Alexandra Ramirez
1. ClassicCut Pro
Best Overall Paper Cutter
Swingline Paper Trimmer, Guillotine Paper Cutter, 15" Cut Length, 15 Sheet Capacity, ClassicCut Pro (9115)
The ClassicCut Pro belongs to the category of paper cutters known as guillotines. As you can likely imagine, these paper cutters have one blade which you manually push down on, causing the paper underneath to be cut in one fell swoop. Outside of its status as a guillotine paper cutter, the ClassicCut Pro has a few features of its own which serve to set it apart from similar products on the market. For example, it comes with a safety rail. Long story short, this ensures you’ll never find yourself in a situation where your fingers happen to make their way under the blade. While this may sound like a standard feature if you have yet to use a variety of different paper cutters, you’d be surprised to know that there are, in fact, models out there without this essential safety feature.
Aside from its safety rail, the ClassicCut Pro further sets itself apart from the bunch through its extremely sharp knife which is advertised as being able to cut up to fifteen sheets of paper at once (of course, this may change over time as the blade needs a good sharpening). Perhaps what most makes this product stand out; however, is its sheer level of durability. When it comes to products with sharp blades built into them, you really want something which ensures you won’t have to fidget around with your unit to get it working. This aside, a high level of durability also translates to savings in both money and headaches later on down the road.
– Darius Spieth
2. Westcott TrimAir
Best Overall Paper Cutter – Runner Up
Westcott 15106 TrimAir 12-Inch Guillotine Paper Cutter, Heavy-Duty Multi-Paper Trimmer with 30 Sheet Capacity
7 used from $41.30
The Westcott TrimAir is the best product for you if you’re looking for the paper cutter that has it all when it comes to raw power. In fact, with the use of this paper cutter, you’ll be able to cut thirty sheets of paper simultaneously. To put this in perspective, it’s generally accepted that the average paper cutter can take on roughly ten sheets of paper at a time. While the extra twenty sheets this product can tackle may not sound like a huge deal, it may allow you to get three times as much work done over any given amount of time. As such, this paper cutter should be considered essential for use in high-traffic areas where you know it’s going to see a whole lot of action.
Of course, no quality paper cutter would be complete without a safety rail. As it turns out, the Westcott TrimAir has you covered there as well. It also comes at twelve inches long, allowing you to cut letter paper from any angle without taking up too much room. On the other hand, you won’t be able to handle larger sizes of paper (such as legal paper). Though, if you know you’ll only be dealing with small sheets, or even larger sheets from a certain angle, the Westcott TrimAir’s smaller stature will likely prove to be more of a convenience than anything.
– Darius Spieth
3. ClassicCut Lite
Best Budget Paper Cutter
Swingline Paper Cutter, Guillotine Trimmer, 12" Cut Length, 10 Sheet Capacity, ClassicCut Lite (9312)
6 used from $28.73
As its name might suggest, the ClassicCut Lite is identical to the ClassicCut Pro nearly every way other than its size. However, smaller definitely does not translate to less useful in this context. The ClassicCut Lite will be able to take on ten sheets of paper at once.
Although this may be fifty percent lower than its larger counterpart, it’s worth noting that the unit itself is actually only half of the Pro’s weight. As such, you can bet you’re getting the most power you could possibly hope for in this paper cutter on a per-pound basis. If it’s a large degree of efficiency you’re after, the ClassicCut Lite is an excellent choice.
And, as with the other two paper cutters on this list, this particular product comes with a safety rail, ensuring your risk of blade-related mishaps is next to nothing. Depending on their maturity level and age, you may even allow children around the paper cutter. Of course, this should be done at your own discretion and under strict supervision.
– Darius Spieth
Summary of Our Top Picks
It goes without saying that all of the three above models serve the exact same purpose – cutting paper. Of course, any of the three will be able to take on any jobs you need, being that they’re easily the best three on the market. However, knowing which one is more likely to suit your needs can save you some time and hassle later on down the road. For example, if you know you’ll be working with small amount of letter papers, the ClassicCut Lite is an obvious choice. Not only will going with this model save you time and hassle, it will save you a bit of cash as well.
On the other hand, the Westcott TrimAir will prove to be even more of a time saver if you know it will be coming in contact with a large volume of paper over the course of its life. And then there’s the ClassicCut Pro. When the Westcott TrimAir seems to big and the ClassicCut Lite seems to small, the ClassicCut Pro offers something right in the middle, ensuring your unit is neither to big nor too small. The fact that it can cut legal paper lengthwise is also a huge plus which many paper cutters don’t have.
$125.00
Amazon.com 
As you can see, finding the right paper cutter for you all comes down to understanding what your needs are. And, while the above three paper cutters are easily the best in the business, I know that the entire population’s paper-cutting needs can’t be satiated through only three different units. As such, you may even find it beneficial to shop for yourself. As it turns out, I can help you there as well. If you plan on doing some paper cutter shopping any time soon, try keeping the following considerations in mind to make sure you walk away with the perfect product for your needs.
