If your Cricut blade tears paper, leaves tiny rips, or drags material off the mat – even when the mat is fine – it’s time to change the blade.

Close-up of paper cuts showing tears and rips, a clear sign it’s time to change your Cricut blade.

When to Change Your Cricut Blade

The arrows in the image above point to small tears in the paper – an early sign that your Cricut blade may be dull.

Is Your Blade Dull?

Does your blade tear paper and leave tiny rips in your Cricut cuts? Does it drag your paper right off the mat? If your mat is in good condition, that shouldn’t happen. You might need a new blade.

For tips on cutting cleanly, check out my Cricut Blade Settings guide and my Cricut blades compared.

No Magic Number for Blade Changes

Well, that’s it in a nutshell really.  There’s not an exact magic number of cuts that can be performed before you need to change your blade, but think about it like this.

  • If you’ve cut chipboard, felt, fabric, foam, vinyl, thin metal, cereal boxes, or made a ton of party décor, your blade may dull faster.
  • If you’re now getting rough or incomplete cuts on simple cardstock or paper, it’s time to consider changing your blade.

It’s not just the amount of cuts—it’s the type of material that wears down a blade.

A Real-Life Example

I bought a new Cricut in November and used the blade heavily through Christmas: cutting vinyl, attempting yo cut thin metal, cutting felt, foam, cereal boxes, paper, and cardstock. One day, the blade started tearing paper and wouldn’t even cut all the way through.

I must have gone through 5 sheets of nice cardstock before I finally gave in and changed the blade. When I took that blade out, I put it next to the new one and it was almost half the size! I had worn it down so much! Don’t wait that long to change your blade.

You paid all that money for your Cricut – give it a sharp blade so it can do its job for you.

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16 Comments

  1. I’ve seen the “when to change the blade” question asked so many times. Your picture is a great illustration. Wow, about your blade. Never would have guessed it could lose that much volume. Thanks!

    1. Thank you very much! 🙂
      I was shocked when I saw my blade like that. I wish I’d thought to take a picture of it!
      ~Joy~

  3. Thanks for the info. I am still fairly new with my Cricut. So I will now know when to change it out. Thanks so much! ~~~BIG HUGS~~~

  5. Alright, my blade just isn’t cutting all the way through… but its not tearing or anything… so that means i need a new blade?

    1. Merideth,
      You might need to adjust your blade or pressure settings. If that doesn’t work, I would try a new blade. 😉
      ~Joy~

  8. I was wondering why my Cricut wasn’t cutting the way it was. Thanks for the input! Also learned about the MTC here and WOW what an awesome program for the price! My Gypsy broke down on my the week before I bought it and am I glad I did! Even though I can’t load my carts into it, the program comes with thousands of shapes and fonts that I’m able to work with and CREATE a ton more things than I imagined. Thanks Joy!

  9. hi. have a question. i’ve been making these cut little hearts for a while now. probably made hundreds. i buy the same paper at michael’s every time. yesterday, noticed they were not cutting through the paper. like you, tried many sheets and finally today changed the blade!!! then the first sheet i put through – worked just like old times!!! no issues!!! was kicking myself. but then the 2nd, 3rd, 4th sheets…same thing started happening. paper not cutting through :(. i even took out the blade again and put in just to make sure it looks ok. no luck. still not cutting through. any ideas? 🙁 🙁 🙁 🙁

    1. Hi SF,
      I would have thought, like you, that changing the blade would have worked. It’s odd that it first worked with the paper and then suddenly stopped after putting in the new blade. I suggest giving Provo Craft a call on help with this. It may be something they need to fix. 😉 Here’s their contact info:
      Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MST)
      Cricut® support: 801-932-1144
      toll free service phone: 877-7CRICUT
      fax: 801-794-9001
      email: [email protected]
      Let me know how it goes! 🙂
      ~Joy~

  11. Hi all
    Sometimes I buy the same paper as before, but different dye lots cut different. Some companies that have home parties when you buy their paper it does the same thing. If you feel the paper sometimes it feels thinner than other packs. I find the heavier weight paper cuts much better AC paper is very good for small intricate cut.

    marlene

  12. Another thing about blades, not all are created equal. Since I stopped buying cheap Cricut blades at the craft store but good Carbide steel, my blades last forever. The Cricut and a few other cutters take Roland style blades. eBay has a few sellers but I prefer Elkins Creek. Especially since they are in Ohio I get my blades next day. LOL

    Here is a link for blades that will fit the Cricut machines – http://elkinscreek.com/RolandCutterBlades.html
    45 degree is the regular blade and 60 degree is for the deep cut holder. There is also a discussion here to purchasing better quality blades – http://forum.make-the-cut.com/discussion/16452/roland-blades/ Glitter paper will also dull your blade faster than saying, well, glitter!

    Hope this helps

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