Cricut Blade Types and What Each One Cuts

On this page (11 sections)

1. Which Cricut blade types handle common craft projects?
2. What does a Deep-Point Blade cut?
3. When is a Knife Blade the right choice?
4. Which Cricut blade cuts fabric?
5. What does the Perforation Blade do?
6. How do you choose Cricut blade types by material?
7. What should you check before setting up a specialty blade?
8. Which blade should you use for cardstock, cardboard, or metal?
9. How can you avoid common Cricut blade mistakes?
10. Which Cricut blade should you choose?
11. Sources

Cricut blade types suit different materials and cuts: use the Rotary Blade for delicate fabric, the Knife Blade for dense materials, the Deep-Point Blade for thicker craft stock, and the Perforation Blade for tear-away lines. Check that the blade fits your Cricut model before choosing one.

Which Cricut blade types handle common craft projects?

Match the blade to the material and the cut you want. The Knife Blade suits dense materials, the Deep-Point Blade handles thicker craft stock, the Rotary Blade is for delicate fabric, and the Perforation Blade makes tear-away lines.

These are specialty options, not a complete list of every Cricut blade or tip. If you're choosing a machine as well as a blade, start with our craft cutting machine guide.

What does a Deep-Point Blade cut?

Choose a Deep-Point Blade for thicker craft materials such as chipboard, rubber sheets, thick cardstock, stiffened felt, foam sheets, and cardboard. It works with compatible Cricut Maker and Explore machines, including Explore One, Explore Air, and Explore Air 2.

Cricut says it cuts more than 50 materials up to 1.5 mm thick. Its 60-degree angle is steeper than the 45-degree angle on a standard blade, which helps it cut thicker stock.

This is a good choice if your projects use materials that a standard blade may struggle to cut, such as thick cardstock, foam, or cardboard. Skip it if you mainly cut ordinary paper and vinyl, or if you have a machine outside the compatible Maker and Explore models.

For paper projects, see whether a Cricut can cut cardstock. If you're working with heavier boards, our guide to cutting cardboard and chipboard with a Cricut covers the limits to check.

When is a Knife Blade the right choice?

Use the Knife Blade for certain dense materials, including balsa wood, basswood, tooling or garment leather, Cricut chipboard, and matboard. It works with Cricut Maker and needs Design Space on a computer.

Cricut describes it for images or details larger than 0.75 in. That makes it a fit for larger shapes, models, puzzles, and dimensional projects where a sturdy cut matters more than tiny detail.

The Knife Blade is the pick for Cricut Maker owners who want to cut wood, leather, or matboard. Skip it if you use an Explore model, rely on iOS or Android for Design Space, or need intricate details smaller than the recommended size.

Before starting, confirm the material and settings in Cricut's Design Space guidance. Use a computer for Knife Blade projects, since they aren't compatible with iOS or Android devices.

Which Cricut blade cuts fabric?

The Rotary Blade is the right choice for delicate or unbacked fabric on Cricut Maker. Its material range includes lace, felt, quilt batting, silk, denim, crepe, and tissue paper.

Use it with a FabricGrip Mat, which holds the material in place during the cut. It's a strong fit for sewing and quilting shapes, bags, accessories, home decor, or stuffed animals.

Skip this option if you don't have a Cricut Maker or need a blade for wood, thick board, or tear-away lines. It is designed for soft, less-dense materials, not every material that can be cut on a Cricut.

For more on fabric choices, see whether a die-cutting machine can cut fabric and felt.

What does the Perforation Blade do?

The Perforation Blade makes a line of small cuts so paper or other material can tear away cleanly. Use it for raffle tickets, booklet pages, tear-away cards, coupons, and similar projects.

It has 2.5 mm teeth and 0.5 mm gaps, works with Cricut Maker, and attaches to QuickSwap Housing, which is sold separately. The housing is an extra item to plan for if you don't already have one.

Pick it when you want a controlled tear edge. Skip it for ordinary outlines or folds: a regular blade makes a full cut, while a scoring tool makes a crease for folding.

How do you choose Cricut blade types by material?

Start with the material, then confirm the machine and the cut style. Material thickness alone doesn't decide the blade, since a fabric cut and a tear-away line need different tools even when their materials feel similar.

• Delicate or unbacked fabric: Rotary Blade with a FabricGrip Mat, for Cricut Maker.
• Wood, leather, chipboard, or matboard: Knife Blade, for Cricut Maker.
• Thicker craft stock: Deep-Point Blade, for compatible Maker and Explore models.
• Tear-away lines: Perforation Blade on QuickSwap Housing, for Cricut Maker.

These matches are starting points. Check Cricut's material settings and guidance for your exact model before cutting.

What should you check before setting up a specialty blade?

Confirm compatibility and required parts before you load the blade. This avoids buying an attachment your machine can't use or starting a project without the housing it needs.

The Knife Blade and Rotary Blade are for Cricut Maker, and each comes with its drive housing. The Deep-Point Blade works with Maker and compatible Explore models.

The Perforation Blade fits Maker but needs QuickSwap Housing, sold separately.

For the Rotary Blade, place delicate fabric on a FabricGrip Mat so it stays in position. For the Knife Blade, use a computer with Design Space and follow the material instructions.

For all four options, select the right material guidance for your machine rather than guessing from appearance.

Keep each blade with its matching housing and follow the machine's instructions when changing tools. Avoid forcing a blade into an incompatible housing or assuming every Cricut machine accepts every specialty tool.

Which blade should you use for cardstock, cardboard, or metal?

For cardstock and cardboard, choose by thickness and whether you want a full cut or a tear-away edge. The Deep-Point Blade is intended for thicker craft materials, while the Perforation Blade makes lines designed to tear.

For ordinary paper and cardstock, begin with your machine's standard blade guidance. The Deep-Point Blade is aimed at thicker materials, and the Knife Blade is intended for dense materials and larger details.

Cardboard and chipboard vary in thickness and composition. Read how thick a Cricut can cut and confirm the guidance for your model before attempting a project.

Metal isn't among the listed materials for these four blades. Review what a Cricut can cut from metal before planning a cut in sheet metal.

How can you avoid common Cricut blade mistakes?

Choose the blade for the cut, not just the material name. A fabric shape, a thick-board outline, and a tear-away edge call for different tools.

A common mistake is buying by thickness alone. The Deep-Point Blade handles thicker craft stock, but the Knife Blade is intended for denser materials such as wood and leather, while the Rotary Blade is designed for soft, delicate materials.

Another mistake is overlooking compatibility or included parts. Check the machine model first, then check whether the blade needs a mat, computer software, or a separate housing.

Forcing a small, intricate design into a blade meant for larger details can also create a poor fit. The Knife Blade is intended for details larger than 0.75 in, so choose another approach when the design depends on finer cuts.

Which Cricut blade should you choose?

Choose by your most common project: the Rotary Blade for delicate fabric, the Knife Blade for dense materials, the Deep-Point Blade for thicker craft stock, or the Perforation Blade for controlled tear-away lines.

If you mainly make fabric projects and have a Maker, the Rotary Blade is the clearest fit. For wood, leather, chipboard, or matboard on a Maker, choose the Knife Blade and plan to use Design Space on a computer.

If you have a compatible Maker or Explore and cut thicker craft materials, choose the Deep-Point Blade. If your projects need ticket stubs, tear-away coupons, or booklet pages, choose the Perforation Blade and make sure you have QuickSwap Housing.

Before buying any Cricut blade types, check compatibility, required housing, mat needs, and the cut guidance for your material. Compare Cricut mat sizes if you also need a mat for your material and machine.

Sources

• Cricut Deep-Point Blade
• Cricut Knife Blade
• Cricut Rotary Blade
• Cricut Perforation Blade

Frequently asked questions

What Cricut blade should I use for cardstock?

For ordinary cardstock cuts, use the blade and settings recommended for your Cricut machine and material. The Deep-Point Blade is intended for thicker materials, including thick cardstock, while the Perforation Blade makes lines designed to tear cleanly.

Check machine compatibility before choosing a blade.

Can a Cricut cut fabric without a mat?

The Rotary Blade is designed for delicate and unbacked fabric, but it should be used with a FabricGrip Mat. It is compatible with Cricut Maker.

Check your machine's instructions and material guidance before cutting, since fabric type and project details can affect the result.

What Cricut blade cuts wood?

The Knife Blade cuts certain thicker materials, including balsa wood and basswood, and is compatible with Cricut Maker. Material thickness and design size matter, so follow Cricut's machine and Design Space instructions before starting a wood project.

What is a Cricut Perforation Blade used for?

A Perforation Blade creates evenly spaced cuts that help a design tear away. It can suit raffle tickets, booklet pages, and tear-away cards.

The blade is compatible with Cricut Maker and attaches to QuickSwap Housing, which is sold separately.