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Gear guide

Best cutting machines for fabric and quilting

Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick

Top picks at a glance

Compare all picks

  • Closest match for the job

    Cricut Maker 5: fabric among 300+ materials

    Listing states 3 mm cutting for thicker materials like leather and foam core board, plus engraving on metal and acrylic.

    See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon

  • Most for the money on paper

    Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha: fabric up to 3 mm

    Materials up to 3 mm thick, including fabric and heat transfer, according to the listing.

    See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon

  • Most complete listing

    Brother ScanNCut DX SDX325: Thin Fabric Auto Blade

    The listing names 1,303 built-in designs, including 140 quilt patterns and 17 lettering fonts.

    See price on AmazonSee it on Amazon

Cutting fabric is harder than cutting vinyl. Unbacked cotton shifts and frays under a drag blade, so fabric work depends on the blade, the mat and how the machine holds the cloth. Brother ScanNCut machines lead here: Brother sells rotary and thin fabric auto blades, a tacky fabric mat, and the machines ship with built-in quilt patterns you can cut from the touchscreen. The Cricut Maker 5 lists fabric among its 300+ materials, and the Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha lists fabric up to 3 mm. This guide compares each listing on the fabric blade included, the mat, the thickness limit, built-in quilting content and how you design. Seam allowance tools are not described in these listings, so check that on the product page if you plan to cut pieced quilt blocks.

Compare the picks

Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.

The picks in detail

Pick 1 · Cricut

Cricut Maker 5: fabric among 300+ materials

See price on Amazon

The newest Maker. The listing states it cuts 300+ materials, including leather and foam core up to 3 mm, engraves metal and acrylic, and works with 13 tools. The pick for crafters who want one machine for everything.

What the listing offers

  • Listing states 3 mm cutting for thicker materials like leather and foam core board, plus engraving on metal and acrylic.
  • Works with 13 tools to cut, engrave, write, foil, score and deboss, and has a new snap-in pen holder.
  • Essential Bundle includes the Scoring Tool, Engraving Tool and materials the listing says cover up to 65 projects.

Limits to know

  • Specialty tools beyond those in the bundle are sold separately, so the full 13-tool range costs extra.
  • The listing does not state how it connects to your phone or computer; check the product page before buying.
See it on AmazonListing title: Cricut Maker® 5 Essential Bundle + Digital Content, Slate Blue

Pick 2 · Silhouette America

Silhouette Cameo 5 Alpha: fabric up to 3 mm

See price on Amazon

Silhouette's main 12 inch class machine handles vinyl to fabric up to 3 mm thick, with 4-point print and cut registration and speeds up to 400 mm/s. The cheapest way here to leave Design Space behind.

What the listing offers

  • Materials up to 3 mm thick, including fabric and heat transfer, according to the listing.
  • 4-point registration with vertical and horizontal correction for accurate print and cut stickers.
  • Runs on Silhouette Studio software instead of Cricut Design Space.

Limits to know

  • The listing does not state cut width or connection type.
  • No engraving or debossing tool is mentioned, which the Maker line offers.
See it on AmazonListing title: Silhouette America Cameo 5 Alpha (α) - Smart Cutting Machine for Print...

Pick 3 · Brother

Brother ScanNCut SDX125E with Rotary Blade Kit and fabric mat

See price on Amazon

The SDX125 machine bundled with Brother's rotary blade kit and a CADXMATF12 fabric mat. The cheapest way in this list to get a ScanNCut set up for fabric.

What the listing offers

  • Bundle includes the CADXRBKIT1 Rotary Auto Blade Kit and CADXMATF12 Fabric Mat, per the listing.
  • Same scanner and 3 mm auto blade as the SDX125E for paper, vinyl and chipboard work.
  • Costs less than the SDX325 while adding fabric-specific tools in the box.

Limits to know

  • Only 682 built-in designs, fewer than the SDX325 and SDX230Di listings.
  • The listing does not state the size of the included fabric mat beyond its model number.
See it on AmazonListing title: Brother ScanNCut SDX125EGY Electronic DIY Cutting Machine with Scanner...

Pick 4 · Brother

Brother ScanNCut DX SDX325: Thin Fabric Auto Blade

See price on Amazon

The top ScanNCut DX listing with the most quilt patterns and fonts and a focus on fabric cutting. Suits quilters who want the biggest built-in library.

What the listing offers

  • The listing names 1,303 built-in designs, including 140 quilt patterns and 17 lettering fonts.
  • Thin Fabric Auto Blade support is listed for quilting and raw edge applique pieces.
  • Blade Sensor Technology detects material thickness and cuts up to 3 mm.

Limits to know

  • Costs about twice the SDX125E while listing the same 3 mm limit and 5 in screen.
  • The listing does not clearly state what blades and mats ship in the box, so confirm before buying.
See it on AmazonListing title: Brother ScanNCut DX SDX325 Electronic Cutting Machine

Pick 5 · Brother

Brother ScanNCut SDX230Di: 140 quilt patterns plus Disney

See price on Amazon

A Disney-themed ScanNCut DX with the largest built-in design count in this guide. Worth it if Disney designs are part of what you plan to make.

What the listing offers

  • The listing states 1,435 built-in designs, including 152 Disney designs and 140 quilt patterns.
  • Blade Sensor Technology cuts up to 3 mm and detects material thickness automatically.
  • Wireless network ready for sending designs from a PC, phone or tablet.

Limits to know

  • The Disney styling and designs drive the price premium over the SDX125E.
  • The listing says it is for US 120 volt use only and other use voids the warranty.
See it on AmazonListing title: Brother ScanNCut DX SDX230Di Disney Cutting Machine, Includes 152 Buil...

Read before you buy

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Blade & Mat chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.