Best Rotary Cutter For Fabric

I’ve been using a rotary cutter for a few years now and thought it was time to share what I consider to be the best rotary cutter for fabric.

I have three rotary cutters. One I use only for paper – cutting paper sewing patterns out with a rotary cutter is so much faster than a pair of scissors – and the other two which I use only for fabrics and leathers.

Let’s dig into some questions you may have before deciding to try a rotary cutter yourself.

Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means that I may receive a fee at no extra cost to you if you purchase a recommended product.

If you’re here for the quick answer, I can assure you that the best rotary cutter for fabric is the Clover rotary cutter. I use the general version with the 28mm blade for cutting both paper and fabrics, and it is amazing at slicing through anything I put beneath it.

Can You Use A Rotary Cutter For Fabric?

Yes! I started using a rotary cutter to cut out my fabric for sewing projects, and only recently started using one for paper!

How Many Layers Of Fabric Can A Rotary Cutter Cut Through?

Most people would aim for 4 layers but I would only ever cut through two layers of fabric with my rotary cutters, simply because that is the maximum number of fabric layers I would ever cut with scissors.

Of course, the number of layers really does depend on how thick your fabric is!

How Do I Choose A Rotary Cutter For Fabric?

It’s important when choosing a rotary cutter that you consider what you’ll be using it for. 

Some rotary cutters are more comfortable to use than others while size, availability of the replacement blade and overall cost comes into consideration too.

We know that it’ll most likely be for fabric, but fabric for what? If you’re planning on quilting, you may want it to be big enough to go through many layers of the same fabric type to create equal sized quilting pieces.

If you’re using it to cut pairs of fabric for sewing garments, then a general sized blade – like the 45mm rotary cutter – will be better.

And if you’re planning on using it for more precise work, then the smaller 25mm blade will be best.

To summarize the blade sizes:

• Larger blade cuts through more layers or thicker fabric
• General blade is a good all rounder for fabric cutting
• Smaller blade better for more precise and detailed work

What Else Do You Need When Using A Rotary Cutter?

There’s not much more you really need when working with a rotary cutter.

Cutting Mat

Cutting fabric (or any material) with a rotary cutter blade requires something to protect your work area from being damaged.

I use a self-healing cutting mat to protect my workspace, and they come in a variety of sizes.

I’ve previously written about the self-healing cutting mats and how they work, so do check that out if you do decide to get a rotary cutter!

Replacement Blades

Having at least one extra blade on hand is a good idea for those times when your blade suddenly becomes blunt or you accidentally go over a pin and create a dent in it.

Trying to cut fabric with a blunt blade will limit how effective your cutting out will be, and it may be faster to use fabric scissors until you can get a replacement blade.

Trying to cut out fabric with a damaged blade – no matter how small the dent – will ‘skip’ in places so that when you go to remove the fabric, you end up snagging threads that weren’t cut through completely, and potentially ruin your fabric pieces.

Always opt for stainless steel blades which are stronger and more durable.

I try to buy my rotary cutter blades in packs of five or more, so that they cost less per blade. These are the 28mm blades I use and these are the 45mm blades I use. There are cheaper brands available, but for cutting fabrics I try to get the best ones available.

Ruler

Finally, if you’re not using a sewing pattern to cut out the fabric then you’ll probably want at least one ruler to make sure your cut lines are straight.

I use a selection of rulers with my rotary cutters, from my pattern master right through to the french curve ruler and specific rulers for quilting, but the best one is the metal meter stick, which keeps a really sharp line.

Anatomy Of A Rotary Cutter

There are three main parts to a rotary cutter:

• Blade guard – protects the blade when not in use
• Sharp blade – the round blade used to cut
• Handle – the part we hold in our hand to operate the rotary cutter

Different Types Of Rotary Cutters

There are different types of rotary cutters to choose from.

‘Angular’ Rotary Cutter

This is the main type that I use for cutting fabric. There is no contour or ergonomic aspect in the design. They are basic and do the job as intended.

Electric Rotary Cutter

This is exactly what it sounds like, a rotary cutter powered by electricity. These started off being more for industry than home sewing, but it is now possible to get a less powerful electric rotary cutter to use in the home sewing environment.

I used one once when at fashion school to cut out many strips of knit fabric. It left my arm tingling from the vibrations for days afterwards.

Ergonomic Rotary Cutter

An ergonomic rotary cutter – also referred to as a contour rotary cutter – has shaping that makes it more comfortable to use in the hand than the standard, more angular versions.

Best Rotary Cutter For Fabric

Now, we get to the important part – which rotary cutter is the best for cutting out fabric!

You’ve seen all the round up lists on which one is good and why – from the Fiskars rotary cutter right through to unknown brands which may cost a pretty penny – but I’m here to definitely state that the best is the Clover rotary cutter!

I’ve tried many. And while I use and love my Olfa rotary cutters, I find myself mostly using the Clover for everything, paper and fabric.

Originally I used it just for paper – as you can see from photos where the word ‘paper’ is marked on it. But overtime, I found myself grabbing it for cutting out fabric as well. And now it’s my go-to, simply because it does the job well and its comfortable to use, whether for short periods of time or longer jobs.

That’s not to say the Olfas don’t still have their place – they do. When I have a new blade loaded up in my Clover, I grab the 28mm Olfa for paper cutting and stick to fabrics with the Clover until the blade is blunted. And I still only use the 45mm Olfa for leathers and non-grain materials.

But for me, the Clover 28mm rotary cutter is the best, and it would take something special to replace it in my kit now!

What’s your go to tool for cutting fabric for your projects? If you’re not a fan of rotary cutters, I do have a few other articles you might find helpful! Read about the different types of cutting tools used in sewing, how pinking shears work or I also have an article on sewing scissors vs shears you might enjoy too!