All About Cricut Blades and Tools

If you want to learn all about Cricut Blades and Tools, you’re in the right place. This is the ultimate guide to these important Cricut components, and we’re going to explain what each one does and doesn’t do.

We love bringing you inspiration, education, and motivation to get your Cricut out and make the most of your investment. If you want to use your Cricut to make beautiful crafts, it’s important to know how to use it well and we share many Cricut craft techniques and tips that can help you. Whether you are a Cricut beginner or someone who has been crafting with it for a long time, keep on learning and growing and you’ll soon master your machine!

All About Cricut Blades and Tools

Disclosure: Some of the links below are paid links provided for your convenience. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase

• Replacement blades – https://amzn.to/49doSuU
• Fine point blade – https://amzn.to/3PUb94z
• Deep point blade – https://amzn.to/3RWtEaU
• Knife blade – https://amzn.to/3vD4G7J
• Rotary blade – https://amzn.to/3rNwDrC
• Foil tip kit – https://amzn.to/3FgJuWm
• Quick swap housing – https://amzn.to/3Vzjzm7
• Scoring wheel – https://amzn.to/3S0CgNR
• Double scoring wheel – https://amzn.to/4ctQfnj
• Perforation blade – https://amzn.to/3PVt4HP
• Debossing tip – https://amzn.to/3ZWg75u
• Wavy blade – https://amzn.to/3rXSJrr
• Engraving tip –https://amzn.to/3RWtpww

Fine Point Blade

First up is the fine point blade, the one you’ll use 90-95% of the time. This blade cuts most materials you’ll work with on your Cricut. It has a 45° angle and is incredibly versatile.

Press the top of the housing to change the fine point blade, and the blade will retract. Remove the old blade and insert a new one—it’s magnetic, so you’ll hear a faint click when it’s secured. Release, and you’re ready to go!

Premium Fine Point & Bonded Fabric Blades

Next, let’s discuss the premium fine-point blade and the bonded fabric blade. The premium fine point blade is made of tungsten steel, which may keep it sharper longer, but otherwise, it functions just like a regular fine point blade.

The bonded fabric blade, housed in pink, is identical to the fine point blade but keeps fabric cutting separate from paper cutting. If you’re a crafter, you know the golden rule—never use your fabric scissors on paper! The pink housing helps you distinguish this blade for fabric use only, ensuring it stays sharp longer.

Deep Point Blade

The deep point blade functions similarly to the fine-point blade but features a 60° angle for deeper cuts. This blade is ideal for thicker materials like cardstock, craft foam, and magnetic sheets. If you purchase replacement blades, make sure to insert a 60° blade into the deep point housing. While technically, you could place a 60° blade in a fine point housing, it’s best to keep them separate to avoid confusion.

Foil Transfer Tool

The foil transfer tool isn’t a blade but an accessory that works with both Cricut Explore and Maker machines. It comes with three interchangeable tips:

• A single line for a light foil effect
• A medium tip with two lines
• A deep tip with three lines for a more pronounced foil design

This tool is perfect for adding foil details to cardstock and other materials.

Adaptive Tools (Exclusive to Cricut Maker)

The Maker series features adaptive tools that expand cutting capabilities beyond what the Explore series offers.

Knife Blade

The knife blade functions like an X-Acto knife for your Cricut. It’s designed to cut thicker materials like basswood, balsa wood, and chipboard. If you plan to use this blade, be sure to calibrate it first for optimal results. Cutting with the knife blade requires multiple passes and can take some time, so patience is key.

Rotary Blade

The rotary blade is a must-have for fabric crafters. It allows clean cuts without the need for backing materials. If you plan on sewing or quilting, a Maker machine with a rotary blade is a great investment.

QuickSwap Housing Blades

Unlike the stationary knife and rotary blades, the following adaptive tools work with the QuickSwap housing, allowing easy tip changes by pressing a button on the top.

1. Single Scoring Wheel (Tip #1) – Creates deep score lines for paper projects.
2. Double Scoring Wheel (Tip #2) – Provides two parallel score lines for thicker materials.
3. Perforation Blade (Tip #11) – Adds perforated edges for easy tear-off designs.
4. Debossing Tip (Tip #21) – Creates subtle depressions in cardstock for added dimension.
5. Wavy Blade (Tip #31) – Cuts decorative wavy edges on materials.
6. Engraving Tip (Tip #41) – Features a sharp edge for engraving designs into metal, acrylic, and other surfaces.

Each of these adaptive tools expands the possibilities of what you can create with your Cricut Maker.

The first five blades and tools mentioned (fine point, premium fine point, bonded fabric, deep point, and foil transfer) work with both Cricut Explore and Maker machines. However, the adaptive tools (knife blade, rotary blade, and QuickSwap housing tools) are exclusive to the Maker series. We don’t suggest running out and buying all of the adaptive tools right away. Wait until you have a need for them and buy then or you may find that some of them will sit in your craft room unused.

Replacement Blades

If you go to purchase replacement blades, such as the ones we have linked in this post, it is important to make note of what each of the different colors mean. The blades with the red caps are 45° angle fine-point blades and these go into the fine-point housing. The blades with the blue caps are 60° angle deep-point blades. These go into the black deep-point housing. Some of the replacement blades have a yellow cap on them and these are extra fine-point blades with a 30° angle. They are made to cut really thin materials such as tissue paper. We have actually never used these and have just cut thin materials with the fine-point blade but you might want to try them.

Having Issues with Your Blades?

If you aren’t getting a perfect cut, the first thing to do is to check the blade and make sure there is no debris around it. Remove the blade from the housing and ensure that there is no debris in it either. Often when cutting materials like paper or felt, little bits of fiber will get stuck in the blade or housing and this can get in the way of getting a good cut. The other thing to check is to make sure that when you place your blade into the clamp in your machine that you push it all the way down and that the clamp is closed.

If you continue to have issues, you might want to try increasing the pressure from the default pressure to more pressure. After trying all of this and still not getting the results you want, it is probably time to change your blade.

How Often Do I Need to Change My Blades?

We can’t give you a firm answer for this question. It will depend on how much you use your machine and what types of materials you are cutting. The more you use your machine, the more often you will need to change the blade. And certainly, after using more fibrous materials like fabric or felt or much thicker materials, you will need to change the blade more often as well. We like to keep replacement blades on hand so that we’re always ready to put a new blade in our machine whenever it’s needed.

Understanding your Cricut blades and tools allows you to get the best project results. Whether you’re cutting paper, fabric, wood, or even engraving metal, there’s a tool to help you achieve professional-quality results. Happy crafting!