Papercutters use a variety of cutting mats to protect their working table surfaces and allow smooth cutting of paper, including self-healing rubber or PVC mats, tempered glass cutting mats and add-on glass mats such as those sold by Cutterpillar, and even layers of cardboard. Most often, self-healing mats are preferred for longevity and sturdiness. Some prominent brands are Alvin, Fiskars, Dahle, and now also Blick’s own brand. The commercial sources below are only a small selection of those now available in the marketplace but have been recommended by our members. In addition to eNasco and Blick, which have been described previously, the European company Cutting Mats XXL, with production based in the Netherlands, offers custom options, many unusual sizes and shapes of cutting mats, and good quality large, industrial mats and materials. Brandon Hubbard, author of the blog “The Architect’s Guide,” calls cutting mats the “unsung hero of the architecture and crafting world” and recommends five self-healing cutting mats–here they are in papercutters’ preference order (Fiskars mats are shown in the Youtube video embedded here as well).
- Fiskars Self Healing Cutting Mat – “provides a cutting surface that lasts longer than others” partly because translucent rather than green/black; 30, 45 and 60 degree diagonal guides; measuring grid on both sides; lifetime warranty
- Fiskars Eco Self Healing Cutting Mat [01-005901] – 100-percent polypropylene mat can be recycled when it is used up after long-term, intensive use, similar to the non-recyclable version, similar but limited lifetime warranty
- US Art Supply Green/Black Professional Self Healing 5-ply double sided durable non-slip PVC Cutting mat – 1/2″ grid with 1/8″ marks for precise alignment as well as 45° and 60° guides; reversible, and contain diagonal lines for cutting
- Dahle 10673 Vantage Self Healing Cutting Mat – with preprinted 1/2″ grid for easy sizing of paper
- OLFA Double-Sided, Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat – double sided mat, solid green on one side, one side with grid; for use only with rotary blades and blades; fixed-blade knives blade may damage mat
Member Tips on Mats
Self-healing vs. glass? most folks use self-healing mats and find them less slippery and kinder to knife blades. Craft and sewing stores (e.g., Michaels Stores, JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores) usually carry self-healing mats and offer periodic discount coupons that make the mats quite affordable.
Self-healing mats – our favorites:
- Self Healing Cutting Mats by Alvin and MagicMat
- X-Acto Self Healing Mats – small mat, nice for traveling
- June Tailor boards for quilting/cutting – “It has fabric on one side and a cutting board on the other. It’s so quilters can cut, flip it over and iron on the other side. But I use it for small cutting projects when I’m sitting in my recliner. It’s not perfect, wouldn’t use it for something big, but gives me the option of cutting while I’m in front of the TV.”
- Martha Stewart Cutting Mat – available via Michaels and Joann Fabric and Craft Stores
- Staedtler/Helix – “I have a 12×18 that I get from them- holds up better than any other mat I have ever tried.” (Note: A Staedtler cutting mat set is available from KMart! Other sources including amazon say that this particular mat is not available anymore, however.)
- Olfa 12” rotating mat – “…it is great for small framed project that are intricate and you have to hit it from multiple directions. Use a 40% coupon at Michaels and it is a good deal.” (Note: Olfa also has a helpful page, Cutting Mats 101: How to choose a mat [Sizes & Shape])
- Fiskars 14×14 Rotating Cutting Mat
- Basic Grey magnetic mat (Heidi Swapp tools from Ellen Hutson) – “…comes with magnetic ruler and 8 little magnets that come in handy at various times.”