How to use a circle cutter
Updated: October 2026
You have already torn one invitation. The next sheet is the good card, and the tool is still in the packet. This page is how to use a circle cutter so the first useful circle happens on scrap, on a mat, with the blade covered again when you stop. It does not rank products. Prices and the twelve listings sit on the [paper circle cutter comparison](/hub/cutting-tools/paper-circle-cutter). The figures below come from those amazon.co.uk pages as of 19 October 2026. A purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Products Compared has not run a lab test.
You have already torn one invitation. The next sheet is the good card, and the tool is still in the packet.
You have already torn one invitation. The next sheet is the good card, and the tool is still in the packet. This page is how to use a circle cutter so the first useful circle happens on scrap, on a mat, with the blade covered again when you stop. It does not rank products. Prices and the twelve listings sit on the paper circle cutter comparison. The figures below come from those amazon.co.uk pages as of 19 October 2026. A purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Products Compared has not run a lab test.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Tool type | Centre pin | Spare blades | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Ezydka Ezydka circle punch set | Fixed punch set | No | None listed | 8.2 | about £12.89 | View offer |
| Best value |  NT Cutter NT Cutter C-1500 circle cutter | Beam cutter | Reviews: no pin hole | Mentioned in reviews, not counted | 8.6 | about £14.44 | View offer |
 Rayher Rayher circle cutter 89770000 | Rotary compass | Yes, a pin you press | 3, under the pad in reviews | 8.8 | about £21.41 | View offer |
On this page
Set the sheet up before you cut
Put a cutting mat under the paper. A compass blade that reaches the table dulls on the first turn and can score the worktop. Microscopy-UK’s notes say the mat protects the blade. Blankbadge’s glass tip is for their die, not a rule for every compass here. A self-healing mat is enough for paper and thin card at home.
Cut scrap from the same pack first. A clean circle on copier paper does not prove one on 250 gsm card. Small discs and loose blades stay away from under-threes. Hampshire primary-school art guidance treats craft knives as adult tools. Cover the blade before you leave the table. Which tool you bought is on the paper circle cutter buying guide.
If you have a punch
Load one sheet unless the listing clearly allows a stack. MOLENCO says not to stack and limits paper to under 2 mm. One four-pack sheet-count field is 1. When in doubt, one sheet.
Slide the paper in until it stops. A Flhlxzm UK review says the punches only reach about one radius in from the edge. You cannot punch the middle of an A4 sheet. The UCEC 2 inch punch has no window on top. Press the lever fully, once, sitting flat. A half-press leaves a flap. If the plunger sticks, do not wrench the paper. Ease the lever back and empty the scrap tray. A full cover crumples the next disc.
If the 25 mm punch jams, stop. Forcing it creases the card. Children do not do this step alone, even when a listing says child-friendly.
If you have a rotary cutter
Set the diameter before the blade touches the card. Many scales show diameter, not radius. Microscopy-UK flags the mix-up: a 10 cm mark read as a radius cuts a 20 cm hole. NT reviewers call the C-1500 scale hard to read. Write the size, set it, lock it, then check the lock.
Press the centre so the tool cannot walk. Rayher uses a pin. That pin keeps the circle round and leaves a mark. Too much blade tears thin paper. NT reviewers describe a setup that can cut without a pin hole, and they say you need several hands. Turn in one direction. Blankbadge tell their users to work clockwise. Do not reverse halfway. Rayher’s steps are set, press and turn, then retract. UK reviews say a second pass is often needed. If the circle is under the stated floor, about 4 inches or 8 cm, stop.
When the cut fails
A spiral usually means the diameter lock slipped or the centre lifted. Rayher reviews describe that fault. Reset, lock, and cut scrap. A tear on thin paper is common on the NT listing. A second pass should follow the same score. A new line is a new spiral.
If the punch stays down, empty the scrap cover. Do not poke the blade. A wooden stick from the side is safer than a finger. Two tools in a three-pack is a description problem under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, not a setup error. Rayher spare blades hide under the black anti-slip pad. NT reviewers mention spares. That is a review report, not a counted box list. Stop on thick board, acrylic or glass. The wrong family is on circle punch vs circle cutter.
Common questions
Do I need a cutting mat?
Yes for a rotary cutter. The blade should finish in the mat, not in the table. A punch with a scrap cover still needs a clear, flat surface so the lever sits square. Glass is Blankbadge’s tip for their die, not a rule for every compass.
Why is my circle a spiral?
The diameter lock slipped or the centre lifted. Rayher reviews describe that fault. Lock the setting, keep weight on the pin, and practise on scrap. A second pass should follow the same score, not start a new radius.
How hard should I press?
Hard enough to cut, not hard enough to crush. Punches such as Ezydka need a firm adult press. Rotary tools need even pressure through one turn. Extra force on a loose lock makes a spiral. Thin paper tears if you lean.
Where are the spare blades on a Rayher cutter?
UK reviewers found them under the black anti-slip pad on the base. That is a reviewer report on model 89770000, not a universal layout for every brand. The box line says three replacement blades.
Why does the punch only work at the edge of the paper?
The throat is short. A Flhlxzm review says you only reach about one radius in from the edge or corner. Middle-of-page circles need a rotary cutter you can place on the sheet.
Can a child do this step?
Not unsupervised. Blades and small discs are unsafe for under-threes. School guidance keeps craft knives with adults. A child-friendly punch still needed an adult press in one Ezydka review.
Should I practise on the finished invitation?
No. Use scrap from the same pack first. Thickness, coating and lock setting show up on the waste sheet. The good card is the second attempt, not the first.
Related pages
Sources
Public sources used for this comparison, with the amazon.co.uk listings read on 19 October 2026.
- NT Cutter C-1500P product page (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Rayher circle cutter 89770000 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Vaessen Creative circle punch on amazon.co.uk (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 11 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Hampshire art, craft and design hints for primary schools (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Blankbadge badge making help (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Microscopy-UK circle cutting tips (retrieved 19 October 2026)