Welcome to the Trimmers and Cutters Portal – Cutting Machines for Paper & More
Additionally, you will find some questions about cutting materials here. The answers hold numerous examples of suitable cutting machines at the ready.
Our most popular blogs:
Paper trimmers and cutters blog
Are you looking for a suitable paper cutter for your office or hobby?
Nice that you found our blog. You’ve come to the right place! On our site, you will find tips, comparisons, and tests to help you choose the right trimmer.
Are you cutting like a pro, safely, without effort, and with appealing precision? A simple pair of scissors or a standard knife won’t get you there. No matter whether in the kitchen, in the garden, in the office, for a hobby, in the workshop or in the bathroom or whatever material you want to bring into an exact shape:
Guidance, recommendations, and compact product reviews will help you find one or even more cutting machines for your needs.
Six popular paper cutter models in comparison
Need more time or interest in detailed research, reading, and browsing? We have created a small overview in which we briefly present the paper trimmers in various categories. Further helpful information can be found on our advice pages. If you would like to compare more paper-cutting machines, visit our Comparison site.
You can find the results and videos for all devices on our test page. More helpful info can be found on our paper cutter info page.
Our recommendations
Tests and product presentations
Fellowes Fusion A4 Hebelschneidemaschine
★★★★ (3.6)
Im Test: Der Olympia G 3310 Hebelschneider
(Bewertung: 3.4)
Jielisi Papierschneidemaschine A4 12 Zoll
(Bewertung: 3.3)
Directly to your topic!
- Which is the right paper cutter and the ideal accessory for me?
- Which paper cutters are best for handicrafts?
- Which paper-cutting machines for A3 are available?
- Which paper cutter is for the Office or for professionals?
- What should I look for at Pay attention to offers?
- Should I better buy online or from a dealer?
What is a paper cutter?
As the name suggests, a paper cutter is a cutting machine used to cut paper. This machine facilitates and simplifies the cutting of paper. Here, individual sheets or even stacks can be cut.
In addition to simple straight cuts, a paper-cutting machine can also cut various patterns. Either along the linear guide of a trimmer or with a cutting plotter.
A paper cutter is usually not only suitable for paper. Photos, foils, cardboard, leather, and laminate can also be cut depending on the model.
There are different types of paper-cutting machines for other purposes. You will find detailed information on these here.
Overview of the most essential types of paper-cutting machines
Paper-cutting machines differ regarding technology and area of application. That is why we will briefly introduce you to the different kinds of paper-cutting devices.
Rotary cutting machine
Rotary trimmers cut the paper by rolling a circular blade over the paper. With rotary trimmers, individual sheets or photos can be cut very easily. In addition, many rotary paper cutters have interchangeable blades that can be used to cut patterns (e.g., zig-zag or deckle cut).
That’s why rotary cutters are used for tinkering with and editing photos.
For what?
For crafts and photo work, the hobby, a small office or graphic studio.
Tip: Under the Hobby tag, we have grouped all paper cutters and home improvement topics.
Slitting trimmers
With cutters, a standard blade, also called a mandrel, is drawn across the paper rather than a rotary blade. The design and range of applications are similar to those of rotary trimmers. Slitting trimmers are often cheaper than comparable rotary trimmers.
However, the mandrel tends to be changed and repurchased more frequently.
Products & more helpful info about guillotine cutters!
For what?
For handicrafts and photo work, especially for home users, but also occasionally in the office
Tip: Under the hobby tag we have grouped all paper cutters and home improvement topics together
Guillotine trimmer
A guillotine trimmer cuts the paper by driving a long blade through the paper. This is similar to the concept of a guillotine. Guillotine cutters are perfect for making long straight cuts. In addition, thicker materials can also be cut. Lever paper cutters are often found in offices or teachers’ rooms.
Products & more helpful info about guillotine trimmers!
For what?
The guillotine trimmer is a popular addition in the office, teachers’ room, and at home.
Rolling trimmer
The principle of rolling trimmers is the same as that of rotary trimmers.
However, rolling trimmers are not pulled along a rail over the paper but are held in hand by a handle and pulled over the paper like a paper hanger’s knife. Perfect for handicrafts or cutting fabric to size.
Stack cutting machine
Stack-cutting machines are designed to cut thick stacks of paper. This paper-cutting machine is intended for professional use. Depending on the stack cutter, stacks of 400 sheets are no problem. These stacks cannot be cut with a standard rotary or lever/guillotine cutter.
Large format cutter
Large format cutters are designed for the graphic arts sector.
In principle, it is a guillotine cutter, which sports a particularly long blade. A studio cutting machine can cut large formats very long and l. Ideal for big-size photo formats and billboards.
Which paper cutter is the best? What should you look for when buying?
There are many different paper cutters, good and less good. However, it is difficult to say which is “the best”. This depends entirely on what you want to do with the paper cutter. First, I would like you to consider what you need the machine for. The right paper-cutting machine should be of good quality and suitable for the intended use.
We explain the essential features and equipment characteristics of paper-cutting machines so you know what to look for when buying.
What do you want to do with the paper cutter?
Depending on the type of application, you should choose a lever/guillotine paper cutter or a rotary cutter. For which application the respective cutter is better suited, you can find out here!
Guillotine cutter or rotary trimmer, what are the differences?
Would you like to do handicrafts or cut photos with the paper cutter? Then a rotary trimmer is the better choice. Do you want to miss long straight cuts while cutting whole stacks? Then, a guillotine is the right one for you.
In a detailed article, we have summarized the advantages and disadvantages of the guillotine and rotary cutters.
Rotary trimmers and guillotine paper cutters are similar, but the construction is quite different.
Rotary trimmers – handicrafts, photo cutting, and patterns
Rotary cutters have a rotary blade that is moved over the paper. Guillotine trimmers have a long knife with which the piece is cut, similar to a guillotine. This difference means that individual sheets or photos can be cut precisely with a rotary trimmer.
In addition, different patterns can also be cut. So rotary trimmers tend to be better for crafting or cutting individual sheets.
You can find more information on our info page about rotary trimmers.
Popular machines for crafting or photo-cutting in A4 format are the Dahle 507, the Zoomyo, or the Fiskars Surecut. For cutting lengths up to A3, we recommend the Dahle 508 and the Dahle 552.
Guillotine cutters and trimmers – long cuts, high paper stacks
In comparison, guillotine cutters are perfect for long and straight cuts. Due to their design, even thicker stacks can be cut in just one operation. Therefore, guillotine/lever paper cutters are more suitable for those who want to cut stacks of paper to a specific size. Decorative cuts are not possible with guillotine trimmers.
More info can be found on our info page on guillotine cutting machines.
Popular inexpensive guillotine trimmers include Dahle 502, Zoomyo, and Genie GH40. In the mid-price segment, our best sellers are Ideal 1133 and Dahle 533. The Dahle 561 is very popular with professionals.
What else should be considered when buying?
The paper trimmer’s height of cut
The cutting height is an important criterion when selecting your Paper cutter. This determines the maximum height of the material that can be cut at once. The maximum Cutting height of a paper cutter can be very different.
The cutting height data
Manufacturers specify the maximum cutting height in two ways: The maximum number of sheets or the maximum cutting height in inches or millimeters. If the maximum number of paper sheets is specified, then you should pay attention to the paper thickness for which this specification is made. We considered 70g/sqm and 80g/sqm in our product comparisons. We also investigated the influence of cutting height on the purchase price.
The cutting length – the maximum format
The cut length determines the maximum format. An A3 paper cutter has a longer cutting size than an A4 paper cutter. An A0 paper cutter is larger (and more expensive) than smaller models.
The cutting length of a rotary cutter depends on the length of the cutting rail. With a guillotine trimmer, on the other hand, it depends on the size of the blade. The longer these are, the larger the maximum possible format and the cutting length of the paper cutter.
A sharp and robust blade
No matter how well a cutter is made, a sharp or hard blade is critical to the quality of the cut. Whether the round blade of a rotary cutter or the edge of a guillotine cutter, only a sharp or well-made knife ensures a permanently clean and precise cut.
When you buy a paper cutter, please make sure the blade’s quality is good. If the knife is dull, then the paper will either fray or it won’t cut appropriately at all. You will not be satisfied with the result of such a cut. Also important is how sturdy the knife or blade is installed. Weak and imprecise fixtures are wrong for accuracy.
But even the best knife wears out over time. To ensure that the quality of the cut remains excellent, the blade can be replaced with a replacement blade or resharpened on many models. Some rotary cutters have circular blades that sharpen themselves.
You can find more info on rotary and guillotine cutters in our guide.
The equipment
Reliability – Safety first
Every one of us knows that you have to be careful with scissors. This also applies to paper cutters. Therefore, it is essential to address adequate protection.
Rotary trimmers should have a cutting head that shields them from the sharp circular blade. On the other hand, the guillotine paper cutter’s blade is not sharp. The blade is sturdy and rugged. There is more of a risk of bruising. That is why well-equipped machines have safeguards that prevent fingers from accidentally getting under the blade.
The Table Size
The size of the cutting table plays a vital role in selecting a paper-cutting machine. The size of the cutting table determines how large the size of materials (photos, cardboard, paper, or even foils) can be. Often, larger cutting machines allow the cutting of more rigid and thicker materials.
The larger the table, the larger the work surface and the more extensive the paper size. Usually, the size of the paper cutter table is specified in the product descriptions with the help of the table length and width. The actual usable area is usually somewhat smaller. Angle systems and the attachment of the blade also take up some space, thereby reducing the working size.
Therefore, the space for working is often smaller than the table size specification. Therefore, always pay attention to the format specifications of the manufacturer. This is the only way to cut your desired paper format without problems.
8 Best Sellers & Offers Paper Cutting Machines
|
| Dahle 502 Papierschneider (Bis DIN A4, 8 Blatt Schneidleistung) blau* * | 42,64 EUR 34,19 EUR (−20%) | |
| Dahle 507 Papierschneider (8 Blatt Schneidleistung, bis DIN A4) blau* * | 66,81 EUR 34,99 EUR (−48%) | |
| Papierschneider 12 Zoll A4 Papier Schneidemaschine Schneidegerät Papier Cutter mit... * | 18,99 EUR 13,99 EUR (−26%) | |
| Hebelschneider A4 kompakt, Papierschneider aus Metall, Schneidemaschine für Foto, Papier, Pappe... * | 27,95 EUR | |
| Papierschneider, A4 Papierschneider, Schneidemaschine mit Automatischer Sicherheits Sicherung,...* * | 7.456 Bewertungen* | 13,99 EUR 12,99 EUR (−7%) |
| Ediesi, Papierschneider, A4, Schneidemaschine, Papierschneidemaschine, Hebelschneider, Schere... * | 26,99 EUR | |
| flintronic Papierschneider A4 Papierschneidegerät Tragbare Papierschneidemaschine mit...* * | 10,99 EUR | |
| PROFI Stapelschneider A4 bis 400 Blatt, CE, Schneidemaschine + Hebelschneider* * | 149,95 EUR |
Tip: The maximum size (letter, legal, A4, A3, A2…) is usually specified for the long side of the paper. If the narrower side is to be cut, this is also possible for the format next in size. We try to take this into account in our product comparisons.
Sufficient table size
If you want to cut more than just rectangular angles, please ensure the table is large enough to rotate the sheets accordingly.
Angular systems
Angular systems simplify the work with the paper cutter. These border the table surface at the top and bottom, respectively.
These angular systems are selected in good cutting machines to match perfectly with the cutting length. In addition, these angle units can be used to cut rectangular angles precisely.
Length and format specifications
Rulers and scales
A sharp blade is not enough for a cut to succeed. The cut must also be made in the right place. Therefore, paper cutters offer different tools to help you work more precisely.
The more professional a paper cutter is, the more extensive the range of length specifications. Consequently, the price of professional equipment is often higher than that of simple entry-level models.
A ruler or measuring scale may be positioned on either side of the paper cutter table. Usually, inches are specified. Sometimes paper cutters also offer inch measurements. The specifications are convenient for cutting the appropriate lengths and DIN sizes without much effort.
Auxiliary grid
In addition to length specifications, auxiliary grids are also very helpful. If smaller formats are to be cut, then these are particularly helpful. The spacing of the lines on paper cutters with an auxiliary grid is usually one centimeter.
DIN format specifications
In addition to auxiliary grids, DIN format or legal/letter format specifications, such as letter, quarto, legal, Officio, DIN A4, DIN A3, or DIN A2, are beneficial. If an appropriate format is to be cut, these specifications help make this easy and quick.
The most important letter, legal, and DIN paper sizes and their corresponding lengths and widths are in inches or millimeters.
| Format | Page length | Page width |
| Letter | 11 inch | 8.5 inch |
| Quarto | 105⁄6 inch | 8.5 inch |
| Half letter, statement, or organizer L | 8.5 inch | 5.5 inch |
| legal | 14 inch | 8.5 inch |
| Oficio | 132⁄5 inch | 8.5 inch |
| A0 | 841mm | 1189mm |
| A1 | 594mm | 841mm |
| A2 | 420mm | 594mm |
| A3 | 297mm | 420mm |
| A4 | 210mm | 297mm |
| A5 | 148mm | 210mm |
Angle specifications / angular grid
In addition to lengths and formats, printed angles are beneficial when you want to cut different angles.
With the help of these angular grids, the paper can be cut cleanly and precisely at the desired angle. Therefore, anyone who regularly wants to cut different angles should ensure that the paper cutter has such angle specifications.
The adjustable backgauge
The back gauge of a paper-cutting machine can be moved along the angle system. Once it is positioned at the desired location, the paper can be inserted quickly and easily.
The pressing
The material must be adequately held in place to prevent it from slipping during the cutting process. Therefore the paper must either be pressed manually, or the paper cutter is equipped with automatic pressing. With such a pressure rail, the piece is sufficiently held by a corresponding mechanism.
The weight and material of a paper cutting machine
The weight of a paper cutter should be addressed. Even when using a simple device, attention should be paid to the ideal weight and the appropriate material. The more stable the cutter is and the more durable it stands, the easier it is to work precisely and cleanly. On the other hand, heavier devices are less handy than light and compact cutters. Before buying, you should consider whether the machine will get a permanent workplace or will have to be stowed away after cutting each time.
Summary of the features of Paper cutters.
The different models can be evaluated and compared concerning the following properties:
- The quality of the blade
- Cutting length, which among other things determines the maximum format
- Clean and precise cutting
- Different format specifications and sizes
- Maximum cutting height and the maximum possible thickness of the paper
- Maximum number of paper sheets that can be processed in one operation
- Measuring scales (auxiliary grids, rulers, angular grids, and DIN A formats)
- Angular systems and an (adjustable) backgauge for comfortable work
- A stable and secure stand
- An automatic pressing to prevent the material from slipping
In our comparisons of paper cutters, we have evaluated and compared many different models in terms of these features.
Welche Papierschneidemaschine passt zu mir?
Das kommt ganz auf den Anwendungsfall an. Wer bastelt sollte eher zu einer Rollenschneidemaschine greifen. Diese sind eher für das zuschießen einzelner oder weniger Blätter oder Fotos ausgelegt. Ausserdem lassen sich mit einigen Modellen auch verschiedenen Muster (z.B. Zick-Zack) zuschneiden.
Hebelschneidemaschinen sind für all die, die lange gerade Schnitte benötigen oder dickere Stapel an Papier auf einmal bearbeiten machten.
Schneideplotter sind für all die, die Papier oder andere Materialien (z.B. Stoff, Leder oder Vinyl) in beliebige schneiden möchten um daraus .
Wo kann ich eine Papierschneidemaschinen kaufen?
Heutzutage gibt es zwei Möglichkeiten eine Schneidemaschine zu kaufen. Entweder im Fachhandel oder Online.
Große Haushalts- oder Elektronikhändler und Fachgeschäfte für Fotografie und Bastelbedarf verkaufen Papierschneidemaschinen. Die Auswahl der Papierschneidemaschinen orientiert sich bei diesen an der Ausrichtung des Fachgeschäfts. Geschäfte für Bastelbedarf bieten Geräte zum Basteln an. Fotografiefachgeschäfte speziell für den Zuschnitt von Fotos geeignete Papierschneidegeräte. Große Händler besitzen meist eine breitere Auswahl.
Online-Händler bieten eine ähnliche Auswahl an Papierschneidemaschinen an. Tendenziell ist das Sortiment eines Online-Händlers größer als das eines normalen Händlers. Dafür muss länger auf die Lieferung gewartet werden.
Weitere Infos zum Kauf im Fachhandel oder Online.
Was kosten Papierschneidemaschinen?
Der Preis einer Schneidemaschine hängt von verschiedenen Faktoren ab. Neben der Qualität spielen die Schnittlänge und -höhe neben der Ausstattung eine entscheidende Rollen. Einfach Papierschneidemaschinen gibt es schon für um die zehn Euro. Profigeräte können sogar 1000 Euro kosten. Wer zuhause Basteln möchte, der wird nicht mehr als 50 Euro ausgeben müssen. Ein vernünftiges Gerät für das Büro kann bis zu 150 Euro kosten.
Paper cutting machine manufacturers
Novus Dahle GmbH & Co. KG (Dahle)
Novus Dahle GmbH & Co.KG belongs to the German emco Group, which is active in various fields. Novus Dahle Gmbh & Co. KG manufactures paper-cutting machines, document shredders, and flipcharts and also offers fastening technology. Paper cutters are known under the brand name Dahle. The range includes rotary trimmers, guillotine trimmers, and stack-cutting machines. These are offered in various price ranges for a wide range of applications. The Dahle 507 rotary trimmer and the Dahle 561 guillotine trimmer are very popular.
Fiskars
Fiskars is a Finnish manufacturer that offers a wide variety of products. Fiskars is primarily known for garden tools. The range also includes paper-cutting machines and paper cutters.
Fellowes, Inc.
Fellowes is an American family-owned and operated company that has been around since 1917. The product portfolio includes office machines, such as paper cutters, laminators, or document shredders. Fellowes operates worldwide and also has a subsidiary in Germany.
Ideal
Ideal is a German manufacturer of paper-cutting equipment based in Balingen. In addition to rotary trimmers, guillotine/lever and stack cutters are also produced and offered. In addition to cutting machines, Ideal’s products include automatic staplers, paper shredders, and air purifiers.
Preise inkl. MwSt., zzgl. Versandkosten / Letzte Aktualisierung am 2023-03-26 at 16:15 / Affiliate Links / Bilder von der Amazon Product Advertising API
This post is also available in: 