How to Use a Fiskars Circle Cutter

Last Updated: December 23, 2021

Have you ever carefully traced a round object or used a compass to draw a circle and cut it out? If you'd like a faster, cleaner result, try using a circle cutter. It's a bit of a specialized tool, but if you like to cut circles for scrapbooks or other crafts, it will save you a lot of time and get you circles of an accurate and consistent size.

There are other styles and brands of circle cutters and most function similarly, but this article focuses on the Fiskars cutter.

Steps

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Circle_cutter_1.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_1.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/61\/Circle_cutter_1.JPG\/581px-Circle_cutter_1.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":443,"bigWidth":582,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1

Loosen the clear knob by turning it counterclockwise.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e0\/Circle_cutter_2.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_2.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e0\/Circle_cutter_2.JPG\/728px-Circle_cutter_2.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

2

Slide the clear arm in or out to set the diameter of the circle you want to cut, using the markings on the arm: one side measures inches, the other side is marked in centimeters. Note: The markings set the diameter of the circle you will cut, but the length of the arm is actually radius of circle, which is 1/2 the diameter. For example, if you move the arm out by 1", you increase the diameter of the circle by 2".

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Circle_cutter_3.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_3.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3a\/Circle_cutter_3.JPG\/638px-Circle_cutter_3.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":403,"bigWidth":639,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

3

Tighten down the clear knob by turning it clockwise.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Circle_cutter_4.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_4.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e4\/Circle_cutter_4.JPG\/558px-Circle_cutter_4.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":461,"bigWidth":559,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

4

Remove one of the small, blue caps and tip the cutter upside down to remove a blade.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/39\/Circle_cutter_5.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_5.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/39\/Circle_cutter_5.JPG\/642px-Circle_cutter_5.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":401,"bigWidth":642,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

5

Install this blade at the end of the arm , making sure that the flat sides line up and the blade itself is perpendicular to the arm. Push it in all the way, using the orange edges. Don't touch the cutting tip.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c1\/Circle_cutter_6.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_6.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c1\/Circle_cutter_6.JPG\/728px-Circle_cutter_6.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

6

Center the orange post in the center of the cutter over the center of the circle you wish to cut. You may wish to turn the cutter all the way around before you cut to be sure your circle does not extend over the edge of the material you are cutting.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Circle_cutter_7.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_7.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/93\/Circle_cutter_7.JPG\/728px-Circle_cutter_7.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

7

Press down firmly on the orange knob to hold the rubber pad against the item you're cutting.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Circle_cutter_8.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_8.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Circle_cutter_8.JPG\/728px-Circle_cutter_8.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

8

Rotate the clear, outer ring around the orange post to cut the circle. Go all the way around, and make sure the cut goes all the way through. You may have to make more than one pass for thicker materials, and you may want to press down on the end of the arm as you go. Try not to let up on the orange post or let the center of the circle cutter slip.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/73\/Circle_cutter_11.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_11.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/73\/Circle_cutter_11.JPG\/691px-Circle_cutter_11.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":373,"bigWidth":691,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

9

Separate the circle from the surrounding material. Go slowly, in case there are parts that are not cut all the way through.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Circle_cutter_9.JPG\/460px-Circle_cutter_9.JPG","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/af\/Circle_cutter_9.JPG\/728px-Circle_cutter_9.JPG","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":296,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":469,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>Using a circle cutter, by Dvortygirl, March 2009.\n<\/p><p>Image by: Uploader<br>\nLicense: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

10

Remove the blade from the arm and replace it in the holder, covered with the blue cap for storage. Loosen the arm and return it to a medium position for storage.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

If I cut 7 4-inch circles, can I then go back and accurately locate the center of each circle and cut a 3 inch circle out of the center of each?

Community Answer

If you cut something foldable, fold it in quarters, and you will find the center. If your object is stiff, take a ruler and hold it over the circle. Measure across the width of the circle, then keep moving the ruler until you find the maximum width. The center would be 1/2 of the maximum width.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 9 Helpful 4

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

The Fiskars circle cutter will cut circles or circular holes from about 1 inch (3cm) diameter to about 8 inches (20cm) diameter.

Thanks
Helpful 11 Not Helpful 1
Replace the blades with new, sharp ones if they are dull.

Thanks
Helpful 5 Not Helpful 4
Tidy up the cut with a craft knife if you need to.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 7

Show More Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Be very careful handling the cutting tips. The blades may be tiny, but they are very sharp.

Thanks
Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0

Things You'll Need

A circle cutter
A sharp blade that matches the cutter
A cutting mat or other surface against which to cut
Paper, cardstock, photographs, etc. to cut.

Log in

How to Use a Fiskars Circle Cutter

Steps

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

Things You'll Need

You Might Also Like

About This Article

Did this article help you?

About This Article

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories