A Guide to the Different Types of Paper Cutters & Their Uses

Paper cutters cut and trim all kinds of materials, from large reams of paper to plastic, vinyl, and laminated materials.

They make clean cuts on everything from business cards to flyers and photos. They can cut various sizes and create different finishes (like rounded edges). 

Introduction

Paper cutters are essential for offices, schools, print shops, and even those who do craft projects. They work with all kinds of materials and efficiently cut them into different sizes with smooth, clean edges.

However, they’re not all alike; understanding the different types of paper cutters and trimmers that are available will help you make the best choice and save you time and money.

Let’s break down the different types of paper cutters.

What Are Paper Cutters?

A paper cutter uses a heavy blade to cut through a large ream or multiple sheets of paper in one smooth, accurate motion. These are typically called “guillotine cutters.”

A cutter isn’t the same thing as a paper trimmer: trimmers use a small rotary blade for precision work on single items like a photo, laminated sheets, or a craft project.

Paper cutters can be either manual or electric. 

• Manual cutters are good for small print shops, home offices, schools, or anywhere where accurate, small-scale paper cutting is needed.
• An electric paper cutter is best for large quantities and when high speed is needed, like in a print shop or a marketing firm.

Why Choosing the Right Paper Cutter Matters

The point of a paper cutter is to easily and accurately cut materials, so you want one that will get the job done. It’s also important to choose one that can handle your particular workload. Small or occasional jobs won’t need a machine that can process large amounts of paper on a regular basis.

Safety considerations are another factor. Electric paper cutters, for example, typically have sensors and guards to protect the user.

Of course, cost-effectiveness always comes into play. A business that processes a lot of paper items will find that investing in an electric cutting machine will be worth it in the long run, in terms of saving time, effort, and money.

Types of Paper Cutters

Rotary Paper Trimmers

A rotary cutter uses a rolling blade on a metal track to shear through the material. Trimmers are meant for lighter uses, like trimming photo paper or in craft projects. A rotary cutter is suited for a small office and light work.

Pros: 

• Accurate
• Lightweight, portable
• Versatile
• Self-sharpening blade

Cons:

• Can only handle 1-3 sheets at a time
• Limited cutting depth
• Blades dull quickly

Guillotine Paper Cutters

Guillotine cutters have a heavy lever that cuts through thicker reams of paper. You’ll find this paper-cutting tool in schools and offices. It’s important to keep the unit on a flat surface, keep fingers behind the safety guard, engage the safety latch when not in use, and not exceed its sheet capacity.

Pros:

• High-capacity: cuts 15-500 sheets at once
• Cuts various materials: paper, laminate, cardboard
• Durable: long-lasting blade
• Quality cuts on large stacks of paper

Cons:

• Heavy blade is a safety risk
• Heavy and needs a large space
• Less precise for trimming

Stack Paper Cutters

A stack cutter (sometimes called a “ream cutter”) is designed for efficient, heavy-duty cutting on multiple sheets of paper (over 400 at once) using a single motion.

They’re frequently found in commercial print shops or bookbinding shops to trim pages. You may find them in some schools and offices for thick piles of documents or projects.

Stack paper cutters can be either manual or use hydraulic power for a higher-volume capacity.

Electric Paper Cutters

Electric paper cutters are high-powered machines that quickly cut large stacks of paper (4” and more).

They’re best in high-volume settings like print shops or environments that create large amounts of brochures, booklets, and the like.

A business card cutter machine does just that: quickly cutting printed business cards. This is a specialized machine that ensures uniform shapes and sizes.

Small businesses and print shops find this a helpful piece of equipment to cut business cards.

Corner Rounders

A corner rounder is a finishing tool to shape uniform edges on cards, photos, laminated materials, and more. 

Slitters, Creasers & Multi-Function Cutters

These finishing machines are typically found in commercial printing outfits. A multi-function cutter can easily cut different shapes and sizes of materials with precision.

They use rotary paper cutters to trim edges and can crease cardstock for precise folding.

They use steel blades, digital displays, and laser cutting lines for precision, and often have programmable settings.

Board & Foam Cutters

Board and foam cutters cleanly and precisely cut through these thicker materials. They're equipped with a heated wire, foam saw, hot knife, or an industrial cutter for large-scale projects.

Business Card Cutters

A business card cutter machine does just that: precisely and quickly cutting printed business cards. This is a specialized machine that ensures uniform shapes and sizes.

Small businesses and print shops will find this a helpful piece of equipment.

Comparison Table of Different Types of Paper Cutters

What Are Paper Cutters Used For?

Paper cutters are versatile and used for a variety of projects. They trim the edges of office documents, brochures, and the like. 

A print shop or publisher uses them to make professional-quality cuts on books or other large printing runs. They cleanly cut things like small business cards or thicker materials for signage, crafts, packaging, and scrapbooking.

How to Choose the Right Paper Cutter

Here's what to consider when choosing the right paper cutter.

• Usage: Is it for an office or home? Do you need an industrial-level cutter? 
• Volume: How much will you be cutting? More volume needs a machine that can handle it.
• Material: Are you cutting simple paper? Or do you also need to handle cardstock, foam, or laminated materials?
• Safety: Most heavy-duty machines include safety features. Common ones, like a manual guillotine cutter, need to be handled carefully; ensure it sits firmly on the table.
• Budget: Factor in things like blade replacements and the like.

Safety Tips When Using Paper Cutters

Something like a guillotine cutter has a heavy exposed blade on a lever; always use the safety guard and latch it when not in use. More sophisticated machines have built-in safety guards.

Position the cutter on a stable surface. Keep the non-working hand curled away from the blades.

For automated machines, clean and empty out any scrap collection area. Regularly check the trimmers (some will self-sharpen; others may need to be manually sharpened).

Maintenance & Care Tips

Blades should be sharpened every 6 months or after every 2,000-4,000 cuts. If you notice tearing or resistance, replace the blade.

Before cleaning, unplug the electric cutter. Use a lint-free cloth to wipe off dust, and a cloth with isopropyl alcohol to remove any adhesive from the blade. Clear the track of small debris with a toothpick or small brush.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the wrong cutter for the material. For example, not all cutters will handle thicker material. Some do better with bigger stacks of paper. Choose the right machine for the job.
• Ignoring safety features. The one thing all these devices have in common is that they “cut.” Be alert.
• Overloading the cutter. Some machines are only designed to handle smaller batches of paper. Know the capacity and stick to it.

Conclusion

Paper cutters make a common task easier and faster. There are many types for paper cutting of all kinds, from small business cards to shearing through multiple sheets of paper, to trimming heavy stacks of cardstock or paper for postcards or documents. Finishing tools can shape the edges of cut paper for a polished, professional look.

MachineShark carries all types of paper cutters with helpful features for all kinds of needs. Whether you need one in an office, an industrial print shop, or you’re just an enthusiastic crafter, we offer a wide selection. See what we have to offer!