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The ChompSaw is a $249 kid-safe power tool that cuts cardboard without a blade. It nibbles through boxes like a high-speed hole punch, so kids can cut out their own fort windows, costumes and models. It won Creative Toy of the Year in 2026. It's a great, long-lasting tool for a family that builds a lot, but $249 is a big ask if cardboard crafts are a once-a-month thing.
What It Actually Is
The ChompSaw comes from Chompshop, a small Philadelphia company. It started as a Kickstarter that raised more than $1.1 million from about 5,000 backers, then landed a deal on Shark Tank with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner. In February 2026, it won Creative Toy of the Year at the Toy of the Year Awards.
It's built to solve one problem: kids love building with cardboard, but cutting it takes a box cutter, and that's a grown-up job. The ChompSaw has no blade at all. It punches out tiny half-moon pieces very fast, which lets a kid guide it along a line or a curve, and Chompshop says it won't cut fingers.
It's a real tool, not a toy version of one. It weighs about 5.5 pounds, plugs into the wall, runs at 70 to 75 decibels and cuts material up to about 3mm thick.
The $249 Question
There's no getting around the price, so here's how it compares to a manual cardboard construction kit:
| Tool | Price | Powered | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChompSawChompshop | $249 | Yes | Frequent, ambitious cardboard builds |
| Makedo ExploreMakedo | $27.50 | No | Occasional projects and connecting pieces |
Makedo gives kids a safe hand saw and screws to join cardboard pieces, for about a tenth of the price. The ChompSaw is faster, cuts curves much more easily and lets younger kids cut on their own. If cardboard building is a weekly thing in your house, the ChompSaw earns its price. If it's an occasional rainy-day project, Makedo is plenty.
The Good and the Not-So-Good
Where It Delivers
- Kids can cut cardboard themselves, safely, without a blade.
- It cuts curves and slots, not just straight lines.
- It turns every delivery box into a project.
- It's built to last, with swappable parts.
Where It Falls Short
- At $249, it's a big-ticket gift.
- It still needs an adult nearby.
- It's loud enough to notice.
- It only works on thin material, up to about 3mm.
Our Read
The ChompSaw is one of the most original kids' tools in years. It takes the thing that stops most cardboard projects, the cutting, and hands it safely to the kid.
The price is the only real question. For a maker family, a homeschool setup or a classroom, it's a tool you'll use for years. For a kid who builds a fort twice a year, it's a lot of money for a box cutter replacement.
What To Buy Instead
Who It's For
Buy It If
- Your kid builds with cardboard all the time.
- You want a creative gift that lasts for years.
- You homeschool, teach or run a maker space.
- You'd rather not hand a kid a box cutter.
Skip It If
- Cardboard crafts are a once-in-a-while thing.
- $249 is more than you want to spend on one gift.
- You won't be around to supervise.
- Noise is a dealbreaker.
What You Should Actually Pay
Chompshop's own price is $249. If you see it under $225 around Black Friday, that's a good time to buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
- ChompSaw (with Hole Punch & Scoring Tool)ChompshopThe price, the age rating, the blade-free design, the noise level, the safety standards and what's included.
- Chompshop FAQsChompshopThe 3mm cutting limit, the weight and size, and that it won't cut fingers.
- 2026 Toy of the Year Winners Shine at Toy Industry's Biggest NightThe Toy AssociationChompSaw winning Creative Toy of the Year in February 2026.
- Philly's ChompSaw scores a deal on Shark TankThe Philadelphia InquirerThe November 2024 Shark Tank deal with Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner, $250,000 for 15%.
- ChompSaw: A kid-safe power tool for cutting cardboardKickstarterThe campaign's $1.18 million raised from 5,049 backers.
- Makedo Explore KitMakedoThe 50 pieces, the tools and the age rating.
