The short answerMost crafters should buy a full-size cutting machine that cuts 12 in wide. It handles vinyl, iron-on, cardstock and stickers, and costs $200 to $350. A compact one at $100 to $200 is enough for cards, labels and small decals.
What to buy
Cards, labels and small decals
Compact cutting machine, about 4 to 9 in cutting width
Small enough to live in a drawer, and it cuts vinyl, iron-on and cardstock. Shirt-size designs won't fit in one piece.
$100 to $200
See options on Amazon →Most crafters
Full-size cutting machine, 12 in cutting width
Wide enough for adult T-shirt designs and 12 x 12 in scrapbook paper. Cutting force is moderate, so it's made for thin materials.
$200 to $350
See options on Amazon →Fabric, leather and thin wood
Full-size machine with high cutting force and swappable blades
Takes a rotary blade for fabric and a deep blade for leather, chipboard and thin basswood. Thick materials cut slowly, in many passes.
$350 to $450
See options on Amazon →Long banners and selling in volume
Wide-format cutting machine, about 24 in cutting width
Cuts big signs and long rolls without piecing them together. It needs its own table and costs 2 to 3 times as much as a full-size machine.
$500 to $1,100
See options on Amazon →Links go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Many library makerspaces have a cutting machine you can use free or for a small fee. For one party's worth of decorations, bring your own material and book an hour.
What the numbers mean
- Cutting width
- The widest material the machine accepts. 12 in covers most shirts, signs and paper crafts. Go wider only if you already know you need it.
- Cutting force
- How hard the blade presses down. Basic machines manage vinyl, paper and cardstock. Stronger models press several times harder and add leather, chipboard and thin wood.
- Mat vs matless
- A cutting mat is a sticky sheet that holds material in place. Some machines also cut long rolls with no mat, often only with the maker's own pricier backed materials.
- Print then cut
- You print a design on your home printer, then the machine's sensor finds the printed marks and cuts around it. This is how stickers get made.
- Software
- Every machine runs on its maker's design app. Before you buy, check if it needs an internet connection, if importing your own SVG files is free, and what the optional subscription costs.
What not to pay for
- The design subscription, at least at first
Optional plans run about $10 a month for ready-made images and fonts. You can usually design or upload your own for free, so wait and see if you miss it.
- Giant accessory bundles
Bundles pad the box with vinyl and tools you may never use. Buy the machine, a spare mat, a weeding tool and the material for your first project.
- The strongest machine for vinyl and paper
Vinyl and cardstock need very little force. The extra $100 to $150 only pays off if you'll cut fabric, leather or wood.
The blades are small and sharp, so keep spares capped and away from kids. Vinyl is fine on a blade cutter and must never go in a laser.
Questions
Do I have to pay a monthly fee to use one?
Generally, no. The machines work without a subscription, and the fee covers a library of images, fonts and projects. Policies change, so read the current terms before you buy.
Can it cut wood?
Only the high-force models, and only thin, soft wood like basswood or balsa up to about 3/32 in. It takes many passes. For thicker wood, look at a laser or a scroll saw.
What do I need to make T-shirts?
The cutter, heat transfer vinyl (iron-on), a weeding tool and a heat source. A household iron works for a few shirts, and a heat press gives more even results.
Written by the DIY Project team. We recommend by type and spec, cheapest option that does the job first. How we check
Updated October 3, 2026. Prices are estimates.