The best paper circle cutters, compared.
Top pick: UCEC four circle punches Best value: NT Cutter C-1500 circle cutter – Best value at about £14.44, with 4.2 from 1,111 reviews and UK notes of cuts that leave no pin hole. Updated October 2026.
A paper circle cutter on amazon.co.uk is either a fixed-size lever punch or an adjustable rotary cutter that spins a blade around a centre. You buy the punch when you need many identical small circles. You buy the rotary cutter when the diameter changes from card to card. Look for a diameter you can measure, a material limit you can obey, and reviews that are actually about circles. Choose the diameter and the tool family first. The steps sit in the [paper circle cutter buying guide](/hub/cutting-tools/paper-circle-cutter/sub/paper-circle-cutter-buying-guide). A paper circle cutter is a hand tool that cuts a round hole or a round disc from paper or card. On amazon.co.uk the listings are one of two families. It repeats one diameter, or a small set of diameters such as 8 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm. It usually only reaches a short way in from the edge of the sheet. It covers a range and can sit in the middle of the sheet.
A paper circle cutter on amazon.co.uk is either a fixed-size lever punch or an adjustable rotary cutter that spins a blade around a centre. You buy the punch when you need many identical small circles.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What circles are you cutting?
The UCEC four-pack at £15.97 is titled 38 mm, 25 mm, 15 mm and 10 mm and bulleted as 1.5 inch, 1 inch, 5/8 inch and 3/8 inch. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.6 from 70, but several reviews describe snowflakes, stars, hearts or a different pack size. One UK review says the punches match the inch sizes, not the millimetre title. Circle-matching notes praise clean card cuts, a sturdy feel, and a sliding scrap cover. Smaller punches need a hard push. The sheet-count field is 1. Do not read 4.6 as a clean score for this four-circle set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You will measure the holes and want a scrap tray.
Less suitable: You need the title millimetres to be exact, or a clean star sample.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the UCEC sizes in millimetres or inches?
The title says 38, 25, 15 and 10 mm. The bullets say 1.5 inch, 1 inch, 5/8 inch and 3/8 inch. One UK review says the punches match the inch sizes, not the millimetre title.
What should you not punch?
The bullets exclude tissue, very thin paper, felt and plastic film. The sheet-count field is 1. A sliding cover is claimed to catch the discs.
Can you trust the 4.6 rating?
The listing shows 4.6 from 70. Several reviews in the extract describe snowflakes, stars, hearts or a different pack size, so the score is a weak guide to this four-circle set.
The Topiky rotary cutter at £12.47 claims 8–32 cm, a protective blade cover, and paper or thin cardstock. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.5 from 2 ratings. The extract has one UK review: thirty card circles for a children’s event, including a cut from the middle of a page. That is one afternoon, not a durability sample. Circles under 8 cm are outside the claim, so 8 mm and 25 mm dots are the wrong job. The blade-material field says plastic. Do not read 4.5 as a long-run score.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a large thin-card circle and will treat two ratings as thin evidence.
Less suitable: 8–25 mm repeats, or a listing with hundreds of matching reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
What is the smallest circle it claims?
The bullets say 8 cm. Circles smaller than that are outside the stated range. The top of the claim is 32 cm.
How much review evidence is there?
The star line is 4.5 from 2. The extract has one UK review, which says 30 card circles were cut for a children’s event, including a circle from the middle of a page.
The UCEC single punch at £14.84 is sold as 2 inches and as 5 cm. Two inches is 50.8 mm, so 5 cm is a rounded label, not a second size. The amazon.co.uk line is 4.3 from 1,017, but many reviews describe hearts or other diameters. Circle-matching UK notes cut paper and card, collect scraps in a sliding cover, and report discs that stick or crumple if you force them. Laminate, foil and tissue go badly. There is no viewing window unless you take the base off. The sheet-count field is 1. Use the 4.3 figure carefully.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You repeat a 2 inch paper or card disc and will empty the cover.
Less suitable: You need a clean star sample, a window, or foil and tissue.
Specifications
Common questions
Is 2 inches the same as 5 cm?
The title uses both. Two inches is 50.8 mm, so 5 cm is a rounded label, not a second size. The specification field says a 2 inch pin hole.
What do UK reviews say it will not cut?
Circle-matching reviews report clean paper and card, stuck discs, and poor results on laminate, foil and tissue. Many other reviews on this ASIN describe hearts or a different diameter.
Can you see the design before you press?
One UK reviewer says there is no window, so placement is guesswork. Another says taking the bottom cover off shows where the cut will land.
The Ezydka three-pack at £12.89 is the punch set with the largest matching review count in this folder: 4.3 from 207 amazon.co.uk ratings. UK buyers praise clean circles on cardstock, scrapbook paper and playing cards, and they like having three sizes on the table. The same extract reports a stiff press, blisters on light cardboard, plungers that stick, packs that arrive with two tools, and punches that snap. The listing says child-friendly; one UK review says a four-year-old could not press them. No gsm is printed. One reviewer said none of the three sizes fitted a badge machine.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You repeat small paper circles and accept a firm adult press.
Less suitable: Children working alone, badge dies, or a tool that must arrive complete.
Specifications
Common questions
Can a child press these Ezydka punches?
The listing calls them child-friendly. A UK review says they need a firm adult press and that a four-year-old could not use them alone.
Do buyers report faults?
UK reviews praise clean circles and also report stiff action, stuck plungers, punches that snap, and packs that arrived with two tools instead of three.
Will they fit a badge machine?
One UK reviewer said none of the three sizes fitted their badge machine. Match 8 mm, 15 mm or 25 mm to the die before you buy.
The NT Cutter C-1500 at £14.44 is the best value in this set: 4.2 from 1,111 amazon.co.uk reviews, about £7 below the Rayher compass, and UK reviews describe circles with no pin hole. The listing extract does not print a diameter range. Reviewers call the scale hard to read and the blade fiddly; thin paper can tear. The blade can work loose, and the centre foot can slide or hide a needle. Spare blades and a centring gauge appear in reviews, not as a counted box list. Do not treat the related C-1500P page (1.8–17 cm, no centre-pin mark) as text printed on this ASIN.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want an adjustable circle without a pin mark and will learn the setup.
Less suitable: You need a printed millimetre range on the packet, or one-handed repeats.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the NT cutter listing state a diameter?
No. Model C-1500 is printed, and the bullets give body dimensions of 13 x 19 x 6 cm, but they do not state a minimum or maximum circle.
Do reviewers mention a hole in the centre?
UK reviews of this ASIN say it can cut a circle without a pin hole, unlike compass cutters they had used. They also say the scale is hard to read and the blade is fiddly.
Is it cordless?
No battery or mains lead is listed. The handle type is manual-retractable. It is a hand tool.
The Rayher 89770000 at £21.41 is the top pick in this set: an adjustable compass claimed at 2.6–15 cm, with three spare blades and the longest documented material line. Across 914 amazon.co.uk reviews the rating is 4.2. UK buyers get a clean circle after practice, and they often need a second pass. A loose lock cuts a spiral instead of a circle. Reviewers found the spare blades under the black anti-slip pad. The amazon.co.uk bullets say paper from 130 g/m², card and photo paper to 250 gsm and chipboard to 600 g/m²; Rayher’s own page says paper from 110 gsm and not for fabric. The centre is a pin you press. This is the dearest tool here, not a lab test.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You change diameter under 15 cm on card and will practise on scrap.
Less suitable: Many identical 8–25 mm dots, or a disc that must have no centre hole.
Specifications
Common questions
What card weight does the Rayher listing claim?
The amazon.co.uk bullets say paper of at least 130 g/m², card and photo paper up to 250 gsm, and chipboard up to 600 g/m². They also mention thin foam, cork, felt and thin fabric.
Where are the spare blades?
The box contents line says three replacement blades. UK reviewers found them under the black anti-slip pad on the base.
Does it cut in one turn?
UK reviews say the circle can be clean after practice, and that a second pass is often needed. A loose setting is described as cutting a spiral instead of a circle.
The MOLENCO three-pack at £11.47 claims 8 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm and limits paper to under 2 mm, one sheet, not fabric or plastic. Across 7 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 3.9. One UK studio review cut from copy paper through thick card and called the metal cutter solid. Another measured the middle punch at 16 mm rather than 15 mm. Only three written reviews sit in the extract, and the listed weight is 20 g. Do not stack sheets. The 2 mm line is a listing limit, not a greetings-card guarantee.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap 8/15/25 mm set and will check the 15 mm hole with a ruler.
Less suitable: You need a large review sample or exact millimetre sizes.
Specifications
Common questions
Will the MOLENCO punches cut card?
The bullets mention card-stock and limit paper to under 2 mm. They say not to use fabric, plastic, or several layers. One UK review reported sharp cuts from copy paper through thick card.
Are the sizes exact?
The title says 8 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm. One UK reviewer measured the middle punch at 16 mm rather than 15 mm. Only seven ratings are on the listing.
The Flhlxzm three-pack at £11.59 claims 10 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm for paper up to 2.5 mm, with a sliding scrap cover. Across 7 amazon.co.uk ratings the line is 3.9. One UK review cut paper and 160 gsm card with sharp holes at the stated sizes. Another says the 25 mm punch sticks and jams the paper, and that the throat only reaches about one radius in from the edge or corner. You cannot place these in the middle of an A4 sheet. Three written reviews are not a large sample. Try the 25 mm punch on scrap before you trust a run of tags.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You punch near the edge of paper or 160 gsm card and will try the 25 mm tool first.
Less suitable: Circles in the middle of a sheet, or a jam-free 25 mm punch.
Specifications
Common questions
Can this set punch the middle of a sheet?
A UK review says the punches only reach about one radius in from the edge or corner. They are not an adjustable cutter you can place in the centre of a page.
Does the 25 mm punch jam?
One of three UK reviews says the 1 inch cutter sticks and jams the paper. The same reviewer had not tried the 15 mm or 10 mm punches. Another review says the holes are sharp on paper and 160 gsm card.
The HYMC rotary cutter at £6.99 claims about 4 inches to 12.6 inches and three blades. Circles smaller than 4 inches are outside the listing. The amazon.co.uk line is 3.4 from 8 ratings. Four written UK reviews sit in the extract: two say it did not work, without detail; one praises clean paper edges; one says it holds its setting and arrived in a bag without instructions. Colour is pink in the title and orange in the specification. Gift-tag and 25 mm jobs are the wrong size for this tool. Eight ratings are a thin sample at an entry price.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need a large paper circle and accept a thin, mixed sample.
Less suitable: Tags, 25 mm dots, or a tool with a long UK review history.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it cut a small gift-tag circle?
The listing says circles smaller than 4 inches cannot be cut. The claimed top is 12.6 inches.
What do the eight ratings rest on?
Four written UK reviews are in the extract. Two say it did not work, without detail. One praises clean paper edges. One says it holds its setting and arrived without instructions.
The CYUXING rotary cutter at £14.99 claims circles from 1 inch to 4 inches, a sharp centre pin, and three spare blades in a rear compartment. A white knob locks the diameter and a blue knob sets how far the blade sticks out. The extract has no star line and no reviews, so the range is a claim only. Print media says card stock with no gsm. The pin is not described as optional, so the middle of the disc will take a mark. Until you cut scrap and measure it, this is a specification sheet, not evidence of a round hole.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a small adjustable compass and will test it on scrap.
Less suitable: You need review evidence or a disc with no centre hole.
Specifications
Common questions
How is the size locked?
The bullets say a white knob locks the diameter and a blue knob sets how far the blade sticks out. The claimed range is 1 inch to 4 inches.
Does it leave a centre mark?
The listing describes a sharp centre pin that stops the tool slipping. It does not say the pin is optional. There are no reviews in the extract.
The Sayudar three-pack at £11.79 is sold as 8 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm lever punches with an ABS body that weighs 200 g. The amazon.co.uk extract has no star line and no written reviews, so nobody in this file has checked those three holes with a ruler. The specification field stores an 8 mm pin-hole diameter against a title that names three sizes. No gsm or millimetre limit is printed, and the shell colour is random. Treat the parcel as an untested size claim. If the holes are wrong or a punch is missing, that is a description problem, not a technique problem.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the common three sizes and will measure the holes on arrival.
Less suitable: You need review evidence, a gsm limit, or a large window.
Specifications
Common questions
What sizes does the Sayudar set claim?
The title lists 8 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm. The specification field only stores a pin-hole diameter of 8 mm. The extract has no reviews to confirm the three sizes.
Does the listing give a card thickness?
No. The bullets mention paper crafts and card-making, and they do not state gsm or a millimetre limit.
The QhgPnt purple cutter at £6.99 is the cheapest rotary tool in this set. The title includes three blades and says you press and spin. The extract states no minimum or maximum diameter and has no star line. Bullets name printing paper, photo paper and lightweight craft paper, and they tell you to keep the tool away from heavy cardboard. Without a range or a review, you cannot plan a 10 cm window or a 25 mm tag from the listing alone. It is an entry price, not a documented cutter.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-cost experiment if you will measure the first circle yourself.
Less suitable: You need a printed range, cardstock evidence, or a known small size.
Specifications
Common questions
What size circles does it cut?
The extract does not state a minimum or maximum diameter. It only says the cutter is adjustable and that you press and spin.
Will it cut cardboard?
The bullets say it suits printing paper, photo paper and lightweight craft paper, and they say to keep it away from heavy cardboard.
Editorial scores sit on a 0–100 scale. They are not a lab result. Twelve amazon.co.uk listings were scored from the star line and review count, the stated diameter and whether the tool is a punch or a rotary cutter, the material limit and any spare blades, review notes about circles, and the GBP price. Thin samples and mixed punch pools lose weight. Deductions apply for no star line, a sample under ten ratings, a millimetre title that disagrees with inch bullets, review text about other shapes, a missing diameter, a jammed punch, or a spiral from a loose rotary lock.
Stars and review volume
40%amazon.co.uk star rating and review count. Thin samples and mixed punch pools lose weight.
Stated size and material limit
25%A diameter you can measure, punch or rotary, and a material limit in gsm or millimetres, plus spare blades or a scrap cover where they are claimed.
Sentiment and defects
20%Review notes that are about circles: jams, spirals, short packs, a centre pin, and throat depth.
Price for a usable tool
15%Shelf price in GBP on the amazon.co.uk listing for a tool you can actually plan a circle with.
Twelve amazon.co.uk paper circle cutters sit in this table, six fixed punches and six rotary or beam cutters. Prices on 19 October 2026 run from about £6.99 to about £21.41. A three-pack of about 8 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm does not cut a 10 cm invitation window. 25 mm is about 1 inch. 2 inches is 50.8 mm, which a listing may also call 5 cm. A punch repeats one size and usually only reaches a short way in from the edge.
A paper circle cutter is a hand tool that cuts a round hole or a round disc from paper or card. On amazon.co.uk the listings in this set are one of two families. A fixed punch is a lever you press. It repeats one diameter, or a small set of diameters such as 8 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm. It usually only reaches a short way in from the edge of the sheet. A rotary cutter spins a blade around a centre. It covers a range and can sit in the middle of the sheet. It needs a cutting mat and practice.
An 8, 15 and 25 mm set does not cut a 10 cm invitation window. 25 mm is about 1 inch. Match the diameter to the job before you compare prices.
The UCEC four-pack title uses millimetres and the bullets use inches. One UK review says the punches match the inch sizes. Measure with a ruler rather than trusting both lines.
UCEC review text mixes other shapes and other diameters. Sayudar, CYUXING and QhgPnt have no star line in the extract. A high average is a weak guide when the reviews are not about this circle.
A three-pack of about 8 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm does not cut a 10 cm window. 25 mm is about 1 inch, and 2 inches is 50.8 mm. Fixed punches here claim 8/15/25 mm, 10/15/25 mm, a four-pack whose millimetre title disagrees with inch bullets, or a single 2 inch punch. Rotary claims run from 1–4 inches, 2.6–15 cm, 8–32 cm, and about 4–12.6 inches. One rotary listing states no diameter. The NT Cutter extract prints model C-1500 and no circle range.
Compass-style cutters pin the middle. The Rayher listing describes a centre you press. CYUXING describes a sharp centre pin and does not call it optional. UK reviews of the NT Cutter describe cuts without that hole. Do not assume the other rotary tools are pin-free. Punches here do not use a centre pin. A badge face that must stay unmarked is the wrong job for a pinned compass. Obey the material line that is printed. MOLENCO says paper under 2 mm and not stacked sheets.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You repeat the same small circles on card and scrapbook paper. The Ezydka three-pack claims 8 mm, 15 mm and 25 mm and has 4.3 from 207 amazon.co.uk reviews. UK notes include a stiff adult press, stuck plungers and packs that arrived short.
You change the diameter under 15 cm on card and you will practise on scrap. The Rayher 89770000 is the top pick here: a claimed 2.6–15 cm range, three spare blades, and 4.2 from 914 reviews. The centre is a pin you press.
A badge or a photo that must stay unmarked is the wrong job for a pinned compass. The NT Cutter C-1500 is the best value in this set. UK reviews describe cuts with no pin hole. The listing extract does not print a diameter.
The top pick is the Rayher 89770000 at about £21.41: a claimed 2.6–15 cm range, three spare blades, a printed material line, and 4.2 from 914 reviews. UK notes still say you need practice, and a loose setting cuts a spiral. The best value is the NT Cutter C-1500 at about £14.44, with 4.2 from 1,111 reviews and UK notes of cuts that leave no pin hole, even though the extract prints no diameter. For repeated 8, 15 and 25 mm circles, the Ezydka set has the largest matching review count in this folder, at 4.3 from 207, with a stiff press and short-pack reports you should read.
NT Cutter C-1500 circle cutter
Best value at about £14.44, with 4.2 from 1,111 reviews and UK notes of cuts that leave no pin hole.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public sources used for this comparison, with the amazon.co.uk listings read on 19 October 2026.
Expert source (DIY & tools): Charlie White (Charlie DIYte) (external profile) – public expert commentary used as a research source, not as a contributor to our pages.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk (tag pcuk26-21). If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from the listings. This is not a laboratory test.
