the end result.
Now that you have found a paper cutter for your crafts or business, why not hop over to our craft blog section where we share loads of tutorials, project examples as well as step-by-step posts on our craft website to help you.
