# Cricut blades explained: fine point, deep point, knife and rotary

Source: https://bladeandmat.com/blog/cricut-blades-explained
Published: 2026-10-09
Publisher: Blade & Mat

**Short answer:** The fine point blade cuts vinyl, iron-on, paper and cardstock on Explore and Maker machines. The deep point blade, in a black housing, handles thicker items such as magnet sheet, stiffened felt and heavy cardstock. The knife blade and rotary blade work only on the Maker family: the knife for basswood, chipboard and leather, the rotary for unbacked fabric. Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra use their own fine point blade only.

Cricut sells more than a handful of blades and tools, and they do not all fit every machine. Buying the wrong one is easy, because the names are similar and photos rarely show the housing clearly. This page explains the four blades most people need, which machines accept each one, the materials they are made for, and how to tell when a blade is dull. It is for Cricut owners deciding what to buy next and anyone whose cuts have started tearing. For exact material starting points, use our [cut settings finder](https://bladeandmat.com/tools/cut-settings-finder).

## The four main Cricut blades

Cricut machines hold blades in a housing that drops into the tool clamp. The housing tells you a lot: its color and shape differ between blade types. The blade itself is replaceable on the fine point and deep point, while the knife and rotary blades come as complete assemblies or with dedicated replacement parts.

| Blade | Machines | Typical materials |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fine point (premium) | Explore and Maker families | Vinyl, iron-on, paper, cardstock, printable vinyl |
| Deep point | Explore and Maker families | Magnet sheet, stiffened felt, heavy and glitter cardstock |
| Knife blade | Maker family only | Basswood, balsa, chipboard, tooling leather |
| Rotary blade | Maker family only | Unbacked fabric and felt |
| Cricut Joy blade | Joy and Joy Xtra only | Vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, Smart Materials |

Cricut blades at a glance

## Fine point blade

This is the blade that comes with every Explore and Maker machine. Cricut's current version is the premium fine point blade in a gold or silver housing. It handles the bulk of craft work: adhesive vinyl, iron-on, paper, cardstock and printable materials. It cuts in a single pass for most of these and leaves clean corners on small lettering when sharp.

Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra use a smaller blade and housing made only for those machines. It is not interchangeable with the Explore and Maker fine point blade. Joy machines take only this one blade, which is why they cannot cut thick materials. See [Cricut Joy vs Joy Xtra](https://bladeandmat.com/blog/cricut-joy-vs-joy-xtra) for the differences between the two.

## Deep point blade

The deep point blade sits in a black housing and has a steeper cutting angle and longer edge. That lets it pass through thicker, denser materials that the fine point would only score: magnet sheet, stiffened felt, foam sheet, chipboard on the thinner end and heavy cardstock. It works in both the Explore and Maker families.

Select the material in Design Space and the software will prompt you to load the deep point blade when the preset calls for it. Use a StrongGrip or StandardGrip mat as the preset suggests, and run a small test cut first. Our guide to [cutting felt with a Cricut Explore](https://bladeandmat.com/blog/how-to-cut-felt-with-cricut-explore) shows a typical deep point job.

## Knife blade and rotary blade (Maker only)

The knife blade looks very different: a tall housing with a gear on top. The gear connects to the Maker's Adaptive Tool System, which steers the blade so it can cut dense materials over several passes. Cricut rates it for materials up to 2.4 mm (3/32 in), such as basswood, balsa, chipboard and tooling leather. It needs a StrongGrip mat with the material taped down, and the white star wheels moved aside so they do not mark the surface. See [how to cut wood with a Cricut](https://bladeandmat.com/blog/how-to-cut-wood-with-cricut).

The rotary blade is a small rolling wheel, also gear-driven. It rolls through fabric and felt without a stabilizer, which is why the Maker is the Cricut of choice for sewing and quilting. It needs the pink FabricGrip mat. The Explore cannot drive the rotary or knife blade, so on an Explore you fuse a backer to fabric and use the bonded fabric blade instead. More detail is in [how to cut fabric with a Cricut Maker](https://bladeandmat.com/blog/how-to-cut-fabric-with-cricut-maker).

Note: Blades are sharp even when dull enough to tear vinyl. Hold the housing, not the tip, and keep the protective cap on blades in storage.

## How to tell when a blade needs replacing

A dull blade drags instead of slicing. You will see vinyl that tears on small details, cardstock with fuzzy or ragged edges, corners that lift during weeding, or cuts that only work after you add more pressure. Before you blame the blade, rule out other causes: a mat that has lost its grip, the wrong material preset, or bits of vinyl and paper stuck in the housing.

Clean the blade by pushing it gently into a ball of aluminum foil several times to clear debris, then run a test cut. If the test still tears, replace the blade. How long a blade lasts depends on how much you cut and on what: glitter cardstock and heavy materials wear blades faster than vinyl and copy paper.

1. Open clamp B and lift the housing out.
2. Press the plunger on top of the housing to push the blade tip out.
3. Pull the old blade out carefully; it is held by a magnet.
4. Drop the new blade in, remove its cap and seat it in the housing.
5. Return the housing to clamp B, close the clamp and run a test cut.

## Choosing blades by machine

If you own an Explore, the fine point and deep point blades cover everything the machine is built for, plus the bonded fabric blade for backed fabric. If you own a Maker, add the rotary blade for fabric and the knife blade for wood and chipboard when your projects call for them. Joy owners need only spare Joy blades. Our [Cricut cut settings chart](https://bladeandmat.com/blog/cricut-cut-settings-chart) and [which Cricut mat to use](https://bladeandmat.com/blog/which-cricut-mat-to-use) pages pair each material with blade and mat.

If you find yourself needing the knife or rotary blade often and own an Explore, that is the main reason to step up to a Maker. Compare them in our [best Cricut machine](https://bladeandmat.com/best/best-cricut-machine) guide and [Cricut Maker vs Explore](https://bladeandmat.com/blog/cricut-maker-vs-explore).

[Compare Cricut machines](https://bladeandmat.com/best/best-cricut-machine)

## Frequently asked questions

**Can I use the knife blade in a Cricut Explore?** No. The knife blade needs the Adaptive Tool System that only the Maker family has.

**Is the premium fine point blade different from the old fine point?** It is Cricut's updated fine point blade with a gold or silver housing. It does the same job and fits the same Explore and Maker clamp.

**Can I put a deep point blade in the fine point housing?** No. Each blade is made for its own housing, so buy the matching housing with the blade if you do not have one.

**Does the Cricut Joy have a deep point blade?** No. The Joy and Joy Xtra take only their own fine point blade.

## Gear guides for this topic

- https://bladeandmat.com/best/best-cricut-machine
- https://bladeandmat.com/best/best-cutting-machine-for-thick-materials
- https://bladeandmat.com/best/best-cutting-machine-for-fabric