How to Cut Leather with Cricut: Complete Guide
Leather is one of the most rewarding materials to cut with Cricut—earrings, keychains, journal covers, and more. Here's how to get perfect cuts every time.
Quick Answer
Faux leather: Works on Explore & Maker with Deep Point blade. Genuine leather: Requires Maker with Knife blade. Tape edges, use StrongGrip mat, expect multiple passes.
Types of Leather & What Cuts What
| Leather Type | Machine | Blade | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faux Leather (thin) | All Explore & Maker | Fine Point | Easy |
| Faux Leather (thick/textured) | All Explore & Maker | Deep Point | Medium |
| Bonded Leather | All Explore & Maker | Deep Point | Medium |
| Genuine Leather (1-2oz) | Maker Only | Knife Blade | Advanced |
| Tooling Leather (2-3oz) | Maker Only | Knife Blade | Advanced |
| Thick Leather (4oz+) | Too thick for Cricut | — | N/A |
Leather weight explained: 1oz ≈ 0.4mm, 2oz ≈ 0.8mm, 3oz ≈ 1.2mm. Cricut Maker can cut up to ~3oz (1.2mm) with the Knife blade. Anything thicker requires a leather-specific cutting machine or hand tools.
Cutting Faux Leather (All Machines)
Step-by-Step
- 1. Choose your leather. Thin, smooth faux leather works best. Avoid heavily textured or very thick sheets.
- 2. Prepare your mat. Use StandardGrip (green) for thin faux, StrongGrip (purple) for thicker. If mat isn't sticky enough, use masking tape on edges.
- 3. Place leather grain-side UP. The pretty/textured side faces up.
- 4. Select material in Design Space. Choose "Faux Leather (Paper Thin)" or "Faux Leather" depending on thickness.
- 5. Load and cut. Fine Point blade for thin, Deep Point for thick. Use "More" pressure if not cutting through.
- 6. Carefully remove. Use a spatula to lift edges without stretching.
✅ Best Faux Leather
- • Cricut Faux Leather
- • Sizzix Surfacez
- • Dollar Tree sheets (test first)
- • Faux leather with fabric backing
❌ Avoid
- • Very thick/rigid faux leather
- • Heavily glittered (clogs blade)
- • Patent leather (tears easily)
Cutting Genuine Leather (Maker Only)
⚠️ Maker Required: Genuine leather requires the Knife blade and Maker's Adaptive Tool System (10lb cutting force). Explore machines cannot cut real leather — see our Maker vs Explore comparison for details.
Genuine Leather Setup
- 1. Choose leather weight. 1-2oz for earrings/delicate items, 2-3oz for keychains/bracelets.
- 2. Use StrongGrip mat. Essential—leather is heavy and will shift on weaker mats.
- 3. Tape all edges. Masking tape or painter's tape along all 4 edges. This prevents shifting during long cuts.
- 4. Move star wheels. Shift them to the sides to prevent marks on leather.
- 5. Select "Genuine Leather" material. Or use custom settings for your specific thickness.
- 6. Expect 10-20+ passes. Knife blade cuts gradually. Don't rush—let it complete all passes.
- 7. Stay nearby. Cuts can take 15-30+ minutes. Watch for issues.
⚠️ Critical Tips for Genuine Leather
- • Don't skip the tape. Leather WILL shift without it.
- • Simple designs only. Avoid tiny details—leather doesn't cut as precisely as vinyl.
- • New blade matters. Dull knife blades struggle with leather.
- • Test on scraps first. Always test your settings before cutting your project.
Settings Cheat Sheet
| Material | Blade | Pressure | Passes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faux Leather (Paper Thin) | Fine Point | Default/More | 1 |
| Faux Leather (Standard) | Deep Point | More | 1-2 |
| Genuine Leather (1-2oz) | Knife | Default | 10-15 |
| Tooling Leather (2-3oz) | Knife | More | 15-20+ |
Pro Tips for Clean Leather Cuts
🎯 Design Tips
- • Avoid designs smaller than 1/2 inch
- • Round corners cut better than sharp
- • Leave space between cuts (1/4" minimum)
- • Simple shapes = cleaner cuts
🔧 Blade Tips
- • Dedicate a blade to leather only
- • Replace more often (leather dulls fast)
- • Clean between cuts
- • Deep Point for faux, Knife for genuine
📋 Mat Tips
- • Always use StrongGrip for genuine
- • Tape edges even on StrongGrip
- • Clean mat residue with baby wipes
- • Leather can reduce mat stickiness—clean after
✨ Finishing Tips
- • Sand edges gently for smooth finish
- • Apply leather conditioner or sealant
- • Use edge paint for professional look
- • Burnish edges with slicker tool
Popular Leather Projects
Earrings
Faux or thin genuine leather. Best seller on Etsy!
Keychains
2-3oz leather for durability. Add snaps or rivets.
Journal Covers
Wrap-around style. Cut slots for elastic closure.
Bookmarks
Faux leather works great. Add tassels!
Luggage Tags
Genuine leather + hardware. Great gifts.
Watch Bands
2oz genuine leather. Need precise measurements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Cricut Explore cut leather?
Explore can cut thin faux leather and bonded leather with the Deep Point blade. For genuine leather or thick faux leather, you need a Maker with the Knife blade.
What blade do I need to cut leather on Cricut?
Faux leather (thin): Fine Point or Deep Point. Faux leather (thick): Deep Point with multiple passes. Genuine leather: Knife blade (Maker only). Tooling leather: Knife blade (Maker only).
Why is my Cricut tearing the leather instead of cutting?
Usually a dull blade or wrong settings. Try: new blade, slower speed, StrongGrip mat, tape edges down, and make sure leather is grain-side up.
Do I need to mirror leather designs?
Only if there's a right/wrong side and you're cutting from the back. Most leather is cut grain-side up (pretty side up), so no mirroring needed.
What mat should I use for leather?
StrongGrip (purple) for genuine leather and thick faux. StandardGrip (green) for thin faux leather. Tape edges for thick materials.
Quick Reference
Faux Leather (All Machines)
- • Blade: Fine or Deep Point
- • Mat: StandardGrip or StrongGrip
- • Material: "Faux Leather"
- • Passes: 1-2
Genuine Leather (Maker Only)
- • Blade: Knife blade
- • Mat: StrongGrip + tape edges
- • Material: "Genuine Leather"
- • Passes: 10-20+
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