Buyer's Guide: Selecting a Business Card Cutter

Business Card Cutters or "Slitters" are available in several variations. It can be difficult determining which model will work best for you. When deciding on which business card cutter best suits your needs, consider the following:

Product Tips 101:

What format and sheet size will you be using to print your business cards? In other words, how many cards will be printed on one sheet? Business card cutters are available in 4 up on a 3-1/2" x 8-1/2" sheet, 8 up on a 8-1/2' x 11" sheet, 10 up on a 8-1/2" x 11" sheet, and 12 up on a 9" x 12" sheet. All of these formats create the standard business card size, 2" x 3-1/2", however most cutters will not work with every format.

Do you need a machine that will slit cards with full bleeds? Depending on your graphics, you may need a gutter cut machine. A gutter cut is when the machine cuts a margin around each card. This is necessary when using full bleed graphics so that one card's bleed is not carried over to another card.

Is speed a major factor? Each business card cutter is rated for speed. Make sure to compare how many finished cards can be cut per minute. Be careful to compare "apples to apples". Some ratings reflect sheets per minute rather than finished cards per minute.

Example of Custom Business Cards: